The Merchant

Easily hands down my favorite coffee shop in Long Beach. Only downside is no WiFi. But I’ve learned to love that too. My favorite drink is their lavender honey latte 🤤. Just lightly sweet (I usually order half sweetness at other places, but The Merchant gets it just right from the get go. Every single pastry is on point. The breakfast sandwich is super rich, but good. They sell an overly expensive (but totally yummy) breakfast burrito Wednesday through Sunday from their adorable trolley out front for $17.50. If you are a coffee snob this place will NOT disappoint. I get my lattes with almond milk and they do a great job with that here (unlike some places that can burn the milk). Also, the staff are wonderful. 🥰🥰🥰

Met up with some friends here to chat on a Monday morning. The shop was quite busy, and there were only two staff working, so the wait was a bit long. I ordered a seasonal drink called the Lovers Leap Latte, which turned out to be a tea-based latte. Not really my favorite. In hindsight, I probably should’ve asked what it was before ordering… but I was totally obsessed with the name.😂 Cozy spot for catching up with friends, just expect a wait during peak hours.

The Merchant is one of my favorite coffee shops, the workers are amazing and keep the energy going. The pasteries are amazing as well, a little pricey but thats just how it is everywhere. They also partner with local services to hold events like game nights. Truly a coffee shop worth visiting.

There will likely be a wait, and if the line is outside, expect at least 30 minutes. Is it worth it? Decisively so. I settled on a pumpkin crème danish and banana pancake bread and they were absolutely delicious. The coffee menu is creative, with lots of unique flavors like lavender, sage, and honey along with all the classics. Coffee tasted great and the large size had 4 espresso shots. Baristas were super friendly and not rushed, despite the wait.

I come home to California frequently and love trying new spots with my family in Long Beach. This will be a go to spot from now on and kicking myself for not coming sooner even with it being on my list for so long. Great service, great friendly staff and great vibe inside and out. Cold brew and wife's latte were perfect and don't get me started on the soyrizo breakfast burrito, 5/5! Ill be back and im coming for those pastries next time.