James Coffee Co.

One of the best coffee shops in San Diego by far!! The Oat milk honey cinnamon latte is my favorite and they have the best tasting, amazing quality beans in my opinion.

I always make it a point any time I am in SD to stop by a James coffee. This one was a great visit at the North Park location I picked up coffee, beans for home and apparel.

I’m drinking a cappuccino with a mineral water on the side as I’m typing this right now. Very chill spot and good music playing always! Always a pleasant experience here.

I usually go for coffees here and its always so good and never too sweet .Today i was there this morning service was good .But I did mentioned that I did not want my coffee to sweet .And the presentation of my coffee was great but i didnt even finish it it was so sweet i was really dissapointed this time .There was a guy working today and it was busy I felt bad telling him to re make it .But dont know if I will go back now .

James Coffee North Park truly feels like home to me. The staff here aren’t just baristas, they’re wonderful people who brighten my day in ways they probably don’t even realise. They know me by name, greet me with warmth, and make every visit feel personal. I come here every single day (pretty much) and it’s honestly the highlight of my routine. The matcha is, without a doubt, the best in San Diego, but what keeps me coming back is the people. Thank you, James Coffee team, for everything you do. You might think you’re “just” making drinks, but your kindness, consistency, and energy create something so much bigger, you make a lasting, positive impact not only on me, but on this whole community, simply by being yourselves. See you tomorrow 🤪

First time here and came in for a bag - Benny helped out a lot! Enthusiastic and knowledgeable on the different roasts, decided on the smooth shop roast. Will be back here with the fam for a sit down soon ☕️

Great little gem! The coffee is delicious and roasted locally. The play area is perfect for when I need to catch up on work with the kids in tow.

I’m drinking a cappuccino with a mineral water on the side as I’m typing this right now! Very chill spot I love to come before my haircut down the street. Always a pleasant experience here. Good music always!

I picked up whole coffee beans, the Mexico blend, and hot mocha on Friday morning. FREE DRIP COFFEE with purchase of bag of beans. Mocha was delicious, balance of milk, espresso, and chocolate. Free coffee was good too, not butter from sitting too long. Indoor and outdoor seating gives you option to hang out and enjoy drinks. Staff is attentive, friendly, and efficient.

James Coffee has been my go to coffee shop since they opened on 30th. I have always raved about the coffee and atmosphere. I wanted to share a concern from my recent visit. The music playing in the shop included extremely explicit language, with the N-word used in nearly every line. I asked the barista if the music might be a bit too extreme for a coffee-house environment, and the response I received was simply , "Is it?", and she went back to what she was doing. After I received my drink, I ended up walking away because the atmosphere felt uncomfortable. I don't believe a coffee house should play music with such frequent use of the N-word or similarly explicit content. It creates an environment that may make customers feel uneasy, and I hope the shop will consider choosing music that's more appropriate for a public, family-friendly space. Thank you for taking the time to review this feedback.

James Coffee is one of my favorites! They offer a great selection of bagels and pastries. The coffee is always good. I tried an almond croissant and had an almond milk latte. They have a great little courtyard with seating and a place for kids to play. I would definitely recommend this spot!

I found James Coffee when I was looking for a spot to get some work done and I was pleasantly surprised! They have ample seating on their outdoor patio and a wide selection of drinks and pastries. They had a fall drink menu as well which was calling my name and I got the pumpkin spice latte which was pretty good and not too sweet. They have free wifi and it wasn't too busy on the weekend so it was a great spot to hang out at for an hour or so.

I love James coffee. Some of the best beans in San Diego, but it always takes forever to have drinks ready, even when is not super crowded. It's really frustrating walking in, seeing people waiting for their drinks, and the barista chit chatting with a friend, taking forever making drinks. I bought 2 bags of coffee beans and one cappuccino, and they requested a tip percentage based on the entire sale. It's kinda messed up constantly looking out for places that are advantageous in the way they ask for tips.

Coffee was great as always! Customer service was great by the baristas as well! We love the fact they offered the free hot chocolate for kids, we have noticed that James is the few if not the only coffee shop in San Diego that offers incentives to there customers like this and trust me we notice and appreciate it.

4++ great coffee shop located in University Heights on the cusp of North Park. I came in for a late afternoon pick me up after visiting some breweries in the area. The person who helped me was very friendly and helpful. Based on his suggestion, I ordered 'The Rancher' an iced coffee drink made with a little barrel aged maple syrup. The drink was tasty and it definitely gave me the caffeine boost I needed. The spot itself feels like it's integrated into a small little mixed used property. Really cool and walkable location.

