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    Academic Coffee

    4.2 (346 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Academic Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    ACADEMIC COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Academic Coffee

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    Banana Cream Matcha, Guava Matcha, Banana Cream Latte
    Leah Y.

    I really liked this cafe! They have a small, but well crafted and unique drink menu. I love the fun drinks they have available! I tried the guava matcha and it was really good! The matcha on its own was slightly grassy for my taste, but mixed with the guava cream was really delicious. The flavor came through really well and was perfectly sweet. So far this is one of my favorite matchas in San Jose. They don't really have a food menu here, but there are some pastries that look pretty good. I can't vouch for how they taste however. The drinks came out super quickly and the servers were really sweet! I also really liked how we could take the drinks outside to the large seating area and enjoy the drinks, but there is also some indoor seating. Parking might be a little annoying but there are some spots out front of this location. Overall I really liked this spot and I definitely want to come back to try some of their other unique drinks!

    Brenda L.

    I've been wanting to try Academic for the longest time but always found myself delaying my visit because of the comments I've heard about their parking lot lol. (They were right... the parking lot does suck!) If you're lucky enough to come at a quieter time and are able to snag a spot, I definitely think it'd be worth the visit! I ordered the guava matcha. As someone who isn't necessarily the biggest fan of matcha, I actually thought the drink was solid. The matcha had a lot of depth and the guava flavor was STRONG. My drink came out only a few minutes after I ordered; they're super quick to make drinks here, which is appreciated! They have a few seats inside the cafe and some outdoor seating if you plan on staying and hanging out. It is quite expensive here though - my matcha ended up being closer to $10. Not sure if I'd go out of my way to come again given how busy it typically gets but was definitely worth a try!

    Banana matcha and guava matcha
    Clare K.

    I've heard my friends raving about the Banana Matcha for a minute, so we decided to try! We went to their second location? Huge plus that it's right next to the park. It was super convenient if you're out walking your dogs like we were. I'm usually a fan of their Pandan, but I think I have a new favorite. The banana cream and Guava cream paired with matcha is a total game changer. You can tell they aren't using cheap ingredients; the matcha is high quality and the cream is actually thick and rich (hopefully its from real fruits haha) which makes such a difference for a latte. It's definitely on the pricier side( about $9 per drink if you want to substitute with other milk), but for the quality and the vibes, it's 100% worth it. Service was fast and great! Plenty seating indoor and outdoor but parking spaces were limited.

    Annie Y.

    There's a small parking lot in the back; otherwise, you can find street parking about a block away and walk a few minutes. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the Piloncillo Latte, and it was rich, creamy, and good. Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Small parking lot in the back - Indoor and outdoor seating available - Accept Apple Pay

    Melissa G.

    Their pistachio specials from the last couple months were very good. However, it appears they've moved into guava season. I like this coffee shop, I've been coming here and especially the San Jose location for a long time. I appreciate consistency in my coffee shops and to be honest, academic seems to be losing the plot. Today I ordered one basic drink and one specialty- a vanilla latte and the guava matcha drink; both were just mid. The guava matcha is beautiful aesthetically, but the guava was way too overpowering, you couldn't taste the matcha. Also no oven to heat up the pastries. I still like their alum rock beans and purchase them regularly. They used to give you a drip coffee or espresso shot with purchase but I guess not anymore. Overall this spot appears to be leaning towards style over substance, but I hope they don't go that route. This review is a 3.5 but I rounded up because of the pistacho specials from the last couple months were very good.

    Banana matcha
    Maddie W.

    When I think of academic, the one drink that's unbeatable is their banana matcha. I keep ordering it at other coffeeshops hoping for a similar one, but it's not the same!! The banana flavor truly shines and everyone I've brought here loves it and is converted. It really does taste like a banana cream pie and matcha in the best way possible. Their pandan latte is also solid! I've yet to explore more of their drinks, but heard good things about their seasonal red bean latte. Their double chocolate chip cookie is to die for. Truly such a wonderful spot!! It's a smaller space, but there's decent amount of outdoor seating. Parking is meh, it's mostly street parking and very limited spots behind the building. The driveway feels illegal with how steep it is. Be careful if your car is low!

