It’s no coincidence that the name of quite possibly the best coffee shop of all time, has the word “better” in it. The versatile assortment of food and drinks Better Buzz has in their inventory sets it apart from other local coffee shops.
The coffee shop’s closest location to the school was originally their Encinitas location. However, comments of its proximity are a bit of a drag, considering the 20 minute commute during traffic hours. Their newest Del Mar location off of Camino Del Mar has made the delicious coffee and treats much more accessible. Better Buzz’s grand opening for the Del Mar location was on Friday. The variety of food and drink items offered at the shop has a rating 4.5 out of 5 on Tripadvisor, and a ranking of 242 out of 3,147 restaurants in San Diego. It is also the No. 6 Coffee & Tea shop in San Diego according to Tripadvisor.
The Del Mar location menu has a wide selection of drink options including handcrafted iced or hot beverages, blended iced coffees, smoothies and their traditional espresso. Better Buzz not only has amazing food and drink items, but they also sell merchandise such as t-shirts, hoodies, cups and their own special blends. Regardless of what you are looking for, Better Buzz will have something for everyone thanks to their varying assortment of treats.
The White Mocha Latte is a fan favorite, and it comes in multiple different forms: hot, ($6.49) blended ($6.49) and iced ($6.49). It’s on the sweeter side but, “that’s how we do it best,” a Better Buzz employee said. It’s sweet, milky and lives up to its name as it tastes like a bar of white chocolate.
“For my drink I got an Iced Chai Latte,” Chloe Zeichner (10) said. “The chai was genuinely one of the best I’ve ever had because it wasn’t too sweet and artificial tasting.”
The Chai Tea Latte ($5.49) is a go-to drink, as it is perfectly flavored with an amazing milk to chai ratio. With one of the many Better Buzz sandwich options, such as the popular Caprese and Turkey Pesto, the chai flawlessly compliments sandwiches.
“I also got a better breakfast sandwich,” Zeichner said.
The Better Breakfast sandwich ($9.99) has a cage-free egg, havarti, bacon, arugula and garlic aioli on a toasted pretzel bun, making it a consistent order for those who visit frequently.
“[The Better Breakfast Sandwich] was really good,” Zeichner said. “I had gotten it before at the Encinitas location. I like it because everything goes together really well.”
The service at this location is impeccable and welcoming from the moment you step into the store, from a friendly wave to a bright smile goodbye. As we sat, sipped and chatted, the employees made sure to check up on us and gave us samples to try from their menu.
“I had an amazing time at Better Buzz because the environment was something I’ve never experienced before with a cafe,” Zeichner said.
Even though the Chai Tea Latte and Better Breakfast sandwich could have closed the deal regarding the greatness of the cafe, the menu is only half of what makes a restaurant great. The experience factor can make or break the overall quality of the cafe. Better Buzz came through with both their menu and the experience factor, due to their visually appealing environment and welcoming staff.
As the Better Buzz logo truthfully says, “Life’s better buzzed.”