This was my second visit, and I got a latte and a jalapeño cheddar bagel with cream cheese--both were good. One of the things I really appreciate about this place is the abundance of outdoor seating, and the added bonus of a play area for kids, which makes it great for families. However, the overall experience was affected by how unfriendly the baristas seemed. They didn't greet us or smile, and it felt like we weren't very welcome. It was around 9:30 AM, so not even the end of the day and it wasn't even that busy. I really wish the staff had been a bit more warm and approachable.

Delicious coffee. Creamy, beautiful, delicious powerful textures and flavors. Their pastry's and desserts are just as scrumptious too! They are located in a secluded quiet gem which makes the coffee taste that much sweeter. Love coming here.

I've been wanting to try this coffee shop for some time and was a little disappointed. First, the service was just ok and did not greet me when I came into the coffee shop. Also, they took awhile to place my order and I was second in line. I ended up ordering the Vanilla Latte and I really didn't taste any vanilla. The coffee was served at a good temp, but overall this coffee was just ok. This coffee shop did have a chill vibe with outdoor seating and parking can be difficult due the location. Last, they do have dog treats for the fur babies, which was nice.

Really delicious coffee snacks and cappuccinos! Awesome customer service and good music always playing.

James coffee is one of the best SD Coffee staples! The coffees are smooth, consistent, and always have the best color (IYKYK). I've been coming here for years and always recommend it to friends. Always really kind baristas that have a great vibe. The iced honey cinnamon latte is my go to and recently tried the Seasonal Strawberry Mocha which is phenomenal. I hope this one sticks around on the menu permanently!

Please see my other review from their Little Italy location. This University Heights location is equally wonderful. The people working here were upbeat and warm. Ample seating. Wall plugs / outlets available. There's a patio deck area to catch some sun while you work or an open courtyard where you sit under the trees. Great coffee like the other locations. They were able to make me their version of an espresso tonic using vanilla syrup and sparkling mineral water. Well made so I didn't miss the quinine from using mineral water instead of tonic water.

The coffee here is so good but the staff really diminishes the experience ... Every time I've been here, the baristas are chit chatting and take forever to make my drink. This most recent time, an employee not even on shift was standing in line talking with the employees working. He wasn't even ordering, they were passing food back and forth. It took 10 minutes to order and get my drink even though I was the only one in the shop.

The coffee is really good. You can pay for a little charge to have a reusable glass and the staff are so friendly which is very refreshing around San Diego. The parking can get a little rough cause you gotta street park but that is most coffee shops in North Park. The only down side I have about this place is the Fly's. I do not really mind them that much but it just looks really bad. The shop is a very open space so it makes sense but there are ways to still prevent it. Especially when you ordered food. So if you dont mind the fly's then this is a great spot. There are couple area's for plug ins where you can study or get work done too which is cool. It is also not that busy but can be.

The ambiance is so awesome for a coffee shop. I loved the music vibes and the patio. The coffee was PERFECT. Perfect color and taste (especially for someone who likes it a little stronger). Not to mention the owner and staff were super nice! Will return again!

I was in the area and had the opportunity to visit James Coffee. Love that the cafe is open, love the aesthetics, and customer service was welcoming with good vibes. My Mexican Mocha was different, had a different kind of spice than what I'm used to. If I have the opty to visit again, I'd definitely try something new.

Coffee is delicious! Strong coffee. I had an oatmilk latte. The only thing I'd take a star off for is that there was only 1 pastry left around 2:30pm on a Friday. Baristas were nice. Casual vibes - outdoor patio with seating and a few tables inside.

Very bad customer service, I normally come to this location but this time there was an Asian short guy very unpleasant, he was having a conversation with a customer it seemed like they knew each other because it seemed that he was flirting with the customer and I had to interrupt the conversation and I apologized for interrupting instead of him acknowledging my presence he didn't say anything to me and took my order then I mentioned it to the barista and her answer was well we also like having conversations you know! And I said what? That's very unprofessional, lack of good customer service horrible answer that's crazy I'm not coming back unless if I see those two employees there I won't.

I am a fan I've visited James Co. a few times now and honestly loveeee coming here especially when I want hot coffee. Idk what it is, but regardless all of their drinks are yummy They also specialize in allowing you to order your drinks in a Mason Jar to reuse for future visits! Worth checking out and trying!

Walked here after dining at a nearby restaurant down the block. The entrance is through a side gate and the space is elevated with an open deck. We ordered iced lattes and mochas, which were good. Saw a selection of pastries as well at the register. Took our drinks to go, but wouldn't mind sitting for longer the next time I come around.