    Banana Matcha & Strawberry Matcha
    Andre M.

    Academic has been in my coffee/matcha rotation for a while now and does not disappoint. Between their coffee or matcha, both are a great choice at either location. Service is always very kind, and I would say that this location is more for socializing than studying.

    Double Matcha Latte & Hojicha Latte
    Kiana L.

    Went to Academic Coffee to celebrate our birthday morning since it's one of my cousin's favorite matcha spots, and honestly, it made for the perfect start to the day. The café itself is small but clean, with a simple and relaxed vibe. The staff seemed really nice, which made the experience feel easy and welcoming. We ordered the double matcha latte and a hojicha latte, and I can definitely see why this is one of my cousin's favorite spots. The matcha was strong, smooth, and well balanced, especially with the double scoop, giving it a richer flavor without being too bitter. The hojicha latte had a nice roasted, nutty taste that felt really comforting and not overly sweet. It's one of those places where you can tell they care about the quality of the tea, and it really shows in the drinks. Overall, it was a great way to start our birthday, and I'd definitely come back again for a solid matcha fix.

    Eva C.

    Love! Their parking lot is very small and usually full so parking is a bit difficult. I've tried their guava cream matcha, banana cream matcha, and hojicha. I personally am a fan of guava so I really enjoyed the guava cream flavor. Their banana cream is also very well made it had a strong flavor that paired well with the matcha without it tasting artificial. They have some seatings both inside and outside, which was really nice.

    Jason Q.

    Drinks were amazing, I only tried the banana matcha, but it was easily one of the best matcha I've had this year. Super smooth, rich, and not overly sweet. Service was friendly and quick, and the staff made the experience even better. The ambiance had a clean, modern vibe with a nice downtown feel, making it a great spot to relax. Prices felt fair for the quality you're getting. Stopped by Academic Coffee in downtown San Jose and it definitely lived up to the hype. Will definitely be back. 5/5 stars from me.

    Pandan Latte
    Anh T.

    I visited Academic Coffee for the first time with a couple of friends. Finding parking was difficult in the area. I didn't wait too long to try their pandan latte with oat milk, and it was excellent! I wish that the pandan flavor came through a bit more strongly, but it was still sweet enough and balanced well with the espresso taste. The oat milk also added a nice creaminess without overpowering the drink. The drink was unique and stronger in coffee flavor. The area itself is cute, with seating available to work at or hang out with friends.

    banana matcha (left), vanilla latte (right)
    emily d.

    Used to be an absolute favorite and go to for the easy parking, great drinks, and proximity, but slowly have been trying other spots. I have always loved the banana matcha along with their seasonal drinks like the melon matcha or double matcha, but have felt like the coffee quality and dial can be inconsistent occasionally making the coffee sour. Understandably with the increase of demand the price has also gone up for the matcha to maintain quality, but because of that I have also started looking elsewhere. But I also have always appreciated how sweet and kind the staff is, always a wonderful interaction at the counter! I usually park the street over or around and walk through the community garden or apartments to reach Academic, but usually the parking lot itself is pretty full.

    Strawberry matcha and banana matcha latte
    Grace P.

    Absolutely obsessed with their banana matcha. Their banana cream is heavenly. Perfectly sweet and creamy enough to mix with the drink to sip on. Parking is kind of tricky here. There's like 7-8 parking spots in the lot, but the sign says you can only park for 30 minutes. I recommend parking on the street or across the street at bank of america.

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    Academic Coffee Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Academic Coffee

    What's the phone numbers of the SJ & Santa Clara Coffee shops? Also, where exactly (land mark) is the Santa Clara shop next to? We had a hard time finding it, & despite Gps,…

    Hi Shirl! I'm not sure what the phone number is to this Santa Clara location but I can tell you that it's located on the same side of the old strip mall that has the Shoe Cobbler in the corner located on Dorcich Street. It's just a little further… Read more

    Are they still serving guava matcha latte?

