This coffee shop is seriously underrated and definitely slept on. The coffee was delicious and perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of sweetness while still letting the flavor of the coffee come through. The gentleman there, who I believe may be the owner, was incredibly kind, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. You can tell there's real care put into both the coffee and the service. Definitely a hidden gem and a place worth checking out. I'll absolutely be coming back! read more

I had an appointment nearby and make it a point to try coffee shops in the areas I'm in. The mall is a mess right now with construction but I still found it (my review doesn't reflect that). It's a cute colorful little shop. The girl working was very friendly. I saw the board outside after she reminded me of the specials and decided to try the iced chocolate banana latte. This is not something I would normally try but it sounded good. I'm more of a coffee purist generally. The girl told me all about it and talked it up so I was looking forward to trying it. She said the banana was a strong flavor, which is OK cause I like banana. She made my drink and I paid and was on my way. As I was walking back to my car, I took a sip. I'm not sure what happened, but there was zero banana flavor. It was just chocolate. I don't know if she ran out of banana or what happened but had I known I would've ordered something different. Quite disappointing actually. Since I'm in the area every few months and it has a five star reputation I will come back and try something else on a different day but today was not my day for getting a good drink. read more

See all

The owner is super kind and friendly and my coffee was delicious. He's into marathon running and everything about the place in ambiance honors that passion. If dropping kids off at the YAT camp in Grossmont, it's a great stop. read more

Marathon Run Coffee is always a great place to visit! My husband and I were worried it might be closed because of the construction, but luckily, they're still open! We're always happy to stop by. The owner is so welcoming, the atmosphere is great, and it's always nice to have a quick chat with him. Definitely a place we love coming back to! read more

Marathon Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

See all

Stopped by with my husband to grab some drinks to go. I ordered an iced oatmilk matcha latte - it was solid. My husband got an iced oatmilk hazelnut latte - he said it was good. The cafe felt like a literal hidden gem because of the construction going on at the mall. I'm glad we found this place. It was super cute - service was pleasant - And it always feels great to support a local business! read more

Marathon Coffee - Iced oatmilk matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

We stopped by for some coffee enroute to Arizona. The owner was super sweet and made our coffee awesome. We got a dirty chai and iced Carmel macchiato. The owner had a good chat with us and was a very pleasant experience. The coffee was very good, not bitter or burnt at ALL which I've noticed many other places lately have been. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area! read more

Marathon Coffee - Dirty chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

10/10 I got a hot sf banana/sf vanilla latte and i must say it was amazing! super nice service as well :)

Super friendly owner, very cool running theme throughout and most importantly- the coffee is great. Definitely spend a few extra minutes to get here vs the fast monopoly coffee chain. Worth supporting a local, small business. ‍ Honey lavender latte read more

This is a small mom and pop shop located inside the plaza. There's plenty of parking since the shop is huge. There's lots of places to eat nearby as well. Plenty of options for flavoring, with options of milk. The gentleman working was very nice and welcoming! They do have pastries as well. There's seating inside as well as chairs outside. Coffee and pastry was about 8 bucks I think. They have performers on some days. Recommend for good coffee and welcoming vibes. read more

Marathon Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

See all

POV: you randomly find your new favorite coffee spot Honey lavender latte = actual perfection Stopped by Marathon Coffee and the vibes were immaculate. The owner was so kind, clearly passionate about his craft, and casually a marathon runner?? ‍ which made the whole experience even better. You can just feel when someone loves what they do. Safe to say I'll be back!! read more

Marathon Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Since Starbucks closed at Grossmont center, I decided to try this coffee shop. The owner is so nice and made my coffee so good! They have bar height chairs and tables inside. It has few chairs outside for an outdoor experience. Coffee is definitely better than Starbucks and I get to chat with the owner about marathons. Must try if you love coffee especially if you're in la mesa! read more

I've brought all my friends here and they all love their drinks!! My daughter and I have been coming here since it was open. Great drinks!! The place is chill too. It's a great place to study, work, or just hang out with friends. Simon is amazing!! We've always receive great service. He's always very calm and patient. read more

Marathon Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Wonderful coffee shop! Locally owned, friendly service, great roasts, indoor and indoor seating. Relaxed vibe, open during construction.