The staff member who helped me at the register was friendly. She assisted me with care and patience! I ordered a hot matcha latte with oat milk and brown sugar syrup. The service was quick, and I didn't have to wait in line, I walked right up.

Service is always top tier and coffee is always so good! We usually visit our Escondido shop, but stopped by this location since we were in the area.

Coffees as good as always, but times have changed though this place used to be kind of cool and now it's just the typical pretentious barista energy. I'll just continue to order on DoorDash or buy coffee online so I don't have to interact with anybody that actually works at the cafés. Being coffee snobs is so 2015... lighten up

In my opinion, this is the best coffee shop in San Diego. The attention to detail in every shot of espresso is unmatched, and their consistency is incredible.

I live around the block from here . I was a frequent visitor in little Italy location since birth of their flagship store. Moved recently and was surprised they have another location nearby. I come in and buy their beans which are top tier quality. They will also grind them for you for your preferred liking . James Coffee has always been a Local Staple to San Diego .

I never write reviews... but just had to this time! I'm a simple gal that enjoys her espressos. I always knew James coffee is delicious but their espressos are fire! It's tough for me to find a good coffee that really works. It's so good that I've been door dashing it everyday for the past few days for conveniency. Not to mention... how cute did this barista write my name out? A perfect way to start the day.

Stop #1 of weight-gain 12 mile bike ride. i didn't try any food, but had a good tasting cappuccino, enhanced by cool-vibes environment. I would have preferred a more chocolatey blend and a little dryer overall, but ultimately, a well made cappuccino - no burnt taste, served at perfect temperature. A strong "B" for the coffee, an "A-" for the environment.

This is a great neighborhood walk up coffee spot! I was working in the area and made sure to stop by at a co-workers recommendation. Easy to miss on 30th Street... Just south of Meade immediately next to 7-Eleven. No parking on 30th Street, so make sure you park on Meade and DO NOT park at 7-11 (they tow) if you're in a car. I had the cinnamon honey latte and it was phenomenal! I grabbed a (Honduras) coffee to go and, after going to another major coffee shop pretty regularly for quite a while, James Coffee reminded me that this it was exactly what REAL coffee is supposed to taste like. Great service from smiling faces. Definitely looking forward to coming back and actually spending time enjoying my coffee at the sidewalk Adjacent bar here.

This shop is close to me so I've been coming here often since moving and I think it's a solid spot! Their drinks are well done, bear claw pastry was delish. I appreciate their nice cups and sustainability initiatives. Unfortunately I've been a bit irked with the service, the only barista who has been pleasant has been the tall African-American gentleman. With so many amazing coffee shops in north park it's a shame it's not more welcoming. I would be a daily regular here otherwise but there are other options.

I LOVE this place! I tried it for the first time on Monday and have already been back since. I tried the Gingerbread Chai and WOW, 1000/10. It was one of the best drinks I have ever had. It was absolutely delicious and I did not want it to end. The second time I went, they were out of chai, so I just got a Gingerbread Latte which was also really good! My partner tried the Honey Cinnamon Latte and rated it a 7/10. Their pastries are also delicious!!! Ham & Cheese Bear-Claw: 7/10, needed more filling. Jalapeño & Cheese Bear-Claw: 8/10, really good. I just wish it had more filling! Almond Croissant: Delicious! 8/10 Banana Muffin: SOOOO delicious! 1000/10 I highly recommend this coffee shop. I expect to be back many many more times!

This is a shop with some outside seating next to the Extraordinary Desserts. There is street parking (metered) nearby. The selection of coffee is very interesting, and the seating outside is very pleasant to spend some time studying or just enjoying a little slowdown in your schedule. I got the cold brew, and it was nice and refreshing. Overall a nice neighborhood spot.

I live a block away, I get coffee here every other week or so. The coffee is whatever but lemme explain why I gave 3 stars. I enjoy a pastry with my coffee, who doesn't right? However at James Coffee there is always at least 2-3 flies living their best life on the pastries. And the pastries look good why wouldn't they wanna be all up on that, I get it. But since the flies have taken to the baked goods, I sadly cannot. Ya know, cuz that's gross. During the heat wave a few weeks ago the flies were out of control, I'm talking like 5-6 flies eating free pastries and the workers are like Ight bet you go ahead flies we don't care, eat all them pastries. That day I finally wanted to know, WHY is James Coffee making pastries just to get fly swarmed. I asked the dude, hey there's always so many flies on the pastries have y'all tried to combat this? The worker looks me in the eyes and says, "we've tried everything, nothing works" Now I don't mean to blow your mind James Coffee, but they do sell devices with doors that open and close. Doors works quite well, you probably have one on the front of your house and I bet you've never had a break in. Take that same concept but make it smaller, boom problem solved. I've attached a picture for you as well, to save your imagination. One of those bad boys would work so well for your fly issue, and I can finally try one of those banana nut muffins. In all seriousness though, if you don't take my advice, please stop selling people those pastries. It's gross. Best of luck god speed.

