Coffee & Tea Collective

Coffee & Tea Collective has been roasting in San Diego since 2010. The shop is on the Hillcrest/North Park stretch of El Cajon Blvd. It's minimal, with a concrete bar you can stand and work at, rotating art and the roaster in back. Parking can mean a walk. Outdoor seats are by a busy road, and there's no AC, so summer afternoons get warm.

The house signature is three shots on ice. Oat lattes are the daily order. Try the black sesame tea latte, the Kenyan pour-over or the ceremonial matcha. Pastries come from pop-ups like Freshman Year, and the raspberry pop tart is great. They sell online, with subscriptions.