If you're in the La Mesa area of San Diego and you need a quick caffeine fix, this little…read moredrive-thru packs a big punch. I was on my way to church and needed an early cup and was surprised how many shops were not open at 7 AM. I'm sure I could have found a Starbucks but that's always reserved for a last resort. Big props to this spot being open early on a Sunday morning, so I could make it to church prayed up and fully caffeinated. The barista opened right on time (7 AM) I loved how friendly she was for it being that early, and she got me my drink within 3-4 minutes. I am not a big coffee drive-thru guy, but if I lived in the area, especially knowing it is veteran owned, I might become one. Thanks guys and best of luck!

I've been feeling the deployment blues lately so I figured I'd grab a coffee from one of my…read morehusband's favorite spots to lift my mood a little. I've had Red White and Badass Brew one other time after my husband raved about this cookies and cream latte he got here. It's a small, local, veteran owned shop, which honestly makes supporting it feel even better. So, I thought getting his favorite drink would help, but turns out that was a seasonal winter drink... please bring it back, it was sooo good. I got in line around 8:30 and there were two cars in front of me. This place is so small and cute, I actually used to work in one of these drive-thru kiosk style cafes so I didn't mind the short wait at all as usually its only one or two people working in there. I do wish they had a menu visible from the line because I couldn't decide what I wanted while waiting. The only things visible were the specials like an avocado toast and a "no lucks given" drink. I ended up pulling up the menu on my phone which works, but it would be more convenient if they had something displayed out front like a sandwich board or something. The employee was incredible, super friendly, my order was taken quick and my drink came out even quicker. It is a little on the pricier side for a cup of coffee but you are supporting a local business. With tip it came out to over $9 for a regular size. I ordered the no lucks given, which is a chocolate Irish cream latte, and swapped to oat milk. My first sip was amazing, a medium dark roast that wasn't bitter at all with a rich chocolate flavor. You could see the chocolate coating the walls of the cup and I'm pretty sure there was a cold foam on top that made it extra creamy. The overall drink was smooth and well balanced, just a little too sweet for my liking but that's something I can adjust next time. I did have a kind of odd moment though. My second sip was great until I got hit with a sudden punch of salt. Like a full on salt crystal just melted on my tongue for a good 10 seconds. It was strong and definitely woke me up... which I guess is what the coffee was supposed to do, I just didn't expect a surprise salt bomb to help with that. After that I checked my drink and everything looked fine and the rest of it tasted great. Overall I'll definitely be back. The service was great, the drink was solid, and I love supporting a spot like this. I can't wait to come here more often, and hopefully one day come back with my husband when comes home from deployment, with his cookies and cream drink back on the menu.

For a few years now, I've been buying my beans, five pounds at a time, from Brew Coffee Spot in La…read moreMesa. I like the roasting profile they use, and for a while, they've stocked a Costa Rica Sonora Black-Honey Natural that is just fantastic. Joe Paraiso, the owner, is a very experienced coffee purveyor, and he's been incredibly kind to me, sharing his time and knowledge to make sure I get what I want. And, not for nothing, when I'm at Brew Coffee Spot picking up the beans I ordered online, I always have a coffee. Joe either does a great job of training his baristas, or he's REALLY good at hiring talent, or both. Seriously... his folks make my coffees, usually a cortado or a straight espresso, with a downtown San Francisco or Rome level of competence.

The La Mesa area has a lot of different coffee options, I'm glad I found this one. When I moved…read moreback to San Diego six years ago, I had a meeting with someone at this shop, but because I've moved to a completely different part of the area I had not gone back. Recently, I spent some time back in La Mesa and thought I would go back and try this spot out. So much space, friendly staff, reasonable prices, with a bunch of gluten-free and vegan options when it comes to food. Plenty of parking, outdoor seating as well, and even when they were busy, I think I did not wait more than five minutes for my drink. I chose to use their honey syrup instead of regular honey, and was not disappointed with my iced oatmilk latte also, I have to point out something you don't typically see at a lot of coffee shops. Both times I went, there was an incredible mix of generations in that shop. From younger to older, it was awesome to see generations coming together. Great job guys!

My new favorite coffee spot! I'm currently in my pandan obsession era and this place does it RIGHT…read more I've already been back more times than I can count. So far, I've tried the pandan, the brown sugar, and the sesame latte all iced w/ oat milk and they've all been a hit. The pandan is easily my fave, but if you're trying the brown sugar and don't love super sweet drinks I'd recommend adding an extra shot to balance it out. The drinks are consistently good and you can tell they really care about the quality. It's one of those spots you keep thinking about and end up going back to without even planning it. Customer service was solid and there's plenty of seating, which makes it a nice place to hang out or get some work done. Parking was also easy, which is always a win. Highly recommend checking this place out especially if you're a pandan lover like me!

This place gets a lot of hype for their scones, but honestly, that was the only thing special. They…read moreoverall they are very expensive and service is slow. Be prepared to wait, or order a mobile order for pick up. Cleanliness...could be better. Looks clean from ground level, but if you look up the plants and ac vents are covered in layers of dust. Scones were fantastic but not sure that makes it worth the wait.

First time discovering this small bakery tucked away in a spacious plaza of Lemon Grove. The inside…read moreis able to seat around 14 people from the looks of it and there is additional shaded seating outside. Staff that I met was extremely friendly (Grayson, Jules, and Dom), as well as the owner of the bakery Tanya. This bakery has been operating for about three years and there was a good crowd on a Monday afternoon. All the pastries are vegan and I tried the vanilla concha (pro tip get it warmed up) with their house made maple butter and the carrot cake. Both were amazing, I've never had a vegan concha and don't think I'll be going back to regular ones! They also have breakfast sandwiches that many people ordered that looks like it's on a thick piece of focaccia. The reviews speak for itself! Great pastries and coffee, friendly staff, and clean store what more could you want?! I'm glad I made this discovery and can't wait to come back, highly recommend you check out this place!

