Viento y Agua Coffee House & Gallery
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sat 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sun 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
33 reviews
Long Beach, CA
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72 Reviews for Viento y Agua Coffee House & Gallery
Fantastic!
This coffee shop has that sense of community that makes you feel like a valuable part of something bigger.
The art on the walls, the open mic, the really good brewed coffee all come together in a very cool little spot.
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As far as I'm concerned, this is the only coffee shop worthy of supporting in all of Long Beach. They are friendly to everyone, and they promote respect toward and among customers. Additionally, they serve up a mean hot or cold yerba mate which makes my heart sing. Nevermind the adorable interior and the comfort of being at a socially-conscious local-artist-supporting venue, the quality of the service and product already make me happy 100%. They also give 10% off your purchase if you ride your bike. Good stuff.
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Recommendation: Mexican Mocha.
Results: SENSATIONAL.
I can honestly say I've had the best mocha. Complex UNUSUAL flavors permeated my mouth and instantly created happy brain waves. What DID they put inside it, I wondered? Maybe the secret ingredient is authentic Mexican chocolate shavings. True, I've never had Mexican mocha anywhere else, but do I even need to? Aside from the sad fact that I live so far away from V y A.
Housing art and live music, you get the wonderful sense that V y A not only strives to serve excellent coffee, but they encourage green living (ride your bike and you get 10% off), spirituality, and creativity. If I lived here and had a regular barista like Bela, it would totally brighten up my day.
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The revolution will not be televised...
We joined the revolution, the Handmade Revolution Craft & Music Festival at the Viento Y Agua Coffee House and Gallery on June 1st and made our first foray into the fray after a wonderful visit to the Museum of Latin American Art (http://www.molaa.com/). My first observation was that much of the art in this coffee house looked like it was pulled directly from the MoLAA. El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead... http://en.wikipedia.or...) is a very popular motif in Latin American art and it was obviously very popular here in this tiny yet comfortable gallery. I kept pointing at things saying "Oh look, Steve, isn't that cute?" "Over there, do you see that?" "Steve, buy me that!" (Okay, so I exaggerate a little). Skulls and bones were everywhere and this wasn't even Nuevo Laredo (http://www.freerepubli...)
We missed seeing fellow revolutionary, Fran, who played earlier but that didn't stop us from enjoying several of the other performers including a young man who did a fantastic job between singing, guitar and two didgeridoos (www.myspace.com/trevor...) and who had everybody craning their necks to see him work.
As far as the offerings of the coffee house itself, I was disappointed in the "Killer Tomato" sandwich because I swore the blackboard said "sun dried tomatoes" but I got fresh slices and it had way too much cream cheese and not enough avocado. They didn't have the bagel advertised and swapped it for jalapeno which was okay but it turned out to be a totally different sandwich from what was ordered. The strawberry-banana smoothie was tasty but really no tastier than a bottled juice whipped together with some ice rather than the real deal. That's how I feel, revolting as it may sound.
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The most recent time I've been was for the "Catch 22" fundraising event. I had the most wonderful pita sandwich with delicious hummus, sprouts, tomato and basil (it added so much). To top it off I had to try one of the vegan cupcakes they carry that I read about in District - I tried a vanilla one with coconut icing - yum yum yum. I am a huge fan.
My only tip - have better brewed iced-tea, something like Republic of Tea Blackberry Sage is great. It isn't expensive to make a large pitcher at a time.
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Extremely friendly staff. They actually act like people, they take breaks and will talk to you.
I enjoy the drinks, they are cheap if you compare.
The art here is beautiful. A little sad that the gallery is not as big, but the extra seating area was NEEDED.
