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.

Fantastic coffee, roasted on-site, very decent prices.

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

Great coffee and drinks, pastries. I wish they offered a larger size for extra, very tiny portions. Too small, 1s not enough for me and 2 is too much and too expensive. Maybe the best tasting iced mocha Ive ever had, all 10 sips of it.

If you like really good, well made, freshly roasted coffee this is your place. Ive 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 youre ready for an intense caffeine rush... The owner makes the best latte Ive had in San Diego yet...milk frothed to perfection with a rich espresso flavor. I love everything about this place. Best blueberry muffins Ive ever had too!

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!

My favorite coffee spot close to work. They roast their beans, make really good flat whites, limited drink items and weighing the beans always make the coffee taste good and consistent, pastries they bring in are good, not many spots to sit and eat so maybe not a date spot.

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.

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 usually go for something with berry notes, but their Ethiopia was very light and refreshing.Also they do French press rather than pour over. Glad I didnt get snobby and leave over that. Sometimes I forget that its also a delicious brewing method.All in all, with the price for a hand-brewed cup and the friendly service, it was a great experience.

Highly recommend. They know how to pull a good shot of espresso. I have never had a bad drink from them. Espresso is temperamental and changes in humidity can affect the pour. I used to be a barista and you need to adjust the grind several times a day. You need to pay attention to how fast a shot pours and how much crema it has. These guys pay attention. Most places are not always on top of these changes. Zumbar doesnt just phone it in.They have a very simple menu, its mostly the basics but they are done exceedingly well. Their espresso is very balanced, its not over roasted. Their foam is also wonderful. Its both creamy and velvety.If you know good espresso you will not be disappointed. If you are used to chain espresso, give these guys a try. Its like a fast food burger compared to a Kobe beef one. These guys have the good stuff!

This is truly a lovely place to get some coffee. This place really well-deserved more than five-star ratings. Everything from their staff, interior designs, and even the services were exceptional. A place to keep coming back to for more and more every time. I highly recommend this coffee shop to everyone.

Local Coffee Shop and delicious. 2nd cup free.

Wonderful coffee and an incredibly nice staff! I highly recommend the hummingbird roast to make espresso at home.

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

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!

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

Great people and caring toward the customer. My coffee lait was great.

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 Im 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.

I ordered online, and my drink was ready by the order time. (A tasty flat white!)Currently it looks like you can order at the door in person or online, with no public seating.

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 theyre sourced and roasted knowledgeably

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 dont 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

Excelente coffee, service and attention. However, they stopped making the sweet croissant. This is why I dont give a 5 star rating.

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!

First time here. Me and my wife ordered 3 Americanos and 1 Macchiato. Dont need to say how good their coffee is ❤️

The best coffee shop and coffee roaster in San Diego. They have variety of simple and delicious coffee serving options and tea😃. High quality beans yields to a great taste. The bakery items like the beagle and the donuts are very good. I recommend the Ethiopian coffee for a great taste and texture, latte if you like milky coffee, mocha for a great coffee milk and decoration, and cappuccino for coffee with a little bit of milk. Cheers!

We go often here, very good coffee

Way better than Starbucks, love coming to the local coffe shop super nice staff

They do one thing and thats coffee (ok, and tea too) and they do it well. Its a no frills type of coffee shop that is keen on a minimalist setup. I like that a lot actually.

Good coffee! Not a good purchase experience, alienating, understand covid restrictions, but really! First coffee house that have felt this alienating, not very welcoming... Just saying!

This is a great coffee place. Not only can you get a delicions latte, capuccino, espresso or brewed coffe, but you can buy coffee by the pound. The coffee is amazing, not only they have rare varietals, but they roast their own coffee and you can see them doing so in the background. The coffee is not flash roasted so it is not burned and keeps all the flavors. This is amazing coffee!!

The coffee is good, but not as good as at the Cardiff location. The scone was quite tasty!

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.

Amazing coffee and service!

Had a great chai latte here and old fashioned donut. Would definitely come back to grab and go.There isnt much seating or plugs available, so dont expect to come here to work or study. Also, the wifi was

The coffee is just incredible

Simply the best coffee you could ever ask for

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

Awesome place. Real small and nice, good coffee and croissants. I would recommend.

Great little coffee place that serves hand-crafted lattes and cappuccinos. One of a kind place with youthful folks running the counter and the back operation. They sell a few types of coffee beans - easy to pick from light, medium and dark vs many varieties at other stores. My personal favorite is the Hummingbird variety. The store can grind the coffee beans for you, should one require so. A few eating accompaniments for coffee are available - muffin, croissant, etc. Just wish the location was better but nevertheless coffee here is always great and served with a smile.

