Lofty Coffee Co. — Restaurant in Encinitas

UPDATE: so I used to LOVE this place, I’ve been going since it opened, but now they’ve kind of really gone downhill. The quality of the coffee is still amazing. But the people who work there are not particularly into customer service or helpfulness. On top of it, I called in to make an order for pick up and the person on the phone said she couldn’t take it but that I had to order on the app. She said there was no alternative. I don’t have the desire to download an app. It’s early in the morning on a Saturday. I just want coffee. And I’m on my way to an appointment so I want to be able to order it and pick it up. The lack of flexibility is ridiculous

Update: I used to happily pay the high prices here because I believed in the quality of the food and the principles behind what kind of place this was trying to be, along with excellent personal customer service. However, my experience with the customer service has really gone downhill in the past year or two. And I don't come here as often as I used to as a result.

(Original post with 5 stars:)The best coffee in San Diego County, hands down. Not to mention the completely organic breakfast options, and their eggs are out...

Initial review: Inconsistent quality at times, but mostly brilliant and amazing. The lines and parking are tough. The espresso pours are ideal, the fresh ground vanilla is top shelf, and the yogurt is sublime. Despite the crazy line, the service is polite and refined.

Updated review after having been there at least another 20 or 30 times:

Inconsistent quality issues have been resolved. Most of the new hires have settled in and are performing exceptionally well. The yogurt dish is still great, as is the egg dish I've tried. The line is still a challenge and seemingly impossible during peak hours, just like the parking. Don't park next to the fire hydrant, even for a second. I've watched a motorcycle cop hand out ticket after ticket. Even the owner of Lofty had gotten a few tickets for this. Yikes!

The most memorable baristas are Cayman and Megan. Cayman remembers who you are and what you like (which is awesome). And Megan, well... she sings out orders and exudes energy and positivity like no other. The rest have an infectious smile and are working to make your day.

Go there during non-rush hours and you'll be...

My experience here was quite the mixed bag. On the one hand, I was served a delicious cup of coffee with delicious eggs/toast. On the other hand, the place was so crowded that just getting the cashier's attention was difficult.

Since the outdoor seating was completely taken, I was forced to sit in a corner seat which had a (seemingly nonfunctional) pipe protruding through it's table. Very little eating space.

I got my food on time. A well cooked breakfast (albeit pricey) of eggs and jammed toast. It was quite yummy and went well with my coffee. After finishing, I wanted a coffee refill.

The process of getting the refill was horrendous. The line for the cashier was out the door, so I attempted to get someone else's attention. With such a tightly packed space, I had difficulty doing so. When I finally did, there wasn't enough room anywhere for us to stand within talking distance.

So, overall, food was good. Coffee was good. Service was lackluster. The space was extremely crowded and created a cramped, stressful, and...