Caffeine Art and Coffee Shops to Work Remotely in San Luis Obispo County
Posted by San Luis Obispo Mom on Sunday, July 31, 2022 Under: Restaurants
When I was working, I'd go sit in a coffee shop to plug in my laptop and enjoy a nice latte about a couple times a week to mix up it up because working remotely from home can sometimes be lonely.
Best part about working remotely is I can choose a different setting if I wanted to, except when I have meetings as I try to reserve those work days for at home to avoid too much background noise. I have a preference over coffee shops that serve latte in a mug if I'm sitting there, especially when they are creating beautiful latte art.
I've sat in many different coffee shops and here are some of the coffee or tea craft art I've taken pictures of around Five Cities (Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Oceano and Halcyon). For outside of Five Cities in San Luis Obispo County, you can scroll down to the bottom to see my pictures of Kreuzberg California and Kraken Coffee in San Luis Obispo.
See a list of boba shops that I've visited throughout SLO County.
Best part about working remotely is I can choose a different setting if I wanted to, except when I have meetings as I try to reserve those work days for at home to avoid too much background noise. I have a preference over coffee shops that serve latte in a mug if I'm sitting there, especially when they are creating beautiful latte art.
I've sat in many different coffee shops and here are some of the coffee or tea craft art I've taken pictures of around Five Cities (Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Oceano and Halcyon). For outside of Five Cities in San Luis Obispo County, you can scroll down to the bottom to see my pictures of Kreuzberg California and Kraken Coffee in San Luis Obispo.
Kraken Coffee Co in Avila Beach
Located in a more upscale beach area in the Five Cities, this particular Kraken Coffee Co location is two stories and beach front, facing Avila Beach! It's also close to a lot of other shops and restaurants, making this a very ideal place for a coffee stop if you're planning on dining out for a great meal as well. When you sit upstairs to plug into your computer, it's a really nice breezy experience. Address: 310 Front St, Avila Beach, CA 93424
Banner Coffee in Arroyo Grande
Located in the busier part of Grand Ave in Arroyo Grande, this coffee shop has a lot of in and out traffic. There are individual tables and seats towards the left side if you're facing the entrance and a large communal table to the right side. What makes this coffee shop unique is it's right next to the Grace Church and has a safe feel to it. They have a simplified menu and it works for me. I usually order the Vanilla Latte (see pictures below). I always feel like I'm in L.A. when I sit here as it doesn't feel like the rest of the Arroyo Grande vibe. I like it! It's hip, young and fresh. Address: 995 E Grand Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Even 30 minutes later, my coffee still looks pretty. They don't have a designated parking lot so you'll have to park on the street.
Tribe Coffeehouse in Arroyo Grande
Tribe Coffeehouse is one of my favorite places to get coffee. They have a turquoise theme and their coffee house is a true coffee house that has former bedrooms that have been transformed into sitting spaces and shopping. They also have delicious pastries and their coffee/latte art is excellent. They have very many unique lattes and drinks to choose from. See my video reel of Tribe Cofeehouse on my instagram. Address: 1355 E Grand Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
-
Cafe Andreini in Arroyo Grande
Located at the Village of Arroyo Grande, this Cafe Andreini has a small town vibe but it's always bustling whenever I come in. There are people with their computers working, friends meeting here for a chat and many coming and going for a quick pick me up. Their craft coffee is consistently good here. However, their service is not! I've had great service before at random times and other times, the long wait for the coffee and spontaneous lackluster customer service have deterred me from coming here often.
However, what stood out to me was that they had a microwave for community use in the middle of their coffee shop. There is free parking in the back of the building so if you can't find street parking, I suggest going back around there. Cafe Andreini Address: 131 E Branch St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Greenhouse Coffee Co in Arroyo Grande
Greenhouse Coffee Co is the newest coffee shop to open among the list on this page and has a clean and bright space. There is a lot of tables with easy plug in, which makes it great for studying or working. The first time I came, they didn't put my coffee in a mug. However, I came back a year later and they put my drink in a mug after asking if I was sitting there! Their coffee has been consistently very good. For my first order, I ordered a lavender latte with macadamia milk because they didn't have almond milk when I asked for it. It's actually even better with macadamia milk, to my surprise! They are located across from Banner Coffee but I find parking at Greenhouse Coffee so much easier and love that! Depending on the day you come, they are open until either 2PM or 3PM. Address: 1064 E Grand Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Red Dirt Coffee House in Arroyo Grande
Red Dirt Coffee House is the very first local coffee house that I visited in Five Cities area so this one has a special place in my heart. They moved locations from Grand Ave to W. Branch Ave, that is in the Wal Mart Shopping Center.
