Tender Loving

Gem Fontana

Tender loving coffee at farmers market. Had a mocha and my friend had a lavender mocha. Perfect for a sunny Saturday.

melony burns

Visited this morning for the first time! I'll be back! Staff friendly and kind. A good cup of joe!

David Wolper

Super nice staff and super good coffee. Bonus: When my wife asked if the coffee was conflict free, shade grown, organic coffee; the answer was yes.

I've been snagging a latte and some food for the last few weeks for my first semester at CSU Chico. Every single time in greeted by the warm staff and the coffee is always amazing. I, myself, am not a vegan but I do prefer to avoid meat and dairy products when and where I can and the options here make it so flipping easy to forget about meat. Love everything about this cafe!

-simple biscuit - 10/10 excellent -southwest burrito - 8/10 very good but could have been warmer and cheese wasn't quite melted -ricotta toast - 9.8/10 excellent, maybe only a bit higher quality bread could have made it a full ten Would definitely return to try more! Love that all the food was vegan

Wonderful environment and my caramel latte was so yummy. Perfect portions of avocado toast for our group and super dog-friendly!

Pleasant staff, good espresso, and a culinary magician behind the counter. I didn't know a vegan grilled cheese could be this good. It's a bit of a walk for me, but always worth it.

Upon a recent morning, finding myself possessed of both leisure and a modest desire for refreshment, I ventured into an establishment bearing the gentle and affectionate title of “Tender, Loving Coffee Shop.” I confess, dear reader, that I anticipated nothing more extraordinary than a cup of warm beverage and perhaps a quiet corner in which to collect my thoughts. What I encountered instead was an affair so peculiar that I feel compelled to record it for the benefit of future patrons. Upon crossing the threshold, I was greeted not by the customary bell, but by a solemn chime resembling the toll of a distant chapel. Three attendants emerged at once, each attired in garments of such unusual cut and color that I momentarily wondered whether I had intruded upon a private theatrical rehearsal. One carried a ledger of impressive size, another bore a steaming kettle, and the third held aloft a small brass instrument whose purpose I could not immediately discern. The menu, rather than being printed upon paper, was presented to me in the form of a great leather-bound tome, its pages filled with elaborate script and flourishes. Among its offerings were beverages with titles so enigmatic as to border upon the poetic: “The Reverie Tonic,” “The Scholar’s Respite,” and “The Elixir of Tempered Fortitude.” Feeling adventurous, I selected the latter. While awaiting my order, I surveyed the room and found the seating arrangements to be of a most unconventional nature. Instead of chairs, the establishment provided a variety of wooden stools carved into the likenesses of various woodland creatures. I seated myself upon a fox of respectable craftsmanship, though its expression suggested mild disapproval. Presently, the attendants commenced what they referred to as “The Ceremony of Steeped Intentions.” The lights dimmed, a faint mist arose from some unseen contrivance, and the brass instrument produced a tone both haunting and unexpectedly cheerful. The attendants recited a brief verse concerning the virtues of patience in the brewing of coffee, after which they bowed deeply to the assembled patrons — of whom I appeared to be the sole representative. My beverage arrived in a cup of unusual geometry, possessing twelve sides and a handle shaped like a serpent. The Elixir of Tempered Fortitude proved to be a most invigorating concoction, though its flavor suggested that the beans had been persuaded, rather than compelled, to surrender their essence. At one point, an elderly gentleman seated near the window rose abruptly, declared that he had “at last deciphered the message,” and departed with great haste. The attendants applauded his revelation, though its nature was not disclosed to me. Sensing that further mysteries might soon unfold — and wishing to preserve what remained of my composure — I took my leave with polite haste. I departed with the impression that Tender, Loving Coffee Shop is less a purveyor of beverages and more a sanctuary for the whims of the eccentric and the contemplative. I recommend it to any traveler who delights in curiosities, provided he enters with an open mind and a steady constitution.

I got a peppermint mocha cold brew with peppermint foam, one of the best drinks i’ve had at a coffee shop. Staff is always so friendly and polite! Love this place!

Favorite cozy Chico coffee shop with enjoyable atmosphere and tasty coffee for a good price. Love this part of Chico! ; )

Their Greek wrap and breakfast burritos are the stuff of legend. Everything is house-made and cooked right in front of you, which makes the experience feel extra special. Add in their in-house roasted coffee and espresso plus the cozy atmosphere, and you’ve got one of Chico’s true gems.

