Their cappuccino was fluffy foam (see photo) with very strong espresso. Made just right. They also have a great selection of wine and beer which is always welcome.

A very nice coffee shop! Staff was all friendly, and coffee was excellent. The owner Rob saw me checking out their cool apparel; he pulled the shirt off the hanger and said it was mine! Talk about customer service! As a business owner myself, it’s easy to recognize someone who cares about their craft and wants to share it with others. Looking forward to stopping by again. Thanks, Baba!! -Sean from AZ

If you’re into JAZZ—definitely check out The Soto Six (TRIO) perform live Baba Coffee / “Nido d’Amore” Rooftop Lounge EVERY FRIDAY! Pair the music with top-quality coffee, tasty pastries, and a lively atmosphere, and you’ve got a perfect night out! Baba Coffee / “Nido d’Amore” setting is beautiful, plus the welcoming, professional baristas and the outstanding management make the experience even better.

This place is awesome! The wine is excellent and they have live music three days a week. An absolute gem in the heart of Carlsbad. It’s not just about the morning coffee, I love to come here for dinner and a drink with my spouse. Cheers!

I usually stop here when I have to take the Coaster downtown - I’m obsessed with the seasonal Strawberry Chocolate! It’s so good. I also like to get the croissant sandwich. And the staff are as nice as ever , they even made me a strawberry chocolate even though it’s wasn’t technically on the menu anymore . Definitely worth checking out.

The staff are accommodating and kind. Comfortable atmosphere and yummy food/drinks. I’m there to study several times a week. Us locals are friendly and many know one another by name. Costs are going up from inflation, but it’s not their fault. They even have evening events on the weekends with local chefs flexing their culinary muscle for your enjoyment. They have wine and other adult beverages as well. The quiche with melted cheese on top is insane delicious. Family owned; support these guys!

Been coming here for years. Coffee is always great. Love their egg and cream cheese sammies. But there’s one thing that has prompted me to write this review now, especially when competition has conveniently moved in across the street. And it’s the staff. They’re always pleasant but man, when you got three employees standing around just talking the entire time, and not tidying up the tables, it’s just a little silly. Leftover napkins on tables, blankets not folded up, chairs pulled out, wet floors that could easily be mopped up (raining outside). I just think the owner should know what’s going on when they’re not around. I want this place to thrive.

Love love love this hidden gem, especially upstairs jazz and live music.

Rob and Reagan have crafted an absolutely incredible community hotspot! The food is all made in house with high-quality ingredients, and the wine is even more incredible! Came here for the coffee in the morning, left in the evening after delicious wine and a really fun movie night! The live music is next level! I cannot emphasize enough how awesome Rob and Regan are, and how phenomenal the spot they’ve created is. 🤍

Airick M

Amazing Vibe and Good Coffee Atmosphere: This place is beautiful! -Downstairs is where you come to do work, laptop and computer area or you can hang out -Upstairs is nicely decorated with a view of the state street where you can enjoy your beverages and socialize (they don't allow computers upstairs) -Events: they host live jazz music along with other events! Drinks -Latte -Matcha Both were good. They also serve alcoholic beverages! Service is friendly! Overall. It's two stories and has a GREAT interior design. The coffee is good too! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Amanda

Stumbled upon this spot while walking the village, and it couldn’t have been better timing since I hadn’t even come close to my caffeine limit for the day. The barista was kind and patient, giving us space to look over the menu. I was torn between two drinks and asked for his suggestion he recommended the Hammerhead, and wow, he did not miss! We grabbed seats at the street-facing bar, which was perfect for people-watching. The vibe here is super chill, not overly loud or busy, but lively enough to enjoy the atmosphere. It’s not really the type of place to hunker down and work, but it’s an ideal stop if you’re out on a leisurely walk and want a quality drink. Hammerhead (iced coffee with espresso): My new obsession. Mixing caffeine with caffeine opened my eyes to a whole new world of coffee ideas. Bold, smooth, and just the right amount of kick. Hibiscus & Mango Iced Tea (loose leaf): My boyfriend isn’t as into coffee, so he went for this tea, and it was a pleasant surprise. Smooth, slightly sweet, and refreshing, made with loose leaf, which we really appreciated. Overall, Baba Coffee is a gem. Great drinks, friendly service, and a laid-back atmosphere. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area

