Moe Coffee in North Park, San Diego

Have you ever found yourself looking at your life, wondering if this is it?

Things are good.  You’ve got a good job, a good relationship, and the toys you’ve always wanted.

Yet somehow, none of it seems right or all that fulfilling, and you're well... not stoked?

I have, and do - even as I type this article.

When I've felt this way when I was younger, I’d drop everything, head off on some adventure to start again.

Today though, I’m not sure that the “things” in my life need to be dropped.

They might, but I’m not sure yet.

Something's gotta give though, I need more of something.

But right now, you might be wondering what the hell does this have to do with coffee?

The answer - everything and nothing.

I’m pretty sure that thing I need is two part - love & joy.

And like you, coffee brings me both of those things.

That’s where you come in. 

Our love of delicious coffee brought us together, and it’s what I’m going to use as a guidepost back to a place where I’m stoked on life.

I welcome you to come with me on the adventure of exploring the vibrant world of coffee & life itself while I work my way forward.

Fitting then, that the first place to explore is a nearby coffee shop called Moe Coffee here in San Diego, CA.

Perhaps I just need mo' coffee in my life :)

Located at the corner of Howard & Kansas in North Park, it's more of a neighborhood shop than a vacation spot, but the Little Italy location would be a nice add to your San Diego visit.

But, it turns out they’re a growing chain here in SD with locations in North Park and Little Italy with more on the way.

Selling only organic coffee paid for beyond Fair Trade pricing, puts the chain solidly in the ethical coffee camp which is great as I am to do the same.

As a home roaster myself, albeit at very small scale, I can really appreciate their “micro roasting” approach and philosophy to producing better coffee.

Ah snap, I just realized that I have no real idea about what I’m doing with this blog, but if I’m going to explore coffee shops and share my experience, I should probably add some consistency yeah?

So here’s what I’ll do, for every coffee shop I visit, I’ll share my take on a handful of aspects: 

• The Vibe
• The Taste
• The Experience
• The Price

And to wrap it up, I’ll toss on a recommendation to visit or not.

Although that recommendation, I’ll say it now, is just an opinion and if the vibe seems cool to you - I’d say jump in and give it a shot.

Worst case you get a cup of coffee and learn somewhere you don’t need to go again.

Cool - now that we’ve got that called out let’s get back to Moe Coffee.

The Vibe:

The North Park location’s vibe is pretty chill. 

The north & west walls are roll-up windows that let in a tone of natural light.  This miseducating with warm hanging lights, dark wood tables and benches take the edge off the concrete floors and trendy industrial design.

The wall mural on the south wall’s a nice touch too.

The 3 huge TV menus showcase how they do more than just coffee with a sundry of drink and tasty food options.  The beer and hard Kombucha’s are nice touch should you want a bit less of an upper.

With good music that’s not so loud it’s jarring, and the sounds of the barista’s behind glass, everything comes together to create a vibe that’s inviting and functional.

The Taste:

I ordered a drip brewed coffee of their house blend which is a Sumatra and Columbia blend, in a ceramic mug.

One their site, this is what they say about their coffee: 

“Our Moe Coffee blend is a combination of Sumatra, which is known for being bold and earthy, and Colombian, which is known for being light & fruity and with mild citrus acidity. Put them together and you get a smooth rounded sweetness that is low in acidity with little to no bitterness.”

I’d say that’s exactly what they deliver.

Personally, it’s a bit too full of a body and left a mildly unpleasant mouth feel/aftertaste.  Despite my being picky, I’d say they do deliver a delicious cup of coffee and could easily drink it everyday.

The Experience:

7 AM on a Sunday provides it’s own kind of experience, and at Moe Coffee, I’d say it’s a pleasant experience. 

The barista was friendly, and answered my questions without attitude.

I really appreciated that the music wasn’t too loud, and the coffee making sounds weren’t too loud.  These come together to make it enjoyable to work, and enjoy their coffee.

Oh, they're dog friendly if that's your jam.

The Price:

Alright, this is where Moe goes a bit south for me.

$4.24 for a 12oz cup of black drip coffee seems a bit ridiculous.  I could almost understand it if was pour-over and took more time to make. 

But no, it was just a normal cup of coffee from a commercial brewer.

RIDICULOUS.

To boot, there’s only one option for coffee - just the house blend.  Again, seems a bit mis-aligned with the price.

What about the beans?

At $15 for a half pound, I’m pretty sure I won’t be buying any of that anytime soon either.

My Recommendation:

If you don't mind spending too much, give Moe Coffee a visit. 

They’re coffee’s good, and the vibe is perfect for kickin’ it with friends or knocking out some work.

It wouldn't surprise me if I found myself here again.

If you decide to check out Moe Coffee, send me a note and let me know what you thought of them.  Was my assessment on or off, and what got you to go there.

We're all bumbling around this planet together so may as well share along the way.

Hope you enjoyed.

Until next time, 🤘