To start off the New Year of 2022, I figured I would write a review for a place I regularly visit and appreciate. Given the bags under my eyes and slight fatigue due to being up past my normal bedtime of 9 pm, I could go for a cup of their joe right about now! While I do enjoy many coffee shops in town, Java Station often has a few perks that places it toward the top. - Shorter line for friendly service - Better food offerings - Decent amount of parking and seating - High speed Wi-Fi (not sure how this is possible in town) - Welcoming to all (they celebrate Pride, Halloween and beyond) - They have games available to play - It brings a sense of community to an odd little neighborhood (What the heck is it considered?! Noleta? Or Hope Ranch Annex? ...Now we are just getting particular...) I enjoy their Klatch Coffee Co. espresso which is bold without being acidic or underbearing. I often order the Oat Milk Vanilla Latte (yah, I'm basic), yet recently ordered a fall/winter special of Maple Bourbon Latte which I'm a big fan of. I will note that their "small" coffee is truly small, so order a medium if in doubt. Now that I'm rambling due to a lack of sleep, I will adjourn...until a Review Update comes along! read more

See all

Java station is a great neighborhood coffee shop with a simple but sufficient menu selection for breakfast or lunch. They also seem to be adding new menu items all the time. Great atmosphere with a small patio and fire place inside. I've always had excellent, friendly, and prompt service. I would definitely visit more often if I lived near the place, but I stop through for the occasional loaded bagel and coffee on my way to work. The mini quiche are also delicious. read more

Excellent scrambled egg on bagel. Coffee always fresh, not bitter. Wait staff is friendly and customer oriented. Locally owned. Very personable manager is always friendly. read more

I really enjoy the ample seating and general ambiance of the outdoor patio area. Its a great place to go after a bike/run on the nearby Obern path. The prices are also very reasonable for what you get! I almost always opt for the avocado bagel, which comes served over a layer of cream cheese, and topped with lemon pepper seasoning. I'm not a huge fan of the coffee, though. It's a very dark roast and the americano is often too watery. There is definitely much better coffee in SB, so I would not come here solely for that. However, the food is solid and a really great value! read more

Java Station - Avocado bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The station is, plainly put, awesome. Such a great place for people to gather, have some wonderful teas, coffees, and pastries, and the people behind the counter...genuinely kind and friendly. We're only in SB two months out of the year, but we're at the Java Station daily when we're there. Fabulous cafe run by amazing people. read more

Met Rebecca the manager on Saturday. She was friendly and awesome. You can tell that the people who work there are happy. There's a good vibe in the place. I sat outside with my latte and worked online. I really like Java Station. It feels like an honest to goodness hometown coffee house. read more

This place is so cute! There is a lot of space & natural light which makes this place great to study at & hang out. The staff was really friendly and the menu has so many options. I ordered the tomato, avo & cream cheese bagel w/ lemon pepper which was delicious. Additionally they have wifi, plenty of nearby parking of the lot is full & a lost of seating inside & outside. Im definitely going to come back here to explore more of the menu :) read more

Java Station - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

High quality, nice service, pleasant environment. The rest of this review is only to fill up the requirement for too many letters. If anybody wants to show me how to tie and then tie the Gordian knot, they should definitely reach out to me so we can have a cup of coffee. read more

Oh geez. I almost considered not writing this, since it seems the rude customer service has been an issue for years now. Even if nothing changes, though, it will feel a little better to vent. I ordered a coffee - black, medium. I ordered a tea - tulsi basil, medium. I ordered a slice of zucchini bread. Coffe came out. It took me a few minutes to realize my tea cup was just sitting there to be "made", when one of the employees finally asks another... "are you making that tea?". You could cut the tension with a knife. It's just a hot beverage, people! Why so emo, goodnessss!! Then, for my zucchini bread. There were a few sitting on the counter... I assumed they'd stick it in a bag or put it with my tea or something, but nope. I asked "do I just grab one of these?"... to which the cashier responds: "I guess so". Yech. Terrible vibes. And left a bad taste in my mouth despite the decent coffee, tea, and pretty yummy zucchini bread. read more

