The aroma of freshly brewed coffee always seems to be refreshing. Once you taste it, you immediately feel energized for the day. San Diego has some of the best coffee shops where you can enjoy dining inside and outside, delivery, and takeout services. There are many coffee shops you can stumble into and enjoy a fresh cup while taking in the sweetest ambiance in the city. It's almost impossible to choose which coffee shop to visit in San Diego, especially if you are staying here for a vacation. Here are some of the best places to drink your coffee handpicked by us.

Here are five coffee shops in San Diego that assure great vibes, great coffee, and breakfast items that will hit the spot.

1. Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters is a famous San Diego icon, with 6 total locations. You can visit La Jolla, Little Italy, Bressi Ranch, Torrey Pines, Morena, or Pacific Beach, to enjoy a great cup of coffee. The early bird gets the worm here, with most shops closing around 4:00PM. Almost everyone chooses La Jolla for its beautiful beaches and scenery. You can enjoy the beautiful site while sipping a cup of coffee.

What puts this spot as our number 1 coffee shop in San Diego? They have arguably some of the rarest coffee beans that local roasters offer. These include both the Thiriku Pea Berry from Kenya and Monkey Bite beans from Ethiopia and Brazil. Bird Rock Coffee roasts the beans to perfection, then brews the grounds through a pour-over method to make the highest quality latte. They have coffee drinks like a Macadamia nut latte available, as well as other drink options you can enjoy.

Original Cafe Location: 5627 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

Current Availability: Dine-in open

2. Communal Coffee

This trendy coffee shop has pink and white interiors with professional baristas who make you crave for more. Communal Coffee offers a wide selection of lattes and coffees with creative flavors unlike any other. They have the rose vanilla latte, lavender honey latte, sea salt caramel latte, and all sorts of latte combinations you'll enjoy.

Communal coffee is a unique cafe to visit because it doesn’t stop with simply selling coffee. You can walk into this establishment and walk out with a beautiful flower bouquet. “Coffee + Flowers” is their slogan, and they live by it. What two items could make a human happier? If you are in a rush to get a gift for your anniversary, consider stopping here for both fuel and flowers.

There are plenty of quiet spots to work comfortably at the communal coffee shop. In the meantime, you may order hot coffee, cold coffee, seasonal drinks, or tea while catching up on work. On the food side of the spectrum, they have tasty pastries, sandwiches, bagels, toast, and donuts for those who are hungry.

Original Cafe Location: 2335 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Current Availability: Dine-in open

3. Copa Vida

Are you looking for a cool and modern vibe? Copa Vida is a place where you'll want to hang out all day. For anyone who has visited a Verve coffee shop, which started in Northern California’s Santa Cruz, you’ll experience very similar aesthetics and overall atmosphere here. The cafe has an extremely modern look, with beautiful wood spread throughout the design of the cafe.

You can enjoy a quick lunch here, apart from selecting from a wide selection of the best coffee beverage. They have two locations, one in the heart of downtown San Diego and the other in the East Village district on J Street (next to Gaslamp Quarter). The downtown location has been flip-flopping between open and closed throughout COVID-19. The J Street location has outdoor seating and to-go pickups available.

For anyone traveling through North County San Diego, you can find Copa Vida locations in San Marcos, Carlsbad, and 3 other smaller locations near Torrey Pines just below Del Mar. Most locations sit within plazas next to other pieces of real estate. Regardless of which cafe you visit, you will be welcomed by a comfortable and serene atmosphere.

The menu offers a comprehensive range of beverages like cold brew coffee, kombucha, and espressos. 

Currently Open Cafe Location: 905 J St, San Diego, CA 92101

Current Availability: Outside seating open

4. Better Buzz

It is available in eight locations in San Diego, the main one being the Hillcrest. The second floor is a great place to hang out and work. All the locations have beautiful designs and modern decor that you will adore throughout your visit. Each cafe location brings its own unique atmosphere. If you have a book you want to read, it is worth stopping here for a few hours and turning some pages.

Better Buzz embraces their name, and you can expect extremely strong coffee when stopping here. In San Diego, Better Buzz is famous for its Charcoal Mocha, Honey latte, Rose Water latte, and Snickerdoodle latte, and many other delicious coffee drinks. 

Currently Open Cafe Location: 801 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Current Availability: Dine-in open

5. Zumbar Coffee & Tea

Zumbar is right across the street from San Elijo State Beach, where you can get your coffee in the morning and take in the beach breeze on the patio. They have super friendly and accommodating staff. Many great alternatives include almond milk mocha, Ethiopian coffee beans, and hummingbird coffee beans. 

If you have already had one too many cups of coffee today, consider trying out their tea selection. They offer a creamy Rooibos Capetown herbal tea with passion fruit that is caffeine-free but doesn’t lack flavor.

Currently Open Cafe Location: 10920 Roselle St, San Diego, CA 92121

Current Availability: Pickup Available, no Dine-in

Conclusion

There are many coffee spots you can enjoy in San Diego. Although it is almost inevitable to find long queues and crowded spots, professional baristas and servers at these cafes will provide you with the best coffee services. If you happen to be waiting in a line, why not choose a cafe with an amazing ambiance and a fun atmosphere? Consider these cafes when you on on the look for caffeine and delicious drinks.