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    Academic Coffee

    4.3 (1k reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Menu 8.5.26
    cindy T.

    Came in at 9am on a Wednesday and the vibe was not hype at all. Worker seems like either they are tired and don't want to work. No "hello" gesture or even a smile. They have a good selection of pastries. Ordered; Matcha banana cream- was good Matcha strawberry latte- was good Espresso banana cream - was good There's an outdoor seating which is nice.

    Banana Matcha (tried at DTSJ)
    Lele Y.

    3.5 stars rounding up Line gets super long lol banana cream can also sell out early Pandan Coffee was good but flavor subtle, definitely more coffee than pandan Matcha Vanilla-- good but standard Banana Matcha (tried in DTSJ)-- good but also standard, preference might just be at matcha cafes instead Will just stick to their Madagascar Vanilla if I'm nearby

    Samantha P.

    Tasty as a whole with a very minor miss! First the location is a small but cute space, some inside and outside seating. I ordered a matcha tea and a banana cream matcha. Their matcha tea is tasty, nothing over the top but a solid quality matcha. The banana cream top was amazingly delicious, it had a very authentic banana pudding flavor, the issue I have I believe was the sweetener they used. Once I mixed and sipped the banana matcha I noticed a strange flavor that just didn't taste great with the overall drink but I can't quite place what it was but it just tasted like it didn't mesh with the flavor of the drink itself. I know the banana topper was good, I know their matcha is good, the only other factors were almond milk which is pretty mild and the sweetener which is why I assume that is what I wasn't liking. I would come back but would ask for completely unsweet to see if that makes a difference.

    Melon Matcha
    Ashley J.

    I heard that Academic had a new seasonal melon matcha and decided to try it. They told me it was only around until the end of July and that it's honeydew flavored. I got the melon matcha with whole milk and the matcha cream top. I think I like their guava matcha more than the honeydew, but it was still good. It had a distinct honeydew flavor and the matcha itself was smooth. A friend of mine tried it and said it tasted like a lip smackers, which I think is a good way to describe it. I came on a Friday morning and it wasn't too busy. All the seats inside were taken but there were open tables outside. There's metered parking along Second and William street and it wasn't hard to find a spot. I love coming to academic and trying their new drinks, so I'll definitely be back.

    Guava cream matcha and banana cream matcha
    Elisa L.

    Came around 8:30 am on a weekday and it wasn't too busy. Service was friendly and pretty quick. -Banana cream matcha (4/5): the banana cream was yummy and not overly sweet or artificial tasting, matcha was a good strength -Guava cream matcha (2/5): guava flavor was strong and fragrant but overpowered the matcha, I'm not the biggest fan of guava but wanted to try cause it was unique

    Guava matcha ($9.50) & Banana cream matcha ($9)
    Allison L.

    Heard they're one of the best matchas in SJ! Wasn't too busy on a weekday morning around 8:30AM, we ordered and received our drinks quickly. Service was friendly Banana cream matcha (4/5): the banana cream was yummy and the matcha was strong and a good amount of sweetness Guava cream matcha (2/5): haven't seen a guava matcha before so it was interesting! The guava syrup and cream top was fragrant and strong, but completely overpowered the matcha

    Cindy M.

    It was hot in here! But despite the temp, I dug the vibe, both inside and out. There's limited seating inside with additional seating outside. My husband got a cold brew which he said was okay. I got their Piloncillo cinnamon latte which I thought was great! The baristas were nice. We commented on their fridge artwork and chit chatted about that with them a bit because my son thought it was cool since he's currently reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I'd recommend this place.

    Matcha paired with a chocolate croissant = breakfast perfection (for a girl with a sweet tooth like me)
    Shaira Elah N.

    My go-to for my banana matcha cravings. The matcha isn't overpowering the banana and vice versa.

    Strawberry Matcha
    Allison P.

