Scrimshaw Coffee

This cozy neighborhood spot truly captures the heart of a simple, genuine coffee and kitchen experience. The coffee drinks are smooth and well made, paired perfectly with fresh baked treats. We also tried the Egg sandwich and latte was wonderfully soft and fresh. A charming place that easily earns five stars.

I’ve been to Scrimshaw a number of times because I believe in supporting local spots, especially in this community. I’ve had their food and coffee on different mornings. Everything has been decent. The space is curated, the music is good, and there’s a clear intention behind the atmosphere. The coffee is sourced with care, and there’s a quiet suggestion that what’s being offered is something elevated. I’m not a coffee expert, so I can’t speak to subtle differences in quality, but nothing stood out to me as justifying the price. Spending $15–$20 for a drink and something modest feels steep for what it is. I can afford it; that isn’t the issue. What’s harder to justify is paying premium prices for an experience that feels ordinary. In a neighborhood where good, clean food that actually satisfies isn’t difficult to find, the value simply doesn’t land. The service never quite met the eye; it functioned, but it did not extend. I returned a few times hoping it would settle differently. It didn’t. At some point you stop trying to make a place work for you. It has the bones to be something better. For now, though, I don’t see myself returning.

Wanted more! Santa Sleigh was an amazing twist of coffee+fruit+tropics! Perfect for Christmas time in San Diego! Try it before the season changes!

The best coffee shop I’ve been to so far! They have to the best coffee! If you’re looking for great coffee, this is the stop. They have several options, also if you like sweet/ flavored coffee they have options, but it’s not overly sweet where it’s overly sweet. Absolutely incredible service, the employees are kind, helpful and overall makes the experience better! The atmosphere is great, they have space where you can sit and enjoy your coffee, if you’re in town or live here you have to try it! Also such a great place to do some work!

We love this place! Great coffee, nice people, dogs welcome, delicious sandwiches, fun mugs, beer and wine selection, too.

Nice neighborhood café with warm, inviting, and friendly vibes. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there is some metered street parking available. The menu offers a great variety, including bagels, pastries, beer, wine, lattes, matcha, and coffee. I ordered the Vietnamese and vanilla iced lattes with breve, and both were solid with great-quality espresso. The vanilla latte, tasted like house made vanilla syrup, which is certainly a positive. There’s also plenty of indoor seating, which is a big plus. Overall, a lovely spot to hang out and enjoy a good latte. ☕️✨

Drinks are amazing and well priced, the food is overpriced and not worth it. Don't get me wrong thre bagle tasted fine i was still a bit hungry when done, size of this thing was tiny and as of q3 2025 costed $13.5... like i understand lox are expensive... but come on $13.5? where on el cajon and 56th where supposed to be in the less expensive area! I love this place just wanted to give criticism. drinks are way better than any chain for almost price parody. so come here for drink and expect to pay a good bit for food

Today I stopped by this coffee shop by chance. I couldn't find a matcha on the menu, so I had a classic latte. Let's start with the atmosphere of the place. Overall, it's good here, I can't say that I really liked it, but it's probably the style of the interior. There is enough space inside and outside. All the seats inside were taken, so I sat outside. In addition to coffee, there are various snacks and a selection of desserts. Although they didn't really appeal to me 😀 Additional accessories and clothing are available for sale. You can also buy coffee beans. The service is nice and your coffee will be brought to your table. Let's move on to the main thing, the coffee ☺️ it is really good here. I liked everything about it. The right temperature of the drink, the right whipped milk and even a nice drawing. The barista knows his job. I am satisfied with the coffee. I recommend coming here for a cup of delicious coffee😍

Very friendly staff and great coffee! It is a smaller cafe so get there during non-busy times to get a table. Very cute and relaxing inside, great for work from home days. Dog friendly - I say there for a few hours with my dog and we had a great time! Plus Size - Seats do not have arms & sturdy. The stools at the counter are small and a bit unsteady, I do not recommend sitting there.

Food: ordered an iced americano and it was v smooth and well priced Parking: a good amount of free street parking behind the store Studying vibes: lots of studying space and wasnt too busy when i went on a sunday afternoon! Some outlets near the front and back though if it's really busy you may not get seating near there. Wifi was going in and out which wasn't ideal for work Service: they're nice!

