Dark Horse Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in San Diego

I was getting my tires done just down the street and needed a place to wait, so I just thought I'd check Dark Horse out. This place is pretty wonderful. When you walk in the door, it's tidy and bright and the counter is inviting. To the left are four tiny tables where you can stay for awhile. Everything is small here - but in the best way! For the main room, it's more like a tiny house idea, which is to say, a well-planned and executed space that achieves a comfortable and spacious feel through an economy of use. Even the restroom is tiny, but in kind of a delightful way.

I can't speak to the coffee or the tea, because I don't really like coffee or tea, but I hear from my coffee connoisseur friends that the coffee is the real deal and very good. I know. I'm reviewing a coffee shop but I don't like coffee or tea. Weird, right? But I adore coffee shops. And you know what's great about this place? It has Kombucha and Kefir soda on tap! I was so happy to find a coffee alternative that wasn't just straight soda. It doesn't have much for food - some donuts that seem artisanal. I didn't mind, because I didn't come in for food, but there are a bunch of restaurants within a couple of blocks of the place, so it's not really a detractor.

While I was there, a wave of customers came in and there was a line out the front door and at no time did things feel crowded or unpleasant. This place is great and the staff was really nice. Come see...

When I was in San Diego last month to visit my mom, a friend showed me Dark Horse. I was very excited to have found this place since the coffee was good and I had a good first experience. However, upon returning to Dark Horse a couple more times during my visit, I found the staff rude and unhelpful. Terrible customer service at this place!!---I went back trying to buy a t-shirt in extra large for my boyfriend and was told they didn't know if they had one and to email the owner to possibly find out -- first strike. Then one time before I left I went back to get one of their famous Nitro cold brew coffees, only to be told they were sold out and to just buy a regular coffee!!! LOL i thought this place roasts their own beans?!?! -- second strike. Then just the other day my mom told me she tried going in this place, at 12 noon, and was told they were sold out of the nitro again, but they had one small nitro left -- she said this was the bottom of the barrel like the last pull out of a keg all throthy and nasty, they didn't even ask her if she wanted the bottom of the barrel they just served it to her. She also mentioned that the girls were rude to her -- Third strike. Three strikes and your out in my book!! There are plenty friendlier super good coffee places in San Diego, I don't have time for...

Best coffee in San Diego area. Chillest workers too. I actually appreciated them using the name on my card, maybe its a false sense of security but knowing theres some chance if the opposite gender took my credit card they would be more likely to be caught just trying to steal something as small of a cup of coffee is kinda a nice idea (even thought it makes sense its not the most realistic)...

That review of their low level of customer service being offended they asked them the name based on the cards content and that therefore somehow contributes to their lack of inclusivity was not at all a representation of this place. It's the exact opposite. That level of criteria for what is ok is beyond comprehension levels of control over ones personal choice.

They are ALWAYS chill, despite having such a frustrating job due to dealing with some of the most falsely entitled folks on the planet (coffee snobs). Anyways, I find it highly offensive there is a disparaging of the cashier who works his rear end off to serve us over something so minuscule yet frequent in us fresh-roasted coffee lovers' lives.

BEST COFFEE EVER (in SD... beats Birdrock IMO, although less "niche" of roasts), and ALWAYS great service in my and my friends...