Friendly employees and good coffee!

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

Excellent coffee and very good French pastries.

Best latte in SD period.

Highly recommended. Besst coffee in town

Their coffee is excellent. Made with attention and care. Not a lot of seating available.

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

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

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

Good food fast service! Love it.

Always amazing coffee and great service!

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

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.

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

Fantastic little coffee shop! The croissants are delicious.

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

Good Chai latte, spicy.

Love the pastries here. Come early if you like a savory pastry. THEY ALWAYS SELL OUT of those ham and cheese Stromboli. The hot chocolate is bar far the best hot chocolate in SGV, if you like it super dark and not sweet. They use high end single source dark chocolate. Last time it was made from 74% Madagascar chocolate bar.

One of my favorite locally owned coffee shops. Their beans, which they roast right in store by the way, are great too. Its sad that they close on weekends since they are in a business area that doesnt 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.

Inside, the service was legit. I got some fresh delicious coffee and got to work on a project. There were other people working on projects as well. It was pretty perfect, especially for those of us that get stressed on our laptops. I recommend this to anyone looking to relax and enjoy.

Been going here for five years. Literally the BEST latte in San Diego. It is almost a caramel flavor and the coffee isnt overpowered by the milk. I dare you to find a better latte in San Diego. Please message me if you do. The only downside is that theyre not open on Sundays. Staff are super great. ALMOND CROISSANT IS BOMB.

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!!!

Matteo is kind and passionate. Food is flavorful and delicious. Matteo took his time and explained the whole menu in English. There is a changing table in the bathroom. We havent even had dinner yet and Im already writing this review.

Local roaster with very consistent quality of beans and roast. Their Hummingbird roast works great for me (for espresso). In house, I like their French Press more than their espresso. Very popular most of the day.

The coffee is amazingly good. It’s straight forward coffee. No chai-frappe-hazelnut style drinks here and they carry pastries and donuts. Not the friendliest people working here (I always feel like I’m imposing) but I guess the draw is the quality of the beverage.

Absolutely delicious and fantastic lattes! Every drink Ive gotten is consistently good, which is key! (Consistency!!) The foam is light and airy and served with a design, and the shots are pulled correctly, making the perfectly balanced latte. Quickfriendly service every visit. Pricing in line with most coffee shops. Parking can be hectic, but its worth it. They also serve fresh pastries, yum!

The best cappuccino I’ve ever had.Amazing and fresh croissant.Drip coffee is delicious and you get a free refill.Small and busy, but great local vibes.

Latte is one of the best in town, worth trying the donuts.

Im a coffee drinker and have tried most places in San Diego and since I LOVE coffee, I appreciate the product of most places I go. I found Zumbar while working in Sorrento Valley through an online search and took a stroll down. Theres this cool, steel roaster in the back, one older guy and a bunch of 20 somethings behind that counter, all busy. The smell of the roasting coffee is INCREDIBLE. Looking at the menu, theres no flavored syrups or double inverted mocha choca inside out snobby foo foo drinks, theres just coffee. Phenomenal coffee. Love it so much I send bag to each of my new clients. Even to Amish country and they love it too. :)

Nice coffee and nice smell and nice taste

Great coffee!

Always delicious. Im usually a half and half guy.. Half coffee half coffee creamer, but this I can drink straight because its just so good. Staff is super friendly and prices are very reasonable

Great coffee and fast service. Always friendly smiles. The menu is limited but should be plenty to fill your coffee needs. They have light food options. Also coffee is available for sale. Love doing here in my way into work. Conveniently located near the 5 exit/entrance

One of the best coffee shops in SD, Im very lucky to have it down the street from my office. They roast themselves and their espresso is the perfect blend of flavors. The almond croissants are delicious as well and the price is very fair.

Excellent cappuccino

The best coffee and lattes Ive had in SD. They roast their own beans in the back of the shop, and you can taste the freshness in the coffee. Their lattes are smooth, creamy, and have a rich flavor. Their original donuts and almond croissants are really tasty. They also have some nice bottled cold brew, which I like to have on hand when I start feeling tired after lunch

Nice

Nice alternative to Starbucks. Their coffee (and espresso based offerings) are second to none. Highly recommend.

Ive been going to this spot for years. Theyve got top-tier espresso drinks and they bottle their cold brew in 12oz and 22oz bottles to go. They arent playing the fake coffee game, so if you want a plethora of flavored syrups, this isnt your place. Theyve got little pastries and donuts as well, if youre starving in the morning.

