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I came in here a while back for some coffee. I drive by here all the time and decided to finally come try it. It was okay. It's possible that it was an off day, considering how crazy crowded it was? But the coffee was just okay. Cute vibes though. I'll make it a point to come in another time, and see if it's better next time.
Went on a Friday afternoon to get some work done, and many other people had the same idea. WiFi was fast and there are a decent amount of tables, people were hanging about for a while. I got the seasonal Mont Blanc and it was truly delicious, comes in a glass with a cocktail ice cube.
The Scrimshaw made my tastebuds scream Yee Haaaw! And paired up with a few of their delicious bagels made this adventure Fuego! We went with The Avo Forever and the Lox Deluxe to start off our delicious journey. Both of the bagels were spot on and they both came with just the right amount of avocado on one and Lox on the other. Dine in service is in full effect here so you know I hit that Espresso Shot and a latte. And you the coffee hit me just right! But I must say, I ordered one of their seasonal drinks I had to try. The Champagne Coast was the name and it was an iced coffee with blood orange and Rhubarb, whatever that was it made it interestingly delish. The atmosphere was chill with classic rock playing in the background. Service was good and they weren't that friendly but I get it when you're in tune with the craft. And that's my take on it, Peace...
I got the laurel canyon latte and I was disappointed. You can see my drink and the same one on their instagram page. My drink tastes the way you would expect from that color. At first I thought I might have accidentally ordered a chai based on the color. The flavor was okay, but it was overpowered by the milk and the espresso didn't come through at all. While I only tried the latte, I do want to note that they have alcoholic beverages on tap and are openly attached to a the pizza joint which seems interesting. I came here with a friend and between the music and the bar, it was way too loud to hold a conversation. This place may be the one for you if you'd like to have a drink while studying!
Had a group meeting in the area, I saw a coffee shop across and figured trying to get some work done. Here was my experience AMBIANCE Parking: Street parking and neighborhood parking. It can get pretty busy so come early to prep. Seating: Chill plenty of seating both inside and outside. Good for small groups with room for about 30 people. Vibes: Welcome to Normal Heights nothing too flashy, just plenty of local eateries and businesses. The spot itself is relatively clean, modern, pretentious. I dig the 90s house music in the background. This seems to be a trusted neighborly coffee shop with students are working, friends are catching up, and regulars seem to know the staff by name. It helps there's a pizza shop next door as well. FOOD / DRINKS Cherie Amour (Recommend) Delish. A latte with housemade cherry and almond syrup, and if you get it iced, it comes topped with a little cold foam. I dig the sweetness and the fruitiness of the cherry, it balanced out the bitterness of the coffee which was pretty cool. CUSTOMER SERVICE Friendly and welcoming. Sara helped contribute to the neighborhood feel of the place and made the experience easy and enjoyable. TL;DR OVERALL 4.5 Stars. Good coffee, reasonable prices, and a pleasant atmosphere. I know there are plenty of coffeeshops in SD but this is a cool neighborly one. It doesnt seem like a trendy place but a place more in community and steady service. Till next time, Scrimshaw! TIPS * Try the seasonal drinks--they get creative.
It's been over 8 years since I've last came to Scrimshaw Coffee & Wow! It seems like they extended the menu as well-- as they have lots more food options & from what it looks like natural wine and beer too...which is interesting for a coffee shop. They are connected with the business (Love Letters Pizza) next door with an arched wall. The interior has changed, they now have new seating and they painted the walls different color. The tables are a little wonky, but I appreciate the fake marble top they got on it. It looks classy from a far with the interior lighting. I sadly missed their May Special, Blueberry Malt Latte! I love anything malt, so sad it is already gone (it's June now lol). They dropped their summer specials on their Instagram and the first one looked incredible. This was their version of an Aussie classic, they call it "Mont Blanc." It consisted of cold brew with orange syrup, topped with a vanilla-orange cold foam, finished with grated orange zest and nutmeg. I would never order this again, personally. I usually love vanilla orange in my coffee/espresso drinks, however this one really missed the mark for me. The orange tasted too forward and slightly bitter. Even the first sip from the lid, I knew I wouldn't be able to drink this down (I don't like wasting drinks or money). I offered it to my mom, who usually enjoys this sort of flavor profile as well, and it was a huge miss. She couldn't drink it either (nor could my brother who also ordered the same one as me). Within 10 min of driving with it, it had separated and looked very unappealing. Next time, I would maybe request their tangerine cold foam on a regular iced latte. I finally love citrus with my drinks-- maybe this one would be more up my alley. Or wait another month for different specials. Since it's been a while, I would love to come in the day time-- we came around 5:33 pm ! They close at 6pm which is pretty cool since most coffee shops close at 2-3 pm. The workers were very kind and welcoming despite us coming near closing time & the music was very nice. They have a handful of interior seating and outside seating as well! Despite the one drink being terrible, I wouldn't write them off for that -- they have a large menu and lots more for us to try! Come swing by!
