5 star experience at Better Buzz Hillcrest thanks to Sierra! Her positive energy and kindness will keep me coming back! This is the kind of treatment that makes a coffee shop special :) read more

Good food, and great service. My daughter works here and loves every minute of it!

Hi! I've been to this location many times and its always a five star experience when I come in. The drinks are made fresh and fast and the customer service is amazing! I want to give a special shoutout to an employee; Candice. She is very nice and helpful and always has a smile on her face! Thank you Candice :)​ read more

My favorite better buzz location! Such friendly service and the drinks never miss. My favorite is the banana match. The best part about this location is there's a second floor available and plenty of tables. Highly recommend. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Entrance - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Overall disappointing experience. I ordered a nitro and was expecting the smooth, foamy texture you normally get with a nitro, but there was little to no foam and the coffee had a pretty burnt taste. To top things off, they have a no ice charge on their nitro which I was fine paying because I assumed I'd be getting a full cup of coffee rather than having part of the cup taken up by ice. Instead, they handed me a cup that wasn't even full. When I pointed it out, I was told it was because I ordered no ice. But isn't that the whole point of paying extra for no ice? I would expect the cup to be filled with coffee. This is also the only coffee shop I've been to that charges extra for no ice on a nitro. Most places I've been to serve nitro without ice as the standard since it is already chilled and served directly from the tap, allowing the nitrogen to provide the smooth, creamy texture it's known for. If you prefer it over ice, most places are happy to add ice at no extra charge. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Terrible nitro with little to no foam, a burnt taste, and somehow still not a full cup after paying extra for no ice. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Just moved within walking distance of Better Buzz Coffee, and I get 15% off every time I show my Essentials black card that was a move in gift. Everyone here is so friendly! My iced vanilla lattes always taste like heaven every single morning. read more

A beautiful two‑story location right in the heart of Hillcrest. Fair warning: lines get long and parking is tough. Better Buzz has locations all over -- Point Loma, Santee, Fashion Valley, etc. -- but this one is my favorite because it's a true café. It has a full food menu and plenty of indoor seating, making it great for working, meeting a friend, or having a casual meeting. Some of their other spots are more "grab a drink and go," but this one is perfect for staying awhile. The drinks, to me, run very sweet, so I always ask for 1/4 sweet -- and even then it's borderline too sweet. The matcha is just okay. It's premixed, already sweetened, and they add vanilla powder plus naturally sweet milks. I order mine without the vanilla powder, but it's still sweet. If you're looking for a traditional, ceremonial‑grade matcha, this isn't the place -- you'll probably be disappointed. Breakfast items and smoothies are solid! I'm not a fan of the bread they use for the avo toast, so I'd sub that if possible. The pesto cheese panini with turkey is really good. They're open to customizations, and service is friendly and fast. A solid San Diego staple -- especially if you want a café vibe rather than just a coffee stop. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Before leaving San Diego, I had breakfast here. It's a large local chain, quite busy, but the food was just average. Better Breakfast Sandwich: A highly recommended item by the staff. It was piping hot, but tasted more like it had been frozen and then reheated. The brioche bun and fried egg were a bit overcooked, greasy, and the temperature was too even. Almond Croissant: The crust had distinct layers, the bread was slightly dry, but the almond paste with vanilla and citrus zest was refreshing, fragrant and sweet. Caramel Vanilla Latte: Also a staff recommendation. Although I had some expectations, it was still unbearably sweet... read more

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Review of Better Buzz Coffee - Hillcrest This was my first time patronizing Better Buzz Coffee in Hillcrest, and unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. The server, Janeya V., was rude this morning and gave me the impression that she did not want to serve me. What stood out to me was that she was very upbeat, friendly, and welcoming with the customers before and after me. I found the difference in how I was treated uncomfortable and disappointing. As a first-time customer, I expected to receive the same level of courtesy and customer service as everyone else. Unfortunately, this experience left a bad impression, and I will not be patronizing this location again. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and addresses the importance of treating every customer with the same level of professionalism and respect. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - The receipt of my purchase - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Can't go wrong with better buzz. Tried this cute summer drink and really enjoyed the pop of color and flavor. read more

