Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

Nathan Flory

Vanilla Latte was good ; staff were friendly. Quick service!

David McGovern

Dark Horse is arguably the best roaster in San Diego. And very reasonably priced compared to most modern cafes, especially Los Angeles cafes. Drip coffee and a vegan donut for $6. Hard to beat that.

Iryna Yaresko-Linska

The coffee is good here. Nice atmosphere and good service. You can also buy various accessories and coffee beans to take home.

Monica M.

Love me some Dark Horse! Starbucks has gone wayyy downhill and DHCR has been my saving grace. The coffee is consistently fresh and delicious. The service is great and the seasonal options are always *chefs kiss* Never a bad experience here :)

Madelyn Rose

Incredibly friendly and accommodating staff! Best breakfast sandwich I’ve had from a coffee shop! Highly recommend this spot.

Sabrina Konja

So great having Dark Horse in East County. Their house made syrups are yummy. I usually get the salted maple iced latte. Their Champ is really popular too. They have an assortment of pastries and breakfast items. There is also a small area with bagged coffee beans, merch, and some art.

Shelbi McCartney

We are in town visiting. This place had great reviews, So we decided to check it out. Amazing!! Everybody was super finally and cheerful. Definitely a place to come back to.

James Ellis

The coffee here is some of the best I have tried. My favorite drink is The Champ. Their Ethiopean blend whole bean coffee is awesome

Vlad Vedernikov

A cool place in a neighborhood where everyone knows each other. When we go for a walk, we come in for a cup.

This is a super cute little hidden gem. It's almost like a walk up coffee stand and everything tastes homemade and fresh with a handcrafted charm. I got avocado toast with the most gorgeous display of flora on top and it was delicious.

In the neighborhood, coffee experience. My Dirty Pumpkin coffee was sinfully delicious. Great location. It's near the park, so anytime you're hanging out with the grandkids, there's a great sip right across the street. The staff welcomes you with a smile and a bit of conversation

This place is the reason I get out of bed. Their coffee is great, arguably the best in San Diego. They have fun breakfast items from ever-changing flavors of iced donuts to hot breakfast sandwiches and good bagels with the only vegan cream cheese I’ve ever had that tastes good. But the best part of dark horse la Mesa is their staff. They make my morning. They know my drink , they get me in my way so I’m not stressed about getting to work on time because I’ve stopped for coffee . They’re funny, caring , personable and make damn good lattes . That’s why I am there ever single morning.

I visited on a Friday morning and what a kind crew y’all have! I felt the love inside. And A+ on nailing my delicious drink. Thank you for being the wonderful start to my day!

Just came in for the first time today and loved it! The guy working there was really friendly and jut happy to be there. The coffee was amazing and I usually don’t like coffee. Would definitely recommend checking this place out!

They are always awesome here !customer service is on point and close to home . Their products are always fresh ! Everything is good ! My favorite is the doughnut holes . So yummy !!

mary nixon

They are always awesome here !customer service is on point and close to home . Their products are always fresh ! Everything is good ! My favorite is the doughnut holes . So yummy !!

Ruthie Hornbrook

Just came in for the first time today and loved it! The guy working there was really friendly and jut happy to be there. The coffee was amazing and I usually don’t like coffee. Would definitely recommend checking this place out!

Amber D.

This is a super cute little hidden gem. It's almost like a walk up coffee stand and everything tastes homemade and fresh with a handcrafted charm. I got avocado toast with the most gorgeous display of flora on top and it was delicious.

jazz aiyana

This has been my go-to drink spot for years! It’s the only place I’ve ever gone to with consistently good matcha, and the baristas are super friendly and have always made me feel welcome. Awesome vibes 💜

Donna Brown

In the neighborhood, coffee experience. My Dirty Pumpkin coffee was sinfully delicious. Great location. It's near the park, so anytime you're hanging out with the grandkids, there's a great sip right across the street. The staff welcomes you with a smile and a bit of conversation

Aubyn G

This place is the reason I get out of bed. Their coffee is great, arguably the best in San Diego. They have fun breakfast items from ever-changing flavors of iced donuts to hot breakfast sandwiches and good bagels with the only vegan cream cheese I’ve ever had that tastes good. But the best part of dark horse la Mesa is their staff. They make my morning. They know my drink , they get me in my way so I’m not stressed about getting to work on time because I’ve stopped for coffee . They’re funny, caring , personable and make damn good lattes . That’s why I am there ever single morning.

