Memli Coffee never fails to disappoint. However, their coffee is certainly on the more expensive end of the spectrum. I had been eyeing their Tasting Set for a while as it seemed like a good way to test out a few different roasts and better understand what I might like from them in the future. It is also a great way to test five different origins which is fun in itself. The vials that come in the set have about 45-50g of coffee which allowed me to make about 5 different brews using smaller 8-10g doses on my Deep27 dripper. I was pleased with the packaging and details that come alongside the coffee. This would make for a great gift to any specialty coffee lover out there. Anyways, here is a short and review of the coffees that I tried from the set.

Tanzania - Acacia Hills

This one was sugary with aromas of apples that sit on the nose. More florals come out in the cup alongside some hints of lemon. I particularly enjoyed the sweetness of this roast.

Kenya - Karani AA
Very buttery and sweet on the tongue. I would say light on the florals, but mostly candy like sweetness that persisted as the cup cooled. One of my favorites in terms of the overall mouthfeel.

Pillcocaja - Anaerobic Ecuador
A very sweet, strawberry forward flavor with a touch of funk and light florals. Pleasantly long linger on the tongue. I always enjoy a good strawberry note in a roast like this.

Ethiopia - Banko Gotiti Natural
Red fruits, potent florals, and a creamy mouthfeel. Not as funky as I would expect out of a natural, almost drank more like a washed coffee to me. The strawberry is very forward as it cools as well.

Bolivia - Finca Mathias
Maple syrup is the highlight of the show here. Slight chocolates and red apple on the back end. This was a nice, sweet cup that is comforting and easy drinking. Balanced bitterness and acidity. Probably the most approachable roast for those who are less inclined to drink lighter roasted coffee.

I had a lot of fun trying out these different origins and would certainly recommend it to anyone wanting to try some side by side tastings. Has anyone else purchased any of these bags and enjoyed any one in particular? I feel like it is hard to go wrong with Memli coffee.

Roaster: Coffee Cycle Roasting

Bean Name: Guatemala Chq'Ul

Single Origin / Blend: Single Origin

Origin: Guatemala, Huehuetenango

Roast Date: 7/16/26

Process: Washed

Brew Method: Espresso, Pour Over

Most of you know of Coffee Cycle Roasting if you are familiar with the San Diego specialty coffee scene. If not, you can read the Roaster Highlight with Chris O'Brien from a little while back. I attended my first SD Coffee Club meetup back in July in which Chris so kindly hosted at the Ocean Beach Coffee Cycle location. We tried way too many nice coffees brewed in all sorts of ways and I ended up walking away with a bag of the Guatemalan washed coffee that Chris recommended to me.

I wanted something that would work well mainly for espresso but that would shine as pour over when I wanted to test that out. This roast was surprisingly light but did such an amazing job for both brew methods. As a pour over, it was very juicy on the palate with some hints of orange and dark chocolate. There was an acidity that was present but not overpowering. I felt like this one presented as a clean, washed profile that was thoroughly enjoyable on my Deep27 and Kalita combo. As espresso, I was getting some extremely well balanced shots using an Ikape Convex basket that were much sweeter than what I was getting in my pour overs. It seemed to bring out a bit more of the chocolatey notes and was super flavorful in a smaller milk drink. I could easy use this one as a daily driver and could see this as a roast that could help beginners to the specialty coffee world start to appreciate something roasted a bit lighter.

I'm curious where everyone lands here. Basically, who do you think offers the best value among San Diego coffee roasters?

To be clear, I'm not looking for "buy a 5 lb bag," "Costco has this..." or "join a monthly subscription". I'm more interested in the roasters whose regular pricing feels especially fair for the quality you're getting.

In other words, if you walk in and buy a normal bag off the shelf, which roasters consistently make you think, "This coffee should probably cost more than it does."