Woooooow this place just has an amazing vibe and the roast of the coffee is on point to change seasonally I could tell yesterday's espresso had berry and herbal notes resemblance of the winter seasons. So delicious and they use the best brand milks. I will definitely be returning! They are so nice here!

Nice neighborhood café with warm, inviting, and friendly vibes. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there is some metered street parking available. The menu offers a great variety, including bagels, pastries, beer, wine, lattes, matcha, and coffee. I ordered the Vietnamese and vanilla iced lattes with breve, and both were solid with great-quality espresso. The vanilla latte, tasted like house made vanilla syrup, which is certainly a positive. There's also plenty of indoor seating, which is a big plus. Overall, a lovely spot to hang out and enjoy a good latte.

So I've heard great things about Scrimshaw! I got their vanilla latte and cold brew. The latte was alright, and their cold brew was also average. They weren't that strong in terms of coffee-ness and it was very mellow tasting. Not too acidic so that's a bit of a good thing (at least for me). I might be wrong but you could only order one size off the menu? They also weren't so busy when I went but I'd have to try something else off their menu next time I come. There were generous amounts of seating and seems like a great place to study for students. The workers were super uber nice and orders were taken swiftly.

Really great coffee and I love the egg sandwiches on the brioche bun. The interior is cozy and well designed and staff is super cool!

Service was nice and attentive, it's a calm and chill local coffee spot. They have wine and beer too if you fancy something alcoholic. Didn't try any food on this visit but I do like that my cappuncino is served in a ceramic cup. Too many places serve in to go containers. Let me enjoy my sip.

I really wanted to love this place-- they have some really unique seasonal drinks! We got 50 First Dates: A spiced date cappuccino, served with a salted cinnamon cold foam. As well as The Perfect Pear: Matcha with pear & star anise syrup & pear cold foam. Once again, I really wanted to love this place. I mean these drinks sounded so good. Sadly, something fell flat. Cappuccino tasted off-- was not sweet and the coffee was a bit watery. I ran into the same issue with my matcha. Also if you're going to do cold foam on your drinks-- please do sip lids. I'd love to try these place out again. Their past seasonal specials sounded amazing and maybe it was a one time occurrence.

I'll keep this review as brief as my experience. My friends from Seattle wanted fancy coffee to grab and go. No wait and 5 minutes later all 4 of us had our beverage of choice and were on our way. Great seating both indoors and outdoors.

Was looking for a spot to grab a bag of coffee for a present and came across this place in the area. Nice, cool spot with a relaxing lounge area inside. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and I ended up getting a seasonal flavor (apple bottom jeans) which was tasty. I don't know why I didn't expect it to have coffee, since I don't normally drink it, but it did so that was interesting to try. Thanks so much!

After taking my dog to the groomers, I headed over to try Scrimshaw Coffee. I see it so often on my drives home but I was finally able to check them out for myself. Super cute inside and not too fussy, I ended up getting an iced matcha latte sweetened with honey. The barista was really sweet to my dog Kodi and they gave him a little doggie bone, he's a picky boy so he declined. He was a little restless from his grooming appointment, so I went to their outside seating where other pups were. There's a lot of seating outside and inside and it looks like they have a breakfast menu too. The ladies outside were eating bagels and it looked so delicious. When my matcha was ready, I headed back to the designated parking behind the store fronts. My matcha was perfect and gave me the right amount of energy for my morning.

Came here to grab some coffee for the day and I wasn't disappointed. I got a cold brew and was deciding on some food when the Pink Lady bagel sandwich caught my eye. It's an everything bagel with apples, cream cheese, honey, and salt - which may sound a tad strange but I wasn't disappointed. The flavors go amazing together! The baristas were nice and welcoming, and the service was pretty fast. The music playing in the shop wasn't too loud, and there are chairs/tables outside as well. My only gripe was that there didn't seem to be many outlets to plug in your devices, which could be a concern for some people with devices that drain pretty fast. Overall, the cold brew and food was great and I will be coming back here again!

Great neighborhood coffee shop! They do coffee, beer, wine, and food. A great place to meet a friend, plenty of small table seating inside and out. Staff was very friendly.

Mocha latte had FROTHED milk. So foamy and sweet, reminded me of a candy bar that melted in my mouth. Taste settled.down after I Iapped up all foamy milk. Would get again. Pastrami sandwich for my early lunch. The combination of salty pastrami, brown mustard, pickles, and cheese was a great midday snack.

