10/10!! Wow! Stubbled across Lightbulb Coffee after a mini adventure throughout Downtown La Mesa and so glad we went with this cafe! We were given a quick run down regarding the drinks with what's popular and we decided to go with the Cali Pistachio and Turkish Hazelnut. We also ordered a Lox Bagel and coffee cake to share. Alll the menu items are priced fairly and actually have really good quality ingredients!! What I know about the pastries too is that they're bought from a local bakery so really.. if you buy from this coffee shop, you're also supporting the community Loved the customer service and ambiance! We will definitely be back read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Iced TURKISH HAZELNUT, iced CALI PISTACHIO, LOX BAGEL and coffee cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

All the coffees are very tasty. The clerks are nice and patient. The coffee baristas will make whatever variation you wish. The new Fall Sandwich is delicious. Full of flavor. I highly recommend the coffees and the food. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - FALL MENU SPECIALTY ITEMS - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

Super cute coffee shop with a great vibe. I really loved the decor of this coffee shop! They have lots of tables and areas so you can easily come and have your own space. It's perfect to hang out and work /study or have a little get together with a friend. And their menu is huge. I couldn't decide what to try since they had everything from coffee, teas, smoothies, bowls, and sandwiches. I asked for a couple recommendations and ended up trying their lavender iced coffee, mango and dragonfruit smoothie, and their Reuben sandwich. Thoroughly impressed with it all. They were slicing meat for my Reuben right there in the shop. I loved the coffee in the lightbulb, which you're able to take home. And the smoothie was a great flavor. Staff was friendly and gave great recommendations. read more

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Loved their Pitcraft Turkey sandwich! It was the perfect size and delicious! Came in on a Sunday morning with family and I enjoyed the food and my Americano coffee! read more

Most amazing coffee. They're very knowledgeable about their beans and I genuinely am a snob. I love their lightbulb coconut latte (I think that's what it was called). It was heavenly read more

I work for a living paying $12.50 for a mediocre rap that I could've gone to sonic and got a better rap then when I got here and seven dollars for a smoothie that I could've got at sonic would've been a lot better and less money $12.50 for a wrap seven dollars for a smoothie came to almost 20 bucks for two items for one person probably my last time ever going to here again. On top of that, I think I got food poisoning from them. read more

Found a cute coffee shop in La Mesa and it's a place where I see friends and family gather to get coffee, tea, smoothies, baked goods, Sandwhiches and more, for me I had the mango, dragonfruit tumeric smoothie and Chicken a s pear sandwhich and my husband had the horchata piñata with Turkey wrap, the place has such a great atmosphere and the staff is really nice, will definitely come back read more

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I'm disappointed to write this review. My wife and I prefer spending our money at local coffee shops, as opposed to big ones like Starbucks, so we have frequented this spot over the past few years since we moved here. It's been a bonus that we live up the street. The ambience is cute. The service has never been very friendly but we've over looked that because until recently we have always enjoyed their coffees. Over a month ago, Light Bulb let us down for the first time. Both of our coffees tasted so bad, they were undrinkable. That day I called multiple times but the phone just kept ringing and never even went to voicemail. Had it done so, I would've left a message. Since we were busy all day prepping for a trip, we didn't go back in-person that day and decided to toss out our drinks and call it a loss. Then, a week ago we decided to give Light Bulb another chance, hoping our previous experience was just a fluke. This time we ordered the Vietnamese coffee and a hot Turkish hazelnut via their online system. The system said it'd be ready in 5 minutes so I thought it'd be ready when I arrived 15 minutes later. It wasn't busy inside but it took over 10 minutes to be acknowledged and to receive my order. I tasted my drink when I got back into the car and it tasted fine. After we left, I realized that was only because the sweetness was on the bottom and had not been mixed in yet. Once I had enough room to stir, I mixed and it tasted like very stale coffee beans were used. I was bummed my coffee was bad a second time but didn't want to deal with the frustration of calling Light Bulb again, only for me to not get through. Plus, I needed the caffeine so I plugged my nose and drank fast. My wife didn't taste hers immediately because it was too hot. When she finally did, she said it had a very offputting chemical taste and the viscosity was unusually thick and foamy. She couldn't bring herself to drink it. Upset her drink was also undrinkable for a second time, she decided to forego the frustration of calling with no answer. However, since it was so late when we got home, she made the decision to take the full drink back the next day. The following day, she took the drink in and asked if she could exchange it for something different. The barista said her manager wouldn't allow her to since it wasn't from the same day. My wife explained the situation about how this was the second visit we were not satisfied with our drinks but just wanted this one, single coffee to be exchanged for something else. The barista said her manager wouldn't allow giving her a free drink. Realizing the barista didn't have the ability to help her, my wife gave the barista her contact information to relay to the manager hoping she could discuss it them. The barista assured her the manager would call that day. A week has gone by and the manager hasn't reached out to my wife. I really hoped the manager would've made things right for us so we could continue supporting them. We're beyond sad we can't refer to Light Bulb as our favorite coffee spot anymore. read more

