Coffee is strong! Just how I like it. My order was ready really quickly and it was really delicious. It's a nice spot to get some work done on your laptop. read more

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This is what a $12 burrito gets you. It's literally just potatoes, eggs, and sausage with a side of salsa. It tastes like I made it at home. I wouldn't recommend getting this and if there are any other coffee shops in the area, go there instead! Loll! read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Chai Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been meaning to come to this location in Golden Hill for a while now, especially since Mutual Ice Cream is right next door. Sadly the ice cream shop was closed when I came back around 2pm. I found that to be odd, or perhaps it was open~ it was dark and doors were closed. But anyways, thankfully, Dark Horse Coffee Roasters was still open till I believe 3:30pm! (I went on a Sunday). They have indoor seating and a big space outdoor for seating. We found parking on the street, no paying needed. They also have a bathroom, which is nice, but most people don't ask for the key (since it's essentially open, only locked when in use). The door is frosted and you can see the outline of someone as they stand near it. I think it could be a little more frosty! There were a lot of workers the day I went and they were nice. The prices were good for specialty lattes and the guy informed us that both sizes use the same amount of shots (2), the only difference is quantity of milk! I got a classic, $6, 12 oz Iced Salted Maple (S'Maple) Latte. It was good, but I wouldn't mind if the salted maple was more flavorful. It's quite subtle! The outdoor space is really great for meet ups with large groups of family/friends/work. I think this location is really lovely and would recommend people to come check it out! read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Iced Smaple Latte, $6. Outside!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Solid coffee recommendation. I've tried their hot oat milk latte and their iced vanilla oat milk latte and actually finished both before going cold/melting, respectively. They only have two breakfast sandwiches and two bagel options. They make for a nice light breakfast but emphasis on the LIGHT. For $10, it leaves you wanting/needing more for sure. Nice outdoor seating areas and they keep a clean bathroom. No frills service inside. Just a counter with some warm smiles behind it - you order and you walk back up to pick up when it's ready. read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - 25th street location in golden hill - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food: 5/5 Drinks: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 I love the Dark Horse brand across the board, but the Golden Hill location has consistently been my favorite. The baristas are kind and efficient, and they remember my dogs which of course wins me over instantly. The location itself is super convenient: easily walkable, a fair amount of street parking, and easy access right off the highway. I also really appreciate that they have lots of outdoor seating and offer pup cups, so I feel comfortable stopping by with my dogs. I also love that they have a rewards program via Cash App/phone number/the credit card you use. It's especially convenient that this is all tracked digitally and automatically when you swipe your credit card. For drinks, I've ordered: The Champ (iced): 4/5 A very popular choice. I do enjoy this coffee and the honey flavor is lovely, but the cinnamon can be a bit strong for me. They use powdered cinnamon over the top, which from a texture standpoint isn't my favorite. I do find the cinnamon is less overpowering when this drink is ordered hot instead of iced. Salted Maple Latte (iced): 5/5 This is my go-to. Delicious, strong coffee without being bitter and very well balanced overall. The maple flavor doesn't jump out in an obvious way, but adds a subtle sweetness that isn't overly sweet or sharp. Interestingly, I think the 16oz is better balanced than the 12oz in terms of coffee/milk/maple ratios. Pumpkin Spiced Latte (hot): 3/5 I'm not the biggest pumpkin spice latte fan, so I wasn't expecting to love this. It does have a clear pumpkin spice flavor, but the texture coats the mouth a bit more than I prefer (likely from the pumpkin), which is part of why this isn't my favorite. For food, I've ordered: Vegan Donuts: 5/5 I thought these used to be made by a sister company of Dark Horse, but I believe they're now sourced from Nomad Donuts. They usually have 1-2 rotating flavors each day, and since the main difference is the glaze on top, you really can't go wrong with any flavor you get. The texture is closer to a cake donut. Super tasty and not too sweet. Almond Cake: 5/5 Delicious and decadent. Very light, sweet, and crumbly. This isn't something I'd get regularly since it's just a bit too sweet for me without feeling like dessert, but it's undeniably tasty. To summarize, this is a consistently solid location with great service, excellent drinks, and small bites that pair perfectly with your favorite cup of joe. This is my go-to neighborhood coffee stop. read more

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First time trying this spot after passing by it in Golden Hill, and it did not disappoint. The sandwich and coffee were both delicious, and the outdoor seating is beautiful; perfect for photos. Had to snap a few quick shots of my man while we were there. read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great coffee shop in a new modern decor building. Some parking on street in front of building but plenty of parking around the corner. Espresso is smooth but with dark roasted flavor. Vanilla latte had focus on coffee, lightly sweetened with vanilla. Added an extra shot to make up for no ice in my drink and got the ice anyways. At least the extra shot was on the house. Solid drink. read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Inside shoe view - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Staff here were very friendly. They love what they do. Got the vanilla latte, would get again. Parking here is kind of troublesome, but was lucky with a spot in the front. read more