Andrew

Baba Coffee and the stunning "Nido d'Amore" Rooftop Lounge are absolutely breathtaking! The atmosphere is matched only by their friendly, attentive, and truly professional service. I had the pleasure of catching and filming my friends, The Soto Six (TRIO), performing live at Baba Coffee, as part of their fantastic Friday night jazz series. This venue is a must-visit for anyone who loves JAZZ or LIVE music of any genre, all while enjoying excellent coffee, delicious pastries, snacks, and a fun, vibrant vibe! I'll definitely be back the next time I'm driving up from Las Vegas to the San Diego/Carlsbad area. Huge thanks to Rob and the entire Baba Coffee Team for all your hard work in creating such a special venue! Andrew ( Cool JAZZ 🎷 YouTube Channel )

Barclay McConnell

Best Earl Grey tea I've ever had in an oversized ceramic cup. Lovely space. Made me so happy they have yoga blankets draped around for customer use when it's chilly. I love this place.

Ward Doornbos

Probably one of the best coffee shops I’ve been to in Carlsbad. Great concept of coffee shop to wine bar at night, and there’s ja a beautiful upstairs balcony and sitting area. Loved the coffee and croissant too!

Andrew Juras

If you’re into JAZZ—definitely check out The Soto Six (TRIO) perform live Baba Coffee / “Nido d’Amore” Rooftop Lounge EVERY FRIDAY! Pair the music with top-quality coffee, tasty pastries, and a lively atmosphere, and you’ve got a perfect night out! Baba Coffee / “Nido d’Amore” setting is beautiful, plus the welcoming, professional baristas and the outstanding management make the experience even better.

Katie Swank

We love Baba. The menu is amazing and so healthy. We love the people who work here and the location is so close to Mission Church for Sunday Service. We highly recommend Baba if you’re are looking for great atmosphere, great games to play and making great memories with family and friends.

Sean Michaels

A very nice coffee shop! Staff was all friendly, and coffee was excellent. The owner Rob saw me checking out their cool apparel; he pulled the shirt off the hanger and said it was mine! Talk about customer service! As a business owner myself, it’s easy to recognize someone who cares about their craft and wants to share it with others. Looking forward to stopping by again. Thanks, Baba!! -Sean from AZ

Probably one of the best coffee shops I’ve been to in Carlsbad. Great concept of coffee shop to wine bar at night, and there’s ja a beautiful upstairs balcony and sitting area. Loved the coffee and croissant too!

We love Baba. The menu is amazing and so healthy. We love the people who work here and the location is so close to Mission Church for Sunday Service. We highly recommend Baba if you’re are looking for great atmosphere, great games to play and making great memories with family and friends.

Best Earl Grey tea I've ever had in an oversized ceramic cup. Lovely space. Made me so happy they have yoga blankets draped around for customer use when it's chilly. I love this place.

Baba Coffee and the stunning "Nido d'Amore" Rooftop Lounge are absolutely breathtaking! The atmosphere is matched only by their friendly, attentive, and truly professional service. I had the pleasure of catching and filming my friends, The Soto Six (TRIO), performing live at Baba Coffee, as part of their fantastic Friday night jazz series. This venue is a must-visit for anyone who loves JAZZ or LIVE music of any genre, all while enjoying excellent coffee, delicious pastries, snacks, and a fun, vibrant vibe! I'll definitely be back the next time I'm driving up from Las Vegas to the San Diego/Carlsbad area. Huge thanks to Rob and the entire Baba Coffee Team for all your hard work in creating such a special venue! Andrew ( Cool JAZZ 🎷 YouTube Channel )

Stumbled upon this spot while walking the village, and it couldn’t have been better timing since I hadn’t even come close to my caffeine limit for the day. The barista was kind and patient, giving us space to look over the menu. I was torn between two drinks and asked for his suggestion he recommended the Hammerhead, and wow, he did not miss! We grabbed seats at the street-facing bar, which was perfect for people-watching. The vibe here is super chill, not overly loud or busy, but lively enough to enjoy the atmosphere. It’s not really the type of place to hunker down and work, but it’s an ideal stop if you’re out on a leisurely walk and want a quality drink. Hammerhead (iced coffee with espresso): My new obsession. Mixing caffeine with caffeine opened my eyes to a whole new world of coffee ideas. Bold, smooth, and just the right amount of kick. Hibiscus & Mango Iced Tea (loose leaf): My boyfriend isn’t as into coffee, so he went for this tea, and it was a pleasant surprise. Smooth, slightly sweet, and refreshing, made with loose leaf, which we really appreciated. Overall, Baba Coffee is a gem. Great drinks, friendly service, and a laid-back atmosphere. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area

Amazing Vibe and Good Coffee Atmosphere: This place is beautiful! -Downstairs is where you come to do work, laptop and computer area or you can hang out -Upstairs is nicely decorated with a view of the state street where you can enjoy your beverages and socialize (they don't allow computers upstairs) -Events: they host live jazz music along with other events! Drinks -Latte -Matcha Both were good. They also serve alcoholic beverages! Service is friendly! Overall. It's two stories and has a GREAT interior design. The coffee is good too! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

+4

Tasty BLT & breakfast croissant, great pastries and coffee. Local vibes, community, more of what we need in Carlsbad. Thanks Rob! We will be back.

