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    James Coffee

    4.1 (186 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    JAMES COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - James Coffee

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    Eric S.

    This place is pretty dope. They have inside and plenty of outdoor seating as well. It's nice community chill spot. I had their cold brew which is pretty smooth and not too acidic. Service was cool. Parking can be a challenge obviously northpark duh

    Merch and coffee
    Josh C.

    I picked up whole coffee beans, the Mexico blend, and hot mocha on Friday morning. FREE DRIP COFFEE with purchase of bag of beans. Mocha was delicious, balance of milk, espresso, and chocolate. Free coffee was good too, not butter from sitting too long. Indoor and outdoor seating gives you option to hang out and enjoy drinks. Staff is attentive, friendly, and efficient.

    Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
    James G.

    Quick Service & attentive ... steady traffic in and out so that was a good thing, I def need to go back and grab me a mug!

    Brenda D.

    I love James coffee. Some of the best beans in San Diego, but it always takes forever to have drinks ready, even when is not super crowded. It's really frustrating walking in, seeing people waiting for their drinks, and the barista chit chatting with a friend, taking forever making drinks. I bought 2 bags of coffee beans and one cappuccino, and they requested a tip percentage based on the entire sale. It's kinda messed up constantly looking out for places that are advantageous in the way they ask for tips.

    Allie D.

    James Coffee is one of my favorites! They offer a great selection of bagels and pastries. The coffee is always good. I tried an almond croissant and had an almond milk latte. They have a great little courtyard with seating and a place for kids to play. I would definitely recommend this spot!

    'The Rancher' iced coffee drink
    Brian V.

    4++ great coffee shop located in University Heights on the cusp of North Park. I came in for a late afternoon pick me up after visiting some breweries in the area. The person who helped me was very friendly and helpful. Based on his suggestion, I ordered 'The Rancher' an iced coffee drink made with a little barrel aged maple syrup. The drink was tasty and it definitely gave me the caffeine boost I needed. The spot itself feels like it's integrated into a small little mixed used property. Really cool and walkable location.

    Inside counter
    Sydni S.

    I found James Coffee when I was looking for a spot to get some work done and I was pleasantly surprised! They have ample seating on their outdoor patio and a wide selection of drinks and pastries. They had a fall drink menu as well which was calling my name and I got the pumpkin spice latte which was pretty good and not too sweet. They have free wifi and it wasn't too busy on the weekend so it was a great spot to hang out at for an hour or so.

    Jalapeño cheddar bagel
    siri g.

    This was my second visit, and I got a latte and a jalapeño cheddar bagel with cream cheese--both were good. One of the things I really appreciate about this place is the abundance of outdoor seating, and the added bonus of a play area for kids, which makes it great for families. However, the overall experience was affected by how unfriendly the baristas seemed. They didn't greet us or smile, and it felt like we weren't very welcome. It was around 9:30 AM, so not even the end of the day and it wasn't even that busy. I really wish the staff had been a bit more warm and approachable.

    Danny W.

    I've been wanting to try this coffee shop for some time and was a little disappointed. First, the service was just ok and did not greet me when I came into the coffee shop. Also, they took awhile to place my order and I was second in line. I ended up ordering the Vanilla Latte and I really didn't taste any vanilla. The coffee was served at a good temp, but overall this coffee was just ok. This coffee shop did have a chill vibe with outdoor seating and parking can be difficult due the location. Last, they do have dog treats for the fur babies, which was nice.

    Their version of an Espresso Tonic in a reusable glass jar with stylish koozie
    Kuo L.

    Please see my other review from their Little Italy location. This University Heights location is equally wonderful. The people working here were upbeat and warm. Ample seating. Wall plugs / outlets available. There's a patio deck area to catch some sun while you work or an open courtyard where you sit under the trees. Great coffee like the other locations. They were able to make me their version of an espresso tonic using vanilla syrup and sparkling mineral water. Well made so I didn't miss the quinine from using mineral water instead of tonic water.

