Starbucks

First time there and it wasn't really packed I was on my lunch and would thought to make it in time…read moreback but I didn't they took 25 minutes for a LEMONADE but it was good just the service is slow and they have like 10 employees working on drinks overall alright

Brewjee Coffee is where you can find decadent coffee and matcha drinks. They have a variety of…read moresyrups and foam tops to create unique drinks. This is definitely not a place you'd go to for simple espresso drinks. We were content with our drinks: Curious George (mocha with banana cold foam), For the Girls (cold brew with strawberry cold foam), and Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso. The flavors came out as expected, but it is was on the sweeter side. The drinks here are on the pricier side. Each of our 16 oz drinks were over $10 after tax and tip. They offer larger cups too around 24oz, similar to a Venti from Starbucks. Given the price only, it's hard for me to justify repeat visits. The store itself is tiny. There is no room for you to sit down and enjoy your drink. The staff were great. They were kind and very attentive despite being very busy when we went. I'd only come if I'm craving their specialty drinks.

Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso

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Cosmo and Wanda x2

Viva Espresso Organics Coffee

4.4(333 reviews)

2.5 mi

They say they're organic but having just delivered half&half... yes, it's made by Clover but not…read moreorganic... OVERALL: Kind of reminds me of the local Suju's in Fremont (where I'm from), as their local go to coffee in Salinas that's more concentrated in espresso complexity. CUBANITO: Their specialty! Only 8oz with 3 shots of espresso, turbinado sugar, and milk...can modify level of sweetness. However person for which this drink was for states it's still overly sweet. CARAMEL Macchiato: Made me sad that it wasn't authentic as milk should be first then the shots of espresso so there's two layers (that's why I secretly wanted this drink). Then a drizzle of caramel. Tastes like a caramel macchiato, nonetheless. ***overall, their coffee is good with a smooth flavor profile and no bitter undertones or after taste, equating to high quality beans*** SERVICE: They are so sweet, kind, and patient, willing to answer any and all questions. Very splendid seeing a group of Spanish speaking ladies going strong at it! AMBIANCE: Casual, local coffee joint that's mainly enjoyed by the Hispanic community. Bathroom available. WiFi available. Very clean. Very modern decor. Two outdoor tables. Multiple indoor seating options. Located in the Safeway plaza with a multitude of establishments, stores, Jamba Juice, services, etc. Very large private parking lot. In the suburbs. Would I come back? Probably not.

My daily go to coffee spot! They are on point everyday and I am NEVER disappointed with my coffee…read more Service Is A++ Great ambiance and place to chill. Support local and it should start here.

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Inside

The Beerded Bean

4.2(199 reviews)

•$

Beer and coffee sign me up! I grabbed the first street parking stall i saw. The concept is simple…read morebeer or coffee. At 11am i went with an Americano i was pleased it is smooth. The barista made sure my order was correct, I appreciate that because it doesn't always happen. The drinks came up quick. They have a stage for live music and plenty of different settings for pairs or a small group. You can even sit in the front window. What a pleasant shop and I hope to be back.

Great coffee options! If you like something sweeter or more classic, they have you covered. Plenty…read moreof options for seating around, so grab a seat if you can! A comfortable and cozy spot to meet up or relax.

Such a cute place

Pumpkin muffin--good texture, no pumpkin flavor

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Java Java Brews

3.0(2 reviews)

1.2 mi

The best iced coffee in town. The flavors of coffee and her syrups blend effortlessly and…read moredeliciously. Taste is always consistent! Cinnamon Roll Latte is my personal favorite but the blueberry matcha is fantastic. Customer service is excellent.

Terrible communication and customer service, really disappointing. Ordering process is really…read more unorganized. It's a shame because the drinks were actually good, but the experience overall wasn't worth it.

L-R Brown Sugar Cinnamon Shaken Espresso Iced matcha w/ cold foam Strawberry Cloud Latte Caramel Latte w/ cold foam

Iced Matcha w/ banana cold foam Raspberry lemonade S'mores latte Cookie Butter lattes

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Blueberry Lemonades & a S'mores Latte

Gold Leaf Spice & Teas

4.7(95 reviews)

My partner and I were visiting the area and were so excited to find this tea shop! It was very cozy…read moreand cute inside and the woman working was so warm and inviting. She brought out a few different teas for us to smell and was really helpful and informative. We drank our tea there and she offered a second steep, milk, honey. It was a really nice experience and I wish they had a shop closer to home, but I've already ordered more of the tea that I had, Jasmine green tea, which was high quality and quite fragrant! Will be back!

I like all of the varieties here, but I have been treated in a very dismissive way by staff when I…read morehave come in with questions. I feel a little bit discouraged. I am a big tea person, but also don't know a lot about different varieties and want to try new things. I figured it would be OK to ask questions in a tea shop. I just wish that staff was a little bit friendlier to people like me who don't know what they're coming into order right away and need a little bit more time to ask questions and figure it out.

