Papachay is one of those San Carlos gems you could easily drive right past and never know what…read moreyou're missing. It's a little walk-up coffee shop tucked away on Old County Road, and I love their soy latte. The coffee is incredibly smooth and delicious with no bitter taste, and the beans come straight from their own farms in Peru. The owners, Max and Juliana, are the nicest people. There are always regulars stopping by and catching up, and it feels more like visiting friends than going to a coffee shop. Great empanadas too. Love this place!

Stopped by for a caffeine fix. Line was backed up as there's only the owner preparing orders and a…read morepretty big order was placed. Owner is friendly. He apologized for the wait. Placed an order for a sugar free vanilla latte and beef empanada. Latte - yum! He had to heat up some beef empanada so waited a few minutes. Good aroma and good flavor. Love the chimmichurri. However, it was still cold on the inside. Know it would've been perfect if it was hot.

just got back there the other day... Loving the…read moreFrench/Italian Blend low cafe French/Sumatra

Connoisseur Coffee is a really cool and special place. Fantastic freshly roasted beans that come…read moreout great in any coffee machine. I get the espresso blend whole bean and it comes out smooth and creamy. The workers love their job and talking about coffee.

I've been wanting to go to this place for a while now. Everytime I search for a place with best…read morecoffee near my work, this always pops up. I finally had the pleasure of going here, and it wasn't too busy. The person who took my order was super nice and helpful in narrowing down items to try. Everything here is made to order, so they do recommend using the app. Especially if you are in a hurry. I ordered: 1. Vietnamese coffee with salted cream: Surprisingly, this was a little sweet to me. I do recommend sipping it, instead of drinking it through a straw to get the full flavor. 2. Croffle w/ nutella: This was crispy and chewy. The nutella gave it a messy yumminess 3. Egg, cheese, and bacon croissant: This was delicious and surprisingly it didn't have that greasy oily feeling. It is very hearty. 4. Perfect green smoothie: My co-worker loved this and found it very delicious. Perfect balance of all the items. I look forward to coming back soon and will pre-order next time.

I was apparently in town where my college roommate is now living and working, so of course on my…read morelast day here, a coffee shop was needed for a meet up! Brew Coffee and Bakery was within a nice walking distance from my hotel so I made the short 15 minute trek over. There's a good amount of space inside to sit and enjoy your beverage, but seems like most of the people in the morning was here to grab something to go. We were able to catch up for a good while without feeling like someone needed our table or that we were overstaying our welcome here. I tried the regular size of their Iced Hojicha Latte ($7). Yum. Loved the taste and it was just the right amount of caffeine I needed to start my day of travel and heading home!

My partner and I are always on the hunt for great cafes to get work done, and we recently checked…read moreout this Mexican-inspired spot. The aesthetic is eye catching with vibrant Frida Kahlo murals and a really bright, colorful interior. I tried the tamarind drink with Chamoy, which was absolutely delicious, and my boyfriend really enjoyed his cappuccino; the coffee quality here is definitely good. The drinks are a bit on the pricier side, around $7-$8, which seems pretty standard for the area. This cafe is located close to the Cinemark Century Redwood Downtown 20 and XD movie theater so there's usually a crowd walking around this area and exploring different restaurants. However, our visit was a bit awkward. We arrived around 6:20 pm, thinking they closed at 8 pm, only to find out they close at 7 pm. What was really odd was that most of the chairs and tables were put in a way so you couldn't sit on them, and the girl working there seemed eager to get people out. When we tried to order, the person behind the counter mentioned they weren't making any sandwiches, only drinks. It felt a bit awkward, especially since several other people were turned away even before closing time. While I don't want to blame the cafe entirely, maybe it was just an off night for that staff member, it would be helpful if the closing times were clearer, or if they just put up a sign if they're planning to close early. Despite that, I'm keen to go back and try more of their drinks, hopefully at a time when they're more welcoming!

Anytime I'm in Redwood City, I have to stop here because their avocado toast is easily in my top 3…read more It's fresh, loaded with flavor, and somehow just hits every single time. This visit I also tried the iced Chai Abuelita. It was okay... not bad, but it didn't have me planning my next visit around it. My only complaint is... my wallet cried a little. After tip, a 16 oz drink and avocado toast came out to about $32. I know inflation has everyone in a chokehold, but whew... that's a lot for breakfast. At this rate, the avocado better start paying my bills too. Lol The atmosphere is super cute, the staff has always been friendly, and I'll definitely keep coming back for that avocado toast... just maybe after checking my bank account first.

If you're looking for a coffee experience that brings a wide range of flavors and truly breaks the…read moremold, you have to try River Phin Coffee. I first discovered them at the San Francisco Coffee Festival, and it's been my go-to ever since. The founder, Vy, is an incredible force in the industry--she's a Certified Coffee Quality Grader, one of only 400 in the U.S.! What makes her coffee so unique are the innovative fermentation methods. We're talking next-level stuff, like placing bananas right in the fermentation vat to develop flavors you won't find anywhere else. Here are my top three favorites on my regular order: 1. Diego Bermudez Pistachio Cake: Features pistachio cream, followed by warming notes of cinnamon and cardamom. 2. 96B Project Liberica - Quảng Trị, Vietnam: A rare find that brings the unique flavors of Vietnam to your morning pour-over. 3. Pink Borbon Banana Milk Cake: This is where that innovative banana fermentation really shines. Vy offers a wide range of exotic beans from Vietnam, Thailand, Colombia, and beyond. Support a master of her craft and upgrade your home brewing!