We ordered off the seasonal menu, eggnog latte and a vanilla caramel latte. Served within minutes, piping hot and both delicious. This is much more than a coffee shop! The menu here includes açaí bowls, sandwiches, tea, kombucha, juices, shakes and much more! The cafe has a hipster meets kitschy vibe with plenty of places to sit inside and a few tables outdoors as well. Next time I'm going to try the pistachio latte and maybe a sandwich too. If you're in the area come check it out. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Counter area - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Pistachio latte is sooooo good!!!!!! Such a huge menu and great service. Lots of seating inside and out too read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This place was okay. Small parking lot shared with other businesses. Tried: pumpkin latte - drink was served way way too hot. It took a good 15-20 mins before it cooled down enough to sip. Burned my hands just holding it even with the holder. Flavor was okay. Loved the Halloween theme inside!! Got the iced version of the PSL a few weeks later and it was WAY too sweet. Also, the parking lot was incredibly bad, my parked car almost got hit by another car backing out of their spot.... read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

I was going there on a regular basis setting up various meetings. I guess it's time for me to speak up regarding the many times have been there. I found the owner and many of those who are his employees are not the friendliest people when it comes to a business. Indeed I found their people skills to be lacking. I would say rude. I've left many a times wondering if I should go back. I think I finally made my decision I'm going to support many other espresso cafés. read more

This place was great for sandwiches a few months ago....but it seems like there is new ownership or staff - the last several times the staff hasnt been as friendly, the sandwiches are rushed and no longer toasted that well. The bread seems to be not as fresh and pastries seem like they've been sitting the whole week. read more

I love coming to study here at light bulb! It could get packed around noon up until the afternoon, but if you're lucky enough to snag a table, that's great. Some of my favorites from here are the Muenster chicken mushroom panini - SO GOOD and big enough to share with another person or save for later. I also love their vanilla latte and matcha lavender... I could go for one of those choices right now! Of their pastries, I've only tried their cinnamon roll and matcha croissant. Both were okay - a bit on the dry side but I might have to give them another try. There are many people who come to catch up with a friend over coffee, grab lunch and yummy pastries, work, or study. Their music could get a bit loud but it could also be on point at times. The only thing about this place is their parking. They have a lot but there is a time limit of only an hour. When I plan to stay longer than the allotted time, I park in the neighborhoods nearby. read more

Such a cute coffee shop! I had no trouble finding parking and went right on in. The aesthetic is cozy and modern and there are so many cute seating areas! It took me awhile to check out their extensive menu but I decided to get their hot pumpkin chai which was delicious! I was a little bummed that they didn't have lightbulb cups but I'll just have to come back again soon! read more