A solid little (though they had quite a bit of seating inside and out) coffee shop. The pumpkin pie and eggnog lattes were hot and flavorful. The bagel ham and cheese sandwich was huge and open faced and full of toppings like a full on sub sandwich. The bacon breakfast burrito was short but densely packed with nice bacon, big chunks of potato, some smoked chiles (that were super flavorful), and a great verde sauce on the side. read more

Java Station has a great atmosphere and space for outdoor seating. I ordered an almond milk latte and everything bagel. The latte tasted pretty good, but I was a little disappointed the bagel was burned. Overall I would return to order a coffee and sit outside, but I would try a different food item along with it! read more

Java Station - Everything bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Board games galore!! I love that all these wineries in town are now providing a wide variety of games to play while grabbing a drink with friends, but hate to break it to them Java Station is the games OG in town. Not only do they provide a huge variety of playable games while hanging out in shop, but they also sell more games than almost any other store in town. So if you're looking for a creative gift for family and friends, stop by Java Station and check out their game selection - There's actually something for everyone! They recently switched their coffee beans and are now using Hatch which I find to be a pretty decent brand, no complaints. They have a good variety of ice-blended espresso based drinks which if you know me is totally my weakness, and they serve them (For Here) in these super tall glass cups that make you feel fun and fancy. The atmosphere is pretty awesome and spacious. The fireplace and couches give it a real living room like feel. While it always seems to look super packed, somehow I never have a problem finding parking or a comfy place to seat. The wifi is very quick (no matter how many users are on it) and has yet to give out on me. I also like that it is tucked back in a random area of SB, to where whenever I need to completely isolate myself from distractions and focus on responsibilities I can literally drive out to this cafe and zone in knowing I am (literally) far from anything taking my mind off the prize. Last but not least I know they have some pretty cool food options on menu. I have yet to try anything but a chocolate chip muffin (which was mediocre) but I hear only good things about the sufficiently packed sandwiches. They also have a BOGO Axxess deal for first time visitors so if that doesn't encourage you to try something on the food oriented on the menu I don't know what will. read more

See all

If you're looking for a next level bagel spot, this place is it. They have tons of options from a plain bagel with cream cheese to a fully loaded melt with meat and cheese. The food comes out fast and they also have a large variety of drinks, including the bottled Guayaki Yerba Mate shown in the picture attached. Such a chill, easy to access place that is hidden from the traffic and noise of downtown Santa Barbara. I've come here many times on my drives down the coast and it never fails to disappoint! read more

Java Station - Bagel and Avocado Melt, Bacon Egg Bagel Melt - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is a super cute cozy cafe (working fireplace going in winter!) has delicious breakfast food options and coffee drinks. However, one star off for rude server who not only argued when she got our order wrong (insisting my VEGAN sister asked for cream cheese-- instead of avocado) but then the next day, when I went in alone, she asked if I've been there the day before and when I said yes, she argued with me again about my sister's order the previous day? I don't live in Santa Barbara but if I did I would be bummed to have to avoid this place just because of that server. It's such great place but I don't want to be made to feel so uncomfortable first thing in the morning before I even had my coffee. read more

This place has delicious food-- the Santa Barbara bagel melt with avocado, onion, tomato, cream cheese, special sauce and melted cheese-- bomb.com Quiche is so so... individual frittata style circle quiches, so I'd skip that one. Latte pour designs are almost as adorable as the staff :-) read more

Java Station - Santa Barbara Bagel Melt On everything bagel... generous size! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I gave them 1 star for consistency....... My coffee and bagel were both burnt. This was my second and final attempt at giving this establishment a chance. read more

Not only is the coffee DELICIOUS but the baristas and staff and so sweet! They're genuine and so friendly! The shop itself is warm and comforting! A must go!!! read more

My fav restaurant. .. wtf? Ordered quiche and after waiting 15 minutes, am brushed off with "They take a minute" After a half hr I ask again, am told "someone else must have taken it" ... I said I asked about it; am told "it was our rush" .. I agreed politely, my quiche has loose commercial potato chips instead of the side of fresh fruit. When I go back for that, am offered an unpleasant looking apple or a nice banana. That is not "a side of fruit" which I've had here before. Is it hard to train counter help? The ladies are nice. The young man is cursory at best. I will not be back for a while. I WILL be back, the quiche and cookies are too good not to come back, it will take me a while to recover from this experience though. read more

Java Station - Bagel melt with the flavor of lemon peppet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

The coffee was delicious. The service and the food were great. I wish I could have tried comedy night.

