Disneyland's slogan is the Happiest Place on Earth. I'd say this Starbucks location is the Happiest Place in Aptos! Always a nice and sunny atmosphere (even when it's foggy!). The entire staff are so friendly and greet you as soon as you walk in. Always laughing with each other and happy to please you - it's a joy coming here! Shout out to Makena, Brooke, Dani, America, Mia, Makayla, Angie, Tess, Jay (and Eguardo...heehee) and the rest of this awesome team from triple decaf Dave! read more

Starbucks - Personal (Dutch) cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

The staff here are amazing! Super warm, all smiles, and they actually remembered me when I came in twice. They drew little hearts and smiles on our cups, which honestly made my day. The place is spotless and wasn't crowded at all--mostly just local folks. Restrooms are gender-neutral and clean. There's plenty of outdoor seating and easy parking, which is always a plus. The drinks tasted like your usual Starbucks (I got a cold brew). The Egg Pesto Sandwich was delicious! They do charge 25 cents for the new compostable cups. 10/10 overall experience--and a big shoutout to the kind, thoughtful staff! read more

Starbucks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

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How the mighty have fallen. This is our local Starbucks. During the summers, we visit dailiy. During school/work, we visit several times a week. Today, my wife & I had the worst Starbucks experience ever for simply asking a drink to be re-made. (My wife asked for it to be remade, not me. She is super nice and kind - it wasn't asked with any attidue whatsoever.) I won't get into the details here but will share it with the DM. The baristas on shift were Fernando, Brooke, and Eguardo. I opened a case with customer service and asked for the DM to contact me so I can describe the incident from a loyal, low-maintenance customer's perspective. In my 30+ years as an almost every day Starbucks customer, I've never opened a customer service case nor insisted to speak to a DM. So as much as it pains me, I'm going to give my local Starbucks 1-star. I'm leaving my previous 5-star review because at that time, it was well-earned. Today, the 1-star review is equally well-earned. P.S. I also have 255 Yelp check-ins at this location... not that I check-in every visit or it makes me any different a customer than every other Starbucks customer, but it does provide some context that as long-time regulars we have a good understanding of normal protocol and decorum. read more

I love this Starbucks location! I'm visiting from out of town, and need to work remotely while I'm here. This is a wonderful spot to get work done! It's clean, and has a nice set up for people to plug in computers off to the side. The staff is also very friendly. The coffee and food are great, exactly what you expect to get. read more

Starbucks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

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I had my laptop open to work for a few minutes before getting lunch at this Starbucks. I was packing up and about to buy my lunch there but a worker came up to ask us to buy food. It was rude. That does not happen at other Starbucks places. I bought my lunch right after and it was very awkward. My friend has dark skin and the worker was an older white woman. The other customers hadn't purchased anything yet but the worker wasn't telling that to them... read more

I went in to the Starbucks on post office Drive this morning at 7 am I was the only person in line. I was in line to get the red cup for the holiday promotion and went into the store. I wanted to purchase a cup and asked for a drink voucher to fill it later when I'm able to drink the coffee and was told that was too " complicated". How can I possibly be too complicated to pay for a drink that I wanted to have later a voucher for a free drink to return? Nobody seem to know what they were doing. There seem to be someone who was in charge she was the one that told me that was too complicated to me that was fairly straightforward and would've provided the customer service. I would expect I will never go there again if you want good customer service I go to another Starbucks. read more

I genuinely do not like Starbucks. The coffee is poor quality and the corporation does not care for their employees. The people working here are overworked and super young but are always patient, friendly, and work hard to meet the demands of every customer. What makes me return is the prices in comparison with other cafes on DoorDash and the kind, hardworking people that prepare it. read more

The older lady working at Starbucks today with the black rimmed glasses, brown hair bob was more interested in doing to go pastry orders instead of ringing up the people 8 deep in line once I got to my turn, she decided she was going to take her break. I was so irritated. I just wanted 2 grilled cheese sandwiches from the cold section not even heated. It took over 20 minutes just to get rung up for that. Absolutely outrageous! read more

I enjoy this location a lot. I don't actually stay there and drink my coffee and hang out. I ordered it on the app and it's always done in a timely matter if not on time maybe early and they're always very clean and friendly. read more

