Coffee shops can be a welcome break from a difficult day; a place to seek solace in the busy city of San Diego. But they can also offer you a great place to sit down and study.
If you’re a student finding it difficult to concentrate at home—with all of the distractions that come with the comfortable surroundings—then a coffee shop can be a great place to focus.
The combination of readily available caffeine, ambiance, and warmth can do wonders for your study session.
So let’s say you’re in San Diego and you’re looking for the perfect coffee shop to study, but can’t find the perfect place for you! If this is the case—don’t panic!
You’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’re going to take a look at the 16 best coffee shops that you can study in San Diego.
We’ve made sure to include a wide variety of locations from around the city, so you can find a place that suits you! We’ve also included a short Frequently Asked Questions section to help answer any questions you may have left over at the end.
Moniker General is a community space in the very center of San Diego. As an establishment, they specialize in a few different things, including a bar, venue, and specialty coffee shop.
If you’re looking for a slick, casual, and modern place to go and study for a few hours, then this is a great choice for you.
They are open from 7 am-10 pm every day, aside from Sundays and Mondays. You might want to make sure you go earlier in the day because the space can get a little more crowded after dinner time.
Location: 1836 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054, United States
Looking for a modern coffee shop with an impressive menu? If this is the case, then you should check out Revolution Roasters.
This coffee shop is located in South Oceanside and features a great selection of house-roasted beans, poured by expert baristas and served with a large selection of sweet treats and savory snacks.
It’s a very laid-back place to hang out, and they even have an outdoor seating area for the warmest of days.
Location: 2911 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104, United States
There are a few Holsem Coffees, but you’ll find their original, flagship store in North Park, San Diego. It is another example of a casual, modern coffee shop that toes the line between artisanal and laid back.
Holsem Coffee has enough spots for you to find a quiet corner to study in, and while you’re there you can enjoy a series of healthy food options and some incredible coffees.
Address: 6965 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92009, United States
Next up we have a long-standing coffee spot where you can study in peace. La Costa has a big mix of customers, all of who come to the spot to enjoy a calm environment and some incredible coffees. This is the kind of coffee shop where you’re sure to become a regular.
They have a great range of different coffees to choose from, including traditional coffees and more experimental blends!
Address: 111 Chesterfield Dr #115, Cardiff, CA 92007, United States
What about a coffee shop that has more of a focus on tea? This is something you should consider if you’re looking for an alternative to high caffeine content, and want something a little smoother to sip on while you study.
Zumbar coffee & tea has two locations, but we’ve gone with the one in Cardiff, San Diego, for its impressive ocean views and laid-back atmosphere.
Address: 7740 El Camino Real Unit A, Carlsbad, CA 92009, United States
Next up we have another North County location that’s a great choice if you’re looking for something Italian-inspired and roomy enough to find a quiet spot to study in.
One of the best things about Lofty Coffee is its large menu that features everything from delicate pastries, to extensive breakfast and lunch dishes for you to enjoy.
Address: 12045 Carmel Mountain Rd UNIT 302, San Diego, CA 92128, United States
Mostra Coffee has a wide variety of different locations across San Diego. Their name ‘Mostra’ comes from the Italian word that means “performance.”
The company has been created in order to do two things—to help people build wealth for their families and to create incredible, curated coffee.
We’d recommend the Carmel Mountain Road location as the best place for you to study, but just know that all locations have the same impressive menu of coffees for you to choose from.
Address: 3985 Harney St D, San Diego, CA 92110, United States
Next up we have Flor & Seed, a coffee shop that prides itself on purchasing ingredients directly from source. For example, the beans for their coffee are brought from incredible coffee-producing parts of Mexico such as Chiapas and Oaxaca.
The owners are extremely experienced and you can be sure to find an incredible cup of specialty coffee.
Address: 2550 Fifth Ave Suite 75, San Diego, CA 92103, United States
Looking for a coffee shop with a cutting-edge menu? Although this can be difficult to find in our modern age, the WestBean Coffee Roasters might have something for you!
They have a product called Kryptonite, which is a cold brew type of coffee that is infused with mint flavors and has taken San Diego by storm!
The WestBean Coffee Roasters are some of the most experimental baristas on our list, and if you’re looking for a cool, modern place to study then we would recommend this one for you!
Address: 1202 Camino Del Mar Suite B, Del Mar, CA 92014, United States
For the tenth entry in our list, we have the unique and awesome Bohemian Alchemist. This is a coffee shop created by Sarah Jaeger who has made sure to create coffee with a sand-brewing system.