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LightBulb Café: A Disappointing and Discriminatory Experience I've never been one to leave negative reviews, but the experience my friends and I had at LightBulb Café was so troubling that I felt it was important to share. We visited this café as college students, looking for a quiet place to study--something many students do in cafés, expecting a peaceful and welcoming environment. Unfortunately, what we encountered at LightBulb Café was not just poor customer service but an experience that felt deeply discriminatory and hurtful. Initially, everything seemed fine. We found a table, connected to the Wi-Fi, and began working on our homework, planning to stay for a while. As a small business that serves the local community, we assumed this café would be an ideal spot. However, after some time, we were approached by a worker who treated us with an inappropriate and unprofessional attitude. From the moment this person spoke to us, it felt as if we were doing something wrong simply by being there. The tone was rude and accusatory, and instead of being approached with any kind of understanding, we were made to feel as though we had committed some kind of offense by sitting down without ordering. We understood that small businesses rely on customers ordering food or drinks, but there was no warning, no polite request to order something. Instead, we were told, quite harshly, that we needed to leave immediately and were even asked never to come back again. When we questioned why there wasn't any signage or prior notice explaining this policy, the worker insisted that signs were posted. Yet, after thoroughly checking, we saw no such signs that were clear or visible to us or other customers. This lack of communication about their policies only added to the confusion and frustration. What hurt the most was the way we were treated. As non-Arab customers, it felt like we were being singled out based on our ethnicity, treated as if we didn't belong simply because we were not of the same background as the owners or most of the staff. We were treated with a level of disdain and rudeness that no customer should ever experience. The worker's attitude was completely unprofessional, and instead of engaging us with respect, they made us feel like outsiders in a place that is supposed to represent and serve the local community. To add to the hurtful experience, we are Muslim women who wear hijabs, and it was especially disheartening to be approached in such a disrespectful manner by someone within our own religious community. One would expect more hospitality and understanding, particularly in a café that serves a largely Muslim demographic. However, the way we were treated left us feeling dishonored and discriminated against, as if our presence in the café was not welcome. After sharing this experience with a close friend, I was shocked to learn that this wasn't an isolated incident. My friend informed me that multiple people from our community have also experienced similar treatment at LightBulb Café. Some have even been shamed and told to leave for reasons just as trivial as ours. Others, aware of the café's discriminatory practices, have chosen not to visit the café at all because they've heard about the unwelcoming environment and poor customer service. It seems that this café, which is supposed to represent the local community and foster a sense of belonging, is doing the exact opposite. It's creating an atmosphere where people feel excluded and unwelcome. We came to LightBulb Café expecting an inclusive, community-oriented space, but instead, we were met with exclusion, discrimination, and poor hospitality. The treatment we received--being abruptly kicked out without warning and with such hostility--was completely unacceptable. As members of the same community, it's hurtful to see a local café treat customers this way, especially those who come in good faith, simply looking for a place to study and feel comfortable. LightBulb Café needs to seriously rethink its customer service practices and the way it treats people who don't share the same ethnicity as the owners or staff. A community café should welcome everyone, not shame and exclude them. I hope the management takes this feedback to heart and works to create a more inclusive environment, because right now, they are doing a disservice to the very community they claim to serve. For anyone considering going to LightBulb Café, I would suggest you think twice--especially if you're looking for a welcoming, respectful atmosphere. read more

First timer and I loved it. Pros: + Larger area to sit - not crowded, plenty of outlets + Diverse selection of coffees - I tried the turkish coffee and was totally surprised and pleased! + pastries are bomb (and warmed for you) - seriously I want to try ALL OF THEM. Possible feedback: - no option to tip on card. I kind of felt bad given how many people were lining up and only two ladies working - Decor is a bit much? I feel like some minimalism would serve this place well! - Something is needed outside on the patio as well. Wanted to sit out there but really it felt like a table in a parking lot lol - I would swap the placement of the smoothie Menu board and the coffee menu board. The way the line flows you can barely see the coffee all the way to the left and guarantee most people are there for that! Again I loved this place and am coming back! read more

I like this spot but after waiting 20 min by the counter for my online pickup and moldy bread, I will probably never come back. Every time i do an online pickup, which is supposed to be an in and out process for people who are busy and cannot wait long, i am completely ignored and its like i dont even exist. You really have to take initiative and ask if your order is ready which is fine, but seems like the biggest burden to the people working there like it isnt part of their job. I wouldnt have wrote this review initially, until i got back home and saw mold on my sandwich. I used to look past the terrible service because their coffee is good, but after today i cannot handle how poorly run and miserable this place seems. Go here if you like to make the baristas life a living hell by asking where your online order is (they will literally let you sit there for 20 min without asking why.. like yeah let me hangout here for 20 min w no drink thats exactly what i wanted to do today) or if you want to get Foodborne illness:) read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This place is great! Cute decor and every coffee I've tried here has been great! I got the charcoal mocha today. I always get my coffees half sweet with oat milk, so I can't speak to how they come regularly, but half sweet is perfect (and honestly still pretty sweet). My go-to iced coffee is the valley toffee.. soo good. My sister really enjoyed the pistachio one and my mom liked the turkish hazelnut. I feel like you can't really go wrong with any of their options, and there's a lot! Each food item I've tried has been amazing as well. I've had the egg and cheese bagel, the veggie bagel, and a spinach pastry. All were delicious. Sky, one of the baristas, is wonderful. Everyone working here has always been super nice but she is SO accommodating and friendly. There was a huge rush of people and she was the only one making coffees and she was able to get everyone their coffees quickly and even happily made a couple of requested changes during an extremely busy time. I like that there's free WiFi here too so that I can bring my laptop and work. Fully recommend LightBulb cafe! read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Charcoal Mocha - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