I was working right outside the coffee shop, after I finished my job I decided I wanted a coffee, so I went inside by Baba Coffee for the first time. The staff was very friendly and helped me choose a drink, the drink itself was very good, and atmosphere of the place was very nice. My order was made really fast as well. They also sell beer and have a patio deck on the second floor which is a + for me. Will have to come back to try the food next time.

Excellent spot. Coffee's always great. I love how they put it in mugs. And the service and vibe has only gotten better over time. Five stars across the board. You got to try the keto plate.

This is the best locally-owned coffee shop in Carlsbad and perfect for a casual business meeting or for a glass of wine with friends. Except a thoughtful menu, friendly staff and one of the better wine selections in town.

I love this place! The rooftop is unbelievably beautiful. I love the live music. The coffee and tea is excellent. The owner is extremely friendly and welcoming. Let's support these local gems! They do chef menus on Fri and Sat:)

Calgary James

Excellent spot. Coffee's always great. I love how they put it in mugs. And the service and vibe has only gotten better over time. Five stars across the board. You got to try the keto plate.

Austin Vincent

Tasty BLT & breakfast croissant, great pastries and coffee. Local vibes, community, more of what we need in Carlsbad. Thanks Rob! We will be back.

Isabelle Herbert

I love this place! The rooftop is unbelievably beautiful. I love the live music. The coffee and tea is excellent. The owner is extremely friendly and welcoming. Let's support these local gems! They do chef menus on Fri and Sat:)

Alexis Garcia

I was working right outside the coffee shop, after I finished my job I decided I wanted a coffee, so I went inside by Baba Coffee for the first time. The staff was very friendly and helped me choose a drink, the drink itself was very good, and atmosphere of the place was very nice. My order was made really fast as well. They also sell beer and have a patio deck on the second floor which is a + for me. Will have to come back to try the food next time.

nicholas madden

This place is awesome! The wine is excellent and they have live music three days a week. An absolute gem in the heart of Carlsbad. It’s not just about the morning coffee, I love to come here for dinner and a drink with my spouse. Cheers!

Great location right downtown Carlsbad with indoor outdoor seating. Coffee is fine, pastry selection was nonexistent but maybe I just caught them at a bad time.

Liked the coffee and pie. They also carry pastries, cookies, tea and beer. Nice ambience and they also have some outdoor seating.

Baba is a great local coffee hub! I love that the offer other local company eats like donuts from V.G.’s or cookies from The Cravory. I like to order from the specials board, totally different choices than your chain coffee shop! Try this place!

Decent food and coffee, amazing atmosphere. Check out the 2nd floor

Michael Roberts

This morning, my wife and I enjoyed a coffee date at Baba Coffee on State Street in Carlsbad. Baba opens at 6:00, and the ambiance was open air with warm lights. Perfect for enjoying coffee in the morning. Baba appears to be dog-friendly, by providing dog treats (lower left corner). My order was a cup of house coffee. My coffee was bold, which met expectations. I accidentally spilt a small cup of water, and customer service provided a quick clean-up. Two things were odd. First, Baba did not have a creamer for the customers to add cream. However, the barista added cream. Second, they charged for a second cup of coffee. Perhaps this is necessary to cover costs.

Teresa Manjarrez

This is a hidden gem! Excellent service, the menu has a good variety of food and drinks. We ordered a bagel with cream cheese, hot cocoa with whipped cream, latte with cinnamon roll, a sugar donut (so fluffy on the inside) and a ginger-honey-lemon hot tea (HIGHLY recommend the tea!)

Monique Jones

Had to try this hip little place. Ordered breakfast Açaí bowl, bagel with cream cheese egg and avocado, small espresso and tea. Super pricey $32 total. For a mimosa it was $12, that I can’t understand unless it came with gold shaving in it... spot was cool but way overpriced thus the 4 stars.