This coffee shop holds close to my heart! I actually came here on a second date and since then my boyfriend (yes clearly the date went well) and I have been coming here nonstop almost every Sunday when we can. They have a wide range of seats, accessible outlets, board games, and a great coffee and food selection. They are also on Axxess ( I am all about the axxess deals) and the staff is super friendly! FYI if you are looking for some energy they serve the coffee in MASSIVE jugs that when you pick up your coffee you'll think it's a mistake...ITS NOT they just know how to serve awesome portions read more

This will be the last time I'll ever come here. It's only been the first week of December, I've ordered one of their specialty drinks and a bagel. I stood like 6 feet away from the bar. First five minutes, I've received my bagel. 10 minutes passed by, I've noticed that customers after me were receiving their order. The baristas didn't asked me if I were waiting on something. I've walked up to the bar and asked if my drink is ready. The barista at the time said she'll work on it right away. They've forgot about my drink... read more

After being introduced to Java Station by a local we've been happily returning here every time we visit Santa Barbara. The coffee is good, the bagel sandwiches are great (most recent order: Lox Deluxe with lemon pepper on an everything bagel) and the vibe is casual and welcoming for our whole family. read more

Amazing tri tip sandwiches and the lemon blueberry scones are so delicious; Definitely the BEST scone I've ever had! Service is quick and plenty of seating inside and outside read more

Went there, got 2 coffees, and two breakfast bagels, $50. Who in their right mind charges that much for a bagel. 2 stars cuz it wasn't that bad. read more

Woah, the breakfast burrito jumped from $9 to $13. It's good, but not that good. Slow yo roll

Really nice people serving very good pastries and breakfast. I took a breakfast egg and bacon burrito to go and was happy to find a small tub off hot sauce in the bottom of the bag. The burrito was Great and the coffee is really good! I'm going back for sure read more

Wonderful avocado toast and knoa coffee! Yum. Outdoor seating is available but this place is very popular so gauge your time if you plan on stopping by. read more

Arrived for lunch with a colleague at 1:30 p.m. on 12/04/19. Java Station is my go-to lunch spot for my favorite sandwich, lox/bagel, and coffee. Unfortunately, there were no available tables for our small party of two. All tables were occupied by a mixed cadre of students with laptops open and satchels sprawling. (I specifically arrived after the lunch hour to avoid the following situation, or so I imagined.) It had rained earlier, but wasn't at the time of our visit, so most customers were planted on the inside tables, largely absorbed in work, conversation, and--to the issue here--internet access. Java Station is wonderful spot for doing all of these things, but it will need to fine tune customer access to the net with incoming customers' need for food and appropriate seating. This is a challenge, I know, but a long-term strategy for meeting dining needs is a critical business decision. One solution, adopted by a cafe in Glendora (Classic Coffee), is to tie purchases to internet access for limited periods of time. Cafe net users will need, in this case, to share physical space with paying customers to ensure that the cafe's business remains viable and vibrant. Java Station has already adopted a measure in this direction by implementing an "internet-free" period during late morning and early afternoon times on Saturday and Sunday. To some, this decision is inconvenient--I get it, but such internet-free periods also allow food and coffee customers to get what they want and need as well. read more

One star because I have to in order to get this review posted, but let's call it what it really is--a warning. This looks like a pleasant enough place. Great location, cute interior, nice feng shui. Their coffee and food are just very okay. And that's where the happiness ends The petulant over-aged children working behind the counter are the real entertainment here. To wit: Simple order of coffee and bagel with cream cheese and tomato, no onion listed on menu. Me: "Do you have onion?" Counter Girl: "Yes." (Rolling her eyes) Me: "Are they red onions?" Counter Girl ignoring question and escalating her patronizing attitude: "Here or to go!?!" (A demand, not a question). HAHAHAHA. SRSLY? And then we have Bagel Boy. I made the horrendous mistake of questioning if the bagel was toasted. OH MY GAWD!!! Bagel Boy: "Of COURSE it's toasted!" (Ewww. Mad!) And then, my customer coup de grace question: "Can I have more cream cheese?" Bagel Boy: "You know, SOME PEOPLE HAVE SENSITIVITY ISSUES TO TOO MUCH CREAM CHEESE!" (Said with a mix of imperious, false authority and something on the 'Displaced Anger at Old People' Richter scale) OH HELL NO HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Between Surly Suzy Snarkalot at the counter and the tragic Olivia Newton John Headband Man Bun Bagel Boy (you earned it; rock it, girl!) this place is UHHHHMAZING! The bagels? Not so much. read more

