I wouldn’t recommend this café to freelancers or filmmakers on the go—especially if you don’t make a purchase immediately. And even if you do, it better be over $3, or you’re apparently not worthy of their space.
A female employee rudely told me, “Go to Starbucks or Coffee Bean,” as if she had the right to speak to another grown woman that way. Instead of handling the situation professionally, she made false claims and refused to take responsibility as a representative of this small business. This kind of attitude is exactly why independent businesses struggle to gain community support.
If you’re looking for a welcoming and professional atmosphere, I’d suggest taking your business elsewhere.
Morrisa Jeanine
I am writing to formally express my deep disappointment regarding the way I was treated at Highlight Coffee on March 6, 2025. As a Glendale resident, I was drawn to your café on a cold, rainy day when I noticed another freelancer working on a laptop inside. Assuming it was a welcoming neighborhood space, I stepped in briefly to send an important email and request my lyft ride -- I didn't originally imagine staying longer than 10 mins ... I was already on the go...
However, within minutes of sitting down, I was approached by an employee and asked if I planned to order. While I understand the need for policies regarding seating, the interaction quickly turned unprofessional. I asked if there was a posted policy requiring immediate purchase, but instead of a straightforward answer, I was met with hostility. A female staff member rolled her eyes, made faces, and dismissively told me, "We're not a public library; you need to buy something or leave." When I requested her name to file a complaint, she refused and callously stated that I couldn’t complain since I wasn't a paying customer.
At this point, I explained that I was pregnant, didn't want caffeine let alone coffee, needed a moment to send an email, and was simply waiting for my Lyft. Her response? "I don’t care." Feeling cornered, I purchased an apple juice just to avoid further escalation. Despite this, both employees refused to provide their names, and I later learned they had falsely reported to the owner that I was "causing trouble". Ultimately, they offered to refund my purchase—on the condition that I leave.
This experience left me feeling harassed, disrespected, and unwelcome, particularly as an Indigenous woman. No customer, paying or not, should be treated with such disregard and hostility, especially in a space that presents itself as community-friendly.
I expect an acknowledgment of this incident and a sincere apology from your team. If this issue is not addressed properly, I will make sure my experience is widely known, as no one deserves to be treated this way in a local establishment.
Morrisa Elliott
These people were very rude towards me even took it as far as to not give me their names and call the police because u didn’t make an immediate coffee purchase I have no respect for this company whatsoever I told them it was cold and about to rain I am pregnant and needed to make a call and email they forced me out due to me vocalizing how rude the female employee was to me making faces and telling me “we are not a public library” I don’t appreciate esp when I am a Glendale resident.
Kelvin Fl
Excellent coffee AND excellent pastries (we had the kouin aman, almond croissant and muffin)! I love those places that don't try to be cute and are just about the quality of what they serve.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Timur Rakhmatulin
I love the coffee here ! But today experienced very bad attitude of Asian barista, I asked just to put the liquid sugar by myself but he didn’t let me and was yelling at me. Stop acting like that guys.
Service: 1
Adnan Hussain
I had the most delectable strawberry almond croissant with my oat milk cappuccino. It was fresh and the taste was what you'd expect from a European café (highest compliment affordable).
Service is exemplary. Much better than going to a large faceless chain like Starbucks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cappuccino and Croissant
Nick Campbell
Great coffee and the staff are always nice and helpful. They also have a good selection of coffee beans for sale.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pastries, Butterscotch
Jasmine Janae
Wow! I just dropped the dog that I nanny off in Pasadena at home so I just looked up a random coffee shop. I was going off of reviews which this one had really really good reviews saying that they really care about the coffee they make, and Man none of these reviews are live! I also love how they don’t charge extra for oat milk! Thank you so much for that today I had the butter scotch iced coffee and when I tell you, this is hands-down one of the best coffee I’ve had I am not being dramatic! Thank you so much, Angel what great start To my Monday!
