Ironsmith Coffee Roasters

Iron Smith Coffee Roasters is an absolute treasure in Encinitas! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a VIBE: the rich, inviting aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. This place is a coffee lover’s paradise, and it’s clear that every detail is crafted with passion and expertise. Their coffee is exceptional—smooth, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Whether you’re sipping on a classic pour-over, a velvety latte, or one of their signature drinks, every cup feels like a masterpiece. I’m particularly obsessed with their cold brew, which is rich and refreshing, especially on a sunny Encinitas day. And if you’re a fan of single-origin beans, their rotating selection is a must-try. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, always happy to share their expertise or recommend something new. Their passion for coffee shines through in every interaction, and it makes the experience even more enjoyable. Plus, the space itself is cozy and stylish, with plenty of seating to relax, work, or catch up with friends. Iron Smith also roasts their own beans in-house, and you can tell the difference in every sip. The quality and care they put into their craft is unmatched. Whether you’re a local or just passing through Encinitas, Iron Smith Coffee Roasters is a must-visit. Five stars without a doubt—this place is coffee perfection!

At 9:45, I stopped by Ironsmith Coffee for a cup of coffee, the usual. Certainly, there was a buzz about the coffee shop at this time. There were plenty of customers, who were enjoying both indoor and outdoor seating. Encinitas is a beautiful city to appreciate the weather. As you can see by the photos, Ironsmith Coffee is military friendly. Also, the store is pet friendly. While waiting in line, the customer before me had a dog. The barista offered a treat for the dog, and the customer seemed to appreciate it. For the record, Encinitas is a dog friendly town. My experience was a little different. My barista was a new hire, the first day on the job. My transaction was cash, and the register records this differently. It took a moment to work through it. As a new hire, she seemed to be soaking up the experience. I did experience one difficulty, and that was parking. Street parking is limited, and the parking behind the store was full. It was difficult for me to find parking. With this said, it is worth your time to enjoy a coffee drink at Ironsmith Coffee Roasters.

Honestly, this might be the best coffee in North County San Diego. The baristas are so friendly and great at making the drinks. The drinks are timely and consistent in high quality. The owner is hands on and extremely friendly. Also, Heather, the barista is always extremely friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend the chai and turmeric lattes are my favorite.

Was in the area and got excited to find this coffee shop with great reviews and was very optimistic. However, once I was ordering and observed the barista’s extraction technique, I lost a bit of hope. They have some creative latte flavors but both of the lattes I tried were “watery” and were lacking that rich, full-bodied taste I always look for - likely due to espresso being insufficiently extracted. The almond croissant was great and worth trying 100%. The staff were incredibly nice, but if you’re looking to do some work, this may not be the best place in my opinion. There aren’t enough spots to work on or plug your computer.

Although I liked my flat white, my wife did not like her mocha. It had a very different unexpected flavor.

Small little coffee shop in downtown Encinitas. Small shop not too many seats on the inside - a few tables outside . But their coffee makes up for that all of that 3 came back here twice one weekend - it was so good ! Excellent flat white and one day they had a new wave bagel pop up - they were fresh and delicious 🤤 !! Probably my favorite coffee spot in Encinitas !

Very cool vibe here. Staff was super chill. The food and coffee was fantastic. We sat outside and enjoyed the quiet streets and perfect weather. Will be back often.

The owner Mat is awesome! An amazing coffee shop with out-of-the-box options. They also sell Zataar and Palestinian Olive oil! So delicious!!

Great coffee hangout with plenty of indoor/outdoor seating. Yummy bakery items too! Friendly & fast!

A small local place! The staff was very helpful and they even had water out and some pastry options to purchase. I got the matcha - very good! And my mom got the rose latte but she said she couldnt taste the rose at all but she enjoyed it anyway. I had a sip and agreed it was excellent but no rose flavor. I'd come back for sure

Ironsmith Coffee is a cute spot to grab some drinks and try out the New Wave Bagel pop up every Sundays from 8-12. I've been falling Wayfarer Bakery for awhile and noticed one of their bakers started this bagel company. We went on Sunday to try out the bagels and right at 8 am there was a line forming. Probably took us 5 mins to get in and order. The Bialys looked amazing and we will want to try those next time. I ordered the garlic fontina bagel with the smoked fish spread. The bagel was crunchy on the outside and so soft from the garlic. The schmear was smoked halibut with onions and dill, fantastic!! The bagels come un toasted and the schmear comes on the side. My friend had the everything bagel with chive schmear and said it was amazing. She is even from the east coast, so that's telling! Apparently the roasted garlic and everything sell out before 10! Be sure to check this pop up out and try the coffee here!