Ava Moon

Favorite cozy Chico coffee shop with enjoyable atmosphere and tasty coffee for a good price. Love this part of Chico! ; )

Allen

Upon a recent morning, finding myself possessed of both leisure and a modest desire for refreshment, I ventured into an establishment bearing the gentle and affectionate title of “Tender, Loving Coffee Shop.” I confess, dear reader, that I anticipated nothing more extraordinary than a cup of warm beverage and perhaps a quiet corner in which to collect my thoughts. What I encountered instead was an affair so peculiar that I feel compelled to record it for the benefit of future patrons. Upon crossing the threshold, I was greeted not by the customary bell, but by a solemn chime resembling the toll of a distant chapel. Three attendants emerged at once, each attired in garments of such unusual cut and color that I momentarily wondered whether I had intruded upon a private theatrical rehearsal. One carried a ledger of impressive size, another bore a steaming kettle, and the third held aloft a small brass instrument whose purpose I could not immediately discern. The menu, rather than being printed upon paper, was presented to me in the form of a great leather-bound tome, its pages filled with elaborate script and flourishes. Among its offerings were beverages with titles so enigmatic as to border upon the poetic: “The Reverie Tonic,” “The Scholar’s Respite,” and “The Elixir of Tempered Fortitude.” Feeling adventurous, I selected the latter. While awaiting my order, I surveyed the room and found the seating arrangements to be of a most unconventional nature. Instead of chairs, the establishment provided a variety of wooden stools carved into the likenesses of various woodland creatures. I seated myself upon a fox of respectable craftsmanship, though its expression suggested mild disapproval. Presently, the attendants commenced what they referred to as “The Ceremony of Steeped Intentions.” The lights dimmed, a faint mist arose from some unseen contrivance, and the brass instrument produced a tone both haunting and unexpectedly cheerful. The attendants recited a brief verse concerning the virtues of patience in the brewing of coffee, after which they bowed deeply to the assembled patrons — of whom I appeared to be the sole representative. My beverage arrived in a cup of unusual geometry, possessing twelve sides and a handle shaped like a serpent. The Elixir of Tempered Fortitude proved to be a most invigorating concoction, though its flavor suggested that the beans had been persuaded, rather than compelled, to surrender their essence. At one point, an elderly gentleman seated near the window rose abruptly, declared that he had “at last deciphered the message,” and departed with great haste. The attendants applauded his revelation, though its nature was not disclosed to me. Sensing that further mysteries might soon unfold — and wishing to preserve what remained of my composure — I took my leave with polite haste. I departed with the impression that Tender, Loving Coffee Shop is less a purveyor of beverages and more a sanctuary for the whims of the eccentric and the contemplative. I recommend it to any traveler who delights in curiosities, provided he enters with an open mind and a steady constitution.

Marlena Davisson

I got a peppermint mocha cold brew with peppermint foam, one of the best drinks i’ve had at a coffee shop. Staff is always so friendly and polite! Love this place!

Kyle Mueller

Pleasant staff, good espresso, and a culinary magician behind the counter. I didn't know a vegan grilled cheese could be this good. It's a bit of a walk for me, but always worth it.

Gabrielle Zachoszaj

I've been snagging a latte and some food for the last few weeks for my first semester at CSU Chico. Every single time in greeted by the warm staff and the coffee is always amazing. I, myself, am not a vegan but I do prefer to avoid meat and dairy products when and where I can and the options here make it so flipping easy to forget about meat. Love everything about this cafe!

Nick Tustin

-simple biscuit - 10/10 excellent -southwest burrito - 8/10 very good but could have been warmer and cheese wasn't quite melted -ricotta toast - 9.8/10 excellent, maybe only a bit higher quality bread could have made it a full ten Would definitely return to try more! Love that all the food was vegan

Ryan Cruse

We go here on occasion, they have breakfast tacos. My wife loved them and also loves the mocha. I always get the chai, it's only okay, the Chico chai from the market is the best I wish somewhere else made it like that. This place has indoor self seating but can get busy so secure a spot before ordering food. Staff is really friendly.