The service was great and fast. The drink was very good and actually can taste the coffee. They have the best latte drinks. Inside was decorated nicely and cozy. read more

i was excited to try this place! but the cashier was on her phone while taking our order, then asked us to sit outside because i had a salad with me from another spot. which would've been fine but another table was eating literally 4 containers of takeout & i overheard them tell them it was "okay this time" and to "sit outside next time" which seemed unfair. the drinks were okay, a little clumpy and not worth $7 each. i was disappointed :( read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Indian Chai - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

Absolutely love their menu choices. Prices also on par with other establishments. Tried the Turkish espresso, Turkish hazelnut coffee, and Oreo milkshake. All were fantastic and love the atmosphere. Definitely will go back when I'm in the neighborhood. read more

So I'm sitting in my couch after I just ate some Pho, and my sugar addiction started nudging me, telling me it's time for something sweet I didn't know if I wanted wine, a latte or a refresher but I knew I needed something. So I hopped on Yelp, as I usually do to figure out what I wanted! I needed to go to my bank in La Mesa so I looked up businesses in the area. Light Bulb Coffee came up and the extensive menu had me sold! In my car and to the bank/Light Bulb Coffee I went! The inside of the coffee shop is so cute! I really loved the decor and it was a nice relaxing vibe. I told myself if I ever have anything to study for or need to get some work done, I'd be back to dine in and hang there. So again, the menu is EXTENSIVE! There were so many options and it made it so hard to choose I tasted the hisbiscus rose kombucha (on tap) and it was sooooo good!! I almost got it, but I am a SUCKER for anything Oreo/Cookies & Cream; so when I saw that cookies & cream latte, I was pretty much sold! Although I will definitely be back to try the Almond Joy latte, a full glass of the kombucha, and so many other of their menu items! YAAAALLLLLL!!! This latte tasted like a warm Oreo in a cup. I got it hot with oat milk and I am in looovvveee. Part of me wants to drink it all right now because it's so good, the other part of me wants to savor it, the struggle Either way, going off of this visit, I definitely recommend Light Bulb Coffee! I can't wait to go back and try more read more

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Lightbulb coffee was honestly one of the best experiences I had the girl at the register was so sweet and although she hadn't tried some of their drinks she tried her best to help me choose one. The environment is so cool it's super chill and they have a variety of pastries from which you can choose. The coffee was pretty good I definitely recommend it, I got an iced cinnamon bun coffee with oat milk. Overall my experience there was awesome and I will be going back. read more

My favorite Coffee House!! Amazing Coffee, great bagel sandwiches. Clean and comfortable atmosphere! Service is alway top tier!

The lady in the front that helped us made us feel like we were a burden. Not very good customer service in my opinion and the drinks were very sweet. read more

Note that reviews prior to 2019 are not applicable; the management and almost the entire staff are new; the suppliers for pastry and bagels have changed (not for the better in the latter case). The coffee here is really good. The room is large and you can actually talk without a lot of noise. There is some seating outdoors. Seating has been added inside. There is a huge variety of food items. The people are great. read more

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The coffee and pastry I had were quality food. I had a cheese danish which was so fresh. The Vietnamese coffee tasted good, but it was definitely not a Vietnamese coffee as I know them. The ambience was pretty nice, relaxing place. The service was good. I would definitely go back. read more