    Yes we are still serving it!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Amazing coffee place! The espresso was smooth and perfectly balanced (not bitter or acidic). Plus…read morethe flavor syrups are perfectly balanced in the latte. I tried the Honey Black Sesame Latte, and while I wasn't sure I would like it, I ended up loving it! The flavor was super delicious, and went really well with the espresso flavor. We also ordered the avocado toast which is made on a Japanese milk bread slice. The seasoning toppings were super interesting and yummy, just maybe would have liked a bit more of the toppings personally. I really liked the larger menu of super unique drinks and definitely will be coming back to try a couple more that caught my eye! People are super nice and even though it's busy (for a good reason) there is plenty of parking and places to sit indoors and some outdoors.

    I was craving an affogato on a rainy day and Coffee & Water Lab totally hit the spot. The place is…read morereally cute -- I walked in to a lot of people on their laptops, so it definitely has that cozy work-friendly cafe vibe. The drink itself was great! My only complaint is that it came in a very small cup. The price is pretty standard for the Bay Area, but for the size, I was a little disappointed in the value. When you're craving an affogato, you want more than a few spoonfuls! Small cup aside, the quality was there. Perfect rainy day spot.

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    Cafe Big Mug

    Cafe Big Mug

    3.9
    (251 reviews)
    1.0 mi
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    Came here as a result of my regular place in Santa Clara being closed. There was a decent amount of…read moreparking (though it was quite early in the morning so that might be affecting it) and the space inside is relatively big with a lot of seating. There is a kiosk for ordering, as well as paper menus on display for you to look at, topped off with what appears to be a photobooth on the side that you can take pictures inside of for fun. I decided to get the Lavendula Latte, which the barista delivered to my table. I had forgotten to adjust the sweetness (though thinking now I can't remember if there was an option for that) but the drink had a nice balance of sweetness. Only complaint I have is that the menus lacks photos (not sure if it's lag or if there genuinely are no photos), but I'd say that the drink looks okay. You also have to use McDonalds wifi if you want to do work here, but the wifi's free and seems to be working fine so I'm not sure if that's really a negative. Overall, a nice place to work at with friendly service. I might consider coming back here again if I happen to end up in the area.

    Stopped by here with two friends while we were waiting for our table at a brunch spot down the…read morestreet. I was surprised to see Big Mug as I didn't know they had other locations besides the one in the plaza near El Camino Real. There was plenty of seating available. The service was quick and friendly, and the environment was cozy for the rainy day. The space is clean. There are cute items sold in the front near the cash register from local vendors. We got two tiramisu lattes. I liked how they weren't that sweet. It felt like a nice treat that didn't weigh me down. It was a good coffee run to have before eating brunch. I liked how the menu is extensive and there is something for just about anybody. We saw a photo booth inside, but didn't use it. Overall, I think this location is tranquil compared to the other Big Mug, and their offerings are hard to beat in terms of variety. I recommend going here for your caffeine fix!

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    Big Mug Coffee Roaster

    Big Mug Coffee Roaster

    3.9
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    Coffee is good, atmosphere is versatile (work, chat, lounge, etc..), plenty seating, did I mention…read moregreat options on the menu? Staff are very kind. Place is clean. The only critique I have is the music being way too loud at times. It's NOT what type of music is playing, but purely the volume. When it's loud, people talk louder and it can occasionally be a little too loud to focus without headphones. Otherwise, I think I've found my new fav local coffee shop!

    I popped by Big Mug Coffee after work to study; parking isn't too bad, though it shares a parking…read morelot with a slew of other businesses (mostly eateries). It wasn't crazy busy so it was easy to order through one of their two tablets and find a spot to sit. It is very spacious and filled with many tables, so even when busy you'll likely be able to find a spot. The menu is a bit messy to look at--there is a big menu hanging over the kiosks, another posted alongside where a line is formed, then the menu on the tablet kiosks themselves. It's a pretty big menu featuring primarily coffee-based drinks, matcha lattes, and a wide variety of food, so you'll likely find something appealing. I ordered their smoked salmon bagel (which rang up to about $16) and their matcha latte ($8); to be honest, neither were outstanding. The salmon and avocado in the bagel were great, but the bagel itself was a bit stale--for $16, it's a bit hard to swallow. The matcha was very milky, and there is another store offering better matcha drinks in the same plaza. I'll admit, though, it's a little on me for not picking coffee at a spot with "coffee" in the name. I will say, though, that the atmosphere in the main area is pretty good; the decor is understated but comfortable, and the lighting is good. The service is also solid--the servers are friendly and our order came out quickly. I will say that the bathroom feels ominous. Overall, it's a great spot to study; Big Mug is open late, has free Wi-Fi and a bathroom for customers, and offers both food and caffeinated drinks for longer study sessions. I feel that the prices vary widely for items but skew towards being too pricy for the quality, at least from my limited experience. I plan on coming back to give other items a try, but for now, it's not a favorite.