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Attended here for a "Soular Mixer" fundraiser to empower Nicaraguan villages w/renewable solar energy resources thru meetup.com groups such as the Green OC. Plenty of good music, fresh food, beverages, prizes, friendly people & a great cause! Tried the Promegrante Acai Berry frap. Not bad if you're into exotic tastes & fruits like I am. Fun gathering hosted in a relatively accommodating artful eclectic scenery. Place became an instant new fave among the other best of independent LBC coffeehouses. Standout features: cozy-warm Latin folkloric type decor compliment w/vibe of evening's special benefit. Staff were just as cool peeps too. ;)
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The ever-foreboding Long Beach dilemma. Do I go to Portfolio? Or do I go to Viento y Agua?
Fortunately, for me, laziness eliminates the painful ordeal of choosing between the two. Viento y Agua gets an A+ for proximity to my royal chambers (I mean, apartment).
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One of my most favorite places in town to HANG OUT for a coffee... even though I rarely remember to go there (in kind of a off the beaten path location for me). Great ambiance, wish they had outdoor seating though! They also hold regular events, which are always fun. Parking tricky as there is an elementary school right across the street.
Viento y Agua is a decent coffeeshop to escape to if you are tired of the too-cool-for-school-elitist-hipster joint that is Portfolio, and wish to hear some live entertainment.
I wish I could fill you in on the foodstuffs they offer, but the snobby barista was too busy talking with his anorexic-scene friends to provide me service.
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Food/Drink: The drinks are awesome. They make them with love and they are rich and delicious! I only had food once and it was a sun-dried tomato bagel with cream cheese, tomato, avocado, and basil. It was VERY good and used high-quality ingredients. Overall, everything is very high-quality and quite tasty.
Service: Everyone is always very nice, very friendly, and down to earth, which keeps me coming back (i went to portfolio once and felt so unwelcomed, i never went back). They take a LONG time to make the drinks and food which is probably why they are so good. As long as i am not in a hurry, it dont mind the wait.
Value: The prices are pretty standard to any coffee shop, including starbucks or coffee bean, $3.50 for a small.
I would reccommend: The mexican mocha! I have never had anything like it anywhere and it is the most craveable drink in Long Beach, for me at least.
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Dear Viento Y Agua,
I would like to formally apologize for any misconceptions I had about you. I've been driving past since you opened, unwilling to stop and explore your attractive, Dia de Los Muertos-inspired interior for fear of having my heart broken again by yet another disappointingly trendy and unwelcoming coffee shop (yes, Portfolio, I'm looking at you). Even the promise of delectable drinks could not persuade me to enter your doors .
Tonight, however, was different. On a whim I decided not to go straight home from Second Street, but go for a walk instead, which eventually lead me to you. I was a bit tired and craved respite, so I decided to throw caution to the wind and step inside. And I'm so glad I did. :)
I was immediately struck by your cozy ambiance, inviting me to stay a while, put up my feet and relax among friends, and enjoy everything the cafe had to offer. No offputting looks greeted me, only the not-unpleasant sounds of eclectic music on the tannoy. There was a large queue in front of the register, but no one was complaining, content in the knowledge that the drinks they would soon be receiving would be worth the wait. Mine certainly was -- a handcrafted Mexican Mocha, exquisite in presentation, and absolutely delicious. I'm not certain it's the 'best mocha I've ever had', as some have claimed, but it *was* fantastic, not too sweet, beautifully made and definitely worth come back for again and again.
I sat outside for two hours reading my novel in the midday sun, sipping my mocha and feeling tremendously at ease. I was wrong about you Viento. You truly are a 'community coffee house', welcoming all to feast on the delights within without prejudice or pretension. Plus your bathroom is charmingly painted in lavender, and has clouds hanging from the ceiling, which made me ridiculously happy.
Do you forgive me? Oh, I do hope so, since I intend to return to try all the scrumptious drinks on your menu. And maybe some of those vegan cupcakes too. ;-)
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I'll probably be lambasted for saying this, but contrary to all the 5 stars, this place has some faults that most will not talk about or don't notice.
The coffee here is pretty good and the Mexican Mocha is a fun alternative for a late night sweet tooth, but I can't drink them every day. The sandwiches are also very good and I really like the cucumber infused water freely available. So what's wrong with Viento de Agua?