Delicious coffee at Foster City Farmers market! It seems to be available weekly and they a variety…read moreof Fall specialty drinks to choose from! I went with Black Sesame with oatmilk this time- it was so balanced and delicious! Also didnt make my stomach hurt. My partner got the pumpkin spice regular milk- it is made with real pumpkin! And it was also so delicious! The other best seller is Bee Pollen and they have various vietnamese coffees. I love how they have grandma still working in the back. Quality coffee made with love! Def recommend.

A Hidden Gem for Coffee Lovers!…read more We stumbled upon this place while craving coffee after a heavy meal at another restaurant in Palo Alto. Tucked away in a cozy spot, it's accessible through an 'Insta-friendly' walkway between two beautifully painted mural walls--a hidden gem in every sense. At first, I assumed it was one of those trendy spots that people flock to more for the aesthetics than the actual coffee. But I couldn't have been more wrong. Our group ordered a variety of drinks, and everyone loved what they got. The service was friendly and prompt, and to our surprise, there was plenty of seating. While their signature brews feature some unique craft coffee blends, I went with a classic cappuccino--and it did not disappoint. Bold, flavorful, and beautifully presented, it was everything I hoped for. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area!

- 4.6: Jordanian pancakes; these are a great accompaniment to the soft-serve. They are Just thick…read moreenough and spongy enough to hold the soft serve. - 4.0: Oat Rose soft serve: Available daily 10am-2pm. Oat milk, vanilla, cardamom, rose water, sea salt. Sprinkled with pistachio. Waaaaay too expensive at $8. It's the most overpriced soft-serve in the history of soft-serve. Also: The flavor is very muted. But it goes great with the Jordanian pancakes. - 4.0: espresso shot. A respectable Italian style shot with structure. But very sour. - 2.5: Dessert rose latte. Flavor is too muted.

This cafe is located at a very nice hotel. We were welcomed by the hotel staff who kindly pointed…read moreus in the direction of the cafe. The cafe has no indoor seating which we didn't mind because it was a beautiful morning. I got a decaf latte and one of their savory croissants(I think it was spinach feta?). My husband got a cappuccino and an almond croissant. While waiting for the coffee I also got the mango chia pudding because they were just calling my name from their little fridge shelf. The coffee was great. It tasted nostalgic for some reason. It kinda of tasted like Ritual to me. I finished half the croissant and finished the chia pudding(it was so good!). We loved sitting outside and enjoying our coffee. It was a great experience. We noticed they had a cute gelato cart right outside the cafe. Maybe we'll come back and try it :)

This is located at the Rosewood Sandhill resort…read more It's high class everything over here! We had a lovely experience here while on our way to Santa Clara. Not far from the freeway. Lots of parking. No tables inside but lots of outdoor tables. Nice staff. Good coffee! We shared a sandwich and a pistachio pastry. It was all yummy. Aesthetically very chic!! I'll be back!

I will always attribute ZombieRunner with my very first experience with good coffee.. Many years…read moreago, when ZombieRunner Coffee was nothing more than a little booth in the corner of the ZombieRunner store when they sold shoes.. (SO LONG AGO!! If I were to actually guess.. it would've been around 2010..) I went up to that booth.. a little curious on their selection of various coffee beans.. Talking to the barista, I vividly remember talking to him about coffee and ended up ordering a Guademalan pour over. Known for its dark chocolatey notes, He suggested that I made sure to try it as it was after he was finished. Specifically told me to try it before adding any sugar or cream to it. Coming from crappy coffee that you had to add sugar and cream to to make it palatteable, I took my very first sip of that Guatamalan straight black and instantly had my mind blown. I got it immediately... That was the day I understood that there was coffee out there in the world that didn't need anything and could be enjoyed as is.. Out of curiosity, a friend ended up adding sugar to their drink, and ya... it ended up making it taste worse.. Fast forward to the other day when I came back to ZombieRunner for the first time post shoes going away.. While I will remember ZombieRunner for its former selection of athletic shoes and equipment, I am so grateful that their coffee continues on. I ordered their Zombie Proof coffee and while there were certainly other things added to the drink, the flavor of the India Mysore beans that they use primarily in the store shines thru. Clean, smooth, with hints of natural sweetness that made me remember of those times. ZombieRunner knows coffee.. and I thank them for opening up a new world for me.

Overall: 3.5 Coffee drink: 4…read more Ambience: 3 Service: 2.5 Zombie Runner has quite the following and while I tend to stick with espresso, I have had a few of their drinks over the years and today I had the the golden zombie. The interior is modern and lax any personality, but they do have a good selection of packaged chocolates and treats. There is ample seating outside and even more along California street. The drink is sweet balance with a turmeric, a bit too sweet for my taste but then again I don't do coffee drinks. It's over 90° outside right now and I didn't want to get a soda anywhere. I offered a smile in a greeting to the person behind the counter, but it must not have been their day because they had even less personality than the interior. My drink is made with cold brew so it came out pretty quickly. No thank you, enjoy your drink, or anything else when the drink came. Mind you there were no other customers behind me at this time. I think every business can grow a bit if they focus on positive customer relationships, especially when the investment of a smile or a hello is less than three seconds and can go a long way.