Pastries are absolutely delicious!! The tomato and seaweed jam croissant has great umami flavor and the kaya kouign amann is the best. read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

In San Diego it feels like a new coffee shop opens every other day, and Little While is no different. Right next to An's Dry Cleaning on Adams, parking is usually street parking, and there was a decent line in the shop. Customer service was great, albeit a little busy as the cashier was also helping in making drinks as well. Tables are small, and there are a few outside, although when waiting for your drink it does tend to get crowded inside with minimal space to stand without feeling in the way when the tables are all taken. They sell coffee beans here as well as Kinto glassware, which is a nice touch as this is one of my favorite glassware brands that I've purchased from in Japan. When we got there, there weren't any pastries left to try, so definitely come early if you want to try anything in their bakery case. We purchased the iced Pandan Earl Grey Latte and the iced Matcha Latte (different from the LW Matcha Latte). The pandan earl grey latte was decent, standard to nicer coffee shops, although I can't say I could taste the pandan notes. Southeast asian desserts are known to have pandan flavors to a higher degree, so I would say my expectations are higher when I expect pandan flavor in a drink or dessert. The earl grey notes are subtle, yet overtake any pandan flavor, and it was a nice nuanced flavor to go with their coffee. I wouldn't get the matcha latte here again, although it had good coloring for a matcha, it belied its actual taste, as was watery with no strong matcha flavor. I ended up taking the matcha home and adding my own matcha shot to the drink to make it stronger. I got both drinks with whole milk, but they don't charge extra here for alternative milks (oat milk and 2% lactose free milk) which is nice. Overall I wasn't amazed by the drinks I got, but they do have some other items on the menu that looked promising, so I may have to come back to try other drinks, as I saw others who purchased the LW Matcha Latte (made with coconut water and milk) had a darker green matcha coloring, and with less milk the matcha may be stronger. The slow bar pourovers also sounded interesting, as one of the two options on the menu was sold out when we got there. They also have seasonal specials that change, and the clarified milk punch (recommended dine-in only) looked interesting. read more

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This establishment DELIVERS the matcha that you want, the matcha that you NEED. High quality and well-sourced ingredients are used to craft exceptional and very innovative bevvies. The vibes in there are effortless, not trying too hard with being "cool". It's just cool. And everyone who works there is friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend coming here and ordering the LW matcha latte! read more

Little While - LW Matcha latter, guava matcha latte, and matcha cloud on coconut water all three were insane!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Not sure what the hype about this place is. After seeing so many instagram reels suggesting it , I decided to try it out and was deeply disappointed. I was looking forward to the pastries , but was disgusted after seeing all the flies on them through the display window . I ordered a pandan earl grey latte , but that's not what I was given . I was given a watered down ice latte that just tasted like water and coffee . read more

Cute spot, baked goods all looked amazing, we tried croissants and honey toast, coffee was good, it was busy on the weekend but easy to get a table inside. read more

Such a cute cafe that just opened up in university heights. When I got there at 8:30 am there was already a line out the door. I left around 10 am and the line was twice as long. For drinks, I got the iced matcha latte with oat milk and light maple syrup. I thought the drink was good enough and I'd order it again if I came back. If I were to be super critical, I'm not sure I liked the oat milk they used. The matcha itself was fine and sounds like they put a lot of thought and effort in to source it from a farm in Japan (the photos were displayed on the walls). For pastries, I got the butter croissant, the Kayan kouign amann, and the almond croissant. The pastries were good but wayyyyyyyy too sweet. Much much sweeter than any place I've tried in San Diego. The service is great though. Everyone was really nice and I saw another worker, who was possibly the owner, making small talk with customers and asking them for open feedback, as I believe they're still in their soft opening phase. I thought that was thoughtful that they were genuinely looking for ways to improve. Ultimately I think I'd come back and try it again once the work out some of the kinks. read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Little While is a coffee & pastry shop, & roastery inspired by the idea that life is made up of many little whiles. They are the parent company to Stella Jean's ice cream & Pop Pie Co! The cafe blends warm wooden brown tones w/ modern decor, creating a space that feels both stylish & inviting. The soft lighting & two nooks in the front add a cozy warmth. It is a small space but everything is so well put together. Their menu consists of the classics, lattes, matcha, slow bar pour overs, & be sure to ask them about their rotating seasonal specials. Their iced Salted Maple Latte ($7) w/ oat milk was solid! The flavors were all well balanced & the quality of the espresso really stood out! Such yummy flavors all around. Pandan Earl Grey Latte ($7) is made with espresso, pandan earl grey syrup and milk. The first time I tried this drink it was so flavorful, the pandan earl grey came through & the espresso was so good. The second time I got it... uhm the flavor was subtle BUT it was still good! The LW Matcha ($7.50) consists of matcha, maple, coconut water, & oat milk. Wow!! This was so yummy! The coconut flavor stood out all while still being able to taste the matcha. I loved it. Steven, the founder & CEO, talked me through their matcha options & recommended me the LW matcha. He explained the meaning & intentionality behind every ingredient that makes up this drink The Kaya Kouign Amann ($6.50) is a laminated pastry made with coconut sugar & kaya jam. This pastry was so YUMMY & we highly recommend giving it a try. It had a beautifully caramelized outer crunch & was so flaky. The kaya jam had a perfect amount of sweetness that paired well with the pastry. : Metered and/or street parking read more

