34 Best Coffee Shops in El Cajon

“Great spot for a cortado and the occasional pastry! Highly recommend.“

“banana cream espresso was worth the 7$ so good“

“Stumbled across this place when I walked into the mall. Told myself id come try it on my way out and I absolutely love it.

Atmosphere is very relaxing and enjoyable. The lady behind the register was really sweet and kind! After paying she held up a basket for me to pick out a small card that had a fortune/quote for the day on it and i thought that was such a nice little gesture. If I wasn't in such a rush I would have definitely stayed to sit around a little longer!

Ordered a blooming berry smoothie and i have to say it became one of my favorite places to go for smoothies, i barely made it to my car before finishing it

I do not come to parkway plaza as often but will definitely stop by here everytime I am in the area.“

“The WWJD is really good 😊“

“I was looking for small business coffee shop and my co-teachers told me about Maria's Coffee Shop. I got a Iced Mazapan Latte and a chicken tamale! OMG they are both delicious. I couldn't take a picture of tamale because I ate too fast lol. Definitely recommended and will be back.“

“Visiting the area & stopped in because it was close to where we were - glad we did. The best frappes we’ve had, no joke! Cozy little coffee shop. Good service.“

“I enjoy being able to kick back no fuss - relaxed atmosphere - drink my coffee read my news and my Facebook without a care in the world“

“El Cajon’s hidden gem of delicious drinks and yummy pastries at great prices. We had the strawberry shake, Carmel shake, dole whip pineapple drink with lotus, cookies and cake pops! All were extraordinary!!! Highly recommend Vanilla Oasis and will be back soon!“

“I tried Starbuck's cortado for the first time. It was pretty good. It tasted very good and was smooth. It was just a little heavier on the foam than it should have been. Actually, it should not have had the foam.

I liked the cortado, and I really liked the friendly service at this location. The employees were not shy about having a good conversation. This location has a drive thru and plenty of inside seating. It's good for larger groups. The store was very well organized and clean.“

“Great customer service and delicious tea!! Love the custom drinks and adding coconut to anything is fantastic. Erica is a great barista and I"ll definitely be back and bring my friends! So friendly, knowledgeable, and professional.“

“Coffee is really good !! Owners are incredibly nice !“

“Hi 👋 soon as you walk in this place you feel hospitality and the welcoming.
This place is very clean they deserve a golden A if they don't already have it.
They have the best pistachio coffee I ever had.
I leave 2 hours away I would love to have it every day.
I will definitely go back when I visit San Diego.“

“I really like this place. The atmosphere is nice, the location is great, and it feels good to support a local business. It has a lot of potential, and I can see why people enjoy coming here.
Unfortunately, the customer service has been very disappointing. Some of the female staff members come across as rude and unwelcoming, and the way they treat customers can make the experience uncomfortable. I have personally noticed this more than once, and I have also seen other customers being treated the same way.
It is sad because the place itself is great, but poor service can really change how people feel about coming back. I hope management addresses this issue because this business could be much better with kinder and more respectful staff.“

“love this Starbucks friendly staff, clean great place“

“I always have a pleasant visit everytime I come to this location. I vibe well with all the staff there. I want to acknowledge the whole crew yet there were 3 that were super today. My usual was always the Frappes of many choices but this time I decided to have "Nani" decide for me. First time I ever had Chai. I don't remember which kind of Chai but it just might be my new favorite.Vay and Samantha were lovely to have around, they don't treat me like a paycheck at all. Everyone there treats me like a friend at best.This will always be my favorite Starbucks to commute through!!“

“If you're ever in El Cajon you have to stop here. It's a total must-do anytime I come back to town.
​These are not those silly, fancy donuts that places like Krispy Kreme or Dunkin' try to sell you. They are the real ones. The donuts you actually remember from when you were a kid.
​Seriously, forget those imitators and stick with the originals right here. This place is a must-have for the great taste and a powerful trip down memory lane.“

“Seriously my best experience at a Starbucks ever. Thank you Marisa for 5 star service, for helping me with my app and for advising another customer that she could leave a tip for valet by scanning the back of her card after she was told she couldn't get cash back if paying by visa. Marisa was very helpful to everyone while I was there. Top notch service with a smile! And they even spelled my name right this time . #youshouldbehere“

“So very yummy. Sad I can’t buy it for my home.“

“Morgan helped me with my order for Food, Drinks and 3 cake pops. The polar bear cake pops were a hit with my Grandchildren.
Service was excellent and she has a great personality.
Thank you
Carol Lovejoy
Nov. 19, 2025

Fatima did an excellent job with my order in the drive thru. I ordered several food items and several drinks all perfect. I enjoy this Starbucks even though it is not the closest to my home. Fatima made my whole day with her friendly attitude and she is the reason I will continue returning to this Starbucks.
Thanks again
Carol Lovejoy
7/23/25 at 7:20am

Melissa made my Venti Matcha Cream Frapp to perfection. She was so nice and friendly. Thank you so very much
Carol
4/18/24“

“Wow what a nice call work they are the best“

“I was here a week ago, tired with a sick baby and and 2 other kids and I just wanted coffee before our dr visit and the guy that took my order was so patient with me. He didnt rush me and kept saying I was ok. He made my day by covering my drink for me and honestly I was so shocked. He was a young kid so I didnt expect him to understand my tiredness but his thoughtfulness and compassion towards this sleep deprived mon meant so much to me! He made me day. Thank you!“

“Great teas and coffees.I love this place“

“Coffee is really good !! Owners are incredibly nice !“

“Wow what a nice call work they are the best“

“These guys are the best the business. Nobody knows authentic coffee the way Efren and his team do. Whether it’s at a wedding, corporate event, or intimate gathering, Efren and his team won’t just provide a service, but an experience that’s enjoyable for everyone. 10/10 recommend.“

“am a Starbucks fan ❤🙌🙏... love how they prepare my favorite drinks....😁😍👍❤“

“Improved wait times for sure!!

Love this SB but if you're in a hurry go inside. The drive-thru is slower than slow usually no matter the time of day. However, and upside to that is the Baristas working the window is always happy to serve and has a smile!“

“My wife and I stopped in on October 25 near closing. One of the employees, a young male, opened the door for us, and I asked if they were open since it was late and most places were closed. He assured us they were and let us in. The pastries had been put away, but he still offered us some, which was awesome since we needed something sweet to perk us up.
He took our order, gave us our pastries and our drinks, and got us back on our two-hour drive home. He was extremely friendly and professional. I don't typically do reviews, but the service that compelled me to write this. I hope this young man gets the recognition he well deserves.“

“very sweet partners and my horchata frappuccino was amazing💚💚💚“

“needed a green tea and a brownie, so delicious!“

“I love Dunkin it’s good quality“

“I love this McDonald's. The people are so friendly. Way better than 2nd st!“