Off the top of my head, here are a few roasters that I feel fall within this category:

Torque Coffee: Vast majority of their roasts are $17-20 for a 12oz bag with exceptional quality

Jaunt Coffee: $20-22 for their 12oz bags with a good variety of roast styles

Zumbar: $19/12oz for their classic roasts that have maintained excellent quality for many years

Roaster: Ilustre Coffee

Bean Name: Gesha Carlos Cadena

Single Origin / Blend: Single Origin

Origin: Huehuetapan Farm, Veracruz, Mexico

Roast Date: 6/24/26

Process: Washed

Brew Method: Pour Over

I was in Escondido the other day and wanted to check out a new coffee shop. Since I had recently been to Manazanita, I settled on Ilustre Coffee. As a background, Ilustre is a Tijuana-born roaster that is highly regarded for their clean and expressive roasts that are primarily light to medium light. They focus on sourcing beans from Latin America (primarily Mexcio) and like to bring out clarity and sweetness in their roasts. They opened up this cafe in Escondido back in 2025 and in my opinion this is a hidden gem that doesnt seem to get talked about enough. Yes, the coffee is on the pricier side ($25/150g for this bag), but I don't think you will be disappointed assuming you like lighter roasted coffee. Ilustre does the majority of the roasting in Tijuana but also does some micro-lot roasts on a Stronghold that sits right in the middle of the cafe.

I was blown away by the smell of the whole beans. Punchy red fruits that had a bit of a boozy scent. After grinding, the aromas were sweet, fruity, and floral. In the cup, everything was red fruit forward. Red apple, strawberry. and plum. There were florals on the back end but this was mostly a sweet and juicy roast. When ground on my C40, the cup was complex and tasty with great flavor separation. I went with 23 clicks on the C40 and found the best results when brewing with 200-202f water. If you are ever in the Escondido area, this is a must stop for anyone wanting some unique Mexican roasts.

Roaster: Origen Coffee Roasters

Bean Name: Typica Pluma

Single Origin / Blend: Single Origin

Origin: Ozolotepec, Oaxaca, México

Roast Date: 6/24/26

Process: Washed

Brew Method: Espresso, Pour Over

Origen Coffee Roasters. Most of you have likely never heard of them. However, if you have had the pleasure of visiting this (somewhat hidden) cafe, you know that everyone else is missing out. Origen Coffee is a small coffee cart that is located outside in a quaint but peaceful business park directly across the street from the Carlsbad airport. Keep in mind that the coffee cart is only open on the weekdays from 8:15am-2pm. There is a beautiful pond with koi fish and plenty of outdoor tables to sit down and enjoy your coffee. What appears to be your run of the mill coffee cart is anything but ordinary. The owner, Ruben, is extremely friendly and will talk coffee all day long if he had the chance. His family has roots in Michocan, Mexico and you will always find a couple of Mexican roasts on the menu. Ruben sources and roasts a wide variety of unique single origin coffees. You will often find varieties like SL28, Bourbons, or funky natural processes. At the coffee cart, you will notice an extensive pour over menu (around $9/cup) that will allow you to try a roast before deciding to take home a bag. I love visiting Origen because I know that before I leave I will have learned something new about coffee. You can tell that Ruben's passion for specialty coffee is through the roof.

After trying a number of excellent pour over cups with some friends, I decided to leave with the washed Oaxacan roast ($29/12oz). I wanted something that could be more of a daily driver and work well on both espresso and pour over. Out of the bag, the aromas were mainly cacao, sugar cane, and a subtle orange. After grinding, I was able to detect dark chocolate notes alongside some sugary fruits.

As a pour over, this was very cozy with the chocolatey notes leading the way. On the back, I was able to taste some stone fruit that gave this cup an easy drinking sweetness. I would definitely classify this as a daily driver. The clean, washed profile was enjoyable and not overwhelming in any sense.

I really enjoyed this one on espresso. While I did not get as much chocolate coming through as I did on pour over, there was a nice mix of acidity and fruity sweetness. I could also pick up a bit of spices in the espresso that made this unique. I had consistently tasty shots as straight espresso as well as mixed into smaller milk drinks. While I am not able to make it over to Origen Coffee often due to their hours, I can't wait to get my hands on another bag. Let me know if you have had a similar experience with Origen or have brewed a roast from Ruben that really stood out.