The Baristas are always welcoming and super accommodating for my unusual order. Clean store and bathrooms. The location has a nice outside patio to get together with a friend. read more

i used the starbucks app to order my drink here and was feeling super fat so i got a venti iced caramel macchiato with salted caramel cold foam, extra caramel drizzle, and i got my cup lined with caramel. sadly, the latter two requests were NOT done and that's upsetting because I had to pay extra for something that I did not receive the cold foam and drink were good tho so i gave two stars read more

Came into the Starbucks the morning after Christmas as I needed to study and the libraries were closed. The place has a friendly and chill environment with music playing on the speakers. I just ordered some egg bites which were warmed up as per usual. As far as studying goes, there are 4 tables by the wall, each with an electrical outlet, which is perfect for studying. I personally like having my back against a wall, and the cushioned seats were perfect for me. The bathrooms don't require a code, and for the most part, they were pretty clean, with the paper towels being completely stocked, which I would say I have not seen in every Starbucks bathroom that I enter. The cashier was nice, and I enjoyed being at the location. Overall would recommend, go check them out! read more

Starbucks - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

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5 of us went in and ordered 5 diff drinks and the service was spectacularly friendly, the bathrooms spotless, the speed was excellent, and the bathrooms Spotless. What more could you ask for in a Starbucks? read more

Starbucks - A little extra caffeine for the road. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

I go here very often! they always have my drinks done correctly & on time and their all super friendly. The place is also very clean.

I like this Starbucks! The location is pretty busy, and there are a lot of people coming and going...but I like that they have ample tables outside & inside. The seating areas are nice and so is the outside table area-plenty of umbrellas to sit under- in the open, or shade. It seems to always be a pretty social place for friends to meet up. The service is fast, or at least that is how I see it. I have seen other reviews about employees not doing their job....I have never seen that here. Every employee who takes my order smiles at me, are respectful and get my drink right every time. I really like this mall too-they have some really great stores to shop in and wonderful food options as well. I also will say they keep it pretty clean inside, sometimes the bathrooms get a little messed up, but that falls more on the people using them. Customers should clean up after themsleves-but -sadly, often don't for some lazy reason. Is it so hard folks? Anyway, if you are in Old Aptos, swing by this cute Starbucks off of main street. I am sure they will take good care of you. read more

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Employees were inattentive, unfriendly and slow. It was as if they were bothered by having to serve their customers.

I was in desperate need for a Starbucks fix and just missed my opportunity to stop in Freedom. This store is located on the back side of a small strip mall with easy access to jump off the freeway and a quick jog gets you right back on the freeway. This place was really busy mid afternoon on Monday but the staff was very friendly and efficient. Great outdoor seating area in the rear right off the parking area. I don't how long this store has been open but it was really clean and everything was as you would expect at Starbucks plenty of seating and great products. I didn't try the wifi but there were several customers on their laptops and tablets. read more

Starbucks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

This is by far my favorite Starbucks! The staff is always friendly and ready to serve! The place is kept very clean and it has a warm welcoming feel. The baristas make an effort to get to know you and are hard working people! It's so nice to have an outside patio during the COVID restrictions. It's always nice and sunny! read more

Starbucks - Welcoming sign! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

This has always been the worst Starbucks in the Santa Cruz area, and I purposely go out of my way to go to other locations. Their customer service and ingredient supply are both horrendous. Regardless of the time of day, they're either out of whatever food item you order or "forget" additions to your drink such as whipped cream, drizzle, or other toppings. This is fine if they explain/refund you the extra cost, since I understand things can run out quickly, but it's not right to order something on the app, pay extra for additional ingredients, and get handed a drink that is clearly missing some of what you paid for. There's also been instances when I've paid for a food item, only to be told later they don't have it. When I requested a refund, they'll continuously try to get me to order another food item, even when it's clear I only want my money back. I've worked in customer service and understand upselling, but they'll be very annoying about it and downright cold when you affirm you don't want anything else. I also can't tell you how often I've ordered an iced drink on the app and showed up to find it hot, which I don't understand how that happens since the label on the drink clearly designated I wanted it ICED. A couple times the lid was not attached properly, and despite holding the drink properly, the drink has spilled or nearly spilt. Once I ordered an indulgent drink for a friend's birthday: an iced mocha with caramel drizzle and whipped cream. When I went to pick it up, I see there's no whipped cream and no caramel drizzle(which costs extra, yet I'm not refunded for). It's not a big deal, and I assumed they might have been out of whipped cream, but then I see they're happily making three "pup cups" with the whipped cream. I fail to understand why they prioritize non-paying dogs over actual customers, but I guess that reflects the general immaturity I've seen from the staff there. The tables are always sticky and despite the generally slower paced atmosphere compared to other Starbucks, the service is nearly always slower and the place dirtier. The nail in the coffin was red cup day when my niece called to ask if they had any left. We understood it's a busy day and the employees are sick of getting this question, but the woman haughtily said "no, and I'm sure none of the other stores around have any either". Her tone was COLD and my mother who also overheard the call remarked how rude she was. The Scott's Valley and East Cliff locations have particularly friendly employees, and the locations on 41st tend to be much better supplied, go there instead! read more

