"We barely remember Who or what came before this precious…read moremoment We are choosing to be here right now Hold on, stay inside" Boy, howdy, I am buzzing! I just enjoyed a cup of Parabola's Abuelita/Dark Blend. I made it pretty strong. My wife prefers lite-med so she drinks Kenya/Heights. We brew pour overs at home. Parabola is a cool place if you want to enjoy coffee in-house. I like the serene atmosphere inside, and the outdoor patio is nice, too. Baristas are personable. I'm not sure why they upcharge for nondairy milk, though. I met Maynard once. Does he drink coffee? I think he would like Parabola. "This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion"

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Cute clean place with local art, handicrafts, and 80s/90s nostalgia decor…read more Stopped in for a hot latte while in the neighborhood. While waiting for my drink I took in the 80s movie posters (hey, Thrashin'!) and the artsy skate decks. Named after a Tool song, mad props. The latte was a touch more bitter than I would've liked, but overall was fine. The service was friendly and experience pleasant--would definitely return!

My mom and I got iced lattes. Too milky. Service was great, and the store was very cute. I would…read morerather more ice than the amount of milk that was put in.

If you're looking for a no frills coffee & tea spot, this is the place!…read more Coffee and tea are truly the focus here and you can experience that through the quality of their drinks and the attention to their craft. From the curated menu selection to their house made syrups, there is intention here. Friendly staff that are informative and provide good insight on any questions about the menu etc., and chill cafe vibes with decent seating. Suggest trying out their black salted caramel latte or a flash brew. Can't go wrong with either!

Kaffa is a small cafe tucked away off El Cajon, and has a less fancy vibe than some of the other…read moreplaces close to it. Kaffa has a more relaxed and less pretentious feel, which I appreciated. There were a lot of customers coming in and out, it's easy to see why it's a popular local spot. The barista was very sweet and she made some recommendations for me. I ordered the Ethiopiano and the Kaffa toast. My husband ordered a cappuccino and an açaí bowl. I like how they serve you in ceramic cups and plates when you are dining in. It feels much more homey and relaxed, not to mention reducing our plastic assumption. The Ethiopiano was their signature coffee, and the staff warned me that it could be quite strong. When drinking it black, it tasted like a very sharp dark chocolate, but when I added cream, the sharpness reduced and some sourness surfaced. The Kaffa toast was delicious. Everything was prepared to perfection and I surprisingly enjoyed the combo of the balsamic glaze, sriracha and chili flakes. I might just have to copy it when I get home. My husband enjoyed his cappuccino and açaí bowl as well. He liked the cocoa powder on the cappuccino as it added a bit of richness. Overall, it's my favorite coffee shop in this neighborhood yet and I'd recommend it.

What a wonderful surprise this place was. It has a cozy, family-style feel that makes the…read moreatmosphere warm and relaxing, almost like being at home. I asked for an extra-hot latte, and they not only made it exactly how I wanted but also checked in later to make sure the temperature was just right. I can't wait to come back again.

Found my favorite coffee drink of all time, mine you I've tried lots of coffee places throughout…read moreSan Diego. The Dirty Horchata Matcha Latte is the best I've ever tasted. (I wish they had a larger option) This is my go to spot every other day! The service and staff are great. The ambiance is a more relaxed atmosphere. Only downfall is it getting really warm on the inside at times. But other than that my overall experience was very pleasing!

Small coffee spot but definitely a vibe. Started my Saturday late morning with a stop here. Parking…read moreis terrible since it's on a major road. I just put on my haz lights and popped out to order something. We ended up ordering a Miel y Canela latte and La Muerte Latte which is activated charcoal with vanilla for $5.25 each. Other options included Horchata Latte for $5.25 Mazapan Latte which contains nuts for $5.25 Horchata Matcha Latte for $5.25 Carmelo Latte for $5.25 Matcha Latte for $5.25 Chai Latte for $5.25 Dirty Chai Latte for $6.25. There were a few more options but that's basically it. The activated coal was way better than the miel. The flavors really popped in that drink. The miel was solid as well. It gave me sweater weather vibes. We got them both hot. There are some food options like flan, bigotes and paninis but I had already eaten and none really stood out to me. That was the only thing I would like to change on the menu. I felt like it didn't really match the vibe or the flavors of coffee offered. Staff were quick and nice. Not a long line but it looked like they just finished their morning rush. Good amount of seating inside on picnic style benches and some outside. Cozy little spot full of colors, smells, and culture!

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.

Needed to kill some time while I was doing laundry, and stumbled upon Midnight Animal…read more Pretty straightforward menu. Went with an iced tres leches latte since I haven't seen too many of those around. Sweet but not overdone with a touch of cinnamon. Overall balanced drink that was just what I needed. The cafe had a chill vibe to it that was motorcycle themed. The staff was friendly. Small parking lot though with some street parking in the surrounding area.

Outstanding coffee! I had both a hot and iced latte and they were both incredible. The cafe is…read moresuper cute and has a ton of seating. It also has a beautiful outdoor patio. The baristas were really sweet and quick with their work. Great place and I'll be back for sure!

I had a nice cortado and lemon poppy seed muffin from this Dark Horse in Hillcrest on Park…read more The cortado was well made and offered a great coffee flavor. It was smooth to drink. Dark Horse has never let me down with their cortados. The lemon poppy seed muffin was good. I probably should have had them warmed it up a bit because it was a little dry. Other than that, it tasted very good. This Dark Horse location offers inside and outside seating. It is located right next door to the Trust Restaurant. The staff offered good hospitality and were nice. In addition to the baked goods, they offer bagel sandwiches.

Luv! If you're in the area stop by for some delicious Colombian coffee and espresso. Solo staff was…read moreholding it down on a weekday afternoon. He was welcoming, friendly and helpful. Whole bean coffee bags available for purchase. Beans are Roasted weekly and restocked for the best freshness. Double shot of espresso came with mineral water to cut down that bitterness after each sip. Espresso flavor was on point. Just the way I like it no sugar, no milk just pure goodness. Walk up window with a quaint patio seating area. Metered street parking. Follow the university heights archway it'll be the pot of gold at the end of it. Connected to the brewery it's a great spot!

This is a gem. Roaster specializing in Columbian coffee and pour overs. In past few trips have been…read moreto around a dozen coffee shops in SD, this one is my favorite for the craft of coffee itself. The baristas are knowledgeable and welcoming. They do pour overs right, down to the specific temp of water. Competition grade. Ended up going two consecutive days due to the high quality. It's ordering is situated along sidewalk in window to outside for walk up, convenient for grab and go but they also share space with brewery for inside seating. Highly recommend if you like pour over competition quality coffee.

Super cute coffee shop on the corner of Howard Ave & Kansas St! The chai was so creamy and had the…read moreperfect balance of spice and sweetness. The vegan chocolate croissant was super good as well! Lastly, the barista was super kind and made aloud drinks on a timely manner.

Decided to give this place a shot as I've seen it in passing when going to my physical therapy and…read morebecause I like trying new shops. I only got the iced americano so this is my only judgement for now but it certainly left much to be desired. It was overall pretty tasteless/flavorless in my opinion. Then the fact that it costs more than most other coffee shops around did not help. The young boy who helped me was certainly nice and the decor and layout of the shop is lovely but food/beverage wise, not sure this is a place I'll return unfortunately.