Roaster: Zumbar Coffee

Bean Name: Hummingbird

Single Origin / Blend: Blend

Origin: 33% Latin, 25% Sumatra, 17% Ethiopia, 25% Brazil

Roast Date: 5/22/26

Process: Mixed

Brew Method: Espresso

The Hummingbird blend from Zumbar. A legend in its class. It doesn’t do anything extraordinary, but it hits every time and never fails to put a smile on your face when you want a punchy medium dark roast. At $19 for a 12oz bag, you are getting some excellent value for a bag that will be simple to dial in and maintain for a month or two on your shelf.

I’ll admit, this was my first time trying this roast. I knew I had to give it a shot after seeing it recommended for the 100th time on this subreddit. The cafe is tucked into a small little commercial center right off the freeway where the 5 meets the 805, almost hidden. They seem to roast fresh almost daily and the smell is intoxicating when you walk into the shop.

As many of you already know, Hummingbird is seen as a daily driver king. It has what most people want out of a dark-ish roast when pulled as espresso. The whole beans immediately hit you with rich chocolate and toasted almonds. As a ristretto (I was doing 18 in, 22 out), the shot was super buttery with nice bitterness and cocoa forward notes. As a longer 30g pull, I enjoyed the balance that came forward. Still ultra buttery but with a creamy chocolate and light nutty finish. This style shot had more of a rounded bitterness that I enjoyed a bit more. Extremely tasty as straight espresso or really any sort of milk drink. Just a warm hug in a glass. Easy drinking and one that is perfect for your guests who may not be into true specialty coffee and uniquely processed coffees.

This is the most recommended roast on this sub for a reason. It’s just good and doesn’t try to be anything crazy.

Thanks to everyone who voted on their favorite San Diego cafes and roasters. These winners will be added to the wiki:

Light Roast: Memli Coffee

Medium Roast: Torque Coffee

Dark Roast: Mostra Coffee

Espresso/Pour Over Experience: Little While

Vibes/Atmosphere: Baba Coffee

Work Spot: Jaunt Coffee Roasters

Newcomer: Cala Coffee

Most Underrated: Big Step Coffee

Some returning names as well as a few new ones that are worth checking out. Thanks for participating!

More to come for Q3

Roaster: Steady State

Bean Name: Agricola

Single Origin / Blend: Single Origin

Origin: Panama, Boquete

Roast Date: 6/5/26 (Maybe)

Process: Natural, Honey, & Washed

Brew Method: Pour Over, Espresso

It had been too long since I have purchased beans from trusty Steady State. For those who are not yet aware, they just opened up their second location in San Marcos which is next to their roasting facility, California Roasting Collective. I have not been to this spot yet, but San Marcos is getting quite the specialty coffee upgrade after getting Necessity's second location a few months back. I wanted a single origin that I knew I would use primarily for pour overs. Once I saw Pacamara, the multiple processing methods, and the marshmallow tasting note I was sold. I believe I paid $26 for the 10oz bag. I also uploaded a picture of their coffee shelf that talks about roast dates. It has been well documented on this page that Steady State does not like to add the roast date to the printed roast date section of their bags. You will see the signage mentioning that all coffee is roasted on Tuesday and Friday and that it is all fresh. While it is great to know that it is roasted often and that their product moves well, I still think this is lazy on their part. When I have 10 bags of coffee at home, I am often juggling my consumption based on evolving roast dates. Sure, I can guess which day the coffee was roasted but it is just a lot more comforting to see that date written on the bag. I will die on this grave.

Anyways, back to the coffee. Out of the bag, I was smelling sugar cane and citrus notes. After grinding on the handy 078s, it produced more nutty aromas with a slight hint of the citrus coming through.

Espresso: I'll be honest, I wasn't able to dial in a shot that was all that pleasing to me. I settled with a 1:2.5 ratio and was getting extremely punchy acidity with a touch of tangerine notes. I wasn't able to extract many nutty or marshmallow-like notes per the tasting notes. Instead, this was rather juicy and worked better with 4-6oz of milk to cut through the profile.

Pour Over: This is absolutely fantastic on pour over. I tried cups using a number of different drippers (Kalita Mino, Hario Switch, Deep27) and got great results throughout. The nutty notes were now very present and delicious. This was a well rounded cup that had cherry and apricot notes on the back of the cup that evolved as it cooled. I would reach for this one again if I had the chance.