This is my go to Starbucks in Santa Cruz. It's the perfect place to grab a quick frappuccino or coffee. The employees are always super sweet and friendly. They greet you with a smile and are quick to help if you have questions about items on the menu. It's usually not too busy, and even when it is crowded the service is quick and I've always got my drinks within 5 minutes of ordering. There is also plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and free wifi, so it's perfect for getting your school or work done while enjoying a cup of coffee and pastry. read more

The people here are so so nice and friendly. They are so patient and kind. The food is good as always. And it's a very cute small vibe.

I have to say that this place is great I recently got recommended to get Starbucks and the service is great. I will also say the impossible sandwich is a must for anyone getting breakfast. I will say the only reason this isn't five star is because of where it is placed and parking is so confusing sometimes because O'Neill surf shop is there as well. They have sign that say 30 mins max and it is for O'Neill Surf Shop. They should just get rid of it or change the sign to 30 mins and not specify the place. read more

Sorry, but this place needs better management. The people do not have the customer service that represents Starbucks. They mess up the order everytime, and the barista rudely has to throw the coffee and milk to do it right. The place could use some cleaning, but the most annoying is the lack of customer service skills. I stopped going there, i get better service at the place inside Safeway read more

It was a great branch with nice vibe, but apparently they had to close, without any update on their website :( read more

Starbucks - It was my favorite Starbucks, until they closed the branch :( - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

Wow so this is the 3rd time I have been here and been treated very poorly by a very rude male employee. I went with my 2 daughters yesterday and while taking our order he rolled his eyes and scoffed at both me and my child. We have experienced this with him before and figured he was having a bad day. We are overly polite and kind people and witnessed his interaction with other customers and it was the same. I know I don't want to be treated this way while trying to get coffee but He really crossed the line and the main reason for this review is because he actually had the audacity to treat my children like this. I will note that they are still learning how to order and did say small instead of tall and he literally scoffed at my 9 year old and spit came out and then so rudely said " you mean tall?, we don't use the word small here" and then followed up with a nasty eye roll. It was so uncalled for and she felt really sad after that. I actually feel bad for this guy clearly he is a miserable little mole who thinks he is too cool to take orders and make coffee and clearly he has no place working in customer service. read more

Quaint Starbucks location off the main drag. Looks newer. Store was pretty dirty and I never saw a barista enter the lobby area to wipe down a table or clean the bathrooms that were covered in trash. Usually never busy. Nice outside seating area away from street. Service was nice. Parking lot does get busy. Pay attention to signs of where to park and 30 minute spots. read more

My first time coming to this Starbucks as I am an out of towner. The girl who took my order was nice and diligent but the girl who gave me my coffee's was absolutely rude. Got an attitude with me for no reason. Good luck staying open much longer when you chase off your tourists. read more

Always order vanilla bean frappe with caramel wall and this place made it the best!! Staff also really nice.