Met at James Coffee bright and early with friends on a Sunday morning at 7:00 am. Love they are open early, the staff is friendly and they have a nice selection of pastries at the bakery. I didn't take a picture of the croissant because it was eaten too quickly by the group but I ordered the honey cinnamon coffee and it was sooooo amazing, I actually ordered a second after quickly dinning the first one down. I would definitely come back, my friends and I were laughing so much and filling that place up with laughter. We also had an impromptu photoshoot which I'll include here. Great lighting for selfies here! Cheers to James Coffee! #igworthy

I can honestly say that James Coffee is my first true coffee shop that I have been to. They do not disappoint. My cappuccino is very yummy and my wife got a chai latte and it also was incredibly yummy. The vibe here is very chill and cozy. There is a back patio to hang out under umbrellas or there is a mini porch you can sit out and enjoy the sun. There is large garage style doors that completely open up this coffee shop. The baristas are awesome, if you are a regular they remember you and are very nice and just add to the already positive vibe you get when walking in. Can't wait to come back.

Looking for a fantastic cold brew in a sweet little location? James Coffee is the spot. We stopped in in the afternoon so it was nice and quiet and we got a great deal on pastries with their afternoon happy hour (50% off when you buy coffee) but I would have been totally fine waiting a little for this coffee. They have a really cool reusable glass jar program where you pay a fee ($2.50 at this time) for a reusable glass jar but if you bring it back then you I believe get a discount on your next drink. Nonetheless for the cold brew the glass jar with a cookie was just the right feel, would definitely recommend! They also have some awesome pastries. We were there in the afternoon so obviously there wasn't as much variety but that only makes me believe if you're there first thing it's even better. The Maple Croissant might be the best pastry I've ever had in my life! Overall it's a fantastic location, the service is fast and the workers were friendly. They have a decent amount of seating, only challenge might be parking. But if you want some great coffee, James is a great choice!

5 stars because you can actually get an unsweetened matcha latte here! I mean, did you know the powder they use at Starbucks is half sugar? You can't even ask for it unsweetened cause the sugar is literally in the powder. And that's not unique to Starbucks. It's getting harder and harder to find a matcha latte that isn't full of junk. Matcha isn't supposed to have sugar in it! Give me an earthy taste with the option to just add a little if I want and that's James! Gripe over, but real talk. Glad James keeps it clean and OG.

What a nice find! Great little coffee shop that serves their coffee in reusable jars that you can bring back time and time again. They also included a cute little cozy for the glass as well. Americano was great, very fragrant, great coffee blend. I did not like the coffee soda. It was coffee served with topo chico and lime, too tart and acidic for me. Great spot to chill and chat, but I can see people coming here to do some work as well. Not too much seating, maybe 3 tables and a few seats on the deck.

Coffee is good and not too expensive. I always get Mexican mocha. Sometimes it's not as chocolatey as could be but it's good. Service is respectful and efficient.

James Coffee was my daily to go coffee shop when I was in San Diego for San Diego Comic Con and I absolutely love it - the staff is friendly and I love the store's open air design. And of course, the coffee is where it matters and on that front, the store does not disappoint at all - I had everything from the vanilla latte to the Mexican Mocha (quite a kick btw) and they were all fantastic without being too sweet. The store's unique pastries were also perfect for breakfast with the yuzu black sesame croissant being our absolute favorite. But we warned, pastries are in limited quantities. The store also has a environmentally friendly policy of having you pay $1.50 for a to go glass and sleeve for your iced coffee drink, which can be refunded when returned. Well, it's either environmentally friendly or a smart way of getting a customer to return - it certainly worked on me!