The best customer service and ambience. Marathon Coffee offers tasty snacks and food to go with your favorite drink. Feel free to ask for customizations and Simon will create a great Coffee ‍ read more

See all

This place is a hidden gem at Grossmont Center! I can't believe all these years I didn't know of its existence. When you walk in, you're greeted by the nicest man with the friendliest smile, who I believe is the owner. He even remembered my Grandma who had been there a few days prior which was so sweet. It was busy and he was the only one working but it was absolutely worth the wait. I got an iced white chocolate mocha and I watched him meticulously make the drink. It was all fresh pressed and hand stirred. The amount was so generous too, most times the drink is all ice and barely any beverage. This is probably the first time that I could've used a bit more ice, but the coffee was so delicious that I wouldn't want to lose out on that either. The inside is small but has tons of seating and a cute spot for a photo op or to just relax for a moment after shopping. He also had on an interesting video about some people who were running a 300 mile marathon in Arizona, which was entertaining while we waited. I would definitely like to return! read more

See all

Cute little coffee cafe located in the middle of grossmont mall. Awesome customer service and coffee. They offer pastries, lattes, smoothies, etc. The gentleman was incredibly friendly, prompt, efficient and polite. I ordered a rose latte and vanilla latte with breve( no extra charge). Very reasonable priced. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Definitely will return. read more

The exercise concept is what attracted us in. The owner has great customer service by remembering us as previous customers, he's attentive and engaged with everyone who walked in. The coffee was excellent and helped me get through my work day in the coffee shop! read more

Great coffee and an even better experience. The manager personally made each drink and took the time to talk with us, which made the visit really memorable. You can tell they care about both the coffee and the people who come in. Highly recommend stopping by. read more

This cafe is so cute!! The owner is so kind, friendly, and the coffee is delicious!! Love supporting a local buisness, especially one of a SDSU alum! read more

This small business coffee shop is located at Grossmont Center. Simon the owner is a very down to earth individual with the passion to make you a great cup of coffee. I had an iced coffee with whole milk and no sugar. The iced coffee was very good. It was definitely smooth and offered very good flavor. Marathon's coffees are roasted locally in San Diego, Santee in fact. The coffee shop offers inside and outside seating, and some very nice art work as well. Marathon offers espresso based beverages, drip coffee, and teas. Baked goods and pastries are in the foreseeable future. This friendly coffee shop is a nice addition to Grossmont Center. I hope all of those patrons that visit the Starbucks just around the corner, take the time to visit this small business. read more

See all

I wish I lived more in the area because the coffee was great and I had a great conversation with Simon. He is super warm and welcoming and I will be bringing my friends here the next chance I get! read more

Definitely had a weird experience. Finally getting around to writing this review. I went on 08/28 around noon. The girl working was super kind but I learned she was just a volunteer? Is that even legal? She said she could only make a handful of drinks and was most confident making a cappuccino. It was 90 degrees so I wanted an iced latte and she said she had never made one. I asked her if she felt comfortable making an iced vanilla latte and she said yes. She then asked ME if I knew how many shots went into a 16oz (thankfully I knew from my former job as a barista). The latte was fine, not great. Like I said, she was SUPER nice but I was just hesitant to spend my money there and then it was very average. She said the owner was out of town- maybe they should have just not opened? I read so many positive reviews and would love to try again if the owner is around! read more

Skip Starbucks! This place has the real coffee. Even Matcha Latte! Cute little shop, with great service.

Great service, comforting ambiance and delicious coffee. This is a great place for coffee lovers.

