I searched up best coffee in La Mesa, picked the first recommended place, and am happy I did so…read more I just moved to San Diego from San Francisco and found myself in La Mesa applying for jobs. I needed a quick coffee to end my day and after searching the best coffee in La Mesa, Red White and Badass Brew was the first to pop up. The owner was super nice-I didn't get his name-and he walked with me through the menu as I haven't had specialty coffee drinks like these before. I went with his recommendation of the whiskey latte (iced) and also decided to try the toasted tan lines (iced) When I tell you, my first sip transported me back to the 2013-2016 era of coffee culture when specialty drinks were first starting to get popular, I am being so serious. Both the whiskey latte and toasted tan lines were full of so much flavor. The toasted tan lines took me straight back to my trip to Kauai in 2013 and the whiskey latte was reminiscent of a latte I would get in middle school from a Brazilian small business. There was just something so nostalgic about these lattes that I had to immediately write a review. So many coffee shops lack the flavor of the 2010s before companies cut corners and scraped for our pennies, but not here Thanks for the coffee! (No pics because I inhaled them in like 5 mins on my drive home)

It's been a while since I've been back but decided to stop by with my husband this time. We also…read morerealized we could order ahead so we did that. Unfortunately there isn't an online order line so you end up waiting anyways and they made our drinks only after we arrived and told them we had the online order. That being said everyone working was really friendly and they were working hard as it was busy on Sunday around 8. I got the gone bananas half sweet and an extra shot. My partner got the horchata matcha with extra matcha. Even my drink at half sweet was too sweet for my taste but still enjoyable. Not a strong banana flavor though. More caramel forward. My partner loved his drink but did say it was more horchata than matcha.

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.

Portions here are huge, so definitely come hungry. I had the chia pudding, and my sisters and…read morehusband enjoyed their meals. I did find the Not-So-Old-Fashioned Biscuits and Gravy to have an overpowering rosemary flavor. If you like rosemary, you might enjoy them. The breakfast sandwich was tasty, and I loved the Black Sesame Latte. They provide non-dairy milk, which I appreciate. Service was great, and the restaurant setting was warm and inviting.

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.

My daughter and I visited this cafe back in August. I've been meaning to write a review! Service…read morewas outstanding! We were so happy to find dairy free baked goods (my daughter prefers to be dairy free). We had the Concha and cinnamon roll along with a salted maple latte and lavender matcha. Our drinks and dessert were amazing. I hope to go back some day!

The drinks and food are great! And the service is one of my favorite parts of this coffee shop. All…read morethe servers a super nice and take really good care of you. I even heard some regulars come in and call them family. The biscuits are so yummy you have to try them. I love the teas and cold brews. So good. The place is always looking clean and spotless. Definitely give them a try, you might not even notice their bakery is vegan. So yummy!

Absolutely adorable chill space with a welcoming 60s vibe for work, conversation or just relaxing…read more Several petite bistro tables outside. Ample seating for individuals and small groups inside. The menu is primarily vegan/vegetarian with many creative options. Peak Season: house-made blueberry and coconut condensed milk syrups, espresso, milk of choice (most popular latte) Custom Happy Hippy: jalepeno bagel with avocado, arugula, micro greens, hemp seeds, lemon, chili crunch cream cheesse and house seasonings The craft coffee, creative food and chill atmosphere made it a really enjoyable experience. A few outlets available for power. Free and easy parking.

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.

The atmosphere was so welcoming and I was immediately greeted by Vy! She recommended the Flan or…read moreEgg coffee. I wanted to try something new, so I went with the Flan. I also ordered the BBQ Pork Banh Mi. The shop was very clean and has a cute aesthetic. Thank you to Vy, Evelyn, and Chloe for being so sweet and for making my day! Flan Coffee: - Has a nice roast flavor - Sweetness level is perfect - The salted foam adds a nice palate contrast from the richness of the coffee BBQ Pork Banh Mi: - Meat was tender and flavorful - The pickled radish and carrots were a thicker cut, which I really enjoyed since it adds a nice crunch - Perfect bread to meat to veggies ratio Strawberry Matcha Latte: - Loved the sweet little treat on top - The cream on top was light and airy - The strawberry jam balanced nicely with the matcha Overall, I had a great experience and I will definitely be back soon!