I have frequented the Aptos Starbucks weekly with my friend, and the staff is always friendly, and always prepared. Your drink is made on time, both in person and Mobile orders. It is clean and has reliable staff every time, that are both personable and welcoming. I usually get a iced cloud macchiato, and it will forever be my go to order. There are many non-coffee options, and a variety of pastries as well, which allow those who do not drink caffeine to enjoy it too. I recommend the Aptos Starbucks to everyone who is in close proximity and able to get it. A definite 4/5 rating. read more

Starbucks - iced vanilla Cold Brew Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

they always make my coffee bad. never sweet enough the espresso taste burnt almost. they also always forget my whip cream when it's a whole 60 cents i want my 60 cents back if your not gonna add the whip cream read more

I am from out of town & used my app to place my order of 2 grande iced skinny mochas, 1 can refresher and 2 Trenta unsweetened green iced teas. I arrived at the store to find my 2 trentas as Talls. I told the barista and she started to grab the mochas and I corrected her that it was the trentas...she said "I thought it said tall" referring to the label. No apology and she took the drinks, finished up someone else's order and then started mine....handed me the drinks which were full of ice and I said "those are supposed to be light ice" which she replied with "it is" and turned away. Again, no apologies for the mix-up or for the fact that I placed my order ahead of time and then had to wait. I have been purchasing this green tea almost every single day for the past 10 years so I know what light ice is supposed to look like. read more

Starbucks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

Never do you wish to goto morning coffee to prepare for a long day, only to but frustrated beyond any level of patience at a Starbucks. I just wasted another 30 minutes getting a venti mocha while second in line. I have driven 10 minutes to avoid this local Starbucks for years, but occasionally I forget and have the same terrible experience. The poor staff has the slowest people at the quickest points to bottleneck, and those people are also in love with chatting up every elderly couple that rolls in, or their children, or their grandchildren. They take friendly to a bizarre place - taking 10 minutes to slowly go through an order with a customer, only to spend 10 more with the barista who stops her work to pay attention to the jabber. It's kinda like spending the morning with my nagging Jewish mom 3 days after her flight home was missed and now she feels like staying an extra week. read more

How can you NOT know about the starbucks gold card and the reasons why it is not working! Drinks took forever..

They do something at this Starbucks that I haven't experienced at any other. Often the pastries are left in the cellophane wrapper, then put in a brown bag. This is very annoying. The frosting on the lemon loaf gets all loose and sticky the longer it's in cellophane, as do the old fashioned donuts, as two examples. Why bother with the brown bag, if it's already wrapped? Better yet, have a store policy where they are removed from the wrapper. I can go to a grocery store and buy something sticky wrapped in cellophane. 11/19/18 visit: I believe there is a new manager as things have gone downhill. Last several times visiting, there are 4 or 5 people working but they are doing busy work behind the counter and not waiting on customers for long periods of time. I feel like waiting on customers should take priority over stocking shelves, organizing, or whatever it is they're doing back there. Also, coffee came up quick today, but then waited for 5+ minutes to get my bakery item. Store wasn't busy. Person doing the baked items was messing around with some display on the wall and wouldn't do my order until she was done. The customer service is really poor. read more

Review update: July 12 2012 Unfortunately, all of the "regular" staff is now gone, and they have hired nothing but rude, inexperienced knuckle heads. The new staff doesn't greet you, doesn't get your order right, and you're kind of rushed out now. A definite bummer, as I loved this Starbuck's. I now go elsewhere. read more

This review is mainly for the staff. The baristas and the managers go above and beyond to provide really excellent service. This location is especially busy in the mornings and even with insane rushes the staff do a great job. The drinks are made well also. read more

When I'm in Aptos, I come here in the morning for my latte and an oatmeal cookie. What can i say, I'm a Starbucks fan.

Its starbux and im just not of fan of the superficial bs, but for a SB, its cute clean quick and comfy enough. Some staff are friendlier and more helpful than ithers but like i said ... Its just SB. Best SB I've been to. read more

Starbucks - Yummy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Aptos, California

I'm not a big Starbucks fan first and foremost. But I was really suprised of how clean and such a warm feeling when I walked in. Everyone was like super nice. The drinks were served rather quickly and even had someone wish me a great week. I had such a great experience I kept thinking they thought we were secret shoppers or something. Great area and great food!! read more

They are in way over their heads. Too busy, not enough staff. Not enough baristas making drinks so you have to wait for quite awhile-- even when using the app. There's almost always a long line. There are a couple of good baristas, but most of them look really overwhelmed and exhausted while they are making drinks...and they mess up my non-complicated drink half of the time. When I see a particular barista, I already know my drink isn't going to be great. She's forgotten the mocha in my mocha a couple of times. I've had lids not placed correctly so my drink spills, or they man-handle the lid--which my mouth goes on... over all, I've stopped going as much and it's usually in a pinch. It's such a bummer. read more