Coffee & Tea Collective

By far my favorite coffee shop in San Diego. One word consistency. They make good coffee. All the baristas are cool and ride their bikes to work. C & T also puts on monthly events and art shows. Although at times a bit crowded, I can alway find a good quite spot to perch up and drink my caffeine.

one of the best coffee shops in San Diego! I love just getting a 6 oz cappuccino here! they train well on foam consistency and latte art. I’m super impressed most of the time: some baristas don’t pull espresso shots as well as others which leaves a feeling of inconsistency. but they’re still better than most! :)
love that they partner with my favorite breakfast spot: wow wow waffles! if u see a waffle, snag one! :) heard the toast is good but I’ve yet to try it!

This place is perfect for studying and getting some work done. The customer service is great. The seating is limited. They have some stuff for sell like shirts and mugs. I would definitely recommend their latte

Super tasty coffee with a minimalistic but cute interior design. Really nice and informative baristas– would recommend!

Came in to get a quick coffee with my brother a couple of weeks ago, my brother decides to order a latte with almond milk, and the cashier says «you know almond milk is really bad for you?» and then goes on «yeah there’s lots of preservatives in it, you shouldn’t be drinking that stuff». By this time it’s clearly stated on their menu they offer lattes with almond milk. Like what kind of horrible coffee drinking hipster tells you almond milk is bad for you.
He goes on, «we’ll make it for you anyway».
Anyways, if you’re reading this, almond milk is bad for you so don’t order it with your coffee next time you are at coffee and tea collective.
Way to up-​sell. You’ll do great in the food/​beverage industry biz.
The iced coffee I had was pretty good though. And my brother said his latte was «aight».
definitely worth a visit every once in a while.

When my friend was in town for the weekend visiting San Diego, we came here about mid-​morning to relax and enjoy coffee.
One of my other friends had recommended this cute coffee shop, and I fell in love immediately with its décor. It’s really artsy and the exact type that inspires my creativity. I loved everything, from the logo to the set-​up.
The menu was limited (at least, that was my first impression when we went to visit in July), but I still was able to find something I liked. My friend and I basically got the same thing, except I ordered mine with almond milk. The food menu is pretty limited, so I wouldn’t necessarily come here if you’re looking for breakfast. But, they do have some cookies and waffles, I believe.
Since it was a normal Friday in July, we didn’t have too many problems finding parking and the coffee shop was pretty empty. This is a great spot to just hang out and chill with friends, and it’s also a nice spot if you’re looking to get some work done.
Here’s what we ordered:
«Latte»: I usually prefer cold/​iced drinks, but on this particular morning, I was craving something warm. My friend and I both got lattes, but I asked for almond milk with mine. The latte was comforting and served at the perfect temperature – not scalding hot so I burned my mouth – but I was pretty impressed with their coffee art. The designs were beautiful (my friend and I got different ones) and we were able to take good shots of them before they dissolved.

Super hipster spot, I loved their clean and simple décor. I wish they had soy milk. I think they only do almond for milk substitute. I got to try a drip coffee instead, which was quite delicious. Totally nice neighborhood spot, though seating may be tough if you are looking for a table or to sip your coffee in the shop.

The white… well…everything when entering is always off-​putting to me right away. My guess is this stylistic choice was to offset the dark colors of the coffee in almost an ironic way, but the minimalist décor seems more conceited and uptight than anything than anything else. Often times, the service matches this feeling as I feel that I get a judging look if don’t seem like somebody who has studied the art of coffee for the last 5 years. Other than cold-​brew, they don’t really serve anything iced even when its scorching hot outside. The moderate rating is because, despite the place feeling a bit too into itself, they do brew some quality coffee. The place couldn’t be more hipster if the cash register itself had a mustache and there was a house farm animal ironically running around.

My Kenya pour over was very good. They are serious about their coffee.
They charged four dollars for a small pullover, so it’s a little pricier than most. It can be difficult to find as their sign it is quite small. But it’s worth looking for it.

I don’t know if my coffee taste buds have become more refined or if their roasting has improved, but I’m a big fan. Big fan of all the shops along this row. & was the first but they brought along a nice following.