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Went for a pop up, service is very nice but very unorganized. we were told something by one of the higher ups that turned out to be completely wrong once we got to the register. Very disappointed. read more

Little While - collab menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Very long line but so worth it! The matcha is super yummy and not too sweet. My boyfriend got the cold brew and said it was very good. I personally don't like the bitterness. Will definitely be going back to try a different latte. read more

Little While - LW matcha and cold brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

They team behind Stella Jean ice cream and Pot Pie launches their new coffee concept Little While. It's a beautiful space inside. Nice light and warm colors. Ultra friendly service with a team of a strong coffee background. I had the earl grey pandan latte. And it was delicious! Made just right. It was so good. Such a great edition to the North Park area. It'll be my coffee stop everytime I'm in the area. read more

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Staff was wonderful. Coffee and pastries were delicious. 100% recommend this place. Customer service was excellent definitely coming back.

really loved both the iced matcha latte and vanilla latte. housemade syrups and pastries really make the difference here but also the matcha quality and the espresso roast were really good. i also recommend getting a side of their cream to pour on top of the matcha! there was a wait on the weekend but i'd definitely come back again read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I got here around 11:30 on a thursday and it was pretty crowded. I waited around 15 min to order and an additional 5-10 min for my drink (which i didn't mind at all) I got the pandan earl grey latte and guava cream cheese croissant the guava cream cheese croissant was super yummy! it was perfectly flaky and the guava jam/paste and cream cheese paired super nicely. it was $7 for a super small pastry so although it was good, i probably won't order again. unfortunately the pandan earl grey latte wasn't my favorite. there was little to no pandan flavor and the overall taste of the latte was watered down. the earl grey note was definitely there but the espresso wasn't the best. next time i'll try the matcha instead of the coffee/lattes. overall it was $15 for a small coffee and small pastry. the ambiance was nice but there's so many other cafes that offer much more for this pricing. read more

Little While was a great find! We tried the Pandan Earl Grey Latte and the Matcha, and both were really enjoyable. The matcha was well-balanced -- you could actually taste the matcha, and the sweeteners complemented it without overpowering the flavor. The Pandan Earl Grey Latte was the standout for me. It was unique, aromatic, and had a surprisingly deep, rich coffee flavor. The pandan was light, but it added something special and made the drink feel different from anything I've had before. The aromatics hit early, and the aftertaste settles into a richer, deeper flavor. I'd definitely come back, especially for the Pandan Earl Grey Latte. read more

Little While - Pandan Earl Grey Latte (left) & Matcha Latte (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Went a few weeks after opening and let me tell you the coffee definitely lives up to the hype! The honey cinnamon latte is perfectly made. I tried some of the pastries and they were delicious! read more

Little While - Vanilla latte, honey cinnamon latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped by as I was driving through the neighborhood as I saw the long line outside the shop. Little While is a small coffee shop that specializes in coffee and matcha and source both from high quality suppliers, matcha from Japan for example. Their baristas are well trained as well as I saw them prep a number of drinks. They also have a small pastry section, though the drinks are what you go here for. I ordered a flat white and it was out of this world good. I will easily rank it at number one in San Diego. Their store hours are currently limited, closing at 2pm as they are still in soft open mode so be mindful of that. Will definitely be returning even though it's a drive for me. read more

