Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

This was my second visit to this coffee shop. It’s a cute little place and I enjoyed my coffee last time but this time it just wasn’t as good. The service was just ok too. We tried to chat with the barista and be friendly but he was just too cool for us. Makes me not want to return!

Had a delicious latte and got some work done at the inside to outside bar seats they have. Great place to get some work done or chill out and read while you enjoy one of the rare roasts they carry.

I love this place! I moved here a year and a half ago and this was the first coffee shop I tried out and it’s still my favorite! Great service and amazing coffee; I like simple coffees so the pour overs and cappuccinos are my go to, and they never disappoint! The location in little Italy is my favorite and I always look forward to enjoy some great coffee and vibes when I stop by.

I don’t venture to coffee shops on a regular basis. I usually like to make my own coffee, but if I’m out, then I’ll go visit one. I like this place, but I can’t say I loved it. It was a little industrial looking and I do like my coffee shops to have a cozy, comfy feel. Nothing wrong with Bird Rocks décor, just not my cup of tea. I ordered an almond latte that was lovely. I was going to order a breakfast sandwich, but they only seem to offer pastries and some instant oatmeal. The staff was very friendly and patient as I took my time to pick out my coffee choice. I would definitely drop in over a Starbucks for sure.

Negatives — 1. Gratuity at the register before service. 2. I watched him pour coffee into ice cubes and hand me the drink… for 4 bucks I could have had a small child do that. 3. There was no taste of caramel in my Carmel ice coffee. 4. Cashier had a poor attitude.
Positives — some of the other types of coffee and expresso are made with a lot of care and looked amazing. For me. I will not be going back.

It’s strange that this spot pops up when you search for bakeries in the area, because it doesn’t seem to have fresh baked goods

Solid Espresso! When I’m in the area I always stop by. Great ambiance, decent parking, and really well crafted drinks. I’ve always had good service and good attitudes as well. I especially like the window bench seating which is nice on a sunny day.

I think this place was awesome. First time here and I loved it. Definitely a snob about my caffeine beverages. I had a sip of the cold brew and it was delicious. Smooth and flavorful. I ordered the salted caramel latte with almond milk and it was perfect. Good amount of sweet but could still taste the espresso. Good vibe. And baristas know their stuff.

Love this local roastery. Great coffee and community vibe. Keep it simple with a macchiato or cortado if you want to know what it’s really about.
Outdoor seating score: 4
Huge open front with seating. Airy & open.

From an out of towner’s perspective: this place is a really good spot. Coffee is delicious and very reasonably priced. Service is outstanding; everyone is super friendly. And the spot has plenty of room and natural light. Will definitely come back here the next time I’m in SD.

Such a great location for this little business — I loved Bird Rock Coffee Roasters when they were just starting out in Bird Rock, and now that they’ve opened this location downtown, I couldn’t be happier.
Polite staff, excellent baristas, and awesome coffee. I’m partial to the Café au Lait with whatever they’ve got going for a dark roast that day, but they cold brew is great, too.
Their merch kills me, too — adorable retro-​style mugs that remind me of my childhood. Win!

This is such a cool spot! We headed over after having breakfast at the Crack Shack. Next time I will have to try their amazing pastries. They just looked mouthwatering and legit!
I had a tea and hubby had coffee… pretty basic. The vibe is great and dog friendly.

I’m a self renowned tea drinker… just haven’t acquired the palette for coffee although I can appreciate it’s robust aroma… however one particular coffee shop in Berkeley, CA has compelled me to begin my search of my new love: Mochas! And now everywhere I go. I must have one when I want a lil more than my soothing teas! Well BirdRock didn’t fail! For a mocha to be perfect the two main ingredients must cause ruckus together: a strong espresso and a decadent dark chocolate… and that was simply accomplished here.

After going here most mornings for months I should definitely write a review. Bird Rock is seriously the best roaster in town. Their coffee is always flavorful, well brewed and the perfect temperature.
The space is very light, airy and clean and a great place to spend some time in the morning before work reading, or just pick up a cup on the way to work.
The employees are all very nice and helpful.
Definitely one of my favorite coffee bars in San Diego.

Love coming here when I’m looking for some iced chai latte. It was a nice set up with plenty of seating outside. It can get a little warm in here on hot days because they don’t run A/​C since the windows/​walls are always open. The people here are genuine and their coffee is wonderful.

I think that bird rock coffe roasters is training my palette and making me an unintentional coffee snob. Now that I can identify the florar notes in their last espresso I am having a hard time enjoying other people’s coffee. I love the really short espresso shot they pull and especially the soda water chaser.
The shop is in a cool part of Little Italy, a little off the beaten path. Definitely worth the walk if you are in the neighborhood, or worth the trip if you are not!

This is an amazing place for many things: to lounge, work on your laptop, meet with friends and even on a date; but it all comes down to the coffee my friends, and this place makes it just right!
As soon I walked in I was greeted by an exquisite aroma of coffee loaded with caramel and toffee followed by the sweet smile of a wonderful Barista named Lindsay (I apologize if I miss spell her name) that maintains her cool no matter how many orders of lattes, cappuccinos, espresso etc. she has, she even takes the time to ask about your day and tell you a little bit about the coffee she’s preparing, all while delivering a true espresso!
I’m very much inclined to full body flavors with chocolate, honey or caramel notes in my espresso. This place does exactly that! They also have a great variety of pour over like Ethiopia, Guatemala and a few more. Everyone working there is friendly and well informed of their products, which gives a lot of confidence when asking about a recommendation of coffee beans to take home or which Pour Over to try.
I will most definitely come back again and I will share the tip that Lindsay gave me about another coffee place she goes on her free days.

I like it here. It’s kinda like the friends spot of coffee joints of my neighborhood of Little Italy. The coffee isn’t my favorite, but it’s such a nice reprieve from the mud that has long been slung on «the street»
Service here is great and the place is comfy and welcoming. The biggest downfall and reason why I cannot rate this place above a 3 star rating… their hours suck. 6 – 6 and 7 – 7. It’s kinda lame to close at 6 and 7 in the evening… shit? Are you afraid you’ll miss wheel a fortune? I’m not even going to gripe about the 7am start… but people drink coffee much earlier than that. The neighborhood is growing and it’ll support the earlier & later hours into the future.

Coffee 5 Stars.
However on my recent visit ONE Star.
The counter guy took too much offense to my letting him know I had a flight out and wanted to know if pour over was going to be long. I also let him know my last experience, my first pour over, had taken a long time.
Simple inquires should not be taken offensively but as an opportunity to inform and help patrons understand the process.

What a fabulous coffee shop! Bird Rock is on Kettner, and only a couple blocks from the center of Little Italy. We came here after having lunch. Instead of having a coffee in the restaurant, I decided to try out Bird Rock instead. I am SOOOO glad I did!
I had a soy cappuccino which was pretty and tasty. Smooth and tart. The coffee was on point. These people know what they are doing. My cousin had a soda, since he isn’t a coffee fan. Tea is available as well. Next time, I will try a pastry with my cappuccino.
I loved the look of the place as well. Teal green seats and stools. Wood tables with succulents growing out of the center. The next time I have a long study ahead of me, I will land here.