This place is a hidden gem! Elevated Coffee has such a cute vibe, and the staff is so friendly…read moreespecially the owner, Tanya. You can really tell they care about their customers and the overall experience. My coffee was delicious (I got an americano with cream and sugar), and I'll absolutely be coming back. Thank you, Elevated Coffee & Confections team!

I love Ultreya. It's a fun, cute coffee coffee shop that…read moreserves delicious treats. I've held many book club meets here and we've all been super satisfied with the food, drinks, and service. Plus, we never need to worry about parking. That is always a bonus.

Great coffee and a lively, fun environment. Unfortunately, the staff wasn't very friendly, which…read moretook away from the experience. Probably fine for a quick stop or a cute photo, but I wouldn't go back. Response: Not necessary. I appreciate the attempt to course-correct after the fact, but the experience had already left a sour taste. What stands out now is that no effort was made to create any personal connection--our name wasn't called when the order was ready, and I do not recall any greeting being offered. It did not feel accidental. Please understand that guests notice these details. Professionalism shows in the small things, and first impressions matter. Best of luck on your future staff.

My go-to bahn mi place! Everytime I've come to vinam cafe the service is outstanding, so much…read morekindness and such friendly hospitality!! I love the chicken bahn mi, always a 10/10. The kind lady there today recommended the egg coffee to me and it was delicious!!! So good 10/10 coffee. This place genuinely deserves to always be booming in business 100/10 service and 100/10 food and drinks!

The Vietnam coffee here is hands down my favorite! Smooth, perfectly balanced, and topped with a…read morelight, delicate cream that blends beautifully without overpowering the flavor. I usually get the crème brûlée. The BBQ spring rolls, bánh mì and flan are absolutely delicious every time. This spot is truly a labor of love. The owner and her family work incredibly hard, and while service can take a bit longer, sometimes it's a one-woman show but it's always worth the wait and the drive. Please don't ever change! Your business is a success and I enjoy seeing your happy faces!

What is not to love about this place!!! Just a random stop in on our adventures today! I'm so…read moreimpressed!! Need to go back and snap some more photos because the 2 sitting areas are just as cute. So many people enjoying the space I wanted to be courteous. Coffee was VERY good! I'm all about a cold brew to really taste the coffee. Theirs is amazing!! Definitely a place we will be back to!

I'm glad I decided to stop here for matcha--it was delicious! I ordered the strawberry matcha cream…read morewith oat milk. The cream is dairy, but that was fine since I had lactaid on hand. Flavor-wise, it was excellent: the strawberry wasn't overpowering, and the oat milk didn't mask the matcha. You could still taste both the matcha and the strawberry. The consistency was just right for a cream-style latte. It's sweeter than traditional matcha, so if you prefer your matcha strong and slightly bitter, this might not be the drink for you. But if you like a lightly sweetened matcha where the flavor still comes through, this one is perfect. I'm curious to try their regular matcha next. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I mentioned my dietary restrictions (celiac), and they were accommodating, though there's always a possibility of cross-contamination, so keep that in mind. The shop itself is a great place to catch up with friends, study, or just relax. They offer light snacks like pastries, bagels, toast, parfaits, and acai bowls--unfortunately, nothing gluten-free for me, but still great options for others. Even though they were busy, the line moved quickly. Overall, this is a great matcha spot, and I can't wait to try more drinks next time I'm in town!

This awesome newer shop is such a cute and cool spot…read more They have some excellent drip, great breakfast sandwiches, and the staff is so cool and sweet to chat with. The ship itself is huge and a great spot to work or meet up with friends. The theme is really cool and the merch all fits the vibe.

Came back and brought friends! Came on a Sunday right around 11:30 and it was busy but we were able…read moreto find a table right away. I decided to get the houjicha and I like that it comes unsweetened. It was well made and the flavor of the houjicha was strong. My friends got the chai, matcha and the breakfast sandwich and enjoyed them. The English muffin on the breakfast sandwich almost looked homemade. She did mention the sandwich was very cheesy but not in a bad way.

Scrimshaw is a great option for quality coffee and food for those of us who start our days late…read more I love this place for their quality beverages, their fresh food variety, the kind staff, and the fact I've always found an open table. My boyfriend always gets drip and a pastrami sandwich that looked so good I broke my vegetarian streak just for a bite. I've had their blueberry malt latte and their white tea beverage as well as both their veggie bagel and veg bowl. Everything has been so tasty and the vibes are always welcoming. The cafe itself is really cute and i'm a big fan.

Unfortunately, this cafe dropped the ball both in barista customer service and response from…read moremanagement. Basically what had happened was i waited over 10 min for simple chai and inquired with barista about status update. We agreed to have it remade and she had told me next time "there's no need to be rude" despite never insulting, shouting, or making a scene. Wrote to management about this odd experience and I recieved a response from owner. He has said he will talk to staff and "apologies on that" but honestly it seemed half-hearted and not sincere at all. No attempts to try and make it right or acts of good faith which i would think is standard procedure for cases like this. Fortunately, there is a plethora of cafes in San Diego to try so I will keep discovering new ones until I find my favorite.

The owner is super kind and friendly and my coffee was delicious. He's into marathon running and…read moreeverything about the place in ambiance honors that passion. If dropping kids off at the YAT camp in Grossmont, it's a great stop.

Super friendly owner, very cool running theme throughout and most importantly- the coffee is great…read more Definitely spend a few extra minutes to get here vs the fast monopoly coffee chain. Worth supporting a local, small business. ‍ Honey lavender latte