I searched up best coffee in La Mesa, picked the first recommended place, and am happy I did so…read more I just moved to San Diego from San Francisco and found myself in La Mesa applying for jobs. I needed a quick coffee to end my day and after searching the best coffee in La Mesa, Red White and Badass Brew was the first to pop up. The owner was super nice-I didn't get his name-and he walked with me through the menu as I haven't had specialty coffee drinks like these before. I went with his recommendation of the whiskey latte (iced) and also decided to try the toasted tan lines (iced) When I tell you, my first sip transported me back to the 2013-2016 era of coffee culture when specialty drinks were first starting to get popular, I am being so serious. Both the whiskey latte and toasted tan lines were full of so much flavor. The toasted tan lines took me straight back to my trip to Kauai in 2013 and the whiskey latte was reminiscent of a latte I would get in middle school from a Brazilian small business. There was just something so nostalgic about these lattes that I had to immediately write a review. So many coffee shops lack the flavor of the 2010s before companies cut corners and scraped for our pennies, but not here Thanks for the coffee! (No pics because I inhaled them in like 5 mins on my drive home)

It's been a while since I've been back but decided to stop by with my husband this time. We also…read morerealized we could order ahead so we did that. Unfortunately there isn't an online order line so you end up waiting anyways and they made our drinks only after we arrived and told them we had the online order. That being said everyone working was really friendly and they were working hard as it was busy on Sunday around 8. I got the gone bananas half sweet and an extra shot. My partner got the horchata matcha with extra matcha. Even my drink at half sweet was too sweet for my taste but still enjoyable. Not a strong banana flavor though. More caramel forward. My partner loved his drink but did say it was more horchata than matcha.

I've been coming here for months and seriously love getting the cinnamon roll and cinnamon roll…read morelatte! The latte itself is so tasty, it has a good balance of strong and sweetness. I get it every single time im here. I'd also recommend the Mexican iced chocolate latte. It's also strong yet sweetened to perfection. The service here is always good and the employees always greet you. I like to come here to study and just sit outside to take in the morning air. I love the view of cowles mountain as well. It's a great spot if you wanna study, they have free wifi if you purchase something so that's a plus. I recommend trying the cinnamon roll latte!

For a few years now, I've been buying my beans, five pounds at a time, from Brew Coffee Spot in La…read moreMesa. I like the roasting profile they use, and for a while, they've stocked a Costa Rica Sonora Black-Honey Natural that is just fantastic. Joe Paraiso, the owner, is a very experienced coffee purveyor, and he's been incredibly kind to me, sharing his time and knowledge to make sure I get what I want. And, not for nothing, when I'm at Brew Coffee Spot picking up the beans I ordered online, I always have a coffee. Joe either does a great job of training his baristas, or he's REALLY good at hiring talent, or both. Seriously... his folks make my coffees, usually a cortado or a straight espresso, with a downtown San Francisco or Rome level of competence.

Public Square has been closed since April after staff walked out and eventually quit due to unpaid…read morewages. Unfortunately, this place was on the decline leading up to these events. It would usually take a half hour to get a simple drink order. Food that was previously wow turned into meh (I'm looking at you, shashuka). I don't blame the baristas. I don't think the business owners ever properly streamlined their ordering process / menu to get items out effectively. I hope we get something nice to replace this space.

This place gets a lot of hype for their scones, but honestly, that was the only thing special. They…read moreoverall they are very expensive and service is slow. Be prepared to wait, or order a mobile order for pick up. Cleanliness...could be better. Looks clean from ground level, but if you look up the plants and ac vents are covered in layers of dust. Scones were fantastic but not sure that makes it worth the wait.