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The Yelp summary is not kidding when they say sweet beverages. My cinnamon pistachio best drink ever iced coffee beverage was very sweet even for someone who loves his drinks very sweet. It was delicious and well prepared. I also had a blackberry banana nut muffin which was incredibly delicious. There is a ton of seating inside, including some really comfortable couches with pillows, some upbeat music playing somewhat loudly, and this being their flagship store, they have a huge coffee roaster machine to marvel at. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Front seating area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm no stranger to Better Buzz coffee but the Hillcrest location is top tier.... Except parking can be tough at certain times. I was greeted warmly and given patience with my order. The space is not only large ... there are plenty of tables for meet ups. The coffee was made perfect! read more

My daughter heard about this place from a coworker so since we were in the area, we had to go try it out. Parking was a challenge. I HATE looking for parking. Once inside, I really liked what I saw. I did some exploring while waiting for my coffee. I ordered the best coffee ever, and I really liked it!! I definitely want to order it again next time I'm in the area. Price? A little pricey, but it was kind of worth it. The ambiance was nice and interesting. Quite a few places to sit. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a great space. The decor is amazing & theres so much space for people to spread out & have coffee while they work. We ordered a matcha drink, cold brew coffee & some egg bites. They put my matcha in my reusable yeti mug. They were friendly, helpful w my boyfriend allergies. read more

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Came for the coffee, stayed for the vibes This spot is so spacious--plenty of room to relax, work, or catch up with a friend. The staff? Absolute gems. Super friendly and welcoming from the moment I walked in. I ordered the honey lavender coffee and WOW--perfectly balanced. Not too sweet, not too floral... just right Only downside? Street parking can be a bit of a challenge, so plan ahead. But honestly, totally worth it once you get inside! Will definitely be back read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Honey lavender - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I ordered through DoorDash and made the mistake of ordering "best drink ever" iced. I called the store because I can't make the correction quick in the app they said no problem they'll make it hot, I even asked my dasher to ask them to make them hot, she said talked to the manager and that they would make it hot! I got my "BEST DRINK EVER" at room temp in a hot cup but I thought they just tossed out the ice! I was so upset and wrote this review but then later in the day the manager called me!! Candace apologized and sent me a gift card! Completely turn everything around and told me she personally made my coffee so we didn't figure out why the coffee wasn't hot but she went above and beyond to make the customer "me" satisfied. Thank you Candace I appreciate you!! Well start again tomorrow read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Luke warm coffee I had to microwave - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I needed a place to work and happy that I found this spot! The ambiance was super nice. There's seating & tables downstairs and upstairs (couch vibes with pillows AND regular tables and chairs). I ordered the 3 Seed Avocado Toast & a small matcha tea latte, then grabbed a spot upstairs. There was only one outlet charger upstairs FYI. The 3 Seed Avocado Toast was good but I thought it tasted better with the lemon. The toast was a bit soft. The Matcha Tea Latte was very good. The items came out quick and they'll call your name. You'll need to ask for WiFi and the restroom has a code on it. Street parking only. Good spot to work, hang out/catch up, date spot, etc. read more

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This place was fantastic. Such a nice cafe right in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego's gayest neighborhood. I loved the rainbow flags hanging from the ceiling, and making it feel like such a welcoming space. There are multiple floors of seating options. My partner and I grabbed a spot at the front of the cafe, and could watch all the Hillcrest action pass by. I got a standard drip coffee, which was great and enjoyed the flavor. My partner got his standard London Fog and thought it also came out perfectly. The wifi was fast, and we loved just how bright the spot was with all the windows. Service was friendly with some gay sass, which we personally loved. The shop is part of a socal coffee chain. We now want to check out the other spots, based on this great experience here. read more

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Good food, good drinks. Good service if you have the app a lot of times they can give you like half off or a free drink or $2 off and you can get points for rewards read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Pumpkin best drink ever - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

A must-stop for us while in San Diego on business. Coffee and service are consistent. The inside is large with seating upstairs as well. It's a neat place. Line moves quickly, so don't worry, it'll be worth it! I really enjoyed their twist on an Americano. "Best drink ever," so good! The avocado toast was pretty good as well. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - 3 Seed Avocado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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The hazelnut latte had the most reviews on Yelp, but it wasn't very impressive--they don't use real hazelnuts, just a flavored sweetener. If you have a nut allergy, this latte should be fine since it isn't made with actual nuts, though it's still best to confirm with the barista. The honey latte, on the other hand, was excellent and easily the best drink we tried. The service was great as well--they made a mistake on one of our drinks and gave it to us for free. The ambiance is really nice, making it a great spot to study, relax, or catch up with friends. read more

