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Nosey Neighbors Coffee & Donuts

Writer: Bri Kelly
Bri Kelly
Aug 21
6 min read

Updated: Aug 28

133 N Yale Ave, Claremont, CA 91711

A coffee shop that really understands the importance of branding and a good cup of coffee. This shop is a staple for the person that not only likes their iced coffee for the aesthetic but the actual coffee lover themselves. It is a cute shop where you can study, sit and gossip with your friends, and just relax with a fun little drink that looks back at you. This shop has coffee, food, and donuts (with its very own donut maker that you can watch while you order. You can tell there is a lot of love poured into this place and I look forward to seeing it expand.

4.7/5
4.7/5

The Review:

  • The Oat Milk Latte: This is what I love to look for in a simple oat milk latte. It is a lovely balance of bitterness from the coffee and creamy from the oat milk. It is a latte that doesn't need much added to it; honestly 10/10. Since I bought this with my coffee passport, I got their signature Mini donuts dusted with cinnamon sugar which are another 10/10.

    Iced Oat Milk Latte with Signature Mini Donuts
    Iced Oat Milk Latte with Signature Mini Donuts
  • The Featured: The Scooby Snack Latte. An "iced condensed milk latte with cookie butter cold foam and Scooby snack cookie. I of course got it with oat milk instead (they do not charge extra for oat milk) of the condensed milk. The latte itself is a regular latte (even Pumpkin Spice who got the condensed milk one made that comment by herself). The cookie butter cold foam was good but we also think that it was muted in flavor. The Scooby Snack was a Scooby Snack Graham cracker that I honestly waited too long to eat and it got soggy sitting on my cold foam. It's a decent flavored latte, the cold foam is left to be desired. 8/10

    The Scooby Snack Latte
    The Scooby Snack Latte
    The Scooby Snack Latte 📷: Pumpkin Spice
    The Scooby Snack Latte 📷: Pumpkin Spice

  • The Recommendation: The Honey Bunches. An oat milk latte with vanilla syrup and honey. I have been to Nosey Neighbors a few times and honestly this one is my favorite (yes even ahead of their mocha... shocking I know). It's light but creamy and it already comes with oat milk so I don't even have to worry about possibly shitting myself an hour later so that's always a plus. We know their basic latte is pretty good so the added vanilla and honey make it the perfect sweet treat all year round. Their baristas really know their stuff! 10/10

    The Honey Bunches Latte
    The Honey Bunches Latte

The Price:

  • The Oat Milk Latte: $5.95 before tax & tip (medium) (I got a large in the photo)

  • The Scooby Snack Latte: $7.95 before tax & tip (medium)

  • The Honey Bunches: $7.95 before tax & tip (medium)

    Editor's Note: they do not charge extra for oat or almond milk!

4.8/5
4.8/5

Accessibility:

Parking: There is one single accessible parking spot outside the shop on the corner of the street. It is a short walk away from the shop but it is usually taken like almost every time I have been. The lines for space are on the passenger's side and it leads directly to a ramp on the sidewalk.

Outside the Shop: There are two tables right outside the shop with two chairs each. They are light metal and can be easily moved or scooted out of the way. There is enough distance to put a wheelchair on the side so you're not blocking the sidewalk from passersby.

The Door: Get this guys; there's not only one door button... but TWO. One button is at the height of my arm while I'm sitting in my wheelchair and the other is closer to the ground if you prefer/need to press it with your foot. All this being said, the door is usually propped open on most days!

The Shop/payment: The shop is on the smaller side (180 sq ft) so this shop can be a little tricky to maneuver in. They do makeup for that by having a clear line of where to order. The counters are short but the payment is a little tall since the register is on an extra level of the counter (I always seem to have a problem when companies use the square system) so I do recommend using either TAP to pay or ordering online through their app (get those points!). I will also say you can only get rewards points by ordering through the app, there isn't a scanner to scan when you're at the counter. The pick-up counter is short as well, however, it is located right next to the hallway where their bathroom and patio is located, so things can get kind of crowded. I recommend just picking a spot and only really getting up when you need to, rather than waiting by the counter for your drink or food.

Seating: The seating is a tricky thing for this shop. Like I said, the shop is on the smaller side (what shop isn't in this historic town?) and if I'm being honest, most of the seating options aren't great for someone in a wheelchair. A majority of the seating is in the middle of the shop; a 4 top, three 2 tops, and two chairs with a small coffee table between them. Along the windows there is a lower accessible table (picture shown) that has no stool and a longer, taller table with three stools under it. Along the other wall (across from the two chairs) there is a medium tall table with about four stools under it. There is seating in the outdoor patio in the back of the shop; it has changed the couple of times I've been but, the last time I was there it was a large table with about eight chairs around it and, two 2 tops on the other side of the patio. The accessible seat is right near the door and when it's not too busy you're not really in the way; however I do feel slightly in the way because you are right where people enter the line. While speaking to Keith about my blog, he immediately addressed the seating issue without me even bringing it up, knowing it can be a concern of mine. He explained that he has moved around the seating multiple times and is still trying to figure out what works (which makes the patio seating changing make sense). While it's not the most ideal, I have managed to find seating in the shop when it's not too busy and still be comfortable when it is.


Update: Upon my last visit to the store, the seating in the interior has been changed and moved over. If you are sitting in the wheelchair designated spot, the seating across from you has been moved over and there is now so much more room! A big thank you to Keith for being aware of an issue and committing to change the store to what works best!


The Staff: I've touched lightly on my conversation with the owner and it is one of my favorite "staff" encounters. I have seen Keith outside on the patio during multiple visits, he is usually talking to people who visit and getting to know the community. Watching a few of these interactions and being in one myself I can tell he truly cares about his business. During our discussion I had mentioned this blog and his immediate response to what this blog was about was to address the seating situation in the shop. He was aware of how crowded it could be and told me he has played with the seating arrangement a few times (this was clear in my last visit as I mentioned). The staff themselves are knowledgeable and likeable. They have helped me when I need it (going as far to move a chair away from the table without me asking). I feel very comfortable asking for help in this shop.

The Bathroom: The bathroom is your typical single stall/all gender bathroom that requires a code to get into (provided when asked). It is more than spacious enough for my wheelchair (and can have enough room for you and a possible caregiver as well). They are usually pretty good at keeping it well stocked, though Pumpkin Queen ran into the issue of no toilet seat cover when she went. I am able to reach/use the soap as it's not at a weird angle or on the back wall for some reason, and they have paper towels to help dry your hands. Honestly, it's just your basic single stall bathroom.

Little Accessible Things I noticed: They change their straws depending on the season but the straws for their summer menu are these bendy straws that can actually get pretty long, so if you have trouble lifting your cup these straws might help. I mentioned the double door button at various heights, so, I just wanted to highlight them again. This isn't an accessible thing per say, however, they do have free water for anyone who needs it, by the front door.

Overall: I believe this company is a reason we should support small businesses. It has an owner who really cares about not only his business but the people who come and support it, there are baristas who know their stuff, and it is a place that seems to know its audience. They mix good coffee with fun branding and an eye for accessibility. Nosy Neighbors is on my list of the top coffee shops in Claremont. It is truly heartwarming to see a shop that not only understands quality but is committed to applying the feedback they get from their customers.

Final Score:

4.8/5 !!!!
4.8/5 !!!!

The Sleeve:


Coffee Passport Stamp:

Inland Empire Coffee Passport: Nosy Neighbors Coffee & Donuts
Inland Empire Coffee Passport: Nosy Neighbors Coffee & Donuts

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