As it is lovingly called, Carlsbad, or ‘The Village by the Sea,’ is one of the most visited tourist destinations in San Diego County. Irrespective of the season, you can always find the seashores of the Carlsbad beach filled with visitors, most of them being surfers. Numerous specialty cafes have popped up all around the city due to the demands of the increasing tourism industry and meeting expectations of the local’s love for crafted coffee.

If you are a first time visitor to Carlsbad and a coffee admirer, the below list can help you find the bars that serve some of the finest espresso shots and personalized drinks.

Café Ground Up

Owned and operated by an Italian native, now a Carlsbad resident, Gaetano Cicciotti, Café Ground Up mirrors the true vibes of an Italian café. Built with a great concrete pool deck in the back. Though a bit expensive compared to the contemporary expresso shots, the coffee bar still gained popularity, thanks to the locals belonging to the Italian descent. Another reason behind the ever-growing popularity of Ground Up is that it only serves Lavazza Coffee, the most popular coffee brand in Italy. And of course, for the local Americans and American tourists, regulars such as Expressos, Lattes, and Cappuccinos are always available. If you are a coffee crawler and want to taste the best of the Italian coffee, Café Ground Up is your go-to place.          

Copa Vida

Copa Vida is another specialty coffee store that has recently opened its doors to the caffeine needs of Carlsbad. Originally located in Pasadena, Copa Vida has slowly expanded its wings to some of the San Diego’s prime locations, such as Carlsbad, Sorrento Valley, and East Village, owing to the increasing demand. 

One of the unique features of this store is the ‘Honor Bar,’ which runs between 7 am to 10.30 am. During these hours, patrons can come in, fix their caffeine shots, leave the money, and kick-off for their daily routine. Bar’s signature drinks such as Kombucha, Cold Coffee, and selected expresso beverages have to be ordered. They may take some time to be served, and the shop is almost always busy with regular customers. This is a great place to hang out with friends and family over a finely blended coffee.

Beach Plum Kitchen

There can’t be a better place than Bach Plum Kitchen to enjoy your favorite morning coffee overlooking the scenic beauty of the Carlsbad Beach. Owned and operated by a local family, the coffee bar is designed, keeping in mind the vibes of a New England Summer. Though looks posh, Beach Plum is a relatively inexpensive bar offering crafted coffee and chef-quality dishes at a generous price tags. All coffee served here is 100% organic and is also Fair-trade certified. Organic beans collected from the local farmers are also roasted and grounded locally at Café Virtuoso before they are brewed to serve you. This is a must-visit place for healthy drinkers and nature admirers.