I got a Iced Levander latte today made by Simon. Absolutely amazing and welcoming man! This is a great spot for a little pick me up and a smile. Definitely recommend! read more

One of the best coffee shops I've been to in a while! The owner works 7 days a week and is so friendly! Delicious and he makes them right! Definitely going back! read more

By far, the very best iced mocha with oat milk I've ever experienced!! The owner and operator, Simon always engages with us customers to make us feel at home. And you're able to "work from home" there, so long as you don't disrupt or distract others doing the same. Great place to do homework, socialize, and chill from shopping. Highly recommended!! read more

I am a coffee snob and I like the coffee here! Passionate owner as well~ Love the Caribbean vibe

Service, service, service! And it helps that your coffee is pretty good. I stopped here literally because it was late in the afternoon, I had a taste for a latte, and I wanted to patronize local business (read: NOT starbucks - which seems to be EVERYWHERE - yikes to big brother vibes). Enter Simon, the proprietor of Marathon Coffee. He has lots of stories and life experience to share. This venture is a passion of his, and it shows. If you're not sure what you want, he takes his time to help you figure it out. If you know precisely what you want, he is intentional with getting you the best product possible. And while the signage appears Greek - Simon is not. Nor does he have Greek/Mediterranean entrees/drinks on the menu. So there. Keep up the great work Simon; I hope to patronize your establishment should my travels bring me to Grossmont in the future. read more

My wife and I enjoyed the Americano. We felt welcomed by Simon who is the owner and barista. I definitely recommend this place over Starbucks if you are shopping at Grossmont Center or looking for a local coffee shop to support. Thanks Simon we will be back! read more

Marathon Coffee - 12oz Americano no cream or sugar. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Fresh coffee in a unique setting. Marathon coffee is for runners, its owner is a marathon runner himself. I don't know his name but he is friendly and the coffee was delicious. read more

The service was great and my coffee was amazing! If you want an incredible coffee from a local business, this is the spot for you.

AMAZING COFFEE!!!! Stopped by for an Americano which was sooooo good! It has a really nice aftertaste. The owner is super nice. Everyone needs to come here instead of Starbucks!! read more

Small cafe tucked in Grossmont Center. The owner was really kind and attentive and overall just had a good vibe. Got a blended chai that was really good. definitely recommend and will be coming back! read more

Wandering around Grossmont Center today and stumbled on this cute little coffee shop, Did a quick Yelp search and saw it had a handful of reviews but all were 5 star so decided to give it a try as I'm always on the look out for nice local alternatives to Starbucks. I must saw the coffee and conversation were delightful! Had an iced vanilla latte with oat milk and it was very good and Simon was so friendly, accommodating, and a great conversationalist. The vibe is very bright and cheerful here and I'll definitely be back as well as recommend to friends. read more

Very good coffee drinks.the owner is very nice and interesting to talk too. He is a marathon runner as well! Nice place to stop for a coffee drink. read more

This is a small locally owned coffee shop. That probably has the friendliest owner I have ever met. He was so kind and personable. He spoke with me and asked me about my preference of milk, amount of syrup etc. Oh and he uses premium quality stuff! Ghirardelli syrup yum! He said he just opened up his shop about 2 months ago and is right around the corner of Starbucks. I truthfully think this coffee is so much better than Starbucks, the coffee is rich and smooth and it's a great way to get your steps in and help support a small business. Coming here made my day. Next time I'm definitely going to be getting a quad shot! read more

Marathon Coffee - Regular iced white chocolate mocha with whole milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Delicious latte! So smooth & the perfect amount of sweetness. The barista/owner, Simon, was so kind and made it a very nice experience. He puts much care into his coffee making and I really appreciate that:) I'm so glad Grossmont Center has a locally owned coffee shop now. The only thing I think would increase attraction even more to this new shop would be the ambiance/environment. Maybe more decoration in dining area & variation of furniture could draw in more people! I would definitely come back here! read more

Marathon Coffee - Iced vanilla latte w/ oatmilk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Shop local! First, the coffee was bomb. I had a cortado exquisitely blended with raspberry Torani and white chocolate with half n half. It was smooth, unique and delicious. Better than anything I could've gotten at "that other coffee place". Simon was gracious, congenial and interesting to converse with. The shop is attractive and upbeat. They are almost to their one year anniversary- please patronize this unique local business! #shoplocal read more

I like to support small, independent businesses. I had walked past MARATHON COFFEE in Grossmont Center mall a couple of times. Today I stopped in and wanted to taste coffee and chocolate. Owner - Barista Simon made me a ¿Coffee Mocha. Excellent! Wide selection of beverages, well decorated, and very friendly, personal service. Please join me in supporting this relatively new and interesting business. read more

Marathon Coffee - Simon, menu board, and logo designed by Simon. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California