Kensington Coffee Company

After leaving San Diego for 20 years, the first place I returned to was my favorite coffee shop, that was around the corner from my apartment. My own cup on a rack on the wall. Fresh roasted coffee everywhere. Big fresh daily slices of cheese cake from another business down the street. They were opening a store in Coronado. I found Gone were the huge cans of flavored coffees (I even used to buy coffee from them while living in in DC via Mail order) and big tins of tea. I found a struggling shop that was trying to compete with the Starbucks (who did not even exist back then — except maybe in Seattle) across the street, with crappy food, local artwork on the walls and bad coffee. And now it is completely gone. What a shame. The Kensington Coffee Company will forever be one of my best memories of what a wonderful small neighborhood business could be.

I’m a hoodie. The shop has gone through a major renovation and the menu has been updated. It’s a lot cleaner and the food they prepare is wonderful.
My favorite breakfast item is the Tree Hugger omelet in a wheat wrap as a burrito
Lunch: The Montezuma panini is scrumptious.
The coffee has improved wonderfully, as well.

I have a goal of trying all 385 independent coffee shops in San Diego and writing a book about them. Not a book for anyone to read, just something to occupy the sleepless nights I get from drinking coffee all day.
This was one of the first I checked out that was not in my general part of town.
The location and the environment are great, unfortunately the coffee and service are average to poor.
I have heard that there is new ownership so I will give it another try. It seems like a place I would enjoy hanging at if the coffee and service were better.

I haven’t been to Kensington Café yet, but I used to go frequently when it was Kensington Coffee Company, back around 1990, and it was a great place. It kept evolving and eventually turned into San Diego Coffee Company but the hours were feeble and the place felt kind of unclean and lacking in warmth. I’d go occasionally but — sadly — it was inferior to the very nice Starbucks across the street, best Sbux I’ve ever been to, and I was always lukewarm about it.
So now it’s Kensington Café and I am hoping that they got it right this time. The location is one of the best in San Diego in terms of general feel, and when I passed by a few nights ago there was someone at a mic, probably reading poetry, and a substantial crowd, something the previous incarnation usually lacked. So I have my fingers crossed that they’ll be open late, have good service, comfortable seating, and good vibes. I’m giving this place a 5-​star rating since Unilocal is requiring a rating, and I hope it lives up to my expectations!

I live around the corner and can say that I usually don’t frequent this spot. I would rather walk the extra 50 feet across the street to get good service and a consistent cup of coffee.
Free wifi is a draw, and the seating is good/​comfy/​outdoors, but the staff acts like a bunch of crumb bums. Lots of stink eyes. Get it together kids and maybe think about something that makes you happy when you are at work so you don’t make the clientele feel bad for walking into your store on the way to work. I don’t know, maybe you just hate working there, I know I hated working at Superstars Pizza; however, if that is the case, please find another gig because you piss me off.
The food is usually good here and the tea is spot on. They usually have a really good selection of teas, but do run out on occasion. I like the blood orange green tea.
Coffee for the most part has been good, except for the fact that they use reddi-​whip instead of home made whipped cream. Its the little things.
It comes down to shitty service, hence the «Meh. I’ve experienced better.»

have you tried the coffee here?
Seriously its like murky brown water… it so so so bad!
I took one sip and almost spat it out. the only reason why didnt was to protect the people around me.
i might come in for the wifi but not for the coffee id rather walk to another café with no wifi for better coffee or just cross the street to starbucks!

Now under new management and signage, the Kensington Café is a pretty good coffee shop. They have painfully average bagels but delicious avocado sandwiches. They can make a delicious macchiato, but it depends on the barista. The staff, all of them, are friendly and fairly prompt, but, as previously mentioned, some are more adept at drink-​making than others.
Seriously, though: get a macchiato and an Adams avocado. You will not be disappointed. Well, maybe.

