Portola Coffee Lab to Open Tomorrow

By Dave Lieberman Wed., May 25 2011 at 9:30 AM

John Gilhooley / OC Weekly

We interviewed Jeff Duggan, the mad scientist of third-wave coffee, almost a year ago (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3). We found him crammed into an alcove of Layer Cake Bakery, roasting coffee to order, designing his dream coffee shop at the SoCo collection (you know, Saturday farmers' markets, thrice-weekly food trucks, etc.) in Costa Mesa.

Duggan's coffee ends up all over the county--it's available at the Giant Juggernaut Whole Foods in Tustin, at Layer Cake Bakery, for home delivery, and brewed into beer at Pizza Port and TAPS.

Unfortunately, openings have a way of slipping; construction schedules tend to be vague. For a while, Duggan had a temporary space where he sold beans and sampled coffees, but it wasn't a coffeeshop at all.

The wait is over--according to their Twitter, Portola Coffee Lab will be open tomorrow, Thursday, May 26, in its permanent location in The OC Mart MIX at SoCo Collection, 3313 Hyland Ave. #C, Costa Mesa. The cafe will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

It's located just off the 405 near the IKEA; bicyclists exit the Santa Ana River Trail at MacArthur/Talbert, head east, and make the first right on Hyland. We can't wait to taste the coffee in its new digs.

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B.Q.

iCandy in LB is better!

Kimmie

Let's see if he can beat the great AeroPress. Like everything from five-figure Fix-It-Again-Tony contraptions to stove pots for boiling gallons of water with coffee grounds and egg shells, it depends on science. Thirty bucks worth + at least an Al Gore "D" in Physics for Poets.

lishuzheng

Finally (48 hours) time limit to buy.

LV Muffler $ 5.99LV Bags $ 19.9 LV Wallet $ 6.55Armani Glasses $ 5.99LV Belt $ 6.9

Buy addresses---- tntn.usTips (48 hours after the special product is invalid)

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Medusa97

I look forward to trying the coffee here. For those of you who think this is the first or only great coffee shop in OC, don't overlook freesoulcafe in Old Town Tustin. They make some awesome coffee and clearly know what they are doing.

Dave Lieberman

There's also Kean in Newport Beach and Tustin, and Kaffa! in Orange. I'm sure there are more—those are the ones off the top of my head. :)

Anne Watson

Can hardly wait - finally OC is going to have an amazing gourmet coffee house!! (Sorry, coffee LAB) :-) I was fortunate enough to have a Portola-brewed cappuccino the other day, and have to say it was AH-mazing! (You can see some preview pics of Portola Coffee Lab in action on http://annewatsonphotoblog.blo...

rockinocbitch

I had the pleasure of trying the siphoned coffee at a preview opening (it was a fundraising event). Best damn cup of joe I've ever had!

christoofar

Sooo happy that these folks are going to finally open, since I work 2 blocks away. I must dust off my lab coat...

foodgps

It's good to have another Orange County coffee option. I look forward to trying Portola.

Trevor Clinard

Duggan knows his stuff, had a great talk with him the other day at his shop and tried his coffee via the bunn trifecta coffee brewer, and it was the smoothest cup I've ever had. Science wins.

Portola Coffee Lab to Open Tomorrow

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