Scrimshaw is a great option for quality coffee and food for those of us who start our days late. I love this place for their quality beverages, their fresh food variety, the kind staff, and the fact I've always found an open table. My boyfriend always gets drip and a pastrami sandwich that looked so good I broke my vegetarian streak just for a bite. I've had their blueberry malt latte and their white tea beverage as well as both their veggie bagel and veg bowl. Everything has been so tasty and the vibes are always welcoming. The cafe itself is really cute and i'm a big fan. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Drip with a splash of oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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It's been over 8 years since I've last came to Scrimshaw Coffee & Wow! It seems like they extended the menu as well-- as they have lots more food options & from what it looks like natural wine and beer too...which is interesting for a coffee shop. They are connected with the business (Love Letters Pizza) next door with an arched wall. The interior has changed, they now have new seating and they painted the walls different color. The tables are a little wonky, but I appreciate the fake marble top they got on it. It looks classy from a far with the interior lighting. I sadly missed their May Special, Blueberry Malt Latte! I love anything malt, so sad it is already gone (it's June now lol). They dropped their summer specials on their Instagram and the first one looked incredible. This was their version of an Aussie classic, they call it "Mont Blanc." It consisted of cold brew with orange syrup, topped with a vanilla-orange cold foam, finished with grated orange zest and nutmeg. I would never order this again, personally. I usually love vanilla orange in my coffee/espresso drinks, however this one really missed the mark for me. The orange tasted too forward and slightly bitter. Even the first sip from the lid, I knew I wouldn't be able to drink this down (I don't like wasting drinks or money). I offered it to my mom, who usually enjoys this sort of flavor profile as well, and it was a huge miss. She couldn't drink it either (nor could my brother who also ordered the same one as me). Within 10 min of driving with it, it had separated and looked very unappealing. Next time, I would maybe request their tangerine cold foam on a regular iced latte. I finally love citrus with my drinks-- maybe this one would be more up my alley. Or wait another month for different specials. Since it's been a while, I would love to come in the day time-- we came around 5:33 pm ! They close at 6pm which is pretty cool since most coffee shops close at 2-3 pm. The workers were very kind and welcoming despite us coming near closing time & the music was very nice. They have a handful of interior seating and outside seating as well! Despite the one drink being terrible, I wouldn't write them off for that -- they have a large menu and lots more for us to try! Come swing by! read more

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This place is always popping off on weekends. I was excited to try this coffee shop as it's been on my list for the longest time. We ordered and it took about 15-20 mins to get our drinks, which was a little longer than I expected but all good. We tried their cappuccino and also tried a delicious berry muffin that was FABULOUS. I loved the muffin more than the drink. read more

The Scrimshaw made my tastebuds scream Yee Haaaw! And paired up with a few of their delicious bagels made this adventure Fuego! We went with The Avo Forever and the Lox Deluxe to start off our delicious journey. Both of the bagels were spot on and they both came with just the right amount of avocado on one and Lox on the other. Dine in service is in full effect here so you know I hit that Espresso Shot and a latte. And you the coffee hit me just right! But I must say, I ordered one of their seasonal drinks I had to try. The Champagne Coast was the name and it was an iced coffee with blood orange and Rhubarb, whatever that was it made it interestingly delish. The atmosphere was chill with classic rock playing in the background. Service was good and they weren't that friendly but I get it when you're in tune with the craft. And that's my take on it, Peace... read more

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So I've heard great things about Scrimshaw! I got their vanilla latte and cold brew. The latte was alright, and their cold brew was also average. They weren't that strong in terms of coffee-ness and it was very mellow tasting. Not too acidic so that's a bit of a good thing (at least for me). I might be wrong but you could only order one size off the menu? They also weren't so busy when I went but I'd have to try something else off their menu next time I come. There were generous amounts of seating and seems like a great place to study for students. The workers were super uber nice and orders were taken swiftly. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Nice neighborhood café with warm, inviting, and friendly vibes. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there is some metered street parking available. The menu offers a great variety, including bagels, pastries, beer, wine, lattes, matcha, and coffee. I ordered the Vietnamese and vanilla iced lattes with breve, and both were solid with great-quality espresso. The vanilla latte, tasted like house made vanilla syrup, which is certainly a positive. There's also plenty of indoor seating, which is a big plus. Overall, a lovely spot to hang out and enjoy a good latte. read more

