A lovely quaint little cafe. It was pretty busy when we went but the wait wasn't too long. Expect a line on weekends though. Minimal seating but we got lucky and grabbed a spot outside. I loved the LW Matcha latte. It tasted very unique and refreshing! The salted maple was also delicious. Drinks weren't too sweet and tapped into their natural flavors. I totally understand why they're so busy! read more

Little While - Iced LW Matcha Latte Iced Salted Maple Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Was staying in the area for vacation and ended up coming to Little While twice! Enjoyed both the LW Matcha Latte and regular Matcha Latte. Service was great both times and staff were helpful in explaining the menu. We managed to find a spot to sit each time and enjoyed watching the baristas do their thing! Also, their playlist was great! I wish we had a spot like this back in Seattle. Id be a regular customer! read more

Little While - Matcha latte w/ Oat Milk, Banana Cream Concha, and Cherry Yuzilla. All very good! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

really loved both the iced matcha latte and vanilla latte. housemade syrups and pastries really make the difference here but also the matcha quality and the espresso roast were really good. i also recommend getting a side of their cream to pour on top of the matcha! there was a wait on the weekend but i'd definitely come back again read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Their matcha is really on point. Super close to the one I had in Japan. Definitely recommend it!!!! Also they have a small selections of bakery and they are very yummy!!! The line could be very long so plan ahead. Also parking could be tough depending on the hours! read more

Little While is a coffee & pastry shop, & roastery inspired by the idea that life is made up of many little whiles. They are the parent company to Stella Jean's ice cream & Pop Pie Co! The cafe blends warm wooden brown tones w/ modern decor, creating a space that feels both stylish & inviting. The soft lighting & two nooks in the front add a cozy warmth. It is a small space but everything is so well put together. Their menu consists of the classics, lattes, matcha, slow bar pour overs, & be sure to ask them about their rotating seasonal specials. Their iced Salted Maple Latte ($7) w/ oat milk was solid! The flavors were all well balanced & the quality of the espresso really stood out! Such yummy flavors all around. Pandan Earl Grey Latte ($7) is made with espresso, pandan earl grey syrup and milk. The first time I tried this drink it was so flavorful, the pandan earl grey came through & the espresso was so good. The second time I got it... uhm the flavor was subtle BUT it was still good! The LW Matcha ($7.50) consists of matcha, maple, coconut water, & oat milk. Wow!! This was so yummy! The coconut flavor stood out all while still being able to taste the matcha. I loved it. Steven, the founder & CEO, talked me through their matcha options & recommended me the LW matcha. He explained the meaning & intentionality behind every ingredient that makes up this drink The Kaya Kouign Amann ($6.50) is a laminated pastry made with coconut sugar & kaya jam. This pastry was so YUMMY & we highly recommend giving it a try. It had a beautifully caramelized outer crunch & was so flaky. The kaya jam had a perfect amount of sweetness that paired well with the pastry. : Metered and/or street parking read more

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Such a cute cafe that just opened up in university heights. When I got there at 8:30 am there was already a line out the door. I left around 10 am and the line was twice as long. For drinks, I got the iced matcha latte with oat milk and light maple syrup. I thought the drink was good enough and I'd order it again if I came back. If I were to be super critical, I'm not sure I liked the oat milk they used. The matcha itself was fine and sounds like they put a lot of thought and effort in to source it from a farm in Japan (the photos were displayed on the walls). For pastries, I got the butter croissant, the Kayan kouign amann, and the almond croissant. The pastries were good but wayyyyyyyy too sweet. Much much sweeter than any place I've tried in San Diego. The service is great though. Everyone was really nice and I saw another worker, who was possibly the owner, making small talk with customers and asking them for open feedback, as I believe they're still in their soft opening phase. I thought that was thoughtful that they were genuinely looking for ways to improve. Ultimately I think I'd come back and try it again once the work out some of the kinks. read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