    Always a solid choice for coffee or matcha in the Bay! I don't always like a strawberry matcha, but theirs is super yummy! The strawberry compote is fresh and sweet. It pairs perfectly with their earthy matcha. They also offer up a nice selection of sweet and savory baked goods if you're in the mood for a quick bite. You really can't go wrong! Also, a huge fan of their branding. Digging the new cup design!

    Christie N.

    Our drinks took 15-20 minutes to come out. The coffee shop is nice and has nice door seating. My friend and I ordered the Vanilla Latte + Pandan Latte, both of which were not filled up all the way. Also, they lacked the difference in taste and we couldn't tell apart the difference in orders. The Vietnamese iced coffee was horrible. It was so dark and bitter and left a really strange aftertaste. Though I will say the matcha guava was really good. The cream top tasted like fresh guava, and it complemented the matcha very well. That was the only redeeming drink here.

    Banana matcha and banana latte
    Tatiana A.

    Super friendly staff, some of the best tasting banana cold foam I've had on a matcha! Small cafe but super cute and would definitely come back to hang out, super cozy.

    Banana latte
    Jason G.

    While visiting San Jose, I came across this coffee shop and I'm really glad I did. The coffee quality was excellent, the staff was very friendly, and the pastries were absolutely delicious. The shop itself is a bit small, so it may not be the easiest place to study for long periods, but it has a great atmosphere, good vibes, and a very welcoming environment. The outdoor seating was a huge plus, especially with nice weather -- it's the perfect spot to sit outside and enjoy your coffee. Parking in the area can be a little tricky and it is paid parking, but that's pretty common for most downtown areas. Overall, I had a great experience and would definitely recommend this coffee shop to anyone looking for quality coffee and a nice atmosphere.

    Interior
    Shih Fa K.

    The cappuccino was very well-done! The foam was creamy with a nice layered pattern. It didn't disappoint. The service was responsive and quick. The ambiance had some decor, but they kept it simple.

    Banana Matcha Latte

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    Academic Coffee Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Academic Coffee

    Is there a way to mobile order?

    Hi, I noticed that the Banana flavored drinks aren't on the menu anymore, will it be brought back?

    They're seasonal, so they may come back later in the year or next year

    Where are the croissants from?

    They're from Sunday Bakeshop!

    Do you guys serve food still or just pastries?

    We only have pastries at our cafe.

    Is there wifi?

    Yes!

    Is there parking on the back of the building?

    No there is only street parking. The lot next to the building belongs to the hotel.

    Will the Habanero Honey Latte ever make a comeback? It was delicious and is very much missed!

    We're working on it! Follow our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/academiccoffeeco/ for more updates

    Will the orange dream latte make a reappearance anytime soon?

    Yes! We'll see it later this summer!

    When do you normally have caneles and how much are they? I would rather give custom to a local business than have to spend a 50 min (most likely an hour) round trip driving and gas to Los Gatos.

    Hi thanks for reaching out. We no longer offer caneles on the menu.

    Do you have any seasonal drinks?

    Yes! Check out www.academicpantry.com for our latest seasonal specials.

    Can you guys put matcha in one of your growlers?

    Not at the moment, but we'll consider it. We encourage people to drink our matcha the same day for best flavor.

    Hi Frank, What's the current seating situation?

    Hi we've got a nice outdoor patio with about 4 tables. We also have a parklet with an additional 6 tables.

    Are you accepting cash or just card?

    Just card at this time.

    I love your cookies! Miso Sesame is my favorite, but I also enjoy the Choco Chip. What is your…

    Our Baker was on a break but she's back and cookies will be available again starting this weekend! We miss them too!

    Can we bring our own travel mug?

    Absolutely! You get a discount for bringing your own cup.

    Is this place really dog friendly? I did not see any outdoor seating in the pictures. Can we bring small dogs inside?

    We've got a large patio with 9 tables outside. Dogs are welcome in the patio but unfortunately health codes do not allow dogs inside unless they are a service animal.

    Are they open Christmas Eve?

    Yes we are open 7am-2pm on Christmas Eve.

    What kind of pastries do you guys still serve?