4 stars for the vanilla latte- it was so, so good. We will definitely be coming back for that. It reminded me a bit of the Spanish Latte from Urth Caffe. Unfortunately, I would give 1 star for the vanilla chai latte. It tasted like watery almond milk and smelled slightly spiced. I had to throw it away after a few sips and was surprised since they make their own concentrate. But I'm still giving a 4 star review because we liked the coffee that much...just skip the chai!

Truly my favorite coffee shop on the coast. They roast their beans small batch. The staff is the sweetest and the location is right near the beach. 10/10 recommend

Idk if it's the coffee and milk used or the lack of care from the baristas. But the almond milk was separated and made the taste unpleasant. Coffee seemed stale or burnt.

Ironsmith was just okay. The place is open with not much seating but still cute right on the main road. There was an open area with a random step that you don't see unless you are actively looking down. The staff was friendly and helpful with questions and didn't make me feel like I needed to hurry up and just order. The coffee was just okay though. There are plenty of other coffee shops in the area that I personally believe are just better. I will go other places before I go back here.

Lack parking. Lack seating. Not so special coffee. Mediocre merchandise. Received order in rush. Not worth the hype. Just an average and regular cafe for me.

In an adorable beach town with several coffee shops, Ironsmith stands out. Best coffee experience while in Encinitas. Ordered a latte, black coffee and a big as your head almond croissant. Visited on a busy Monday morning, and staff were so pleasant and efficient. Local small shop with lots of different coffees, teas and pastry options. Perfectly roasted coffee and nicely balanced flavor. Latte was perfection and black coffee was just right. Almond croissant hit the spot and my toddlers were beyond happy. As I was leaving with my coffees and pastry, a staff member offered to get the door. A friendly smile and helpful attitude made my morning. Will return and enjoy when in Encinitas!

This is one of my favorite coffee shops in Encinitas. Their hot dirty chai w oat milk is my favorite. It's located right on the 101 and has a lot of outdoor seating. The workers are always so friendly and it never takes long to get your coffee. Perfect spot to grab coffee in the morning before heading to the beach.

A really good tasting espresso, straightforward menu, nice ceramics and outdoor seating.

I just started coming here recently and I am obsessed! Ironsmith has some of the best coffee I have ever had in SD County. Highly recommend!

The coffee here was delicious and they definitely have a lot of options to choose from. It's a bit on the pricey side but you certainly get a neat presentation with every order. The employees are all extremely friendly and the atmosphere is really laid-back and chill, which I love. I highly recommend checking this place out if you have a chance.

Street parking only, was able to park in next lot over because that business wasn't open but it does say those spots are marked for that business. Inside was very small. Small, simple menu, didn't see any specials posted. Tried: Chagaccino - okay, not worth the huge mark up for this. Barista special - way too sweet.

Enjoyed the location next to where I was staying for the weekend. Popped in real quick, grabbed a cold brew and was out the door in minutes. Person behind the counter was very friendly, prices were competitive and quality was high. Will be back

The ambiance at this place is hipsterish cool. That's where the greatness begins and ends. I ordered a caffe latte and the disappointment was immediate upon its arrival. The drink tasted like diluted lukewarm milk with not a single hint of caffeine anywhere. It's almost as if they just ran the espresso machine with no coffee grounds; just water. Speaking of, that's what the "latte" tasted like, water from the dishwasher (don't ask how I know... lol ). I may give them another try after the barista and I have a conversation about the importance of selecting freshly ground and roasted espresso beans for a great tasting latte.

I love ironsmith! it's my favorite place to go when i come to encinitas!! but today, my partner who is a service member, asked for a military discount and to my surprise there isn't one. i'm confused from a veteran owned establishment that there wouldn't be a military discount. not sure if the girl wasn't sure and didn't want to figure it out but it's alright. just sucks i guess lollll

Enjoyed my Viennese cappuccino. I knew this coffee spot would be solid, however, $1 for 3oz of oat milk is crazy. Wish they would adjust the prices for milk alternatives especially since they charge $1 extra for 10oz of oat milk in their lattes.. so being charged $1 for 3oz sucks. Can't help my milk allergy though. My cappuccino came out to $7. A bit pricey. Not sure if I'd make this my go to spot since there are many other coffee spots near by that are also good and don't charge for milk alternatives. The employees didn't even say hi to me when I walked in to pick up my coffee, since I ordered online. I thought that was odd... I just picked up the coffee and left.

Treat yourself to high quality coffee and drinks. Every time I get my latte it never disappoints ... Great service and artsy latte art... thank you for being my local to go to coffee joint.

I'm a huge fan of the matchas here! always made perfectly. I'd travel hours for it lol. I've come here a few other times & switched up my order to a vanilla latte, they are hit or miss. Sometime the vanilla is hard to taste. Not sure why. The matchas are consistently amazing tho!