Janna Barrett

I came because an article said it was some of the best coffee in San Diego. I’m inclined to agree! Really delicious, either black or in a flavored latte. It was high quality stuff. I’m also dairy-sensitive, so I appreciated that they had vegan donuts!

This is my favorite location that they have. Not only is it the closest to my house, but the customer service here is usually the best. They actually greet you, ask you what they can get you instead of just staring at you, and they respond when you say thank you. I love their iced champ. It’s sometimes hard to find coffee that isn’t overly sweet and they have the ratio down to a T. My only complaint is that I really miss their homemade donuts! Please bring them back 😫

Jessica Tyransky

This is my favorite location that they have. Not only is it the closest to my house, but the customer service here is usually the best. They actually greet you, ask you what they can get you instead of just staring at you, and they respond when you say thank you. I love their iced champ. It’s sometimes hard to find coffee that isn’t overly sweet and they have the ratio down to a T. My only complaint is that I really miss their homemade donuts! Please bring them back 😫

Got a regular coffee and the 12oz champ. Coffee was bad. The champ was bad. They don’t taste like anything. Just water down drinks. Very disappointing. Service was good. Small cozy place. Would not come back due to the quality of the products.

I've been here a few times. Each time I've met with people who have a bad attitude, and that make the drinks poorly The last time I went, my drink was basically a massive glob of mucus-like syrup. It was gross. The only somewhat positive thing I can say is that the chia pudding tasted okay. But, for the size + price you pay to get it, that's not saying much. Would not come back to this location. If you like the franchise, go to a different one.

Giovanni

I've been here a few times. Each time I've met with people who have a bad attitude, and that make the drinks poorly The last time I went, my drink was basically a massive glob of mucus-like syrup. It was gross. The only somewhat positive thing I can say is that the chia pudding tasted okay. But, for the size + price you pay to get it, that's not saying much. Would not come back to this location. If you like the franchise, go to a different one.

During our visit on Sunday morning, the staff's unfriendly demeanor was quite evident. Their lack of initiative to assist or inquire about our needs set a disappointing tone. When I inquired about espresso beans, the response lacked enthusiasm. They pointed vaguely, indicating the location behind us, and casually mentioned that any beans could be used for espresso. Seeking clarification on dark beans, I was simply directed to those labeled "dark." Well okay then. I was looking for a nice suggestion maybe a little conversation. The overall experience left much to be desired, highlighting potential areas for management to focus on improving customer service and communication strategies.

Jennifer K

During our visit on Sunday morning, the staff's unfriendly demeanor was quite evident. Their lack of initiative to assist or inquire about our needs set a disappointing tone. When I inquired about espresso beans, the response lacked enthusiasm. They pointed vaguely, indicating the location behind us, and casually mentioned that any beans could be used for espresso. Seeking clarification on dark beans, I was simply directed to those labeled "dark." Well okay then. I was looking for a nice suggestion maybe a little conversation. The overall experience left much to be desired, highlighting potential areas for management to focus on improving customer service and communication strategies.

Today was my last time visiting this location. Unfortunately, the staff seem to lack basic customer service and common courtesy. The cashier (the man with the mustache) came across as very arrogant and rude — he didn’t smile or show any welcoming attitude at all. It honestly felt uncomfortable interacting with him. The baristas weren’t much better. My coffee was mostly milk with barely any coffee flavor, and it tasted pretty bad. When I picked up my drink, I said “thank you,” and the barista didn’t acknowledge me or even nod. Overall, the experience felt cold and unprofessional. I’d much rather make the drive to the Golden Hill location, where the service is noticeably better.