AHHHHHHH!!!!!! What…read morea find! To start, the service - 5/5. They were warm, welcoming & had such wonderful recommendations. I loved that they accommodated dietary restrictions, while also having options for all The food - the s'mores banana bread pudding might be one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten in my life - no joke! It was warm, ooey gooey, rich, sweet, everything you want! The breakfast burrito was full of flavor & my husband who is not vegan, loved every single bite! The coffee was absolutely delicious! The overall space is so inviting & relaxing. I could've spent the whole morning reading or working in there.

First time discovering this small bakery tucked away in a spacious plaza of Lemon Grove. The inside…read moreis able to seat around 14 people from the looks of it and there is additional shaded seating outside. Staff that I met was extremely friendly (Grayson, Jules, and Dom), as well as the owner of the bakery Tanya. This bakery has been operating for about three years and there was a good crowd on a Monday afternoon. All the pastries are vegan and I tried the vanilla concha (pro tip get it warmed up) with their house made maple butter and the carrot cake. Both were amazing, I've never had a vegan concha and don't think I'll be going back to regular ones! They also have breakfast sandwiches that many people ordered that looks like it's on a thick piece of focaccia. The reviews speak for itself! Great pastries and coffee, friendly staff, and clean store what more could you want?! I'm glad I made this discovery and can't wait to come back, highly recommend you check out this place!

Absolutely adorable chill space with a welcoming 60s vibe for work, conversation or just relaxing…read more Several petite bistro tables outside. Ample seating for individuals and small groups inside. The menu is primarily vegan/vegetarian with many creative options. Peak Season: house-made blueberry and coconut condensed milk syrups, espresso, milk of choice (most popular latte) Custom Happy Hippy: jalepeno bagel with avocado, arugula, micro greens, hemp seeds, lemon, chili crunch cream cheesse and house seasonings The craft coffee, creative food and chill atmosphere made it a really enjoyable experience. A few outlets available for power. Free and easy parking.

I'm surprised it wasn't more crowded! Although I did go mid week, perhaps that's why. This coffee…read moreshop is everything! The chairs inside are so comfortable. I like that the shop isn't extremely cluttered with plants. Just enough that it feels open and bright. You know with nature, you just breathe better. (; Anyways, the interior murals are such a warm and lively color - it just makes me happy seeing it. I love the artwork on the walls because it matches their specialty lattes. The outdoor seating space is also quite nice. The colors of the tables are pastel pink and pastel yellow-- you can sit in semi shade or shaded area. It's really lovely! To drink, I decided to get one of their specialty lattes-- $7, Iced 12 oz, PEAK SEASON with whole milk. This is an iced blueberry latte with coconut condensed milk. It was so delicious! I would highly recommend this. It wasn't overly sweet either-- which I can appreciate. I highly recommend coming to Ultreya Coffee & Tea! The drinks are superb and fairly priced. They have a few food and pastry options as well. ...lol just read my past review and I basically had the same exact thoughts as this time around! Hilarious.

Just had the greatest experience at Vinam Cafe! The staff were incredibly friendly and helped us…read moredecide on what drinks we wanted. I got the Early Grey Matcha Latte with oat milk and it was so smooth and refreshing! My family got the Peach teas and a few pastries (chocolate croissant, guava pastry, and meat pie) and they're beautifully flaky!

Upon arrival I was greeted by the person on the register, she had great energy and was very…read morewelcoming. I ordered the Flan Vietnamese coffee! The coffee itself was very strong and not overly sweet which is perfect for me. It was topped with a huge flan piece and wow was it creamy and amazing just as expected. The ambiance was clean and perfect for people who want to study or hang out because it had large open tables. I will definitely be driving out of my way to come here! SO delicious!

Open on Memorial Day from 7 am to 1 pm This place is popular…read morebecause great coffee sells itself. I know that sounds cliche. The food is good here but get here early on the weekends is gets busy here. My favorite drink is the dirty chai hot. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and they open at 6 am on the weekdays. The baked goods come from a local bakery Bread and Cie. Good customer service and easy to find. The his is my favorite coffee place in San Carlos. Enjoy!

