Wow! I love this shop! I initially didn't want to visit because it looked small inside, and I'm the type who likes to post up and get work done. But I'm so glad I finally came to check it out -- with my hubby, a record aficionado, in tow.
Fuzz is a coffee-meets-record shop: the brandchild of ex-Modern Times and Coffee & Tea Collective brewers, roasters, and brainiacs. (By those names alone, you know it's gonna be good) Now, before we continue this review, you should know that I cringe whenever anyone mentions their favorite drink is the Better Buzz BDE -- I like to TASTE my coffee, and it better not be too sweet. Ergo, when another reviewer here said the coffee was "strong", that made me want to come even more.
WHAT WE GOT:
* Vanilla Oat Latte: 5/5
as another reviewer mentioned, it's nice to see the shop use real vanilla bean (you could see the black vanilla remnants on the bottom). My husband is also a huge coffee head, and we both agreed: the milk-to-coffee ratio is just DIVINE. I judge coffee shops by this alone. FUZZ nailed it.
* OFF MENU secret drink: Butterfly Tea Latte, aka the Blue Star Wars Drink! 5/5
I asked for decaf of a coffee and Carlo, one of the owners, sadly refuted me (more on this below). But he won me over with this offer. Another girl saw him making it and ordered the same am I a drink influencer? Now that's my only calling in life.
Carlo asked how I liked it -- they just adjusted it to add more "blue". He said they found a chamomile tea (the tea in the drink) that worked just right with it. I told him that boba shops usually make their tea lattes so milky you can't taste the tea; this was the most balanced tea latte I've had. Score!
AMBIENCE:
I looove their branding and design, and I'm an ex-brand creative so these things matter to me. After an age of minimalistic Japandi shops, FUZZ is making their mark with bright red design that just screams "we're weirdos, deal with it." Not to mention, the coolest merch like shirts and cups. A light wood bench leans against the white wall, punctuated with bright red stools, and 3 LARGE icons on the wall.
The FUZZ crew also OWNS their own record company, so look out for records from their own label. I compared this to Peanut Butter Wolf -- the legend who started Stones Throw Records (Mayer Hawthorne!) and owns the Gold Line bar up in LA, incredible place.
GREAT music playing, they chose some aural beats that sound like my ADHD focus playlist. It is rare now when shops play music you can actually focus to, versus distracting you.
SEATING:
* There is a bench with 3 circular table tops that can fit about 6-8 people, if 2 sit on stools off the bench.
* 4 seats at a high top bar by the window
* 4 small tables with 2 chairs each, outside by the storefront and street
SERVICE:
Carlo and his crew were so nice and sooo cool. Just a bunch of guys living their dream, visited by so many old friends / colleagues supporting. I LOVE when local coffee heads start their own shop -- our coffee community in San Diego is so close, and so talented. You know it's gonna be 5 stars.
I also appreciate their attention to quality. (More below)
TO NOTE:
PARKING:
ugh, Adams charges us to park now? $2.50 per hour, what there is a small lot next to Blackmarket Bakery (RIP!!) that's $5 for 5 hours, so a better deal for sure. Ugh, screw SD paid parking.
You'll luck out if you can find a free spot in the neighborhood. On a weekend, though, it can be tough (though not impossible! :))
MILKS:
Whole and Oat only, which is expected; most shops I've seen do not carry almond, which is seemingly unsustainable.
DECAF:
So on the note of quality... they did NOT have decaf there today (Sept. 13) but Carlo was kind enough to divulge... they'll be getting it in a few weeks!
The shop roasts their own coffee and have been on the hunt for the right decaf to serve. I so appreciate their time spent on making sure it's great.
I cannot wait to come back here (when they have decaf, hehe), and get my very own perfect-ratio drink.
If you like it strong, if you like it real, if you like color and music and not taking yourself too seriously, I'll see you here. read more