Scrimshaw is a great option for quality coffee and food for those of us who start our days late. I love this place for their quality beverages, their fresh food variety, the kind staff, and the fact I've always found an open table. My boyfriend always gets drip and a pastrami sandwich that looked so good I broke my vegetarian streak just for a bite. I've had their blueberry malt latte and their white tea beverage as well as both their veggie bagel and veg bowl. Everything has been so tasty and the vibes are always welcoming. The cafe itself is really cute and i'm a big fan.
So I've heard great things about Scrimshaw! I got their vanilla latte and cold brew. The latte was alright, and their cold brew was also average. They weren't that strong in terms of coffee-ness and it was very mellow tasting. Not too acidic so that's a bit of a good thing (at least for me). I might be wrong but you could only order one size off the menu? They also weren't so busy when I went but I'd have to try something else off their menu next time I come. There were generous amounts of seating and seems like a great place to study for students. The workers were super uber nice and orders were taken swiftly.
I really wanted to love this place-- they have some really unique seasonal drinks! We got 50 First Dates: A spiced date cappuccino, served with a salted cinnamon cold foam. As well as The Perfect Pear: Matcha with pear & star anise syrup & pear cold foam. Once again, I really wanted to love this place. I mean these drinks sounded so good. Sadly, something fell flat. Cappuccino tasted off-- was not sweet and the coffee was a bit watery. I ran into the same issue with my matcha. Also if you're going to do cold foam on your drinks-- please do sip lids. I'd love to try these place out again. Their past seasonal specials sounded amazing and maybe it was a one time occurrence.
Service was nice and attentive, it's a calm and chill local coffee spot. They have wine and beer too if you fancy something alcoholic. Didn't try any food on this visit but I do like that my cappuncino is served in a ceramic cup. Too many places serve in to go containers. Let me enjoy my sip.
Love a good vanilla oat milk latte from Scrimshaw. Can get busy on weekends & can be hard to find a spot to sit at. Nice servers and chill vibes always
Was looking for a spot to grab a bag of coffee for a present and came across this place in the area. Nice, cool spot with a relaxing lounge area inside. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and I ended up getting a seasonal flavor (apple bottom jeans) which was tasty. I don't know why I didn't expect it to have coffee, since I don't normally drink it, but it did so that was interesting to try. Thanks so much!
Nice neighborhood café with warm, inviting, and friendly vibes. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there is some metered street parking available. The menu offers a great variety, including bagels, pastries, beer, wine, lattes, matcha, and coffee. I ordered the Vietnamese and vanilla iced lattes with breve, and both were solid with great-quality espresso. The vanilla latte, tasted like house made vanilla syrup, which is certainly a positive. There's also plenty of indoor seating, which is a big plus. Overall, a lovely spot to hang out and enjoy a good latte.