I found myself in San Carlos mid-day, mid-week. I was running between work and a hair…read moreappointment. I had barely had a chance to have lunch so was really happy to randomly see a coffee shop to grab a cold coffee on a hot day to bring with me to my hair appointment. Parking was easy and I walked into the coffee shop. There was no wait at all at that time. I browsed the menu and decided on an iced Simple Special which was basically an iced mint latte. I ordered it with nonfat milk I waited for only a couple of minutes for my drink to be made. During that time I saw that they were playing records and had several records for sale. That was really cool. If I lived in the area I would definitely hang out and listen to records while sipping on coffee. The reason for only 4 stars.... my charge was abut $8 which felt a bit stiff for only the 16 oz drink. It made me wary of what a 20 oz would cost. All in all, I had a good experience at The Simple Coffee House. My drink had good flavor without being overly sweet. I liked the records and the vibe at the coffeehouse.

Looove this place. So nice to have a non corp coffee house in La Mesa. Perfect spot to chill and…read morework or after a good workout. The place has a nice esthetic but would be good to have more chairs and tables? Not a complaint but would love them outside but seeing the landlord might frown on outside seating might prevent it. Service is top notch and even scored a nice sandwich because the very sweet barista had an extra! If you're in the mood for a better experience than usual come to Come Back Coffee

UPDATE: Come Back kindly refunded my meal. Thank you!…read more It was my first visit I ordered an oatmeal cappuccino and a chocolate croissant. When I first drank the cappuccino I noticed an awful taste. Maybe it was expired oat milk? The chocolate croissant was good, but may have been from yesterday batch. Even though it was heated up, it tasted stale. I had food poisoning after consuming. I tried to call the number on listed on yelp, but the number goes straight to voicemail.

The Mont Blanc cold brew here provides a smooth and refreshing experience unlike any other coffee…read moredrink I have ever had. I wouldn't think orange would go well with coffee but it really does! The citrus flavor transforms the cold brew into something delightfully tangy and sweet. The citrusy kick works cohesively well with the smoothness of the cold brew. This drink is perfect for a hot day! The barista was pleasantly efficient and quick in making my drink. Excellent service! By the way, I recommend sitting at the bar seats. Occasionally, the smell of fresh coffee emanates from the air joyfully stimulating the olfactory sense.

I've been going to this coffee shop for about two years now. I LOVE their breakfast menu,…read morespecifically the bagels. Their vanilla latte and matcha have a unique taste & it has me HOOKED. Staff is friendly but sometimes I wish there was a little more warmth towards regular customers. I come in here regularly, often bringing different friends. I don't expect a full conversation but a little recognition would be nice. I believe it's part of the experience of being a regular at a cafe.

This coffee shop is seriously underrated and definitely slept on. The coffee was delicious and…read moreperfectly balanced, with just the right amount of sweetness while still letting the flavor of the coffee come through. The gentleman there, who I believe may be the owner, was incredibly kind, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. You can tell there's real care put into both the coffee and the service. Definitely a hidden gem and a place worth checking out. I'll absolutely be coming back!

I had an appointment nearby and make it a point to try coffee shops in the areas I'm in…read more The mall is a mess right now with construction but I still found it (my review doesn't reflect that). It's a cute colorful little shop. The girl working was very friendly. I saw the board outside after she reminded me of the specials and decided to try the iced chocolate banana latte. This is not something I would normally try but it sounded good. I'm more of a coffee purist generally. The girl told me all about it and talked it up so I was looking forward to trying it. She said the banana was a strong flavor, which is OK cause I like banana. She made my drink and I paid and was on my way. As I was walking back to my car, I took a sip. I'm not sure what happened, but there was zero banana flavor. It was just chocolate. I don't know if she ran out of banana or what happened but had I known I would've ordered something different. Quite disappointing actually. Since I'm in the area every few months and it has a five star reputation I will come back and try something else on a different day but today was not my day for getting a good drink.