I have to admit up front that at least six days per week, I prefer to be awakened by the scent of coffee brewing from my very simple coffee maker, ready to enjoy it right out of bed. That said, I do allocate one day to indulge at a local coffee house, and Coffee Coffee in the heart of Leucadia always gets the nod.
I’m pretty simple with my usual selection of a small black coffee to walk up to Beacon’s and check the surf. However, I occasionally indulge in one of their fabulous lattes or cappuccinos and enjoy on-site to take in the eclectic morning coffee crowd that always makes for great people-watching.
During one of those recent hangouts, I noticed their breakfast menu had expanded, and some of the offerings looked delightful. Over the course of a week, I ate my way through most of that menu and was pleasantly surprised by what is coming out of their kitchen these days.
Before I get into that, let me provide a bit of a backstory on Coffee Coffee and what preceded it. Café Ipe, which I wrote about in 2013, occupied the space originally, with Surfy Surfy next door. Dave and Erin Thomas, Karen Pankopf and JP St. Pierre were the partners behind Café Ipe and Surfy Surfy, who brought Dan Scheibe and his Revolution Roasters in-house to supply the amazing coffee.
They had a great run during which it was rebranded Coffee Coffee and really established the corner as the social hub of Leucadia, until current owners Nikki and Emily Harth, who also own the Surf Haus boutique hotel across the street, took over in 2023 with co-owner and general manager Jordan Ward. They put their personal touches on the style and décor, but did not stray too far from the original vibe.
And speaking of vibes, as I mentioned above, Coffee Coffee is located on what I would consider one of the “surfiest” locations anywhere, and I mean that in the best possible way. Being somewhat of a freak for trains, I love that the Coaster, Amtrak and freight trains speed by on a regular basis.
The clientele trends young and Vuori-clad but really goes all over the map, with some old-school locals and tourists thrown in the mix just to keep it interesting and complete the experience. The “Welcome to Leucadia” mural on the side of the building facing Jasper Street is one of my favorites, and if you catch it without cars in front, it’s a perfect photo opportunity that captures the vibe of Leucadia nicely.
During my week of sampling the menu, I started off with the Dawn Patrol Breakfast Burrito loaded with local eggs, Jack cheese, black beans, hash browns, avocado, Spanish chorizo, cilantro lime crema along with a side of house-made sauce. It’s wrapped tight in a subtle tortilla cut in half in a foil wrap, perfect to eat in or carry out without fear of burrito explosion in your vehicle.
And I must add that unlike most taco joint breakfast burritos (for which there is a time and place), this beauty is not a gut bomb that is going to have you craving a nap after. It’s hearty yet not overbearing and full of flavors and textures that made me happy.
Next up was the Hash Brown Toast with a pre-formed hash brown patty under two eggs cooked as you like with avocado, feta, house-made Calabrian chili aioli and sprouts. I’ve made variations of this at home but never with this beautiful presentation, flavor combinations and textures, and it was a delight on every level.
Being a lox and bagel fan of the highest order, it was my duty to sample and report on the Coffee Coffee version. Well, first off, they source their bagels from Top of the Bagel in Carlsbad, which means they know good bagels. It’s basically two halves of an everything bagel with cream cheese, lox, capers, red onion and sprouts — all the essentials that work so harmoniously together. It’s also reassuring to know that I can get this beautiful slice of a big city within walking distance in a beach community.
Their more traditional breakfast offering is The Beacons and consists of two eggs, two girthy maple sausages, crunchy rosemary Farm Shop-sourced sourdough perfectly toasted and some very nice sides of creamy butter and house-made jam. There was just enough different about this plate, special touches that made it unique yet approachable enough for those who may scoff at their more eclectic offerings.
I made a dent in the menu but will definitely be back for their Breakky Sammie, Avocado Toast, Turkey Sando, assorted bagels and spreads, mini surf burritos and to top it off, daily assorted Prager Brothers beach sandos. Prager Brothers makes the best bread in North County and is worth exploring.
Given my focus on the breakfast and lunch offerings served daily until 2 p.m., and the lines that form daily for their coffee and tea offerings, it should be considered a given that they excel in that area as well, and they do.
And while I realize they have limited kitchen space, I’m just going to throw this wish out to the Coffee Coffee universe to include a Cuban sandwich on that already killer menu. Pretty easy prep with a panini press and, well, I’m thinking you would be the only joint in town serving them.
Consider me a fan of everything going on at Coffee Coffee. Check them out at www.coffeecoffeeleucadia.com