Been a big fan since Ironsmith first opened 6 or 7 years back. It's probably the most quintessentially Encinitas cafe in town. And given that I have been reviewing cafes lately, I thought an update was in order. Small, attracting an eclectic crowd and low-key, Ironsmith makes quite the contrast to Better Buzz the next block down. When I want to get out of my own office, I find that I am able to get work here done in part because this is a place to chill, not a place "to be seen." Still, ambience is one thing; coffee is another. Throughout my time coming here, I have been consistently impressed with quality of the brew and the baristas. There have been several excellent coffee makers who have come and gone (and who I wished still worked at Ironsmith), but in general they all produce pretty fine espresso drinks. Their prices are on the high side of average, but certainly not more than many of the other spots along the 101. And since I think they make consistently the best coffee in Encinitas, I don't begrudge them the cost. My only (small) complaint about Ironsmith is the matter of sweeteners. They have steadfastly and consciously chosen not to include any artificial sweeteners at all. This seems to be a common enough phenomenon amongst many higher end cafes, but the alternatives to sugar are agave (sugar by any other name) or stevia. While stevia is indeed zero calorie, as a mint it is a poor flavor for coffee beverages. C'mon, guys; a number of your drinks and food offerings are hardly health-conscious. But that's a small thing. Overall, I can't think of a better place to get a cortado or cappuccino in North County Coastal. Highly recommended.

Popped in on a Wednesday morning while on a morning walk. There was a bit of a line but it moves very quickly. The worker taking orders was so nice and friendly and said hi to my dog. I ordered an iced dirty chai with oat milk and sat outside to wait for it. It's a pretty small place but very comfortable inside and out. The barista came out and handed me my drink. My drink was out of this world good! Probably the tastiest one I've ever had! I really hope to make it back soon.

I started drinking matcha recently and this is now at the top of the list as the best I've tried! The matcha taste is prominent and there is just a subtle amount of sweetness added - nothing too overpowering. Their chocolate chip cookies also looked amazing but I didn't try one this time.

Fantastic. Delicious pastry and a Rose London Fog latte. Great service and local business. Really good.

Cool coffee house in downtown Encinitas. Espresso is particularly good. Not bitter, milk is perfectly frothed. I'd recommend and come back. Especially after grabbing a pastry next door from Prager Brothers

I ordered a white flat with almond milk ($1 charge for almond milk). It was very tiny. Equivalent to a short Starbucks drink. The taste was quite bitter. And $5.50 for the small coffee was quite pricey. Service was on point and friendly--the cashier gave me tips on what to purchase because I had not been there before. All in all, for the price and the taste, I probably wouldn't. Return.

This is one of my favorite coffee places on the coast. Feels like you are in SF or something. Small, efficient, no frills but great coffee. The cappuccino is so good I went back twice in one afternoon. A few seats inside and outside but this is more of a grab some coffee and walk the few blocks to Moonlight Beach to enjoy your drink. They have been consistently good the last 6 years or so.

Met a coworker for an early cup of coffee. Place opened at 6am as scheduled. The two girls working were great and offered excellent suggestions. I ended up with the vanilla chai, which was absolutely delicious. It wasn't as hot as I would have wanted but it was really good. I like trying new coffee spots and usually I get coffee but I'm glad I ventured out and tried the Chai. Next time I'll order a dirty chai. Looks like they only have one size, would be nice if they offered a larger size. They coffee shop has inside and outside seating. There are lots of great coffee shops in the immediate area, but I think Ironsmith will be in the rotation.

The crema on my Mexican mocha was absolutely perfect. Not too sweet at all, a nice little kick to go along with smooth and delicious coffee.

This is a fancy shmancy coffee shop with really tasty coffee! I had a latte that tasted great and brought home beans that were also flavorful. Check them out!

Great fresh roasted coffee in a comfortable and chic environment in Encinitas. We ordered 2 cappuccinos and the coffee was so good we bought a bag of beans to use on our espresso machine at home. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and we received our coffees quickly. Highly recommend if you find yourself in north county and need a coffee fix!

I chose to support this local coffee shop because it is owned by a Marine. Ambiance and service was great, however this latte taste like vanilla burnt bean water. I feel bad writing this because they were very nice and was such a cute place. I even tried my brother's americano and that was even tasted more diluted. I think next time I'll try a different drink.

Thankful for online ordering. Even though the estimated time was 25 minutes. I arrived with in 10 and my iced oat milk matcha latte was ready for pick up. The matcha could have been mixed in better, but the flavor the perfect and I'm grateful they went light on the vanilla per my request on my online order. My husbands cold brew was excellent. Lovely coffee shop with good quality drinks. Adding it to my North County favorites Collection!

