Holy crap this place was awesome! Quick drive through was easy. If someone took too long they run out to take orders behind that person in line. Patrick was funny, fast, engaging, accurate and personal. Get a coffee and a smile here! read more

Java detour is one of those coffee drive thru spots that is always good, reliable, and quick. I haven't ever ordered just a plain cup of coffee so I can't say how their actual coffee is, but they are great for a vanilla latte or something sweet and blended. They have fun, seasonal syrups and their employees are quick and pleasant. read more

Even though this use to be one of my favorite coffee stops, this was the first time I've revisited in quite sometime. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. They wouldn't take my Java Detour gift card, purchased from this location. They told me they where under new ownership so, I guess I'm just out this money!?! If that wasn't bad enough, my breakfast sandwich tasted like it just came out of the microwave. So disappointing, I use to love this place. read more

We love their drinks. We enjoy treating ourselves to a yummy and creative drink at java detour. Their smoothies are tasty. Pretty much anything you get is good. We have never been disappointed. read more

Java Detour - Our treat after a day exploring Marine Headlands. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

I had heard about this nice coffee spot in San Rafael from a friend of mine. I usually get a "blended drink" when I stop by there. The "Snickerdoodle Latte" is my favorite, though I definitely need to try out some of the other flavors too. Every time I've stop by here service has always being friendly and quick. (Thanks Kyt) I like how it's located near the 101 South freeway entrance, this is very convenient for someone who frequently drives between San Anselmo and San Francisco. read more

I have mixed feelings about Java Detour. The one thing it has going for it is the location. The coffee is pretty good, but not great. That can be said for everything at this location, good not great. The people are semi nice but the service is super slow. It becomes a waste of gas to idle while waiting for a cup of tea or coffee. The Hut is conveniently located but the quality of goods is inconsistent. The food is high fat, high carb and high sugar. read more

It's going so downhill. When you show up at the "other" window they ignore you for way too long then no service with a smile like the old days. The cappuccinos that used to be strong (the way they are supposed to be made) are too milky, and the foam is not properly steamed. There was a lovely woman who was also a manager for years, big smile and tons of braids, I feel like ever since she left the place has lost its mojo. Too bad since it's the only drive through choice besides the canal and mill valley. I went today and the two workers seemed frenzied out of their mind stressed and there were only a few cars. read more

Great tasting coffee and friendly staff, they always have my order placed before I get to the window because they recognize my car. It gets really busy in the morning and they're not the fastest place to get a coffee, but its worth the wait if you have time. read more

I agree with a previous comment. Staff is not directly rude but, service is as if they do not want to be there. Complaints about customers right in front of us. Coffee is alright. Have had better but, drinkable. read more

I wish Marin took Seattle's cue and peppered the streets with little drive thru coffee shops! This is definitely a step in the right direction - at least for coffee addicts such as myself. Despite my usual aversion to sweet drinks, I had to try the Vietnamese coffee. I recommend it with less condensed milk and no vanilla for a more normal (and less fattening) experience. Their cappuccino was okay but I believe it may have been a tad bit over roasted. I would definitely try it again though. We drove by with a pup in our car and they gave us a doggy treat. Awww, I just love it when businesses do that kinda thing. read more

What can I say, I'm a sucker for drive-thru spots in Marin County. They toast the breakfast sandwiches and I get to pick what I want. Reasonable prices and quick and efficient staff. This place never gets old. Tea is good and Green tea cold blended drink is amazing. Can tell the whip cream is fresh and homemade, from someone's home nearby anyway. Love this place and come here often. When stopping by, the earlier the better. Around 7 to 7:15am Monday through Friday, it gets full with about 5 to 10 cars around the tiny little building. read more

I LOVE Java Detour I go here almost every day before work. The people are very sweet and they always give my dog a cookie (I think my dog may love this place more than I do!) Whats best is that their coffee actually tastes like coffee, not like sweetened milk which is what Starbucks usually offers. Prices are reasonable, the service is always fast and when there is a long line, they come take your order at your car window so that when its time to pay your drink is ready for you. Extremely tasty, and good in a time crunch too! I definitely recommend coming here and will continue to come in the future. read more

Never disappointed! Great coffees and smoothies. They're also very speedy. Bonus happy star for a couple treats for my dog co-pilots. read more

