Cafe-Hopping in San Diego
Smell the pervading waft of freshly ground espresso. Listen to the metallic whirring of the steamer over the underlying hum of people clacking keyboards and making conversation. As I’ve moved around different places in the world, cafes have become my home away from home. There’s nowhere better to work, spend time reflecting and journaling, meet up with friends old and new, or read a good book than in a coffeeshop. When I moved to San Diego in October, the first thing I did was open Google Maps and commence my search for my favorite locales to settle in for a nice cappuccino.
My favorite place to grab a coffee on-the-go is James Coffee Co. There are multiple locations near downtown San Diego. While waiting for a brunch reservation at Morning Glory, my sister and I strolled to the Little Italy location for a pick me up. We ordered iced oat honey cinnamon lattes, which was one of the best drinks I’ve ever tasted. It was not too sweet, creamy, refreshing, and gave quite a large caffeine kick. The best thing about James Coffee Co. is their sustainable policy of serving drinks in a glass cup rather than paper or plastic. You put down a deposit for your first glass, and then bring your glass back from previous coffees when you go for a drink another day.
I tried out Better Buzz in La Jolla and ordered a “Best Drink Ever” (an americano with creamy vanilla), which was OK. But I need to visit the Hillcrest location, which has an incredible interior with bright, modern, and natural elements.
The first place I visited in San Diego was Jaunt Coffee Roasters, a little roastery hidden in Miramar in the Miralani Makers’ District. There’s a reason the line spills out the door and into the parking lot! Jaunt offers an astounding variety of high-quality flavor profiles. I jumped at the chance to try the black sesame chai (I love black sesame with a passion) with added oat milk and a shot of espresso.
We also ordered the sweet corn and basil empanada, ham & cheese empanada, and a jalapeño corn cheddar biscuit that was out of this world. Their empanadas are freshly heated up and go fast, so you can text the number on their website to check what’s still available or reserve one before heading over. I’ve also tried their seasonal orange cardamom cold brew and peanut butter acai bowl which did not disappoint.
When looking for a place to get some work done, I stopped by Moniker Coffee Co. in Liberty Station. The interior is a renovated industrial area that houses a coffeeshop on one side and a clothing/home goods store on the other. On the other side of the cafe is a beautiful bar serving nice cocktails. There are lots of places indoors and outdoors to work remotely, meet with friends, or have informal meetings with co-workers. I ordered a sage latte with oak milk and was impressed with the delicious strength of flavor coming from the sage. A wonderful space to be productive or to people watch.
Deja Brew Lounge in North Park has some of the most beautiful latte combinations and tea lattes I’ve ever seen. I ordered an “L.A.”, which is a horchata with activated charcoal and two shots of espresso. The most popular drinks I have yet to try is their taro matcha, featuring layers of vibrant purple and green, and their dirty taro, which is taro milk tea with espresso. This cafe has an array of milk teas and specialty matcha that I am planning on paving my way through. The ambiance is whimsical, colorful, and calming with a few sofas and chairs and a little fenced-in front patio.
A smaller downtown San Diego gem is Kenzi Coffee & Tea Garden as seen below. I ordered my classic, iced dirty chai latte with oat milk, but once again was torn over all the different flavor combinations offered. Half-open to the outdoors, Kenzi’s is off a quiet street and is a nice place to work if you want some aesthetic decor, a bit of seclusion, but also some fresh air. The only downside is the lack of comfy seating (although this can help me focus more on work rather than drifting off) and the lack of a bathroom (a necessity at coffeeshops if I’m going to stay for long).
Hidden in a strip mall in Clairemont Mesa East, you wouldn’t think The Forum Coffee House is anything special at first… but this place is good. I got their fall special: a salted honey lavender cold brew. It was rich, luxurious, and completely delicious. I met up with a friend who recommended the place and we munched on pistachio and berry scones while talking about life. It was packed indoors, so we sat outside looking over the little parking lot. I highly recommend this place and definitely will be going back soon!
See my Cafe-Hopping in LA post coming soon for more coffeeshop recommendations, such as Dayglow; République; The Butcher, The Baker, & The Cappuccino Maker; Kumquat; and Just What I Kneaded.
