Top Four Coffee Shops in San Diego | Olivia Gunderson

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As a coffee lover, I have found it difficult to find good coffee shops in the area without doing much research. After living here for three years, I have tried many coffee places throughout San Diego. These are my top five out of all the ones I have tried, in no particular order.

The first coffee shop on this list is Caffe Positano. They have two locations: the first one is in Fairbanks Ranch and the second one is in Rancho Santa Fe. I ordered a vanilla latte with oat milk and a blueberry cream cheese pastry. Not only was the coffee great, but so was the pastry. Caffe Positano has various pastries, and the baristas can make off-menu items per request. The staff are very welcoming and chatty. While both locations don’t have indoor seating, they offer outdoor seating with nice views. If you are looking for a great latte and pastry, Caffe Positano is the place to go.

The second place on my list is Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. They have many locations throughout San Diego County. The one I visited was the Del Mar location on Carmel Valley Road. They roast their own coffee beans, which is always a plus. Many of their locations are in beautiful areas with great views. The Del Mar location has an amazing view of the ocean. Along with this, they have lots of comfortable seating which is great for studying. Now, onto the coffee. Bird Rock Coffee Roasters offers a lot of unique options and seasonal drinks. Their basic latte is quite good, but their seasonal drinks, like the Left Coast Latte and the Macadamia Nut Latte, are always the star of the show. If you are looking for a unique experience, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters is the place. They also offer options to purchase their beans if you want to make their coffee from home. While I didn’t order any baked goods, they have good-looking options; some are even vegan or gluten-free.

Another great option for good-quality coffee is Blue Bottle. While they aren’t local, they have some great options. Blue Bottle is located in the One Paseo shopping center in Del Mar. Blue Bottle offers unique drinks like their Cherry Blossom latte and their New Orleans-style coffee or “Nola.” Nola has chicory and various spices in it, which is a popular brew in New Orleans. This blend of coffee is unique and tastes fresh out of Louisiana. After trying this blend quite a few times, I can confidently say that if you like a good coffee with some warm spices in it, you will like Nola. Blue Bottle also roasts their coffee beans and sells them at their locations. They have a nice seating area for hangouts or studying. Overall, Blue Bottle is a great option in Del Mar and a well-rounded cafe.

A great option further down the county is Trident Coffee in Pacific Beach. Trident Coffee is a mermaid-themed cafe offering all kinds of unique drinks. There is a good amount of seating in the cafe and a great atmosphere. A few of the amazing drinks they offer are the Horchata latte, Vietnamese latte, and the Blackberry Cobbler cold brew. Trident Coffee offers all kinds of add-ins and milks so you can customize your latte. They also offer food options for various diet restrictions like gluten-free and vegan. The theme of the cafe is beautiful and provides a calm vibe. Trident Coffee provides a cafe with a clean and chill vibe in the busy environment of Pacific Beach.

With that, my list is concluded! While there are many great options in San Diego, these are just some of my favorites. Almost every coffee shop on this list is a local-owned company, so please show them love!