I saw this place while driving down El Cajon and decided to grab some coffee on a whim. The place is cute with a patio outside if you wanted to bring your pup along. I love cafes with unique latte selections so I tried their seasonal Meyer Hawthorne which is supposed to taste like lemon pound cake in latte form. The lemon syrup was light and the latte tasted great.

First of all! I love how this is walkable to get to in MY neighborhood! When I moved here I would recall this shop every time I drive by and thinking I need to go. And inside and was greet by staff and a fully packed house full of students in their lap tops. I was also happy to see that they roast their own beans from a local place that the owners seem to run also? Someone fact check me. I just know it's roasted locally. I enjoy ordering their salmon bagel and on the weekends they have special brunch items and I've grabbed a couple burritos from there. Not the huge ones you'd expect but pairs well with my drink and gives me the entertainment to walk back home. I like coming here and really getting to know the neighborhood.

Their matcha is fantastic! I also had their lox bagel and it's great. My kids got croissants and loved them. Haven't enjoyed everything inside yet, but it seems like a cute little area. Service has always been fast and friendly!

Not understanding all the five star reviews for this place. Came in at 3pm on a Tuesday and was happy to see beer on their menu, aside from just coffee. They had four selections on tap, but only one available during the time I went which was a bummer. They also serve wine and have to go beers in the fridge. I typically like to try the in house coffee, but again, they ran out and stopped brewing the house brew coffee for the day. I opted for the cold brew which came out to $5.90 which is typical but it was only decent. The vibes are chill, but there are plenty other better coffee shops in the area. Service was good, store wasn't busy at all. Maybe they were having an off day, I'll give this place another try down the road, but nothing special.

Friendly service! They have a lot of seating both inside and outside. Went during a Friday afternoon, spent about 1.5 hrs doing some work on my laptop. They have Wi-Fi available and outlets in multiple areas. The coffee was absolutely delicious and so was the breakfast bagel! Would come back again.

Parking can be a bit challenging due to the neighborhood, but this charming little coffee shop is worth it. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a relaxed, casual vibe. There are plenty of seating options, both indoors and outdoors, along with a small bar area for those looking to work or study. Their latte was excellent--I've already visited twice and will definitely be back!

This coffee shop has a nice ambiance, a creative vibe. It appeared clean, and customer service was very good. I loved the pastries they served. However, the cafe americano I got was honestly pretty bad. The espresso was acrid and tasted bad, I almost threw it away but I needed the caffeine so I drank a little bit of it. If they just figure out how to make good espresso, this place has the potential to be great.

Great espresso! tried several other coffee shops and none compare to this spot. Pastries are really good here too! The service is here is exceptional and the vibe is chill. Love the Christmas decorations this time of year!

Scrimshaw is a great spot to bring your laptop, get some work done, and sip on a refreshing Iced Chai. If you like a little background noise while you work, this café has the perfect lively-but-not-too-loud vibe. I also grabbed a croissant while I was there--it wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was a solid snack to keep me going through the day. They have WiFi available--you just need to ask one of the super friendly staff members for the password. Overall, a cozy and welcoming place to be productive.

Great spot for coffee and fast casual food. My favorite breakfast item is the Lox Deluxe; extra points to any place that serves all-day breakfast! Meanwhile, my overall favorite's the Tamago Sandwich from the lunch menu which starts being served from 10a 'til close. No private parking lot, but it's usually not too crazy finding street parking in the neighborhood, but I can imagine it getting busy if there was an event at the nearby church/school. There's something on the coffee menu for everyone, from deliciously decadent seasonal lattes to a solid drip coffee (completed in a cute café custom mug for the gram). The staff is always so nice and attentive, even on busy days. The shop would be even better with outdoor shade and more group seating, but overall this is a nice relaxed spot to enjoy a treat and small coffee chat.

I was looking for a simple avocado and cream cheese bagel, and Scrimshaw seemed to be one of the few options. I wanted something quick and easy, and service was fast. It was good but not great. Not nearly enough cream cheese and way too many sprouts. The goat cheese and chili flakes are a good addition, but every bite was just a mouthful of sprouts. I ended up picking out clumps of sprouts just so I could actually taste the cream cheese and avocado, but the layers are just spread too thin. Street parking only. Good amount of seating and cute interior. Friendly staff. I would come back to try the coffees or other food items, but I would not get the avocado bagel again.

