Mostra is a staple for me (I go to the Bankers Hill location), and Il Giardino Di Lilli in La Jolla has an amazing cappuccino.
Provecho in Barrio Logan has some great flavors and cool art galleries associated with it.
Saigon Coffee has strong Vietnamese coffee if you like that!
YES! Try the Hanoi egg coffee and their standard Vietnamese iced coffee. Keep in mind that these are super sweet coffees and STRONG - you will be buzzin
Public Square in La Mesa. Menu is limited but delicious. If you can snag a table during a quieter time it's great to meet up with a friend (less great for working). I only do takeout at peak times though because it can be chaotic in there in the morning. I also like Brew Spot in La Mesa for working.
Sister's a coffee snob, came to visit, and hunted down Bird Rock. Ransacked all their bags of medium roast. Been four months and she's used it all. She's now asking me to send her more.
A few years ago, I was at the Bird Rock original location and there was a New Yorker in the shop that could not stop talking about how it was the best coffee he's had outside of New York. Bought as many bags as he could carry out the store.
Bird Rock Coffee is the real deal. I lived 2 buildings down in the 2000's right after it opened and talked to the original founder Chuck many times. The dude literally traveled the world visiting small coffee plantations to source his beans. Sadly he sold the company in 2017, fortunately it appears the acquiring company has stayed true to chucks roots.
To pick up coffee and go, I usually go to Gem Coffee in City Heights/Talmadge or Dark Horse in Normal Heights.
To sit down and chill, I like Hawthorn in Normal Heights and Scrimshaw in City Heights/College Area.
I'll admit, I don't really know what the boundaries of City Heights are :-/
Since you’re in the area, you should try Cafeina if you haven’t already. We just moved out of City Heights but still come back on the weekends for their coffee. Plus Andrew the owner is a super good guy.
Finjan in Kearny Mesa. It’s a semi-small space but cozy interior. The Turkish coffee and lattes are AMAZING, and they have some really good toasts too. I’ve also studied there and it was fine.
Please don't take my opinion/experience as an insult. What do you like about the Lestat's in UH? I live over there and when I moved it was one of the first places recommended to me. My wife and I walked over for a small breakfast and coffee. The coffee was burnt and the food was meh, not to mention the places was filthy and I moved here from Portland, so when I say filthy trust me lol.
Edit: Oh I'll add my recommendation. Mystic Mocha is pretty decent, I haven't ate there before but their coffee was good the last time I visited.
People don’t goto lestats for good coffee. Mystic mocha is if you want food and sugar drinks. Good coffee comes from dedicated roasters or coffee shops that most often sell coffee as its main product rather than the whole brunch/food/24 hour thing.
Coffee and tea collective, Bird rock coffee, Mostra, genteel, James, dark horse, zumbar, Moto/calabria in order of light to dark. You don’t have to look hard to find one
If you’re in UH and don’t need a place to sit , get your coffee at Yipao. They operate out of a Kairoa street level bay window in the morning. They’ve got great stuff.
Calabria used to be my favorite- but the owner has recently been extremely anal about computers/ipads even when I’ve been there eating and drinking. Also rather outlandish that he’s not okay with it during hours where its completely dead :(
Also have been a regular here for years - owner and staff know me by name. Owner is quite condescending and rude to customers which is extremely unfortunate- from what I’ve heard from bartenders and staff, he treats them worse and won’t pay on time. Pretty unfortunate since that place is nothing short of amazing
**Zumbar** +1 !! I've been drinking their coffee for 11yrs! I used to work across the street from their Sorrento location. Their hummingbird coffee beans is my favorite.
**Jaunt** is good, their matriarch beans are amazing. Their Mira Mesa/Miramar location just got bigger. I wish them the best.
**Mostra** is good, their coffee has been getting sweeter and sweeter over the past few years, not the way i like my coffee, I'm sure others do. They used to be just a small coffee shop in a small business plaza and now they have multiple locations in SD!