They offer free wireless, but the low chairs and couches next to coffee tables make it tough to actually use my computer off my lap. Yeah, I know its a laptop, but have you ever tried to work from your lap? It sucks for productivity. Ok, that's nitpicky, but it's one strike in my opinion.
The bigger issue is the way their socialist, tree hugger agenda is pushed down your throat the minute you wander into the joint. From the leftist books and newsletters to the tiny notes all over the place reminding you to be socially conscious, their politics are so pervasive it makes me want to club baby seals and cut down rain forests from the comfort of my monster truck.
On reviewer mentioned how nice it was that you could sit outside and read Karl Marx. I can't think of anything more cliche than reading Karl Marx outside a hippy coffee house. The dude probably had a goatee and a Che Guevara t-shirt while smoking clove cigarettes.
Will I get coffee there again? Yeah, but I won't be hanging out.
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You know, reviewing one's own favorite place in their city is a lot tougher than you think. I will give it a valiant effort though. By the looks of the reviews it appears "Viento" needs no help in the fact that they are slowly becoming one of the hot spots in the LB. The place looks like a potpourri of culture on the inside and the overall spirit of the place does just that. It captures an eclectic clientele.
It's All in the Details: Everything from a carefully placed water jug, to your avocado being carefully placed on your bagel with cream cheese to that wonderful crack of lemon pepper on top. The owner and his staff take great pride in what they prepare. Their lattes are top-notch. I have them pull me a shot while I wait because their espresso is the best in town. If you're not up for that kind of buzz, tone it down with a refreshing iced Yerba Matte tea. Packs a little punch and is cool going down. Their shining star is without a doubt though, The Killer Tomato. Fuggheddaboutit! Tomato bagel(or any of your choice), cream cheese on both sides, fresh basil(from their garden), tomatoes, avocado and lemon pepper. This thing will have you obsessed after one bite.
Other Hits: The Peanut Butter, Banana & Oats smoothie. My word this is not an ordinary shake. (I have them add just a shot of chocolate down the hole of the dome lid). Their signature Mexican Mocha seems to be all the rage for which I have never tried.
Mindfulness: "Viento" is not a place to pull up before work all in a rush and expect to get out of there like the cattle drives at larger coffee chains. Viento is a treasure to be savored, take your time and live in the moment. This is the type of place you tell everyone about but at times selfishly want to keep to yourself. Let go and share the experience. That is love you're feeling when you walk through the door.
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The Good::::
- earth conscience place
- good coffee
- interesting decor
- great art next door
- get coffee in a REAL MUG= awesome and eco-friendly
The Bad:::::
- seating is odd
- no smoking patio?? what the deuce?
- there is 1 typical "I am god's gift" barista there that i don't like
If they ever perform here again you should check out the
FALLOPIAN ARTOPIANS the LIVE COLLABORATIVE PAINTING TROUPE. very neat stuff.
Unfortunately for this place- the location kind of sucks and i think that's the only reason this place isn't more popular. If they were in Hot Java's location, this place would be amazing!
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Perfect. Need I say more? I have been meaning to come for a while and finally pulled the trigger on Eclectic Thursday. As I walked in, my face lit up. This is what I was looking for. Funky decor, eco conscious, alternative baristas who were super helpful and knowledgeable, and just a great feel.
I got the Mexican Moka- that's what they're known for, after all! I knew it would be a bit heavy but it was excellent. We sat at a small table talking, people watching, until the two artists did their performances. Even then, it wasn't overwhelming so it was rather easy to carry on a conversation.
This is the type of place I have been looking for and I finally found it. I wish some of the coffee shops in Belmont Shore would take notes- cheap wooden chairs and tables with corporate decor just don't qualify as places to hang out!
Support our local businesses, esp those conscious about our world! Give this place a shot!
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Friendly, both environmentally and otherwise. Great tea, coffee, and, surprisingly, bagel sandwiches. I love to see people taking pride in their workplace, and at Viento y Agua, they certainly do.