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Cute little coffee shop! Loved the atmosphere and all their options of coffee, smoothies, teas, milkshakes, and food! Can't wait to move closer so I can come here everyday! I got the mango dragonfruit smoothie, oh my, it was bangin. Hubs got the cold brew and a lemon poppy seed muffin! The muffin was sooo amazing, it tasted like cake! Can't wait to come back!! This is a must try place! Even if you don't drink coffee, they offer something you will love! Employee was super friendly and courteous! read more

Lightbulb Coffee - MANGO DRAGONFRUIT - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

I've come twice now to get a fun drink and study/do homework and I would highly recommend!! The inside is super cute and not too loud in terms of music/general noise. They always play really good music too which is nice if you don't wanna wear headphones. There's lots of seating both indoor and outdoor. I've had the lavender matcha as well as a regular matcha latte and they were both delish! The prices aren't too bad and the baristas make the drinks really fast which is great! read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Inside decor - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

Great place to grab a coffee or snack and get some work done. Will definitely be back.

First thing I want to say is: ATTENTION MANAGEMENT! PLEASE HIRE/SCHEDULE MORE PEOPLE FOR BUSY TIMES!!! I don't blame the poor employees who were trying their best on Sunday morning, but it took almost a 1/2 hour to make me and my friends (4 of us) coffees because there were only 3 people working. Don't know if that's the norm; maybe someone called in sick. Just saying that it's something to keep in mind. That said, the coffee was very good, and they were able to make something special for me. I asked them to combine their dark chocolate chip and their peanut butter into 1 iced coffee (thought it a little peculiar that considering the available ingredients they didn't have a chocolate/peanut butter option on the menu but I digress). It was quite tasty, and our group all seemed to enjoy their drinks. All in all a good experience. Just hope they do something to help their staff soon. read more

This is a very trendy looking place. Came here with my friends who was visiting. We ordered our coffees and split an avocado bagel. That bagel sandwich was DELICIOUS. The coffee was also very good. The shop is spacious enough for a stroller, if you have one. There's a parking garage, great to have on your summer days so your car doesn't have to be outside getting hotter than your coffee. Looking forward to coming here again. read more

Light bulb coffee is super unique and has a great atmosphere. We went on a Saturday and there was great music with great energy here. They have a variety of drinks and food options. The service was very fast even with a busy house and I will definitely be back here! read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Inside looking toward the door - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

Good * imaginative drinks * peak downtown location * great bookshelf * toast ordering tablet! No need to speak to people! Bad * a rude cashier who just said "no" when asked if they had a light bulb cup * a surcharge which has no signs at the counter. * coffee which had more sugar than a kirspy Kreme doughnut and tasted more like a birthday cake than matcha read more

Cute coffee shop to come with friends. I love the Lox bagel and creative seasonal lattes like the snickerdoodle and egg nog. I was skeptical at first, but I've been converted. The wrapping for the food is also well thought out, newspaper decor print. The pricing is a bit high, $19.00 for a large latte and lox bagel. But I would pick this place over Starbucks any day. Service is good, nothing too over the top or under. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Snickerdoodle Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

Ordered from this place daily while recovering from surgery recently and really appreciated having healthy and nourishing food that tasted great too! Will have to come by in person someday soon! Personal favorites: raspberry turkey panini and strawberry banana smoothie read more

Wonderful cafe to sip a delicious warm Turkish hazelnut, sit back and get work done with a refreshing Alpine iced tea, or take a hot and fulfilling Turkey pesto sandwich to go. Lightbulb is the place! Very spacious, comfortable, and a very welcoming staff. Don't be shy to ask for more of this or less of that, the staff is very very friendly and is happy to make your experience 5 stars. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Spacious space! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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When I saw their drinks in light bulb cups on instagram, i just knew I had to check them out. No where does it have a price for the cups. I ordered the lavender latte in a clear light bulb cup. That cup was $10. my drink was $5.50. Now that's highway robbery. As i slurped my drink, I would get endless lavender crystal syrup clumps. No matter how much I would stir, it would not break down. The drink itself was sweet and delicious when I wasn't drinking clumps. My recommendation is to try out your drink before leaving. That was my mistake. read more

Amazing creative coffees, great ambiance and quick friendly service! This seems like a great place to study or hang out. They also have books and games :) read more