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I love this Better Buzz location. The people are always friendly and the space is great. And of course the drinks are delicious too. They have plenty of tables and couches if you want to get some work done and the wifi is reliable. It is a great spot for people watching, so... Don't get distracted! read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Limited release. Toasted marshmallow cold brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I came to Better Buzz since it's right in my neighborhood, and I'm so glad I finally tried it. I downloaded the app beforehand, and it was super user-friendly. You can easily place your order through the app or order in person. I ordered the: *Cinnamon Pistachio Best Drink Ever: it was absolutely delicious and refreshing. It's an iced coffee, and you could immediately taste the cinnamon on the first sip. They also added pistachios on top, which made it even better. I usually don't like overly sweet drinks, so I ordered it half sweet. Honestly, I probably could've even done a quarter sweet, but the flavor itself was amazing. The service was incredible, the place was super cute and clean, and it only took a couple of minutes to get my order. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Cinnamon Pistachio Best Drink Ever - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Damn... Better Buzz never disappoints at this location. Great coffee AND food here. Coffee is smooth and tastes perfect. Reducing the sweetness, you can taste quality. I get the breakfast sandwich with bacon which is made onsite and it tastes like it too. My go to coffee when I'm in SD read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm going on my first trip every day to get coffee from better buzz coffee I love it and I'm loving the coffee and stuff they make special for me coffee and thanks so much for everything. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Family photo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love Better Buzz. I know it's one of those 'splurge' places for coffee, but their coffee really is worth it. This location has beautiful spacious indoor and outdoor areas to sit. I got the banana pudding best drink ever and it really was the best drink ever. You can tell they put care into their drinks. I also love their pastries - they had a rainbow pound cake once that I still think about. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Banana pudding best drink ever - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

After a busy day, we needed a boost. My son suggested Better Buzz and I said let's go. This location also roasts beans. From their website i learned Better Buzz is certified by CCOF as an ORGANIC Coffee Roaster. Just an interesting fact if you prefer organic. The interior is gorgeous. A mix of textures, lots of geometry, kind of modern yet industrial surrounded by wood and glass and greenery. The lighting are glass pendants. This is a multilevel building with seating on the first and a mezzanine. Above the mezzanine there appear to be the level offices and glass paneled conference rooms. It just gives a vibe of spacious yet cozy. They have a really nice selection of coffee options I tried the best drink ever. It was delicious. It was creamy with a vanilla without being sweet. They also have a case with some amazing looking goodies however i did not try. They also have sandwiches and toast and wraps on the menu. The star, however, was the coffee. After a busy day, it was so refreshing and hit the spot. Smooth, flavorful and really just what I needed. I will definitely be back read more

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This is my favorite Better Buzz location. The music is always a vibe and the staff is always friendly. I love the egg bites and they have a bunch of great lunch options as well. I regularly use the mobile order which is convenient when I'm on the go or like to work from the cafe when I need a change from working from home. read more

Definitely get the buzz about this place now! Such a cute little coffee spot. My friend and I stopped in for a quick snack and caffeine fix, and they had a solid selection of pastries, coffees, and milk alternatives. I ordered their signature drink - The Best Drink Ever - which is an Americano mixed with their coffee vanilla creamer. You can get it hot or iced, but heads up: there's no sugar-free option. As someone who usually drinks my coffee black, I was surprised by how good it was. Still flavorful, not overly sweet, and super smooth. I also grabbed a bear claw, which was decent but nothing standout. Overall, a great spot to study, hang out, or grab your daily caffeine boost! read more

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Beautiful location! Two stories (although some of the upstairs is blocked), comfy seating and plenty of tables. Music load and just a buzz of activity - lots of groups and good energy. Staff here was super friendly. Service was very speedy. Swing by on a Sunday around 10 am as my car was charging at the boa next door. Need a code to enter the restroom which the cashier happily provided. Pick up orders are near the back - head towards the right side past the counter and shelving is there. I'll certainly be back again when I am in the area. read more

