Top California Coffee Shops and Local Chains for Coffee Lovers - Temple coffee latte in Sacramento. — Temple coffee latte in Sacramento.

Foodie travel is a top trend for travelers of all ages. Maybe it's the influence from foodie rockstar Anthony Bourdain, but it's not uncommon for vacationers to build their travel itineraries around the restaurants and cafes they hope to visit. Coffee lovers are particularly devoted to their caffeinated brews and find it necessary to fuel their addiction with quality coffee while on the road.

Each city has its own popular and tried and true coffee locations. If you are planning to road trip and venture around California, you'll need to know where to get a great cup of joe. Don’t worry as we will introduce you to the most exceptional coffee destinations that you shouldn’t miss in the Golden State. These places will be just perfect for your morning routine and help start your vacation days off right.

All of the coffee shops listed here are places I have personally visited during my many travels around the state of California. Each one had some special qualities which made it stand out as exceptional. I’ll do my best to paint a picture of what it’s like to sip a hot cup of coffee inside one of these noteworthy cafes.

Popular Sacramento Coffee Shops

My husband and I have lived all over California, but for the last 5 years we’ve been in Sacramento. The coffee shop scene here is going strong, especially since so many young professionals have moved from the San Francisco Bay Area into Sacramento. They brought with them the contemporary and sophisticated vibes I personally love in a good coffee shop.

Temple Coffee in Sacramento

Temple Coffee has multiple locations throughout Sacramento. They have an unwavering reputation for making the best hand-crafted coffees in the area. For many Sacramento locals, Saturday mornings spent getting a cup of coffee at Temple is a true ritual. They have locations in trendy Sacramento neighborhoods such as Midtown, Downtown, East Sacramento and Fair Oaks.

Camellia Coffee Roasters in Sacramento

Camellia Coffee Roasters is a sweet little coffee shop in the trendy R District of Sacramento. You’ll find them inside the WAL Public Market. They have all the classic coffee drinks, and specialty ones too including horchata cold brew and cortado coffee. If you’re into taking pictures of your food and drinks, they have a pink tile wall that makes for a feminine and colorful backdrop.

Goodside Coffee in Sacramento

Goodside Coffee is located in the Mission Flats neighborhood of Midtown. They opened their doors right before the pandemic hit the world, and have managed to thrive which is awesome.

A popular seasonal coffee drink at Goodside is the Honey Lavender Latte made with with 100% pure USDA Grade A wildflower honey 🍯, organic Oregon grown lavender, milk and espresso. Another drink worth mentioning is the Vanilla Rose Latte made with pure organic vanilla and rose, milk and espresso.

The Mill Coffee Shop

If you’re a true coffee snob who wants the highest quality coffee and a no frills coffee shop experience, then The Mill is for you. Their focus is on brewing high quality coffee with precision and care. Their two Sacramento coffee shops are located in Midtown and East Sacramento. They are designed with minimal and modern interior design aesthetics, using natural light woods and airy white walls.

Popular San Francisco Coffee Shops

Home Coffee in San Francisco

Home Coffee in San Francisco is famous for making whimsical and colorful latte art. You can order a latte with rainbows and sprinkles, a portrait of your dog, purple ube sprinkles, flower pedals and more. Check out their Instagram account for some latte art inspiration. They have 3 locations in San Francisco, the Richmond, Sunset and Chinatown.

Le Marais Bakeries and Coffee Shops in San Francisco

The local San Francisco bakery chain of Le Marais has modern French themed cafes. I personally love how bright and airy the interiors are, and the food and drinks have beautiful presentation on a plate. I had a gal’s lunch with girlfriends at one of the Le Marais cafes and you can see the photos here. Our latte cups were huge, they look like soup bowls!

Top Coffee Shops in Northern California

Avid Coffee in Petaluma

During our day trip to Petaluma I was in desperate need of some caffeine. I called up my sister because her in-law family lives in Petaluma. They all said I needed to try out Avid Coffee in downtown Petaluma. This rustic chic cafe did not disappoint in both the quality of the coffee and the laid back atmosphere. For the coffee aficionados, they have international blends from Africa, Indonesia, Central America and South America.

The Pour Choice in Auburn

Auburn’s downtown strip is filled old historical buildings from a long ago era of gold mining. The Pour Choice Coffee Shop is a flagship business in this area, a popular gathering spot for the younger crowd. They have two stories of seating and a spacious outdoor patio. The decor is very modern and trendy, the food is light and healthy, and the coffee is third wave craft.