Great coffee. Always. Best on San Diego in my opinion. Better than most LA rosters I’ve tried. Over the years I’ve had innumerable great experiences… However, they can be a bit snooty– I was told I could not get an iced Americano. It’s not my go to beverage, but it was a really hot day. The Barista suggested a cold brew, but i generally hate cold brews. There’s something missing when you refuse to accommodate a customer for something that basic.
I continue to get their coffee because they have high standards of what great coffee should be and so do I. I assume they seem to think an iced Americano does not showcase their espresso in the best light which is the kind of thinking that keeps me going back. It’s also equally annoying.
So I give 5 starts because of the coffee and that the few not-​so-​great experiences are outweighed by all of the amazing beverages they’ve made me over the years.
Please do yourself a favor and get yourself some of their espresso. You can’t deny it’s tastiness.

I come in here almost everyday, sometimes even twice a day, tip them every single time and I just got charged for hot water because this one time I brought my own tea bag. You should take care of the customers who take care of you because without your regulars you guys wouldn’t be a running business. That’s the whole point of GOOD customer service.
Super disappointing from what seems to be an awesome place.

I’ve been drinking this coffee for years.
I really enjoy it! I really love the toast too. The brown sugar reminds me of the toast I had as a child. They also had blueberry jam so I got that piece of toast as well.

The space is pretty big, but not very comfortable or welcoming. When I ordered my drink, the man didn’t say «one moment» or «thank you» or «wait over there.» He just walked way once I ordered and paid. I waited about 5 minutes for my drink, which is unusual for a cold brew (while it’s slow, no less), and when it arrived he simply placed it on the counter and walked away again. Hm, okay.
There wasn’t a lid or straw with it, so after searching for a moment I found where everything was. Maybe this was my fault, but I was totally thrown off by the lack of consideration and it frustrated me even more that the employee didn’t bother to provide any bit of customer service.
I didn’t even finish my coffee I was so dissatisfied. I won’t return.

Hands-​down, the best coffee/​espresso in San Diego.
The ridiculously talented barista cats behind the counter are caring artists, serving-​up creamy single-​origin cappuccinos that will make you cry… or order another as we do.
Bonus for the world-​class cinnamon toast and for being so nice to our sheep dog!
Love &

Very cute place! I love the decorations and the coffee/​tea cups. Everything is just so cute! The downside is there’s only about 3 tables so it’s very limited seating.
I got the latte and added some syrup to it. It was quite tasty. The cup was fairly big in size, which was worth the pricing! The coffee art was really pretty so that was a plus. Those always catches my eye… haha. I also got the cinnamon toast which was good and very crunchy.
The service was good. The employee informed us of the coffee and tea that they had. And was also very quick to make our coffee!
Overall, it was a good experience.

I love cute little coffee spots. I know I use the word «hipster» quite a few times when I write reviews, but I feel like it’s necessary sometimes. Coffee & Tea Collective is the epitome of hipster. Not only is it coffee, but the aesthetics of this place are modern, unique, and the right amount of simple. I mean, they hand-​crafted all of their decorations AND there’s a bike that’s just leaned against the wall. In love.
The coffee is priced as any other coffee shop would be, or more specifically, in the realm of hipster coffee joints like James Coffee Co., Dark Horse, and Bean Bar. (Side note: out of the 3 I just named, I’ve only been to Bean Bar!) My perfectly sized 6oz. cappuccino was $ 3.50. For $.50 more, I would’ve gotten a 12oz. latte, but I was too full from having Snooze prior to this. In addition, who doesn’t love coffee art?
Seating is somewhat limited. There are a few chairs (but no tables) outside, 4 tables inside, and a little sitting bar area where the coffee is made. Also, there’s a bench inside, but I believe it’s for decorations rather than seating. The workers were pretty chill. I didn’t have a bad experience, so that’s good!
I must confess… I’m not a coffee connoisseur. Or much of a coffee drinker at all! I do appreciate coffee every once in a while though. The cappuccino was really good. To be honest, I added about 6 cubes of brown sugar because it was too caffeinated for my taste buds, but I did finish it! At the end of the cup, there’s a cute little message. Overall, I liked the ambiance and it’s a nice spot. I would definitely study here, also!

