It’s A Grind Coffee House

Okay I have been here a few times and have waited till now to see if the service would get worse or people would ever start dragging their feet in the coffee making process but no one has.
Every time I come in I get good service with a good attitude. So far I have visited 5 times or so and Ashley and Rachael know my name already.
Not to mention the coffee blows Starbucks away like a veteran hooker on a Tuesday night special… like no hands blown away… you get the drift! Good job team «Grind»!

For It’s a Grind enthusiasts, this company store carries many travel mugs with the IAG logo. They had some pretty darn cool selections and of course, they carry the good old standbys: High Octane coffee by the ½ lb or 1 lb and the whole menu lineup that other stores, mostly franchises, have. I was helped by Angelica, the General Manager and she was really nice and knows a lot about It’s a Grind.
There are tons of cushy chairs — lots of people were enjoying the free wifi. Scones, cookies, bagels and more items were in the glass case by the register. The music they play is relaxing and many of the store patrons study and enjoy their laptops in peace. The store does not allow pets inside but there are tables and chairs outside of the store.
The Road Warrior is a fantastic drink. Go to their website
and see if you can find the downloadable menu if you are interested in a description of the espresso based iced specialty drink.

Cool place to get my coffee fix. I had a winter brew coffee that was iced down. Very nice.
Also served Italian sodas. Free Wi-​Fi. Nice, comfy lounge furniture.

I really don’t want to write a 2-​star review, but I have to be honest with the service and coffee I’ve gotten here.
I frequent this place, as it is close to the place I study, and more often than not, the service has been poor.
On numerous occasions that I come here, I have to wait more than usual to order, even though there are 3 baristas working in the back, and only one of them is occupied.
And this happens a lot, either they are preoccupied with something, or talking to each other, or to a friend, and you have to wait longer to order and get your drink.
The coffee is good, and the location is good.
I just think that they need to hire better baristas or get a new manager or something.
The condiment area is usually empty and isn’t refilled.
And just today I had to wait for a barista to notice me even though three of them were unoccupied, and the customer after me also had to wait.

Really? A whole container of pistachio nuts from some bulk food store? Crunching them one by one as you pop each little, crunchy nut past your dusted green and unkempt beard into your slobbery mouth while hunting and pecking on Myspace?
You’re gonna eat the whole thing? Oh no. You aren’t. Wait. You are. But not before you have to quench your thirst by taking drags every five minutes from your half gallon of Tropicana.
I see you bought a tall beverage. What is that? A tea? Does your $ 1.35 or something cheap as hell like that allow you to enjoy your nut and juice buffet while scoring the free wifi?
Is that someone I see over there with food they actually purchased on site? Are they on the wifi too? Are they drinking from a cup filled with more than hot water and lemon?
Let’s hope you don’t choke on a nut my friend. I might actually read this review to you before I aid in saving your life. You’re as annoying as Zorg in that movie except he’s rich and would probably not be you as he probably owns the coffee shop, the coffee, the water… well yeah.
And now you’ve gone and made this corner of the coffee shop of ours smell like orange juice and pistachios. And BO.
Dude. Please finish your pistachios now so I can go back to my work.
Oh yeah, and are you eight? Myspace?
Tip: if you want to pilfer the wifi, do so from the street like a respectable wifi stealer.

Mmmmm…
Best soy caramel macchiato I ever had.
Nice place. Good coffee.
What else can I say?

Because I’ve only visited this location once and took my coffee to go instead of enjoying it outside on the sunny patio or inside on one of the comfy chairs, I wasn’t sure if I could review the place on one visit, let alone one cup of coffee.
The coffee was delicious and flavorful – Almond latte. I love the aroma of freshly ground beans. My coffee was very hot (which I really appreciate and am surprised when places don’t make coffee hot).
What impressed me was the barista making the coffee that morning. She made one of the customers *multi-​request coffee with regular instead of decaf. She apologized profusely but the customer just kept mumbling sarcastic comments to his friends and to the barista. I wanted to tell him to lighten up already, she already apologized (yes, had not had any coffee yet so I was quite grumpy and since I’m a visitor in this beautiful city I decided to leave it alone). The barista was very professional – made him a new multi-​request coffee, apologized again and kept smiling through the whole thing and kept smiling even after he left. Wow. I know, it’s a service industry but when I witness professional service first hand, it’s definitely worth sharing.
*multi request coffee – one order of coffee that has more than 2 special requests – for example latte, light foam, extra hot, soy milk, ½ shot of of flavor, etc.

Okay, I had been saving up for somewhere really special for my 200^th review, and I am just way busy and behind on so many reviews-​I know I’m so missed ’round these parts!-that I figured I’d write about It’s a Grind, because darnit, it may not be «fine dining» but for me, it is special. So there ya go.
I met the man I adore (translation: more than adore) here. There I said it. Well, wrote it. You read it here, folks. That memory… seared into my brain like ahi on a frying pan. Romantic, huh?
So besides the fact I met the most amazing, sexiest man *ever* at this fine little establishment, it’s great to just chill out, sip some tea and read a book or to get on the laptop and do some work. The staff is so friendly and they are totally cool about me bringing Pugdy (see lizard pics). Great seating, free wireless internet and although I don’t drink coffee, everything else here is good.
They open early and close late. Couldn’t ask for much more!

