I searched “espresso near me” and found this proposal a short drive away from UCSD campus (1 exit off I-5) and it was worthy it. Delicious macchiato, cappuccino. Pretty generous baked good offerings for a small coffee shop. But the rating is for the coffee products only. [Revisit 6/2022, bought some beans]

Other than the strange location, busted up road, tiny parking lot, and train traffic, this place is awesome! They roast the beans at this location which is huge for me, and they actually know how to roast. It’s like fresh bread, just bc you have an oven doesn’t mean you can make bread. Yet they do know how to pull an espresso, so I approve. I just feel like they are just waiting for a prime lease to open up in LJ or Del Mar to let the world know they’ve arrived.

By far the best mocha I’ve ever had. Not overly sweet and the espresso tastes so fresh. They roast the beans fresh behind the counter. If you’re a coffee purist, then your not one until you’ve come here.

I had a pretty poor experience here. When I walked inside to order my tea there was a gentleman working on his laptop at the bar to the left with no other available seating inside as their tables still had not been turned over yet at 830am. After ordering my tea I proceeded to sit outside in the sun as there was none available in the shade. 30 mins had passed by and the gentleman at the inside bar had left, I went inside to sit and cool off and then was told there was no inside seating. Mind blowing, so with that being said customer service 0/0 On google it says coffee and tea. This is a coffee shop please do not let that tea in the name fool you. They have 3 options and the staff couldn’t make a good tea if they tried. The tea was incredibly watered down for an iced tea. This is more just a grab and go coffee spot nothing more. I wouldn’t say it was worth my time or money. If you want a Propper coffee and tea shop I would say go somewhere else. If you’re looking for a quick cup I’m sure this place is fine. There are just a lot better options in my opinion.

Delicious coffee. Honestly very good and their pastries were also tasty!

Zumbar Coffee, they know how to roast! Better yet, they know how to froth their almond milk! Super rich tight foam aerated to perfection. They expedite the line well to move you through, which I appreciated in the morning. They are located in a strip mall, so the ambience is not the greatest. Outdoor seating consists of a few tables, but it is loud due to the freeway proximity. When I'm in town I frequent the establishment because their coffee is intense, smooth with just a hint of bright notes. They do have pastries, but nothing really for specialty diets.

Went past this coffee shop a million times when I were in school but oddly never tried to come in. The smell of coffee beans is overwhelming cause you can see them being roasted in the back. The ice oat milk latte is highly recommended for its creaminess and not sweet at all.

Pros -nice place -ample of seating -coffee is delicious -delicious blueberry muffin Cons -mocha coffee was meh. They used chocolate syrup and you can taste the mediorce syrup. -parking lot is small.

Having been to many coffee shops in San Diego, I can confidently attest that Zumbar is undeniably the highest quality coffee in SD. Seriously, every time I take friends here they are always wowed by how amazing everything is.

Oh, where do I begin with Zumbar Coffee & Tea? The staff and atmosphere are absolutely top-notch, earning a solid five-star rating without a doubt. The moment you step in, you're embraced with warm hospitality that feels like a friendly coffee hug. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, making it the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy your favorite brew. Now, about the latte... *sigh* Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to the rest of the experience. I must be honest; I was left disappointed with the latte, as it tasted more like 90% milk than the rich, robust coffee goodness I was hoping for. It lacked that strong espresso kick that makes a latte truly memorable. A latte with too much milk can feel like drowning your coffee dreams, and that's what happened here. However, despite the latte hiccup, I would still encourage you to visit Zumbar Coffee & Tea for the exceptional staff and inviting atmosphere. Their dedication to service and creating a welcoming space deserves all the stars. Who knows, maybe they can work some magic on the latte front in the future. But for now, stick to their other offerings and bask in the positive vibes they effortlessly deliver. Here's to hoping for a better latte experience next time!

JAN/2023. We are here again. 2 cappuccinos plus 2 americanos this time. Quality👍, price 👍 —- First time here. Me and my wife ordered 3 Americanos and 1 Macchiato. Don't need to say how good their coffee is ❤️

Great coffee. The service was friendly, and I received a quick red eye. I picked up a bag of the Ethiopian Dinkinesh Hirbaye, which has notes of peach, spice, and strawberry. I also had their vegan morning glory muffin, which was moist, dense, and delicious!

