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James Coffee

4.1 (185 reviews)
Closed • 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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Reviews With Photos

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.

The Neapolitan

The Coffee really tasted like neapolitan ice cream! The strawberry leans more sweet instead of tart but the coffee as a whole is not overwhelmingly sweet. I think the drink was balanced really well. The almond croissant was sooo good. I was excited to try their vegan pastries the whole walk over and I got the very last one! It did not disappoint, but I would suggest getting here early if you want their pastries because it was sold out by 10:30am and there was another person in line wanting to get one

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

Reese J.

I was in the area and had the opportunity to visit James Coffee. Love that the cafe is open, love the aesthetics, and customer service was welcoming with good vibes. My Mexican Mocha was different, had a different kind of spice than what I'm used to. If I have the opty to visit again, I'd definitely try something new.

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5 months ago

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

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

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Business owner information

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James C.

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8 months ago

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11 months ago

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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

Modern Times delivers where it counts: THE BEER. Their lineup is solid and well rounded for all…read moretypes of pallets, flavorful, and clearly crafted with care. Every pour I tried was fresh and well-balanced, which definitely made my multiple visits worth it. The staff deserves a shout-out as well as they are always genuinely friendly and willing to talk sports. Quick to offer recommendations or beer to try before you buy, and created an easygoing vibe from the moment I walked in. Shout out to their employee Tron and the rest of the staff! The only area that could use some love is the ambiance. It's not bad, just a bit vintage/dated compared to other breweries in the area. A refresh in décor or layout would make the space feel as modern as the name suggests. They do however have plenty of table games, trivia nights and merch! Overall, great beer, great people, and a place I consistently return to all year long. 5 stars.

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MT Pils
5oz tasters
5oz tasters
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Torque Coffee

Torque Coffee

4.8
(165 reviews)
0.7 mi

The interior has depth, low-top and hightop tables, and is colorfully eclectic…read more Staff were helpful and friendly with my order FOOD Creative, flavorful options with Empanada: filled with savory beef and peppers Flaky pastry: Cheese and Berry filling Waffles: love the addition of berries I definitely need to drop by again. The drinks look super unique!

Street parking only. Metered out front. Located right next to a Church's chicken. Side streets are…read moreusually packed with cars so parking is a little difficult. Small amount of tabled and bar style seating inside. They have lots of merchandise for sale inside. They are dog friendly. Order at the register towards the back. They have food and drinks. They offer whole milk (straus organic) and oat milk (no extra charge, they use planet oat milk). You can choose between two different types of espresso for your drinks, both on display at the register. Drinks take a bit to come out, come with patience. Their menu was a bit confusing with the +cold foam next to the drink which makes you think it comes with it but it does not. Took two pictures of the menu and one had the +cold foam and the other had a separate note saying cold foam $1. Iced drink creation: they add ice, then milk, then espresso and then syrup into a cup. They pour into a shaker, gently shake/swirl and then pour back into the cup. Great way to mix the flavor profile throughout. Tried: Holy Banana $8.50 - Good flavor. Orange blossom $8.50 - wasn't a fan of this one.

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Ordering station
Ordering station
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New seasonal drinks

James Coffee - coffee - Updated July 2026

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