I've been coming here for months and seriously love getting the cinnamon roll and cinnamon roll…read morelatte! The latte itself is so tasty, it has a good balance of strong and sweetness. I get it every single time im here. I'd also recommend the Mexican iced chocolate latte. It's also strong yet sweetened to perfection. The service here is always good and the employees always greet you. I like to come here to study and just sit outside to take in the morning air. I love the view of cowles mountain as well. It's a great spot if you wanna study, they have free wifi if you purchase something so that's a plus. I recommend trying the cinnamon roll latte!

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.

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!

Public Square has been closed since April after staff walked out and eventually quit due to unpaid…read morewages. Unfortunately, this place was on the decline leading up to these events. It would usually take a half hour to get a simple drink order. Food that was previously wow turned into meh (I'm looking at you, shashuka). I don't blame the baristas. I don't think the business owners ever properly streamlined their ordering process / menu to get items out effectively. I hope we get something nice to replace this space.

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!

Best matcha I have ever tried ! And the place is so cool and calm and the girls are the sweetest !read more

I'm surprised it wasn't more crowded! Although I did go mid week, perhaps that's why. This coffee…read moreshop is everything! The chairs inside are so comfortable. I like that the shop isn't extremely cluttered with plants. Just enough that it feels open and bright. You know with nature, you just breathe better. (; Anyways, the interior murals are such a warm and lively color - it just makes me happy seeing it. I love the artwork on the walls because it matches their specialty lattes. The outdoor seating space is also quite nice. The colors of the tables are pastel pink and pastel yellow-- you can sit in semi shade or shaded area. It's really lovely! To drink, I decided to get one of their specialty lattes-- $7, Iced 12 oz, PEAK SEASON with whole milk. This is an iced blueberry latte with coconut condensed milk. It was so delicious! I would highly recommend this. It wasn't overly sweet either-- which I can appreciate. I highly recommend coming to Ultreya Coffee & Tea! The drinks are superb and fairly priced. They have a few food and pastry options as well. ...lol just read my past review and I basically had the same exact thoughts as this time around! Hilarious.

I've been to The Vinam Cafe on El Cajon Blvd a couple of times now, and it's quickly becoming one…read moreof my favorite spots. Since its located on El Cajon Blvd, parking can be a little tricky, but you can find street parking, and there's also a small lot, so far I have not had any issues with parking. The space itself is cozy and welcoming, with free WiFi, board games to play, and even books for kids, which makes it feel like a great hangout spot whether you're alone or with friends or family. The staff has been consistently friendly, and the girls working there were genuinely so sweet and welcoming both times I visited. On my second visit, I even met the owner and her adorable son, which just added to the warm, community feel of the place. Now the best part...the food and drinks. They have a huge selection of pastries, and everything I've tried has been delicious. On my first visit, I had a pastry with ham, cheese, and egg, and it was seriously amazing, the egg was perfectly runny, and it still held up well even after being warmed up. The second time, we tried the meat pie pastry (which reminded us of dumpling filling in the best way) and a jam and cream cheese danish, both were excellent. Their drinks are just as impressive. I've personally tried the Crème Brûlée Cloudfee and the Coconut Cloudfee, and both were incredible. A friend also had the Purple (Ube) Cloudfee and absolutely loved it. They also offer a variety of other drinks, pastries, and Banh Mi sandwiches, which I'm definitely planning to try next. Overall, this place has everything: great drinks, delicious pastries, a comfortable vibe, and genuinely kind people. This will definitely be my new go-to spot for Vietnamese coffee.

The workers are so sweet and kind. The coffee is strong and…read moretasty. There are plenty of seats inside and a few tables outside. There are a few parking spots next to it. They're small so park wisely. When we go on the weekends, it is always packed. Normally a line with people ordering food and drinks. What I really like about this is that people come to get coffee and sit down to enjoy it. It's different than your typical grab and go and you can see the community that supports the business. Everything is brewed fresh so there is a wait when you order your drink. Plan accordingly. I think they could improve their system with brewing to cut down on the wait which is why I gave 4 stars. However, this has become my go to coffee spot on the weekend despite the wait because they are very consistent with their service and beverages. I need to try their food because the last time I went, almost every table had something to eat!