Coffee tastes amazing! My favorite is honey cinnamon latte (I prefer mine cold) I love that it has a strong coffee taste but yet subtly sweet! read more

My husband and I stopped by here so I could grab some breakfast and so we could also hide from the rain. I dined in but they still gave me all plastic dishware which was okay, but I just prefer actual dishware. Even though my latte was served in a plastic cup, they still made the effort of making some latte art so that was nice. I ordered their breakfast sandwich without meat and it was quite tasty, although I wish there would have already been a vegetarian option. Since the walls of the place are technically these mobile window/door things, there's lots of natural sunlight which I like. Service was also friendly too. It's kind of in a weird location which makes it difficult to find parking, but there seemed to be some street parking not too far from the shop. If I lived in the San Diego area, maybe I would be someone who would frequent this place ! read more

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First off, beautiful interior. Great place to get some work or reading done. Plenty of treats & breakfast items to choose from, especially vegan ones It was hard to pick which latte to choose from as they all sounded amazing but I ordered an iced champ with almond milk. I gotta give it to their espresso, it was very smooth. Think of a perfectly sweetened honey latte Overall amazing coffee shop with really friendly staff read more

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This is a local SD chain that a lot of people (hipsters) swear by. All in all it was alright. We tried the dirty chai and the salted maple. Both tasted the same with one just having more cinnamon (the maple). The portions are sadly on the small side and on the bland side. Neither creamy nor sweet. Parking is street. Many people put on their hazards and run in really quickly. There's a few places to sit inside but it's also attached to an apartment location that has some outdoor seating options. All in all will probs go elsewhere. read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Thy have a seasonal salted maple cold foam - it is superrr delicious. Def recommend topping your drink with it. The double American today was a bit acidic for my taste, neared a cold brew in flavor. Pumpkin season has arrived on their menu as well as of September. read more

I love the coffee, love the alternative/indie vibe, love the service at Dark Horse Coffee Roasters Golden Hill. I think I found my go-to-spot for a chill work time coffee session. 5/5 champ iced coffee, 16 oz, $6.75: deliciously cold, lusciously creamy, and sweet from honey, cinnamon, a shot of house made espresso and Califia Farms almond milk. This truly is good coffee made with love from friendly humans. I thank the helpful and knowledgeable staff for their recommendation to my awesome first drink at Dark Horse. 5/5 ambiance: the interior space is spotless and has lots of natural light entering through their aluminum-glass window and door storefront. Furniture is eclectic with live edge wood benches, fixed concrete tables with the metal Dark Horse icon, and comfy Celeste-blue, tolix style metal chairs. Music by Beach fossils, Radiohead, Lou Reed, and Melody's were playing slow jams and new sensations overhead in this soothing audio echo chamber. 3/5 parking: only street parking was available, which was quite easy to find nearby. read more

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Dark horse is my go to spot. This place is great, parking on the street. Not too difficult to find. The people that work there are Wonderful. Coffee and food that they serve is very good. I don't know how to explain the coffee but it's good, go try it. read more

I'm originally from San Diego, and I'm missing the hometown a little more with the Padres at the 2022 NLCS/semifinals. I wanted to highlight a favorite local business I haven't reviewed yet. Nine years ago, I first heard of cold brew coffee and had my first taste at the original Dark Horse in North Park. The flavor was bright and I was pleasantly surprised! This review is really for the time my husband and I visited the Grant Hill location last spring. In short, Dark Horse was our favorite coffee during our San Diego visit. A few days before our visit, my sister let me try a sip of her iced vanilla latte. I was amazed by the espresso flavor of her drink that we had to visit for ourselves. When we finally visited, the hubby ordered a haupia foam (coconut flavor) cold brew, and I ordered an iced salted maple latte to try their espresso once again with another flavor. Wow, words couldn't express how much we both loved the coffee flavors of our drinks! My husband and I know our coffee fairly well, and this coffee had a rich flavor without tasting burnt. If time allows, I hope we'll make another trip to Dark Horse and try a hot drink next time we're in San Diego! P.S. The haupia foam cold brew was apparently invited at the Kauai, Hawaii Dark Horse location. So glad a location is just a 40 minute flight away from us, coming from Oahu! read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Haupia foam cold brew on the left, salted maple latte on the right - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I have only tried dark horse once and thought the place was good. I wanted to give them another try after seeing their holiday drinks. The space is on the smaller side but they have seating outside if there isn't any inside. The cashier was nice, took my order and it came out about 5 minutes later. I will say the girls working seemed a bit confused about which egg nog to use for the egg nog latte. Overall the drink was decently i think more nutmeg or cinnamon would've really brought the drink flavor or maybe a different roast ? read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Egg nog latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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What better place to buy overpriced coffee !? Just joshing. Strolled in on a lovely Saturday morning to get a cup of joe before our day trip to LA. There was a line of course, but it moved fairly quickly. Ordered an almond milk latte for a very steep price, all the while slightly entertained by unique accessories for sale in the shop. Small establishment, but outdoor seating is available. Would definitely come back! read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters is my weekday morning savior, rescuing me from the abyss of pre-caffeine doom. I roll in nearly every weekday morning with my coworkers, eyes half-open, courtesy of my late-night gaming and anime escapades--because who needs sleep when there are digital realms to conquer and animated sagas to binge? Did you know that One Piece has 1,100 episodes? WHY? Watching all of them can be exhausting! The Vanilla Latte is my morning muse, a sweet symphony of flavors that serenades my taste buds. And let's talk about the iced Champ--cool, refreshing, and the caffeinated crusade against the drowsy aftermath of grinding for hours in PVP to get a shader that makes my in-game drip look fire. These drinks turn me from a sleep-deprived zombie into a semi-functional human. Now, onto the garlic and chive cream cheese, a magical concoction that transforms the everything bagel into a culinary masterpiece. But here's the catch--it's so good that it sells out faster than tickets to a Taylor Swift concert. I've had moments of cream cheese despair when they run out, but then I turn to the cheese pastry which is also FIRE! As I sip and savor, Misha and Blake are always killin it with the vibes! Cheers to the coolest coffee joint in town! read more

