Vibe/Interior: A hidden gem in the Del Mar area and seems to be a local fav. It's part of a larger plaza and tucked away in the corner. Plenty of seating on the patio and is dog friendly. Standouts: We ordered 2 flat whites iced with almond milk. So delicious! We'll be back again. Their almond milk is thicker and is almost creamy! Service: A barista took our order from a window on one side of the shop and then our order was called out and placed on a cart on the other side. Friendly and happy staff! They even offered a treat to our pup. Parking: Street parking & residential parking. Restroom: None in the plaza but you can go to the library or civic center nearby. read more

Drink: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance: 8/10 There's some benches, but this place is a more like a grab and go kind of place. Not a place to get work done, but a great place to get good coffee for reading on the bench or walk to the beach. They use Zumbar beans, so highly recommend! Get a cortado; you won't regret it read more

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If you enjoy coffee without too much sweetness or flavoring this is the place to stop by! They only have minimal choices if you want it sweetened and I believe it costs $1 extra although I could be wrong. I decided to get an Iced Latte with Whole Milk. They do accept cash which is nice! It's a solid latte, some may say it slightly under filled but I think the quantities are solid. It's not super milky and the espresso stands out nicely. The day I went they had some new black metal benches that were sturdy and very pretty. Some days the workers will bring your drink out to you and other times they will leave it on the cart while calling out the drink you ordered. Overall, the workers are very kind! A great place to stop by in the morning or early afternoon. read more

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I came here for two reason: 1) I wanted espresso in a cup with a ship in a bottle, 2) a La Marzocco espresso machine is allergic to pulling a bad shot. Much like a ship in a bottle, the small shop is closed off restricting you to admire brilliance in action from afar. The attention to detail is obvious; the difference between the flat white and cortado side-by-side striking, the espresso perfectly smooth and flavorful, all done well without flair. The seating along the walls of the open courtyard turn the area into pseudo amphitheater as if to provide ample viewing area for the liquid feats being pumped out. Little Joy, thank for the little cup full of perfected joy. read more

Little Joy - Flat white - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

Stopped by this location to get a post-brunch coffee! This is a tiny coffee stall next to several other small shops on the side of the road. I ordered a regular latte! Their menu is very small, as are the sizes of their drinks. However, I really enjoyed my drink and the quality of the coffee made it relatively worth the price personally. The workers are also super friendly and very down to recommend something if you are not sure what to order! read more

Little Joy - latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

Grab n go coffee shop with the kindest workers. No interior seating but plenty of nature scape seating under the trees and plants lending to a serene casual picnic. I grabbed a mocha latte and 2 pastries (1 apricot jam and 1 raspberry jam). These biscuit cookies were delicious! The mocha latte was a bit of an acidic back end for my liking so I'd try something else next time. read more

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Great little coffee shop. It used to be my go to spot when they had a little stand right across from Del Mar Library. Super convenient and quick with quality expresso drinks. Now they opened their own small place across the street near Board and Brew sandwich shop. Its more of a grab and go place, not really a place to sit down. They do have a small wine bar that opens of the weekends, where they offer wine tasting and wine bottles for purchase. read more

Little Joy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

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We went to Little Joy on Saturday morning and sat on the bench near the small table where drinks are served. We were there for about 30 minutes. As we were leaving, I briefly placed my empty coffee cup on the service table without thinking. A barista with dark curly hair called out to me from about 10 feet away. I responded, and she asked if I'd finished my coffee. When I said yes, she began yelling at me in front of other customers, telling me I had to throw my cup into the trash myself. The way it was handled made me extremely uncomfortable. I walked closer to the counter and asked why she was yelling at me instead of just speaking normally. She continued raising her voice and repeating the same thing. At that point, I asked why tipping is expected if basic courtesy or help isn't part of the service. The owner was standing right there and only said, "Can you both be nice to each other," which felt dismissive given the situation. I've been a regular customer and always enjoyed the coffee, but this interaction was unnecessarily aggressive and embarrassing. Good coffee, but the customer service experience was so off-putting that I won't be coming back. I've had many little joys at Little Joy in the past, but yesterday there was no joy. Moving forward, I'll be choosing Rose Hill Purveyors--everyone there is genuinely kind and welcoming. read more