I have been coming to James for a couple of years now, about 2-3 times a month. I like coming here because the coffee is almost always good and consistent and the baristas are friendly, but the last couple times I've come, I've been super disappointed by the quality of the drink. I noticed I was having problems with the drink the last couple of times I've come in when it was this Caucasian male barista who made them. I always get the vanilla latte, but it is always vastly inconsistent when he makes it. When I came in last Tuesday in the morning, I noticed he doesn't measure out the syrups like the other baristas do and instead just pours it directly from the bottle into the cup, and this time the drink was way too sweet. The coffee itself also tasted bitter almost like a burnt aftertaste, and the milk was heavy with thick foam, which has never been an issue in the past years. These were the inconsistencies I was getting when ordering my drink with him recently, and it seems like he lacks the care and training to make a decent latte. It's definitely disappointing when I come in for a $7+ latte and the coffee quality is inconsistent between the baristas. Would be a 1-star because of him but 2-stars to recognize every other barista that is consistently good.

Decided to give James Coffee a try, as my partner and I had gotten plenty of recommendations from friends when we asked for coffee spots in our new neighborhood. We had a great visit! Parking was a bit hard to find since spots were limited, but we found a spot a couple blocks over. Once we got to the coffee shop, the baristas were friendly and informative of their menu, and made suggestions that we ended up ordering (the vanilla latte and the condense milk latte with nutmeg). We got the iced versions of each and opted to join the glass jar program (an additional $1.50 for each drink, which we didn't mind since we love the sustainability!). Both of our drinks were good, and the nutmeg in the condense milk latte was a nice touch! The inside seating was all taken, so we enjoyed our drinks out in the courtyard which was really nice since the weather was good and the area was quiet though other businesses were open (tattoo and barber shops). Overall, had a great visit and would suggest checking out James Coffee sometime during the middle of the day when parking is more likely to be found.

This is my second favorite James Coffee location. The coffee in general is phenomenal and all the food they have is addictive. Staff at all locations are very sweet. I've never had a single thing from this company that wasn't perfection. I absolutely love the outside seating. This one is great for dates, studying, working, or just relaxing and enjoying some sunshine.

This place is probably awesome in good weather. I went in April in my exploration of new coffee places to work and with all of their open doors... My coffee went cold quickly, and my fingers went numb, which made it hard to work. Good pastry, good coffee. Just probably best for a quick coffee meeting and not a work session. Haven't been back since.

While I enjoy their seasonal drinks, James Coffee unfortunately doesn't have the same convenience and ambiance of other shops. =GOOD= *Seasonal Drinks: options and combinations that make them distinct from other coffee locations. Particularly enjoyed their fall and winter offerings. Great use of nutmeg and cinnamon. *Fast Service: in and out within 5 minutes. *Jar System: environmentally friendly. =MEH= *Parking: very limited space. Previously could park on both sides of the road, now only the side opposing the storefront is available. *Location: while I appreciated the open space, there were only seats looking out onto the noisy road. Not recommended for groups or studying. *Jar System: the mandatory $1.50 deposit could be a surprising expectation for new consumers. While I ultimately find the reusable efforts great, this does add an extra charge and I usually don't have my jar with me when stopping by spontaneously. *Small Size: usually finished my iced drinks in a couple sips. *Honey Cinnamon: could have been stronger but I liked the spices. Too diluted. *Brownie: strange texture similar to flourless cakes. Not chocolatey, just powdery. One of my least favorite brownies. In terms of quality, James Coffee is very middling. Add on the fact that they're more expensive, inconvenient to get to, and limited in seating, and it's not the best experience. Perhaps I'll stop by again when I want a festive drink, but definitely not my recommended spot in SD.

Pricey coffee shop in the heart of north park. Cover picture in Google reviews has a croissant on it, but after being there twice, I have not spotted a single croissant in store. I am still determined to find that croissant! PS Chai latte was okay but wait for it was insane (given that I was second person in line)

Great coffee shop in North Park. Have visited the Little Italy location for probably close to a decade at this point, and embarrassingly enough today is my 1st visit to NP spot. I love the small patio with 8-10 seats and intimacy of this one. Coffee is highly reliable between all them, speaking to their commitment to the craft of coffee. Will be back asap

the coffee is good but the barista experience is not up to par. I ordered a SHORT latte which means equal parts espresso and milk, But i received a very milky drink. (this happens frequently) There is a huge lack of care when the baristas are making these drinks, i won't be going back again. It's not easy to get ur drink remade either because the baristas are never very friendly and it just feels like a hassle. it's the least you can expect when paying $10 for a drink. It's a bummer because it is a really great shop!

Nice coffee shop but it's more of a place to chill and chat rather than to work! They have a row of seating on their patio where you can just look out on their street. Whenever my bf and I come here, we always get the coffee soda! They hand the rest of the fizzy water to you which is nice. I like to order fizzy coffee a lot and I think this isn't the best I've had but it's still very refreshing!