Java Detour - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

I have been going here for a long time with great satisfaction until tonight! I was getting off work about 9 pm so knew I couldn't get a coffee so at 8:30 dropped my son off to get a coffee for me and told him I would pick him up. I finished work and went to pick him up looking so forward to my large caramel latte. The girl wouldn't make his order because he walked up to the window!!! Number 1: I have seen people, including myself, walk up and order drinks!! Number 2: this is Marin county and chances are you will be safe! Number 3: if you're that scared don't be working at night! Number 4: You lost a good customer! read more

I love this place now!! They finally got some baristas working there that know what customer service is!! Charlotte is the best!! So happy to have her join the team there!! read more

My only complaint is that there are too many choices. Always quick and friendly service. Location is difficult to get to from some parts of downtown but easy from coming down 2nd St. read more

The Bottom Line: This place rules in terms of service. The coffee is good and they offer other types of drinks, and sandwiches on the go! Highly Recommended in a Hurry. The Service: These people are great, friendly and fast. Their job is to get you your morning fix in a hurry and they do it well. They have always been polite \ The Coffee: Pretty good, I usually order the house blend(organic) or the French roast, it gets the job done for me read more

I love Java Detour! One of the only drive-thrus in Marin County, but so needed and appreciated. Sometimes you don't have time to park and get out of your car, and this place helps this issue. I've tried their iced nonfat latte which was good and basic, but the star of the show is their Vietnamese iced coffee! It was perfectly lightly sweetened with sweetened condensed milk, and the coffee was still strong enough where you could taste the flavor..yum. I plan to try this place more as they have many delicious options. read more

If I was independently wealthy or had money coming out my ears, I would eat here every morning. As it is, I am not wealthy however find myself drawn like a moth to a flame made of overpriced coffee to this place. In no way could i ever be considered a coffee snob, since i don't drink anything that tastes like coffee. Instead, i prefer my coffee sweet with various candy bars or syrups added to it, making more of a super charged milkshake than anything else. And here, java detour shines. Their oreo cookie latte is amazing. however since i'm trying to cut corners on calories these days, a nice black and white mocha with fat free milk is admittedly still bad, but hits the sweet spot perfectly in the morning. also, their lowfat muffins blueberry muffins are delish-and i usually hate blueberry muffins! but these are great and usually provide a perfect start to the a.m. commute. read more

I have been going to this drive-through for years and they are consistently the best customer service. The barista never have an attitude no matter what is going on. They are always upbeat and cheerful and kind. Even if the drinks sucked, which they don't, I would still come here. They get my decaf iced sugar-free caramel mocha correct 99 times out of 100. read more

Java Detour - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

Another place I don't really ever mean to go to, it just happens. Back when I got coffee before work, they were fast. And now, when I need to grab something on my way somewhere-- you guessed it: fast. read more

I hit this place when I need a pick up before heading to work- which means I'm heading through a few times a week. The drive through model makes it quick and the staff at this place are on their toes! They are pretty quick during the morning rush hour, even running out to your car if there is a line just to expedite your order. The coffee is strong (large iced coffee is $2.95) and their pastry selection (~$2) is also fun- good muffins, apple fritters and scones. read more

Hit & miss spot. Been coming here for years now & I use to purchase my favorite drink 3-4 times a week, I eventually cut it down since most of the time they just couldn't get my drink done right. Yesterday afternoon as I decided to get a drink, (service was good) my drink had no flavor, TEA LATE was just hot water- SMH! Didn't even bother returning as I had a long drive ahead. I can say there are 2 guys who have been there the longest & they always make my drink correct. Sucks to say but I might just give up on this place. PLEASE TRAIN YOUR NEW EMPLOYEES RIGHT & REGULARS WILL CONTINUE TO RETURN! Good luck JAVA! UPDATE: I've given them a chance again! I am happy to say that they are preparing my drink the way I like it. Some of the new staff have learned how to make my drink, thanks to the 2 gentleman that have been their for a while now. I have to say that I can't fully give them a 5 star because of the roundness of a staff member. I've ordered with her twice now & she always has a "WTF" look on her face when I order my drink. I try to explain to her what it is & she gets annoyed (lady in her mid 30'a probably). She'll have me repeat it, look at her screen and close the window to ask other coworkers with a annoyed look then charges me. read more

Their coffee ROCKS! Granted I'm one of those foofy drink lovers, but this place has great coffee no matter how you take it! Never burnt or bitter, always hits the spot. Their service is quick and accurate. They are within 2 miles of my work, so I go there often and they keep me on time. I wish they would open one in the east bay so I could go there on weekends! read more

This cute and convenient drive-thru coffee shop has been to my to go place every day since I started my new job. Despite of its central location and non-stop customers, this Java Detour delivers consistently fast and superb service. I love it that the baristas actually remember my order now! Please keep warm in this cold weather, and thank you very much!! read more