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I really wanted to love this place-- they have some really unique seasonal drinks! We got 50 First Dates: A spiced date cappuccino, served with a salted cinnamon cold foam. As well as The Perfect Pear: Matcha with pear & star anise syrup & pear cold foam. Once again, I really wanted to love this place. I mean these drinks sounded so good. Sadly, something fell flat. Cappuccino tasted off-- was not sweet and the coffee was a bit watery. I ran into the same issue with my matcha. Also if you're going to do cold foam on your drinks-- please do sip lids. I'd love to try these place out again. Their past seasonal specials sounded amazing and maybe it was a one time occurrence. read more

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Service was nice and attentive, it's a calm and chill local coffee spot. They have wine and beer too if you fancy something alcoholic. Didn't try any food on this visit but I do like that my cappuncino is served in a ceramic cup. Too many places serve in to go containers. Let me enjoy my sip. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Unfortunately, this cafe dropped the ball both in barista customer service and response from management. Basically what had happened was i waited over 10 min for simple chai and inquired with barista about status update. We agreed to have it remade and she had told me next time "there's no need to be rude" despite never insulting, shouting, or making a scene. Wrote to management about this odd experience and I recieved a response from owner. He has said he will talk to staff and "apologies on that" but honestly it seemed half-hearted and not sincere at all. No attempts to try and make it right or acts of good faith which i would think is standard procedure for cases like this. Fortunately, there is a plethora of cafes in San Diego to try so I will keep discovering new ones until I find my favorite. read more

Really great coffee and I love the egg sandwiches on the brioche bun. The interior is cozy and well designed and staff is super cool!

After taking my dog to the groomers, I headed over to try Scrimshaw Coffee. I see it so often on my drives home but I was finally able to check them out for myself. Super cute inside and not too fussy, I ended up getting an iced matcha latte sweetened with honey. The barista was really sweet to my dog Kodi and they gave him a little doggie bone, he's a picky boy so he declined. He was a little restless from his grooming appointment, so I went to their outside seating where other pups were. There's a lot of seating outside and inside and it looks like they have a breakfast menu too. The ladies outside were eating bagels and it looked so delicious. When my matcha was ready, I headed back to the designated parking behind the store fronts. My matcha was perfect and gave me the right amount of energy for my morning. read more

Was looking for a spot to grab a bag of coffee for a present and came across this place in the area. Nice, cool spot with a relaxing lounge area inside. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and I ended up getting a seasonal flavor (apple bottom jeans) which was tasty. I don't know why I didn't expect it to have coffee, since I don't normally drink it, but it did so that was interesting to try. Thanks so much! read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Apple bottom jeans coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I absolutely love coffee and just stumbled upon this coffee shop. It's got great service, and great coffee. The have some of the best iced Vietnamese coffee I have ever had. The ambiance is super chill, kick back and study vibes read more

Mocha latte had FROTHED milk. So foamy and sweet, reminded me of a candy bar that melted in my mouth. Taste settled.down after I Iapped up all foamy milk. Would get again. Pastrami sandwich for my early lunch. The combination of salty pastrami, brown mustard, pickles, and cheese was a great midday snack. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Pastrami sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'll keep this review as brief as my experience. My friends from Seattle wanted fancy coffee to grab and go. No wait and 5 minutes later all 4 of us had our beverage of choice and were on our way. Great seating both indoors and outdoors. read more

I saw this place while driving down El Cajon and decided to grab some coffee on a whim. The place is cute with a patio outside if you wanted to bring your pup along. I love cafes with unique latte selections so I tried their seasonal Meyer Hawthorne which is supposed to taste like lemon pound cake in latte form. The lemon syrup was light and the latte tasted great. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Meyer Hawthorne latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