Great neighborhood coffee shop with yummy drinks and breakfast bites. The decor is minimalist but cute and the service is fantastic. Definitely recommend trying this local gem.

There is a straightforward, simple menu with in a chill vibe that's perfect for studying or getting some work done. The drinks aren't particularly special, but the staff is friendly. I really like that the bathroom has a basket filled with quality feminine care products; it's a nice little extra that makes the experience better.

What a cool coffee spot located on El Cajon Blvd near 54th St. This place had a hip vibe and all the baristas were very polite. I ended up ordering the Figgy Azaela Latte which is a seasonal latte. This was a fig forward latte and it was delicious, smooth and served at the right temperature. Definitely recommend trying Scrimshaw out if you're end this area and not all cool coffee places are located in North Park :)

Overall cafe is super bare bones and minimalistic with not much decor going on but seemed like a really good spot to work from with the mellow music and chill vibes as there were a lot of people on their laptops. I ordered the Figgy Izaela and it was so delicious! It's a fig cardamon drink that was supposed to have a fresh fig garnish which they stopped doing apparently. Overall, the latte was absolutely delicious - not too sweet with cardamon nicely dusted into the latte. I would totally come back just for this drink because of how well-balanced the flavors are!

I like the vibe of this place. Definitely seems like a more neighborhood-y kind of place. A decent amt of both indoor and outdoor seating and it was packed on a Saturday around 2. They focus on mostly coffee but do offer wine (and even a wine club!). I got an Americano since I wanted something that wasn't too heavy. Americano was decent. Pretty smooth albeit nothing standout in terms of flavor. They seem to have some pretty cool house seasonal drinks with housemade ingredients. Would probably try one of those the next time.

Overall: 3.5/5, imbalanced espresso but otherwise great Drink: 3.5/5, lowkey disappointed me I expected better. The espresso was super acidic and under sweetened and the latte tasted kinda watered down. Still 3.5 because it did taste good overall just not great. Espresso: 3/5, once again very very acidic. Food: 5/5, bagel was super good no complaints. Great bagel Ambiance: 4.5/5, would study here. Only not a 5 cause I didn't love the tables. Service: 4/5, kinda confused here actually. Don't know what to think. But my mom bothered them so they get 4/5.

I am obsessed with their seasonal Lates, every few months I get visit and experience and new drink. My favorite has been the iced butter late ( tastes like a cozy hug in mug). I am still curious about their food as I have only tried their bagels! Additionally, I appreciate how dog friendly the shop is. The staff are always friendly and willing to explain their seasonal drinks!

Great ambience excellent service and drink was amazing... would highly recommend and will be going back

Small cute spot, prices were good, and I ordered food and drinks both delicious ! A bagel and burrito with some coffee!

My husband and I did not enjoy Scrimshaw Coffee. The lattes tasted only like milk, I was skeptical if they put any espresso in it. If you are a soccer mom the lattes might be tame enough for you if you enjoy chocolate milk-like drinks. Bagel sandwiches were good. Parking is scarce, good luck trying to parallel park on bustling El Cajon Blvd. I was happy and excited to try and support my local coffee shop. Ended up being disappointed. Service and ambiance were intimidating and stale. Will not be coming back.

I've always wanted to come here since living around the area. It's a very modern coffee shop with a seasonal menu. What I got: -Mama, it's surely a Dream. 11/10 I usually do not like orange-y drinks but this one changed my mind! It's subtle and not TOO citrus-y Pros: - Service: All the workers were very knowledgable and friendly especially when asking for recommendations - Drinks: The seasonal drinks are very good! I would highly recommendation trying them before they change! Cons: - Consistency: The first time I got my drink it was great, the 2nd time ... it tasted more like a vanilla latte. - Parking: (not taking off a start for this) There is limited parking so beware! The first time I went I had to park in the neighborhood

Very cool space to work and study with a delicious cup of coffee. I had an iced americano, and it was so good!!! Their coffee is so flavorful. I loved it. The space is open and nice, seat is comfortable. Service is very good and friendly.

Its been a long time since i should have posted this. Scrimshaw is my favorite coffee shop, by far, in San Diego. Constantly hitting all the marks i look for in a coffee shop. Yummy coffee. Good Vibes. Good food. Good people. This shop makes me feel beyond welcomed every time i stop by, shout out to Scrimshaw for staying true and consistent.

