Lofty Coffee has a unique way of running their business. With warm and friendly customer service, Top notch baristas, yummy menu items and chill and fun atmosphere. Our barista mentioned to us that he and his girlfriend moved recently from Dallas TX area and so did we, so that was a cool conversation starter. They have incredible staff, just to name a few, Miguel, started working for them 6 years ago as a dishwasher, and moved his way up to a cook, kitchen supervisor and now a fabulous Baker! He has a team of staff that bake our freshly croissants at 4am so that we can enjoy the freshness and deliciousness of their daily baked croissants. There is more about them on their page. I highly recommend you try their Turkish hot latte (with notes of cardamom and cinnamon just so unique) and their breakfast croissant (just flaky and fresh just how I like it). You can thank me later. They have an abundance of fresh from scratch items on their menu, cold press juices that are Devine and quite healthy for you. I've personally have had their GREENS (kale/spinach/apples/mint and yummy), and their Watermelon was just so refreshing and cooled my tummy nicely after a nice time at the sunny beach. You cannot go wrong with any item, so good and baked with pride daily. I am looking forward to trying new items on our next trip back to Encenitas, California! Keep in mind that they have two locations in the same area just right across the street from each other. We have been to both twice and this location is our favorite bc it has better parking space and it's perched up nicely on the hill so you get an awesome chill breeze. read more

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Excellent coffee, service, and ambiance! I love the outdoor space to enjoy good weather. I ordered a savory scone filled with spinach and caramelized onion. It is delicious! I brought home a sourdough loaf and it is excellent too! I highly recommend this coffee house! read more

Cool coffee hang out place with lots of out door seating. Coffee was good and the ambiance is great. Little pricey for the size but that's the norm now. Only complaint is they have 3 big vans and they park them in the 3 closest spots when there's limited parking. Not the best idea. read more

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Good but not great coffee. Service was okay. Lofty is a kinda chain where you don't feel personal. Yet baristas are friendly. read more

Super cute coffee shop right by the beach! My boyfriend picked this place for a quick coffee before heading down to Moonlight Beach. I ordered oat milk cappuccino and he ordered regular cappuccino. There's outside seating where we sipped for a few minutes. Both baristas were really friendly. I liked this place! Will definitely stop again if I'm in the area. read more

Lofty Coffee - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I've been an avid fan of Lofty for many years. The first thing that caught my attention was their eggs. The flavor of their eggs was much better than most places I had gone to. I later found out that they used a very quality egg on their breakfast menu. But as of recently, I've gone crazy on their coffee. About 5 years ago I discovered their Aztec Mocha. Beautiful! But recently I started to experiment with making my own coffee with the aeropress. I absolutely love their Peruvian varietal. I had their pour over a while back. So I recently bought a bag of the "Peru El Romerillo." It's amazing. Notes of Persimmon, cinnamon, sugarcane and buttercream. It's lovely. Their staff is great. So kind and helpful. They obviously are careful who they hire. Lofty is both a tradition and a family to me. read more

If you drink your coffee black, this is your spot (nothing against people who love lattes and flavored coffee drinks, I just love a good drip or pour over)! The beans here are great and you can actually taste all the flavors/nuances. First time I paid almost $9 for coffee but I'd happily come back for some beans to take home. read more

My wife and I loved this coffee shop! The staff was wonderful and the location is really nice. They have a really well designed, large outdoor place to sit and enjoy your beverage. My wife had the Aztec Latte with cayenne which was creamy and peppery. My long black (americano) was one of the better americanos I've had in a while--the barista balance the extra water with the espresso so the drink was still bold and flavorful. There was also a small art gallery in the parking too. read more

Lofty Coffee - Sign in the bathroom - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

Cute location, the croissant sandwiches are bomb too. Coffee is good, I had a matcha once that was subpar but overall a good coffee spot with plenty of space outdoors and shade if you want to bring your laptop to work. read more