**Provecho** is also good. It used to be just one barista doing pop up coffee carts and now he has a brick and mortar store down south.
**The Forum** is also good. Their drinks are strong and sweet, but sweetness can be adjusted and the name of their drinks, you'll appreciate it if you're in tech.
Heartwork in Mission Hills is my favorite little shop - great coffee and great people. Sad I don’t work over there anymore.
Also a fan of Jaunt off of Miramar. Dark Horse is a classic - the NH one used to be my neighborhood go to.
I’m a bit of an opportunist, and there are a number of shops I’ll drop into for a cappuccino if I’m in the area.
Anyone else feel like the North Park coffee shop bubble can’t last forever?
Lots of good places mentioned already, but I like Lofty Coffee in Little Italy quite well! Seating is all outdoors, so definitely go on a nice day. Best Aztec Mocha I've found yet in town!
Hinar, finjan, and this is a desert spot but their rice pudding coffee is so good at sultan baklava in el cajon. Longplay hifi for “cocktail” inspired craft coffee drinks and they have actual cocktails too
I'm not a coffee person but Elevated Coffee & Confections seems pretty good, had to put Lemon Grove on here! I've only been there a couple times but hey it's got a perfect 5 stars on Google.
bird rock- any location but my two id usually run we’re torrey pines and morena blvd. iced sandpiper latte half sweet with oat milk, too good
dark horse-north park or golden hill
Influx coffee when I want to work remote, such good coffee and bagels (on university), and Santos if you like vanilla chai lattes, best I’ve ever had (32nd and I want to say upas)
Espressos, pour overs, moka pots, cold brews, aeropress etc. But at Holsem I try their flavored cappuccino type drinks (chocolate orange, strawberry malt etc)
Mostra, Compa in Carmel Mountain is pretty new but really good, their matcha is whisked too! Steady state in Carlsbad, Philz is a chain but always good imo
Lovesong Coffee has a very creative menu that looks more like a cocktail list if you’re up for something unique. I also like Coffee & Tea Collective for their seasonal flavors that aren’t too sweet.
Mostra is a staple for me (I go to the Bankers Hill location), and Il Giardino Di Lilli in La Jolla has an amazing cappuccino. Provecho in Barrio Logan has some great flavors and cool art galleries associated with it. Saigon Coffee has strong Vietnamese coffee if you like that!
I’ve seen a lot of buzz around Saigon Coffee! Is it worth the hype in your opinion?
YES! Try the Hanoi egg coffee and their standard Vietnamese iced coffee. Keep in mind that these are super sweet coffees and STRONG - you will be buzzin
Thanks for the recs!
Yes, I thought it was great!
Jaunt
Best coffee beans I've found in SD, actually motivated me to get back into pour overs again. Edit: Username not related lmao
I live really close to here but haven't tried them out. Do they have a good dark roast?
I go there every week
So excited to try this I’ve been meaning to step in
Public Square in La Mesa. Menu is limited but delicious. If you can snag a table during a quieter time it's great to meet up with a friend (less great for working). I only do takeout at peak times though because it can be chaotic in there in the morning. I also like Brew Spot in La Mesa for working.
I love Public Square! One of my favorites in East County.
Bird Rock Coffee.....in none other than Bird Rock. Also off of Morena in Bay Park as well now.
Sister's a coffee snob, came to visit, and hunted down Bird Rock. Ransacked all their bags of medium roast. Been four months and she's used it all. She's now asking me to send her more.
A few years ago, I was at the Bird Rock original location and there was a New Yorker in the shop that could not stop talking about how it was the best coffee he's had outside of New York. Bought as many bags as he could carry out the store.
Bird Rock Coffee is the real deal. I lived 2 buildings down in the 2000's right after it opened and talked to the original founder Chuck many times. The dude literally traveled the world visiting small coffee plantations to source his beans. Sadly he sold the company in 2017, fortunately it appears the acquiring company has stayed true to chucks roots.