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    Macchiato
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    Croissante

    Croissante

    4.1
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    2.4 mi
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    You are getting to go to the left. Super easy to see which way you should go because your eyes are…read moreimmediately drawn to all the pastries. Beautiful, flaky, sweet and savory; there are so many delicious options. Gourmet pastries with gourmet coffee equals perfection. Best way to start the morning. I love that. You can actually see them fresh baking pastries while you're sitting. We didn't go overly sweet because it was the morning, but I would love to come back in the afternoon to have a nice sweet treat and a cappuccino. For my family of three we definitely got over excited in order too much, but each bite was delicious. We got a leek quiche, a banana latte, spinach, artichoke danish, mango croissant, almond croissant, and a ham and cheese croissant. I was trying to increase the protein to not spike my blood sugar. Lol. I'd have to say the mango and the almond croissant were probably my favorite. The strong second would definitely be the artichoke and spinach croissant danish thing. Sorry, I forgot what they called it. They offered to heat it up a bit and I definitely recommend this. They did the perfect temperature for the perfect timing. Just enough to make the outside flaky and the inside warm and soft. The pieces that had cheeses were so much better warmed up. They definitely know what they're doing there. Seating was great. I'd love the decor. You can also order off of a menu, but we were too enamored with the actual pastries to even glance at it. I took photos but made sure to not take photos of the staff. I let the staff know that I wouldn't include their faces without their permission. they were very friendly and very appreciative. My family loved your little shop and we will definitely be back when we're in the area.

    This place is dangerous! The food isn't cheap, but the pastries are truly some of the best things…read moreI've ever eaten. I've visited several times for brunch with friends, and my recommendation is to come early as the line can reach out the door and down the sidewalk. At the same time, I give a lot of credit to the staff who are always friendly and helpful with indecisive patrons who are always asking questions and unsure of what to get. Somehow, they keep the lines moving at a good clip. The inside has lots of seating but it fills up fast. And it gets pretty loud. There isn't really anyone cleaning up the tables as it is self busing so it can get a bit crazy and messy by midday. Somehow, I keep coming back to drop $60-80 at a time everytime I visit.

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    Academic Coffee

    Academic Coffee

    4.4
    (1k reviews)
    3.7 mi
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    Omg!!! I this this place outdid some of my favorite matcha places. I went in not expecting too much…read morebut was SO SO satisfied. My friend and I ordered the guava matcha (with cream) and strawberry matcha and both the drinks were delicious. Most places I do to I usually like only 1 drinks and not both that I get but both of them were extremely delicious. For the guava matcha, I was slightly disappointed and taken aback that they charge more for the guava cream but usually most places include it in the drink already but I def recommend getting it. It is definitely on the pricier side with my drink being close to $10 but it's sooo worth the try. The cream was so thick and creamy and their matcha is incredibly smooth. My friend got the strawberry matcha and that was so flavorful as well. Most times when I order starberry matcha the flavor is bland but hers was reallly good. It was a little hard to sip it through the straw though because of the syrup. The server there was extremely sweet as well. I didn't catch her name but I think she had an eyebrow piercing (?? Maybe??) but she was extremely helpful and made conversation. Loved the customer service. I also saw the workers who were making my drink take their time and care with it and measure everything properly with scales and everything which was great to see. And it's a cute small spot there which was so pretty. I RECOMMEND I need to go again once I get my money up tho

    Came around 8:30 am on a weekday and it wasn't too busy. Service was friendly and pretty quick…read more -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

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    Banana Matcha Latte

    Academic Coffee - coffee - Updated July 2026

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