Open on Memorial Day from 7 am to 1 pm This place is popular…read morebecause great coffee sells itself. I know that sounds cliche. The food is good here but get here early on the weekends is gets busy here. My favorite drink is the dirty chai hot. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and they open at 6 am on the weekdays. The baked goods come from a local bakery Bread and Cie. Good customer service and easy to find. The his is my favorite coffee place in San Carlos. Enjoy!

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!

Looove this place. So nice to have a non corp coffee house in La Mesa. Perfect spot to chill and…read morework or after a good workout. The place has a nice esthetic but would be good to have more chairs and tables? Not a complaint but would love them outside but seeing the landlord might frown on outside seating might prevent it. Service is top notch and even scored a nice sandwich because the very sweet barista had an extra! If you're in the mood for a better experience than usual come to Come Back Coffee

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.

Had a group meeting in the area, I saw a coffee shop across and figured trying to get some work…read moredone. Here was my experience AMBIANCE Parking: Street parking and neighborhood parking. It can get pretty busy so come early to prep. Seating: Chill plenty of seating both inside and outside. Good for small groups with room for about 30 people. Vibes: Welcome to Normal Heights nothing too flashy, just plenty of local eateries and businesses. The spot itself is relatively clean, modern, pretentious. I dig the 90s house music in the background. This seems to be a trusted neighborly coffee shop with students are working, friends are catching up, and regulars seem to know the staff by name. It helps there's a pizza shop next door as well. FOOD / DRINKS Cherie Amour (Recommend) Delish. A latte with housemade cherry and almond syrup, and if you get it iced, it comes topped with a little cold foam. I dig the sweetness and the fruitiness of the cherry, it balanced out the bitterness of the coffee which was pretty cool. CUSTOMER SERVICE Friendly and welcoming. Sara helped contribute to the neighborhood feel of the place and made the experience easy and enjoyable. TL;DR OVERALL 4.5 Stars. Good coffee, reasonable prices, and a pleasant atmosphere. I know there are plenty of coffeeshops in SD but this is a cool neighborly one. It doesnt seem like a trendy place but a place more in community and steady service. Till next time, Scrimshaw! TIPS * Try the seasonal drinks--they get creative.

It's been over 8 years since I've last came to Scrimshaw Coffee & Wow! It seems like they extended…read morethe menu as well-- as they have lots more food options & from what it looks like natural wine and beer too...which is interesting for a coffee shop. They are connected with the business (Love Letters Pizza) next door with an arched wall. The interior has changed, they now have new seating and they painted the walls different color. The tables are a little wonky, but I appreciate the fake marble top they got on it. It looks classy from a far with the interior lighting. I sadly missed their May Special, Blueberry Malt Latte! I love anything malt, so sad it is already gone (it's June now lol). They dropped their summer specials on their Instagram and the first one looked incredible. This was their version of an Aussie classic, they call it "Mont Blanc." It consisted of cold brew with orange syrup, topped with a vanilla-orange cold foam, finished with grated orange zest and nutmeg. I would never order this again, personally. I usually love vanilla orange in my coffee/espresso drinks, however this one really missed the mark for me. The orange tasted too forward and slightly bitter. Even the first sip from the lid, I knew I wouldn't be able to drink this down (I don't like wasting drinks or money). I offered it to my mom, who usually enjoys this sort of flavor profile as well, and it was a huge miss. She couldn't drink it either (nor could my brother who also ordered the same one as me). Within 10 min of driving with it, it had separated and looked very unappealing. Next time, I would maybe request their tangerine cold foam on a regular iced latte. I finally love citrus with my drinks-- maybe this one would be more up my alley. Or wait another month for different specials. Since it's been a while, I would love to come in the day time-- we came around 5:33 pm ! They close at 6pm which is pretty cool since most coffee shops close at 2-3 pm. The workers were very kind and welcoming despite us coming near closing time & the music was very nice. They have a handful of interior seating and outside seating as well! Despite the one drink being terrible, I wouldn't write them off for that -- they have a large menu and lots more for us to try! Come swing by!