Roaster: Provecho

Bean Name: Chiapas

Single Origin / Blend: Single Origin

Origin: Chiapas, Mexico

Roast Date: Unknown

Process: Washed

Brew Method: Pour Over, Espresso

I made my way over to Provecho in Barrio Logan after an airport run a few weeks back. My intent was to pickup a bag of the Banana Co-Ferment for a friend as well as a bag of the Oaxaca for myself. Unfortunately I had to scrap that plan as neither roast was in stock that day. I decided that I wanted to stick with a Mexican origin so I went with their newer Chiapas roast which is a collab with Ally and Cafeologia which is an organization dedicated to strengthening coffee growing communities through research, education, and direct work with small scale producers. Strangely enough, this was their only coffee that did not have the roast date indicated anywhere on the bag. My guess is that since this was a special release with the "bag inside of a box" packaging, this detail may have been accidentally overlooked. Not a big deal, as I know that Provecho normally provides their roast dates and always has fresh product on the shelves.

Out of the bag and once ground, I was mostly finding sweet and nutty aromas. There was also a hint of dark chocolate and orange that was quite pleasant. As a pour over, this coffee produced a balanced acidity and light sweetness. There were also some earthy undertones that can oftentimes come through in Mexican origins. I enjoyed this one as a pour over, but probably preferred it pulled on espresso. The barista recommended that I try 18g in and 50g out in something like 30 seconds. Once dialed in, there was a structured mouthfeel that paired well with the small amount of acidity. You will certainly get the usual nutty and chocolatey notes that many love out of this origin. I think this could be a daily driver for many on espresso as it was pleasant as a straight espresso as well as paired with milk.

I do hope to be able to get my hands on their classic Oaxaca roast but this coffee hit the spot in the meantime.

Roaster: Torque

Bean Name: Bombom

Single Origin / Blend: Single Origin

Origin: Colombia

Roast Date: 05/09/2026

Process: Double Anaerobic

Brew Method: Pour Over, Espresso

Torque is one of those roasters that does things the right way. They source their beans with care and make sure to give back to the producers who oftentimes get the short end of the stick. Andy and Nanelle are passionate owners who approach coffee with a sense of playfulness and curiosity. The baristas at Torque in City Heights are friendly and well trained. When you make your way into the shop, you will have no problem understanding exactly which coffee might fit your mood that day.

I walked into the shop one Saturday morning and asked the barista a few questions about the beans on the shelf. After some back and forth, I was sold on the Bombom roast. She mentioned they had just freshly roasted some of these beans so I walked out with a bag that was hot off the roaster (literally) for only $18. I was excited to try this one on both pour over and espresso as was recommended to me.

The beans had aromas of tropical fruit and florals out of the bag. Once ground, I was getting a punchy fermented fruit smell. Now that I have had this bag for over a month, I can genuinely say these are some of the nicer smelling beans I have had to date. The pineapple seemed to evolve over time and became more noticeable as the beans rested.

Pour Over:

15g Dose, 1:16 ratio at ~199f

On my first go, I hit a 2:00 brew time on the Kalita Mino. There was bold tropical fruit in the carafe which came through in the cup as well. There was a balanced acidity and I was getting more of the pineapple notes on the backend of the sip as the cup cooled down.

My second pour ran 2:20 and had more pronounced sweetness in the cup. I was almost getting some jackfruit and bubblegum notes. I really enjoyed this cup.

Espresso:

19g in, 45-50g out, 198f

The espresso this roast produced was an absolute fruit bomb. There was pineapple, mango, and a light florality. There was a much heavier mouthfeel than I expected that was very enjoyable. I feel like the tasting notes and aromas transferred very well into espresso and also made for a nice cappuccino. All in all, a great fruity roast that will fit the bill for multiple brew methods and provides excellent value for the price.

I found myself at Lovesong a few weeks back during a North Park coffee crawl. I wasn't planning on buying any beans since I had already splurged on a few bags earlier in the day, but who are kidding? I knew that this was my only shot to try their house roasts since they do not sell them online as they are still in the early stages of roasting. My guess is that Lovesong currently has about 4-5 different roasts available to choose from in a variety of roast profiles. I went with their house Espresso roast which I believe ran me about $25 for a 12oz bag. I would characterize this as a medium dark roast.

