Summer Specials from North County’s Coffee Shops

It finally feels like summer in North County San Diego. The gloom and rain remained up until a few weeks ago, so the clear, sunny skies and rising temperatures are a warm and welcome change. The crowded beaches and tourists in swimsuits toting their beach gear are tell-tale signs of summer. Cool off after an incredible day outside with seasonal summer drinks. 

This season, there are many fun flavors from local coffee shops and establishments. You can go from Oceanside to Del Mar without a shortage of coffee shops and beautiful places to visit. There are quite a few places and options to choose from all throughout North County. 

Archer’s Arrow Coffee House

Owned and founded by Josh and Kat Barille, Archer’s Arrow is Vista’s answer to approachable coffee. This relatively new spot will celebrate its one-year anniversary in mid-September and has monthly coffee cuppings and wine tastings for patrons to participate in. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, wi-fi, and lots of drinks and eats to pick from. 

Archer’s Arrow at 170 Main St, Vista, CA 92084 has a few seasonal beverages that you have to try, including the Chocolate Cold Brew Freeze, Strawberry Coconut Matcha Lemonade, Watermelon Fresca with sugar Tajín rim, the Samoa Latte with toasted coconut, caramel, and chocolate, and the Strawberry Guava Margarita made with a wine-based tequila.

If you want something strong, opt for the Chocolate Mocha Cold Brew Freeze. The cold brew has a 17-hour brew time and will give you a caffeine kick to jumpstart your day. The Strawberry Coconut Matcha Lemonade is perfectly refreshing and summery but not overly sweet. This is the type of iced drink you sip by the pool or at the beach. 

They also have tasty sourdough toasts like the Basil Artichoke Toast made with artichoke hearts, basil, garbanzo beans, and arugula or the BFT Toast made with whipped brie, fig jam, oven roasted turkey, and sliced granny smith apples. The BFT Toast is an absolute delight! 

Their permanent menu has classics like a vanilla latte, drip coffee, and espresso, but they also have some unique flavors like the Cookie Butter Mocha, Cinnamon Roll Late, and Violet Espresso Spritzer made with a double shot of espresso, a dash of vanilla and violet essence, topped with sparkling water.

James Coffee Co.

Get a sip of summer at James Coffee Co. in Escondido. The Escondido bakery at 341 East Pennsylvania Ave Escondido, CA 92025 has seasonal options including a cherry cold brew, housemade lavender limeade, cold brew limeade (their version of an Arnold Palmer), as well as a matcha lavender limeade. James Coffee Co. also has a few other locations in the San Diego County area such as Bankers Hill, Little Italy, and North Park.

Summer coffees and drinks at O’Side Bakery in Oceanside. Photo by Carmen Varner

O’side Bakery

Sit, dine, and chat at O’side Bakery. They have a comprehensive menu for breakfast, lunch, and drinks. The bakery located at 3815 Mission Ave UNIT 101, Oceanside, CA 92058 serves anything from omelets and pancakes to paninis and salads with plenty in between. Thanks to the counter service, you can order and pay all at once. They have a large indoor space with plenty of tables as well as a nice outdoor area.

The summer drink menu includes specialty coffees like the Toffee Crunch with toffee syrup, espresso, and vanilla cold foam, or the Horchata Cold Brew with cold brew, chai, cinnamon syrup, cinnamon powder, and almond milk, topped with a vanilla cold foam. The Horchata Cold Brew tastes rich and delicious. The vanilla cold foam and cinnamon really add something special to the palate.

They have a bunch of non-coffee summer seasonal options too. You can go for the Matcha Piña Colada made with matcha, pineapple, coconut, and coconut milk, the Purple Rain with blueberry, lavender, and passionfruit tea, or the Caribbean Refresher with pineapple, peach juice, passionfruit, and lemonade.

No matter where you explore, North County San Diego has summer in a cup for you to happily sip on.

Feature Image: Summer drinks from Archer’s Arrow Coffee House in Vista, CA. Photo by Carmen Varner