Covid rate: D+, follows give mandated reg. Signs, mask. Tables are never cleaned watched 3 different groups sit at a table. No one ever even wiped it off. Even without Covid this is gross. Just read their "safety procedures". WRONG!!! Payment procedure is no different, you have to touch the payment machine, no it's not cleaned between people. No distancing enforces or mentioned. Service: 0 stars, did I say 0 stars!?!? I get more service at McDonalds ( no joke). Do not tip these people unless you tip the grocery clerk. 4 people behind the counter never left. Had to check on my coffee 3x cause it took 20min to make a latte, then had to check on our food they leave sitting on the counter to get contaminated. They call out your name to an empty building, you have to sit outside where no one is in ear shot. Keep in mind this is overlooking el camino real, ya think it might be a little loud? My panini seemed have missed the panini maker, barely toasted bread with very little turkey (see pics), avocado toast was fine, nothing magical. $37 for small cup of coffee (granite this was the best part) a latte and 2 lame lunch items. Coffee is good but you pay for that, everything else is not worth it. DO NOT TIP these people unless you also tip the McDonalds or Walmart employee who give better service. read more

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Walked in greeted with warmth- they were very helpful on the menu options and the coffee- delicious we had the Aztec Mocha (spicy) mixed with regular calm it down- AMAZING! And the Açaí bowl so good, so fresh! read more

Lofty Coffee - Açaí bowl- toasted Quiche and Aztec Mocha - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

The pour over coffees are delicious and the food choices are yummy too. There is frequently a line and indoor seating is limited...but the ambiance of the place and the delicious food and beverages make up for any wait to order or to find a spot to sit. Highly recommended! read more

THE COFFEE AND SERVICE WERE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! The barista named Brooks was very friendly and kind and seemed to have high spirits while I was there. I highly recommend coming here and enjoying some lattes. read more

Come here all the time and lately service is so-so. maybe new people. Had to flag someone down who kept wandering around with my food and talking to people over my plate (unhygienic). They are quick to take your table numbers even when you are waiting for more food. read more

Service sucked. Ordering and waiting half an hour for two cold brews, sandwich, and a premise blueberry muffin was fine. I had to wait another 10 min and ask 3 different employees for cream, which 2 of the three said "okay yeah", went straight back to the kitchen and never came back out. The cream was right behind the register. Sandwich was ok. The muffin tasted like raw flour. It was doughy and raw textured. read more

Lofty Coffee - Gross muffin. Okay ham and cheese croissant (ran out of croissant) - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

I have gone to lofty a couple times and it's a nice venue to work from or meet friends. The prices are a bit high so it's not a regular stop for me, but it's nice to treat yourself to. Today I ordered a chai tea latte and a turmeric latte. Both were yummy and had the pretty latte leaf art. Just know there's a lot of turmeric powder that settles on the bottom so it gets gritty at the read more

Lofty Coffee - Chai tea latte Turmeric latte - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

I've had food poisoning here twice. They are almost certainly using MSG or some other food additive in their breads. If you are sensitive, please be aware. Hopefully they stop using it. read more

Lofty has the best coffee of all time... OF ALL TIME! (Kanye voice) Don't @ me. But seriously, Lofty Coffee has always been my #1 favorite coffee shop. They truly mastered the art of making coffee and top it off with some nice latte art which makes for a great picture on your IG story. Every time I ordered coffee here I was never disappointed. If i could give them 10 stars I would. I have tried just about all items on their menu but their Salted Caramel Latte has always been my go-to. I enjoy it both hot or iced. Classic Mocha or Aztec Mocha are also great choices. They offer alternate milk options such as soy, almond, hazelnut, and oat milk (which I believe they make themselves). In addition, anytime I see their Lemon Poppy Cookies available I have to get it. I do not live near this area but I just enjoy the views of the beaches while driving along the coast hwy 101 with my windows down. I encourage you to do the same. read more

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The coffee is great, the seating is generous, there's off-street parking int their private lot, and the neighborhood is so cute! I had only a great and relaxing time at Lofty Coffee. I drove up to Lofty Coffee from La Mesa and it was worth the drive. My Turkish Latte was perfect for a cool Encinitas morning and I loved people-watching all the bicyclists as I enjoyed coffee with my girlfriends. The atmosphere is very quintessential #socalvibes and I can count on a relaxing cup of coffee here. I appreciate the variety of unique coffee drinks and teas on the menu, and the staff's enthusiasm for coffee is contagious. I have zero complaints, only plenty of recommendations for Lofty Coffee! read more

