Roasting Water

With three locations in Orange County and a fourth in Long Beach, Roasting Water combines a boba tea and coffee shop with a Japanese merch and charms store. On our visit to the Westminster location – a tiny space with two miniature tables and four seats on the corner of a plaza – the vibe was merch store first, boba shop second, but that may vary from location to location. We chose the chain’s highest-rated shop to visit, hoping to have the best possible experience.

In earlier days, Roasting Water delivered its drinks in specially customized bottles – a practice since abandoned in favor of simpler branded cups – but their current promotion is better for customers: If your purchase totals $15, $25, or $40, you can choose a free pin, keychain, plushie, or bag. While inventory varies between locations, the Westminster store’s walls and display cases were loaded with what appear to be authentic Japanese items, ranging from Sanrio and Studio Ghibli characters to limited edition Takashi Murakami umbrellas. As drink prices aren’t super high ($5-7 each), getting an extra item with the purchase of a few drinks feels like a legitimately special deal, and you can shop there for gifts such as tableware, water bottles, and large plushies even if you’re not interested in beverages.