Chicken bahn mi and the sauce that came with it was so good, purple(Taro?) cloundfee definitely…read morerecommend plus the little bisquits that come on top are cute as heck. Staff were super pleasant too :)

First time trying this place through DoorDash, and definitely won't be the last (need to visit in…read moreperson). Their acai bowl is so simple but it's perfectly portioned especially the Nutella on top. You get exact portion per spoonful. Their coffee is also very good I grabbed the 16oz hot Nutella latte with oatmilk it was also very tasty. I realize now that I was in a Nutella morning kick.

I found myself in San Carlos mid-day, mid-week. I was running between work and a hair…read moreappointment. I had barely had a chance to have lunch so was really happy to randomly see a coffee shop to grab a cold coffee on a hot day to bring with me to my hair appointment. Parking was easy and I walked into the coffee shop. There was no wait at all at that time. I browsed the menu and decided on an iced Simple Special which was basically an iced mint latte. I ordered it with nonfat milk I waited for only a couple of minutes for my drink to be made. During that time I saw that they were playing records and had several records for sale. That was really cool. If I lived in the area I would definitely hang out and listen to records while sipping on coffee. The reason for only 4 stars.... my charge was abut $8 which felt a bit stiff for only the 16 oz drink. It made me wary of what a 20 oz would cost. All in all, I had a good experience at The Simple Coffee House. My drink had good flavor without being overly sweet. I liked the records and the vibe at the coffeehouse.

The Mont Blanc cold brew here provides a smooth and refreshing experience unlike any other coffee…read moredrink I have ever had. I wouldn't think orange would go well with coffee but it really does! The citrus flavor transforms the cold brew into something delightfully tangy and sweet. The citrusy kick works cohesively well with the smoothness of the cold brew. This drink is perfect for a hot day! The barista was pleasantly efficient and quick in making my drink. Excellent service! By the way, I recommend sitting at the bar seats. Occasionally, the smell of fresh coffee emanates from the air joyfully stimulating the olfactory sense.

I have now been here twice within the past month and my average is about 3.5 stars…read more To be fair, coffee and matcha preferences vary greatly by person so this is just my opinion. I felt like overall, the matcha and coffee flavor itself were good quality, however the flavors were not there. The cherie amour comes with a cherry and almond syrup, yet I barely remember tasting it. The matcha also lacked the vanilla essence and sweetness. I just didn't feel wowed. The service was a bit slow the first time but faster the second time, I would have to actively go to see the consistency. I also wish they had another dairy free substitute other than just oat milk.

10/10 I got a hot sf banana/sf vanilla latte and i must say it was amazing! super nice service as…read morewell :)

This coffee shop is seriously underrated and definitely slept on. The coffee was delicious and…read moreperfectly balanced, with just the right amount of sweetness while still letting the flavor of the coffee come through. The gentleman there, who I believe may be the owner, was incredibly kind, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. You can tell there's real care put into both the coffee and the service. Definitely a hidden gem and a place worth checking out. I'll absolutely be coming back!

Really enjoyed this coffee shop! It's definitely a little on the pricier side, but honestly, I can…read moreunderstand the price considering the aesthetics, the overall experience, and the amount of care they put into making the drinks. I tried the Nutella Iced Latte and it was SO good! If you have a sweet tooth, definitely give it a try. If you're not like me and don't usually go for super sweet drinks, I'd probably recommend trying something else on the menu because this one definitely leans sweet. The drinks feel very intentional and you can tell they take their time making them, which I appreciate. Parking can be a little challenging, but there is some street parking around the area. Overall, cute spot, good drinks, and definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

I just moved closer to this area and have been wanting to try Essntl for quite some time now. After…read moremy first visit, I've been coming on my days off (since they open at 8) since. The coffee and matcha here are so delicious! The staff is very friendly and accommodations are possible here incase you need less cream tops to make your drinks less sweeter, etc. The shop itself has a very beautiful aesthetic and plenty of space for all coffee dates, catch ups, and just enjoying the vibe. Parking is limited. This photo is their fall series Brown Sugar Miso which was bomb. My other favorites are the banana cream and their salted cream viet lattes.