First time trying the Ugly Mug! The staff was super sweet and chatty, and the atmosphere was perfect for meeting up with a friend (or studying if you can handle the noise and lack of WiFi). My matcha was lovely and I will definitely be back to try more options!

I went here on New Year's Day and Steve personally was handing out free drink certificates and talking with customers. The vibes in here are awesome and my peppermint mocha was delicious! Will visit anytime I'm back up in Soquel!

Yes, I behaved like a tourist, taking videos and pictures of my experience here. I just really liked the whole vibe. On top of that, our drinks were outstanding. So was service. I saw a gigantic double-crust pie in the display, and enjoyed my first slice of whatever olallieberry pie is. The barista warmed it up and added some whipped cream. My drink was the Donnie Darko, which was espresso, almond syrup, and heavy cream, iced. I wasn't expecting to love it so much. They have a lot of local zines and stuff to read, and they have some cute stuff for sale, like the slingshot journal I bought for $12. We need a place like this where I live.

I love the Ice chai at the Ugly Mug. I love that they always have events going on as well! Something always to do. People are always super nice and love being here

The best coffee shop on the west coast. Steve (the owner) has been a pillar in the Santa Cruz community for so many years and this sweet cafe represents so much for those of us who've frequented it over the the last couple of decades. It's a place to not only have consistently delicious coffe and snacks, but meet, convene, connect, and create. It's warm and welcoming, it's a safe place for the weirdos and queers, it's just loud enough to not be boring and be perfectly charming. The staff are cute and hilarious and personally, I LOVE hearing the chatter behind the counter - this is one of so many things that makes this place special. I could go on and on about my love for this special, sweet, delicious spot in soquel but do yourself a favor and go by for a damn fine cup of coffee if you haven't yet...and if you have, keep going to keep beautiful community hubs like this alive and thriving.

AMAZING coffee! Been here multiple times and have never had a bad drink. They have all the standards plus some unique coffee drinks that I haven't seen anywhere else (and are totally worth it). I recommend the Ray o' Frickin' Sunshine: espresso, soy milk, orange zest. They also have good coffee cake and rotating quiche flavors (some better than others). The Ugly Mug is on the corner of Porter and Soquel, hosts open mic nights, and is 100% the Santa Cruz/Soquel vibe. I highly recommend swinging by if you are in the area. Plenty of seating me good music. As for service, super kind baristas, laid back and cool, and the owner sometimes hangs around and he is so funny. If you want a no-fuss coffee place, this is the one for you.

Great service, tasty coffee and wonderful specials. I would try the rose matcha, it is floral and earthy.

I came here to meet a friend and had a great experience. Have been here often and enjoyed it in the past too. Their death by chocolate brownies are a must try. I always love looking at their fish tank too and the coffee shop is clean. I had fun looking at their stickers and bought one. I saw a barista scraping a sugar cube on a fresh orange to put in an espresso drink which gave me great ideas to try at home! Very great drinks my chai masala was good. The baristas were pleasant and very good at their job and I felt like the coffee shop was welcoming to all people of all types which I loved. I enjoyed looking at the octopus artwork on the ceiling. This coffee shop is good for relaxing, reading, studying, meeting friends, or having a snack. They have lots of different types of milks for you and there is a bakery nearby so you smell good fresh bread although I don't think they sell it there but I'm not sure. I give the ugly mug coffee 5 hearts!

It was a great place to meet with friends!!! I got coffee from a large coffee vessel in the back--nothing to brag about, but it dis give me a caffine rush. Next time, I will have them make a fresh cup. Also, I had a cookie, and the server heated it up to make taste fresher. What I love about The Ugly Mug is that it is a place where people can go to hang out with friends or meet new friends. You can find out what is going on in the community. If you are too shy to go up and talk to someone new, you can look at everything on the walls, and maybe take pictures. Food: 4 stars Service: 5 stars Ambiance: 5 stars

We came by on a Monday afternoon and loved everything about this place. Easy street parking right out front, quirky decor and inviting atmosphere, with lovely artwork on the walls, including awesome animal paintings by Wendy Maness (oil on canvas), even a fish tank and board games near the back, and diverse seating options. There were so many great items on the menu, including ice cream soda and ice cream floats, though I went with my regular, an iced mocha. It was amazing here, fresh, cold and creamy, chocolatey, just really great flavor enough to set it apart from all the other places I get it from. My bf got the earl grey tea and enjoyed his beverage as well. The staff here was outstanding, friendly and helpful. The employee even told us that every Monday customers can roll a dice, and if we get a double, we get $5 off a purchase. We didn't get a double, but that's still kinda cool. Even cooler, they do live music here on certain days, and possibly other events as well. Love this coffeehouse, and would defintely recommend it!