Had to try this hip little place. Ordered breakfast Açaí bowl, bagel with cream cheese egg and avocado, small espresso and tea. Super pricey $32 total. For a mimosa it was $12, that I can’t understand unless it came with gold shaving in it... spot was cool but way overpriced thus the 4 stars.

This is a hidden gem! Excellent service, the menu has a good variety of food and drinks. We ordered a bagel with cream cheese, hot cocoa with whipped cream, latte with cinnamon roll, a sugar donut (so fluffy on the inside) and a ginger-honey-lemon hot tea (HIGHLY recommend the tea!)

This morning, my wife and I enjoyed a coffee date at Baba Coffee on State Street in Carlsbad. Baba opens at 6:00, and the ambiance was open air with warm lights. Perfect for enjoying coffee in the morning. Baba appears to be dog-friendly, by providing dog treats (lower left corner). My order was a cup of house coffee. My coffee was bold, which met expectations. I accidentally spilt a small cup of water, and customer service provided a quick clean-up. Two things were odd. First, Baba did not have a creamer for the customers to add cream. However, the barista added cream. Second, they charged for a second cup of coffee. Perhaps this is necessary to cover costs.

I only rated this 4 stars because I didn’t try the food. I had a decaf Americano and it was very good and not acidic at all. I really enjoyed the chill acoustic music playing and I enjoyed watching passers-by.

Anna Vos

I only rated this 4 stars because I didn’t try the food. I had a decaf Americano and it was very good and not acidic at all. I really enjoyed the chill acoustic music playing and I enjoyed watching passers-by.

This morning I went in for a coffee, but it was not brewed the way I ordered, and after they remade it, the coffee still tasted bad.

The decor is super nice, very hip and modern. The wifi leaves a lot to be desired. They use a trial system, which stops working after an hour and can be finicky to use. The food and pastries are fantastic, but I think the coffee is only ok. They serve a roast from Pannikin Coffee on a La Marzoco machine. The roast is a reasonable quality, but they over-steamed the milk on my latte even with such a nice machine. There's a ton of potential for improvement just in getting better wifi and refining their coffee's milk quality.

Cute place / great outdoor vibe / way overpriced for a cup of coffee. $7 for a large coffee? I just moved here from Coronado, so I know a tourist town can have coffee shops with a $2 cup of coffee (Clayton’s is as touristy as it gets and they carry a local San Diego coffee company brew). Even $3 or $3.99 for a plain drip coffee would be understandable. But $7 plus tip? Insane. I will keep looking for a local shop with a good cup and not overcharging for a simple cup. Also, would like to add my own cream to the cup — why are small coffee shops in town not allowing creamer on counter ?

Matcha is bad. I asked for unsweetened but it was still pretty sweet. Revolution Roasters followed by Steady State have the best matcha in the area. I would come back to try the coffee but the young lady working that day was not friendly.

The staff were very nice and the cafe, itself, seems like a nice place to meet up at or possibly do some work in the early morning. However, I was not impressed with the drinks or food. I paid $7 for a cup of OJ, which is just absurd for 8 (or 10) oz. And I paid $7 for the savory waffle with chimichurri, which on paper sounds amazing, but the waffle (which was the size of my palm) took 20 min to get and was dry as a bone. The sauce container was about the size of a thimble. The drinks, I will say was on the same price range (but reaching the higher end of the range) as any other cafe. It wasn't anything impressive but it also wasn't disappointing. Overall, it wasn't worth the money or the wait for anything but the coffee.

This is what $15 and an 18% tip gets you in 2026. No wonder why no one can afford to breathe, let alone leave their house. This is truly out of control, never buying food here again. Edit for Comment: I think you should be more concerned about the 2 slices of bread you called a Turkey Sandwich than the caption

Cute spot with nice atmosphere. My hold back on full stars is for average service for very overpriced coffee. I got a large basic drip coffee (w tip) for $8.09! For drip coffee and a bit of half and half - And the last sips were full of grounds... Servers weren't overly friendly, zero electric outlets, and limited indoor seating. meh

I’m really sorry but $18 for a sandwich the size of my fist is too much to still be hungry afterwards. The food was great but I really regret spending the amount of money I did so I could sit somewhere and study. I definitely won’t be doing it again just because that genuinely hurt my pockets but I was tired of looking for a cafe that was open on MLK jr day so I could charge my laptop. I couldn’t even afford to tip more than a couple bucks. I hope you’re paying the workers a livable wage with the amount you charge. I mean I spent over 50 dollars on two drinks a cookie and a sandwich and still left absolutely starved.