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Everything about Viento y Agua ROCKS! Great drinks, great music, great lounge, great artwork... there is a reason so many hang out here all day... I just wish they had a few more food options, the food they have is good, just very limited.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I always get the Captain Planet theme song in my head in passing the EARTH! FIAAAHHH! [WEEEND and WATAAAAHH] HEART! coffee house. Eh? No takers?
This is a great mellow hangout to entertain coffee drinks and snacks, art, studying, and chewing the fat, all within walking distance or a short bike ride away. Tom Miller even remembered me from 2D class like eight years ago! Peoplewatching the bikers from the AA meeting house next door is a bonus.
If the servers seemed curt, maybe they're just awkward, or maybe you were being annoying or indecisive, but then again LB is starting to feed into that hipster ego. Let it go. My manners motto is, "Politeness prevents spit in the food."
I think i wrote half my MA thesis here during long lunch breaks. A nice chill place to hang out during the afternoon with good drinks or an organic bagel with hummus. If you keep track of their myspace page they've got some excellent live acts coming through constantly. People that work here are always very friendly and make you feel at home. This place is good for the community!
I never have been a big coffee drinker. Yet in the past few months I get these inexplicable cravings for some java. It drives me nuts, and I've yet to find a really good cup of coffee that can appease the cravings.
The other night I was driving around town when the coffee monkey was on my back once again. Starbucks just doesn't cut it anymore; I recalled that Viento y Agua was in the neighborhood and that it had received good reviews. So I decided to investigate and see what all the hype was about.
I was not disappointed.
When you first arrive you are put at ease by the decor. It's vintage-thrift shop-yard sale-grandpa's den-hodge podge-style suggests that you can put your feet up and no one will give you a snooty look. The adjoining gallery has works from local artists on display too.
None of the furniture matches, yet it all goes together.
Then you take notice of all the assorted patrons. Just like Long Beach, this is a place that welcomes a little bit of everyone. There are the college kids, friends who have gathered together and are playing checkers, there are the coffee house standard characters like 'guy reading a book' followed closely by 'guy on a laptop'. Everyone is here, including me....I like it here and I haven't even ordered a drink yet.
The people are all different, yet they go together.
I had read about the Mexican Mocha and was intrigued. I asked the guy behind the counter what was in it. He told me it was made with Ibarra chocolate, I didn't let him finish. I was sold, I told him to make me one.
Ibarra chocolate from Mexico is used to make....Mexican hot chocolate. For me, the taste is nostalgic. It reminds me of my grandmother and mother who would make us the sweet treat on cold winter nights. The round bricks of Ibarra chocolate can be broken into wedges. The dark chocolate, cinnamon and sugar are melted into hot milk and mixed with freshly brewed coffee. Why didn't I ever think of making this before??
The ingredients are very unique, and they all go together.
The first sip was heaven. Rich, sweet, warm, spicy and I enjoyed every last drop while sitting at a counter. For a fleeting moment the coffee monkey was off my back and my craving had been satisfied.
This place is so close to my house that I could easily slip on some shoes, take a stroll and have a hot cup of Mexican Mocha in my hands within minutes. I'm a lucky girl! 5 stars!
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This is a great spot, so much better than the generic Starbucks!
Free Wi-fi and on Thursday's they have a great open mike!
I wish I could live down the street from Viento y Agua. I keep coming back here because I love their coffee, the atmosphere, all of the art work, and because I'm getting tired of your typical cookie-cutter, mainstream coffee stores.
The Mexican Mocha is definitely a crowd pleaser. However, sometimes I just want some tea and their Yerba Mate is excellent. It can take some time for them to make you your drink during peak hours, but as the sign next to the cashier, it's "Worth the Wait". For the most part I'm not grabbing coffee to go, but sitting down, studying, and enjoying the place.
The atmosphere is definitely unique and clearly shows the diversity of the long beach community. Every single time I walk in, I see new faces and I also see the regulars. Some people come in to study (like me), some to converse. Even the decor itself is quite diverse and ever changing. I'm glad to see that the layout of tables and chairs because it shows how this place is always trying to make itself better.
