Mostra is overpriced IMO and mainly does medium and dark roasted Asian beans. I'm in North County and haven't found anyone better than Manzanita Coffee Roasters in Escondido and at the Bernardo Winery. They're especially strong on light-medium and medium roasts, in particular their Ethiopian Danche, Huehuetenango Gesha and Chiapas beans. If they're in stock you should also try their Kenyan, Rwandan and Burundi beans.
For espresso -
Zumbar - Hummingbird (best espresso in the city!), Lofty coffee - keep it classy blend
For single origin-
Nostalgia coffee roasters, Seven seas, Bird rock, James, Parabola
Tbh skip dark horse for beans. The coffee shops are nice but none of their beans have impressed me that much
I had dark horse in Hawaii and loved their beans. They’re based outta SD, so you should give them a try
Do they do Kona?
Not sure. Check them out
Bird rock coffee roasters!
Just visited San Diego and took home a bag of Ironsmith out of Encinitas. Tasty!
Bird Rock in La Jolla
I second this!
And a heads up that Speciality Coffee Association expo will be hosted in San Diego 2026, so there’s that to look forward to.
Had great coffee at Achilles downtown
Birdrock is great. If you are in north county, look up Mostra, as well as Compa. Both roast great beans.
Mostra is overpriced IMO and mainly does medium and dark roasted Asian beans. I'm in North County and haven't found anyone better than Manzanita Coffee Roasters in Escondido and at the Bernardo Winery. They're especially strong on light-medium and medium roasts, in particular their Ethiopian Danche, Huehuetenango Gesha and Chiapas beans. If they're in stock you should also try their Kenyan, Rwandan and Burundi beans.
For espresso - Zumbar - Hummingbird (best espresso in the city!), Lofty coffee - keep it classy blend For single origin- Nostalgia coffee roasters, Seven seas, Bird rock, James, Parabola Tbh skip dark horse for beans. The coffee shops are nice but none of their beans have impressed me that much
Steady State in Carlsbad is fantastic!