It's a Hawaiian coffee shop so they have special selections and serve Hawaiian Plate Lunches from Fri - Sun and daily lunch specials! See other recommended Hawaiian restaurants in the area. The ambiance has a cool, chill vibe but it's maybe too noisy for me to work. They are only open until 4PM and close on Mondays. I've seen other people work or study here. Red Dirt Coffee House Address: 1142 W Branch St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Kraken Coffee Co in Pismo Beach
Kraken Coffee Co in Pismo Beach is located on the Pismo Beach Promenade and close to a lot of restaurants, shops and it's facing the ocean! This was my view while I was sipping on coffee. It is a very busy touristy spot, but I've seen many plug in their laptop and work here. I haven't personally sat here with my laptop but I have sat here with just my phone playing a mobile game while enjoying the view. I think it's an excellent place to grab coffee if you're planning on hanging out at the Pismo Beach Pier! My latte pictured below had a heart. Address: 172 Pomeroy Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
-
Scorpion Bay Coffee Co in Pismo Beach
Located a block from the water in Pismo Beach, Scorpion Bay Coffee Co is located right on the street with street parking that's 3 hours free to park. This makes it so easy and less stressful, especially in Pismo Beach. However, during tourist season, it might be hard to find free parking and these spots could be taken quickly. However, on the weekday during the shoulder season, I was able to find parking right in front of this coffee shop. When I walked in, I saw two other tables working on their laptops. It does have a nice vibe to work in and with high tables, it was definitely meant for work or study mode. I ordered the Killer Pumpkin Spice Latte and asked for ice blended. It was creamy and the spices were not overbearing. Since I was able to find parking so close to the beach in front of Scorpion Bay Coffee Co, I walked to the beach with my drink and enjoyed a tan before my 3 hour free parking was up. Address: 610 Dolliver St., Pismo Beach, CA 93449
-
Red Bee in Grover Beach
This coffee shop is a great place to plug in. It's a smaller coffee shop and located only a couple of blocks from the ocean in Grover Beach. Tell them that you are drinking there if you are so you can enjoy the pretty coffee art. Otherwise, they'll put it in a to-go cup. I really enjoy their seasonal decorations around the holidays. Address: 278 W Grand Ave, Grover Beach, CA 93433
-
Deltina Coffee Roasters in Oceano
Deltina Coffee Roaster is pretty much the only coffee shop in Oceano, California. Their main mission is roasting amazing coffee and their storefront is a bonus to serve customers. Limited in sugar syrups, they make up for it with amazing freshly roasted and ground coffee.
There is a unique character to the inside of this place. The bulk of the room is dedicated to roasting and roasting equipment. The other side is where you can order coffee with a few tables. They have a large patio in the back so on a nice day, this would be a great place to having a cup of coffee outside there. There's not a lot of space inside to remotely work but if don't have to plug in, the outside is a good alternative. Deltina Coffee Roasters Address: 1945 Front St, Oceano, CA 93445
PCH Shave Ice & Boba in Pismo Beach
This is a boba shop but they also serve pretty coffee drinks. It doesn't have a nice remote work vibe so I haven't worked here before but their boba drinks are legit! The place is a decent size. Their Vietnamese coffee is delicious. They have several tables that you can choose to sit at. They're also located in a nice shopping center that has a Japanese restaurant and Mediterranean restaurant with a lot of parking spaces. See my full review post about PCH Shave Ice & Boba for more pictures. Address: 893 N. Oak Park Blvd, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
-
MilkT Society in Pismo Beach
They have dozens and dozens of coffee and tea drinks that you can order. I've tried some really pretty matcha drinks and strong Vietnamese Coffee with boba here. The fantastic thing about this place is it's located only a couple of blocks from the Pismo Beach Pier. When it's not summer season, it's pretty quiet during a week day in the mornings so I have sat here with my laptop before. They only have a few tables though so it's a gamble but if you want to work with a cup of boba, this is a good option. See my full review post about MilkT Society to see more pictures that I've taken here. Address: 590 Dolliver St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Places To Remotely Work in Five Cities, But Are Part of a National Chain (and no latte art):
-
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Pismo Beach
Located in a busy area and off the Highway 101, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Pismo Beach has a really different menu than most other coffee chains. The Vietnamese latte cold brew here is satisfying and refreshing. I've also ordered their a blended matcha before at a different location in San Diego years ago and it was my most favorite thing to order when I was in my early 20s.