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The coffee here was just so so. It wasn't our favorite but it tasted okay. I thought the donut was very good though! It tasted fresh! The customer service was also very good and they take their time making the coffee which is always nice. We did see an arrest going on right around the corner from the store so that made us a little nervous about the location of the store. read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Salty Mocha with a donut! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

As a coffee enthusiast supporting local businesses, I was disappointed by Dark Horse Coffee. I usually like their americano and drip coffee, but I was craving a cold/sweet drink. My salted caramel latte was subpar, tasting like sour, coffee-flavored milk even with an extra espresso shot. While they remade the drink when I complained, the barista's comment about the extra shot "usually" costing more felt accusatory and unnecessary, especially given the $6 I'd already paid, and I certainly don't mind paying extra few bucks for a better tasted coffee. This, combined with barista chatting while orders backed up, highlighted the poor customer service- there's no customer service here. The coffee quality and service at Seven Seas, Intazza, or Hartland are far superior. I hope Dark Horse improves customer approach. Coffee lovers are willing to pay for quality, but also expect respectful service. read more

Dark Horse was the closest coffee shop to my Airbnb so I ended up coming here 3 times in a 3 day span. The interior was simple but cute, and it was never empty or super crowded - always somewhere in the middle. Each time, I got a hot Matcha latte (very good, not too sweet) and my friends enjoyed the vegan breakfast sandwich and Iced Salted Maple Latte. The staff were members were all cheerful/friendly and even gave me a free sticker when I asked if they sold any. Speaking of which, the coffee shop had the cutest merch and I ended up buying a pair of fun socks. Would return again! read more

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This is the first time I came to this location, but the second time I've been to a Dark Horse in general. I ordered The Champ, which I've had before and I was a little disappointed because I felt like it was more milk than it should have been. Like, it didn't taste bad or anything but it was too much milk for sure. The staff wasn't super friendly, not that they have to be, but I didn't want to go back up to them and ask them to remake my drink or anything. That's on me, though. It could have been an off day, and I'll give them a second chance, but for me it was just an okay experience. read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - The champ - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I really wanted to enjoy this place. I was excited to try some local roasteries but was let down on this trip. We ordered two items - and oat milk latte and oat milk flat white, but not before I was rather rudely told by the person taking my order the difference between the two... It would have been better if they didn't assume what I did and did not know, and I was more than ready (and willing) to engage in conversation with them. Instead, this interaction really turned me off. Additionally, when asked about their drip or if they provided any pour over, the answers were pretty curt and just overall pretty unfriendly. The drinks themselves were pretty mediocre. And I also didn't get any feeling that the person making the drink (also the person who took my order) really cared about the coffee. She kind of just haphazardly dunked the milk in after steaming (which to their credit they did get some microfoam). Overall pretty disappointed but they do have a nice outdoor patio space so they do pass the vibe check. read more