Top California Coffee Shops and Local Chains for Coffee Lovers - Goodside Coffee Shop in Sacramento. — Goodside Coffee Shop in Sacramento.

Naked Lounge in Chico

I went to college at Chico State University and The Naked Lounge Cafe brings back fond memories. This long-standing cafe has that quintessential college vibe, a bit alternative, dark and moody. They often have local art on display, host live bands and serve small batch roaster Case Coffee. While you’re in town, see our travel guide to Chico.

Great Bear Coffee in Los Gatos

The Great Bear Coffee is a laid back and homey style cafe in downtown Los Gatos. This long-time establishment has been around since 1991 and has many loyal locals coming in to pick up their morning and afternoon cup of joe. When it comes to their coffee, they specialize in small batch roasts with an extra focus on quality, freshness and drinkability. During our weekend stay in Los Gatos, we had a light breakfast at Great Bear Coffee before heading out on our outdoor adventures.

Granola's Coffee House in Half Moon Bay

I grew up in Half Moon Bay and sadly the Granola Coffee House opened up after I had moved away for college. But when we go back to visit, my kids love to have a snack here. On their outdoor patio they have a parked Airstream where you can hangout and enjoy your drink and breakfast. They serve Kreuzberg coffee and espresso drinks, along with freshly made pastries and granola.

Cat & Cloud Coffee in Santa Cruz

Cat & Cloud is a local Santa Cruz coffee shop chain. Their vibe is cute and colorful, and they make their own line of coffee. They use new and innovative coffee producing techniques such as anaerobic coffee processing to make new and bold flavors of coffee. Their coffee beans come from exotic places such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩, Colombia 🇨🇴, Guatemala 🇬🇹, and Ethiopia 🇪🇹.

Central California Coffee Shops

Scout Coffee in San Luis Obispo

In their own words, Scout Coffee describes themselves as the most sought after coffee shop destination in San Luis Obispo. And after having been there myself, I would have to agree. They have two beautifully designed coffee houses in SLO, and more opening up soon. The highlights of their offerings are house-made pastries, craft roasted coffee and house made syrups and almond milk.

Stationæry in Carmel-By-the Sea

If you’ve ever been to Carmel-By-the-Sea, you know that most of the houses and local businesses have an old fairytale cottage-like vibe. This type of folk tale charm is the signature look and style of this tiny coastal town. Stationæry is a complete departure from this old narrative, with very sleek and modern interior design and fresh takes on classic brunch meals. They offer a full coffee menu including a seasonal latte.

Southern California Coffee Shops

Moonridge Coffee Company in Big Bear Lake

The Moonridge Coffee Shop is located in the Moonridge area of Big Bear Lake.

This incredible café has plenty of seating and Wi-Fi, making it ideal for working remotely, getting together as a group, or studying.

It’s perfect for getting a strong shot of espresso in the morning before hitting the slopes. And it’s conveniently located next to the golf course and the Big Bear Alpine Zoo.

Known widely for its charming espresso drinks, Moonridge Coffee also specializes in specialty croissant sandwiches and excellent homemade pastries.

Bear Coast Coffee in San Clemente and Dana Point

During our trip to Dana Point and San Clemente, we stopped at Bear Coast Coffee for some morning caffeine before a day at the beach. The Bear Coast Coffee is very conveniently located right on the San Clemente Pier, which is just steps away from the sand and waves. Talk about views while you enjoy your coffee!

Trendy Los Angeles Coffee Shops

Intelligentsia Coffee in Los Angeles

Intelligentsia makes their own label of coffee, and they even offer a coffee quiz on their website to help you find your new favorite flavor profile from their wide assortment of coffee brews. In short, you can find your coffee match online, and then enjoy it in-person at one of their many cafes. In Los Angeles they have coffee shop locations in Silver Lake, on Abbot Kinney in Venice, Hollywood and Pasadena.

Alfred Coffee in Los Angeles

No girls to Venice Beach is complete without a morning pick-me-up at Alfred’s Coffee Shop on Abbot Kinney. This company is an OG in the Instagram world and practically invented aesthetics. They also have locations in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Koreatown, Melrose Place, Palisades Village, Silverlake, Studio City, Pasadena, Malibu and more. So pretty much anywhere you explore in Los Angeles, you’ll have to opportunity to try a cup of Alfred’s Coffee.