Stopped by this cute little coffee shop for a morning pick me up!! It's THE place to go for a morning coffee - was super busy Friday morning! The coffee shop is tiny and there's no seating inside but there's a couple spots outside to sit. Service was amazing!! Got a hot vanilla latte and it was exactly what I needed. read more

Little Joy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

A little joy that goes a very long way. I've said it many times and I really mean it. Waking up with a delicious cup of coffee is the best way to begin a great day. This very small beachside coffee shop is putting out some really great drinks. Ordered one of my go-to's a honey latte and it was perfectly balanced with just a hint of sweet honey. Strong yet very smooth. Service was friendly and fast. Clearly a very popular spot with many locals. The best part of course is that you're so close to the ocean you can walk to a nearby park (Del Mar Canyon Preserve) and of course you have one of the best beaches around as well (Del Mar Beach) just a few minutes away. A few notes: Currently serving fresh Hummingbird blend coffee from a local roasting partner Zumbar. Plenty of free street parking in every direction (behind the businesses on residential streets). Just a few pastry offerings. There's also a semi-secret wine shop behind the coffee bar that I'll have to checkout next time I'm around. read more

Little Joy - It's the little things that count the most. Honey latte with a view. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

It's alright. Drinks are good and located in a prime area, so hard to pass by. Dirty chai had a great chai flavor, but it felt a little weak on the espresso. London fog was straight mid. Felt like I was drinking milk. A little aggressive with the tip asking though. Instead of giving you the iPad, they just ask. read more

We are from Seattle so can be a little particular about our coffee... Little Joy compares to the best Seattle has to offer. I would highly recommend this coffee shop! Delicious!! read more

The coffee and cookie I got were delicious! A great place for some coffee on the go. Service was fast and it is about one block from the beach, so I took a walk while sipping. read more

Little Joy - Iced vanilla latte and a cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Thank you Little Joy for always providing BIG joy. Drew and team add a personal touch through their coffee making, with notes of community building and camaraderie. This is the "Cheers" of coffee shops. read more

Wonderful coffee and friendly staff. Lovely little gem in Del Mar. Coffee latte was delicious for a walk on beach morning. read more

Little Joy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

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We just finished breakfast and I needed caffeine...real bad. We happened upon Little Joy and it was such a cute little place. In fact, it wasn't the type of place where you can go in and sit down. You order at the door which is perfect because you can grab some outdoor seating (there isn't a lot) or you do like we did and take your coffee on the go. The beach is literally around the corner. Anyway. This place will forever be in my heart because my friend was trying to be an influencer of some sort and while she was setting up her "shot" she spilled her drink. They happily made her another and didn't charge for it. I thought that was so cool of them and I'll forever be a fan. read more

The service was the best part about this place. Super nice staff but high pressure to tip. The coffee was decent and somewhat quick to come out. We got the iced latte and vanilla latte and tasted ok. A little pricey compared to regular coffee but reasonable given the location. Good vibe for coffee on the way to the beach! read more

Little Joy - Exterior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

Cool location in heart of Del Mar. They do not have inside seating, but outside area is very cozy and accessible. Espresso beans are solid. I tried latte with half&half, and it came out great - temperature, balanced towards the milk side. read more

Little Joy - vibe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

Great coffee, the iced vanilla latte has a hint of roasted marshmallows. The owner and his wife are the nicest people you will ever meet.