Gold Leaf Spice & Teas Carmel

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Closing time

Cherrybean Gourmet Coffeehouse & Roastery

3.7(209 reviews)

0.2 mi

Kind service, fast, warm atmosphere, excellent iced latte, lgbtq friendly. Great placeread more

Hands down best coffee in town. Every time I visit my family in Salinas I stop here for my fix…read more Their espresso is legit!!

Cherrybean Gourmet Coffeehouse & Roastery

Spinach Quiche & Veggie Samosa

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Gourmet Central Bakery

4.6(107 reviews)

8.0 mi

Cute bakery in Prunedale. Got some pastries and a coffee for the road when passing through…read more They are great and worth stopping by. Was hoping for guava but they didn't have any today. They have plenty of staff for the small place so even if there is a line, it moves fast.

This is easily the best "non-French" bakery in the area. They have a huge variety of pastries and…read morebaked goods, and everything I've tried has been fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Definitely come early because they sell out of popular items fast -- which honestly says a lot about how good the bakery is. I haven't tried the coffee yet, but they do offer coffee and tea options if you want to hang out for a bit. One thing I really appreciate is how reasonable the prices are, especially considering the quality and portion sizes. The space itself is cozy, welcoming, and has a really nice ambiance that makes you want to stay awhile. On top of that, the service has always been friendly and helpful. Just an all-around great local bakery.

Iced white chocolate coffee & Iced vanilla coffee

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Empty display

Castle Rock Cafe and Mercantile

4.4(124 reviews)

7.0 mi

•$

Omg what a pleasant cafe!!!! We stopped in on a road trip back down south and decided to check and…read moresee if they had matcha- and lo and behold - yes they did AND Gluten Free pastries!!! Oh my gosh what a happy surprise, I was so grateful! Hubby ordered a vanilla latte and a chocolate almond scone and before I could even ask him how it was, I looked over and noticed it was gone... In like three bites lol. Needless to say we both loved our pastries and our hot beverages. The staff was super sweet and friendly as well. Service was a 10 out of 10.

Checked out this coffee spot before eating at Toro Cafe next door. Super cute inside and they have…read morea lot of coffee/baked good items. The coffee was good, but this spot is kinda out of the way unless you live near by.

It's Easter here

Pistachio latte

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Jack's Coffee

4.4(117 reviews)

1.5 mi

Is there always a line? Yes. Is it worth the wait? Yes…read more Staff are always friendly, and they're flexible if you have adjustments or requests not on the menu, they definitely know their coffee. Cold brew with cold foam is my go to. I'm not a fan of the matcha since it comes sweetened, but the drinks that are flavored here tend to be on the sweeter side. If I want to throw a few extra miles on my gym runs I will have the Mexican mocha frappe, but I don't even want to know the calories on that one. Good local spot you have to try.

I recently started coming here and have had such a great experience every time. The service is…read morealways friendly and welcoming. I usually ask for a "surprise me" drink because I never know what to order and don't want to hold up the line deciding. Every drink has turned out amazing! I really appreciate the creativity and care the baristas put into making something unique each time. Definitely becoming one of my favorite coffee spots.

Jacks Coffee shop plus Keto Drink ( Cold brew, heavy cream and sugar free vanilla)

Hours

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Oatmilk cappuccino and caramel frappe to go.

First Awakenings

4.2(1k reviews)

I only ordered a fruit bowl, but what I got was a bunch of…read moregrapes, 4 smaller pieces of pineapple, and a diced banana. They threw in a 1 sliced strawberry. $12 dollars

Sadly I'm going to be the bearer of bad news and say that First Awakenings is highly overrated. I…read moregrew up in Salinas and always remember this place being busy and thought of in high regard by pretty much all the locals. Being back in town, I had to give it a try after 15+ years being away. What a let down honestly. We were seated right away which was appreciated. It was about 10am on a Wednesday and we arrived just before the big rush it seemed. To drink, we ordered waters and orange juice and coffee. A whole coffee carafe was left on our table which was a bit of a surprise and the orange juice as advertised tasted freshly squeezed. Before ordering our food, my husband began asking the waiter about gluten free pancakes or waffles (since such was advertised online in a review from 11yrs ago) and before he could even finish the question the waiter cut him off to explain all the pancake and waffle options. My husband kindly asked again and was told they didn't have any specific gluten free options. That's ok, he ordered their Bacado omelette and instead of toast on the side he asked for a side of fruit. I ordered their Cinnamon Bread French Toast and a side of 1 scrambled egg and 1 sausage. I was told the sausage only comes in 2 or 4, and so I chose 2. When the food arrived, I immediately thought this all looks ok. And the taste was just the same. The omelette was not fluffy like you'd expect a highly rated restaurant omelette to be. The side of fruit came in a condiment cup and had 1 grape as well as 3 pieces of other fruit. The hash browns were sad looking, pretty pale and absolutely no crunch. My husband even added salt which was sad and rare to watch him do. My French toast was ok, kind of soggy and didn't have any caramelization or crunch on the outside whatsoever. It's definitely cinnamon toast vs a cinnamon roll French toast and was nothing special. The sausage was the best part which says a lot. I wouldn't come back here because there's infinitely better options minutes away.