P.S. - You can also find Alfred’s in Austin, TX!

The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker in West Hollywood

West Hollywood is the place to be in Los Angeles. It has the best hotels, shopping, restaurants and yes, coffee shops too. The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker (they often go by their abbreviated name BBCM) is located on West Sunset Boulevard. They are Instagram-famous for their very bright and colorful hand painted BBCM Colorburst Latte. Keep scrolling to see photos of these coffee masterpieces from our West Hollywood coffee date.

Cafe Gratitude in Los Angeles and San Diego

Cafe Gratitude in San Diego’s neighborhood of Little Italy is one of my favorite places to enjoy a super healthy meal and a hot caffeinated drink. All of their menu is plant based food and drinks, so your coffee can come with house made almond milk, oat milk or house made hemp milk. If you’re feeling extra fabulous, you can try the “I Am Marvelous” Mocha Latte with Cacao and Raw Honey.

Top San Diego Coffee Shops

Communal Coffee in San Diego

If you’ve ever driven through the North Park neighborhood of San Diego, you’ve likely seen the very cute coffee shop mural that says “Coffee + Flowers.” This is just one of the Communal Coffee locations. They’ve also got equally as cute and Instagrammable locations in South Park and Oceanside.

James Coffee Company in San Diego

James Coffee is one of those rare coffee chains that has a distinctive masculine feel to the brand. Like they are the bad boys of coffee drinking. They make their own line of freshly roasted, hand-crafted coffee, which they serve at all their San Diego locations. They also have a coffee quiz to help you pick the brew that best suits your coffee drinking tastes. You can find James Coffee Shops in Little Italy, Escondido, Bankers Hill and North Park.

Better Buzz Coffee in San Diego

Better Buzz is the new coffee craze taking over the entire San Diego area. The vibe in their cafes is very colorful and upbeat, serving coffee, breakfast and lunch. Their coffee menu is lengthy with fun surprises such as Mint Infused Ice Coffee, Iced Moroccan Spice, Mocha de Mexico and many more. You can find Better Buzz coffee shops in Escondido, Encinitas, Hillcrest, Fashion Valley, La Jolla, Menifee, Mira Mesa, Miramar, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, San Marcos and Temecula.

Top California Coffee Shops and Local Chains for Coffee Lovers - The Naked Lounge Coffee Cafe in Chico. — The Naked Lounge Coffee Cafe in Chico.

Kettle Coffee and Tea in Escondido

When we are back home visiting my husband’s family in Escondido, we always have a morning coffee date at Kettle. It’s located on the main downtown strip of Grand Ave, which makes for a nice walk with the kids in their strollers. They serve Lone Coffee which is a local Escondido micro roastery. The cafe itself has a cozy homey feeling with exposed brick and big glass windows.

Popular California Coffee Chains

Blue Bottle Coffee

My husband and I lived in San Francisco and we can bear witness to the fact that Blue Bottle Coffee has a true cult following from the local cool kids. I remember when the first location opened up and there was a line out the door to order a cup of coffee. We have since also been to the Santa Monica location. Blue Bottle has undergone a lot of grown and you can now find Blue Bottle all over California.

Philz Coffee

A laid-back local chain, Philz is one of the most popular travel destinations for coffee lovers. It is a great destination for drip coffee drinkers. The shop has 20+ blends of coffee and each cup is brewed to order. And if you are a big fan of Mint Mojito—a perfectly refreshing cocktail for summer—then this is the joint for you. You can try their famous coffee version of a Mint Mohito which is their signature iced coffee drink crafted with fresh mint.

Peet’s Coffee in California

Dark roast coffee may be an acquired taste for some people. But Peet’s Coffee has made a career out of serving this unique brand of brew to its consumers.

The chain is mainly focused on the west coast. But Peet’s Coffee franchises have tried their luck in Oregon, Massachusetts, Nevada, Maryland, Washington DC, and more. This chain became a hit on college campuses in the early days of its business before expanding to over 200 retail locations.

With this coffee joint, you always get the freshness you crave for. The coffee goes from the roaster to your cup in the shortest time possible.

I also really love the selection of teas available at Peet’s. Often my husband will get the coffee and I enjoy a cup of freshly brewed black tea.