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Such a cute coffee shop! Love the vibe, the coffee, and the pastries. Their ceremonial-grade matcha is one of the best I've had, which is rare to find. My only complaint is that I wish the space was a little bigger. I'll definitely keep coming back! read more

A lovely quaint little cafe. It was pretty busy when we went but the wait wasn't too long. Expect a line on weekends though. Minimal seating but we got lucky and grabbed a spot outside. I loved the LW Matcha latte. It tasted very unique and refreshing! The salted maple was also delicious. Drinks weren't too sweet and tapped into their natural flavors. I totally understand why they're so busy! read more

Little While - Iced LW Matcha Latte Iced Salted Maple Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Was staying in the area for vacation and ended up coming to Little While twice! Enjoyed both the LW Matcha Latte and regular Matcha Latte. Service was great both times and staff were helpful in explaining the menu. We managed to find a spot to sit each time and enjoyed watching the baristas do their thing! Also, their playlist was great! I wish we had a spot like this back in Seattle. Id be a regular customer! read more

Little While - Matcha latte w/ Oat Milk, Banana Cream Concha, and Cherry Yuzilla. All very good! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Cute new coffee shop, delicious pastries and nice modern aesthetic. I'm super excited this gem is in the neighborhood. I grabbed a butter croissant and salted maple latte both were incredible. Can't wait to go back. They just opened so line was a little long and they are still working out some kinks like missing lids for some of the cup sizes but all simple fixes. read more

Little While - Pastries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Please don't mistake this as a true 5-star rating. Since I did not personally experience what my wife had gone through, I will update once I experience Little While firsthand. When I asked my wife about her experience, I was surprised by her muted and lackluster response. She noted the following... Pros: Able to score seats, drink made was exceptional (although it was the wrong drink and due to busy baristas, did not bother to correct it), pastries were good. Cons: Wrong drink served- did not replace due to busy baristas (not expected), Parked in neighborhood that was 1-2 blocks away (expected), long line (expected). Unexpected Con (overall experience): As my wife and her friend scored seats for their get together at Little While, she proceeded to order drinks/pastries. Upon ordering, behind the counter it seemed that she was being sized-up by a glasses-wearing barista with an arm-sleeved tattoo. Regardless of whatever favorable first impression is needed to order, she dismissed it and thought nothing of it. Paid with tip and returned to her friend seated at a table against the wall. They started to catch-up with each other and a "Little While" later the person who had taken her order was now bussing tables. Although my wife was engaged in conversation with her friend, the hustle/bustle of the cafe and long line; my wife noticed him as he passed by their table. He side-eyed their empty plates and partially filled cups with an uncomfortable glare as he walked by. The read she got from this barista made it apparent that they should hurry and leave. As he proceeded to make the rounds, the side-glares given did not cease while other patrons who were seated or camped-out longer were not privy to his special glances. As my wife and her friend wrapped up their visit and exited Little While, she approached the barista as he was bussing a table and gave him an appreciative "Thank You". Seeing her greet him caught him off guard as he looked away to continue what he was doing. My wife then turned and walked away with her friend. Message to General Manager and the barista that served/bussed the tables: Clearly the purpose of Little While failed to connect with my wife... "Little While is here to share and create moments of significance and delight through our distinct flavors and experience. We have proudly created a space for our customers to slow down, and savor the present and cannot wait to grow our community." Once again, please don't mistake this as a true 5-star rating. I will update this review and see if I am able to connect with the purpose noted above when I visit in a "Little While". read more

Wow! This little cafe did not disappoint and boy do I want to come back already!! Right away I want to tell you there's a really long line to place an order, even at 9:30 in the morning, and seating is a miracle BUT the coffee and pastries are well worth the wait. We loved our iced salted maple lattes with the cloud foam and we got to pour it ourselves!! So fun and delicious. Sadly the honey butter toast ran out for the whole day right before we ordered but we were so happy with our other choices. The Kaya Kouign Amman had a pandas cream filling and a crispy caramelized bottom, the everything pull apart was EVERYTHING paired with the cream cheese dip, and the ube leche flan I mean come on that was so creamy, sweet and filling. I also want to give a huge shoutout to the service: the cashier was so sweet and even checked up on us later on and the baristas were all so nice and chill. Even through all the chaos of everyone coming in they were all so nice and we really appreciated the warm welcome. So happy for this new addition to the neighborhood and can't wait for my next visit very soon! read more

