Raw milk is having a real moment across the country, and for good reason. Unpasteurized, unhomogenized, and sourced from small regenerative dairies, it transforms a standard latte into something richer, more nourishing, and unmistakably alive. In an article with the Weston A. Price Foundation, Sally Fallon Morell noted that raw milk offers a variety of benefits, including easier digestion and greater vitamin and mineral availability. That said, raw milk is one of the most delicate things we can consume, so sourcing matters — both the dairy itself and the café handling it. Excessive heat during steaming can denature the milk and effectively pasteurize it, which is why I always recommend ordering an iced raw milk latte. That way, you know for sure the milk is still raw!
Goodonya – Encinitas
Goodonya is an Encinitas institution and a cornerstone of the local wellness scene. They serve some of the cleanest, most nourishing meals in all of San Diego County, and raw whole milk is available in any of their café drinks. My favorite way to order it is as an iced latte, or as an iced americano with a side of raw milk on the side. Both are perfect for sipping on their sunny patio overlooking the 101.
Vili ‘s Health Bar – Ocean Beach
Vili’s Health Bar sits in the heart of Ocean Beach, just off Sunset Cliffs Blvd. The menu is broad — coffee and matcha drinks, smoothies, smoothie bowls, and avocado toasts — but I keep coming back for the iced americano with raw milk or a simple iced raw milk latte. With just a few outdoor seats, it’s best as a grab-and-go before a walk along the cliffs or down to the OB pier.
Boards N’ Beans – Bird Rock
Boards N’ Beans is a coffee stand tucked in front of Surf Lounge on Turquoise Street, and it’s the perfect stop for an iced raw milk latte on your way down to the beach. Raw milk can be added to nearly any of their café drinks — my go-tos are the iced raw milk latte, the iced americano with a side of raw milk, or the iced ceremonial matcha latte made with raw milk. There’s outdoor seating if you want to linger with a friend and catch the ocean air. Bonus: they’ll give you a free cup of coffee for every bucket of trash you pick up from the beach.