I strictly pulled espresso shots with these beans, the name of the roast sort of hints that this might be the preferred method. Out of the bag, these punch you with milk chocolate and a sweet citrus aroma. After grinding, I was getting some more toasty and tangy notes as well. I primarily used a classic 1:2 ratio for my espresso shots. The sweet citrus notes come through immediately and pair nicely with the chocolates. There was a fairly low acidity and more of a rounded bitterness that sat well with the flavors of the roast. This one provided a plush mouthfeel that actually seemed to pop best around a month off roast.

I am interested to see if anyone has tried other roasts from Lovesong and what they thought. I have not seen a single other post or comment about their house roasts on social media which is surprising.

I recently heard about a new coffee shop opening up in the La Jolla village area. I’ll be honest, I was a bit skeptical as many cafes in the area cater more heavily to tourists and don’t necessarily focus on quality. When I saw Torque post that they would be supplying beans for Cala La Jolla, my skepticism subsided quite a bit. I then learned that they had a pour over program and became even more intrigued. I found myself in the area this weekend and decided to give it a go on a gloomy Sunday morning.

The shop is located on the west end of Girard Ave and sits tucked into a beautiful space that is rectangular in shape. They offer prepared foods as well as smoothies, salads, flatbreads, and paninis. The coffee menu is rather simple in a nice way. They also use Torque coffee beans for all coffee in the shop, even their cold brew. The pour over program is where things get a bit more interesting. They offer three rotating lighter roasts on pour over. I went with the Perla Negra (Honeydew Melon, Mandarin Orange, Pineapple) roasts and it rang up at $12. Once ready, they asked if I was interested in watching the pour over process. The manager, Damon, asked me which dripper I wanted was interested in using from a selection of about 10 different options. I learned that Damon has been heavily involved in coffee for quite some time and had worked in the space all over the world. He currently manages Cala and helps Mehmet at Memli Coffee with his trainings and more. He was more than willing to let me ask questions about his technique and it was fascinating to watch. Once finished with the pour on a classic V60, I took a sip to taste. Damon then added some APAX mineral drops to the cup to let me get a feel for what coffee minerals can do to the cup. While I am not sure I could taste anything drastic after the drops, the final cup was outstanding and well worth the price tag. I am very impressed with the coffee program that Cala has setup and can’t wait to see how they evolve over the coming months.

Has anyone else tried a pour over from Cala? If so, how was your experience?

Roaster: Rikka Fika

Bean Name: Hibi House Blend

Single Origin / Blend: Blend

Origin: Unknown

Roast Date: 04/23/2026

Process: Unknown

Brew Method: Espresso

Rikka Fika is one of those spots that truly knows what they're doing. There always seems to be a line and the patrons all seem to be coffee and/or matcha enthusiasts. The design is minimalist but elegant. The merch section is beautiful and has a great mix of coffee/matcha, books, and brewing devices. The baristas are eager to talk about coffee and make sure you are well informed about what's in the cup. It is also great to see Mazzer Philos/Zerno Z1 grinders in use for some of the single origin options.

I was eager to get my hands on some of the new stuff that they have been quietly roasting over the last few months. I decided to pick up the Hibi House Blend ($17/200g) to take home and tried the Wildflowers Blend ($25/200g) in a flat white at the shop. I was pretty blown away with the florality in the Wildflowers roast and how well it cut through milk. I would highly recommend trying this one if you are able to stop by for a drink.

I let the house blend rest for a few weeks then dug into the bag on espresso. The whole beans had a beautiful hazelnut and orange aroma. Once I gave them a grind on the 078s, the aroma moved into toasted nuts, light florals, and a mild citrus. I had no issues dialing this one in and getting excellent shots right away. This is a perfect blend of everything that people love in a complex espresso shot. The mix of florals, light acidity, and sweetness made for a perfect cortado/cap. I really enjoyed the mouthfeel from this roast and would certainly want to get this one again and maybe even splurge for the Wildflowers blend.

Anyone else get the chance to try a Rikka Fika house roast yet?