Half of this place is an art gallery, so it's always nice to stroll around on the other side of the joint and admire the work. I'm no artist, but it's not hard to appreciate someones passion and dedication on a piece.
Viento y Agua has laid back and relaxed feel, a dedication to making some good coffee, topped with local character. With the myriad of name-brand places in Long Beach, Viento y Agua just stands out.
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I'm always greeted by warm smiles every time I walk in to Viento y Agua. The coffee is excellent and the atmosphere is comfy and cozy. Thank you for feeding my caffeine needs.
A coffee place that sells kombucha too? Has a cool art gallery? Feels like you're hanging out in a friend's living room? Check, check, aaand check. Bela is the coolest, nice guy, friendly. I love how mismatched and gaudy it all looks. It seriously looks like every piece of furniture came from a different source... like they just drove around picking up chairs and couches people were throwing away. And for some reason this makes it feel like... home? They have a lot of "found" artwork too, which just adds to the feeling.
My favorite painting is one of a guy painting a sunny day while the world around him is dark and full of despair. Love it.
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Very cool local coffeehouse that I'll probably never visit again. That's because I live nowhere near this place. I came because a friend of mine was performing her better-than-Norah-Jones jazz piano skills on a brisk, quiet Thursday evening. The shop is located in a rather dreary section of Long Beach, but it seems like it's supporting the local art and coffee scene with ease.
I loved the feel of the place, reminding me of someone's junky but charming living room. Scattered chairs and tables are anti-Starbucks in their non-conformity while the excellent in-house roasted hazelnut coffee provided me the perfect accompaniment to swanky jazz tunes. Free internet and free local music makes this place the ideal caffeine haunt for studiers, conversers, and struggling artists alike. Just my kinda joint.
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I was biking by Viento y Agua earlier today and noticed that there was a guy outside reading Karl Marx. I was really pleased to see this. I'm glad Long Beach has a coffee house for those reading Karl Marx.
In addition to the excellent reading choices of its patrons, other great features of this coffee house include an incredibly friendly staff and good coffee. There's also the bike discount, which is great, and homey, distinctive furniture. In addition, much of the art is more interesting to look at than what you'll find at the other coffee places around town.
Lastly, the people there always seem fun and interesting, and it's located in a very convenient area.
Check it out, y'all.
Nowhere else does the coffee shop and art gallery hybrid work better than at Viento y Agua. Wind stirs the psyche and Water brews the tea. I find the idea of a hybrid to be an admirable triumph when a place really functions as both. Not only is there an art gallery with ample wall-space and lighting but the art featured is the most impressive I've ever seen at any art gallery, fusion or not. I tend to favor collaged art with a dialectical element so perhaps my appreciation is skewered. The art is thoughtful and well-constructed enough to be worth more than $1,000 as one of the fragments on canvas was labeled. The atmosphere in the coffee shop is as thrilling.
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A discount for riding your bike! A friendly staff and nice outlook of a crowd makes it comparable to Portfolio coffeehouse not too far down the street, however 10% off for rolling in and keeping it green with your bike is a really nice incentive. The music played here is usually more than perfect for ambiance and mood whether it be work, play or daydreaming. Portfolio for the nice array of regulars that many of us have more than likely become acquainted with; however, Viento y Agua for it's Pirate Chai and character.
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I love this place. I come here for my knitting group every first and third wednesday of the month. The food is great. So is the tea. The people working there are always nice. The art in the gallery is brilliant. Love the comfy artistic feel. Definitely stop by there if you're visiting down there.
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This is probably the closest to Friends' Central Perk on TV.... with a flower child feel to it.
