CAJÉ Coffee Roasters

CAJÉ Coffee Roasters near UCSB in Isla Vista is the original location of a small local chain, which also has a shop in Santa Barbara. It's busy and social, with lots of plants, local art, outdoor seats and free wifi, and it's open later than most college cafés.

They make their own almond milk, so the iced caramel latte with almond milk is the one to try. The flat white is a good test of the espresso, and the blended CAJÉ latte is the sweet pick. The drip uses an Ethiopian coffee. For food, there's a mushroom cheese bagel sandwich with tomato and avocado, a garlic chicken wrap, plus bagels and smoothies.

The regulars are mostly UCSB students using it as a study spot, along with longtime locals and the brunch crowd. It's street parking only, which gets busy during the school year, and the restroom is next door at the pizza place.