The Mont Blanc cold brew here provides a smooth and refreshing experience unlike any other coffee drink I have ever had. I wouldn't think orange would go well with coffee but it really does! The citrus flavor transforms the cold brew into something delightfully tangy and sweet. The citrusy kick works cohesively well with the smoothness of the cold brew. This drink is perfect for a hot day! The barista was pleasantly efficient and quick in making my drink. Excellent service! By the way, I recommend sitting at the bar seats. Occasionally, the smell of fresh coffee emanates from the air joyfully stimulating the olfactory sense. read more
I have now been here twice within the past month and my average is about 3.5 stars. To be fair, coffee and matcha preferences vary greatly by person so this is just my opinion. I felt like overall, the matcha and coffee flavor itself were good quality, however the flavors were not there. The cherie amour comes with a cherry and almond syrup, yet I barely remember tasting it. The matcha also lacked the vanilla essence and sweetness. I just didn't feel wowed. The service was a bit slow the first time but faster the second time, I would have to actively go to see the consistency. I also wish they had another dairy free substitute other than just oat milk. read more
2 months ago
I came in here a while back for some coffee. I drive by here all the time and decided to finally come try it. It was okay. It's possible that it was an off day, considering how crazy crowded it was? But the coffee was just okay. Cute vibes though. I'll make it a point to come in another time, and see if it's better next time. read more
Went on a Friday afternoon to get some work done, and many other people had the same idea. WiFi was fast and there are a decent amount of tables, people were hanging about for a while. I got the seasonal Mont Blanc and it was truly delicious, comes in a glass with a cocktail ice cube. read more
4 months ago
The Scrimshaw made my tastebuds scream Yee Haaaw! And paired up with a few of their delicious bagels made this adventure Fuego! We went with The Avo Forever and the Lox Deluxe to start off our delicious journey. Both of the bagels were spot on and they both came with just the right amount of avocado on one and Lox on the other. Dine in service is in full effect here so you know I hit that Espresso Shot and a latte. And you the coffee hit me just right! But I must say, I ordered one of their seasonal drinks I had to try. The Champagne Coast was the name and it was an iced coffee with blood orange and Rhubarb, whatever that was it made it interestingly delish. The atmosphere was chill with classic rock playing in the background. Service was good and they weren't that friendly but I get it when you're in tune with the craft. And that's my take on it, Peace... read more
5 days ago
I got the laurel canyon latte and I was disappointed. You can see my drink and the same one on their instagram page. My drink tastes the way you would expect from that color. At first I thought I might have accidentally ordered a chai based on the color. The flavor was okay, but it was overpowered by the milk and the espresso didn't come through at all. While I only tried the latte, I do want to note that they have alcoholic beverages on tap and are openly attached to a the pizza joint which seems interesting. I came here with a friend and between the music and the bar, it was way too loud to hold a conversation. This place may be the one for you if you'd like to have a drink while studying! read more
Had a group meeting in the area, I saw a coffee shop across and figured trying to get some work done. Here was my experience AMBIANCE Parking: Street parking and neighborhood parking. It can get pretty busy so come early to prep. Seating: Chill plenty of seating both inside and outside. Good for small groups with room for about 30 people. Vibes: Welcome to Normal Heights nothing too flashy, just plenty of local eateries and businesses. The spot itself is relatively clean, modern, pretentious. I dig the 90s house music in the background. This seems to be a trusted neighborly coffee shop with students are working, friends are catching up, and regulars seem to know the staff by name. It helps there's a pizza shop next door as well. FOOD / DRINKS Cherie Amour (Recommend) Delish. A latte with housemade cherry and almond syrup, and if you get it iced, it comes topped with a little cold foam. I dig the sweetness and the fruitiness of the cherry, it balanced out the bitterness of the coffee which was pretty cool. CUSTOMER SERVICE Friendly and welcoming. Sara helped contribute to the neighborhood feel of the place and made the experience easy and enjoyable. TL;DR OVERALL 4.5 Stars. Good coffee, reasonable prices, and a pleasant atmosphere. I know there are plenty of coffeeshops in SD but this is a cool neighborly one. It doesnt seem like a trendy place but a place more in community and steady service. Till next time, Scrimshaw! TIPS * Try the seasonal drinks--they get creative. read more
4 months ago
