Hopper & Burr

When local chefs start frequenting a spot, you know it’s onto something. And that’s in part what helped propel Hopper & Burr from a pop-up coffee shop to a permanent fixture in downtown Santa Ana. Run by Truman Severson, a veteran of Intelligentsia Coffee who costarred in Barista (a documentary about barista competitions), the bright space is sparingly decorated in Scandinavian style, all the better to put the focus squarely on the craft brews. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, the small, friendly staff take time with each guest at the counter, frequently eliciting laughs as they take orders. The shop rotates its coffee bean selection from five roasters around the country, and the almond milk, chai, and syrups are made in-house. A list of clean, classic espresso drinks is always available, along with inventive ones like the Kaffee Tonic, which is espresso poured over tonic water, and Nico #2, a double shot of Saint Frank espresso with peach syrup, steamed half-and-half, and a dusting of cinnamon. Soak up the caffeine with a house-made pop tart or savory pancetta-topped avocado toast on sourdough.