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    Mixed Grounds Coffee

    4.5 (91 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Mixed Grounds Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    MIXED GROUNDS COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Mixed Grounds Coffee

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    Mixed Grounds Coffee!
    Frankie M.

    Mixed Grounds Coffee isn't just another coffee shop, it's much more! It's a popular, locally-owned roastery and cafe located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. Known for its Hip-Hop music theme, cool merch, and specialty drinks like Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Aztec Mocha Iced Latte 10/10, Horchata Iced Latte, and the house-made MG Signature Drink (pandan syrup and coconut cream). I was surprised to see they also serve craft beer, wine, soju cocktails and seasonal drinks on the menu. When we arrived, the atmosphere was lively with music pulsing through the coffee shop. They also had foosball tables, checkers, and a deck of cards for patrons to enjoy. I ordered the Aztec Mocha Iced Latte- it blended bold espresso and rich chocolate with warm cinnamon and a spicy pinch of cayenne pepper for that warm kick at the end! My wife ordered the Horchata Iced Latte- it was sweet and creamy with a nutty taste! Lowkey, it reminded of an arroz con leche pudding 10/10! We also ordered the Cinnamon Roll- it was nice and warm (just the way we like it). Overall, we had an awesome time with friends!

    Buko Pandan Special
    Kayla J.

    This is one of my favorite coffee shops! I'd argue this is THE spot for locals as it's such a great community spot. They host various community events, many of which revolve around live entertainment, but I'm usually here during the day when I need a change in scenery or want to grab a good latte. They have a great selection of drinks with unique options that aren't seen elsewhere. My go-to drink is their Buko Pandan Special, which contains their homemade Pandan syrup and is topped with 3 cubes of coco jelly and coconut cream! Such a unique and fun twist of flavor with the added textural contrast from the jelly! My only gripe is this drink is only served in one size. I love the open concept of the shop and how inviting it is. This is one of the few coffee shops that I feel comfortable working at for hours without pressure to leave as the space itself is huge and you're in the company of many other remote workers who are working in peace. Great atmosphere all around to relax in or get some work done. There are also 2 gender neutral restrooms that are always clean with a shared central sink area. I will say that parking is challenging. If you're lucky enough, you can score a spot out front, but you usually have to street park.

    The most comfy couch ever
    Rebecca E.

    This chai is perfection. Will be my new fave drink. The baristas are helpful and dress so aesthetic. Love this place. Will be back for chai.

    Peach Cobbler Matcha
    Katherine S.

    Super fun coffee shop! Food: 2/5 The cream on my Peach Cobbler Matcha is incredibly dairy tasting, like evaporated heavy cream. I don't think this would be that big of an issue if I ordered my $8 matcha was cow milk, but with the $0.50 oat milk, the cream was very strong. Service: 3/5 Nothing to comment; no news is good news. Atmosphere: 4/5 Honestly, this is one of the most fun coffee shops I've ever been to. There are lots of open spaces and even games to play! I can also only imagine what their community concerts look like here. I would recommend this place to someone looking for a place to do work or to friends wanting to hang out in a fun third space. Final rating: 3/5

    Ca phe muoi
    Audrey T.

    My favorite neighborhood coffee shop! Moved here 4 months ago and I come almost every week to order my favorite coffee, the ca phe muoi!! The space: large & open space, great spot to do some wfh or studying! They host lots of community events throughout the month. The drink: the ca phe muoi stays in the back of my mind all day. It's so good I cannot get enough. Coming from someone who is Vietnamese, Vietnamese coffee is too overwhelming to drink regularly even though it's delicious. The ca phe muoi still has the strong flavor of Vietnamese coffee but with a lighter punch and the contrast of the salt is divine. The staff: so friendly and so nice!

    Pastries and menu
    Pia D.

    Peach cobbler matcha was delicious! I also got a rosemary and sea salt bagel and loved that they gave 2 cream cheese packets because I didn't have to ration it on my bagel. Definitely coming back to try the buko pandan latte!

    Elle N.

    I love many things about this coffee shop. The musical theme sits well with me. They have art displayed of well known musicians, instruments on the walls and they have a monthly calendar of live music from DJ's to concerts. A DJ played cool tunes while visiting. The seating options are diverse and plentiful with patio seating, high chairs along a counter with indoor/outdoor space and lounge type seating inside. The spaces are also dog friendly, which is an added bonus. The staff is friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. We had a tasting of a specialty beverage "Ca Phe Muoi" from their menu, along with some assorted creams puffs from a the local Korean Bakery Mon Chourie...I am in love with both! They also have vendors who have additional food offerings on the patio, this day it happened to be tacos and nachos. There was a large group scrapbooking, so they do support community activities. The parking can be difficult on busy days so plan ahead. Enjoy! #MixedGrounds #UniversityHeights #CaPheMuoi #LiveMusic

    Woooo!
    Leland S.