They team behind Stella Jean ice cream and Pot Pie launches their new coffee concept Little While. It's a beautiful space inside. Nice light and warm colors. Ultra friendly service with a team of a strong coffee background. I had the earl grey pandan latte. And it was delicious! Made just right. It was so good. Such a great edition to the North Park area. It'll be my coffee stop everytime I'm in the area. read more

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Please don't mistake this as a true 5-star rating. Since I did not personally experience what my wife had gone through, I will update once I experience Little While firsthand. When I asked my wife about her experience, I was surprised by her muted and lackluster response. She noted the following... Pros: Able to score seats, drink made was exceptional (although it was the wrong drink and due to busy baristas, did not bother to correct it), pastries were good. Cons: Wrong drink served- did not replace due to busy baristas (not expected), Parked in neighborhood that was 1-2 blocks away (expected), long line (expected). Unexpected Con (overall experience): As my wife and her friend scored seats for their get together at Little While, she proceeded to order drinks/pastries. Upon ordering, behind the counter it seemed that she was being sized-up by a glasses-wearing barista with an arm-sleeved tattoo. Regardless of whatever favorable first impression is needed to order, she dismissed it and thought nothing of it. Paid with tip and returned to her friend seated at a table against the wall. They started to catch-up with each other and a "Little While" later the person who had taken her order was now bussing tables. Although my wife was engaged in conversation with her friend, the hustle/bustle of the cafe and long line; my wife noticed him as he passed by their table. He side-eyed their empty plates and partially filled cups with an uncomfortable glare as he walked by. The read she got from this barista made it apparent that they should hurry and leave. As he proceeded to make the rounds, the side-glares given did not cease while other patrons who were seated or camped-out longer were not privy to his special glances. As my wife and her friend wrapped up their visit and exited Little While, she approached the barista as he was bussing a table and gave him an appreciative "Thank You". Seeing her greet him caught him off guard as he looked away to continue what he was doing. My wife then turned and walked away with her friend. Message to General Manager and the barista that served/bussed the tables: Clearly the purpose of Little While failed to connect with my wife... "Little While is here to share and create moments of significance and delight through our distinct flavors and experience. We have proudly created a space for our customers to slow down, and savor the present and cannot wait to grow our community." Once again, please don't mistake this as a true 5-star rating. I will update this review and see if I am able to connect with the purpose noted above when I visit in a "Little While". read more

From the team behind Pop Pie Co. & Stella Jean's Ice Cream, Little While is a small cafe that recently opened in University Heights. Despite being open to the public at the end of last year, it has been generating a ton of daily foot traffic. PARKING: Metered street parking (typical for the area). SERVICE (5/5): Workers here are awesome. Food and drinks come out promptly. There's a decent amount of seating inside, but it's usually full. There's also some extra seating outside of the cafe. FOOD & DRINKS (4/5): These are the items I've tried so far: 1) Salted Maple Latte (Hot): The maple syrup's caramelized, buttery sweetness played well with the sea salt, and the pairing complemented the espresso's roasted earthiness. I am aware this is a permanent menu item, but it's a very cozy, fall-coded drink! 2) Pandan Earl Grey Latte (Hot): I was expecting a sweetened latte with a pronounced pandan flavor and some earl grey nuance. I mean, it was a smooth cup of coffee ... but I think I had my hopes up a little too high. While it did have nutty notes from the pandan and floral notes from the earl grey, they came through very subtly because the espresso had a stronger taste. It also wasn't sweetened, which kind of took me by surprise because I'm so used to having pandan in sweets. 3) Kaya Kouign Amann: Kaya is a creamy, pandan-based jam that's rare to find in SD, so I was pleased to see it offered here in this pastry. The kaya filling hit all the core notes -- the texture was luscious and almost custard-like, and the taste had the signature coconut vanilla bean-like flavor with a hint of saltiness. The exterior had a perfectly sweetened lamination. While the pastry layers were buttery, the textures were on the denser side compared to the kouign amanns I've had elsewhere. Overall, it was a good pastry to enjoy with a cup of coffee. I will say though: because the lamination has a slightly thick and sticky bite, I would pass on this treat if you have sensitive teeth. OVERALL: It's a nice place to grab a sweet treat and a cup of coffee. Even if you can't find a table, the surrounding neighborhood is very charming and worth strolling around :) read more

