Founded by Tim Langdon and Stephanie Garden as a coffee cart in 2002, Better Buzz opened its first brick-and-mortar café in Pacific Beach in 2007. Over the past 17 years, the company has expanded significantly, operating locations across San Diego County, including Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Mission Beach, Encinitas, Escondido, Coronado, San Marcos, La Jolla, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Grantville, Carlsbad, Bonita, La Mesa, Del Mar, Oceanside and Fashion Valley Mall in Mission Valley. The company’s flagship café and roasting facility is located in Hillcrest, and additional locations have opened in Temecula, San Clemente, and Menifee, CA.
Better Buzz is also expanding further in San Diego’s North County, with an upcoming location planned for Vista. Outside of the region, additional cafés are in the works for Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Fullerton, and multiple cities in Arizona.
The new Poway café, located within the Poway Crossings Plaza, replaces Chamoy Tacos + Fruit. It will offer the brand’s signature handcrafted espresso drinks, coffee, teas, and a food menu that includes avocado toast, grilled sandwiches, paninis, muffins, cookies, bagels, and a variety of açaí bowls. Popular menu items include the Turkey Pesto, Bacon Ciabatta, Ham + Cheese Croissant, and Caprese sandwiches, alongside Better Buzz favorites like the Best Drink Ever and Mocha Buzz.
As part of the grand opening on March 7, the first 200 guests will receive Better Buzz merchandise and a reusable cup with any drink purchase, while supplies last. The location will also introduce a Poway-exclusive drink, the Peach Cobbler Best Drink Ever, made with the classic Best Drink Ever topped with peach and vanilla cold cream and a cinnamon streusel. Guests will also have access to Better Buzz’s seasonal spring menu, featuring drinks such as the Coconut Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Latte, Cucumber Mate Lemonade, and Orange Ya Glad Buzz Energy.
Better Buzz has recently made headlines beyond its expansion efforts. In April 2024, workers at its Hillcrest headquarters unionized under the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 135, citing concerns over wages, healthcare, and consistent work hours. Organizers have indicated that efforts to unionize other locations may follow.
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters will open on March 7 at 12612 Poway Road in San Diego's Poway community. For more information, visit betterbuzzcoffee.com.
Originally published on February 27, 2025.