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    Lofty Coffee

    4.0 (174 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Lofty Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    LOFTY COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Lofty Coffee

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    Reviews With Photos

    Steamed veggie bowl
    Christina H.

    Coffee and service was great. Was hungry so had the steamed veggie bowl, it was surprisingly so good and really filling !! Great presentation. Lots of outdoor seating

    Lemon cookie and vanilla latte
    Alicia D.

    Very cute coffee shop!! I stopped by here one morning to grab some coffee before heading to run some errands. The line was a little long but it was with the wait. I got a vanilla latte and lemon cookie, which was TO DIE FOR! It's an indoor/outdoor coffee shop, which is pretty chill when the weathers nice. I like that they offer WiFi but I couldn't find any outlets to charge my phone (could've just been where I was sitting). Parking wasn't the greatest though. It's on a busy street with lots of other shops and stores in the area so you have to circle around a few times to find parking. All in all, I enjoyed it there. Will be back for sure!

    Matcha Mint Latte
    Nell C.

    Tried a Matcha Mint Latte today! To my surprise the mint was subtle and natural sweetness of the almond milk really worked! My new favorite hot or cold drink! Thank you Lofty!

    Jessica Z.

    The lofty was okay, just okay to say the least. They most definitely get a 10 On the cute art side of the latte craft but the taste wasn't it for me. They made my husband and my latte but I had to remind them about my daughter's iced latte.....

    Iced coffee in a Lofty branded cup
    Ana B.

    Love going to Carlsbad and decided to try a new coffee shop. I had the Turkish latte and a sausage, egg, and cheese croissant sandwich. The sandwich was delicious. They added some jam which added a sweet element that worked well. The coffee was good too, though perhaps a tad too much cardamom for my taste The sitting area was mostly outdoors and was very modern and cool. Workers were very friendly and I would come back.

    London Fog Tea
    Alice-Anne A.

    Great find for a coffee or tea and a light bite. The earl grey tea hit the spot and had a beautiful presentation design. We shared an avocado toast which was delicious! The open patio has several heaters to keep you comfortable on chilly days. Service was friendly.

    Iced Vanilla Latte

    Only been a couple of times now, the atmosphere is nice I like how the tables face out into the village! The first time I went the salted caramel coffee was pretty good, just a little sweet. However, not sure what happened the next time because our drinks were very watered down & kept separating from the milk :( Not sure why but this pic shows what I mean. It wasn't a matter of it sitting there too long or anything, we had just got it. We kept stirring them but overall the taste wasn't great.

    Jacob M.

    To be Frank, I was disappointed in Lofty. I was excited to try this coffee shop, however it did not meet expectations. The service was quite odd, from the lack of being able to do a regular matcha without mint, to the shutting of the sliding glass door as I was waiting for my friend inside, it was not a friendly place. We got two of the teas, both okay but has some sweet additive that is not normal when ordering a tea. We felt very rushed at the end when the minute they closed all chairs were being quickly put away. Would go elsewhere.

    Turkey croissant sandwich
    Marissa M.

    Was super excited to try this place as the photos looked good, but I sadly hated my matcha latte and we all thought it just tasted like almonds and nothing else. This was a huge bummer considering how expensive their drinks are and I ordered it the way they have it on the menu. However the food was great. I got the turkey croissant sandwich and it was quite good. Their prices are steep considering what you get, I think my sandwich and matcha latte were $23 and just my boyfriend's drink was $9 which was insane to me. I couldn't see myself wanting to come back considering the price and quality of drinks but the workers were very kind. They were super chatty and all of our food came out within 15 minutes or so. I would just readjust the matcha latte to make it taste authentic or mention it just tastes of almond milk, since it missed the mark on what Japanese matcha lattes should taste like, even if using almond milk.

    Chance T.

    Kirsten was spectacular! Service was above and beyond from ALL of the staff. We've found our go-to! Ambience is chic and spacious. Local vibes Thanks, guys!

    why am i drinking bits of stuff

    the matcha is horrendous it was not mixed at all and just a waste. for the price it's annoying. Thanks for the response! I noticed the matcha on top and I knew it was decorative but even so the whole thing was not mixed. I tried mixing it myself and it was not a properly made matcha. I would have had her fixed it but I was in a time crunch and unfortunately didn't want to walk back. Thank you!