First of all! I love how this is walkable to get to in MY neighborhood! When I moved here I would recall this shop every time I drive by and thinking I need to go. And inside and was greet by staff and a fully packed house full of students in their lap tops. I was also happy to see that they roast their own beans from a local place that the owners seem to run also? Someone fact check me. I just know it's roasted locally. I enjoy ordering their salmon bagel and on the weekends they have special brunch items and I've grabbed a couple burritos from there. Not the huge ones you'd expect but pairs well with my drink and gives me the entertainment to walk back home. I like coming here and really getting to know the neighborhood. read more

New favorite neighborhood coffee shop. The espresso soda with Mexican coke is my go to on a hot afternoon but honestly everything there is great. It can get a little loud and crowded but clearly others know how wonderful this place is. They have pastries including gluten free options and breakfast items. I usually get a blackberry banana muffin. Customer service is also on point read more

Great neighborhood coffee shop! They do coffee, beer, wine, and food. A great place to meet a friend, plenty of small table seating inside and out. Staff was very friendly. read more

Came here to grab some coffee for the day and I wasn't disappointed. I got a cold brew and was deciding on some food when the Pink Lady bagel sandwich caught my eye. It's an everything bagel with apples, cream cheese, honey, and salt - which may sound a tad strange but I wasn't disappointed. The flavors go amazing together! The baristas were nice and welcoming, and the service was pretty fast. The music playing in the shop wasn't too loud, and there are chairs/tables outside as well. My only gripe was that there didn't seem to be many outlets to plug in your devices, which could be a concern for some people with devices that drain pretty fast. Overall, the cold brew and food was great and I will be coming back here again! read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Pink Lady bagel & cold brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Food: ordered an iced americano and it was v smooth and well priced Parking: a good amount of free street parking behind the store Studying vibes: lots of studying space and wasnt too busy when i went on a sunday afternoon! Some outlets near the front and back though if it's really busy you may not get seating near there. Wifi was going in and out which wasn't ideal for work Service: they're nice! read more

Their matcha is fantastic! I also had their lox bagel and it's great. My kids got croissants and loved them. Haven't enjoyed everything inside yet, but it seems like a cute little area. Service has always been fast and friendly! read more

Very friendly staff and great coffee! It is a smaller cafe so get there during non-busy times to get a table. Very cute and relaxing inside, great for work from home days. Dog friendly - I say there for a few hours with my dog and we had a great time! Plus Size - Seats do not have arms & sturdy. The stools at the counter are small and a bit unsteady, I do not recommend sitting there. read more

Not understanding all the five star reviews for this place. Came in at 3pm on a Tuesday and was happy to see beer on their menu, aside from just coffee. They had four selections on tap, but only one available during the time I went which was a bummer. They also serve wine and have to go beers in the fridge. I typically like to try the in house coffee, but again, they ran out and stopped brewing the house brew coffee for the day. I opted for the cold brew which came out to $5.90 which is typical but it was only decent. The vibes are chill, but there are plenty other better coffee shops in the area. Service was good, store wasn't busy at all. Maybe they were having an off day, I'll give this place another try down the road, but nothing special. read more

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MOST DELICIOUS VIETNAMESE COFFEE WOW! The staff were so sweet and I also was craving sprouts, and they offer sprout bagel sandwiches! One of the only places I could find in the area that had items with sprouts! Love this place. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - The Vietnamese coffee tastes like Hagen daaz coffee ice cream - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Parking can be a bit challenging due to the neighborhood, but this charming little coffee shop is worth it. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a relaxed, casual vibe. There are plenty of seating options, both indoors and outdoors, along with a small bar area for those looking to work or study. Their latte was excellent--I've already visited twice and will definitely be back! read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Woooooow this place just has an amazing vibe and the roast of the coffee is on point to change seasonally I could tell yesterday's espresso had berry and herbal notes resemblance of the winter seasons. So delicious and they use the best brand milks. I will definitely be returning! They are so nice here! read more