I live in ocean beach, an area with about 15 stellar coffee shops in a 3 mile radius, and this is still the best coffee I've had anywhere in San Diego. In fact, everything here is amazing (fritters, other pastries, even the wine is unique and delicious!) and the people who work here truly care about their customers. My sister, dad and i look forward to going here almost every Friday!! We love little joy! read more

Drew and Kat provide the great beans and warm souls to attract an eclectic morning of camaraderie.

So nice place to check in the morning The coffee aroma is amazing when you enter the shop, you can't miss it. The owner was friendly and I could tell this place is a local shop since there's a lot of regular customers came in short period time. The coffee was great! Obviously! I usually go to Starbucks but this place has different tastes definitely so I might want to go everyday if it's in my neighborhood. read more

If you visit the area you need to go here for the tastiest cup of coffee, and a beautiful beach scene

It took them 15 minutes to make my drink and the cup wasn't full. I think if you're going to charge for 16 oz you should fill it up or charge for 12oz. Other than that, it's delicious coffee! Top tier vanilla latte :) read more

Little Joy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

Great local coffee spot. Ambiance in the courtyard is always pleasant with a community feel. The staff is always so friendly and hands your coffee with a smile. Great service and the pastries and coffee are top notch. Lucky to have this place as my go to walk on Sunday mornings. read more

Such a fun little walkup coffee shop. This is a perfect place to stop and get your coffee before walking around beautiful Del Mar. I'll be back for another cup soon!! read more

Excellent latte Unfortunately they charge a dollar $1.00 more for almond milk or oat milk. I didn't realize this until after He asked me if I wanted to add a tip. The option started as a dollar. So I choose a dollar tip ... my latte ended up being almost 7 dollars. Very disappointed . My latte was made by the owner who has had a little joy coffee cart for three years. He was training a new staff member The latte was made at the perfect temperature very well done but I'm again very disappointed about the very high non dairy milk upcharge. When I tried to talk to the owner about it he did not seem so interested. I got the usual "well it's more expensive." Well it's not a dollar more expensive per cup. I talked with him about increasing the regular cost of the latte or cappuccino so it's fair across-the-board no matter what milk option you choose. It's a great middle ground and more and more places are doing that. Check out Switch for Good and Starbucks Europe Another option would be just to charge a dime or $.15 cents more. That's making it still affordable and not penalizing people who are making a choice of ethical milks or because of their diet (or both) For people in my family like my daughter who is a student, budget is important but she is severely lactose intolerant - Thus It really helps to 80 help reviews to know what places are supporting and making affordable versus places that are of charging so much. This process of charging so much more for the milk really penalize people who are lactose intolerant. Did you know that most people of color are lactose intolerant?! And as we age we become lactose intolerant. And then of course if you choose not to support the dairy industry and the separation of the babies from their mamas - I worked on a dairy farm so I know this firsthand - you are economically penalized. How inspiring if if business owners support our climate, racial equity, and a green earth by not up charging for the nondairy milk?! Did you know as we get older most people become lactose intolerant? You probably wouldn't want to drink or feed your child your dogs milk or your cats milk or a seal .. or horse ... I hope this review might make you curious to look into lactose digestion issues. There are so many reasons to make it be more equitable on the milk options. I've been coming to Del Mar since i was a little girl and it's such a sweet little area. I had thought of it as being more in tune to some of these issues. I'll come back again in a few months and see what they are doing. The owner said he would give it some consideration. I really hope he does. Such gesture would receive huge support!! read more

Little Joy - Coffee yum - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

Best coffee in North County, hands down. Drew has turned this little coffee shop into a cultural staple of Del Mar. Plus they carry VGs donuts. read more

Cute cups & good coffee? Sign me up. Little joy is a small little coffee cart close to the beach. I got my usual which is a hot oat milk vanilla latte, coffee was delicious & the barista was sweet! (TIP - if you like your coffee sweet, tell them extra extra sweet! I did extra sweet & it still wasn't sweet enough lol). read more

Little Joy - Hot latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

Literally the most wonderful people run this place and the cappuccinos I got every day were perfect. Give these folks your money!!!