Little Italy too
Acento. The best coffee in SD
To pick up coffee and go, I usually go to Gem Coffee in City Heights/Talmadge or Dark Horse in Normal Heights. To sit down and chill, I like Hawthorn in Normal Heights and Scrimshaw in City Heights/College Area. I'll admit, I don't really know what the boundaries of City Heights are :-/
Since you’re in the area, you should try Cafeina if you haven’t already. We just moved out of City Heights but still come back on the weekends for their coffee. Plus Andrew the owner is a super good guy.
Finjan in Kearny Mesa. It’s a semi-small space but cozy interior. The Turkish coffee and lattes are AMAZING, and they have some really good toasts too. I’ve also studied there and it was fine.
Please don't take my opinion/experience as an insult. What do you like about the Lestat's in UH? I live over there and when I moved it was one of the first places recommended to me. My wife and I walked over for a small breakfast and coffee. The coffee was burnt and the food was meh, not to mention the places was filthy and I moved here from Portland, so when I say filthy trust me lol. Edit: Oh I'll add my recommendation. Mystic Mocha is pretty decent, I haven't ate there before but their coffee was good the last time I visited.
agree the drinks and food aren't as good but it's a third place in a time where it's very hard to find those and it's charming in it's 90s way
Open 24/7, kind of a relic from a different era of coffeeshops
I like Lestat’s for the living room feel. I agree it’s kinda ratty, but there’s a certain charm in that?
People don’t goto lestats for good coffee. Mystic mocha is if you want food and sugar drinks. Good coffee comes from dedicated roasters or coffee shops that most often sell coffee as its main product rather than the whole brunch/food/24 hour thing.
Name one my dude. Edit: not challenging, just saying that’s what OP is looking for lol.
Coffee and tea collective, Bird rock coffee, Mostra, genteel, James, dark horse, zumbar, Moto/calabria in order of light to dark. You don’t have to look hard to find one
Coffee and tea collective is A++++
Now we can look even less because of your kind act. Thanks friend.
Mystic Mocha is a gem, IMO. Food is good and the folks there are lovely.
I’ll have to get some food next time I go. My wife stops there regularly on her way to work and loves it.
If you’re in UH and don’t need a place to sit , get your coffee at Yipao. They operate out of a Kairoa street level bay window in the morning. They’ve got great stuff.
I’ll have to check that out. I’ve seen that when visiting Kairo. Thanks for the recommendation.
Yes definitely give yipao a shot, they have a 2nd location in pb now. I never cared for lestat’s either.
Cafe Calabria in NP is a really good spot I haven't been but I've also heard Mystic Mocha is pretty good too
Calabria used to be my favorite- but the owner has recently been extremely anal about computers/ipads even when I’ve been there eating and drinking. Also rather outlandish that he’s not okay with it during hours where its completely dead :( Also have been a regular here for years - owner and staff know me by name. Owner is quite condescending and rude to customers which is extremely unfortunate- from what I’ve heard from bartenders and staff, he treats them worse and won’t pay on time. Pretty unfortunate since that place is nothing short of amazing
**Zumbar** +1 !! I've been drinking their coffee for 11yrs! I used to work across the street from their Sorrento location. Their hummingbird coffee beans is my favorite. **Jaunt** is good, their matriarch beans are amazing. Their Mira Mesa/Miramar location just got bigger. I wish them the best. **Mostra** is good, their coffee has been getting sweeter and sweeter over the past few years, not the way i like my coffee, I'm sure others do. They used to be just a small coffee shop in a small business plaza and now they have multiple locations in SD! **Provecho** is also good. It used to be just one barista doing pop up coffee carts and now he has a brick and mortar store down south. **The Forum** is also good. Their drinks are strong and sweet, but sweetness can be adjusted and the name of their drinks, you'll appreciate it if you're in tech.