This is a small quaint vegan coffee shop that offers vegan food. The cook and cashier are friendly and quick. My favorite is the lavender latte. Ordered to enjoy there it is made with oat milk, if ordered to go you can choose almond milk. Wether you are vegan or not you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend you venture over and try them out. The vegan chili is a flavorful bowl of comfort. It will have saying Mmmmmm!

Teleen Santillan

This is a small quaint vegan coffee shop that offers vegan food. The cook and cashier are friendly and quick. My favorite is the lavender latte. Ordered to enjoy there it is made with oat milk, if ordered to go you can choose almond milk. Wether you are vegan or not you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend you venture over and try them out. The vegan chili is a flavorful bowl of comfort. It will have saying Mmmmmm!

I really see no reason to go. Unless you are vegan and you have a fair bit of money to spend, there is no need to go. Everything is expressive and the only allure i see is that it's vegan. I got a breakfast sandwich and one piece of avocado toast for $21.37 with a 20+ minutes wait, and it was just ok. Maybe i would've loved it if i was vegan, but as it stands, i dont think non-vegans should go here

Food: Excellent. I've never been disappointed by the food. Service: Poor. I've hesitated posting a public review because this is literally the last vegan joint in town. I even contacted the owners directly through their website last year because I really don't want this place to disappear. I never heard back, but that's okay because it wasn't the end of the world. Just wanted them to know of my experience(s). The experiences were: The employees weren't acknowledging me when I would come in, not in any way whatsoever, and even when they were ready to take my order, they wouldn't even say hi or anything. It always just felt cold to me (reminiscent of the holier than thou attitude I would get from Naked Lounge staff back in the day). The second thing was, when placing an order online, and finding out it wasn't ready by the time it said it would be ready, I would place an online order again the next time, and give it an extra 10-15 mins AFTER the pickup time before heading down to pick it up, but my food still wasn't ready. So, I stopped going for a bit because I just got tired of it. I also thought, maybe they just don't like dealing with the online orders, or maybe the online ordering system is messed up and the time it gives you is just way off or something. But sometimes a half hour would go by before I'd even head over there, and still no food. And when I stood there waiting to pick it up, minutes would go by before they even asked me what I was there for. So then today, finally after months of not going, I decided to try one more time. This time, I phoned in my order, so that I would talk to a person and know exactly when I should come and get my food. They open at 8 am, so I called at 8:19. I was told that the oven was not heated up yet (!!!) so my food would be done in 40 mins. So my food would be done by 9 am, she told me. Fine, good, I placed my order, knowing I should give them a little buffer. I get over there at 9:15 and guess what? My food wasn't ready. I've only been ordering for myself this entire time, one item, so it's not like I'm ordering for the entire office or something. If they open at 8 am, wouldn't it make sense to have the oven up and running before people start ordering food? I noticed three other people standing around waiting, so I know it wasn't just me this time. So, I didn't get my food until 9:20, an entire HOUR after I placed my order - and this time I placed my order with a human being. There is no way a burrito should take this long to make. No way. And it's every time. Every single time I place an order, it seems to take longer, and longer, and longer. So, I think I'm done. I don't want to go back. It's not worth it. I love the food, but not if it's going to take a minimum of an hour to make it. Especially if I'm leaving work to go pick it up, and having to sit there and wait for food that should've been ready for me when I arrived. Also, the music playing over the speakers this morning was way too loud. Sitting and waiting for my food, while listening to the loud music and a couple trying to talk over the music, was too much. Straw, camel's back, I guess.

I love a vegan cafe and I love the vibe of this place. However, they really need to work on their service. There should not be one person manning the espresso machine and taking orders, and chatting it up with customers. There was a second person there working who was just socializing with customers. It was not busy when I went but I waited at least 15 minutes for a simple order.

Rebecca Walton

I love a vegan cafe and I love the vibe of this place. However, they really need to work on their service. There should not be one person manning the espresso machine and taking orders, and chatting it up with customers. There was a second person there working who was just socializing with customers. It was not busy when I went but I waited at least 15 minutes for a simple order.