I was there to support our man Aime (Fran D.) for his performance as part of the Handmade Revolution. It was like mini festival with craft fair replacing the art gallery (I didn't get a chance to see art gallery displayed in that room) and a lineup of various independent musicians playing
The coolest performance ...other than our man Fran's electric performance...was a folk singer who sang about a amputee couple who would ride a tandem bicycle every day. One of them is amputee in the arms while the other is an amputee in the legs. While one would would pedal, the other one would steered the tandem bicycle.
Yeah...creepy and weird. Yet I feel like home at this place!
I have tired to coffee with soy milk and one of their home made tea. Both are very delightful to drink while you are enjoying the atmosphere at this place. I have to say this place has the cool ambiance of free spirited bunch from all walks of life. It is something that fits very well in that portion of the neighborhood in Long Beach.
Since they are so free spirited, they also very energy conscious at this place. They do not have Air Conditioner. In fact they have several fans running on the ceiling to conserve energy. They also promote plantings of trees and other bushes as they had a neighboring plant store to display one of the plants to encourage their customers about the environment.
Interestingly, I also noticed they offered a discount for people who can ride their bikes to the place instead of driving. If you park your bike in the designated bike rack, you will receive a little discount as token of their appreciation for helping with the environment.
They really took Earth Day serious.
The place do offered many different variety of coffee, iced tea drinks, and other healthy snacks. There are also rooms for displays of crafts and arts from local artists with live performances periodically being played there.
In something of a quirky place, this Bohemian-like coffee house will definitely etched in my mind as the place to go when I am down in Long Beach.
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Unofficial Yelp Notes
Event taken place on Sept. 1, 2007: http://www.yelp.com/ev...
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Best in Long Beach for working/studying. Most chill music, nicest people, comfiest seating. Service could be quicker (i.e., under half an hour), but that's just the kind of environment they nurture, and they're friendlier than anyone you'll ever meet. Only issue for me is that moms tend to bring their young kids here in the morning, so I'd avoid it pre-noon. Weekend music rocks, and the fact that they're vegan means they should alone be granted top status.
This is my favorite coffee shop in Long Beach, and not because of the coffee. I am in love with their Mexican mocha, hot chocolate, and vegetarian bagel sandwiches. (The Killer Tomato being my #1) Service can be slow sometimes because they only have, on average, like 1 or 2 people preparing the food and drinks, but I've yet to have a below excellent mocha or bagel, so it's well worth it.
The ambiance alone makes this place worthy enough for a visit. VIento y Agua is divided into an art gallery, with new art probably around every 2 to 3 weeks, and the cafe which itself has art pieces for people to gaze upon. I find myself thinking of any random excuse to take my friends for hot chocolate or just to chill, talk for hours, or enjoy some of the shows and open mics that make this place hip and keep it close to its focus on the community.
Everybody I've taken here has fallen in love with it, as I have, maybe because it's quirky, maybe because of the art, maybe because of the food...but mostly because of the positive vibes it gives, and how easy it is to feel as if you're at home. This is a gem in Long Beach and what Long Beach should continue growing into, instead of the continued gentrification and impersonal chain stores.
(BTW, if you ride your bike to Viento y Agua, you get a discount!!)
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They offer very friendly, comfortable atmosphere. Everybody who works there seems to love this place, which makes me love this place, too.
They have good beverage; my favorite is iced mexican mocha, blended. Cafe con leche is great, too. Their chocolate muffin makes me smile and their killer tomato sandwich makes me want to dance.
Free wi-fi is a big plus for students like myself who need to get out of their room to study. But if you want to study there, check their website to make sure they have no events going on. They always hold cool events in the evenings, and they can be very distracting if you just want to study. You'll end up sitting there and listening to the music or whatever that's playing on stage.
I'm a night owl and I always wish they were open later than 10pm!
------UPDATE---------
Apprently, they had some change in staff members, and since then, I'm sad to say, my experience here has been less pleasant. Please take orders correctly, please say sorry when you failed to do so, and please just believe us when we say there's cafe con leche on ice. Your owner recommended it to us on our first visit and it's been our favorite ever since. When you stare at us like we're crazy and tell us there's no such drink as iced cafe con leche, it makes us want to cry, missing the good old time.
