The Hunt For California’s Best Coffee
Coffee. I absolutely love it.
I drink a few hefty cups a day; sometimes with a dash of milk (almond is my current go-to), sometimes with a bit of sugar… and sometimes, if i’m feeling a little crazy, i’ll take it black. Who knows; my tastebuds are unpredictable in their daily demands. But my statement remains – I absolutely love coffee.
It’s that sweet sweet nectar that gets you up in the morning and coaxes you through those mundane Mondays.
It’s also the liquid holy grail that fuelled our road trip around California. I actually think we spent more money on coffee than actual fuel to fill up the van. It happens!
But in the end, it became such a regular event, I decided that it would be a journey worth sharing. We had some good coffee’s, and we had some absolutely f’ing dreadful ones. But like Dolly Parton once said, ‘if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.’ And i’ll tell you now, we had some rather torrential, cyclone-style days in terms of coffee; but I’m going to provide you with all the rainbows.
SO, without further ado, here is my list of the best Cali coffee shops that I have visited so far *DJ siren noise*.
SAN DIEGO
Lofty Coffee
This was a nice find in Little Italy; an open-aired space perfect for a sunny day.
I opted for the NOLA iced coffee and Elle did the same, adding a smidge of milk to the mix!
This place’s prices were reasonable, and the coffee was rather good! We didn’t try their food, but it was tempting… It looked YUM. So this place gets a thumbs up for keeping it cheap and cheerful.
Lofty Coffee Co. also provides both vegan and gluten-free options on their menu!
Price: $
Location:
444 W Cedar St.
San Diego
CA 92101-2910
Opening Times: Mon-Fri 6:00am-6pm, Sat-Sun 7:00am-6:00pm
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
No matter where you are in San Diego, Better Buzz has your back.
With a whopping EIGHT locations across the city, you don’t need to go stressing, because you’ll get that much needed coffee, somewhere, somehow; Better Buzz will provide the goods.
Price: $
Location:
Hillcrest
801 University Ave.
San Diego
CA 92103
Open Daily: 6am-9pm
LOS ANGELES
Alfred
Alfred in Melrose was such a treat. Again, its coffee prices were pretty reasonable bar a few of its extremely extra options, including its famous ‘Alfred cone’ (you pay for the cone and filling separately).
However, Fran was feeling experimental and forked out $8 for an espresso Alfred cone and rated it highly; so take it as it is and give it a go if you fancy it. I went for another cold brew, which came to a total of $4.
Alfred’s boasts a total of eight cafés across LA, and that’s not including their separate chain of ‘tea’ shops. Each coffee shop has a totally new aesthetic and vibe, but each one is equally as cool as the next. So, whether you’re sat outside basking in the sunshine, or chilling inside, you’ll love this chain.
Price: $$
Location:
8509 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood
CA 90069
Opening times vary: Melrose Ave. Open daily 7am-2pm
Malibu Farm Pier Café
Not only is this a great spot for coffee and brunch, it also proved to be a great place for people watching.
Just outside the entrance I petted the happiest, fluffiest, snuggliest trio of pooches; gushing to the owner like the crazed dog enthusiast I am. Only seconds after walking away from the absolute highlight of my day did I realise that the owner was Ireland Baldwin.
ANYWAY, back to the coffee and brunch! It was lovely, but I’d whack it on the pricier end of the scale. It cost a fair few pennies to eat at this lovely establishment.
But despite breaking the bank, when you take a hot sec & realise you’re sat at the end of a historic Pier in boujee Malibu, I will admit, it does feel worth it. So, for a decent coffee and delicious brunch, along with a crazy-good view, I’d recommend making the trip.
Price: $$$
Location:
23000 Pacific Coast Hwy,
Malibu
CA 90265
Opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-9pm Sat 8am-10pm Sun 8am-9pm
San Francisco
Sightglass Coffee
Now this was a fun one; a quirky find with great coffee and great pastries. Rich, creamy and everything else you’d want from a perfect mug of coffee; these guys nail it.
The staff are super friendly and the service is faster than a toupee in a hurricane.
With 5 cafés around San Fran, I would recommend going to their 270 7th St space; it’s a huge, open shop that manages to maintain a great atmosphere!
Also, check out its semi-secret menu upstairs if you get the chance!
Price: $$
Location:
270 7th St.
San Francisco
CA 94103
Open Daily: 7am-7pm
Beacon Coffee & Pantry
Simple and minimalist decor. Delicious coffee. An eclectic selection of music, along with a perfect mix of workers and easy goers; it seemed like a prime spot to study and chill.
So, if you need to get stuff done, and also fancy a bite to eat and some good coffee, stop off at Beacon Coffee.
Price: $
Location:
805 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco
CA 94133
Opening Times: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm Sat-Sun 7:30am-6pm
Blue Bottle Coffee
My coffee was served in a cool can.
I mean, it initially triggered me. I was confused, It didn’t seem right… but it sure did taste it. So don’t panic, it’s all good.
Blue Bottle is a favourite amongst the locals; it was absolutely packed when we went in. Still, it had a great vibe and serves a strong brew. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
Price: $$
Location:
66 Mint St.
San Francisco
CA 94103
Open Daily: 6:30am-7pm
And there you have it, the start to my hunt for Cali’s best coffee!
Some may call it an obsession; an addiction even – but NAY I say! Coffee is life.
May the hunt continue.
Ciao
xoxo
The Atomic Blonde
Ph. {BBCR 001.}, {Alfred Studio 002.} & {Malibu Farm 003.} & {Beacon 004.}
The Atomic Blonde