Great coffee. They have vegan donuts, not the most fresh but still good. Great ambiance, and it would be easy to get some work here while drinking coffee. read more

tucked in little golden hill! Small inside but very cute & they have outdoor seating. In the mornings it can get very busy with a line, if you go around 11am- noon it's more calmed down. Perfect for Sundays if you stayed up late the night before! Drinks: Iced Vanilla Latte w/ oat milk. Not too sweet, not too strong but strong enough! Great lattes at DK. We also tried the churro donuts- they are beyondddd amazing! If you're thinking about trying one don't think just do! read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Absolutely love this place! The drinks are awesome, the donuts are bomb, and the set up was nice and spacious at this location. My go to drink here is the champ, which I love hot or cold. The drink consists of espresso, steamed milk (oat is the best), honey, and cinnamon. Simple drink yet smooth to drink and great flavor. The donuts are just moist, fresh, and mmmmm delicious. I have pretty much tried all of their donut flavors and love em all. But almond, when available is my favorite. The location was off the freeway and had good street parking available. The interior was large and clean. The service was quick and friendly. And prices were reasonable for a coffee shop. Great choice for good coffee/espresso!! read more

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Dark Horse was my favorite shop in all of SD. The aesthetic was 10/10 the drink was 10/10 but most importantly the customer service was 11/10. Great marketing and beans. This shop is a must try. read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Picture of the inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I loved this latte so much it legit made my day thank you dude with long blond hair I'm so happy read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - Oatmilk latte with a lil of their maple syrup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I will alwayssss love dark horse coffee, it is probably in my top 3 of favorite coffee shops in San Diego. Their coffees are delicious and they have milk alternatives which I am so grateful. The service is fast at every location and the drinks are very consistent. read more

As a quick stop on our last morning in San Diego, I stopped by the Dark Horse close to Broadway St after two of my friends had gone the day before. They were raving about how fresh and delicious their coffees were, so I knew I had to try it for myself -- and I'm so glad I did! The place is cozy and has about half a dozen tables with chairs on both sides, and a few racks of merch that ranged from shirts and hoodies to coffee mugs and socks. All three of the staff I talked to were friendly and seemed genuinely happy to be awake before 8am (I need a little bit of whatever they have). A breakfast sandwich sounded good, so I asked for the bacon option without cheese, and I immediately scarfed it down when it came out of the toaster. To wash it down, an iced vanilla oat milk latte -- delicious, rich, and just heavy enough to keep me full until lunch. I wish we had these back in SF! read more

In the three days my friends and I were in San Diego for another friends birthday we became the BIGGEST fans of Dark Horse. This was our go-to spot for our morning coffee. On my first visit I ordered the salted maple latte with almond milk and the breakfast sandwich with sausage. Both were delicious. When I got back to my airBNB I let a few friends try it and they knew exactly what they were going to order the next morning when we went back to Dark Horse. On the second visit I ordered the champ latte, also delicious. But, on the third (and final day in San Diego) I went back to my roots and got the salted maple latte for myself. I also bought a hat because I forgot to pack one. Their merch is cute! read more

The Champ was good and was made with honey and cinnamon. It was a bit diluted and the espresso was not strong enough. It was served lukewarm and not hot. I also purchased a pint of Mutual Friend Haole Pie ice cream which is one of my favorite flavors. It's a sweet cream base with macadamia nuts, chocolate and Oreos. Service was friendly. read more

The coffee here is good. I got a regular Americano and enjoyed it. The people working here were nice . The downside is that they currently don't have donuts at this location and I came to Dark Horse specifically to try their donuts. Guess I will try a different location next time read more

I got a vanilla latte and my husband got a drip coffee. Both were really good. The service was fast and efficient. The coffee shop ambiance was perfect for a coffee shop. read more

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters - The store front - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Dark Horse is one of San Diego's known coffee shops. I tried the vanilla latte, it was really good. It had a distinct, but good taste. I will come back when ever I'm in the need of good vanilla latte. read more

You won't regret ordering a London fog from Dark Horse. My go to & never disappointed here. The establishment has a relaxed atmosphere with great music. There is seating at a coffee bar along with a few tables. read more

Good things - generous portion of cream cheese to go with bagel, friendly staff Not impressed about - small drink sizes, not many breakfast options, hard to park on the street read more

Delicious coffee and donuts. Since it's covid, you can't sit in the coffee shop anymore, but luckily the line isn't too long and their coffee comes out pretty quick. I got their blood orange donut and cappuccino and it's such a great pairing. If you haven't tried their donuts yet, I highly recommend it! read more

I like this location coz it just seems a lot more quiet then the others. A few seats inside with covered seating outside. You can enjoy your coffee and the day without blaring music. Nice quiet spot for coffee. They roast onsite. You can purchase beans to go and they have their merch onsite too. Vegan donut with a Cortado was my order today but I've tried most. Cold nitro, pour over, drips, Matcha. All good. Vegan pastries are pretty good too. And they've got the best sign posted at their entrance to welcome everyone. I appreciate this sign. Made to feel welcomed and assured to be treated equal. My money is on Dark Horse. Mel M Yelp 18:99 read more

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