This place is for people who have a discerning palate when it comes to coffee. They select and roast their own beans. You can watch a coffee mad scientist working the roasting machine. Their baristas are top notch. Snacks are from VG donuts. Either of their two locations are worth the visit.

Great place

If you like really good, well made, freshly roasted coffee this is your place. I've been going 5 times a week for a month now. Very nice staff, but there main focus is QUALITY coffee. The pour-overs are sublime. Only get the cold brew if you're ready for an intense caffeine rush... The owner makes the best latte I've had in San Diego yet...milk frothed to perfection with a rich espresso flavor. I love everything about this place. Best blueberry muffins I've ever had too!

Great latte with a balanced milk froth and espresso. The latte art is pretty decent too!

(Translated by Google) Cut, cut, cut !! (Original) Cortado, cortado, cortado!!

We have a new champion of coffee in Zumbar Coffee & Tea . Granted, if you don't count places that are more about the food (Higher Grounds, Zumbar Coffee & Tea , etc), or chains, then I've really only been to Martha & Bros and Creighton's. But still, this place is in a league of its own.

Small local shop. No nonsense. Decent coffee. Nice for a short break. Commonly find people working there. Not much seating.

Nice small coffee shop vibe. Only notes are limited seating and no soy milk substitution (only almond and oat).

Delicious coffee and pastries, consistently friendly service!

Great Coffee, Great Service love the Croissants (Almond), the barista, young woman, is spot on for creating a great tasting beverage. Mahalo

Local Coffee Shop and delicious. 2nd cup free.

Excellent service; I will back. The employees are cool, and the inside is extremely nice, with bright yellow colors and plenty of seats! The coffee shop is fantastic.

We love Zumbar! Best latte and cappuccino I’ve ever had. Favorite coffee shop ever!

I have a long history with this shop because the owner trained all of the baristas at my second job (not Zumbar). I don't think I've ever left a review before now though even though I now come here frequently. But I thought I would today because I was super impressed that the barista was able to pour a perfect rosetta on a macchiato. I have 5 years of barista experience and I know that's not easy. You have to have perfect espresso and milk consistency and pouring technique to pull that off, and it was also delicious. Their customer service is also always excellent, they're always calm and friendly even when really busy and I always feel welcome here. I also prefer the modest authentic minimalist vibe over some of the other flashier but lesser quality cafe's in SD. This place is the real deal, such a hidden gem!

I like the taste of the cappuccino. Well done. Forgot to take a picture, though. I prefer to have latte art on my cappuccino, this one has been mostly white.

Really good coffee. The lattes are skillfully made and the foam really addsa nice sweetness to an unsweetened latte. Their pastries are from VGs donuts and Opera which are notable establishments. We always buy beans in bulk from zumbar bc they're sourced and roasted knowledgeably

Their mocha is sooo good! One of the best coffee shops! Would definitely go more if there was more seating (less with covid) and location for outdoor seating/reading. Still try to visit though since its great coffee!

My favorite coffee shop in San Diego. All their coffee is great, I just LOVE their lattes. They're made perfectly, the microfoam makes it feel sweet. Seating is limited. Make sure you order in ceramic cup and not paper-to-go, the beauty of drinking good coffee is in savoring every drop slowly and appreciating the presentation too.

The coffee is excellent, and so the tea (or, at least, the darjeeling I drink). The few pastries they have are also good.

Zumbar has to be one of the best roasters I've ever sampled across the US. We visited 9 different cafe / roastery brands and local chains over the past 7 days. We've been on a self guided espresso tour throughout a road trip across LA and San Diego. Zumbar has to be in our top 3 of that local list. Incredible espresso and professional staff. However, this store front isn't exactly a relaxing or interesting place to hang out. They roast coffee on site, so it was a bit chaotic. We'll definitely order some roasts from here online. However, their store front isn't much of a cafe compared to Mostra, Bird Rock, James Coffee, or Dark Horse.

Been awhile since I've been here. Love the roasting in house. I Wish they took cash though. Drip coffee $3.00 very good.

The coffee was pretty tasty. The music played in the cafe was very good, Spanish lyrics and Latin styles created a relaxed atmosphere. The music reflected flavors of the coffee and baked treats.