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A very cozy and quaint shop right on Adams Avenue, Little While is the newest coffee addition to the neighborhood. I loved the wood+more minimalist aesthetic inside. The seating area is not the largest since there is just 1 wall of seating with only two-seater tables with the exception of the window table. So if you're group is more than 2 people, you'll probably need to take your things to go. We had to wait about 20 minutes to order and the cashier was very friendly. I opted for the Pandan Earl Grey Latte. It was smooth and the flavors were more subtle than what I was expecting. We also got a handful of pastries. The ham and cheese with the pepperoncini on top was great. The ham was the standout as it had a more premium flavor and texture to it. We also got this pull apart bread that had honey butter and everything but the bagel seasoning on it. This was a nice sweet and savory pastry that was also fun to eat. The Kaya Kouign Amman was decent but we wished the Kaya flavor was more pronounced. The sweetness of the caramelization unfortunately overpowered the kaya. read more

Little While - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a good find if you're in San Diego! Had their pandan earl grey latte and the affogato - both are amazing!! The interior of the store is so beautiful (different warm shades of brown) and the staff is super kind. (I spilled a drink and they were so patient and understanding and even replaced my drink without us asking - thank you so much ). Would 100% recommend. read more

It's a cute new spot with a nice vibe, but $7 for a 12oz coffee is pretty wild. I guess it's the new norm.

One of my favorite places to go for coffee and breakfast when I visit San Diego. My favorite is their pandan Earl Grey tea latte iced and their Kia kouign amman. Their service is always great and helpful. You get to watch them hand make your coffee. read more

Not much different from the prior place that went out of business. Expect to wait about an hour in line to pay eight dollars for a small cappuccino. Seems like just a social media fad /"big dumb line" vibes right now. (Iykyk). I'm good with Starbucks down the street. read more

We tried the coconut water & LW matcha, both satisfied! The customer service was friendly and welcoming. The only con was the lack of maple flavor in the LW matcha as it was described to have. Thanks so much! read more

Fun Filipino inspired flavored coffees! Of course they have the basics but I love to try the creative way these newer cafes make their coffee. Will be frequenting this cafe when in the area and trying the different options. Oh and service is great and very enthusiastic. Apparently it gets really busy so no pastries were left to try. I got in just in time before they closed. read more

First time at Little While and the experience exceeded my expectations! Super cute cafe with amazing coffee and pastries. What topped it off for me was the wonderful customer service they provided. Staff is very friendly and they make you feel so welcome! As busy as the cafe was, the staff members were still able to multi task and engage with the customers from the moment you walk in the door, to leaving. Will definitely come back! Thank you, Little While! read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing new coffee place. Cortado is perfectly balanced and bold, love the glass cups. Super friendly baristas who know what they're doing. A bit busy, but easy to find a table read more

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Visited Little While this Saturday morniing as a recommendation from a friend that knows I love coffee. Was greeted with a line for this smaller space as it seems the word is out. The line moved fast and we were able to get a table as well! My girlfriend ordered the Pandan Earl Grey Latte which was flavorful and not overpowered by any ingredient. My girlfriend commented on them having non-lactose milk which alot of coffee shops don't have! You can tell these folks love and know the process of making coffee. I ordered the Carbonic Honey Peach Co-Ferment pour over. I was greeted by Nayton at the pourover station and was delighted to see they have the same orgami drippers I have. Watching the whole pour over process was a treat in itself. Making coffee this good is an art! I am a big fan of this place and will return again! read more

Little While - Pour Over Station - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Their matcha is really on point. Super close to the one I had in Japan. Definitely recommend it!!!! Also they have a small selections of bakery and they are very yummy!!! The line could be very long so plan ahead. Also parking could be tough depending on the hours! read more

Great service and welcoming staff made for a pleasant visit, and the coffee itself was good. Seating is limited, and parking can be difficult depending on the time of day, but it's still a nice spot for a quality cup of coffee. Unfortunately, the pastry didn't quite hit the mark It was difficult to bite and chew, possibly over-baked. They're still in soft opening hours. read more

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We waited in line for over 30 minutes, and I would do it again just for the LW Matcha!!! It was so refreshing and delicious. My mom ordered the honey cinnamon latte and said that was great too and she's usually not even a coffee person, so I feel like that says a lot. The pear tart had a good combo of spices and it was great! I also really appreciated the customer service, everyone was so friendly and the person taking my order even gave me suggestions of their favorite drinks which I appreciated! I will definitely be back read more

