Huntington Beach is best known for plenty of things, including surfing, beach volleyball, and bros, but until recently, specialty coffee was an afterthought. Growing California chains like Portola Coffee Lab (Lot 579) and Philz Coffee (Pacific City) planted their respective flags in the past year, and I’ve also seen the rise of friend-fueled a newbie called Coffee For 2.

Longtime friends Vivian Nguyen and Winn Hoang crafted a modern coffee bar at the base of a mixed use development called Windsor Apartments near the Bella Terra shopping mall. Glass and steel gives way to a relaxing setting that consists of reclaimed wood, plants, cushioned lounge seating, and a central communal tree-cut table. A white counter hosts a sleek red three-group Nuova Simonelli Black Eagle espresso machine, nitro cold brew and pourover.

Coffee For 2 features specialty drinks like the Espresso Tonic, Cuban Cortadito, and Lavender Latte, but I opted for a basic Cappuccino ($4) that displayed the requisite artistry and balance.