Parking: I just parked at the little lot next-door. It looks like it’s a place called Candyland. Don’t know if I was allowed to, but I was in and out in less than five minutes so I really doubt it mattered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butterscotch
Yuliia Revenok
One of the most underestimated coffee places!!! Best latte! Best service! And of course, my favorite vanilla orange latte?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pakaifu
Ordered regular latte with oat milk, drink turned out to be sweet af like vanilla later with 40 pumps of syrop and 0.5l of caramel. Quite disgusting and disappointing
Highlight Coffee in Glendale is a hidden gem for coffee enthusiasts. The moment you step inside, you're greeted by the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm, inviting atmosphere. The baristas are knowledgeable and passionate, offering an impressive selection of single-origin that are expertly brewed to highlight their unique flavors.
I particularly loved their pour-over options, which allowed me to savor the intricate tasting notes of the beans. The cozy seating arrangements make it a perfect for both relaxing with a book or catching up with friends. Don't miss their baked goods either; the muffins are delightfully moist and pair perfectly with a cup of coffee.
Whether you're a local or just passing through, Highlight Coffee is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to enjoy excellent coffee and a welcoming environment. It's a place where every sip feels like a little celebration of flavor!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kim Labick
Love this spot. They've got everything you could want, the brews are amazing and the workers are super cool. There's a surprising amount of space to sit and work or chat, didn't see any outlets though so it's not the spot to wfh
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
N
I ordered coffee lemonade! A sour coffee that tastes like simply a mixture of coffee and lemonade?It tasted like the Japanese seasoning "ponzu sauce"! I was so confused as to why they made this! ?The espresso milkshake was very delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Tessa Morgan
Pretty solid little shop. Some of the "specialty" drinks are a little odd, but maybe that's personal preference. There's a sparkling lemonade/cold brew that left me scratching my head a little bit. It's usually very quick though, and even though there's not a ton of searing I do enjoy the vibe in there. I'll be back for sure.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
S Basaintt
It’s a small place with really good drinks. The sencha green tea latte is very good. They have milk substitutes. The staff is friendly and helpful.
I wouldn’t recommend this café to freelancers or filmmakers on the go—especially if you don’t make a purchase immediately. And even if you do, it better be over $3, or you’re apparently not worthy of their space. A female employee rudely told me, “Go to Starbucks or Coffee Bean,” as if she had the right to speak to another grown woman that way. Instead of handling the situation professionally, she made false claims and refused to take responsibility as a representative of this small business. This kind of attitude is exactly why independent businesses struggle to gain community support. If you’re looking for a welcoming and professional atmosphere, I’d suggest taking your business elsewhere.
I am writing to formally express my deep disappointment regarding the way I was treated at Highlight Coffee on March 6, 2025. As a Glendale resident, I was drawn to your café on a cold, rainy day when I noticed another freelancer working on a laptop inside. Assuming it was a welcoming neighborhood space, I stepped in briefly to send an important email and request my lyft ride -- I didn't originally imagine staying longer than 10 mins ... I was already on the go... However, within minutes of sitting down, I was approached by an employee and asked if I planned to order. While I understand the need for policies regarding seating, the interaction quickly turned unprofessional. I asked if there was a posted policy requiring immediate purchase, but instead of a straightforward answer, I was met with hostility. A female staff member rolled her eyes, made faces, and dismissively told me, "We're not a public library; you need to buy something or leave." When I requested her name to file a complaint, she refused and callously stated that I couldn’t complain since I wasn't a paying customer. At this point, I explained that I was pregnant, didn't want caffeine let alone coffee, needed a moment to send an email, and was simply waiting for my Lyft. Her response? "I don’t care." Feeling cornered, I purchased an apple juice just to avoid further escalation. Despite this, both employees refused to provide their names, and I later learned they had falsely reported to the owner that I was "causing trouble". Ultimately, they offered to refund my purchase—on the condition that I leave. This experience left me feeling harassed, disrespected, and unwelcome, particularly as an Indigenous woman. No customer, paying or not, should be treated with such disregard and hostility, especially in a space that presents itself as community-friendly. I expect an acknowledgment of this incident and a sincere apology from your team. If this issue is not addressed properly, I will make sure my experience is widely known, as no one deserves to be treated this way in a local establishment.
