Copa Vida - UCSD

Coffee shop · San Diego

Copa Vida - UCSD

Coffee shop · San Diego

1

9625 Exploration Dr Suite 0126, San Diego, CA 92161

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Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null
Copa Vida - UCSD by null

Highlights

Expertly brewed coffee & tea with breakfast burritos & sandwiches  

Featured in Eater
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9625 Exploration Dr Suite 0126, San Diego, CA 92161 Get directions

copa-vida.com

$1–10

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9625 Exploration Dr Suite 0126, San Diego, CA 92161 Get directions

+1 619 559 4544
copa-vida.com

$1–10

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Last updated

Oct 1, 2025

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UCSD Announces Major Restaurant Additions - Eater San Diego

"With seven cafe locations, including five in San Diego, Pasadena-based roaster Copa Vida is coming to campus with its specialty coffee, tea, and an in-house food menu that includes breakfast burritos, sandwiches, soups, and more." - Candice Woo

https://sandiego.eater.com/2020/8/31/21408721/ucsd-new-restaurants-ramen-chinese-tahimi-plant-power-copa-vida
View Postcard for Copa Vida - UCSD

nico

Google
love this place so so so much! i come here like almost every day to get a london fog with lavender and my bf gets a brulee mint. always so generous, prices are pretty cheap, and drinks are done pretty fast. the staff are very friendly and welcoming, and the decor just makes for a very comfy studying environment.

Kristin Potts

Google
I attended a conference all week and found myself returning to this shop frequently, as it was the only place open and significantly better than what was being served at our event. Despite being somewhat overpriced, many of my colleagues and I visited each morning, largely due to the exceptionally friendly staff, who were remarkably cheerful despite the early hour. The shop was very clean, with ample seating outside. Contrary to some previous reviews claiming it was dirty, we found it spotless. The ambiance was inviting, making it an excellent spot for a quick breakfast or coffee break. I highly recommend this place if you are on the UCSD campus. The combination of friendly service, cleanliness, and a pleasant atmosphere makes it a standout choice among campus eateries.

Sophia Santiago

Google
I LOVE COPA VIDA!!!! I have the best time there. I love answering the daily questions on the wall. I love all the hardworking workers. The atmosphere is lit asf. Best matcha period .

Neha Sharma

Google
I’ve never had good coffee here. Lattes, drip coffee, etc.. they all taste a bit weird and usually sour. Food is pretty good and healthy. Update: hot lavender latte with almond milk is the only delicious drink

Kelly Gates

Google
Updating my previous review below. The quality of their coffee drinks has dropped. It’s a busy place and they’re very rushed and unfortunately it shows. I also got a crappy latte when they weren’t busy. Earlier review: It’s a game-changer that Copa Vida is in this convenient spot! Excellent coffee drinks.

Eli Hardwick

Google
a mean purple haired girl was hurtful and the guy at the register was scary. grace was hella nice tho the purple girl was harassing me tho and following me

Eli Hardwick

Google
chai tea suuucks ngl also keep getting harassed every time i go, seems to have a lot of creeps there but the staff slay every time

Guadalupe Garcia

Google
Hours: why is this place always closed 5, 10 … 15 mins before posted closing times?
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Caitlin D.

Yelp
Went with the iced latte ($5.50) today. It's pretty strong, but the beans don't taste unique (no underlying flavor notes) in the latte. Today, I saw grounded beans (I'm forgetting the other word) at the base of my drink. So this drink was just average for me. The price for a PLAIN latte, in my opinion, was steep. My friend mentioned the price must be raised slightly because we were on campus. Clean space, good array of tables inside and outside. They close at 1pm in the summer time and I came in around 12:30pm luckily they were still taking orders.
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Linh L.

Yelp
It is not often at all that I throw away a $8 drink after a few sips... but I did with this drink and it broke my heart. I am a huge matcha enthusiast and I knew that Copa Vida wouldn't give me that bold matcha flavor that I craved but I caved in and gave it a try. I made sure to ask for *double* matcha and it still tasted like MILK. It was so bland and milky I'm surprised it was even green.

Ryan E.

Yelp
Good coffee and food, staff was very friendly, convenient for students, though a bit pricey
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Helen C.

Yelp
Very aesthetic coffee shop smack in the middle of Sixth College with some tables indoor, but plenty of outdoor seating. Tried a couple drinks from here at this point including the Garden of Eden Iced Tea, Iced Matcha Latte, and Iced Honey Latte. I personally thought the coffee was okay and I couldn't taste the honey at all, but my knowledge about coffee is pretty limited in general. Their tea is pretty solid and I love that they always ask you to specify your milk option and even sweetener (agave, simple syrup, or honey). I do wish the tea flavor was a tad more pronounced in the Garden of Eden. Price is ranges from five to six dollars for most of their drinks, which is a tad pricey for the cup size, but not unexpected. Copa Vida also has a small food menu with breakfast burritos, bowls, salads, and more. I tried their Kimchi Pork Belly Sandwich and it was delicious; the pork belly was so tender it literally melted in my mouth! However, at least for that specific menu item, the portions were rather small considering it cost over eleven bucks. Overall, solid place on campus for a drink and do a coffee chat. Enjoyed everything, but was just a bit too pricey. Also, quick tip, half your cup will be just ice cubes if you don't say anything and it'll be omega not worth it. Note for those looking for a new place to study on campus: unfortunately, they do not have any outlets :(
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Jill L.

Yelp
Pork belly sandwich was incredibly overpriced. It was $11.50 for a small sandwich that was smaller than the palm of my hand. The sandwich itself was not that flavorful and the pork belly was excessively fatty. 1/5 Burritos are huge which makes up for the expensive price. I don't remember how much it cost exactly but I believe it was $9-10. 3/5 Matcha lattes are decent! 4/5 No outlets but there are a few seats inside and even more outdoors. Service is usually great depending on who you get but sometimes there are workers who don't acknowledge you for a solid few minutes despite being the only person in line.
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Kelly G.

Yelp
I already reviewed this Copa Vida and my review disappeared. I'm thrilled that this coffee shop is near my office. The baristas are pros and the coffee drinks are consistently excellent. People, don't buy food at a little coffee shop and then complain that it's expensive. Coffee shops have an overwhelming tendency to have expensive food.
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Liz J.

Yelp
One of the few new places that opened up at UCSD. I've gone here a few times before going to class/after and honestly, I feel like I go here more for convenience. The drinks here are pretty okay. I've gotten the honey latte and the lavender one. They're alosy $6-$7 for a latte, which is kind of ridiculous, but that might also be because it's on campus and they have to hike up the prices. Copa Vida also has a small food menu with sandwiches, burritos, and pastries, but they're also pretty expensive for the portion that they give. They also have very limited indoor seating and outlets so it is definitely not the place to study :(
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Brooke P.

Yelp
Terrible coffee, really terrible food, very overpriced. There was also a long hair stuck to the front of my sandwich. Took 30 min for a black coffee and sandwich. Not going back.
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Miguel T.

Yelp
Was visiting my friend who goes to UCSD who is studying theatre. We grabbed a coffee here and the barista was so friendly and was able to answer my questions about what to get. I think their name was Xana and I swear they were just as friendly to the customers behind me. Ended up getting the Oat cap which I never knew was a thing but it was so good.

Stacy K.

Yelp
Terrible service. I was the first one to order when they opened the store for the day. Took 25min to get my breakfast sausage burrito. When I asked to check on the status they didn't do anything but told me it's coming (without checking). They are slow in general even when they are busy. Coffee isn't that good, super over priced, super slow service.