"I recently checked out the new Hidden Fortress in Santa Cruz, and it was fantastic! I got the Coco Loco iced coffee with oat milk, and it was amazing. It was actually recommended by one of the employees, so if you're not sure what to get, I would definitely recommend it! The Mexican mocha snickerdoodle cookie was also great. The space also looked super nice; I loved the art, and the staff was really nice and welcoming, which made the vibe even better. It's just a quick 12-minute drive from Cabrillo, so I'll definitely be back! I forgot to mention that they do offer a 25-cent discount if you bring your own cup, which is a nice bonus!"

"Traveling from New Zealand we find it hard to find a Kiwi quality coffee, but here it is! Compact space saving site, the guy in charge knew his craft and made 4 different coffees with ease. Highly recommend."

"I tried to buy an americano at the farmer's market. I order a medium. I ask the guy, "does that come with two shots?" He says no. One. I'm like, um, there are three sizes, small, medium and large and they all have different prices. Do they all get one shot. Yes, he says. So, I ask, the extra dollar or more for each larger size is just for more hot water? He stands there thinking for a while. Yeah, I guess so he says. He says I can get a small, medium or large and they all come with one shot and then I can pay something like $1 or $1.50 to add shots. I tell him forget it, but I do buy my friend her iced chai for $7.75. Then, I walk around to the window and ask a person who appears to be the boss whether those are really the prices, or if the employee maybe passed through a couple of grades when he should have been held back. "Are all three sizes of americanos supposed to get one shot and the price difference between them is to cover the cost of more hot water." She responds, exasperated, "Look, my costs have been going up! Everything is more expensive." I say, sure (I don't say that companies are using that excuse to pass on increased costs at a 15x multiplier, i.e. my costs went up $0.10 per cup and so I raised my price per cup $1.50 for an additional $1.40 profit per cup that had nothing to do with costs). I calmly respond that this wasn't my question. My question was whether all three sizes of americanos, which all have different prices all get one shot of espresso. She appears more irritated. She's sweating (not because of my questions, but probably because making espresso drinks while standing is more exercise than an ordinary American is accustomed to). She responds, "There hasn't been time to train everyone." Two aggressive, very old women waiting for their coffee tell me, "Leave her alone. Just move along. Move along..." and one makes a shooing motion with her hands and laughs. I decide to avoid elder abuse charges, stop asking questions and walk away. The majority buying coffee here don't care how much it costs, nor if they were overcharged. I think a lot of people in Santa Cruz fall into two groups: people who don't care how much things cost because they have big gains from tech stocks, and people who don't care because they are using credit cards, and work mostly to rent a small apartment and overpay for basic needs as a lifestyle identity activity (i.e. I can really afford to shop at Walmart, but I'm here at the farmer's market paying $25 for strawberries and $8 for a cup of coffee because I'm "living the dream." Farmers markets used to sell good quality produce for cheaper than the grocery store BECAUSE SELLERS DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY RENT, ELECTRICITY, INSURANCE FOR THE BUILDING, ALL SORTS OF EXPENSES. Sort of like food trucks. Sellers at farmers markets have way lower overhead than folks with a store for the sales they make there. But the romantic idea of farmers markets allowed sellers to actually charge more than high end grocery stores for the same produce (most farms that sell at farmers markets also sell to grocery stores). Two weeks ago, organic strawberries at the farmers market were $25 for three small baskets. People bought enthusiastically. Today, $10 for the same. Functioning markets don't have that much price disparity. "It's to pay workers a living wage!" How much are you paying them? "None of your business." "It's because my costs have gone up so much!" How much per unit did your costs go up? "None of your business." Companies are supposed to set prices at the maximum people are willing to pay. Crazy people are the source of most price inflation in Santa Cruz. Even to the extent of getting angry when someone asks a question. I may pay an attractive young person to wear overalls and sell organic strawberries to old people with more money than good sense for $25 that I buy for $2.50 in Watsonville. Give them what they want... even if it's crazy. Folks in Watsonville are smarter. They pay 20% of these prices for the same stuff no lifestyle identity fantasy included."

"I get the breakfast sandwich at the Scott’s valley farmers market and think it’s the best I’ve ever had. It’s cheesy, herbaceous and acidic w the onions. Unique and so satisfying."

"I heard good things about the chai here, but it wasn't what I was looking for. Strong honey flavor overwhelmed everything, but it was also somehow sour? No detectable ginger or cardamom."