Stopped by as I was driving through the neighborhood as I saw the long line outside the shop. Little While is a small coffee shop that specializes in coffee and matcha and source both from high quality suppliers, matcha from Japan for example. Their baristas are well trained as well as I saw them prep a number of drinks. They also have a small pastry section, though the drinks are what you go here for. I ordered a flat white and it was out of this world good. I will easily rank it at number one in San Diego. Their store hours are currently limited, closing at 2pm as they are still in soft open mode so be mindful of that. Will definitely be returning even though it's a drive for me. read more

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I've been here multiple times and they don't miss, I got there coffee and matcha and both were amazing!!

It's a cute new spot with a nice vibe, but $7 for a 12oz coffee is pretty wild. I guess it's the new norm.

I am impressed with their pour over by Joshua this morning. This is my second visit. A couple weeks ago I was also impressed with their regular batch brew. The first attempt must have been over their brew time parameter, so they recalibrated and brewed it again. The brew of the washed Rwanda Nyamasheke was delicious, sweet, rounded acidity and no bitterness at all in the aftertaste. Plenty of as described tasting notes coming through. I'll be returning here and recommending to any specialty coffee fan. read more

Wow! This little cafe did not disappoint and boy do I want to come back already!! Right away I want to tell you there's a really long line to place an order, even at 9:30 in the morning, and seating is a miracle BUT the coffee and pastries are well worth the wait. We loved our iced salted maple lattes with the cloud foam and we got to pour it ourselves!! So fun and delicious. Sadly the honey butter toast ran out for the whole day right before we ordered but we were so happy with our other choices. The Kaya Kouign Amman had a pandas cream filling and a crispy caramelized bottom, the everything pull apart was EVERYTHING paired with the cream cheese dip, and the ube leche flan I mean come on that was so creamy, sweet and filling. I also want to give a huge shoutout to the service: the cashier was so sweet and even checked up on us later on and the baristas were all so nice and chill. Even through all the chaos of everyone coming in they were all so nice and we really appreciated the warm welcome. So happy for this new addition to the neighborhood and can't wait for my next visit very soon! read more

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A very cozy and quaint shop right on Adams Avenue, Little While is the newest coffee addition to the neighborhood. I loved the wood+more minimalist aesthetic inside. The seating area is not the largest since there is just 1 wall of seating with only two-seater tables with the exception of the window table. So if you're group is more than 2 people, you'll probably need to take your things to go. We had to wait about 20 minutes to order and the cashier was very friendly. I opted for the Pandan Earl Grey Latte. It was smooth and the flavors were more subtle than what I was expecting. We also got a handful of pastries. The ham and cheese with the pepperoncini on top was great. The ham was the standout as it had a more premium flavor and texture to it. We also got this pull apart bread that had honey butter and everything but the bagel seasoning on it. This was a nice sweet and savory pastry that was also fun to eat. The Kaya Kouign Amman was decent but we wished the Kaya flavor was more pronounced. The sweetness of the caramelization unfortunately overpowered the kaya. read more

Little While - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time at Little While and the experience exceeded my expectations! Super cute cafe with amazing coffee and pastries. What topped it off for me was the wonderful customer service they provided. Staff is very friendly and they make you feel so welcome! As busy as the cafe was, the staff members were still able to multi task and engage with the customers from the moment you walk in the door, to leaving. Will definitely come back! Thank you, Little While! read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Not much different from the prior place that went out of business. Expect to wait about an hour in line to pay eight dollars for a small cappuccino. Seems like just a social media fad /"big dumb line" vibes right now. (Iykyk). I'm good with Starbucks down the street. read more

Amazing new coffee place. Cortado is perfectly balanced and bold, love the glass cups. Super friendly baristas who know what they're doing. A bit busy, but easy to find a table read more