    Entrance near tattoo parlor
    Bridget B.

    James coffee is one of the best SD Coffee staples! The coffees are smooth, consistent, and always have the best color (IYKYK). I've been coming here for years and always recommend it to friends. Always really kind baristas that have a great vibe. The iced honey cinnamon latte is my go to and recently tried the Seasonal Strawberry Mocha which is phenomenal. I hope this one sticks around on the menu permanently!

    Latte
    Roman D.

    Coffee was great as always! Customer service was great by the baristas as well! We love the fact they offered the free hot chocolate for kids, we have noticed that James is the few if not the only coffee shop in San Diego that offers incentives to there customers like this and trust me we notice and appreciate it.

    Ordered a flavored decaffeinated iced latte from here over the weekend. Delicious! Would go again!

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    7 months ago

    Love this coffee shop in my neighborhood. The vibes are great and the coffee is equally as great.

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    James C.

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    Modern Times Flavordome - Impact Strategy

    Modern Times Flavordome

    4.0(440 reviews)
    1.1 miNorth Park
    $

    (Drank 06/29/26 MO @ 3:45pm): During these modern times of craft breweries, welcome to…read more"flavortown"! After a day spent with my general contractor and having waited for an appliance pick-up service to show up, I was finally free and made my way to Modern Times Flavordome. In my quest to explore and familiarize myself with the North Park neighborhood, this was the latest brewery that was within walking distance from our place that I had to try. Founded and opened in the San Diego's Point Loma neighborhood in 2013 by Jacob McKean, they were California's first employee-owned brewery and rapidly expanded into several locations along the West Coast. Over the next decade, the craft beer industry started to constrict, a mismanaged over-expansion, the pandemic, and scandal led to the downfall of its founder in 2021, new leadership, and then eventual new ownership by Maui Brewing Co. and contract brewing handled by local AleSmith Brewing Co. Today, only two standalone locations remained along with an added coffee line. Did I enjoy the flavors of their modern time beer!? PURCHASE(S) Modern Times Beer Orderville Hazy NEIPA Beer 7.2% ABV 16floz Draft ($6.00 HH): Hazy orange color, citrusy dank hoppy aroma, low body, citrusy dry hoppy flavor, drying finish, and citrusy dry hoppy aftertaste. Kettle Brand Potato Chips Sea Salt 1oz Bag ($3.00): My favorite potato chips brand, these were the only thing to nibble on while I enjoyed a draft or two. Modern Times Beer MT Pils Pilsner Beer 4.8% ABV 16floz Draft ($6.00 HH): Hazy amber color, citrusy malty aroma, light body, citrusy malty flavor, clean dry smooth finish, and citrusy malty aftertaste. Boulder Canyon Avocado Oil Classic Sea Salt Kettle Style Potato Chips 1oz Bag ($3.00): A brand I wasn't familiar with, again, I just needed something to snack on while I imbibed. These were rather tasty! Modern Times Beer Black House Coffee Stout Beer 5.8% ABV 16floz Draft ($6.00 HH): Dark brown color, coffee roasty toasty aroma, medium body, coffee creamy roasty toasty flavor, mouthfeel smooth finish, and coffee roasty toasty aftertaste. Modern Times Beer Tropicolossal IPA Beer 6.8% ABV 16floz (Draft $9.50): Rich amber color, fruity mango pineapple tropical aroma, light body, fruity mango pineapple sweet flavor, smooth finish, and fruity mango pineapple tropical aftertaste. This was my favorite of the bunch! "Velvet Goldmine Original Soundtrack" Used CD ($6.95): An out-of-print CD from a fun movie, I had to add this to my expansive music collection! Modern Times Beer Fruited Orderville Guava Hazy IPA Beer 7.0% ABV 16floz Can 4pk ($16.00): Hazy orange color, citrusy fruity guava papaya tropical aroma, light body, fruity guava tropical flavor, creamy finish, and citrusy guava papaya tropical aftertaste. SERVICE I was initially greeted by a friendly young gentleman behind the bar where I grabbed a stool, made myself at home for a couple of hours with 2026 FIFA World Cup matches on, and drank the afternoon away. Eventually, a young woman appeared behind the bar. Each one chatted a bit, made beer recommendations, and quickly served my beer - cheers! PARKING (Varied: FREE this instance): I simply walked the fine minutes from my place. Otherwise, there appeared to be some spots along the main drag of Upas St. and all surrounding roads (I didn't notice any lots) - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE An open interior layout with a spacious outdoor patio, each area had many tables and chairs. The interior was a sight to see with lampshades hung from the ceiling, newspaper wallpaper, globes wallpaper covered the bathroom, and there were crates of vinyl and CDs for purchase. This was a funky groovy place! Plenty of natural lighting entered through the wall windows and doors, but I honestly couldn't recall whether or not there were any ceiling lights (I'm sure there were). There was at least one TV while classic rock & roll music played in the background. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL It was a chill afternoon spent at Modern Times Flavordome, and I would definitely return. They had a decent selection of beers on tap, no served food so bring your own, the prices were comparable, the vibe was kick-back, and the service was very good. I'm sure furry family members were allowed on the patio, there were Happy Hour specials (MO-FR 12pm-5pm), and almost certain nightly entertainment such as trivia, music, and more were available. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $81.00 BEFORE any discounts, points usage, and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

