Mostra Coffee - San Diego

I drove from San Diego to Temecula on the 15 freeway in search of a strong cup of coffee that wasn't from a mainstream chain with green straws. After looking on Yelp, I found this unique spot that offered a perfect caffeine fix. Despite some confusion with the directions, I finally located the cafe and was able to park right in front like a VIP. The atmosphere was a blend of old world charm and modern industrial design, making it a place where I could either relax all day or quickly grab a cup to go. The homemade syrups and milk options added a fun twist to the drinks menu, with my kids enjoying the sweet and refreshing ube Wan-Kanobi the Yeti. Personally, I opted for the honey lavender latte on ice, and was amazed by the depth of flavor in each sip. The strong espresso seamlessly blended with the honey, lavender, and creamy milk, creating a unique and satisfying experience. It was as if I had been transported to Italy for a moment, only to be brought back by the light lavender notes that felt like they were straight from the local fields. This coffee spot quickly became a favorite of mine, and I will definitely be returning. My advice for others is to bring friends and take advantage of the stylish mirror stand for some fun photo opportunities. Overall, this cafe is a hidden gem worth discovering in a Home Depot parking lot - a true destination for coffee lovers.

I visited this restaurant for the first time and was delighted to discover coffee drinks inspired by Filipino desserts such as Turon and Bibingka! The barista mentioned that they were celebrating Filipino Heritage Month (October). As someone who is half Filipino, I was thrilled to see this representation. The menu offered dairy alternatives like rice milk and banana milk, which was a plus for us since we are vegan. We decided to try the Turon Cappuccino made with banana milk and it did not disappoint. The flavor of Turon, complete with jackfruit, was captured perfectly in the drink.

Their roasts are outstanding. We visited twice during our trip to San Diego. The atmosphere and decor are very lively. The baristas are friendly and use ingredients like dark chocolate and organic honey in their special lattes, which enhance the espresso shot. I tried a cortado with a shot of dark chocolate and the barista guided me through the unique flavor combination. We returned with our laptops and found the wifi to be great for working. They also offer small bites to eat. While we were there, they were giving out free samples of their new cold brew - I hope they open a location in a colder area soon! P.S. They were named the Roasting Champion of the Year in 2020 and won the U.S. Reds of the Year award in 2022.

I recently visited a restaurant for the first time and discovered coffee drinks inspired by Filipino desserts like turon and bibingka! The barista mentioned that they were celebrating Filipino Heritage Month in October, which was so exciting for me as someone who is half Filipino. Some of the drinks were made with milk alternatives like rice milk and banana milk, while others were not. Since my party was vegan, we decided to try the turon cappuccino with banana milk. It perfectly captured the taste of turon, including the jackfruit!

I have an iced ube latte with decaf espresso and milk. 10/10 delicious and would drink again. the espresso recording was beautiful and strong. flavor was on point and not too sweet (best asian compliment ever). a bit on the pricier side, but I would like to come back and try the bibingka and chocobanana.