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Perfect. That's been our experience during all three of our visits to Little While. We happily make the drive down from Encinitas--it's truly that good. The coffee is phenomenal, the pastries are amazing, and the staff couldn't be friendlier. My daughter is flying in from Chicago this weekend, and Little While is going to be our very first stop before we head north. We just love everything about this gorgeous coffee shop. read more

Visited Little While this Saturday morniing as a recommendation from a friend that knows I love coffee. Was greeted with a line for this smaller space as it seems the word is out. The line moved fast and we were able to get a table as well! My girlfriend ordered the Pandan Earl Grey Latte which was flavorful and not overpowered by any ingredient. My girlfriend commented on them having non-lactose milk which alot of coffee shops don't have! You can tell these folks love and know the process of making coffee. I ordered the Carbonic Honey Peach Co-Ferment pour over. I was greeted by Nayton at the pourover station and was delighted to see they have the same orgami drippers I have. Watching the whole pour over process was a treat in itself. Making coffee this good is an art! I am a big fan of this place and will return again! read more

Little While - Pour Over Station - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great service and welcoming staff made for a pleasant visit, and the coffee itself was good. Seating is limited, and parking can be difficult depending on the time of day, but it's still a nice spot for a quality cup of coffee. Unfortunately, the pastry didn't quite hit the mark It was difficult to bite and chew, possibly over-baked. They're still in soft opening hours. read more

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We waited in line for over 30 minutes, and I would do it again just for the LW Matcha!!! It was so refreshing and delicious. My mom ordered the honey cinnamon latte and said that was great too and she's usually not even a coffee person, so I feel like that says a lot. The pear tart had a good combo of spices and it was great! I also really appreciated the customer service, everyone was so friendly and the person taking my order even gave me suggestions of their favorite drinks which I appreciated! I will definitely be back read more

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Cute new coffee shop, delicious pastries and nice modern aesthetic. I'm super excited this gem is in the neighborhood. I grabbed a butter croissant and salted maple latte both were incredible. Can't wait to go back. They just opened so line was a little long and they are still working out some kinks like missing lids for some of the cup sizes but all simple fixes. read more

Little While - Pastries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Great coffee and friendly workers!! If you don't come right after opening there's always a line out the door which I won't wait outside for BUT once the "brand new" hype dies down I'll come more! :-) read more

SO happy to have a 5/5 coffee shop in the neighborhood. we visited Little While twice during their soft opening. the whole staff is warm and informative. there is a long line (because it's so good), but that doesn't stop the team from being friendly and present with each customer. the owner and presumably head barista also took every opportunity to talk with guests. the interior design is chef's kiss; i'm honestly obsessed with it. cappuccino - velvety micro-foam, balanced espresso, savored every sip. 5/5 iced salted maple latte - about 11-12oz, which i consider the perfect amount to get the right proportions between 2 shots of espresso & milk. syrup is made in house, not two sweet or salty. just right. 5/5 seasonal blueberry shaken cold brew - i can't remember the name, but it was very refreshing. if i were to compare it to cold brew at other shops, i would give it 5 stars. however, i think its more of a 4/5 compared to other Little While offerings. clear POG skies - crafted like a clarified cocktail. the smoothest cold brew you will ever have. i wish this was offered on drink menus because i would pick it over an alcohol any day. passion fruit, orange, guava is already a premium flavor combo. the drink also has a touch of coconut milk. seriously so good. she is a work of art! 5/5 everything pull apart with chive cream cheese - really good, slightly sweet, which was a nice surprise. 4.5/5 kouign amann - flaky, buttery, caramelized pastry with a mild jam in the center. 4.5/5 chocolate croissant - the chocolate was high quality and darker than i normally experience. 5/5 almond croissant - best i've ever had, hands down. not too sweet. off the charts !! selfishly i hope the lines die down a tad, but i am so happy for their success. adams ave has been upgraded since they opened! read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a nice little coffee place and unique assortment of croissants. They had me at croissants. !

