Lion Coffee

Awesome staff and of course great coffee. Their Kona 24k my fav. The also have sandwiches and some breakfast treats. I havent tried them but they look tasty :-)
***Their location has moved and is now downtown on 101 Market Street at the Atria building right behind the Ralphs.****

They DID move. They’re now at 101 Market Street downtown. I’d like to write more in my review, but I’m on my way there!

Total joy if you’ve ever lived in Hawaii and gotten used to drinking Lion daily.
Tucked away in that weird pocket of Mission Valley that is a bit out of your way. Worth it if you know what’s up.
I was surprised that the bags of beans weren’t more expensive, I was prepared to take a beating on price. Good stuff.

The coffee here is great. I am hooked… toasted coconut… mmmm!
This is a cute coffee shop, but it was a little overwhelming coming here for the first time because I didn’t know what the heck to get. I will be a regular customer because they have a great selection of coffee beans (kona) to buy and take home. I use a coffee press at home and the coffee is so tasty and smooth. I am not a big coffee drinker, I like foo-​foo crap from Starbucks, but the coffee beans from this place taste great with a little cream and sugar and it’s a fraction of the calories.

Lion Coffee is the reason why I became a bit more serious coffee drinker. I can still remember my very first time here. As soon as I walked in, I totally fell in love with the smell! — They were freshly brewing Toasted Coconut at the time and oh man… the smell was to DIE for!
I used to always buy a cup of coffee from either local coffee shops or Starbucks. But after that smell!!!, I started buying real coffee from Lion’s Coffee (My favourite is Vanilla Macadamia) and have been self-​brewing at home. Save $ for greater taste coffee!
The staff is also outstanding! I had a chance to meet the owner as well and when I suggested an idea for the coffee shop, he gave me 10% discount! I hear all the time from other customers how great their sandwiches are. Definitely will try one next time I visit.
As a college student, free WI-​FI here is a big plus for me, and every time I visit, it is never crowded. There are two reasons for 4 star: #1 — is because of the loud music. Although if you ask nicely, they will turn it down for you =) #2 — They don’t open late enough for me. Especially on Sundays, they close at 7pm.
Nonetheless, this is one of my top 2 places to come to enjoy a cup of AMAZING coffee and to study.
~hb.

Good expresso, excellent friendly service. Only thing missing is a bit more of a relaxed ambiance or *something*. They have commercial radio on too loud, and the place doesn’t feel too inviting. The sort of place to grab a cup and be on your way.

You guys, please come to this place. I don’t think business is going super well for these guys and this place is really a rare find. Who else knows how to make you (and your significant other’s) breakfast sandwiches just right? Who else will suggest an acai bowl when you are sick? That being said, I don’t drink coffee (and when i do I have to load it up with flavorings). The atmosphere is chill and laid back, often with Hawaiian music playing in the background. I highly recommend the breakfast sandwich with turkey bacon, egg, and cheddar on a croissant. sooo yum. A perfectly quite, yet delicious place to come when you have a hangover.

O. M. G.
This coffee is great. I bought some Lion coffee while in Hawaii and wept the day that I ran out. Maybe a year passed and I was on my way over to IKEA, via Friar’s and I saw a big banner – «LION COFFEE NOW OPEN»
I immediately veered off the road (you know, on the off ramp of course) and raced into the store. I bought a bag of my favorite flavor (vanilla macadamia) and went home to enjoy it, totally forgetting about IKEA. Also, the staff is helpful and knowledgeable.
PS: I have also had their sandwiches. Delicious.

Yay! I’m a fan. (That’s what four stars means).
Here’s why:
Friendly in an authentic way. Great customer service (seems to be lacking here in San Diego so I’m excited when I get to experience it). Very good drip coffee. Decent espresso drinks. (Though I did have one guy, when I accidentally ordered a «venti» drink, speak patronizingly to me. Look dude, I used to manage an indie store in none other than Washington State. I heard Starb$cks lingo all the time and you know what? It used to chap my hide, till I realized Starb$cks is the leader and probably why my customers were even aware of espresso and was now coming to MY place to have their orders filled. Take a chill and think big picture. It’s all gooood).
My only complaint is that the staff don’t seem to know how to properly steam milk. I order lattes and only once was my latte steamed properly. That particular latte was amazing. The others were good. The espresso was never ever burned (unlike Starb$cks).
They had a decent amount of pastries and food stuffs.
Overall — loved that I had an indie java hut within walking distance to my apartment while I was here.

I’ve got to give this one a meh. I took a chance and I don’t imagine I’m going to come back. I definitely need to qualify this a bit though.
The staff here are great. Very friendly, talkative, welcoming. The iced tea I got was really nasty and they replaced it with a chai tea latte for free (I was actually just looking to get a different iced tea but the guy misunderstood me… still, the chai was delish).
The store itself is really neat and colorful and the wifi is pretty good (no disconnects or anything).
But, for some reason, this place chooses to leave a regular local radio station on. The music was OK I guess but terrestrial radio is, like, 40% commercials and it was really distracting (and too loud). I don’t know why coffeeshops think they HAVE to have music on, let alone at a strong level. Most people that stuck around were working on something with headphones on, trying to get AWAY from the sound.
All in all, I might swing by again if I was in the area (not that I make it to this strip mall very often), but nothing special here.

One of my favorite places to chill for a bit after work, great coffee, awesome cup of hot chocolate, delicious pastries & free wi-​fi every day. It’s always quiet when i come in, always a place to sit & relax.

Excellent music, atmosphere and wonderful staff.
Free Wi, Fi, and AMAZING coffee.
I hate a coffee house that charges for Wi FI, are only gives it to exclusive people that belong to a particular phone company.
Lion coffee house offers better coffee that any of the big chains.
If your a coffee drinker, like to have wi fi when you go, and enjoy good music and a nice atmosphere, this place if for you. Did I mention it has AC.