I've never worked remotely from here before but I saw a gentleman with his laptop here when I recently visited and it looked like a very comfortable place to get some work done. If you also need to get some clothes shopping done, the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets is literally across the street from here. Address: 354 5 Cities Dr, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 Starbucks in Pismo Beach at 5 Cities Drive
This is a smaller Starbucks with about 5 or 6 tables and no drive-thru. There's only two outside tables here. It's in the same shopping center as California Fresh Market, a Rite Aid and several restaurants so you can run many errands from here without having to move your car! They have a sushi restaurant, a Thai restaurant, a Subway and California Fresh Market has a great deli and hot food area as well. There is a Tesla charging area in the shopping center right next to this one. You can walk to it without crossing a street as it's located on the side. That is a big plus if you have an electric vehicle. Address: 501 5 Cities Dr, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Starbucks in Arroyo Grande on W. Branch St.
This is probably the best Starbucks to sit at and work among all the Starbucks in the Five Cities area, if you have to limit to sitting at Starbucks locations. It's the largest with a lot of seats inside and outside. It's in the same shopping center as a Grocery Outlet and Planet Fitness. They also have a drive-thru and a few Electric Vehicle charging stations right next to it! I've sat in there to work before and have also used their their drive-thru. If you are in a rush, I highly recommend just doing a mobile order 15 minutes before you get there and then just park to run in to get it. It's typically faster than using their drive-thru for this location. Address: 1586 W Branch St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Starbucks in Arroyo Grande on Grand St.
They have seats inside and outside. It's always quite noisy in here if you're sitting inside. If you like the noisy vibe, then this place is for you. It's also in the same shopping center as Aldi and a couple of other restaurants like Five Guys, Domino's Pizza and Chipotle so it is convenient for lunch afterwards. There's a drive-thru line as well. I think this Starbucks has the worse parking and drive-thru logistics as it can get very cramped if the drive-thru line is long. There is a communal table with a line of dozens of plugs underneath it that you can plug in at. Other than the communal table, there is only one other place to plug on the wall, which is in the back towards where you pick up your drink. Address: 1211 E Grand Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Places to Remotely Work in San Luis Obispo, not in Five Cities:
-
Kreuzberg California in Downtown San Luis Obispo
Kreuzberg is probably the most famous place to come for coffee in San Luis Obispo in Downtown. It's popular for locals and tourists. With art murals, an open layout and food options, sitting here is memorable. It has big city vibes. It may take a while to get your coffee order but they take great care to make a latte art for you, whether you are sitting there to work/study or not. See a latte art image of my vanilla latte drink below. Kreuzberg California Address: 685 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Kraken Coffee Co at San Luis Obispo Public Market (Permanently Closed)
The convenient thing about coming to the Kraken Coffee Co at this particular location is that you'd be right next to a lot of restaurants that are located inside of the San Luis Obispo (SLO) Public Market's main building. [Update: They closed their shop at SLO Public Market location in San Luis Obispo.] I love the kraken mural on the wall, which you can expect to see this at every Kraken Coffee Co. in the county. See my full video reel of Kraken Coffee Co at SLO Public Market. One time, I forgot to tell the barista that I was going to enjoy my latte there for a couple hours so they put my latte in a plain white paper cup instead. So, don't become sad like me and forget to tell them you are going to sit there at the coffee shop or you'll miss out on a nice latte art. Their coffee art, if you have the pleasure to order a latte in a mug, is wonderful! See pictures of the food I tried at SLO Public Market from my past visits. It's also a great hang out spot for hours. Address: 3885 S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
See a list of boba shops that I've visited throughout SLO County.
Remote Work Supplies:
Most of my work is independent work where I'm just hashing out projects from my computer and communicating with my teammates via email and chat so working remotely from coffee shops is a great perk for me. I like being able to sit at different coffee shops around town for a change of scenery. Here are the supplies I usually bring with me, when I'm remotely working outside of the home:- Noise Canceling Headphones with Microphone - I've had web meetings from a coffee shop before. My noise cancelling headset makes such a big difference and really helps keep my work life professional, as well as keep distractions to a minimum since it could get noisy in a coffee shop.
- Extension Cord - I'd also bring my extension cord in case the closest outlet from where I'm sitting at is more than a couple of feet away. Usually a 3 foot extension cord is enough to give me the right reach without the unnecessary clunkiness that a 10 foot extension cord has.
- Notebook Paper and Pens - I'm still old fashion with note taking as I like to write my meeting notes on paper before typing them up. Getting a pretty notebook and pen set or themed set really sets a good mood for me.
In : Restaurants
Tags: coffee shops in arroyo grande review coffee art caffeine art matcha coffee shops to work in five cities coffee pismo beach grover beach starbucks arroyo grande cafe free wifi oceano coffee roasters
Originally from San Diego, California, I'm a San Diego State University alumna, veteran's wife and mom of two kids who were born two years apart. After living on the East Coast for 6 years, we now reside in San Luis Obispo County and here, the exploration continues. In between work and momming it, I like to exercise.
@sanluisobispomom