    Turkish Latte
    RJ S.

    Lofty is a local staple that everyone should experience! I've been drinking Lofty coffee since 2011 when they opened their first location and I'm glad they've expanded. They serve up craft coffee, espresso and tea, complemented by a delicious selection of pastries, cookies and a small seasonal selection of light breakfast and lunch options. They're espresso is great, but try the Turkish Latte if you're looking for something a little more unique. The Aztec Mocha is also good if you like a little spice in your drink. They also offer great croissant sandwiches and avocado toast options. I love the Toasted Quickie: avocado toast with olive oil, balsamic glaze and maldon sea salt! The ambience varies by location, but they're all enjoyable. The staff is also friendly and generous when it comes to making recommendations. Some people think they're prices are too high which is somewhat understandable. I do think it's partially due to the high quality ingredients that are used to make their food and beverages. In summary, Lofty has my vote! Try it out for yourself. Pro Tip: If you're dining with someone who has dietary sensitivities, they have good options that are gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.

    Gillian G.

    Service was ok. I felt like the coffees were a bit watered down for my taste and not worth the price. I would love to give them another chance. Modern decor. Didn't try the food.

    Organic French toast

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    There coffee is delicious!!! Love that they got in house almond milk and oatmeal . Their pastries are out of this world. It's a must weekly

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    4 years ago

    The Nola cold brew is delicious. I'm not that into mints or colds brews, but this was the exception. I highly recommend it.

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    5 years ago

    Just a beautiful Lofty! It's a great open space with a nice patio to hang out on. All of the staff was friendly and helpful.

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    Page 5 of 5

    Ask the Community - Lofty Coffee

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    The Goods - Croissants

    The Goods

    4.5(1.4k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Still super delicious. We popped in this morning to pick up a few gluten free donuts and some…read moreregulars. It's was great that staff knew to package them separately. Everything was so good. We also picked up a few drinks from the barista and they were carefully crafted. The shop is cute and clean with lots of seating.

    Visit 5/12 around 12:30-ish…read more I typically go to small mom/pop shops, like SK Donuts in O'side, but because my high school junior is doing an IT school required internship, down on state, I figured we stop here to maybe treat him to after he had lunch. Entering: Never greeted let alone not acknowledged until it became barely. As someone who has worked all types of jobs, going as far back as when I was a teen myself - this is important. The two youngest ladies, at the register, were deep in their gossip that I doubt they noticed we walked in; only customers. I tried to get their attention but to no avail until I walked over and stood in front on them where their conversation had to be cut short. One of the young girls look a smidgen annoyed while the other was trying to rush to get my order. Quality of goods: I ordered a chocolate chip cookie, to share later with my girls and orders sometime raspberry for my teen son that he could enjoy later on break. The cookie was huge, yes, but nothing that beats the moist and chewy cookies I make myself at home, which I can't currently do since my kitchen is beinf remodeled. I asked my son on his bougie donut, later in the day, and he did the so-so hand and gave it an ok and dry. At end: we will stick to SK for service and quality.

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    The Goods - Strawberry shortcake

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    Glutenus Maximus Bakehouse - Cream Cheese Frosted Cinnamon Roll

    Glutenus Maximus Bakehouse

    4.8(269 reviews)
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    We need more places like this!…read more First time stopping by GM's brick and mortar shop vs buying from them at the farmers market, and let me just say, this place is a gem - everything from the store itself to its people! Cinnamon roll - best Ive had out of all the ones I've had in CA and AZ. They do not cut corners and even use brown butter for their cinnamon sugar filling! Cruffins - fun to look at and fun to eat; can't go wrong with any of them! Cookies - white chocolate macadamia nut, chocolate chip, gluten-less chocolate cookies ... now these are cookies! If I had to bet, I'm pretty sure they weigh as much or even more than the famous NY Levain cookies. Strawberry and cream croissant - croissant stuffed with whipped cream and slices of fresh strawberrh; do yourself a favor and just try this! With so many goods to choose from, it may be easy to pass this one up, but don't! It'll give you those napoleon and cream puff vibes.