Really good quality coffee shop! Coffee is excellent and food isn't bad either. Nice atmosphere to enjoy your AM coffee and people watch on the 101. Highly recommend! read more

friendly people working behind the counter - a little pricey but not abnormal around here, and everything is both pretty and tasty read more

Lofty Coffee - hummus & avocado toast - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

For over fifteen dollars with an up charge for gluten free bread, I'm surprised my breakfast sandwich featured eggs that tasted like they were microwaved (no flavor) cheese that also had no flavor and gosh maybe a teaspoon of the tomato jam spread out over the whole thing which didn't do much to add any flavor to other flavorless items. The gluten free bread- which looked like a bun- was tasty but in a sweet and spongey way... it's probably great with jam but doesn't bode well for savory flavors. I hear the coffee here is excellent and the service is good but I'm not sure why I would want to eat here when the food was so unimpressive and tasteless. I might come back just to get a gluten free bun like that but meh. They could also stand to wipe down the tables outside or provide something for folks to do it on their own. read more

I love this little coffee shop by the beach! I frequently get the Turkish coffee and love how smooth and velvety it is. The cardamom flavor is so light but definitely present. They have a few tables indoors but have quite a few outdoors. I've never tried any of the pastries but they look very fresh. It's not the best place or environment to work or study, but fine for a catch up! read more

Lofty Coffee - Turkish latte - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

Lofty Coffee in Encinitas is a solid option if you want a yummy, aesthetically pleasing coffee shop breakfast with a view of the sunny 101 (it's also a few blocks from the beach). It tends to get very crowded on the weekends so we go pretty early to get a table outside. The outside seating is high above the 101, so you don't get the loud noise of the street but you can still see everything going on and enjoy the beach-town atmosphere. I always get the chocolate croissant, which is fresh and delicious and in my mom's opinion, the best coffee shop chocolate croissant! I also always get a cold brew with oat milk, nothing special but it is good, and it's served in cute little mason jars. Overall, I come here more for the atmosphere than the food/coffee, but there's nothing bad to say about this place and the location makes it a fun weekend morning spot! read more

Takes forever regardless of how many people are working. Staff has been trained to ask how your day is as the tip screen is displayed. It's very phony. I say this because I've been in over 20 times and have never been greeted. I have only been asked questions as I'm presented with a tipping screen. Food is meh. Definitely not worth the price. Coffee and teas are good but not worth the wait or price. I'm sorry you don't like my review Eric.. but it is the truth. Not rude or uncalled for. Just my factual experience. read more

Love lofty. The coffee is fantastic, so is the food. The service is great- super friendly, attentive, helpful. Plus I love the outdoor seating. There is plenty of room and options, it works well if you are with people but also if you are alone or working remote. Great spot. read more

Tea selection: two stars. Decor and interior: five stars. Bathroom cleanliness: three stars. Perhaps my problem is that I'm judging a coffee shop based on its tea selection. Especially a place with coffee in its name? As a tea drinker (and someone who's never tried coffee), I guess that's how I rate things. I'm more or less just shocked that they don't have a traditional English or Irish breakfast tea. They have an earl grey de creme, but I would really prefer a proper, strong black tea. Place is in a super cute location though. Nice interior. A good place to hang out. I was a little bummed that they didn't have WiFi (or at least have info about it posted visibly, or a network with their name), as I was hoping to do a small amount of work. Oh well! 2019: 10/100 read more

Great small cafe on PCH. Quick service set up, but had no problems finding a street side table on a Sunday for brunch. All street parking so keep that in mind. read more

Love this place, open and warm. The staff is great and very helpful. An all around good vibes type of place.

This place is the epitome of craft coffee in San Diego. Starting with the coffee itself that is locally sourced and roasted with a state-of-the art machine that you can see through a glass wall. The beans are slowly roasted at lower temperatures for longer periods of time versus the hot blast roasting other places do that burn the beans. Also, each cup is pressed individually opposed to bitter coffee that occurs from a drip that is over brewed or standing too long (Now Starbucks has caved-in and reverted to drip brewing). The flavor is bold but smooth, nutty and hints of chocolate and other earthy accents. No bitterness. They have flavored coffee drinks too like the Aztec Mocha and the Salted Caramel Latte that are not overloaded with sugar and syrups. Instead, the flavor in their coffee drinks are naturally derived from spices in them like cardamom or cacao. The baristas are friendly, "hip", very knowledgeable about the coffee and the process and try to get to know everyone one-on-one. The aesthetics of the space (Roasting House and Encinitas is where I go) is VERY clean, modern and artistic. Its relatively quiet too (unlike Better Buzz that is like a "Zoo in a tin can" with noise -last thing you want at 8am in the morning). Usually some soft jazz or chill playing in the background and plenty of seating inside and out. The Cafe food is all locally sourced and prepared to perfection. Most of it gluten free and artisan quality. It's pricey...but worth it. Great value and a great experience. Keep up the great work Lofty! read more

