Communal Coffee

"Beautiful digs, an expansive (and, not too long ago, expanded) menu, reliable coffee and espresso drinks, and plenty of outdoor seating have all helped this local cafe chain secure a spot as one of the most busy and sought after places to drink (and photograph) coffee. A newer location in Oceanside brings Communal’s whimsy to coastal North County." - Roxana Popescu

"Communal Coffee’s all-patio location in South Park will be growing its footprint by the beginning of September. Last March, the cafe, which got its start in North Park, transformed a vacant 2,000-square-foot lot on Fern Street into an outdoor coffee oasis fueled by a coffee bar housed in a converted vintage travel trailer. Open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the cafe features Sightglass Coffee, an independent coffee company based in San Francisco, and a full range of coffee drinks such as its signature flower lattes along with a menu of light bites that includes baked goods from Bird Rock’s Wayfarer Bread & Pastry as well as bagel sandwiches, avocado toast, and chia pudding. Neighboring store JUNC recently closed after 16 years in South Park, and Communal Coffee owner Jennifer Byard will be taking over the space to create additional indoor seating and retail shop for branded merchandise, coffee supplies, and housewares. Byard tells Eater that she also plans on adding a kitchen and expanding their food offerings." - Candice Woo

"A popular gathering spot since opening last year in North Park, Communal Coffee will bring its modern-bohemian charm to South Park next month, planting its second location on Fern Street and activating one of the neighborhood’s long-vacant lots. The original University Avenue location shares a patio with North Park Nursery, and seating in South Park will be spread out in a similarly lush, secret garden setting. Founder Jen Byard has repurposed a vintage 1959 Shasta Trailer into an espresso bar and pastry shop that will service the outdoor cafe and community space, which will also contain a stage that will host live performances, movie nights, and other events. Known for its latte flights and other of-the-moment drinks, Communal Coffee will continue to feature San Francisco’s award-winning Sightglass Coffee. New additions to the menu, which ranges from pastries and granola bowls to sweet and savory toast variations, will be an assortment of freshly-baked doughnuts and bagels from North Park’s Nomad Donuts. Communal Coffee South Park will also contain a retail shop stocked with branded merchandise, coffee brewing equipment and accessories." - Candice Woo