Cute coffee shop; more like a coffee cart actually. I usually order a mocha when I visit coffeeshops and I'm very picky. This spot makes it the just way I like my drink--not too sweet and doesn't taste like pure hot milk. Consistency is definitely there including the great customer service. Definitely the perfect pick up before heading to the beach. read more

Little Joy - a cup of coffee on a bench - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Best coffee in Del Mar! The cutest little coffee shop has always made my mornings brighter. Baristas are so kind and friendly, coffee is made quick and with care and the outside seating is cozy. I highly recommend! read more

This place is so cute, has very delicious coffee, yummy treats, and great service. The smile and kindness from the man working the stand sets you up for a great day. This place is pretty popular, so if you want a treat (definitely get the hamentashen cookies), try to get there early. Highly recommend and would definitely go again for a coffee to-go! read more

Cute little coffee-shop/cart right next to the Zel's restaurant in Del Mar. In fact, you can get the coffee at Little Joy and have it quietly while people watching and/or ordering breakfast of whatever you want at the patio of that restaurant. Perfect combo. I found this great mini coffee joint by searching on Yelp something different from the nearby restaurant. Great coffee, good quality, well done, and very amiable service too. Oh, and kudos to whoever designed the lettering and drawing on the paper cup. It is just so cute I could not stop thinking of old days French schoolbooks calligraphy. It not only about the coffee:) read more

Little Joy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

Updating website and hours. Drove to this place and they had decided to take a week off without bothering to alert customers in any way.

Little Joy bring a lot of joy to the world with their fine espressos and coffees. I had and Iced Americano, which is a re-occurring them during warm summer month. It was quality espresso. I believe they use Zumbar Coffee Roasters. It was certainly rich and bold with a quality well rounded flavor. I liked it! The kiosk is parked right in front of Zel's of Del Mar. The young gentlemen who owns it is rather nice and talented. read more

Little Joy - Iced Americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

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I really don't like leaving low star reviews for a local business, but I just was not impressed with my chai latte from here. It tasted like warm milk with maybe just a tiny drop of chai added to the mix. I couldn't finish it. 2 small drinks came to over $12. Maybe try something other than the chai latte if you decide to give little joy a chance. What I do appreciate though is there hands off ordering, sneeze guard, and good safety in regards to hygiene when preparing the drinks. I love their biodegradable straws. Nevertheless, in terms of quality and taste.. With little joy.. I had big disappointment. read more

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Cute little coffee shop with great coffee and super friendly staff! There is seating right outside, but it's also in a good area to take your coffee on a walk. Looking forward to returning whenever I'm back in Del Mar! read more

Average iced latte, nothing special, but perhaps slightly above Starbucks. But if you factor in perhaps the most awkward experience I've ever had ordering coffee, Starbucks doesn't look so bad. It all boiled down to the paying process. The card reader is behind the floor to ceiling plexiglass shield, and you pay with a contactless reader. After scanning my card, then came the tip question. The barista awkwardly asked me what kind of tip I wanted to leave her, and being as nothing had happened except she took my order, I said no thanks, no tip. She then completely ignored that, and hovered her finger over the 15% tip options, and said, "this one?", To which I said no, so she then moved it over to the 10% option...to which I said no again...but this fell on deaf ears. Basically she completely ignored my wish to not pay more than the listed prices for her to make my coffee and waited for me to say yes to a tip before hitting submit. Now maybe she didn't hear me the first time, but clearly by the second time she should have gotten the hint. It's simply rediculous to ask for a tip after taking a simple. coffee order, and yet here we are...anyways, won't be returning here. read more

Little Joy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Del Mar, California

The coffee is watered down. The cups are extremely small for the price they are charging, smaller than a tall at Starbucks. They make them look bigger in the photos. The pastries are not fresh, so please don't purchase. Just a big tourist trap. read more