Galen Wahl

I really see no reason to go. Unless you are vegan and you have a fair bit of money to spend, there is no need to go. Everything is expressive and the only allure i see is that it's vegan. I got a breakfast sandwich and one piece of avocado toast for $21.37 with a 20+ minutes wait, and it was just ok. Maybe i would've loved it if i was vegan, but as it stands, i dont think non-vegans should go here

Sarah Downs

Food: Excellent. I've never been disappointed by the food. Service: Poor. I've hesitated posting a public review because this is literally the last vegan joint in town. I even contacted the owners directly through their website last year because I really don't want this place to disappear. I never heard back, but that's okay because it wasn't the end of the world. Just wanted them to know of my experience(s). The experiences were: The employees weren't acknowledging me when I would come in, not in any way whatsoever, and even when they were ready to take my order, they wouldn't even say hi or anything. It always just felt cold to me (reminiscent of the holier than thou attitude I would get from Naked Lounge staff back in the day). The second thing was, when placing an order online, and finding out it wasn't ready by the time it said it would be ready, I would place an online order again the next time, and give it an extra 10-15 mins AFTER the pickup time before heading down to pick it up, but my food still wasn't ready. So, I stopped going for a bit because I just got tired of it. I also thought, maybe they just don't like dealing with the online orders, or maybe the online ordering system is messed up and the time it gives you is just way off or something. But sometimes a half hour would go by before I'd even head over there, and still no food. And when I stood there waiting to pick it up, minutes would go by before they even asked me what I was there for. So then today, finally after months of not going, I decided to try one more time. This time, I phoned in my order, so that I would talk to a person and know exactly when I should come and get my food. They open at 8 am, so I called at 8:19. I was told that the oven was not heated up yet (!!!) so my food would be done in 40 mins. So my food would be done by 9 am, she told me. Fine, good, I placed my order, knowing I should give them a little buffer. I get over there at 9:15 and guess what? My food wasn't ready. I've only been ordering for myself this entire time, one item, so it's not like I'm ordering for the entire office or something. If they open at 8 am, wouldn't it make sense to have the oven up and running before people start ordering food? I noticed three other people standing around waiting, so I know it wasn't just me this time. So, I didn't get my food until 9:20, an entire HOUR after I placed my order - and this time I placed my order with a human being. There is no way a burrito should take this long to make. No way. And it's every time. Every single time I place an order, it seems to take longer, and longer, and longer. So, I think I'm done. I don't want to go back. It's not worth it. I love the food, but not if it's going to take a minimum of an hour to make it. Especially if I'm leaving work to go pick it up, and having to sit there and wait for food that should've been ready for me when I arrived. Also, the music playing over the speakers this morning was way too loud. Sitting and waiting for my food, while listening to the loud music and a couple trying to talk over the music, was too much. Straw, camel's back, I guess.

They do not honor their hours. Planned to eat lunch. Hours say they are open till 2:00. They closed and would not serve us at 12:00. Nice atmosphere... But good luck on the hours of service.

Robert Dailey

They do not honor their hours. Planned to eat lunch. Hours say they are open till 2:00. They closed and would not serve us at 12:00. Nice atmosphere... But good luck on the hours of service.

I really wanted to love this place, but my experience left me disappointed. I ordered a decaf lavender latte, a love bug, and a lemon sweet roll, spending nearly $27 with the tip. Despite repeating my order three times, the process felt unorganized, and I waited a long time without any updates. It wasn’t particularly busy—there were only a few other people waiting or sitting—but it seemed the staff was struggling to keep up. When I finally got my drink, it wasn’t what I expected. A 20oz cup that’s half foam and leaking when set down just isn’t worth the price. While the flavor was okay, the overall experience didn’t make me want to return. I hope this feedback helps the business improve, as I can see potential here, but unfortunately, I can’t recommend it based on my visit.

Angela Gayheart

I really wanted to love this place, but my experience left me disappointed. I ordered a decaf lavender latte, a love bug, and a lemon sweet roll, spending nearly $27 with the tip. Despite repeating my order three times, the process felt unorganized, and I waited a long time without any updates. It wasn’t particularly busy—there were only a few other people waiting or sitting—but it seemed the staff was struggling to keep up. When I finally got my drink, it wasn’t what I expected. A 20oz cup that’s half foam and leaking when set down just isn’t worth the price. While the flavor was okay, the overall experience didn’t make me want to return. I hope this feedback helps the business improve, as I can see potential here, but unfortunately, I can’t recommend it based on my visit.