Fuel Your Caffeine Dreams On This Southern California Coastal Coffee Trail
By Natasha Kayes|Published June 16, 2023
×
Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Coffee has become far more than just a warm drink. It is a morning ritual for people like me, an afternoon pick-me-up at work, a conversation topic, a passion, and a reason to get together. In fact, “let’s get coffee sometime” doesn’t even have to involve coffee – that’s how important and symbolic this caffeinated wonder has become. Coffee culture is a real thing and at least one Southern California has become a serious coffee destination. Coffee houses in Oceanside, CA, are found on nearly every block, from laid-back neighborhood hangouts to trendy and creative, and everything in between.
Every one of the shops on our trail is highly rated and offers something unique and more than just a cup of java. Click on the interactive map to customize your trip (believe it or not, there are a few more spots we didn’t include!) Whether you want to stop at them all in one day or spend a and spread them out, grab a fellow coffee-lover (or tea person!) and enjoy your caffeine journey!
Revolution Roasters is a great place to get a serious cup of locally-roasted coffee or to buy a bag of fresh-roasted beans to brew at home. They also have a couple of delightfully sweet offerings, like the Butterscotch Latte or Affogato.
Located in a vintage shop one door down from Revolution is a more casual walk-up coffee spot, Captain’s Grounds Coffee. An extensive list of beverages includes Mexican Mocha and a variety of delicious hot, cold, and ice-blended tea lattes. They are also known for their Acai bowls and Avocado toast.
The Cup Coffee is a friendly beachfront shop that gets rave reviews, not just for the coffee, but for the home-cooked breakfasts and lunches like the breakfast croissant, avocado tacos, and cheesy toast. The Cup also serves craft beer and cider.
4. Communal Coffee
602 S Tremont St suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054, USA
If you are ready for a cold drink when you get to the gorgeous Communal Coffee, try the Sweet Mint Cold Brew, prepared with house-made mint syrup and oat milk, or try a Latte Flight - choose two different flavors like vanilla bean, lavender honey, salted caramel, or one of the seasonal syrups. Love flowers? This is the only coffee shop I know of that has an in-store boutique florist!
North County Roastery is another local roaster where you may want to pick up some of their fresh-roasted single-origin coffees to take home. A coffee flight here is for true coffee connoisseurs and includes the House Espresso, House Brew Coffee, and Nitro Cold Brew. The Iced Coconut Matcha Latte is a wonderful coffee alternative.
You cannot miss the world’s first banana-inspired coffee house, Banana Dang! Dang is the owner’s last name, and like many of us, this shop is “bananas” about coffee. The lattes feature banana - Bananas Foster, Hot Banana Mocha (don’t worry, you can get non-banana coffee, too.) And the smoothies are all named Dang - Vanilla Dang, Purple Dang, Dang Berry… you get it. Scrumptious pastries and creative “Happy Toast” options are also very popular.
At Camp Coffee Company, the coffees are lovely and creative - including an oh-so-appropriate S’mores-inspired Camp Mocha, but perhaps the real stars are the vegan and gluten-free pastries that even non-vegans and wheat-eaters love (they have traditional versions as well). Try the Blueberry Lemon Scone or Raspberry Pop Tart!
In addition to delicious coffees and teas, Pier View Coffee Company is a perfect place to find fresh donuts, bagels, ciabatta sandwiches, and yummy gelato. If you like smoothies, Pier View has a great selection of those as well.
Brown Cup Cafe is a cozy space to sit, relax, and even enjoy some live music. If you are in the mood for something sweet, try one of the house specialty lattes like the Vanilla Honey Cinnamon, Amaretti Cream, or Lazy Raspberry. Coffee’d out? Try a Mexican Hot Chocolate or Thai Iced Tea. Whether you are here in the morning or afternoon, the selection of bagels, croissants, and pressed sandwiches is also fantastic.
Jitters Coffee Pub, the “oldest running coffee shop in Oceanside,” offers a warm, inviting, pet-friendly atmosphere and serves up consistently delicious coffee and tea, as well as kombucha on tap. Enjoy a great selection of muffins and pastries baked fresh daily, and even get a treat for your fur baby.
Whew! That is a lot of coffee! It’s a good thing these awesome coffee houses in Oceanside have so many other amazing things to try. Are you ready to eat and drink your way up the coast on this caffeine trail? Let us know which of these coffee shops you would love to visit, or which ones you have already tried! If you would like to make an entire weekend of it, we have just the place to stay in this lovely beach town.
