Zumbar Coffee & Tea

Parking: Decent. Small parking lot and some street parking, but people come and go constantly.
Seating: Decent. Bar seating and a couple tables. More people take their drinks to-​go rather than stay.
Outlets: None that I saw.
Music/​Noise: Gets a bit noisy when there’s a rush of people lining up to get coffee. They’re busy on and off.
Food: Pastries, donuts, bagels
Zumbar is one of the closer coffee shops to UCSD and also caters to people working near Sorrento Valley. Got an iced mocha and iced latte. Strong and flavorful and neither were too sweet. Their menu is really simple and their coffee is great. Bought a giant bottle of cold brew to go (about $ 9) which was really smooth. Friendly workers, good coffee, pretty convenient location.

Regularly get my cappuccinos here. Occasionally a pastry if I’m feeling frisky. Great prices (Less than Sbux) and much better tasting expresso. This is a coffee connoisseur’s spot.

This spot is always good! Cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Personally I love the cold brew. Perfect lunch time pick me up. Everyone who works here is very knowledgeable about coffee and friendly!

Still don’t understand the hype of this place. The cold brew is pretty good, but the rest of the drinks have been awful. Tried a chai latte on my last visit and it seriously tasted like Starbucks. I’ve had many better chai lattes at other local coffee shops around the US. Service was snobby from one of the hipster guys that works the register. I asked if they have any flavors for their lattes and he was like «only chocolate and yeah it’s called a mocha» with attitude. I’ve tried the mocha here before and it was so bitter and not smooth. I understand a purist coffee shop if the drinks are excellent in their simpler form, but that’s not the case here. Dark Horse has the best coffee drinks in San Diego IMO and the workers are nicer there.

If you’re looking for the great quality coffee at the best price, this is your place. The French press tastes amazing and is only $ 2!

Place makes awesome coffee. Alot of my co-​workers come here everyday. Best drink: chocolate iced Americano.

writing this review on behalf of my mother:
My mom and friends workout nearby three days a week and like to go to Zumbar after because the coffee and pastries are good. However, sometimes she has her grandson with her and there is no high chair. After mentioning it to an employee awhile back, she asked to talk to the manager today. She explained that she loves coming here and that if they considered getting a high chair this would be a small investment that others would benefit from (maybe a $ 30 cost which is easily what her and friends spend on coffee/​pastries each time they come). He responded to her, «why don’t you just bring your own?». Not kid friendly and apparently not willing to be kid friendly either… enough said. Maybe not an issue for some, but zumbar lost their business today. I hate to write bad reviews, but I felt compelled because I know my mom won’t and I’ll be glad to remove/​change this review if Zumbar gets a high chair!

One of my co-​workers took me to Zumbar the first time and since then it’s been one of my favourite coffee shops around SD. It gets pretty packed in the mornings but the service is great and quick and the coffee is amazing!
The location is not that great because it’s right on the I5 exit but the coffee is worth it!

This little coffee shop is tucked away in a strip outlet mall but it is a little hidden gem — especially for the various business crowds nearby. They roast their own coffee and draw a line out the door in the morning.

What an awesome little coffee shop find!
My brother and I came here early on a Monday morning to grab two soy lattes before heading to the airport. Paying $ 8.10 for both lattes was a good deal in my book. We quickly ordered and in less than 5 minutes our lattes came out, piping hot and beautiful! The design on the top made it hard to put a lid on it… but the non-​styrofoam containers made it easier!
And they were delicious as well!
Zambar also had some pastries, donuts and bagels for sale at the counter. They also sell their own roasted coffee– I was tempted to bring some back to Hawaii with me!
Next time I hope I can also enjoy the ambience, sit outside and try their baked goods!

Definitely the kind of coffee house I want to love. I always seek to support local places.
It’s a very small roaster and coffee shop. There are only a few tables inside and a handful outside.
I can’t say I received the best service. The girl that took my order was rather snobby in fact.
They have a small selection of pastries and a small menu of drinks. No flavors offered. So much for ordering a vanilla latte. They do offer simple syrup though. And they have cold brew which seems to be all the rage these days.
They served my latte with pretty foam, but I wasn’t prepared for such a damn strong cup of coffee. It really bordered on bitter and was the kind of coffee that can really churn your stomach. I drank a few sips and threw the rest out.
My son loved his. Me, not so much. YMMV.

Nice and cozy place with good coffee they have a good variety also. It has a relaxed atmosphere and lots of people even at odd time. A couple was standing so close that they wanted our place before anyone else could take. Lot of college student i think frequent it.
All in all it was a nice experience.

As a UCSD student in the nearby La Jolla area, finding an off campus study spot that offers a tucked away atmosphere and good food can be difficult. When this café is not too busy, it is the perfect spot to study and get your coffee fix. In terms of the coffee, I tried their «latte» and thought the taste was OK. The latte art that comes with the coffee is a bonus though.
TIP: One thing that I do recommend that everyone try is their almond croissant! It has a good combination of sweet/​savory and is very tasty!

I love espresso. I have it maybe every day, if not from Zumbar then another coffee shop. This is one of my favorite places to get my morning fix.
Many of the chain coffee shops serve drinks that are bitter, but not here! I love starting my morning with a latte from this location. I also REALLY appreciate that they don’t make the milk scalding hot. I’m so happy this place is on my way to work!
A review won’t do it justice since everyone’s palette is different. BUT I do hope you enjoy your next latte/​macchiato/​cappucino or whatever kind of drink speaks to you!