Quite possibly the best espresso I've had. Staff (not owners) always seemed aloof, but maybe because I've only been in shortly after open. Short walk from D Street overlook.

I am not like a coffee snob or a big time coffee drinker, but when I do go for one, I usually get a mocha. So, that's what I ended up getting. This has to be one of the better mochas I've had! I like chocolate and I am more a hot chocolate girl, but if I do get get coffee, a little chocolate in it doesn't hurt! This mocha definitely has a deeper, richer flavor than the one at the bigger chain coffee shops (can you guess which one?)! So if you strolling around in downtown Encinitas and need a little pick me up, definitely stop by here!

Highest quality espresso. Highest quality people. Highest quality vibes. Ironsmith is the best coffee shop to grab a quick morning latte, or to post up and connect with the locals. Highly recommend: espresso, matcha latte and spiced chai latte. 10/10

CUTE COFFEE SPOT (3.4) If this tiny coffee shop could be on the same street as Better Buzz and Philz and maintain presence, THEY must be doing something right! - Espresso, ok. - Price, meh. - Service, great. - Ambiance, nice. VANILLA LATTE - the beans used was The Don which has peach, citrus, and herbal notes. The presentation was clean but the taste was ok. I'm beginning to truly understand the type of roast/bean that I have preferences for. I like a more balances and smooth and creamy profile not the fruity/citrusy tones. Until the next review...

Amazing cold brew flavor. Not acidic but was a tad jittery. Just enough to get thru the work day. 4.50$ 16oz. Staff is great. My new go-to when traveling south.

Wonderful coffee, wonderful staff, and a wonderful owner! You can tell he really cares about what he does (you can taste it in the coffee)! Always brightens my day to get a lovely coffee or some beans for home. Thank you so much! :)

Another amazing coffee shop in Encinitas. Right next to Modern Times brewery, in such a perfect location off the 101. We tried their hot vanilla latte, the chagaccino with almond milk, and one of their chocolate chip cookies. The COOKIES, wow !! So freaking good. We had a bite but took it home and then warmed it up....HEAVEN. so soft and perfect. Can't wait to try more of their pastries! And the vanilla latte was made perfectly. My boyfriend loved his chagacinno and I was so surprised how it's only 60 calories. Such a yummy healthy latte! Love. Will be back!

Absolutely the most divine London Fog ever and blueberry lemon scone is freshly baked and not too sweet. Together they make a fantastic combination! Baristas are awesome and so funny! Great customer service!

Spot for all my early birds that wake up for the sunrise !! Stopped in at this cute little place after watching a sunrise with my friend from out of town. They just opened but the cashier was still warm and friendly. We placed our order at the front counter and our drink came out within 5 minutes. Ordered the vanilla chai (hot). I usually go for spiced chais but this drink was so creamy and frothy! The perfect way to start my morning. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area!

Came here for the first time this morning because it was the first coffee shop we ran into. Nine dollars for a basic cup of coffee and a latte. Had the coffee with a little cream two packets of sugar and it tasted terrible, like it was burned. Took it back to the counter and she gave me what she said was a different blend... Added the milk, added my sugar still terrible. My boyfriend said the latte was so-so. We won't be back.

Great coffee shop with a friendly staff! Went here for first time today and staff working was super friendly and polite. Coffee was great, I got the cold brew and taste/smoothness was on point. All around great spot

Cute little coffee shop with friendly staff and delicious cold brew. Stopped in while waiting for my car and they were fast and kind and delicious :)

I stopped by in the coffee shop for the first time in order just a plain cup of coffee with some cream. Unfortunately, milk they used was not great. Coffee itself was pretty decent, but the quality of milk ruined the experience. Next time I would opt for non-dairy milk to see if there is a difference. For now, I would just rate it an average.

The coffee was expensive and subpar. $12.50 for two 16 ounce (my guess) lattes. I got an iced chai with two espresso shots and almond milk. It wasn't my favorite. My husband got an iced vanilla latte with almond milk and he didn't even drink it. He took one sip and wasn't a fan, so I told him I would taste it, but ten minutes later I picked it up and it looked like this! I work at Starbucks so I've seen my share of melted lattes and have never seen this before. The service was nice but we won't be coming back. We were really disappointed and regretted coming here for our coffee today

I ordered an ice vanilla chai (for my tea people) and my friends who are coffee lovers said they love the coffee! The staff are also so friendly and welcoming. It has such a cute aesthetic too! Highly recommend! :)

Yes and yes!!! I had the barista special, which I guess changes routinely. It was so perfectly what my heart and soul needed. Shop is right at the edge of the main drag of shops. Took my coffee to the beach for a soul reviving walk. Thank you for helping a late night/early morning of nursing on the road.