A really large menu so everyone can find something they like. Really good breakfast sandwiches as well! Breakfast only served in the morning though instead of all day - just a heads up. Delicious drinks and good customer service. Wish they had another quick drive-thru Java Detour in south Marin! Give it a try if you're in San Rafael read more

I love how this place is a drive thru along with a pick up window that people can walk up to. It's ingenious design allows customers to swing by for a quick coffee without deterring them from whichever direction they plan on heading to. read more

The coffee is fine but the service is TERRIBLE. The SLOWEST drive thru, and I've tried it at a few different times of day and it's a good half hour wait. Good if you are trying to kill time I guess ... not during morning commute or when you're trying to be somewhere. read more

I have been coming here for years. I literally stop her 3x per week and get nothing but the bacon egg and cheese croissant. The last 2 months I have noticed the size of my croissants getting smaller and smaller. When I bring it to their attention they have no explanation and refer me to the manger, which never seems to be available. I have left multiple messages for him, the manager, and have yet to receive a call back. As a customer who visits this establishment frequently, it is very disappointing to not receive what you have been accustom to for so many years, even after price increases. The least you could do is have a explanation for paying customers that notice the change. read more

Regular customer.because the convenience of it is amazing, food and coffee are okay. The service depending on time and day determines how quickly you wait, I haven't waited more than a few minutes to take my order and receive it. read more

Thank you for burning the living hell out of our breakfast. We are regular customers and the level of service has been on a decline for a while now. read more

Java Detour - Who doesn't love a burnt breakfast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I've used both drive thru and walk up. Truth told... walk up is faster. But the service is the same. The drinks are standard, but thankfully I can grade on a coffee basis. Coffee is pretty great. Everything else offered is your average, basic syrup, flavored milk and about 75mg of espresso. There is nothing unique about this location except it's convenient location. A small cup of coffee is about 300mg depending on ounces. Just sayin. read more

If you asked me a month ago, I'd given this place 5 stars. It was convenient, on my way to Berkeley, had so many drinks to chose from at fair prices, and normally good service. I'd often use the student discount and prepaid gift cards to get a free drink. However, the last few interactions have tainted my view of this establishment. In the last 4-5 visits, my orders have been jumbled, they don't have the nutritional information on request as advertised after multiple visits and reques, and the service lackluster. I arrived at 1:01 PM today after waiting in terrible detour traffic, and 1 PM is the cut off for bagel roasting and cream cheese. I asked for it, as it was something I was craving, and explained I was only a minute late, but the server said sorry we can't do that after acknowledging the cut off. Then she closed the window on my face. I'll exhaust the rest of my gift card at some other time and use another more flexible and friendly establishment. read more

I've been coming here every Saturday for a couple years, mostly for the convenience. Happy customer I suppose. Today after ordering $12 of drinks I asked for an extra cup so my kids could share a drink. 75c. On what planet is that reasonable? You're gonna gouge a good customer, this customer is going elsewhere. read more

This is probably the best coffee I've ever had. I love that they have unique signature drinks (that you probably won't see elsewhere). I recently ordered the creme brûlée blended latte and it was so much tastier than it seemed like it would be. The staff is also nice and friendly and they really take their time to make the drinks as well. I like that it's a drive thru shop on both sides so it's easier for cars to hop in line on either sides. The hours are really good too so that you can have their coffee to wake you up early in the morning or if you need a drink to help you stay awake for a long drive in the middle of the night, since it's conveniently right off the freeway too. I can't wait to try something new for the next time! read more

Java detour needs to have the employees wear masks and also they're handling money and cups without any gloves or any sanitation

