Your Guide to Coffee Shops in San Diego

A girl holds up tea at Moniker coffee in San Diego

If you’re a coffee and tea lover like me, you’re probably always looking for a comprehensive list of great coffee shops around you. While you probably don’t have time to go into depth about all the coffee shops we have in the lovely city of San Diego, I can at least list a few of my favorites and give you a brief description so you can get a feel for them before choosing your top spots to hit.

As you know, not every cafe has the same vibe and purpose. That's why I’ve divided them into sections based on important factors like study environment or distance from 鶹’s campus. 

your guide to coffee shops in San Diego. Close-to-Loma Classics: Peet's Coffee, Better Buzz, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, Kakawa Coffee. San Diego Staples: Philz, Dark Horse, Subterranean. Picture Perfect: Moe Coffee, Communal Coffee, Coffee & Tea Collective. Other 鶹 Favorites: Scrimshaw coffee, James Coffee Co Coffe Hub & Cafe. Images of a bag of coffee beans, a plastic cup filled with iced coffee and a coffee plant.

Close-to-Loma Classics 

The first three coffee shops are not only filled with great tasting drinks and food, but are also super close to 鶹. If there's any place that can fulfill your pre-class coffee and breakfast needs, these should be your go-tos.

1. Peet's Coffee

Peet’s Coffee is a personal favorite of 鶹 first-years and upperclassmen alike because of its convenient location. , Peet’s coffee is a great stop for those who want to stretch their legs and get a quality coffee or breakfast option. 

2. Better Buzz

Personally, I think there's almost nothing better than a coffee after a long day, which is why I believe is a magical place. Located just two miles away from campus, you can enjoy the 30-minute walk to grab some great coffee and food, or, for those who need it a little quicker, the five-minute drive and drive-thru option at this location really make Better Buzz a dream come true.

Better Buzz Coffee in San Diego

3. Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

Another close-to-campus coffee stop is the  The 鶹 shuttle route has a stop at the Trader Joe’s in Liberty Station, which is right next to the new Bird Rock. Get your grocery shopping done, pop in for a quality brewed latte, and then catch the shuttle back to campus with your Bird Rock coffee in hand. Surely, everyone will envy you.

4. Kakawa Coffee

Another place only a five minute drive from 鶹 is With incredible gourmet coffee and original espresso, Kakawa coffee is a great place to stop by and grab a great brew or snack before heading into a lengthy class or daunting assignment.

San Diego Staples

San Diego is chock-full of coffee shops, and the following are names of a few places that nearly all locals know and adore.

1. Dark Horse

Lots of San Diego natives know about Dark Horse Coffee, and for good reason: it's great taste, iconic environment, and recognizable logo are hard to forget. With five different locations, wherever you find yourself in San Diego, there might just be a near you!

2. Philz

While Philz is not exclusive to San Diego, it does have three SD locations, which just goes to show how much the locals love it. With locations in Encinitas, La Jolla, and Del Mar, your options may be a bit more limited. But the incredible brews and welcoming community make it worth taking time out of your day to stop by

3. Subterranean

With only two locations — one in North Park and the other in South Park — is a coffee shop you’ll have to hunt down but is definitely worth the hide and seek. Once you find it, you won’t want to leave. Subterranean not only has great sandwiches, breakfast foods, acai bowls, and great organic coffee, it also has a drive-thru cafe at its South Park location.

Subterranean coffee in San Diego

Let's Get Down To Business

Coffee isn't always fun and games; sometimes you need to get that caffeine kick and hunker down to get stuff done. These are some student-proclaimed study spots that are great for doing what needs to get done with the help of a focused environment and a kick of caffeine for support.

1. Moniker

Have a last-minute assignment or deadline you need to meet? is close to campus and open till 7 p.m., which gives you time to get everything done and still have time to grab a great dinner at the The chill vibes and large tables are perfect for spreading out your work and settling down to knock out assignments. To learn more about Moniker, check out this 鶹 Youtube video on Intentional Spaces.

Moniker General serves as a coffee shop, creative warehouse, retail store, event venue, and more. But most importantly, Moniker seeks to foster a more connected and relationship-based San Diego.

 

2. The Template

If you're someone who thrives surrounded by funky vibes and cool people, Template, as the regulars call it, is the place for you. With exciting events and workshops hosted, Template is more than just a coffee shop. If you’re looking for an interesting community to get involved with and be supported by welcoming people, even when you’re hard at work, be sure to check out on Niagara Avenue in Ocean Beach.

3. OB Beans

One step into and you’ll be inspired to sit right down with a great drink and get to work. The chill environment and serene vibes paired with a little caffeine are sometimes all you need to really hone into your assignments. In addition to all these great perks, this shop was started by a group of 鶹 alumni,

Coffee, waffles, and a textbook

Picture Perfect

Are you someone who’s all about the vibes? Yeah, me too. Here are some quaint up-and-coming coffee shops that are sure to scratch that aesthetic loving part of your brain.

1. Communal Coffee

Communal Coffee has locations in North Park and South Park, so you’ll have double the photo opportunities! Click the link to and you’ll understand why it's under this particular list. The vibes and people at Communal Coffee go hand in hand with its visual appeal, and host of regulars who keep it calm, collected, and cool.

2. Moe Coffee

Once you take a sip, you'll understand why it's called With locations in Little Italy, North Park, and National City, take your pick and you’ll find quality coffee and photoshoot-worthy aesthetics to make anyone who sees your Instagram feed jealous of how good your taste in coffee is.

3. Coffee & Tea Collective

If you’re into looking at beautiful art and being surrounded by creative and talented individuals in addition to enjoying a lovely cup of coffee, this place is definitely a must for you. There’s literally an at the moment; how much more picturesque can it get?

Other 鶹 Favorites 

I just can’t leave out these lovely coffee shops, since it would be a disservice to all the coffee lovers at 鶹 …

1. Scrimshaw Coffee

Located Near SDSU, Scrimshaw Coffee is a solo cafe that you totally need to check out if you enjoy good tunes and great coffee brews. Next time you hang out with your SDSU friends, impress them with your great coffee taste by taking them to

2. James Coffee Company

Listed at a location simply called “The Space,” is notoriously good at being hard to find. Once you find it, however, it's hard to leave. This hidden gem uses eco-friendly production methods and works hard to make your cup of coffee as perfect as possible.

3. Coffee Hub and Cafe

For those with a bike on campus, no better coffee shop has ever been made for you than With the option to go on community bike rides with other regulars, Coffee Hub and Cafe not only offers incredible coffee, but also a wonderful and collaborative community that really emulates the friendly Point Loma energy we all want to be a part of. 

These are just a few of the many coffee shops in San Diego, but be sure to return to the sections above that look most helpful to you and then go explore some (or all) of these places until you find a few new favorites of your own! 

Cheers!


鶹 the Author
Jessie Taylor is a coffee lover, dog enthusiast, and student at 鶹 studying Writing and Literature. As a Marketing & Creative Assistant at 鶹 she has had the opportunity to interview many 鶹 alumni, write articles, refresh website content pages, copyedit articles, and write social media copies for upcoming stories. She hopes to continue her education once she graduates from 鶹. The pictures embedded in this article were taken by her.