10 Coffee Houses Reducing Food and Packaging Waste in San Diego County

Dojo Coffee, at Fair and 44th, operates out of a solar-powered trailer; the solar panels were installed by students from Hoover High School, who also built the many vegetable planters.  Co-owner Nancy reports that Dojo prepares its own vanilla syrup with eliminates overbuying and packaging waste.

Eclipse, in South Park, known for is exquisite handmade chocolates, uses water leftover from brunch and lunch to water plants.  

At Subterranean Coffee, owner Kelsey Padida says that coffee grinds are picked up each week by Jefferson Elementary to nourish its garden.  

Subterranean, which owns a store in Hillcrest, and a kiosk downtown, also sells stainless steel straws for $2, and serves food eaten on the premises on ceramic plates, uses non-plastic utensils, and real glasses.  

At 30th and Gunn Street, its flagship store is attracting new customers with cozy additional seating and wide picture windows that look out on to 30th St. It was a popular place to watch last December’s Toyland Parade. The interior is enlivened with rotating art, and tables and umbrellas on the sidewalk are perfect for a breakfast or lunch in nice weather, Fido included. Customers can bring their own cups and some even bring their own food containers for takeaway muffins or leftovers.

Lofty Coffee in Little Italy donates leftovers to local businesses.  

Lestat’s’ multiple locations bake just enough for each day’s consumption.  They are currently serving coffee by doubling a paper cup, so it is not too hot to handle, because the cool looking corrugated cups are plastic coated and can’t be recycled.

Industrial Grind Coffee in Tierrasanta specializes in gluten free baked goods, which have the advantage of freezing well in case of leftovers.  

City Heights Coffee House's colorful lounge finds many different customers of different cultural backgrounds enjoying good coffee served by underserved youth and refugees.

Sterling and David Tran view coffee as a connecting force among people in City Heights, and the pair recently expanded the shop from a trailer behind a thrift shop on El Cajon to a brick and mortar space near Fairmount and University. The shop orders only what it needs from small African and Hispanic vendors, to ensure waste is kept to a minimum and the community is supported. 

Deja Brew is a newbie located at Arnold Avenue and University.  Beyond great Vietnamese coffee, they stay open at night and offer homemade ice cream. Food not eaten during the day is given to community memebers in need.

Holsem Coffee in North Park is almost always busy thanks to reasonable prices and eco-friendly practices. Owner Salpi Sleiman is always looking for new ways to make products in house (like an experimental foray into making nutbutter from the housemade almonds milk), and all food and coffee consumed on the premises are served on ceramic dishes.

Refill Coffee at Robinson and Park in Hillcrest, only uses ceramic cups handmade by Steve Cook, the owner Nathan’s former high school pottery teacher.  It's fun to drink coffee and tea from a unique, hand-crafted cup. The owners also try not to overbuy and send leftover pastries home with their employees.

An interesting concept is the shared space inhabited by Grinds & Vine Coffee Bar and Negociant, an urban winery in North Park, near Dave’s Flowers on El Cajon Boulevard and Texas Street. 

The spent coffee grounds from the coffee shop are composted for a local farm and used in coffee ground soap made by Blue Moon Elise. Owner Lane Lowe says The Daily Grind uses real dishes and flatware, and is transitioning from single serve creamers and sweeteners to using refillable containers and patrons are encouraged to reuse coffee cup sleeves so they don’t end up in the landfill. They also offer fresh honey from local beekeepers.