Java Station - Find the cream cheese? Yeah. Me neither. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Pretty ambiance and decorations. Lavender latte is awesome. Fruit danish was yummy. Drip coffee tastes good and is very hot. Great decaf coffee too. Good wifi. Coming back next time I visit Santa Barbara. read more

Just left and it was the worse customer service I've had in a long time. Ordered an Americano and the young lady who helped me acted as if my being there was a problem. She didn't even greet me because she was having a very intense conversation another customer who acted as if wasn't even there. read more

Java Station - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I want to like this place SO badly. The employees are all really sweet and it's close to my work so I keep going back even though the food is not awesome and it sometimes takes up to 45 mins to receive my order even on days that there's only a few other customers in the cafe. The manager is pretty rude, in general, and in the year I've been coming here have yet to have a pleasant human interaction with her. I was inspired to finally write a review this morning after she denied me a cup of hot water with lemon??? It's a cafe, you don't have hot water and lemons back there? She wasn't even nice about it she just said "no" when I asked for that.. anyway. I wish a good cafe with kind managers would buy this space so I have somewhere decent to go on my lunch breaks. read more

Love the coffee and the women who work there. Honestly, the staff is my favorite part of going there. They're super nice and always remember my order! They also have my favorite coffee some frenchie roast by klatch?? It's delicious! Super darrrrrrk, flavorful and full bodied, ya know, all the good aspects of a black coffee without that nasty bitter vibe. read more

Didn't try the food, but the coffee was excellent! Even more than that the staff was down to earth, give me some advice while I was traveling, and represented just a good nature and comfortable feeling Can't wait to come back for the food, and more coffee read more

Best berry scone I've ever had. They bake in house fresh daily too. Rebecca the manager is a total delight! read more

Java Station - Berry Scones...Best ever!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Got two espresso drinks, one was ok but the other was not good. The cashier informed me that all sizes are two shots of espresso, and so the sizes come down to how much milk you want. I used to be a barista and this standard sounded very weird to me, usually you don't want your drinks to differ between sizes. A small latte and large latte are expected to taste the same, with a consistent ratio of coffee-to-milk/syrup. I don't know if she was misinformed or if that really is the case since I've only been here once. But since I felt my drinks were not well flavored, I wouldn't recommend. read more

You know how doing what you do well ya worth more than doing more than you can do well? Well Java station does damn good coffee, smoothies and bagels... avocado toast-YES!! Chai tea, good internet, a. One of getting stuff done all adds up to a great coffee shop, local, honest and simply deliver as stated. Good job, every time Java Station read more

I had the opportunity of stopping in and enjoying some of the finest that Santa Barbara has to offer. There was something about that location that it told me that it wasn't just a regular coffee shop. It was away from all the other places it was not like other places. But I must say that it was my pleasure stopping in and getting some of the finest that God has to offer. Blessings to all read more

About the overall low star rating: I don't come here often, but have always enjoyed their coffee and pastries, and the avocado toast, of course! I was curious why the star rating was so low. Most of the low ratings were about poor staff attitude. I had never experienced that - but I have noticed what appears to be a lot of new staff - still learning the menu, some of them inexperienced - but friendly, and trying hard. I don't know this to be true, but perhaps the owners realized they need to do something. It seems to be working. If you stayed away because of the complaints about service, try again. You may find it's improved. Then write a new review! read more

I've repeatedly tried to be on board with this place, because the vibe is enticing and the food/coffee is all right. However, I have to throw in the towel because the service is always so hideous. They always make me feel as if I'm bothering them whenever I order, and then they take their sweet time and gossip with each other instead of actually making my order. Anyway, I wanted to think highly of this place, especially because it's the only cafe near my home. Maybe it needs new management or something along those lines...but the experience is not worth the wait and the money. read more