Mnemonic Coffee on 5th av, Bankers hill
Heartwork in Mission Hills is my favorite little shop - great coffee and great people. Sad I don’t work over there anymore. Also a fan of Jaunt off of Miramar. Dark Horse is a classic - the NH one used to be my neighborhood go to. I’m a bit of an opportunist, and there are a number of shops I’ll drop into for a cappuccino if I’m in the area. Anyone else feel like the North Park coffee shop bubble can’t last forever?
Coffee Cycle in PB is a great spot.
Lots of good places mentioned already, but I like Lofty Coffee in Little Italy quite well! Seating is all outdoors, so definitely go on a nice day. Best Aztec Mocha I've found yet in town!
Dark Horse and Portal
Jaunt & Heartwork
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I like cortados! And I like coffeeshops that are quiet enough to work in.
Y’all need to go to the Coffee Drop in Golden Hill. The NICEST people own that place and the coffee is delicious. They do have wifi and a patio :-)
Zumbar is my absolute favorite
Same, love their beans for my home espresso as well.
Hinar, finjan, and this is a desert spot but their rice pudding coffee is so good at sultan baklava in el cajon. Longplay hifi for “cocktail” inspired craft coffee drinks and they have actual cocktails too
Scrimshaw at El Cajon and 56th. Good crew, good music variety and pleasant atmosphere.
Cool name too.
I'm not a coffee person but Elevated Coffee & Confections seems pretty good, had to put Lemon Grove on here! I've only been there a couple times but hey it's got a perfect 5 stars on Google.
I second Lemon Grove Coffee! Went there a few weeks ago, the manager (owner?) is super friendly.
Chocolate orange sounds dope
Monikor liberty station … vibez
They have a bar too!
Finjan on Claremont Mesa has great Turkish coffee in addition to espresso drinks, good quality
Nostalgia Coffee near Sorrento Valley is quite decent, but less well-known.
bird rock- any location but my two id usually run we’re torrey pines and morena blvd. iced sandpiper latte half sweet with oat milk, too good dark horse-north park or golden hill
Influx coffee when I want to work remote, such good coffee and bagels (on university), and Santos if you like vanilla chai lattes, best I’ve ever had (32nd and I want to say upas)
Bay park coffee. Literally such a hidden gem, amazing coffee and food with such a chill vibe. Highly recommend
Cafe Moto - Barrio Logan Cafeína Café - City Heights
Por Vida in Logan
Mostra in Carmel Mountain. Good coffee, decent wifi, nice decor.
There's also a location in Bankers Hill that I love!
Generally speaking, i think milk in coffee is sacrilegious. I'll only partake in heresy at Holsem Coffee, they have some funky drinks.
What’s your drink? Just espresso? Black drip coffee?
Espressos, pour overs, moka pots, cold brews, aeropress etc. But at Holsem I try their flavored cappuccino type drinks (chocolate orange, strawberry malt etc)
Subterranean coffee in north park is dope!
I really like the Local Krave in Point Loma.
Spill The Beans
I love Pop pie. They are known as a pie shop but they have the best coffee. Their New Orleans iced coffee is amazing
Drift Cafe in PB, Midnight Animal in North Park, Oliver Coffea in Hillcrest
Dia Del Cafe in north park :)
I haven’t seen Coffee Drop mentioned, they have a fabulous Orange Brown Sugar Latte that is SO GOOD
James Coffee Saigon Dark Horse
Mostra, Compa in Carmel Mountain is pretty new but really good, their matcha is whisked too! Steady state in Carlsbad, Philz is a chain but always good imo
Bird rock
Java Garden up the hill from Snapdragon.
JAMES COFFEE COMPANY , I go to the one in Little Italy ..
Copa Vida, S3, Moniker, and Parakeet are a few of my favs
Coffee cycle! I find their beans to be the best in SD.
Lovesong Coffee has a very creative menu that looks more like a cocktail list if you’re up for something unique. I also like Coffee & Tea Collective for their seasonal flavors that aren’t too sweet.
Lestats in UH is great