DO NOT APPLY HERE OR CONSUME ANYTHING FROM THIS DRIVE THROUGH!! I was just hired and they immediately fired me for my "poor work performance" which was using the bathroom too many times and for apparently "not picking up the demands" in the TWO DAYS I had to work here! The poor leadership executed by the "boss" completely shocked me and was a serious waste of my time. They didn't bother to tell me not to come in although they knew they were going to fire me the day before. They gave me no room to grow or understand how the establishment works, and being trained by the girl who runs the place, Melissa, she just came onto her shift and started immediately snapping at me with absolutely no consideration or kindness. They never gave me any time or room to correct my mistakes, and they never brought it to my attention about what I was doing wrong. So in the 2 days I was employed, I made a few mistakes, and never knew it was a problem let alone given the opportunity to correct it. It's unfair, biased, judgemental and discriminatory. This place runs based on speed, not quality. They really make that apparent with the food that's served or how the leadership goes. They microwave the premade food given to you, the state of the shack (or should I say prison cell) is DISGUSTING with the floor covered in lids, old receipts, coffee sleeves, sloppy sugar packets, garbage thrown on the ground where the trash can should have been and nobody caring to pick it up, and an overall disarray of items strewn about the place! They don't make the pastries or breads or wraps, it's similar to McDonalds in quality with questionable boxed yellow tinted liquid (the "eggs") poured into cheap plastic containers that's then microwaved on bread thrown into the toaster bare handed. Nobody washes their hands after dealing with raw meat, money, or any of the food. Everybody is yelling at each other, the cashiers to the baristas, and if they don't hear it it's on you. I made the mistake of being responsible for the till while using Melissa's account in the POS system when I didn't have my own, and she messed up a customers order by overcharging them, and by the end of the day when I had to count everything and was short because she didn't void it correctly, I got yelled at by the other seriously rude employee (and sloppy barista, seriously watch out for his food handling and customer service, he just yells from the door to the customer instead of walking to you or actually approaching you civilly), and was told to just go home because he had to fix it himself. If you come here, know that the employees make fun of the customers as soon as the drive up window slams shut. EVERY REGULAR CUSTOMER!! They have a joke or a jab for every regular and it's really sad because the regulars are so so nice and they just talk s**t. Know that you're a joke to them and that the group of people who have worked there for a long time are very very exclusive and sharp tongued. They're quick to judge and don't give a damn about what you have to bring or offer, they don't let you adapt or incorporate your skillset and play off of it to more efficiently get the job done. The most ironic thing is I was hired and they told me they run through people constantly and they can't find anybody who stays longterm. I asked around and was told because of how stressful it is but truth be told they just fire people. It's a sick and sad place to work, whether it be how gross the food is and the fact you have to represent that, or how sucky the team of people working together is and how quick they are to overwork you in a disorganized and chaotic environment. They're looking to use people and it's just a lose-lose esituation entirely. (For 11 an hour, I can get my ass chewed out and get overworked in a much, much better place) read more

I agree with the comments. Good coffee, accessible ( except rush hour ) but service sucks. My experience is with a certain girl that works there usually on closing shifts. She messes up my order most of the time, she's slow and I'm not going to say rude, but she has a little attitude. I usually let little mistakes pass but not this time. This time involved my son. I was there last night, 7/27/16, Wednesday at 8:20 PM, figured me and the kids could use some coffee& hot chocolate on our way to Mariposa ( 4 hr drive from Novato ). This is after working a full day shift and feeding the kids. So, a little good customer service like a SMILE would be nice. Anyways, #1. she almost burned my son's throat, eventhough i did say KID'S HOT CHOCOLATE, pls add ice. #2. Instead of blended green tee, she gave me iced And told me it was my mistake. So I said " it's ok, just make me a new one". #3. After charging me for the iced green tea, which was her mistake, she charges me AGAIN for the blended green tea. ( do they ever give a receipt? Never got any ) I mean, WTF?!? I work in retail and I would never charge my customers for my own mistake, even if it has to come from my own pocket, so be it. But seriously, TRAIN YOUR PEOPLE! She seriously needs to learn how to handle customers and how to react to situations like these. SERIOUSLY!!! read more

Ok, So I am not a big fan of chains and that's a big one for me.. I love good coffee as it is something that sets your day either right or wrong. I know how Java detour in San Francisco makes coffee and I love their (Java Detour in San Francisco) White Mocha and Double Espresso, but once in a blue moon me and my boyfriend are going to Lucas Valley to eat some oysters at the Hog Island oyster farm, during this morning trip we are in desperate need of good coffee and Java Detour in San Rafael can NEVER get it right, and I mean NEVER. It's been happening many times and all the time we're sent off with a drink that tastes like s__it .. So big NO NO.... read more

Great drive through coffee with fantastic employees! I grab a coffee here a few times a week on my way to work a few times a week and have been for years; I truly love this place. Everyone is always *so* nice! Frequently they remember my order (large iced coffee or a large drip coffee) and even when they're extra busy, they'll let you know it'll be a moment and always make sure you're not stuck in line waiting for 10 minutes like some other slower morning coffee places (cough Starbucks cough). Their breakfast sandwiches are delicious (Fresh cheese, egg and ham on a bagel for $2.99? Yum!) and made right there while you wait and their prices are reasonable. This is my go-to spot for my morning rocket fuel and I'm so happy Java Detour is here. read more