I enjoyed their cherry yuzilla so much! It was nice and light and wow the croissant was amazing! I need to come back and try some of their savory choices. Such a cool place with awesome vibes. The owner was also really nice! read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Absolutely love the vibe, aesthetic, and coffee of this place! One of the owners was very friendly and chatted with us after we got seated. I ordered the pandan Earl grey latte which was my favorite drink. My husband ordered the iced honey cinnamon latte with cloud foam, and he really enjoyed it too. I will definitely be returning and telling everybody about this place! read more

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This place is a gem. Their drinks, pastries and customer service is amazing. We came back twice during their soft opening. Coffee quality taste well done, pasties is made in house, and every one here is so happy. This will be our favorite spot. Highly Recommend everyone to try. Beware you will want to come back every morning. read more

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You get the best dessert here for the buck they could become a little bit better if they increase the portion

The vibes are nice All our coffee drinks were so good! Got the one and one ( Hawthorne) chai, pandan earl grey and salted cofffee were all goood! The pastries were so goood! The kougan was my fave! Good drink and all the workers were so nice! read more

Little While - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cozy addition to Adams Ave offering a mellow, inviting energy and undeniable quality. Indoor seating is primarily reserved for solo customers apart from two roomy window nooks. Expect a full space, even on a Wednesday morning. Two lattes, a ham & cheese croissant, and a spot outside made for a comfy coffee date. read more

Little While - Vanilla latte and salted maple latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here to meet up with a friend for coffee and was pretty blown away. I had the pour over which was excellent. Also ordered the banana cream concha and kouign amann which were both perfectly made in their own ways. Cashiers and baristas were both very friendly and attentive. Loved the music selection and chill vibes. Will definitely be a regular here!! read more

I got an iced Salted Maple Latte, Everything Pull-Apart, and Kaya Kouign Amman. I love that they have Lactose-free milk! Let me tell you, the second I took a sip of the Salted Maple Latte, I knew I was in trouble. New obsession!! The Kaya Kouign Amman is honestly the best Kouign Amman I have ever had. The Everything Pull-Apart is so unique and yummy but not overwhelming. The staff was great, very helpful with the menu and super friendly and welcoming. The location is cute with a good amount of seating. The only annoying thing is that it's street parking only. I came right at opening on a holiday, so I can't speak to how the vibe is when it's busy. But I will definitely be back. read more

Little While - Salted Maple Latte (iced), Everything Pull-Apart, and Kaya Kouign Amman. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Pretty solid matcha you could really taste the quality, I just wish it came in a bigger size but aside from that no complaints. read more

Little While - Iced matcha latte with the cloud top. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

You know their matcha is good when they have unsweetened on the menu. A lot of places will drown tbe drinks in flavor and aesthetic design but this one doesn't need that. They know what they got. Here once a week. read more

this place is my FAVVV coffee spot! i really wished they had their espresso beans. i was bummed out from the times i would check the place out and they'd be gone. hopefully if any of the owners could reach out to me for a bag, i've been yearning for one for so long): i tried their honey cinnamon latte and it's to die for. read more

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Save your money. I stopped into Little While hoping for a quality caffeine fix, but it was a total letdown. The Americano was the worst I've ever tasted--it genuinely seemed like they poured the dregs of yesterday's coffee pot into a cup of hot water. To make matters worse, the croissant tasted exactly like a cheap, mass-produced one from a grocery store bin. Definitely not the "craft" experience I was expecting. read more

Loveeee this place! The vibes are so peaceful and cute in here. The salted maple latte is amazing!!! Their matcha is also delicious. The people working there are so sweet and helpful! I would highly recommend! read more

Little While - Pastries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great coffee and great pastries! We had espresso (single origin Kenyan), pour over (yirgacheffe), and a flat white -- all super on point. Kaya kouign amann was delicious, haven't had good kaya in years. Our new favourite spot in San Diego. Also great ambiance and aesthetics. Very friendly staff. read more