Didn’t know this place is super close by. Amazing coffee because it’s so fresh! Everything is made in house so you can see all the coffee bean and that wonderful smell!
They do cater few donuts from V. G donuts and some pastries from Opera :)
Simple and to the point coffee shop. Way better than Starbucks.
I personally love their cold brew :)

Simple and delicious.
There’s a reason why this quaint little coffee shop is bustling with business. They’re located in a random little plaza next to a deli, bike shop, and Mexican food joint, but don’t let that fool you. They’re worth the venture!
I’m in love with the fact that their coffees come out at the perfect temperature. No scalding hot liquids to burn off your tastebuds. You can enjoy your coffee as soon as it’s in your possession. :)
The mocha was balanced, not overpowered by chocolate or sweetness. At $ 4, it’s one of their pricier drinks, but I’d say it was worth it. The cappuccino was light, frothy, and also balanced.
They have plenty of croissants to choose from, as well as bagels and old fashioned donuts.
Seating can be a tad difficult if you come during their busy hours, but there are some bar seats along the wall as well as some small tables inside and out.
Service won’t blow your socks off, but they’re fast and efficient when it comes to dealing with the rush. Definitely a solid coffee spot.

This place makes some outstanding coffees and espressos as the Americano I enjoyed spoke volumes. In addition to the Americano for $ 2.25, I also had a toasted wheat bagel with butter at $ 3 and some change.
The the Americano came work because it came with a serious zing and aggressive robust flavor. I liked it very much, even though the first few sips were like a punch in the mouth, it settled into an enjoyable sipping coffee, as I worked and enjoyed my toasted wheat bagel. The Americano was two shots which was more than enough. I usually drink two in a few hour span as I work, but one was enough here. There is no messing around here with the roasting of the beans.
The wheat bagel was quite good. It was not made in house, but at least they offer one of very good quality. They lightly toasted it, but just enough so the butter would melt readily.
The bagel had that nice exterior crunchy brought on by the toasting and a soft moist almost chewy center that I like so much. A great treat to eat along side the Americano.
They get awfully busy here, so service is rushed but friendly. I was there for almost two hours, and the line was to the door the majority of the time. I guess people know a good spot when they no it.

Whenever Issac brings his moto and we both have time for a long lunch, we come to Zumbar for chai lattes. I’ve recently been getting into dirty chai (thanks Monica for the awesome recommendation) and although it’s not listed on their menu, they will make a dirty chai upon request.
For those of you who don’t know what a dirty chai is, it’s a chai latte with a shot of espresso. YUM! The chai lattes here already taste like Christmas (awesome), so adding some espresso really ups the awesomeness.
The staff here is always super friendly and drinks come our super fast. It’s a win win in my book and definitely one of my favorite cafes in San Diego. Seating is pretty limited, but some of the neighboring restaurants do allow you to utilize their tables if empty.
I’ve had their pastries here before too and they are spot on. I don’t think they make them in house though. I also always gift their whole beans to my Dad. His favorite blend is the Hummingbird. It’s delightfully smooth.
Overall, I highly recommend Zumbar if you love coffee. It also seems like a really cool place to hang out if you have the time. The only thing I would wish about this location is that they be open on Sundays. Cam and I have had to drive to their Cardiff location too many times on a Sunday since we forgot to pick up my Dad’s coffee present during the week.

Great local coffee roaster in San Diego!!!
Originally started coming to Zumbar when we weren’t completely satisfied with Bird Rock. Not trying to start a fight but they just didn’t quite do it for us.
We don’t live in San Diego anymore:(but nearly every time we come back to visit (or go to the world’s greatest acupuncturist) we stop by to get beans and a drink. This last visit I glanced into the bakery case and thought I recognized an old friend. I quickly asked, «Is the chocolate chip cookie from Opera?». «Yes!» came the answer. As it turns out all the bakery goods come from Opera Café & Patisserie. I guess it’s not too surprising that a company who crafts their product with such great skill and care would put that same effort into selecting something they need to outsource. Zumbar coffee and Opera baked goods! Nicely done.
Also nicely done is the new location in Encinitas. We visited there almost 2 months ago when we were in the area on a Sunday. The Sorrento Valley store is closed on Sunday so it wasn’t an option. It’s also where they do all the roasting. I can’t lie, it’s really my favorite. There’s just something about seeing that roaster. It’s like magic when they take those green coffee beans and turn them into what creates such an amazing beverage.
Coffee! You can sleep when you’re dead. (no decaf for me, thank you)

I am all for little coffee shops. I don’t like going to Starbucks. That being said, I also don’t like paying $ 5.50 for a tiny latte either. To the person who raved about how much cheaper they are… Uh no sorry, the cup is so small I drank it in less than five minutes (because the latte was also luke-​warm.) I pay the same price for the same drink everywhere else and get a lot more and it tasted pretty similar to other places. If I went back Id try their French press, but I won’t be back probably.
The latte art is pretty. I give them that. And the foam was good. But not worth it.
I’m bummed because I almost chose peats and I have a really long work day and wanted a coffee that would last a little longer at least…