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SO happy to have a 5/5 coffee shop in the neighborhood. we visited Little While twice during their soft opening. the whole staff is warm and informative. there is a long line (because it's so good), but that doesn't stop the team from being friendly and present with each customer. the owner and presumably head barista also took every opportunity to talk with guests. the interior design is chef's kiss; i'm honestly obsessed with it. cappuccino - velvety micro-foam, balanced espresso, savored every sip. 5/5 iced salted maple latte - about 11-12oz, which i consider the perfect amount to get the right proportions between 2 shots of espresso & milk. syrup is made in house, not two sweet or salty. just right. 5/5 seasonal blueberry shaken cold brew - i can't remember the name, but it was very refreshing. if i were to compare it to cold brew at other shops, i would give it 5 stars. however, i think its more of a 4/5 compared to other Little While offerings. clear POG skies - crafted like a clarified cocktail. the smoothest cold brew you will ever have. i wish this was offered on drink menus because i would pick it over an alcohol any day. passion fruit, orange, guava is already a premium flavor combo. the drink also has a touch of coconut milk. seriously so good. she is a work of art! 5/5 everything pull apart with chive cream cheese - really good, slightly sweet, which was a nice surprise. 4.5/5 kouign amann - flaky, buttery, caramelized pastry with a mild jam in the center. 4.5/5 chocolate croissant - the chocolate was high quality and darker than i normally experience. 5/5 almond croissant - best i've ever had, hands down. not too sweet. off the charts !! selfishly i hope the lines die down a tad, but i am so happy for their success. adams ave has been upgraded since they opened! read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Absolutely love the vibe, aesthetic, and coffee of this place! One of the owners was very friendly and chatted with us after we got seated. I ordered the pandan Earl grey latte which was my favorite drink. My husband ordered the iced honey cinnamon latte with cloud foam, and he really enjoyed it too. I will definitely be returning and telling everybody about this place! read more

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This place is a gem. Their drinks, pastries and customer service is amazing. We came back twice during their soft opening. Coffee quality taste well done, pasties is made in house, and every one here is so happy. This will be our favorite spot. Highly Recommend everyone to try. Beware you will want to come back every morning. read more

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From the team behind Pop Pie Co. & Stella Jean's Ice Cream, Little While is a small cafe that recently opened in University Heights. Despite being open to the public at the end of last year, it has been generating a ton of daily foot traffic. PARKING: Metered street parking (typical for the area). SERVICE (5/5): Workers here are awesome. Food and drinks come out promptly. There's a decent amount of seating inside, but it's usually full. There's also some extra seating outside of the cafe. FOOD & DRINKS (4/5): These are the items I've tried so far: 1) Salted Maple Latte (Hot): The maple syrup's caramelized, buttery sweetness played well with the sea salt, and the pairing complemented the espresso's roasted earthiness. I am aware this is a permanent menu item, but it's a very cozy, fall-coded drink! 2) Pandan Earl Grey Latte (Hot): I was expecting a sweetened latte with a pronounced pandan flavor and some earl grey nuance. I mean, it was a smooth cup of coffee ... but I think I had my hopes up a little too high. While it did have nutty notes from the pandan and floral notes from the earl grey, they came through very subtly because the espresso had a stronger taste. It also wasn't sweetened, which kind of took me by surprise because I'm so used to having pandan in sweets. 3) Kaya Kouign Amann: Kaya is a creamy, pandan-based jam that's rare to find in SD, so I was pleased to see it offered here in this pastry. The kaya filling hit all the core notes -- the texture was luscious and almost custard-like, and the taste had the signature coconut vanilla bean-like flavor with a hint of saltiness. The exterior had a perfectly sweetened lamination. While the pastry layers were buttery, the textures were on the denser side compared to the kouign amanns I've had elsewhere. Overall, it was a good pastry to enjoy with a cup of coffee. I will say though: because the lamination has a slightly thick and sticky bite, I would pass on this treat if you have sensitive teeth. OVERALL: It's a nice place to grab a sweet treat and a cup of coffee. Even if you can't find a table, the surrounding neighborhood is very charming and worth strolling around :) read more

I enjoyed their cherry yuzilla so much! It was nice and light and wow the croissant was amazing! I need to come back and try some of their savory choices. Such a cool place with awesome vibes. The owner was also really nice! read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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