This might seem strange, but with this system, they offer a unique, Turkish coffee that you might want to try. This is also a great coffee shop to study in because of its antique decor and overall chilled-out atmosphere.
Address: 2335 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104, United States
If flower shops are your thing, then Communal Coffee might be your new favorite spot for studying! Communal Coffee is what happens when you perfectly combine a coffee shop with a florist.
You should know that a lot of the flowers around you will be able to be purchased—which can make it a distracting place to be if you’re particularly green-fingered.
That said, it’s a relaxing place to study with a great menu of different coffees for you to try. They even do cold brew, which can be great if you’re not so interested in hot coffee.
Address: 1894 Main Street, San Diego, CA 92113, United States
In a busy West-coast city like San Diego, sometimes it can be difficult to keep track of all the different coffee shops that open and close.
But if there’s one that has been on the scene for a long time—and likely will be for quite some time—then that is Ryan Bros Coffee.
This was first opened in 1994 and since then has become one of the most popular, classic coffee shops in all of San Diego. We recommend this one if you’re looking for a place where you can become a new regular.
Address: 3191 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92104, United States
North Park is one of the most coffee-shop-dense areas of San Diego, and for the next shop in our lift, we have Santos Coffee house.
They specialize in various kidneys of espresso, including their high-caffeine product known as the ‘Flying Nun.’ If you’re looking for another cool place to study this is a great choice for you.
Address: 3260 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116, United States
The fact they have five separate locations across San Diego should give you an indication of how good Dark Horse Coffee Roasters are.
We would suggest going here if you’re looking for artisan coffee that will become your new favorite. They have a big selection of different blends to choose from, including Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Brazilian.
They also have a lot of cool merch you can buy if you become a real fan!
Address: 801 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103, United States
This slick, modern coffee shop is just one of eight locations across the city. If you’re looking for a modern aesthetic and some really comfy furniture, then Better Buzz might be the right palace for you.
It’s also a great place to go if you’re looking for their special pumpkin cold brew which is a perfect treat for the fall season.
Address: 2355 India St, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Next up we have a cozy, modern coffee shop called James Coffee Company. You can expect artisan, roasted coffee that has some incredible seasonal items and specialty espresso drinks.
We would recommend going to the location on India Street, though there are many other options you can go for. They also offer a good selection fo sweet treats to help fuel you through those difficult study sessions.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! That was our list of the 16 best locations in San Diego, California to get some great coffee, but also to study in.
Finding the right coffee shop for you can take some time, as we all have different preferences, and there are so many different coffee shops to choose from.
The best place to go is somewhere you feel relaxed, and somewhere that serves coffee or other beverages you really enjoy.
We hope that this guide has helped to give you some ideas about some of the best coffee shops to study in San Diego.
If you still have some questions, then keep reading for our extensive Frequently Asked Questions section. We wish you the best of luck in your future studies, no matter what it is you’re working towards!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Cold Brew Coffee?
“Cold Brew” is the abbreviated name for cold-brewed coffee. This is a type of coffee that is served cold and has a unique way of being prepared.
Cold brew is prepared by steeping ground coffee in water that hangs around room temperature and is left for many hours. Patience is everything when it comes to cold brew, and the mixture is often left for upwards of 12 hours before it’s ready.
Coldbrewers have discovered how to infuse unique flavors during the brewing process, including adding additional ingredients that help to create interesting flavors.
Cold brew coffee is usually served over ice, or with additional water to make it more palatable. Although cold brew was once a rather niché type of coffee, in recent years it has skyrocketed in popularity and is now sold at many locations across the world.
Is It Okay To Study At A Coffee Shop?
Some students worry that a coffee shop is not the right place to study in. This is usually for two main reasons. The first is that they worry it might be too distracting, and the second is that they won’t be allowed to study there.
The first thing you should know is that almost every coffee shop in the world is used to having people come in to study.
In the modern age, coffee breaks often mean having to do a bit of work on the side, and coffee baristas are used to people coming in with laptops or books to study with.
If you’re wondering whether or not a coffee shop is too distracting of a place to study in—this comes down to your own personal preferences.
For example, if you are a person who is massively distracted by noise, then a coffee shop might not be the right palace for you. However, this does depend on the coffee shop in question.
For example, on our list above we have featured a long list of different locations, some of which are much more lively than others.
How Long Can You Stay At A Coffee Shop?
This massively depends on the coffee shop in question, and how many drinks you buy! You’re probably fine to stay at a coffee shop for as long as you are buying products. Occupying space in a coffee shop is fine, as long as you are a paying customer.
We wouldn’t recommend staying for more than 6 hours though, mostly for your own personal health. After 6 hours, it’s time to get some fresh air!