It's been over 8 years since I've last came to Scrimshaw Coffee & Wow! It seems like they extended the menu as well-- as they have lots more food options & from what it looks like natural wine and beer too...which is interesting for a coffee shop. They are connected with the business (Love Letters Pizza) next door with an arched wall. The interior has changed, they now have new seating and they painted the walls different color. The tables are a little wonky, but I appreciate the fake marble top they got on it. It looks classy from a far with the interior lighting. I sadly missed their May Special, Blueberry Malt Latte! I love anything malt, so sad it is already gone (it's June now lol). They dropped their summer specials on their Instagram and the first one looked incredible. This was their version of an Aussie classic, they call it "Mont Blanc." It consisted of cold brew with orange syrup, topped with a vanilla-orange cold foam, finished with grated orange zest and nutmeg. I would never order this again, personally. I usually love vanilla orange in my coffee/espresso drinks, however this one really missed the mark for me. The orange tasted too forward and slightly bitter. Even the first sip from the lid, I knew I wouldn't be able to drink this down (I don't like wasting drinks or money). I offered it to my mom, who usually enjoys this sort of flavor profile as well, and it was a huge miss. She couldn't drink it either (nor could my brother who also ordered the same one as me). Within 10 min of driving with it, it had separated and looked very unappealing. Next time, I would maybe request their tangerine cold foam on a regular iced latte. I finally love citrus with my drinks-- maybe this one would be more up my alley. Or wait another month for different specials. Since it's been a while, I would love to come in the day time-- we came around 5:33 pm ! They close at 6pm which is pretty cool since most coffee shops close at 2-3 pm. The workers were very kind and welcoming despite us coming near closing time & the music was very nice. They have a handful of interior seating and outside seating as well! Despite the one drink being terrible, I wouldn't write them off for that -- they have a large menu and lots more for us to try! Come swing by! read more
Scrimshaw is a great option for quality coffee and food for those of us who start our days late. I love this place for their quality beverages, their fresh food variety, the kind staff, and the fact I've always found an open table. My boyfriend always gets drip and a pastrami sandwich that looked so good I broke my vegetarian streak just for a bite. I've had their blueberry malt latte and their white tea beverage as well as both their veggie bagel and veg bowl. Everything has been so tasty and the vibes are always welcoming. The cafe itself is really cute and i'm a big fan. read more
11 days ago
10 months ago
So I've heard great things about Scrimshaw! I got their vanilla latte and cold brew. The latte was alright, and their cold brew was also average. They weren't that strong in terms of coffee-ness and it was very mellow tasting. Not too acidic so that's a bit of a good thing (at least for me). I might be wrong but you could only order one size off the menu? They also weren't so busy when I went but I'd have to try something else off their menu next time I come. There were generous amounts of seating and seems like a great place to study for students. The workers were super uber nice and orders were taken swiftly. read more
3 months ago
11 months ago
I really wanted to love this place-- they have some really unique seasonal drinks! We got 50 First Dates: A spiced date cappuccino, served with a salted cinnamon cold foam. As well as The Perfect Pear: Matcha with pear & star anise syrup & pear cold foam. Once again, I really wanted to love this place. I mean these drinks sounded so good. Sadly, something fell flat. Cappuccino tasted off-- was not sweet and the coffee was a bit watery. I ran into the same issue with my matcha. Also if you're going to do cold foam on your drinks-- please do sip lids. I'd love to try these place out again. Their past seasonal specials sounded amazing and maybe it was a one time occurrence. read more
9 months ago
Service was nice and attentive, it's a calm and chill local coffee spot. They have wine and beer too if you fancy something alcoholic. Didn't try any food on this visit but I do like that my cappuncino is served in a ceramic cup. Too many places serve in to go containers. Let me enjoy my sip. read more
4 months ago
Love a good vanilla oat milk latte from Scrimshaw. Can get busy on weekends & can be hard to find a spot to sit at. Nice servers and chill vibes always read more
Was looking for a spot to grab a bag of coffee for a present and came across this place in the area. Nice, cool spot with a relaxing lounge area inside. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and I ended up getting a seasonal flavor (apple bottom jeans) which was tasty. I don't know why I didn't expect it to have coffee, since I don't normally drink it, but it did so that was interesting to try. Thanks so much! read more
