The Serene Bean

This place is our go-​to coffee shop spring, summer, fall and winter! We always grab a coffee and take a stroll at the lake. In the summer, campers usually zombie across the street every morning for their beloved cup ‘o joe. Being on the younger side, my favorite hot drink is a hot chocolate, and my favorite cold drink is definitely their delicious lemonade. Why go down the slope when you can enjoy the great coffee and the great outdoors at the same time?

Appreciate this little kiosk for what it is and how fabulously close it is to campgrounds and cabins. They technically accept credit cards but rely on cell service– and let’s be honest, cell service is terrible to non-​existent up there, so do yourself and the line a favor and bring cash. (There is an ATM nearby, and you can get cash back if you are shopping at the general store nearby.) And yes, there is often a line even though they move fast, as you’ll often see someone leave with a round of coffees. They have nonfat milk, soy milk, some flavored syrups, etc. so you can have a fancy coffee the way you like or just some basic black. Breakfast burritos, oatmeal, cereal, etc. available as well. I can recommend the Mexicali mocha and Heath bar for some specialty drinks personally.
In the summer they are open at 6am so you can get your fix as soon as it’s light out, around the end of September morning hours change to 8am-​6pm for the fall, and as the seasons change, you could expect their operating hours to adjust for the demand. I would tell you to get a cup so they stay in business for all the times I want them, but the steady activity in the morning tells me everyone else would rather have a nice hot coffee made for them as much as I do. Oh, and yes, you can go there in pjs, your hair can be a rat’s nest, most everyone else does!
Some upgrades to the lake area mean many more nice benches along the shore, so enjoy your coffee even more with the easy walk and great view!

Been coming to this campsite for years, even before this little spot was set up. Went for a hike around the lake yesterday morning and finally decided to give this place a try. Had the Mexicali Mocha over ice, very good. $ 4.75 little pricey for the size. Good thing we got in line when we did, because more people started to come. Ladies behind the counter worked fast and were friendly. Would I try it again, maybe. We have coffee at the campsite, but had to give this a try.

As a serious espresso zealot, used to SF coffee-​quality java joints, I love the Serene Bean. One of those gems … pure bliss in the beautiful Sierra Nevadas. Hot or iced, the friendly folks at the Bean deliver a consistently fine cup of buzz that gets me ready for the trail or slopes.

Always a nice place for some good coffee or a cup of hot apple cider. The owners are top drawer too!

We come to Pinecrest every year after Labor Day when all the other tourists have left. The Serene Bean is the highlight of our trip! The owner is always friendly and the lattes are so good that we leave the cabin we stay at and boat all the way across the lake at least once a day! We are going back to Pinecrest in a couple weeks and my first stop will be «THE BEAN»
Mark

Awesome location for a little café. I hit it up last July while camping and caffeine-​withdrawing, and was pleasantly surprised. Today after a wonderful hot cappuccino after a day in the snow on the lake, I decided to give it some props.
Cute little wooden shack, friendly service, and surprisingly quick service despite being maybe 10 sq ft and having a number of patrons milling amount. I love that an indie little café is surviving up there, without a Starbucks or other cruddy chain.
Truth be told, slightly higher cost that normal for some drinks, but definitely of great quality and properly made (I’m a stickler for correct espresso drinks). $ 3 cappuccino, $ 3.50 latte

Quaint and convenient coffee shop to get you your caffeine fix while camping. I had the mexi-​cali mocha, which is a mocha made with Mexican chocolate. It was pretty tasty, and served fresh and hot. Prices were very high, which is to be expected at pinecrest. Service was not friendly the cashier seemed like she didn’t want to be there and didn’t even offer a thank you upon giving me my change or my drink.

Pinecrest Lake… my home away from home. I have been coming here ever since I was a baby. My family has a cabin up here, so it’s my go-​to spot for a weekend of relaxation and rehab from the bay…
I still remember coming up one summer and seeing that they had put in this little coffee booth. Within the next few years, it blossomed into the beauty that is now «The Serene Bean». The perfectly cute and über convenient coffee stand/​shop has everything from soy milk (for us lactose-​intolerant folks) to smoothies and mini cereal boxes for campers.
The barista’s are always super friendly and make a mean latte! I love to grab an iced triple soy latte after a jog around the lake in the morning… feels like I am being spoiled. What could be better than living it up with rich, toasty coffee beans, yet being out in the middle of the a beautiful lake, surrounded with trees and nature?! It feels unnatural, but sooo good!
I love you Serene Bean, you are a great addition to Pinecrest Lake… thank goodness Starbucks hasn’t moved that deep into the mountains!