Revolution, on a fun commercial strip of South Coast Highway between boutiques and restaurants, is an essential coffee stop in Oceanside. While you’re there, pick up a pound of coffee from the many varieties, including a lightly roasted naturally processed Ethiopian coffee described as “nostalgic of how coffee was likely first ever enjoyed”, a bunch of single origins from Mexico, Guatemala, and Papua New Guinea, as well as blends.

This North County spot has an easy-going vibe where you’ll find a mix of patrons — newspaper readers parked at tables, busy families, people on the go — united by their love of coffee. Its fan base exists for good reason: this roaster cultivates long-term relationships with coffee growers and then takes that raw material and transforms it into something outstanding. The broad drink menu has something for everyone, from classic drinks to a long list of zany mochas.

One of the major players in North County’s coffee scene, Lofty also operates a bustling cafe in Little Italy. Its latest outpost at the Beacon in Carlsbad has plenty of room for lingering over coffee, conversation, and a bigger-than-most food menu that ranges from breakfast dishes and pastries to toasts and lunch bowls.

This bohemian, Insta-ready storefront in Rancho Bernardo Winery is one outpost of this newish roasting company. Another is in Escondido. You’ll also find their mild, balanced beans around the region, including at Portal Coffee in Little Italy and Rob’s Brewpoint, an acclaimed coffee shop in downtown El Cajon.

Zumbar’s two locations are rather different. The one between the Torrey Pines research mesa and the tech hub of Sorrento Valley draws on brainiacs from both sides of Interstate 5. The other, in Cardiff, has ocean views and a breezy, picnic-perfect park around the corner. Zumbar’s focus on quality — from using reputable brokers to small-batch roasting to the final assembled drink with perfectly pulled ristretto shots — makes every sip so satisfying.

This roaster, which serves espresso, pour-overs, and some less usual drinks (like their signature Ube latte and the minty mojito cold brew) is tucked into a Mira Mesa industrial park. That may not sound alluring, but Jaunt has charm by the gallon. The interior is hip. The baked goods (including some to die for sticky buns) and food menu (including empanadas and other flaky delights) make it a good spot for lunch. A touching detail: they have a pay it forward board where customers can buy a drink for a future passer-by who might need a pick-me-up but not have funds.

San Diego’s only outpost of this venerable Philadelphia-based roaster opened at UTC in 2018, bringing with it the rich and toasty original Corsica blend, and a smoother, rounder, medium roasted Nizza blend, served on-site in beautiful Italian Deruta ceramic mugs.

This East County coffee shop and roaster has two locations: one in a charming Santee strip mall landscaped with mature trees, and another inside a quaint antique shop in Lakeside (which has a drive-through). The real draw here is their expertly microfoamed lattes, balanced cappuccinos, and overall excellent beans. (A post on its website states that their owner and roaster is currently ill, after open heart surgery, so they’re using beans for now from Mostra and another roaster.)

This cafe and roaster, which was sold to a Kansas-based coffee roaster by its founder and owner, Chuck Patton, in 2017, has changed its style and vibe in recent years, with different drinks and branding. Original Bird Rock fans may notice a difference, but judging from the crowds at their many area locations — the quality remains high.

Lovely espresso drinks, along with inventive and inspiring breakfast and brunch items that include pastries from its adjoining bakery, make this Pacific Beach cafe the perfect spot for a leisurely daytime meal or a quick snack and a cup of joe.

This La Mesa roaster, a short detour from Lake Murray, is a bustling hub that’s revived this quiet corner of the neighborhood. Here you’ll find students hunched over books, flex and remote workers glued to laptops, clusters of chatting friends, refueling parents with strollers in tow, and an assortment of four-legged pals. The coffee, which they roast four to five times a week on-site, includes single-origins and blends created to pack a punch or soothe milder cravings. They have a robust food menu, too.

Latte art layered over light roasted espresso, single origin pour overs, kombucha, and fizzy kefir sodas, all served in a buzzing coffee shop and its homey patio, make this one of East County’s best coffee spots. On the food side, you’ll find a substantial coffee-rubbed pork sandwich, a massive breakfast sandwich, scrumptious scones and more.

This El Cerrito cafe, which opened in 2017, expanded to roasting during the pandemic. Now, this friendly and welcoming location offers great drinks (including rotating seasonal specials), a bright roast, and hefty sandwiches.

In a community as dense and centrally located as City Heights, it’s surprising that there’s not more coffee. Even with North Park less than a mile west. Cafeina has put this neighborhood on the coffee map for multiple reasons: the consistently strong shots, the creative menu (with some playful drinks as well as the classics), a cool and shaded patio, ice cream, and a friendly team.

Bringing serious coffee and a warm atmosphere to Mission Hills, this cafe roasts its own coffee in Chula Vista for its menu of straightforward coffee and espresso drinks. Vegan pastries from local bakery Hazel and Jade are also on offer.

This veteran coffee roaster elevated San Diego’s coffee scene decades ago and continues pouring consistently tasty cappuccinos and more. Calabria hasn’t messed with its stellar original recipe of espresso in the Italian tradition and brings the same approach to its Neapolitan pizza, made with simple ingredients in the traditional technique.

With an atypical setting (inside a flower shop), this OB coffee spot is big on quality ingredients and quality control, with a mostly-organic focus that spans from its coffee beans to organic milks, organic ceremonial grade matcha, and house made organic flavor boosting syrups.

This roaster, which got it start as wholesaler before it branched into running its own cafes, offers artisanal syrups that are a welcome departure from artificial coffee enhancers. For purists (or if you don’t love lavender or vanilla in your joe), the traditional, simple drinks are very accomplished too.

This much-admired Little Italy roaster with several outposts around San Diego specializes in single origin and blends that feature in its accomplished espresso and coffee drinks. A note: to-go drinks are now served in mason jars and require a deposit that will be refunded when the glasses are returned.

This airy coffee shop between Little Italy and the waterfront offers a “Not A Starbucks Macchiato”, which tells you everything you need to know about its philosophy. Along with some nonstandard drinks (like their cardamom orange latte) they also have massive croissants and other baked goods.

The owners of Dark Horse are really committed to quality, from how shots are pulled to the customer experience. Pair a cortado or cold brew with a treat from Dark Horse’s own doughnut or ice cream company to check off your caffeine and sugar food group boxes for the day.

This certified organic roaster was operating on National Avenue long before Barrio Logan was trendy and long before Petco Park existed. Its mocha is excellent — not too sweet — and its beans are featured at a number of local restaurants, from Plum Kitchen in North County to Devil’s Dozen in Little Italy and the Waverly in Cardiff.