Daisy L

I’m really sorry but $18 for a sandwich the size of my fist is too much to still be hungry afterwards. The food was great but I really regret spending the amount of money I did so I could sit somewhere and study. I definitely won’t be doing it again just because that genuinely hurt my pockets but I was tired of looking for a cafe that was open on MLK jr day so I could charge my laptop. I couldn’t even afford to tip more than a couple bucks. I hope you’re paying the workers a livable wage with the amount you charge. I mean I spent over 50 dollars on two drinks a cookie and a sandwich and still left absolutely starved.

Melissa De Yoe (Meli55a)

Cute spot with nice atmosphere. My hold back on full stars is for average service for very overpriced coffee. I got a large basic drip coffee (w tip) for $8.09! For drip coffee and a bit of half and half - And the last sips were full of grounds... Servers weren't overly friendly, zero electric outlets, and limited indoor seating. meh

Place is cute, food is good, drinks were mediocre at best. Chai was more cheese than tea (picture attached). Undrinkable. Guy working the counter could use some basic instructions.

Cool spot. Coffee is meh. Staff aren't very knowledgeable of the business or products. Signage is outdated and incorrect. No prize for winning trivia night.

Coffee is ok but maybe dont wipe off someone cup off with the same towel that you use to wipe off the table top that is 🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮and un safe

My niece and I ordered two drinks, one iced latte and one matcha latte, and a two turkey avocado sandwiches. It was almost $50 between the food plus a standard 20% tip. The lattes were subpar. The coffee latte was lukewarm and the ice was melting causing it to taste watered down. The matcha wasn’t even green. It tasted like sweetened milk. They skimped on the avocado on our sandwiches. I feel that if I am paying $13.50 for a simple sandwich, I should be getting a decent helping of avocado. Overall the food and drinks left something to be desired. The atmosphere was also tragic. It was a bit too loud downstairs between the music and the sound of the espresso machine. So my companion and I opted to find seating upstairs. Unfortunately, the situation wasn’t much better, the music was so loud that I could barely concentrate on my book (Elton John’s autobiography - which I highly recommend), and my niece had trouble focusing on her homework. Additionally, the furniture and decor left something to be desired. It seemed cold and unwelcoming, not what one should expect from a local coffee shop. It felt very corporate or big business-esque. Thankfully, there were absolutely no people upstairs besides my niece and I. HOWEVER, an employee came up to us and told us that they don’t approve of us having our devices out since they want their guests to be social. While I appreciate the effort to get people to talk to each other, people go to coffee shops to work, NOT to socialize. I believe that rule makes sense during their later hours when guests enjoy wine or cocktails but not earlier in the day. I am especially upset since my niece and I were the only individuals in the room so there wasn’t another soul to interact with. At the end of the day, I will not be returning to this establishment and will be sticking to Vinnaka or Panakin from now on.

Patty Jones

My niece and I ordered two drinks, one iced latte and one matcha latte, and a two turkey avocado sandwiches. It was almost $50 between the food plus a standard 20% tip. The lattes were subpar. The coffee latte was lukewarm and the ice was melting causing it to taste watered down. The matcha wasn’t even green. It tasted like sweetened milk. They skimped on the avocado on our sandwiches. I feel that if I am paying $13.50 for a simple sandwich, I should be getting a decent helping of avocado. Overall the food and drinks left something to be desired. The atmosphere was also tragic. It was a bit too loud downstairs between the music and the sound of the espresso machine. So my companion and I opted to find seating upstairs. Unfortunately, the situation wasn’t much better, the music was so loud that I could barely concentrate on my book (Elton John’s autobiography - which I highly recommend), and my niece had trouble focusing on her homework. Additionally, the furniture and decor left something to be desired. It seemed cold and unwelcoming, not what one should expect from a local coffee shop. It felt very corporate or big business-esque. Thankfully, there were absolutely no people upstairs besides my niece and I. HOWEVER, an employee came up to us and told us that they don’t approve of us having our devices out since they want their guests to be social. While I appreciate the effort to get people to talk to each other, people go to coffee shops to work, NOT to socialize. I believe that rule makes sense during their later hours when guests enjoy wine or cocktails but not earlier in the day. I am especially upset since my niece and I were the only individuals in the room so there wasn’t another soul to interact with. At the end of the day, I will not be returning to this establishment and will be sticking to Vinnaka or Panakin from now on.