    We serve mochi donuts and custard cakes from Third Culture Bakery. Plain croissants, almond croissants, and ham & cheese croissants from Alexander’s Patisserie. We also serve cookies, madeleines and canales from Stained Wheat.

    Does this place still serve the matcha croissant?

    Sorry we no longer have the matcha croissant but we have a matcha mochi donut and a matcha cake.

    Is this a good place to study at night?

    We think so! We close at 7pm but it’s pretty quiet between 5-7pm.

    View All 23 Questions

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    Moonwake Coffee Roasters

    4.5
    (412 reviews)
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    Busy spot (for good reason)! I usually get the Aerocano and have not been disappointed once! I…read morenever tried an aerocano before, and Moonwake has got me addicted to it. For food, I tried the Gochujang Corn Cheese Scallion Focaccia and Egg Sando. Egg Sando: Very tasty, fluffy, and seasoned just right. Gochujang Corn Cheese Scallion Focaccia: Huge slice that was nice and savory. Definitely get it heated up if you're eating it there. Even though it's always busy, they get the drinks out pretty fast! Workers are always friendly and happy to give recommendations.

    Wanted to try a new coffee shop today. Moonwake came up…read morefirst on the ol Yelpy search. The are located in the same parking lot as the Country Inn right off of Saratoga Ave. When wifey and arrived there was plenty of parking. The inside of Moonwake is rather large for a coffee shop with plenty of seats and space, the outside has about 4-5 small "2 seat" tables. If you walk straight in "and keep walking" you will see their roasting room, that looks like a mad scientist lab with computers and beacons. It was pretty cool watching them proofing the coffee. I ordered a decaf iced Mocha with 1/2 & 1/2 and a Berry pistachio croissant, wifey ordered a regular coffee with room. Wifey's coffee had a delicate earthy flavor. "For regular coffee it was quite good" 4 stars My Mocha even with the 1/2 & 1/2 was good but did not have the body I like. 2.5 stars. "For said items $21.45" The Croissant was absolutely amazing, decadent, buttery, crispy, and chewy. Honestly it's the best one I've had short of Arsicault Bakery in San Francisco. Yeah man these are nearly that good! 5 stars for sure! The service was good and the employees were nice and helpful. Overall rating in my opinion, this place is solidly in the 4 star area. And I will be coming back for their croissants. :-D

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    Chromatic Coffee

    Chromatic Coffee

    4.3
    (480 reviews)
    1.4 mi
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    Really lovely little coffee shop that leans into that industrial warehouse vibe in the best way…read more The coffee was great--I ended up trying both on-tap cold brews on the day we went because I didn't realize that buying a bag of whole bean coffee came with a free coffee drink. With some coffees a second cup will give me a stomach ache (especially since I drink my cold brews black and bitter like my soul), but I had no problems with their cold brews! I also got the vegan stonefruit scone (baked by Sweet Dragon) and while a little on the dry side (common with scones), paired extremely well with the coffee and had good flavor. Husband got a cappuccino and a strawberry mini pie and was extremely pleased with his order. The service is friendly, but some things may have been new on the day we went. They almost forgot my cold brew until we asked at the counter, as well as stating that they didn't have anything to heat up my husband's strawberry pie (which seems odd, since a little toaster oven seems like a simple fix for that), but apparently it was fantastic at room temperature anyway. Seating was absolutely full when we got there and we were lucky to snag a table as another couple left, so it seems like a popular Saturday morning spot. Several folks were working on laptops, and it seems like a kid-friendly place. The decor is a clean and modern/trendy industrial style, which works well for the space, and the windows provide nice daylight. Overall, a good coffee shop and I am really happy to see vegan pastry options! My husband is getting into pinball, which was part of the motivation to come out and try Chromatic, so I am sure we'll be back again next time he wants to hit up Slingshot (in the same building), and I look forward to the coffee and treats!