    Came on a Saturday noon, and it was not too busy. All the pastries were laid out for you to see and…read morethey all looked super yummy. The store is small and there's no seating. The pastries are definitely on the higher-priced side and we weren't too hungry, so we opted for the strawberry croissant since it was the last one left. I was hoping to try their cinnamon roll, as it looked amazing and had a selection of flavors to pick from. The lady who helped us was friendly and packed the croissant for me, and we took it to go. The strawberry croissant had some vanilla cream along with strawberry slices in the center cut of the croissant. The cream was nice, light, and not overly sweet, which tasted great with the strawberry. The croissant was a little disappointing, as it wasn't flaky, very dense, and on the softer side. It still had a good buttery flavor but overall it was mid. As we continued eating, I ended up chewing on something plasticky, and I believe it might have been the front cut of a plastic piping bag. I'm glad it was a fairly small piece or else I probably would have swallowed it...It is disappointing that a big piece of plastic ended up in the cream where no one had caught it during the process of making it.

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    Prager Brothers Artisan Breads - Mocha  with the Espresso on the side | Oat Honey Cinnamon Latte

    Prager Brothers Artisan Breads

    4.5(565 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    Prager Brothers is just one of those places that never disappoints. Their bread is truly fantastic…read more-- you can tell it's made with care, and everything always tastes fresh and high quality. I also have to mention their croissants, which are excellent. I love all of their locations. The Carlsbad spot has a slightly more extensive menu -- especially with the pizzas -- but the Encinitas location is just as good and always worth the stop. My personal favorites are the ham and gruyère baguette and the Pizza Florentine, and their cookies are dangerously good. And if you're a coffee person, you'll be happy here -- their espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos are consistently great. It's simply a gem of a local spot for really good bread, coffee, and casual bites.

    This is such an amazing place! I was looking for a delicious bread for a long time and finally I…read morefound this place. The bread is fresh, tasty, simple, no preservatives. Great variety, stores well in the freezer. The viennoiseries are a combination of classic and unique, and amazing: you have to try their fig bar! Do not try their almond and chocolate croissant though, please. Otherwise they will ran out and I won't be able to get mine. I compared their regular butter croissant with other "French" ones, and this one wins by a huge margin: airy, fluffy, just enough sweetness. They recently expanded in their main location, now you can get a sandwich, coffee and pizza. They also collaborate with other local vendors and you can find some unique items in their fridge. The vibe is so cool too. Friendly, chill, California style. Highly recommend this place, or their other locations.

    Photos
    Prager Brothers Artisan Breads - Ham sandwich for the game. Croissants for breakfast, I'm done till dinner!

    Ham sandwich for the game. Croissants for breakfast, I'm done till dinner!

    Prager Brothers Artisan Breads - Mocha

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    Dolce Aroma Italian Bakery - Zeppole is the most famous sweet for St. Joseph's Day

    Dolce Aroma Italian Bakery

    4.5(205 reviews)
    8.8 mi
    $$

    What do you say about perfect food?!? The sandwich - a fresh…read morebaguette with mozzarella, tomato and arugula with the right amount of balsamic vinegar. The star of day is the sfogliatella. A pastry so light, with a hint of orange in a sweet ricotta filling. The owner/baker Monica is welcoming with a friendly smile and actually took the time to come chat with us. If you don't go try this place you're missing a delicious experience!!!

    My wife and I are visiting California from Dallas, TX, we also live part time in Calabria, Italy…read moreand we're delighted to find this Authentic Italian coffee bar & Ristorante while staying in Encinitas! We have been trying to find true Italiano coffee espresso and this place is the real deal. Everything from the bakery/ sweets, baguette/ panini sandwiches, Fresh Cornettos/ croissants were spot on Italiano perfect/perfetto! The owner Ken & Navy Veteran ( Thank you for your service) and his brother-in- law from Napoli (per sempre Diego Maradona!) Guiseppe were absolutely welcoming, great service excellent food and you can tell it all comes from their heart with love, pure food of love and Italian passion! Ken e Guiseppe, grazie mille per averci fatto sentire come se fossimo tornati in Italia, ci è piaciuto assaggiare il vostro cibo e il vostro caffè e non vediamo l'ora di tornare a praticare il mio italiano e ci siamo goduti la vostra compagnia. Ciao Sharif @ Stacie, Semper Fi del Marine del Texas!

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    Dolce Aroma Italian Bakery - Cornetti alla Crema, Bomboloni, and Baba 
 Oh,,, all these are so delicious!!

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    Lofty Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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