Amazing place for breakfast! The lox deluxe bagel is my absolute favorite, even though I'm a messy eater, it's totally worth it. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for starting the day. I didn't catch the name of the man at the front desk with tattoos, but he was so kind and patient, helping me out when I couldn't get my words right. The food arrived quick and fancy (probably cause it was starting morning.) but I consider it a win.

The vegetarian breakfast bagel is always consistently great here. I wish the menu was bigger because i would love to try more food items or speciality drinks. But this is a good local staple that's been around and will stick around.

Cute coffee shop with lots of indoor and outdoor seating! Seems like a popular place to study/work too. Latte was excellent and the staff were very friendly and quick to make my drink! The music inside was really good too, I might just have to come back and get some work done here!

I heard some good things about Scrimshaw Coffee, so I decided to pay them a visit. Unfortunately I found the beverages to be below average in quality. We ordered the chai latte and the vanilla latte. Both were a bit cold, and the chai latte was very watered down and flavorless. The ambiance wasn't up to par either, as the music was a bit too loud for a cafe that had half the people working on their laptop. The walls were plain white and a bit dirty, could use a fresh look or some decorations. However I must say the service was excellent as the baristas and the cashiers were very kind.

Nice space to work and socialize with people! Free wifi with a few seats with power outlets. I ordered the London Fog, which tasted as it should, but it felt pretty watered down. It still tasted good, but I wish there was more milk or tea to avoid the watered down taste. My boyfriend got the seasonal drink Coconut Head, which I thought tasted pretty good. Very much a bright summer drink with undertones of dark cold brew.

Cute, almost industrial looking, coffee shop with some seating inside and outside. The music is a little loud but not unbearable. The barista that took my order was extremely helpful and gave me options based on what I told him I liked. He didn't make me feel like I was inconveniencing him by asking questions. I took his suggestion of Vietnamese coffee that's made with cold brew and the soyrizo burrito which he had said he really liked. I highly recommend both. The coffee isn't overly sweet and the burrito was so flavorful. I will definitely be back to try other things! Keep in mind, they only do brunch on weekends. Coming in on a Sunday morning at 8am was not nearly as packed as I expected it to be. There was plenty of seating open for me to sit and enjoy my coffee and breakfast!

Great coffee spot located off El Cajon blvd! Been here a few times now and have enjoyed each experience. Nice coffee and breakfast items! The service has been friendly and patient. The inside is very spacious and is great for studying/working. There is some outdoor seating as well! My boyfriend and I like to visit this place when we're in the area!

I must be living under a rock!!! Scrimshaw has been here for five years and I work down the street! LOL! A friend of mine invited me here and they have wine and beer! So when another friend of mine was in town for 24 hours, I suggested we meet here since her mom lives in the area. It's a cute unassuming place and great to meet up with friends and chat. I had a cappuccino that was too pretty to drink and an almond croissant. They get their baked goods from Bread & Cie, so yes, score on the baked goods!!! I will definitely be back, especially when I want to run away and hide from work!

Just tried Scrimshaw and ordered the Figgy Azalea latte. Overall a 10/10 latte, my wife ordered a chai latte and we also had a plain latte. All the drinks were perfectly done! We'll be back for sure.

The latte I ordered here tasted like a full cup of oat milk with a drop of coffee.... In other words... The coffee did not smack (It was not good) I was pretty sad about it

Was in town for a day and decided to stop in Saturday morning with some friends who recommended the drip coffee and burritos here. Surprisingly it wasn't very busy at the time and we were able to get our order in quickly. Food: Got the breakfast burrito, bagel with cream cheese, and black drip coffee. Love the coffee, it doesn't take much to impress me in terms of coffee and I'm certainly not any expert but I can taste the freshness in the drink. Breakfast burrito was average at most. Solid eggs and bacon within but I didn't feel like anything stood out. Their bagel was delicious though! I got cream cheese on the side but didn't need it because the way the bagel was toasted was tasty enough. Parking: Seemed like most people had to park on the street so I can see if parking can be annoying at times since it's on a busy street. We didn't have an issue parking immediately in front though. Ambiance: I was told it was unusually empty the morning I came but is usually packed normally on a weekend morning. The inside was clean and open with lots of room. I can imagine a really great vibe in there when it's lively. Service was great and friendly, seemed like they build a rapport with the regulars who come in. Great small town feel coffee shop with good tasting coffee! Excited to come here in the future to try more menu items on their brunch menu but as of now I can say the grub is satisfactory.