Fantastic little coffee shop! The croissants are delicious.

Great to find a small, independent roaster in San Diego. Double great to find one who roasts only that which can be delivered consistently well. Zumbar has a couple of blends, but the standout to me is the single origin Ethiopian. They understand and deliver the goods with bursts of blueberries and black raspberries in a joyous, naturally processed coffee. Thank you!

I sometimes forget how satisfying and filling a cappuccino paired with a croissant really is. COVID destroyed my morning coffee/croissant runs, but I am so glad that Zumbar does takeout so that I can still get some semblance of normalcy. My friend and I shared these two croissants (almond and regular). I also had a cappuccino, and he had a latte. Coffee content was solid as always, albeit the prices have slightly increased (understandable as local businesses have been severely affected by the quarantine orders). Even then, this is a place to continue supporting during times like these!

Super good! 😅👍💕

The ambiance was so peaceful and relaxing. The taste of your coffee and cakes were so tasty and satisfying. I enjoyed doing my works in your wonderful shop. It was very convenient to visit this place as well. I had a lot of paper works to be done, so I decided to go to your coffee shop to do it there. Thumbs up!

Very warm and hipster place The coffee and food is good. service is excellent . their no laptop policy is for sure get them over the top.

Always producing consistent, strong, tastefully-brewed coffee and espresso. I really appreciate this place for what it is.

Very good coffee, their croissant are also very good, they come from another place called Opera, but who cares, they are among the best i know in San Diego. Too bad they don't carry more viennoiseries (like chocolate croissant raisin rolls etc) to pair with coffee. I also recommend their beans for espresso: called Hummingbird. Very very good

Love the flavors of their coffee. Prices are a little high for my liking, but it's a nice treat.

Their latte with almond milk was phenomenal , but it took forever to make

I take double shot espresso here. And it is really good!

Great cold brew and whole bean coffee at a reasonable price.

Nice little coffee shop and toaster in the outskirts of San Diego. Coffee was good and friendly baristas.

Good food fast service! Love it.

Very good coffee, the caramel apple cider and iced coffee are both delicious,". They halos have a yard which has a big tree in it, the shadow makes it cool !Very quiet and good atmosphere !

Good espresso, slow service, no seating during covid, limited food options

"Reasonably good atmosphere - metal tables but a fair bit of wood around.

They were nice, professional, and accurate to what was the order. The place was also captivating.

If you want burned espresso, please stop by. The water used to brew the espresso was so hot I nearly burned my fingers through the lid. Most of the positive reviews mention their mixed coffees with added sugars or milks which does a good job of masking bitter tasting burned coffee. If you are looking for a straight coffee or espresso, save your money and go somewhere else. Additionally, good try with the sustainable cups, but this shop should invest in products that actually keep coffee inside the cup. The lid, although completely fixed in place, continued to leak while trying drink this unenjoyable beverage. The only saving grace was the nice and polite service.

(Translated by Google) Great expresso (Original) Great expresso

Great low key spot, good coffee, good people

Covid 19 rules apply

Truly one of the best coffee shops in SD. We go there everyday for our afternoon coffee.. Hummingbird is a good choice if you're looking to buy some beans. They can grind it for you too. Just need to tell em the grind size. If you're trying to avoid coffee, their herbal tea is the best in SD in my experience.

Been going for years...the most amazing coffee in San Diego.

Great beans and great brews. Convenient to work helps.

One of my favorite locally owned coffee shops. Their beans, which they roast right in store by the way, are great too. It's sad that they close on weekends since they are in a business area that doesn't get much weekend traffic. My spouse who works closeby will drive here to get coffee and it is always crowded, a good sign. The baristas are quick to serve you though.

Some of the best coffee in all of San Diego.

small, noisy but delicious

Good and simple coffee.

Very good coffee. Clean and nice ambiance.

Great coffee! One of the best latte you could find in San Diego. Their latte have a special taste that you will never find in other places!!!

A nice small coffee shop in the Sorrento Valley area. Have been going there for years now and enjoy all the drinks and pastries. In the mornings I like french press and in the evenings either Latte or cappuccino. Service is good and I like their cookies and pastries too.

Very good coffee...!!