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

Really great lattes, ambiance and service. Their almond croissants are perfect in the morning. Taim! Edit: My fiancee wants me to add that they are lying and putting honey in their lattes because they taste so naturally sweet and he asked them and they said no.😅

Their cold brew is amazing! Nothing needs to be added. Fragrant with a hint of vanilla. Seriously, life changing. Their soy latte is also perfect, I literally do not add anything. Must try. I wish it was closer to where I work so walking would be an option.

This review is coming from a non-coffee-drinker, so please take this with a grain of...coffee grounds? My coworkers rave about this place. It is apparently an amazing coffee shop. For me, Im delighted that they carry the absolutely mind-blowing almond croissants from Opera Patisserie, which is nearby, but Zumbar is more convenient. Something for everyone!However. This place is so, so noisy inside. Its also not a great use of space. There are a few tables along the edge and a big open space in the middle, a couple tables outside. People who are waiting for their order are awkwardly splayed about. The machinery is really loud, so you probably arent going to be talking to someone else much, anyway. Ive taken a client here and sat outside and it was still difficult to have an informal meeting here because of the noise and the rickety chairs and tables. I feel like this coffee shop cant quite decide if it is counter service only or if it is trying to be a place people come hang out. What I would likely do, if anyone asked me (they wont) would be to put a thick piece of plexiglass behind the cashier, between him/her and the equipment, which is large and looks vaguely impressive. That way, if showing off said mysterious machinery is important, it can still happen, but contain the noise more. To me, the back area with all the things doesnt look particularly like something one really needs to show off to enhance the experience, but what do I know.In any case, stop by to pick up an almond croissant or other assorted and delightful pastries, and even coffee if you are into that kind of thing, but save your ears and get everything to go.

The coffee is great here I was looking for a coffee which wasnt so strong and the barista was very helpful making me a half decaf. The ambience is quite basic industrial and sitting is going to be limited. But great to sit down and get some work done for a while

Awesome coffee in a barren land! Their french press is really good, the coffee flavors are good, and not acidic. The lattes and cappuccinos are also really good. The location is awesome since there a lot of companies around the area and people come here all the time. The people working there are great too.

Amazing coffee with nice pastries. Even the drip coffee is great. Try that first as a sample and then move on to something bolder. Never need an extra shot coffee is strong enough. Busy early morning so get their early.

Lines are very long but they love quick. Prices arent bad, either. The cappuccino and hot chocolate are just gets. Service is friendly and store is clean.

A hidden coffee place in sorrento valley

Great beans and great brews. Convenient to work helps.

I havent tried it all, but Ive tried quite a few of the coffee shops in San Diego, and this one is absolutely the best. The staff is quick, courteous and friendly, and more importantly, the coffee is perfect. Its not sour, its not bitter, and it doesnt taste burnt like so many of the other coffee shops that Im told will be great.I like to go with a Hummingbird Americano, hot or iced depending on the weather. They sell capped cold brew bottles and beans which is perfect for the times I cant make it in to the coffee shop.Only slightly related, but New English Brewery down the street made a Coffee Stout with Zumbar Coffee and it is without a doubt the best beer they offer, if you like coffee or stouts, I highly recommend you give it a try.

Good latte. Place is using pretty busy but line moves quick. Various drink selection that will satisfy everyone.

Amazing coffee with very nice service. Were from Europe and have been dying for weeks to get a proper espresso. They did it! 😊

Excellent latte. Great coffee. No flavors...but really good!

Coffee. . . .PROPERLY roasted. High quality beans. Need I say more? Great service, though you might have a line at peak times. The coffee is worth it though! I rate their coffee as some of the best in San Diego.

I stopped by Zumbar for lunch once since they are so conveniently located by my workplace. The barista puts a lot of care into making each cup of coffee. The art in every cup is a nice touch and definitely an added bonus to the already exquisite taste. The place is small, but very cozy. If youre looking for a spot to take someone on a small coffee date, Zumbar is the place!

My favorite coffee in San Diego. A good place to grab your coffee (bulk and a cup) and go. They do have a small area to sit but I never stay long.

Staff were nice and polite. Great coffee.

Super good! 😅👍💕

Hummingbird espresso is roasted very dark by modern standards. Theres really no middle flavor profile to the shot - just the sweet and the bitter. Pulls quite thin. Maybe its good with milk, but thats not my bag. Super dark roast seems to be a San Diego thing....