Linh N.
Yelp
Final Thoughts: 3.11/5
Apparently there's a hype for this place, which is kind of interesting because I found my drink to be...normal...subpar...average...?? Experience overall was fine though. With any hype, I do have fairly high expectations, but unfortunately, they were not to my standard. Perhaps it was the drink I chose or the timing my friends and I went. That shouldn't be an excuse though. Their pastries do somewhat intrigue me, so maybe I will consider coming back for them at an earlier time.
Drink:
Pandan Latte: 2.4/5
First time trying pandan in a coffee drink I believe. The flavors work well together, so I didn't feel like both flavors were fighting against each other on my palate. This beverage appeared to just be milk though or mainly milk. It lacked a lot of flavor in general and I felt like it was missing a lot of elements. The flavor of pandan was only in the aftertaste and I had to really let that flavor marinade on my tongue to even get a hint of it in the aftertaste. Coffee flavor was so light and I had a feeling it was going to be like that due to the color of the drink itself being very light. Sweetness of the beverage was pretty good. For these beverages, I like a good balance of bitterness and sweetness, so the sweetness level for this was good for me. For some reason, I thought the consistency for this latte would be a little thicker and creamy. Definitely not the case here. It's very thin since the beverage is just stirred together in the cup without any excessive mixing or whipping. Aroma of the pandan was apparent. For me, it did smell like the leaves themselves mixed with some of the paste. There's this earthy and grassy tone to it, which makes me believe it's the leaves that are used here. Big plus if this is the case.
Menu:
Some of their flavors aren't something that you would see at your typical coffee shop. This is mostly referring to their specialties, which include flavors like pandan, pilochillo, and elderflower. Personally, I like trying new flavors or seeing different flavors on the menu mixed with your classic ones.
Additional comments:
Even though I was pretty disappointed with the drink, their pastries look like they could pair well with a drink. Not too many options from what I observed on other reviews, but a fair amount of pastries, donuts, and cookies.
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Quality: Fast coffee
They have an open counter where we can see what happens behind the scenes and I actually watched my drink being made. Syrup from a bottle, milk, and then a shot of coffee I believe. I'm aware that these are perhaps all of the components to it, but I feel like there's a lack of care that goes into making a drink at this price point. Perhaps I can understand this with a fast food place, but it's not actually something I would like to see at a coffee shop like this. Quality of the ingredients feels somewhat optimal though. Their milk substitutes are actually the branded ones, so that's always a plus.
Price: Fair to expensive
Fair in a sense that most other coffee spots will charge around the same price for a drink like this, but expensive is a sense that the quality of this coffee feels so suboptimal. Price range for the drinks here are $4 to $6 with a few outliers. There is also an upcharge of $0.50 for milk substitutes. They are an option though.
Service: Happy energy
They were quick and efficient today. There was a small crowd when we came in, but we were able to get our drinks within about 5 minutes. They appear very nice and I love the energy even for a late afternoon.
Ambiance:
This place has a vibe to it. Very rustic and earthy, which is calming. There's not much space inside. From what I recall, there's only seats that line the wall of the interior. Some standing space is available, but again, the café is quite small itself. Counter and display case create a border that blocks off most of the space, which makes sense. More of a grab and go shop for me rather than a place I would come to have a coffee date or study at. Parking plays a factor in this too.
Location/Parking: Downtown SJ...enough said...
If y'all know downtown San Jose area, then you know that it is not the most ideal spot for driving or parking. Never my preferred choice if I can help it. The shop stands in between 1st and 2nd street. Parking spots are available in front of the shop. Please read the signs for parking and pay accordingly. Most of the spots were available to us on a Friday during the late afternoon time. We were in and out of there within 7 to 10 minutes, so we just needed a few coins. These spots are diagonal and I believe reversing in is the way to go, given the orientation of their lines.