    The hype about this spot had me curious -- drinks, live music, dance classes... I dig it. Here was my experience. AMBIANCE Parking: Street parking. It can get busy, so come early and give yourself time to find a spot. Seating: Indoor seating plus some outdoor patio space. Pretty spacious overall -- probably room for around 50 people. Vibes: Feels like the warm-up to North Park -- a mix of bars and eateries nearby. The café itself shares space within the apartment complex, which makes it feel dynamic and alive. There are often events happening: live DJs, open mic nights, dance classes -- you name it. The aesthetics are eclectic: sofas, lounge chairs, photos of iconic musicians, and even glimpses of office or gym space nearby. It's an interesting blend, but it works. Great place to socialize, chill, or get some work done while still feeling part of something. FOOD / DRINKS Guava Matcha Latte (Modified) - Recommend Usually this drink is coffee-based, but I was happy they offered a matcha variation. Visually, the layered green and pink tones were pleasing. Flavor-wise, the guava softened the earthy matcha and added a subtle sweetness that made it more approachable without overpowering it. Smooth, balanced, and fun. SERVICE I believe her name was Mel -- friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Great energy. TL;DR OVERALL 5 Stars. Wonderful spot. Good flavors, reasonable prices, and consistently great vibes. I appreciate that there's always something happening here. If you're someone who likes to be productive but still enjoy an active, creative environment, this place hits. Wishing Kwa and the Mixed Grounds team continued success. TIPS: * Check their IG for upcoming events.

    Matchata & Buko Pandan Latte
    Jenna C.

    Mixed Grounds is the kind of café that feels intentionally built for community. It's street parking, so you might need to drive around a couple times when it gets busy. But the space itself is huge, with both indoor and outdoor seating. It's a great spot to work/study in the morning. There's lots of room to spread out and settle in for a few hours. They also host live events and pop-ups. It definitely makes the space feel active and community-focused rather than just another coffee shop. Last time I went they had banh mi and Vietnamese flavor inspired cookies! Drink-wise, the buko pandan coffee was the standout. It's creamy with a nice coffee flavor and not overly sweet. The jelly at the bottom is such a fun touch and makes the last sip/bite extra enjoyable. Even my very picky dad liked it, which says a lot. I also tried the matchata (matcha + horchata). It wasn't anything mind-blowing, but you can definitely taste both flavors and the matcha quality seems solid. The chai, unfortunately, was pretty watered down. I wouldn't recommend it. Customer service was genuinely great though. Alexis helped me right away and made sure I was happy with my order, which I really appreciated. She made adjustments to the chai, and when that didn't work she had no problem replacing it with a different drink. Food-wise, the rosemary sea salt bagel was really solid. They also had other baked treats that looked great, but I didn't get to try them this time. Overall, Mixed Grounds is less about just grabbing coffee and more about the vibe. It's spacious, welcoming, and clearly designed as a place for people to gather, work, and hang out. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.

    Cardamon bun coffee glaze
    Thomas E.

    Quite a cool and funky coffee shop with very interesting seating. Has a lot of space and is very spread out. Good place to post up if you're trying to work for a while on a laptop. They've got some unique drinks that you won't really see anywhere else, so I definitely give them props for standing out! I went with the Pandan latte which is one of my favorite flavors lately. The taste was pretty good, but it was very very sweet, and really lost the coffee taste. Would like to go back and try out a more neutral espresso drink and see how the flavor of the espresso itself is. Also got a cardamom bun which has been one of my favorite Scandinavian treats. But honestly, it really didn't taste much of cardamom at all, and it has a maple glaze on top which really drowns out any other flavor. It's a bit on the dry side too. It's kinda like an ikea cinnamon roll, nothing too exciting. I think the atmosphere + cool selection of drinks definitely makes up for it though, enough for me to definitely be interested in coming back!

    Felipe E.

    So I remember when Mixeds Grounds coffee was on Imperial Ave. Decided to stop by and try it again after a few years. I got the iced Ca Phe Muoi. I was the only one there, no order ahead of me and I felt like it took a couple minute too long to get my drink. Anyways, the drink itself was pretty good. The salt was a bit odd but not bad. The barista was chill and friendly. The place was nice and of course part of a large apartment complex. Plenty of space or hanging out or working.

    Libby S.

    Went to Mixed Grounds Coffee today and honestly loved it. I got the horchata latte and my boyfriend ordered the Ca Phe Muoi. My horchata latte was a little sweet, but not nearly as sweet as his. I'm not usually into super sweet coffee drinks, but mine was still really delicious. He absolutely loved his and would 100% order it again. A fun bonus is that dogs are allowed inside which isn't normally the case. We split the bacon and egg empanada and it was fantastic. Super flavorful and perfectly cooked. The people working there were incredibly friendly and kind, which always makes the experience better. The space itself is even cooler in person. It feels like a spot you actually want to hang out in, not just grab coffee and leave. They're open until 10pm most nights, and Friday through Sunday they have live music. They also serve beer and wine and host food pop ups, which is such a fun bonus. We'll definitely be back, especially for a music night.

    Ca Phe Muoi
    Larenzo D.

    Mixed Grounds Coffee is such a great spot to go to if you're looking for fun vibes and reasonable priced coffee! I came on a Saturday which was very fun because they had a live dj set that added to the ambiance. The interior is also very cozy with ample seating areas and lots of games the patrons can use. Ordering here was super fast and easy and the staff is all so nice. I ordered the Ca Phe Muoi and I loved it so much. The quality espresso pairs well with the cream and sea salt. Everything was perfectly balanced and delicious! I also tried the Buko Pandan special, and that was also very tasty! The buko and pandan flavors were very balanced and complimented each other well. Reminds me of an elevated halo halo, in regards to the flavor profiles! I would recommend coming here if you're in town!

    Chai latte

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    Ask the Community - Mixed Grounds Coffee

    Is there a parking lot?

    Unfortunately no. There's usually parking around the surrounding streets.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Mixed Grounds Coffee - coffee - Updated September 2026

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