White tiles, paintings and shelves of coffee boxes fill Coffee & Tea Collective’s small North Park cafe, northeast of Balboa Park. This San Diego roaster links its Artist Series coffees to exhibitions by local artists, with selected releases available by the cup. Come to try a changing single origin before choosing a box to take home, and leave time to look at the artwork.
Coffee
Ampersand is the house espresso blend; pour-over gives you a way to explore the rotating single origins. Ask what is being brewed and how the choices differ; the baristas can also help you choose beans for your tastes and home equipment.
A recent Artist Series release paired a washed Ethiopia Uraga Guji with Diandra Stithe’s exhibition, A Long Walk on a Hot Day. The coffee appeared on the pour-over menu as well as the retail shelf, letting visitors taste it before buying the artist’s edition. Releases and exhibitions change, so ask which one is available when you visit.
Tea & Seasonal Drinks
Loose-leaf teas include Jasmine Pearls green tea and Black Gold, alongside matcha and herbal options. Seasonal recipes give tea drinkers more to choose from: a summer Mao Feng Mojito combined green tea, fresh mint, honey and sparkling water. On the coffee side, an autumn latte used sweet potato puree with spices and espresso. These are examples of the changing specials, rather than year-round orders.
Service & Room
A pastry makes this an easy coffee-and-snack stop. There are counter stools and small tables, but seating is limited; allow for takeaway if you arrive at a busy time.