    Chromatic Coffee has convenient parking, though the space itself had a bit of a grunge, industrial…read morelook during my visit, likely made more apparent by ongoing construction nearby. The seating area is quite limited for the large crowd it attracts, making the atmosphere inside feel a bit chaotic at peak times. Fortunately, the baristas are super polite and work fast, keeping the long lines moving efficiently. The coffee menu and the retail bean selection are both impressive. I decided to try a dulce de leche coffee. While I was expecting a strong caramel profile of dulce de leche, the flavor turned out to be fairly subtle rather than prominent. It added a significant sweetness, but without knowing the order beforehand, identifying the exact flavor would have been tough. That said, the coffee itself was still refreshing The high quality of the coffee bean really shone through, delivering a rich aroma and the ideal caffeine kick for a breezy morning. Great coffee beans and fast service make it worth dropping in, even if the indoor seating situation is a bit tight.

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    Found the entrance
    Found the entrance
    Mango raspberry pastry
    Mango raspberry pastry
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    Voltaire Coffee Roasters

    Voltaire Coffee Roasters

    4.3
    (618 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    Cute little spot to grab a delicious coffee. I got their iced Spanish latte and it was the perfect…read morecombination of sweetness and coffee flavor. There's not a lot of seating so I wouldn't recommend going with a big group. However, there are some 1-2 person tables for studying.

    We needed fast breakfast and a pick me up for the last day of Fanime, which is the Memorial Day…read moreMonday, so a lot of other businesses were not open or were not open that early yet, but we saw Voltaire Coffee Roasters on our way to the con. They had some Fanime specials for the con (katsu and egg salad sandwiches, spam musubi), seasonal drinks, of course coffees and teas, and non caffeinated drinks, as well as some food too (heated up pastries, both sweet and savory). There's a restroom with a code and a couple seats and tables with outlets to charge your devices. Service was welcoming and efficient especially after the crowds started to pick up. I got the: 1) Egg Salad Sando: -You can tell these were handmade in store. They had cute washi tape to hold the packaging together. -Solid egg salad sandwich. Slightly sweet white bread and generous amount of egg salad inside the sandwich. Creamy mayo taste that isn't too sour or tart, lots of egg in it. Perfect for an anime con next door. 2) Cappuccino: -I got this no sugar and sugar free and it came out with some pretty latte art. I thought it was mostly ok and boyfriend thought so too, but after several sips and when it was too late since we really had to get to the con, it just became too disgustingly sweet for him and he had to throw it away. 3) Yuzu Fresh Fruit Sparkler: -Yuzu puree with sparkling soda water. -Refreshing and not bad, but even after mixing this was a bit sweeter than what I would have liked and again, in our rush to leave, we couldn't really get this adjusted. I ended up pouring most of it in a water bottle to enjoy later and put in my bag. But ended up not finishing it in the end. Maybe next year I'll try again or just stick to the food stuffs.

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    Iced Casia Latte
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    Nirvana Soul Coffee

    Nirvana Soul Coffee

    4.6
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    Something about this coffee shop chain and branding gets me all excited and giddy inside. I love…read morethe colorful interiors of the shops, creativity and expression just seem to ooze off the walls. They have such creative and yummy sounding drinks i want to try all of them! I got the banana dirty chai latte with oatmilk less sweet and my partner got the golden waffle and americano. The banana dirty chai was yummy and on the sweet side even after less sweet but i still loved it and chugged the whole thing by the end of my drive to Napa. The golden waffle is so fluffy and looks like alot of sugar but brushes off easily and doesnt taste too sweet, kind of like how sugat donuts are. I love the fun vibe inside and this location even has an upstairs people can study or work. Overall love this coffee shop and u should def check it out!!

    My first time in Nirvana Soul coffee place! I really like…read morehow it looks from the outside: giant window, bright colors, outside sitting, and it is quite spacious inside as well. There is a second floor even! It's a lot to choose from specialty lattes and teas selection. The menu has some food options (ex. Waffle, pastries). There is a restroom available, parking in from of the entrance, is there is a garage parking nearby. The ambiance is really cool, they have a piano :) The prices are around average: ~$6-$7 depending on the size (regular or large).