We still love you, Viento y Agua, so please listen to us.
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Viento y Agua is the Best Earth-Friendly Coffee House in Long Beach. Excellent Coffee Drinks and Good Peeps.
There is a coffee house in Long Beach known for its wonderful coffee drinks, friendly atmosphere and friendly cool owner, the coffee house is Viento y Agua. Viento is a homey, non-pretentious coffee house that is home to diversity, art/creativity, and is a forum for community activists. Viento is an advocate for the environment, human rights, and the arts. They do everything right to bring the community together in a positive way, through their art shows, live musical acts, and open mic night. There is an African saying, "If I don't care for you, I don't care for myself." which expresses the African sense that our identity is bound up in our interrelatedness in others. This is the essence of community, and this is the essence of Viento y Agua. Viento believes in humanity. Viento is an advocate for the environment and recycling. They do right by serving all their in-house orders in ceramic mugs and providing patrons with real spoons instead of wood stirrers to reduce landfill waste. They recycle and offer patrons a 10 % discount, if they bike ride to Viento, instead of driving.
Viento not only hosts great community events, but they produce some excellent, quality beverages and killer good bagel sandwiches, like the love bagel and killer tomato sandwich (my favorites). Viento has excellent organic coffee (better than Starbucks/CBTL's drip coffee in my book), good latte mates (Argentine tea), excellent Mexican mochas (with real Ybarra chocolate; better than my abuelita used to make -- God rest her soul). They also make freakin' good Macha green tea smoothes. But I have to warn you, the service is a little slow and the baristas have a tendency of screwing up orders from time to time. Those baristas are really sweet, but the multiple times I have been there, they have screwed up my order. Argh! I keep hoping they will get it right one day. Still, the baristas do make good quality drinks from their premium products.
Viento y Agua is phenomenal coffee house in Long Beach that produces quality coffee and tea drinks with a slice of good beliefs.
Check out Viento's my space account, if you are interested in their events, art shows and musical acts at: Myspace.com/vientoyagu...
Enjoy a cup of coffee and allow inspiration to come to you. It feels like hanging out with your animal rights activist, green, world traveler friend on a lazy Saturday.
I can't comment too much on the coffee selection because I keep it simple with a regular cup of java. (Non of that super sugary, fat laden mochalicious frappasomething) and I'm perfectly fine with that. But they do have some really great brews and unusual hot beverages such as the Mexican Mocha and a yorba tea. The food selection consists of vegetatian bagel sandwiches and vegan baked goods. As an omnivore, I don't know how I feel about that.
It features some pretty neat community activities like spoken word, local bands and a knitting circle that makes this place feel authentic a and honest. What they offer is real and special you'd be a fool not to stop by.
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Before you read this, note that I am a huge coffee snob. I like my beans roasted in house, espresso ground perfectly with a 35lb tamp and a barista who times pulls.
The coffee shop itself is digestible, but here are some strike outs:
1) coffee is mediocre at best
2) coffee art is pathetic
3) seating area is a bit uncomfortable
4) when asked where the beans were from, baristas weren't able to answer.
Is it a good place to hang out? Sure enough, but I have yet to find a true coffee house, where the espresso is smooth and strong, wonderfully plush chairs with a seating arrangement that invites conversation amongst strangers. I miss Seattle. Totally totally miss Seattle.
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***This is my first review in almost six months, bear with me as I am a little rusty*****
Unique. Trendy. Long Beach.
Another coffee shop, that has seemingly littered the town; it provides a cozy place in which to sit back discuss and makes you feel like you are part of the scene. Not as popular as Portfolio's or Hot Java, Viento y Agua Coffee House and Gallery provides a great place to meet with friends or discuss business.
Couple that with a large menu selection, (and the fact that they serve yerba mate tea) it makes for a great experience that has me coming back.
Another plus, the crazy half bench seats, that are situated at the high tables when you first walk into Viento. This is a hole in the wall and a great place for locals.