Nice neighborhood café with warm, inviting, and friendly vibes. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there is some metered street parking available. The menu offers a great variety, including bagels, pastries, beer, wine, lattes, matcha, and coffee. I ordered the Vietnamese and vanilla iced lattes with breve, and both were solid with great-quality espresso. The vanilla latte, tasted like house made vanilla syrup, which is certainly a positive. There's also plenty of indoor seating, which is a big plus. Overall, a lovely spot to hang out and enjoy a good latte. read more
Mocha latte had FROTHED milk. So foamy and sweet, reminded me of a candy bar that melted in my mouth. Taste settled.down after I Iapped up all foamy milk. Would get again. Pastrami sandwich for my early lunch. The combination of salty pastrami, brown mustard, pickles, and cheese was a great midday snack. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
I saw this place while driving down El Cajon and decided to grab some coffee on a whim. The place is cute with a patio outside if you wanted to bring your pup along. I love cafes with unique latte selections so I tried their seasonal Meyer Hawthorne which is supposed to taste like lemon pound cake in latte form. The lemon syrup was light and the latte tasted great. read more
1 year ago
5 months ago
8 months ago
9 months ago
2 years ago
Not understanding all the five star reviews for this place. Came in at 3pm on a Tuesday and was happy to see beer on their menu, aside from just coffee. They had four selections on tap, but only one available during the time I went which was a bummer. They also serve wine and have to go beers in the fridge. I typically like to try the in house coffee, but again, they ran out and stopped brewing the house brew coffee for the day. I opted for the cold brew which came out to $5.90 which is typical but it was only decent. The vibes are chill, but there are plenty other better coffee shops in the area. Service was good, store wasn't busy at all. Maybe they were having an off day, I'll give this place another try down the road, but nothing special. read more
8 months ago
Came here to grab some coffee for the day and I wasn't disappointed. I got a cold brew and was deciding on some food when the Pink Lady bagel sandwich caught my eye. It's an everything bagel with apples, cream cheese, honey, and salt - which may sound a tad strange but I wasn't disappointed. The flavors go amazing together! The baristas were nice and welcoming, and the service was pretty fast. The music playing in the shop wasn't too loud, and there are chairs/tables outside as well. My only gripe was that there didn't seem to be many outlets to plug in your devices, which could be a concern for some people with devices that drain pretty fast. Overall, the cold brew and food was great and I will be coming back here again! read more
9 months ago
2 months ago
Parking can be a bit challenging due to the neighborhood, but this charming little coffee shop is worth it. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a relaxed, casual vibe. There are plenty of seating options, both indoors and outdoors, along with a small bar area for those looking to work or study. Their latte was excellent--I've already visited twice and will definitely be back! read more
11 months ago
Friendly service! They have a lot of seating both inside and outside. Went during a Friday afternoon, spent about 1.5 hrs doing some work on my laptop. They have Wi-Fi available and outlets in multiple areas. The coffee was absolutely delicious and so was the breakfast bagel! Would come back again. read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
Scrimshaw is a great spot to bring your laptop, get some work done, and sip on a refreshing Iced Chai. If you like a little background noise while you work, this café has the perfect lively-but-not-too-loud vibe. I also grabbed a croissant while I was there--it wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was a solid snack to keep me going through the day. They have WiFi available--you just need to ask one of the super friendly staff members for the password. Overall, a cozy and welcoming place to be productive. read more
3 years ago
I like the vibe of this place. Definitely seems like a more neighborhood-y kind of place. A decent amt of both indoor and outdoor seating and it was packed on a Saturday around 2. They focus on mostly coffee but do offer wine (and even a wine club!). I got an Americano since I wanted something that wasn't too heavy. Americano was decent. Pretty smooth albeit nothing standout in terms of flavor. They seem to have some pretty cool house seasonal drinks with housemade ingredients. Would probably try one of those the next time. read more
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More info about Scrimshaw Coffee
5542 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115
Rolando
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(619) 501-2355
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https://www.scrimshawcoffee.com
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