These people were very rude towards me even took it as far as to not give me their names and call the police because u didn’t make an immediate coffee purchase I have no respect for this company whatsoever I told them it was cold and about to rain I am pregnant and needed to make a call and email they forced me out due to me vocalizing how rude the female employee was to me making faces and telling me “we are not a public library” I don’t appreciate esp when I am a Glendale resident.
Excellent coffee AND excellent pastries (we had the kouin aman, almond croissant and muffin)! I love those places that don't try to be cute and are just about the quality of what they serve.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love the coffee here ! But today experienced very bad attitude of Asian barista, I asked just to put the liquid sugar by myself but he didn’t let me and was yelling at me. Stop acting like that guys.
Service: 1
I had the most delectable strawberry almond croissant with my oat milk cappuccino. It was fresh and the taste was what you'd expect from a European café (highest compliment affordable).
Service is exemplary. Much better than going to a large faceless chain like Starbucks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cappuccino and Croissant
Great coffee and the staff are always nice and helpful. They also have a good selection of coffee beans for sale.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pastries, Butterscotch
Wow! I just dropped the dog that I nanny off in Pasadena at home so I just looked up a random coffee shop. I was going off of reviews which this one had really really good reviews saying that they really care about the coffee they make, and Man none of these reviews are live! I also love how they don’t charge extra for oat milk! Thank you so much for that today I had the butter scotch iced coffee and when I tell you, this is hands-down one of the best coffee I’ve had I am not being dramatic! Thank you so much, Angel what great start To my Monday!
Parking: I just parked at the little lot next-door. It looks like it’s a place called Candyland. Don’t know if I was allowed to, but I was in and out in less than five minutes so I really doubt it mattered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butterscotch
One of the most underestimated coffee places!!! Best latte! Best service! And of course, my favorite vanilla orange latte?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ordered regular latte with oat milk, drink turned out to be sweet af like vanilla later with 40 pumps of syrop and 0.5l of caramel. Quite disgusting and disappointing
Food: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
Highlight Coffee in Glendale is a hidden gem for coffee enthusiasts. The moment you step inside, you're greeted by the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm, inviting atmosphere. The baristas are knowledgeable and passionate, offering an impressive selection of single-origin that are expertly brewed to highlight their unique flavors.
I particularly loved their pour-over options, which allowed me to savor the intricate tasting notes of the beans. The cozy seating arrangements make it a perfect for both relaxing with a book or catching up with friends. Don't miss their baked goods either; the muffins are delightfully moist and pair perfectly with a cup of coffee.
Whether you're a local or just passing through, Highlight Coffee is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to enjoy excellent coffee and a welcoming environment. It's a place where every sip feels like a little celebration of flavor!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this spot. They've got everything you could want, the brews are amazing and the workers are super cool. There's a surprising amount of space to sit and work or chat, didn't see any outlets though so it's not the spot to wfh
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered coffee lemonade! A sour coffee that tastes like simply a mixture of coffee and lemonade?It tasted like the Japanese seasoning "ponzu sauce"! I was so confused as to why they made this! ?The espresso milkshake was very delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Pretty solid little shop. Some of the "specialty" drinks are a little odd, but maybe that's personal preference. There's a sparkling lemonade/cold brew that left me scratching my head a little bit. It's usually very quick though, and even though there's not a ton of searing I do enjoy the vibe in there. I'll be back for sure.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
It’s a small place with really good drinks. The sencha green tea latte is very good. They have milk substitutes. The staff is friendly and helpful.
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