Lofty Coffee - Poached egg on gluten free bread, hummus, avocado and chicken sausage - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I've been to both the Solana Beach and Encinitas locations, and both are great. It's a pretty good menu, and I've asked a question via Yelp and got a reply within 24 hours. They have nut milk options; their almond milk is sweetened with cane sugar and vanilla extract. Good to know! Both locations can get crowded during peak times, but I've never waited super long for my drink or food, and the people are always friendly. I haven't checked out the new location in Carlsbad yet (ECR & La Costa Ave). I always notice how chic and clean it looks inside. It's definitely that sort of "trendy" vibe, if you will, and a good place to meet friends or do some work for a few hours (the Encinitas location specifically, if you can get a seat inside). I would say the prices are a tad higher than other shops around town, but now too bad. I recommend! read more

peppers in coffee is a bad idea. other than that nice place. they bring your coffee/food to you so thats nice. read more

Lofty Coffee - aztec mocha , Handcrafted Butter Croissant - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

This place is such a gem on the 101 in North County. I was really impressed with their unique coffee and tea concoctions that I haven't seen anywhere else in the SD area. On top of that, the staff is super friendly and willingly to explain the menu. I got my drink delivered to me in under 5 minutes, too. I came here a couple of Friday's ago to have a relaxing afternoon on PTO. I ordered an iced London Fog latte and it came in a nice mayor jar with lavender flower on the top as garnish. I was BLOWN AWAY by the taste. I've had a lot of London Fogs in my lifetime and this was the best I've had so far. I will be back soon! read more

Lofty Coffee - Iced London Fog Latte - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

Love this spot always for stopping by for a nice vanilla Latte and beach energy! Got 3 of these! The only new thing however, is...they no longer have straws. Not even paper ones..so my drink did spill all over as I tried sipping in the car. read more

Was in Encinitas by chance as took dogs to the vet there. Found Lofty Coffee as I wanted a delicious non Starbucks coffee and yes it was delicious and tasty. TY read more

Fav coffee shop in little Italy. I'm there every other day and they have great food options for breakfast or lunch. It's a great place to work from or just catch up with friends. read more

Lofty Coffee - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Best salted Carmel Latte. Right by the beach, and everyone is very friendly. They serve a small amount of pastries, and some egg, avocado, and toast dish with arugula. read more

Lofty Coffee - Salted Carmel Latte and Iced Salted Carmel Latte - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

10 of our team members rented a house near by and went here after our morning beach walk. We showed up 6 minutes before they opened. The doors were open, but they would not take our order. I thought the business owners might want to know the staff turned away 10 customers. Luckily for us, the same chain is located across the street and their staff was happy to take our order 4 minutes before they opened. read more

First time going to Lofty coffee a few days ago and I am obsessed. I got the vanilla latte with oat milk and it was delicious. I also ordered the avocado toast with the hummus and it divine. Loved the hint of the pickled onion. Def will be going again. I love that it is way high above the busy street, so you're not getting the loud hustle and bustle of the busy road. There's 2 locations on this street, so we went to the one I believe where they actually roast their coffee beans. Lots of tables, outdoor seating and it was perfect. read more

Lofty Coffee - Avocado/hummus toast - Desserts Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Lofty is a nice outdoor study spot, but there's a lot of construction going on. I ordered the Turkish latte at first and it was horrible! Maybe my pallet is just not refined, but I didn't like the undissolved raw sugar and cardamom situation. It also wasn't sweet at all. The barista was nice enough to make me a new drink, and recommended the salted caramel latte. It was good at first, but the more I drank it the more I realized it kind of tasted like subpar coffee with salted caramel coffee mate. It was pretty expensive, too, so I wouldn't go again. read more