C&T is very straight forward with their offerings! Great coffee served up in the form of a pour over, cold brew or cappuccino. If you’re a typical Starbucks patron, this place isn’t for you (those fraps are nothing but «coffee flavored» beverages). All jokes aside, if you’re looking for some delicious handcrafted coffee, this is the spot to hit up.
The décor is minimalistic and you’ll have a good chance of scoring a seat as most people take their coffee to-​go! If not, there are a couple seats right outside on the sidewalk (sip on your java while you watch all sorts of (interesting characters) people pass by).
They don’t have too many electrical outlets unless you sit along the counter next to the coffee bar. So be sure you’re MacBook is fully charged just in case! It’s typically pretty chill in here and the noise level isn’t too bad though you might have one or two people that can speak loudly from time to time.
And please drink your coffee black to really appreciate the bean’s characteristics. They are known for their pour overs and cold brew (you can get it pour fresh or in a bottle). Dark roast is usually my choice and their selection here is great for that!
If you’re cruising along The Blvd., be sure to give C&T a shot!

C&T Collective is every minimalist’s dream coffee shop. White walls, light wood seating and tables and merchandise hanging here and there. During my most recent stay in North Park, I needed to fuel up for my commute to Los Angeles. Yes, I’ll admit — the pictures sold me. I mean, it’s an blogger/​instagrammers dream spot, plus they serve coffee!
I was sad to find out they no longer offered waffles — but they did offer expensive toast. I passed on the $ 5 toast and settled for a cappuccino, a pour over and cold brew for the ride home. All three coffee beverages were tasty and just what I needed — beware, their cold brew is strong as heck.
The staff was friendly but definitely kept to themselves. There is quite a bit of seating inside — you can sit at their cute modern tables or at the bar. They have a variety of merch for sale — I was oozing over a coffee to go tumbler, but couldn’t bring myself to spend $ 25 on it. In the end, I would recommend this shop to anyone in the area — but if you’re hungry, definitely stop and get a bite prior or after hitting up C&T Collective.

Warning: Offended «environmentalist» here. Social commentary and/​or ranting is likely to occur below.
First impression: beautiful, clean looking minimalist space. Second impression: faint acrid smell of baby diaper, stinky dog, unwashed humanoid, or possibly a toxic combination of all 3. I wanted to run out of there when my eyes started watering but I qualify as a severely espresso dependent individual and I was jonesing and twitchy after my first 2 café picks were closed (ugh Unilocal hours were wrong)! Warning 2: ranting to follow…
Digression: 1 to parents: If you have a baby, for the love of god, carry Febreeze or an essential oil neutralizing smell diffuser or something for when shit’s hit the fan. Parents lose their sense of smell of the nasty emanations from their stinky offspring presumably so that they in turn have a greater chance at survival in the Darwinian sense. 2 to parents: if you’re the type to change your baby’s diapers on a public eating surface you are a failure at life and I’m revoking your breeding license. 3: if you’re merely an unwashed humanoid or doggie you might get pet more if you wash with greater frequency. Just saying. Deep breath.)
So after I took a minute to think of happy smells (lemon verbena, fresh cut grass, clean laundry), I ordered: an espresso blend (good), a single origin espresso (very enjoyable) and an iced latte for my friend. Instead of the iced latte, the guy at the register said that what they do cold brew for iced drinks instead, and my friend said ok. It wasn’t an espresso based iced latte as ordered and I personally didn’t like the cold brew. My friend doesn’t waste coffee and even orders cold brew regularly, however, this was the rare occasion for him where it was a couple sips and down the drain.
I try to be fair w/​reviews and typically try places at least 3 times for a review (warning, warning!) but this horrible hygiene situation from oblivious or rude ass people ruining atmosphere at great places like this has got to stop! I’m giving 4 stars in spite of the stench because I enjoyed the flavor of the espresso shots here more than the espressos I had at a competing nearby roaster. Also, the baristas shared a bunch of great neighborhood spots for me to check out in my limited time in beautiful San Diego. I’ll be back, and hopefully the Clean Air Act will be followed by all (no more indoor air pollution, you Stinkers)!