Java Bakery Café Lake Forest (UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP)

Please do not support this business, the owner here is a professional scam artist. I came in yesterday morning after picking up a rental car near by, for breakfast and coffee. The place was empty with no one in sight, and the owner popped out of the back with a big smile on his face and asked me what I'd like. At first, I did not realize that I was talking with the owner, and assumed that it was only a regular employee. However, based on a few questions such as asking what he recommended for breakfast and for the iced coffee, I could tell that he might be the owner due to the thorough responses (which he later confirmed that he is). Nonetheless, I went with his suggestions, which were a breakfast burrito special and an iced latte. The burrito rang in at ~$9 and next thing you know he tells me my total is ~$20. Without hesitation, I paid the total and directly after started to think why the total jumped from about ~$9 to $20 (after tax) from an addition of a regular sized iced latte with normal milk and hazelnut syrup (equivalent drink at Starbucks is $5-6). Maybe it's just me, but I have never paid $8-9 for a standard iced latte; keep in mind it was not even a large and I did not ask for non-dairy milk!! If I had asked for those things this would have easily been a $12 iced coffee. Out of pure confusion, I decided to talk to the owner about the pricing, and this is when things went south. He immediately started to act extremely defensive (first trying to say how the taxes in the area are expensive lol), and then going on a ramble for almost 5 minutes about how expensive the products he uses are... he literally brought up that each basic disposable plastic cup he uses is $1.50!! He also said he uses the "best quality" coffee and other ingredients. Keep in mind an iced latte is simply espresso, milk, syrup, and ice. I can fully understand the coffee being slightly more expensive, but there is absolutely no justifying the price this owner is charging for a basic iced latte. Eventually, after seeing that I was clearly not giving into his responses and extremely defensive attitude, the owner decided to ask me what he can do to make me happy. I was honestly so shocked by everything he had just told a customer and his blatant lies and excuses that I did not know what would make me happy at this point. He proceeded to ask me if a want a refund and after not responding for a few seconds he started typing on the cashier screen and opens the register and hands me $1 and some change and tells me he will refund me the cost of the hazelnut syrup. At this point, it was clear to me the type of person I was dealing with and I started to feel like I am just wasting my time dealing with this owner. Long story short, after he randomly gave me another $1 refund thinking I'd be happy lol, he made me the burrito and coffee. The burrito was decent but it had way too much cheese, it was missing an ingredient listed on the menu (green onion), and the potatoes were extremely undercooked and hard so I had to take them all out... I nicely let the owner know of the undercooked potatoes on my way out and said thank you and left (he just said thank you in response in a stern tone). Simply stated, I am never coming back to this coffee shop again, and I urge you guys to please not support this business and this owner. Please trust me when I say that all this owner cares about is profit and ripping customers off (he's relentless too if you call him out).

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 1

Weak coffee in a huge cup. Maybe one shot. They don't grind beans fresh. Microwaved cheese and sausage in bagel sandwich. Sub par experience.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

Great place for a quick bite & great coffee.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Almond Croissant, Organic Coffee, Chicken Wrap, House Special, Sandwich, Panini, Apple Brie Chicken Panini

I paid $10 for a coffee and small bagel with a hint of cream cheese. Asked him to toast and it wasn't. Clerk didn't ask me what kind I wanted. As soon as I paid, he disappeared in the back. I won't return.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 1

Stopped on a whim, and so glad I did. Very pleasant place, service, and my lox bagel was delicious!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Coffee was not fresh and watered down. Owner scriping on the ingredients. No eggwhites. Had to change my order to 2 times. Very disappointing ? thought to support small business. Not recommended.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Small

$4.84 for a tea bag and water. Pastries look pale and stale. No almond croissant I’ve ever had is filled with cream cheese. If this new mgmt is an improvement, I shutter thinking about old mgmt.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Under new ownership. Been here a few times now and it has the best coffee and best breakfast food in Lake Forest. They have some amazing Deli sandwiches made with fresh veggies. Honestly the best sandwich in Lake Forest that I can remember. The shop is super classic cafe style. It used to be a Starbucks, and now has super friendly touch of customer service. The portions are massive so I haven't had the space to try out their fresh pastries. They are a bakery at heart and bake fresh every morning. Their breakfast sandwiches are made with the best bread selection. Flaky croissants melty cheese. The eggs in there sandwiches are unbelievably fluffy. Definitely recommend this place to all locals. Oh and they have boba, Frappuccino too

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The place is beautiful, relaxing and the service is great, very happy to have come ❣️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent coffee, the flavor is rich with no bitter tones. Breakfast burrito is one of the best I've had in a while, well proportioned and well flavored.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Breakfast Burrito, Panini

Friendly staff! Wonderful place with good food and coffee!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The place is beautiful, relaxing and the service is great, very happy to have come ❣️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

One of the better coffee tastes in a long time. Gentlemen owner and wife, assuming, were very friendly and helpful.I will go here if I’m the area, definitely.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The most delicious bakery and special coffee you can find only in this place, definitely

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Their signs all said they were open, but they were closed