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    Downstairs main floor
    Downstairs main floor
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    1 Oz Coffee

    1 Oz Coffee

    4.3
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    3.4 mi
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    I tried the vanilla been latte, and I'd give it a 9/10. It was really good, but a little on the…read moremilky side. If you prefer a stronger coffee flavor, I'd recommend adding an extra shot of espresso. I also ordered the veggie bagel. My coffee and bagel came to $23 and some change. The café itself is beautiful, especially the outdoor seating area. It's a great place to relax, study, or get some work done. They offer free Wi-Fi and have a restroom available, which is always a plus.

    I love this spot because it's walking distance from my work and most of the year they open up the…read morefront of the shop for a kind of indoor-outdoor vibe. Perfect for warm California days with nearby palm trees and plenty of outdoor seating. My normal go-to is a sparkling iced americano (don't know it until you try it). It's not a terribly uncommon drink but many places won't make it for me. Even though it's not on the menu, the baristas always make it without a fuss and service is usually quick. The espresso is solid. Today I tried the seasonal Melo Belo. It's an iced banana latte with a coconut cream on top. The banana flavor is subtle and not too sweet. That's my preference when I have coffee, but I think most would actually benefit from asking for extra banana syrup. The coconut foam is also subtly sweet, and actually has a slight saltiness that helps the drink feel well-balanced. This drink was definitely a treat. They also have a great selection of pastries that range from standard croissants to less common flavors, like mango and ube. They do tend to sell out throughout the day, so if you want the best selection, come early.

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    Crema Coffee Roasting

    Crema Coffee Roasting

    3.5
    (277 reviews)
    1.5 mi
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    Crema is a staple in midtown San Jose. They used to be located a few blocks further down the…read moreAlameda, but have since expanded to a bigger, more comfortable venue. The coffee and tea is great here! I really enjoy their london fog, and their cold brew is better than average. Ambiance is fantastic for a coffee shop, with lots of seating options (single table, bar stools/counter and communal table seating, low volume music conducive to good conversation. Service is relatively fast to bring out the orders, but is self serve for the most part. Your order is called for you to pick up at the counter and with a self busing area in the back after you are done. Food is hit or miss. The pastries are for the most part good. The breakfast sandwich unfortunately was not so much the case. The eggs inside felt like they had been pre-fried and then microwaved. They were tough and chewy which made the cheese and egg breakfast sandwich inedible. The bagel was good, but the chewy eggs ruined it for me. I would still stop by for a good cup of joe or tea when in the area. It's a great place to meet friends and colleagues for informal work meetings too. Skip on the food menu, focus on the drinks.

    I've been to this coffee shop I have full of times over the years and apparently I've never written…read morea review! Lol oops!! I remember when they had their other coffee shop down the way from the Alameda. I actually like that location better just because it was more of a homey environment, and I love how it was an old Victorian house where you walked up the stairs! So comforting warming feeling! This one looks like it used to be kind of a warehouse with very open spacious areas, but ample area for work if you can do digital work at a coffee house. Lol. The barista is working, seem to do their work rather quickly, but no small talk or anything. Maybe they had a long morning? The whole place was packed with customers hanging out and doing their own digital work as I was picking up 2 cups of coffee and checking out their Pastory scene. I got an ice red velvet latte which I've only seen at Bitter+ Sweet in Cupertino!! I also got a blended iced coffee drink! That was incredibly icy and smooth and totally hit the spot!! I will definitely come back here again since I didn't know they had breakfast options. I literally only came for coffee and a pastry today so I wish I knew about their breakfast beforehand. Lol I always got their coffee and then would go down the street to Cafe Roselinda for delicious breakfast burritos. Lol I love going to small little coffee shops that our family owned just like this one! They totally have a different vibe and I love their community board!! I will definitely be back!!

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    Love how it smells in here!
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    Academic Coffee - bakeries - Updated August 2026

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