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Amazing staff. Very kind and helpful. A couple of weeks ago, I had a mishap in one of the drinks I got from them (the drink rolled over in my car), when I told the staff they made the same drink immediately, with a smile and didn't charge me for it either. The drinks are amazing. I love the staff there. I should've noted their names, I believe they are all equally friendly. Of course the store looks amazing, very modern and cozying. Parking kinda sucks. read more

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Great spot. Lots of space to study. Great spot for meetings too. I booked one of the rooms for a corporate meeting and it was great. They had AV and the staff was so helpful and kind. Only issue is it's see through glass so not as private but still workable. read more

Came by early in the morning after working out. The staff were friendly, greeted and assisted me after I walked in. The restaurant is very clean, nicely decorated, and has plenty of areas to sit and chat or work. Their smoothie and drinks were good but I felt their chai was a tad too sweet. Their avocado toast was nicely presented and had plenty of chunky avocado. Parking was not good so my friend had to circle the block while I went inside. read more

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The drinks were amazing and the indoor area was beautiful it was very large and spacious inside with plenty of seating on the first and second floor. Interior was definitely the best part very beautiful. The only thing that made me lose a star was the pastries looked very stale, I was planning to get a sweet treat and purchased a pastry thinking it would come from the back but the pastry was taken from the case which seemed to be out the entire day and was dry. The staff was very kind and helpful tho. If I was in the area I would go again! read more

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If I could give them a zero I would. First off they're were flys in the display where the pastries were , and the worker said she seen it was going to get it out. I watched her for 10 minutes do nothing but just stand around they're was no customers she could've got it out. I don't know if it's a San Diego thing but these workers are lazy. If you're going to have an attitude about doing your easy azz job then don't work there. Both the cashier and barista in the back had attitude about my gf asking if the food is fresh then when my her food was ready, they didn't call it out they left it out. When she went to ask if her food was ready she just started acting like she couldn't check . Terrible Customer Service especially the cashier where the ones keeping your store in business not no more . read more

My sister and I visited on a Saturday morning around 8:30AM before heading to Balboa Park. The coffee shop is conveniently located on the corner of University and 8th. It was busy when we arrived as there was a group of people waiting to place their order and a group of people waiting to pick up their order. I ordered a Regular Iced Snickerdoodle Latte ($6.59) and a Better Breakfast Sandwich ($9.99) and my sister ordered a Regular Iced Vanilla Bean Latte ($6.50) and also the Better Breakfast Sandwich ($9.99). Note, my sister originally wanted the Bacon Ciabatta, but there must've been some miscommunication when placing the order. It came with a fried egg, bacon, and arugula on a pretzel bun. The sandwich was fine, but the assembly is inconsistent. My sister's egg was friend perfectly, but my egg was extremely runny and not fully cooked. I'm only giving this coffee shop 3-stars because I found a long strand of blond hair half-way through finishing my sandwich. GROSS! The people preparing the food in the back need to wear hair nets. This is food safety 101. The snickerdoodle latte was sweet and cinnamon-y. The vanilla bean latte was terrible. It tasted like watered down sweetened milk. Both drinks lacked coffee flavor. There is plenty of seating on the ground floor and upstairs. I am glad I tried this place and checked it off my list, but sadly, I will not be returning. read more

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Tanya was so knowledgeable about her beverages and made my entire experience so welcoming. First time in San Diego and this made it much better. I will definitely come back to this coffee shop in the future. The ambience is really peaceful with lots of seating to work and the music is great too. :) read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Update: the music is still too gd loud. They must be happy losing customers who don't want to be blasted while trying to enjoy a coffee.

Such a beautiful, airy space with lots of seating. The carnitas and roasted pepper egg bites were delicious. One order comes with two bites and they came out piping hot (in a good way) with a nice chunk of carnitas in the middle. They're served with a creamy sauce that paired well with the bites. Would recommend. The lavender tea buzz was way too sweet; I would not recommend unless you like super sweet drinks or there was a way to modify the sugar levels. Otherwise, the lavender flavor came through nicely and it's a cold, creamy drink that's nice on hot days. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Lavender tea buzz Carnitas and Roasted Pepper Egg Bites - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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We were greeted with a smile and our food was ready quickly. The music was way loud for Sunday at 7am. The lady who gave us our drinks didn't acknowledge us at all. No thank you. No nothing. Like she didn't care a wit. The croissant was tasty. The zucchini bread was a bit sweat for our tastes but was good. read more

Better Buzz Coffee Hillcrest - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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