Hands down best iced coffee I’ve ever had. I don’t even need to put cream in this coffee because the flavor alone is awesome. This shop is conveniently located within walking distance of my office and had to stop by here during the lunch break to make it through the day @ work blah! I always go for the small vanilla macadamia iced coffee, no room for cream. One sip and my hand starts to gyrate from the overdose of iced caffeinated goodness.
They also offer wifi here which is an added bonus. I do remember surfing the net while sipping on my iced heaven. Every time I’ve been in here there hasn’t been a big crowd. Cmon peeps try da kona!
cheers

I’m surprised with how well reviewed this place is. It is decent, but not worth 4 or 5 stars. It shines for two reasons:
a) The prices are reasonable
b) the coffee is tasty (note that I’m not a coffee aficionado, but I like this stuff)
However, there are many drawbacks.
a) The tea selection stinks. (they don’t even carry Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea… pretty standard)
b) the space is a big, hollow box, and is not welcoming
c) It is loud. Probably because of b) above
d) Despite what other reviewers say, this place does not have a lot of electrical outlets. It has 2. And that is for 6 tables and 2 big (uncomfortable) chairs.
e) The pastries look old and store-​bought
I don’t mean to make it sound so bad, but it isn’t anything special. It is average, and I think of 3 stars as the average rating.

Damn you Lion Coffee, why are you so good! I love the coffee, once you try it you’ll never drink anything else, well, er, atleast you won’t want to.
I had a friend of a friend turn me on to this place, although she no longer works there, apparently the owner is a weasil, but the coffee is sooo good. Try the 100 Karat, they only use a french press, which a true coffee drinker knows is the best way… no 5 hour old coffee here. It so worth the wait. The lattes are good as well. The only problem is that the don’t staff a lot of people so if there is 3 or 4 people in line, plan on waiting. But it is worth the wait. I only wish i could purchase it from somewhere else, as I hate to reward owners who don’t respect/​take care of their employees. The counter staff is fun and friendly!

Very friendly service. Good smoothies too if you’re a little hungry.

Came here the other day with my pal Michelly-​belle, we were about to head to Tuesday Morning for a thorough shopping, but first needed to imbibe on the tasty breakfast sammiches and coffee they serve.
The coffee’s got some kick, it’s KONA and tasty! I had a caramel somethin-​somethin and they offered soy milk, you think everyone does that don’t you? I can hear your snide remark now «yeah like we are so in california now Shelli get over the soy ok?»
But you know what snide person?
Starbucks can’t even get me non-​lactose because it’s ALL PREMIXED so you know how I feel about that evil empire African forced slave labor. .. um yeah.
Oh and the service, they were so cute and all excited to be serving us, it was absolutely precious! Michelly-​belle said this about the service «overly bubbly accommodating attitude» cause it’s true.
Me and girlie took a business card which has to be the coolest one I’ve ever seen, I need to mention that it tells you how to contact them if you are in Japan, says «from Japan call 0044−2211−2122». Hee hee!
Check out Lion, if you like Kona, and you like independent and you’ve been known to down a croissant sammich, then go.

Lion Coffee is the bomb. I never have been a fan of flavored coffees, but when I tried their coconut coffee, I was totally hooked. When I tried the 100% Kona, I was completely converted. Their coffee is fantastic, and it’s great to have an alternative to the corporate Starbuck drones… I hope that Lion has a lot of success!

Kona coffee. Ghirardelli chocolate. Tropical smoothies. Espresso with condensed milk. Near my work and my apartment.
It’s like this place was made for me.
Tried — Mocha — rich and delicious. Lion «POG» smoothie — passion fruit, orange, guava… so refreshing. My favorite fruit combo.
Dying to try — Lion Thai Latte and Lion Thai Mocha Latte
both are espresso with condensed milk — my all time favorite coffee beverage which isn’t readily available in mainstream coffee places… I neglected to see it at the bottom of the menu when I ordered. Boo. At least it’s an excuse to get back there pronto.

Update 3−9−08:
I’m starting to get anxious, I hope people are taking advantage of Lion Coffee in Mission Valley, and it’s variety of fresh brewed coffees and treats! I’ve noticed they have sign spinners now. Either that’s because they’re doing well… or NOT. Wahh!
I still love to drop by for my Toasted Coconut and they have a lovely version of the caramel macchiato (no bitterness). Though I do stop at Starbucks when I need overstimulation to help me get thru underwriting crappy home loans.
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Oh, my days of hoarding mass quantities of whole bean Lion Coffee when Costco (Mission Valley) has a Lion Coffee vendor on site are over. That distributor has opened a small Lion Coffee place in Mission Valley so now you can have your choice of fresh brewed Lion Coffee, my favorites are the Toasted Coconut, Vanilla Macadamia, and the 24 Karat (which they brew French Press style, so be prepared to wait about 5 mins for that fresh brew).
They also sell all the Lion Coffee here Whole Bean and ground, as well as a few pastries and sandwiches. The barrista on site can whip up espresso based beverages (I’m assuming they’re using the Diamond Head Espresso), I tried their version of the caramel macchiato and it was great, no burnt taste (well roasted espresso).
The shop is cute, too, a mix of island feel and modern (with high exposed ceilings). FREE WIFI. It’s a little tough to find if you’re not familiar with the area, it’s close to Pat & Oscar’s and Sombreros here in Mission Valley.
I’ll give them 5 stars when they start carrying the bottled Lion Coffee beverages (so I don’t have to drive up to the Torrance Marukai every month to buy them). Check it out, you’ll have a great cup of coffee! They’re open most days by 6 a.m. (Goodbye Starbucks, for me)