    In November we arrived the last hour they were open. We sat at the bar so we could be quick for the…read morebartender. It was empty besides a couple outside. It is a pretty nice space. Right on the street, not too big and not too small. They had an outside patio. The bartender didn't look at us for about 10 minutes and it was extremely uncomfortable lol Eventually we were able to order so we just got one round to make it easy. He didn't talk to us again when his friend came in. He talked to his friend for the remainder of the time we were there. Here are the beers we tried: Impact Strategy: Peachy. Light hops Mt. Pils: Bitter bite

    Photos
    Modern Times Flavordome - MT Pils

    MT Pils

    Modern Times Flavordome - 5oz tasters

    5oz tasters

    Modern Times Flavordome

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    Midnight Animal Coffee - Tiramisu latte (left), espresso tonic + blood orange syrup (right)

    Midnight Animal Coffee

    4.6(108 reviews)
    0.2 miNorth Park
    $$

    With so many coffee shops in North Park, I overlooked this one for way too long -- but I'm glad I…read morefinally stopped in. Midnight Animal Coffee sits in a tiny shopping center next to The Wise Ox (fair warning: while you wait for your drink, the smells from Wise Ox will tempt you into grabbing one of their sandwiches). Parking in the lot is tight, crammed, and chaotic, so I usually park on El Cajon Blvd and walk over. This time I lucked out and found street parking right in front. The shop has a simple, modern, black‑minimal aesthetic. They make their house‑made syrups, offer plenty of alternative milks, and have several drinks with Mexican influence, which I love. We originally tried to order a latte with their tres leches syrup, but they were out -- so we switched to the café de olla latte instead, and wow. It tasted just like the café de olla my family makes, but lighter and not overpowering. You still get the espresso while enjoying that warm cinnamon‑spice note. We also ordered a matcha latte. They offer two sugar‑free syrup options, so I went with sugar‑free vanilla, light amount, and it was great. Good size matcha for the price compared to other local shops. Overall, worth the stop -- great flavors, thoughtful menu, and a nice addition to the North Park coffee scene.

    Super inventive drinks and a very cute cyber/motorbike aesthetic. I thought the service was…read moreexcellent and that the barista was very friendly. The latte I got was tres leches and it was really subtle and not too sweet.

    Photos
    Midnight Animal Coffee - Inside - cool looking Ducati

    Inside - cool looking Ducati

    Midnight Animal Coffee
    Midnight Animal Coffee

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    James Coffee - coffee - Updated September 2026

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