The Optimist

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters is a San Diego mainstay built on direct relationships with farmers — their 'Origins' program means a lot of the beans come from producers they actually know. The range spans washed single origins from the likes of Colombia, Guatemala and Burundi to signature blends, with the kind of bright, fruit-forward notes that made them a West Coast favourite. They run several cafés around San Diego, host cupping events and classes if you want to learn, and offer a subscription for the curious. Beans ship nationwide, with wholesale too. A polished, farmer-focused pick for expressive single origin specialty coffee.