Dark Horse Coffee Roasters in San Diego is the North Park direct-trade roastery and cafe on 30th Street, a tight grab-and-go counter with small-batch single origins since 2013.
Tip: The Juniper Street location is the larger sit-down room; this 30th Street counter is the grab-and-go.
Address: 3794 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
James Coffee Co in San Diego is the Little Italy roaster and cafe on Kettner Boulevard, the independent third-wave brand that expanded from Pasadena to San Diego in 2014.
Signature drink: Cortado
Tip: The cortado is the bar's strength; the rooftop bar above runs evenings if you want the night version.
Tartine in Coronado is the long-running First Street European cafe and bistro near the Ferry Landing, with patio seating, pastries, sandwiches and an all-day drinks list.
Signature drink: European cafe coffee with pastry
Tip: Indoor and patio seating; reservations recommended on weekends, the patio fills by 11am.
Hob Nob Hill in San Diego is the Bankers Hill 1944 institution where the bakery counter opens at 6am, with fresh muffins, cakes and the long-running American breakfast served all day.
Signature drink: Filter coffee with biscuits and gravy
Tip: Get a counter seat at 7am for the bakery-fresh muffin; the dining room runs lunch and dinner too.
Bread and Cie in San Diego is the Hillcrest European bakery and cafe on University Avenue, a rustic stone-hearth bread room serving cafe drinks, sandwiches and pastries since 1995.
Signature drink: Cappuccino with focaccia
Tip: The kalamata olive bread is the room's signature; the cafe serves sandwiches on house-baked rolls.
Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee in San Diego is the Costa Mesa import in Del Mar Highlands Town Center, a small-batch doughnut counter rotating six monthly flavours alongside the daily six.
Signature drink: Drip coffee with seasonal doughnut
Tip: The huckleberry doughnut and the butter-and-salt are the recurring strengths; arrive by 9am for the full case.
Lofty Coffee in North County is the Encinitas Coast Highway roaster and cafe, a converted gas station with a wide patio and Lofty's direct-trade single origins.
Signature drink: Filter pour-over
Tip: The patio runs heater-equipped year-round; the Encinitas cafe is the original of the four-cafe group.