Went down the other day. Just reopened and got excellent service. Great new staff and found out that it will be corporatly owned until a new franchise owner is found.

I stopped by this place by chance due to a construction detour on my way to work. I’ve noticed that it’s been reopened for the past couple of months after that little uh… change of ownership issue.
I was on my way to work and in a hurry. Thankfully, only one chatty customer was ahead of me when I arrived. I admit that on weekdays I want to pay, smile, grab and go. Hence why the green siren is consistently a reliable option. I know what to order, how it should be prepared, and the person at the register is on it.
I felt a little awkward when there was some confusion about my order and the woman at the register and the barista were rather short with each other. I guess they were having an off morning. At any rate, I’d give the drink 3.5 out of 5 stars (their mocha wasn’t quite strong enough for me), and I’d give my morning service 3 out of 5 stars.
I’d like to try their other drinks, but I will do so when I feel more leisurely (and I LOVE coffee shops). However, I’ll stick to the green siren for my morning rush.

It’s a Grind in Little Italy closed for a bit but has opened again.
Location-​wise, this place is perfect. You can chill in the sun-​flooded café or on their patio at every time of the day, read the paper, use the free wifi, or do just people-​watching.
I tried the food (beverages like scones, muffins, and donuts) which tasted alright, also the Pumpkin Spice Latte is more flavorful than at Starbucks. However, I am a drinker of regular coffee and unfortunately, most of the times I order a grind the coffee is not hot, not even warm, thanks to the thermos jug-​like cans they keep the coffee in. I might as well order an iced coffee right away.
But since this place is so chill and sunny all day long, 3 stars… still a good spot in the Little Italy neighborhood.

This place is open (presumably under new management). The coffee is fine — on par with most chain coffee shops. It’s close to my house, and the chairs are numerous and comfortable. There’s also a nice outdoor seating area.
I always get a bagel with lowfat cream cheese (they asked me today if I wanted it spread thin — nice touch, as most places seriously overspread the stuff), and my son always gets a scone.
Music selection is eclectic — today I heard Billie Holiday, some sort of forgettable disco, and Portishead inside of ten minutes.

It’s open again. I don’t know how you change the heading.
Anyway-​Stopped by about a week ago on the way to work. Usually I just make coffee, but it was a Friday so I thought I would treat myself to a Mocha.
Everyone was really friendly, but it took forever!!! And they weren’t very busy! It did taste good when I got it and it won’t deter me from stopping by again. .. just probably not on my way to work. I

It’s a grind is consistently good quality and attentive service. Free wifi is always a plus.
I especially like the chocolate milk they use for their Mochas.
I think I may be swayed by nostalgia here as I used to frequent one of the original shops in Long Beach where I met one of my best friends.

I had a light mocha here last night using my free cup of coffee.
–Mocha was tasteless.
–Coffeehouse was toasty inside.
— Two stars; staff was nice.

free wifi, good chocolate chip cookies w/​huge chocolate chunks, and outdoor seating.
Not many seats, not enough outlets, and most importantly, they need to get some air conditioning in here! I feel like I’m about to have a hot flash which doesn’t make me want to drink my coffee now…

Have to agree that their coffee is mediocor.
The vanilla latte has almost no taste, you’re better off getting a regular coffee in Vanilla bean and add the milk and sugar.
However, this is a very nice location. taking a walk here to enjoy breakfast on a Saturday morning is a great relaxing feeling. And they have the nicest baristas who work here.

It’s a Godawful Gulp of Gunk. And it is not my cup of tea, so to speak.
Their iced coffee recipe was clearly stolen straight from Satan’s kitchen. It’s like this chemical concoction of crud with freaking tap water topping it off. Suuuure, just top off my iced coffee with a few squirts of San Diego’s finest. That’s just how I like it. Yummy.
Tell you what: keep your iced coffe and I’ll just browse and help myself to a few free packets of Equal.

Coffee flavor here is average at best. The location is great with the outside tables.
You are in Little Italy. Your choices are It’s a Grind, Starbucks, or Café Italia. Always pick Café Italia.
Don’t get me started on the limo guys next door to me. They buy their coffee from the 7 – 11. What the hell is that?!

Killing time and need a quick jolt of pick me up, this place came through. After a rough night of 100 degree weather at a house with no power, my tired self needs a jolt in a big way. Free wifi? I’ve got 30 minutes to kill? Imma Unilocaling!!!
Nice big chairs, air conditioning!!!+++++
Strolled in, and was greeted by hundreds of Unilocalers!!!
Okay, would you believe a dozen peeps with laptops? ;-)
Nice revamped area with new artists lofts and plenty of eats abound.