Usually I love their coffee. But recently it's been missing the taste. I look forward to their seasonal drinks. I also want to note that they have mostly great customer service apart from a couple off experiences i have had read more

Scrimshaw is a great spot to bring your laptop, get some work done, and sip on a refreshing Iced Chai. If you like a little background noise while you work, this café has the perfect lively-but-not-too-loud vibe. I also grabbed a croissant while I was there--it wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was a solid snack to keep me going through the day. They have WiFi available--you just need to ask one of the super friendly staff members for the password. Overall, a cozy and welcoming place to be productive. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Plain Croissant Iced Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Friendly service! They have a lot of seating both inside and outside. Went during a Friday afternoon, spent about 1.5 hrs doing some work on my laptop. They have Wi-Fi available and outlets in multiple areas. The coffee was absolutely delicious and so was the breakfast bagel! Would come back again. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great spot for coffee and fast casual food. My favorite breakfast item is the Lox Deluxe; extra points to any place that serves all-day breakfast! Meanwhile, my overall favorite's the Tamago Sandwich from the lunch menu which starts being served from 10a 'til close. No private parking lot, but it's usually not too crazy finding street parking in the neighborhood, but I can imagine it getting busy if there was an event at the nearby church/school. There's something on the coffee menu for everyone, from deliciously decadent seasonal lattes to a solid drip coffee (completed in a cute café custom mug for the gram). The staff is always so nice and attentive, even on busy days. The shop would be even better with outdoor shade and more group seating, but overall this is a nice relaxed spot to enjoy a treat and small coffee chat. read more

Good Service, good ambiance didn't get to try the food but coffee was average. Nice place to study/hang out but not the best for coffee.

Great neighborhood coffee shop with yummy drinks and breakfast bites. The decor is minimalist but cute and the service is fantastic. Definitely recommend trying this local gem. read more

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I like the vibe of this place. Definitely seems like a more neighborhood-y kind of place. A decent amt of both indoor and outdoor seating and it was packed on a Saturday around 2. They focus on mostly coffee but do offer wine (and even a wine club!). I got an Americano since I wanted something that wasn't too heavy. Americano was decent. Pretty smooth albeit nothing standout in terms of flavor. They seem to have some pretty cool house seasonal drinks with housemade ingredients. Would probably try one of those the next time. read more

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There is a straightforward, simple menu with in a chill vibe that's perfect for studying or getting some work done. The drinks aren't particularly special, but the staff is friendly. I really like that the bathroom has a basket filled with quality feminine care products; it's a nice little extra that makes the experience better. read more

Scrimshaw Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

This coffee shop has a nice ambiance, a creative vibe. It appeared clean, and customer service was very good. I loved the pastries they served. However, the cafe americano I got was honestly pretty bad. The espresso was acrid and tasted bad, I almost threw it away but I needed the caffeine so I drank a little bit of it. If they just figure out how to make good espresso, this place has the potential to be great. read more

What a cool coffee spot located on El Cajon Blvd near 54th St. This place had a hip vibe and all the baristas were very polite. I ended up ordering the Figgy Azaela Latte which is a seasonal latte. This was a fig forward latte and it was delicious, smooth and served at the right temperature. Definitely recommend trying Scrimshaw out if you're end this area and not all cool coffee places are located in North Park :) read more

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Overall cafe is super bare bones and minimalistic with not much decor going on but seemed like a really good spot to work from with the mellow music and chill vibes as there were a lot of people on their laptops. I ordered the Figgy Izaela and it was so delicious! It's a fig cardamon drink that was supposed to have a fresh fig garnish which they stopped doing apparently. Overall, the latte was absolutely delicious - not too sweet with cardamon nicely dusted into the latte. I would totally come back just for this drink because of how well-balanced the flavors are! read more

Great espresso! tried several other coffee shops and none compare to this spot. Pastries are really good here too! The service is here is exceptional and the vibe is chill. Love the Christmas decorations this time of year! read more

7 dollar 12 oz dirty chai that tastes like dirt. Save your money and go to the living room cafe or litterally anywhere else