When I, for whatever reason, just can NOT be seen at Lestat’s, and I need some girl talk, I come here.
The new ownership, doesn’t seem to be much of a difference, the attitude is still there, and the coffee still isn’t as up to par as it should be. My tea is always burnt, but I never complain.
I do, sometimes go to starbucks, but the one across the way always looks so damn busy that I don’t even bother going in.
Sorry Rugs.
Here is my plus one for the local guys. I’m sure you, and the MAN will win anyway though.

5 stars for the cute asian girl
1 star for their paper thin cups which almost burnt my hands

Ever since Chi Chocolat in Little Italy closed this is my new favorite coffee place. It’s just chill. Everything a coffee place should be — reasonably priced, taste good and NOT a chain. I have not tried any of the food and probably won’t — that’s not what my coffee place is for… I go for the coffee.
It’s located in chic Kensington and definitely worth any trip you have to take to get there. Oh, and they are open on Sundays!

Living down the street, I try and stop by and support the small guy since they’re right across the street from Starbucks.
They have great italian sodas, only really go there for that. Once in a while they run out of ice which is fine I guess, I mean it’s not like they’re right across from a gas station and can easily walk 20ft and buy a bag of ice, but hey, what can you do.
Service has always been friendly, décor isn’t that bad.
I hope the new management turns the place around for the better. Here’s rooting for the little guy.

You’d have to be quite a horrible business to get one star from me, but this place definately comes close.
I’ve been here three times — once because I drove by and it looked nice and cute, a 2^nd time to give them a 2^nd shot, and another time because someone recommended it to me (it was like 2 or 3 months apart each).
The first time was OK. The coffee was hot. But the half and half was quite warm as well! They switched it out — no biggie.
The 2^nd time I got a bagel w/​my coffee. The bagel was burnt.
The 3^rd time I ordered a big breakfast — this was after the recommendation from a friend. They overcharged my card by $ 2 (they charged me for 2 coffees and I only ordered one for myself). So $ 8.50 for a breakfast and coffee is expensive — especially since the bread had mold on it! It was toast, but parts of it were wet /​soggy, and there was mold on it. I couldn’t see it, which is why I ate it, but you know the taste of moldy bread in your mouth, and this had it.
For overcharging my card, they gave me a «free drink coupon.» ???
After this experience, why would I want to go back here? There are lots and lots of coffee shops in town, close to here, where I won’t have these experiences.
I just didn’t get a good vibe from the place. I hope this isn’t too harsh, but people must be warned.

Sure, this place has grown up and evolved throughout the years… I used to come here in college back when there were no frills, a quiet atmosphere, great coffee and GREAT cheesecake.
Now, it has changed… I don’t go there for coffee (only b/​c I don’t like coffee), but there is no better thing to do on a Saturday morning then stroll down with the husband and dog and have their yummy food choices for breakfast.
Sit outside and people watch, you won’t be disappointed.

You know those times when you really want to support the small local business but the nearby CoffeeClone is just nicer? That’s how I feel about Kensington Coffee. I give up. If I want coffee on my way to work I lean towards the Starbucks across the street from here, because not only is the service quicker and friendlier, the coffee is better too.
Ouch, right?
Granted, Kensington Coffee looks like a nice comfy place to hang out. Plenty of space, lots of windows. Unfortunately, I only come here in the morning to grab something to take out and that makes the sloooow (and not very friendly) service problematic. I’m not a morning person myself and I don’t need to be doused in perkiness when I come in, but sometimes the staff look at me like I asked them to scale Mt. Everest when all I want is a small coffee to go. And maybe my preference for relatively strong coffee is out of place in the sedate Kensington neighborhood, but it remains that Kensington Coffee’s drip coffee is weak.
In all fairness, the espresso drinks are better, and the pastry selection is not bad.

I have only been here once, and it is out of the way for me but I really did like it. I know that it has been there forever (I remember hearing about this place when I was in High School).
My staple drink (an Americano) was quite good. The service for me was quite nice, though it was far from crowded at the time.
The space is pleasant. Well lit, and the requisite Art Show on the wall (with reasonably poor «Art on Ray» type stuff hanging.
I enjoyed my Americano sitting at a small table and simply enjoying the assortment of visitors who wandered in.

I can’t say too many bad things about this place, but that doesn’t mean there are none. i can agree with my fellow Unilocalers about the service being abhorrent on several occasions (though most certainly not always), even on a totally unbusy evening… it takes too long to get what you’ve ordered, on such occasions, as well. a few times it was near impossible to get the empty milk/​cream containers refilled, too, or get some honey instead of sugar. see, my complaints are pretty minor!
and now for the good…
the coffee is sensational (ever since the 1^st time i went there, i was awed.) their espresso has a rich, nutty flavor, and a smooth, never bitter finish. i love! the rice crispy treats are worthy of a scuffle if you and another person are grabbing for the last one at the same time. they’re fluffy, not too gooey, and just buttery enough not to be greasy.
Please check out the artwork of Mark Rimland! I helped to host an opening of some of his work being shown at another san diego café. the man is very sweet, super talented, and paints like the dickens.
despite the hours changing, i will still make an effort to come here for my americano if i’m in the neighborhood or looking for a place to go after sunday brunch.

Now this is what you call good coffee! All the good ratings below says it all!
The ambiance of this place is nice and cozy. Def a good spot to chat up with friends or discuss things for a project related to work/​school. Plenty of outside seating.
The coffee/​fraps are made quickly and the taste is great, it is mixed throughly and comes out smooth.
Parking can be a bit hard, as the streets may not have any spots, so you may have to park more than a block away.

This is not the Kensington Coffee house that I knew 10 years ago. I see they have a new name and a new owner. Sad! I loved this place when I lived in Kensington b/​c it was the Ferris Buller of coffee houses. Everybody loved it! It wasn’t too cool that only certain people were welcome. And it wasn’t snooty to people.
Not nowadays. April B. and I came here twice w/​the kids. Each time we came in, we got «hard looks» from all the patrons as if to say «How dare you bring those little brats into our coffeehouse while I do my Wi-​Fi». And hell, could they use some A/​C or leave open the door for some air? It is stuffy every time we go there. Sadly enough, there isn’t much selection for SAHM’s to grab some lunch and have a play date at the park in Kensington. We tried Ponce’s, but that’s another story.
BRING BACK MY COFFEEHOUSE!

San Diego Coffee Tea & Spice né Kensington Coffee
Many fond memories of Ken Coffee. I worked here for a year after college and had a great time. My skills as a barrista were never that great but I always had work to do, like fixing the plumbing in the bathroom or repairing the ice machine (with duct tape, unmatched screws, and crazy glue). There was a Starbucks across the street, and it used to upset me that people would actually choose to go there when this place had better coffee, more food options, real furniture, and books and games. But what can you do? I guess I shouldn’t be shocked since the old Java Joe’s in OB became a Starbucks and people still went there. The coffee was always good, and the customers were always friendly.
This is also where I had my first and last crush on an emo girl, a coworker named Julianna. She had those cute black-​rimmed glasses and beautiful dark hair. I never had a chance: I saw her boyfriend come in and I knew I could never let my hair go unwashed long enough to get that greasy, nor could I ever wear black nail polish or eye liner.
A great neighborhood coffee house for a great neighborhood.

Kensington coffee has some of the best damn coffee beans in town. I dig the light roast with lots of milk and sugar. They also have these disgustingly unhealthy bagels covered in jalapenos and cheddar cheese – I love ‘em, especially when they’re covered in cream cheese.
It’s funny; I’ll eat those damn bagels, but I was just about to offer up my one complaint about Kensington. They don’t put out non-​fat milk, they only offer half & half and whole milk. Like my choice of non-​fat milk will make a difference when I’m scarfing down cheese-​covered bagels.