Academic Coffee

Coffee shop · SoFA

Academic Coffee

Coffee shop · SoFA

2

499 S Second St, San Jose, CA 95113

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Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null
Academic Coffee by null

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Specialty coffee, local pastries, baked goods & bread  

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499 S Second St, San Jose, CA 95113 Get directions

academiccoffee.com
@academiccoffeeco

$1–10 · Menu

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499 S Second St, San Jose, CA 95113 Get directions

academiccoffee.com
@academiccoffeeco
𝕏
@academiccoffee

$1–10 · Menu

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Aug 19, 2025

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@eater

East Bay Fine Dining Alum Jessica Burnley Pivoted to Nostalgic Vegan Baked Goods With Over Yonder Bakehouse - Eater SF

"Academic Coffee in San Jose gave Over Yonder Bakehouse its first big break by sampling and selling Jessica Burnley's vegan pastries. The coffee shop regularly features her baked goods, including peach fritter doughnuts and apple cider old fashioneds." - Paolo Bicchieri

https://sf.eater.com/2022/12/9/23501908/over-yonder-bake-house-vegan-pastries
View Postcard for Academic Coffee
@eater

Sustainable Delivery Startup Suddenly Closes, Leaving Bay Area Food Business Owners With Thousands in Unpaid Bills - Eater SF

"Academic Coffee’s Frank Nguyen read the room. The business owner realized his coffee shops in San Jose could benefit from donuts, as could all of downtown San Jose. According to a Mercury News report, Nguyen decided to start carting in Stan’s Donuts from Santa Clara, a go-to glazed donut winner since 1959. Co-owner of Stan’s Julie Clark was a fan right away, so now San Jose residents can skip the morning drive to get their pastry fix." - Paolo Bicchieri

https://sf.eater.com/2022/3/28/23000037/zero-grovery-delivery-startup-close-unpaid-bills
View Postcard for Academic Coffee

Eddie Z

Google
Good vibes and quality coffee at Academic. Nice selection of regular and specialty drinks. Atmosphere is friendly but busy and more of a college coffee shop which is cool. Feel the pastries are a bit too sweet for my palette but ordered a cortado and it was just Perfect!! Thank you and would recommend..

Khang Kayla Vuong

Google
Best banana cream matcha I’ve ever had!!! Academic Coffee totally nailed it! Conveniently located at the corner Second and William St, Academic has a cute and spacious outdoor patio with parasols providing shades and many plants surrounding it! Street parkings are easy to find especially on the William St side :) One step inside and you’ll feel welcomed! Floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural lighting to the space, making it appear larger! Lovely art on the ceilings and night wall arts on the walls! There was a line when I came in but it moved quickly. The staff smiled nicely and quickly took my order. I sat down and my seat was not even warmed up yet when I heard they called out my name. OMG the drinks totally blew my mind!! I ordered banana cream matcha and double cream melon matcha! Both tasted heavenly!!! They’re super smooth, right amount of sweetness and I can still taste both the matcha and banana/melon cream! I have tasted many banana matcha drinks at many locations before but this has to be the top of my list so far! Great job, Academic Coffee!! I have my little pup with me and the staff are super friendly toward him as well. Thank you for the hospitality. Ambience, service and quality! Academic Coffee nailed it!

Jie Xia

Google
Ordered a matcha latte; while the drink took a little longer than expected to arrive, the staff were very friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, the matcha latte itself was a bit underwhelming—the flavor was faint, almost watery, and lacked potency. It didn’t have much grassy or creamy notes. However, the color of the latte was appealing and bright. The café’s interior isn’t fully furnished yet and indoor seating is quite limited, making it less comfortable for those who want an indoor environment. I would recommend Izumi Matcha or Cere Tea for those looking for a stronger matcha flavor.

Courtney Strieker

Google
I was only in San Jose for the day and had no idea this coffee shop had gone viral when I searched for shops near my hotel. Just want to start out by saying the flavor of the banana cream espresso latte was worth it! It was a long line to order and about a 25 minute wait for the latte. But the cashier was upfront about that before I paid! By 10am they were basically out of all of their pastries so if you want one get there early. I got the banana cream espresso latte. I ordered it half sweet, which was still pretty sweet for me. And with oat milk. The flavor was absolutely delicious. My only issue is that by the time I walked about 5 minutes down the street, the coffee was already cold. I should’ve ordered it extra hot with how quickly they were making and trying to pump out as many lattes as possible. It’s a small ship so don’t expect to sit. Worth a stop for sure!

Suman Hazra

Google
Cute little coffee shop. A lot of folks seem to come here to either work or just chill. There’s a nice outdoor seating area, which is wonderful for days with good weather. I went around the closing time, and they had run out of all the pastries. Honestly, it’s on me for going there so late. I got the ice vanilla latte, and it was pretty good. I wouldn’t say it was a super little experience, though, but like a good regular iced coffee.

Michael Fronda

Google
Holy moly. Surprisingly REALLY good! I got a pistachio croissant that was absolutely outstanding coupled with a Matcha melon latte, that had a subtle yet “not too sweet” Asian flavor, chef’s kiss! Just come here early cause the line can get longish but not too bad 10-15 minute or so 5/5 would highly recommend

strrkt strrkt

Google
I saw this place on TikTok because of their banana cream drinks and let me say that it did not disappoint. The banana cream did not taste artificial at all and the matcha was perfectly sweet and sweet. Even my mom approve of this place. However it is very crowded so I recommend getting there really early like before 9-10am

Jagadeesh Rahul

Google
A great place in Sanjose for a nice cup of coffee. Their ambience and location is great and I love their service. We got Madagascar vanilla latte and flat white. Both were really good. I love their coffee flavor and the barista did a great job. A good cozy place to catch up with friends.
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Tina B.

Yelp
Went to try the viral banana cream matcha and it definitely did not disappoint!! It had the perfect amount of banana and matcha, 10/10! My boyfriend got the hot banana cream pie latte and said was also good, 9/10! The line was out the door when we got there but it only took us about 20 minutes, total, to order and get our drinks. Staff were super friendly and the space had great vibes!
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Lizey N.

Yelp
This place has been popular recently and I wanted to try their matcha! I'm not a fan of banana which I know everyone is coming here for their specialty drink, but I just got a vanilla matcha. I thought it was strong, earthy, but still balanced and lightly sweetened. The strawberry matcha that I tried as well was a bit too tart for me. Even though the line may seem long out the door, it didn't take more than 15 minutes of being there and waiting for our drink. There is small seating inside and I wouldn't recommend it as a quiet place to work or study as it can get busy but I did see a few people doing so. And as you may know, there's a shortage on matcha powder everywhere so I decided to snag a bag of their matcha powder to give it a try. It's said to be rich and earthy, and when I made my matcha at home it definitely was. There's a slight bitterness to it, but I don't mind when adding in a sweetener. It's actually pretty strong and I do enjoy the earthiness of it.
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Dalena N.

Yelp
Their matcha with banana cream is the best here. I'm glas to have tried, it doesn't have that fake banana taste. Matcha taste perfect 10/10. My partner got a Hojicha latte and he said he wasn't a fan, but I think he didn't get enough sweetness added into his. Service was good, cashier and baristas are friendly. Drinks came out within less than 10 minutes, there was a line of people too. I went around 10:45am. There's seating, but they were all occupied. People catching up with friends or doing work. Cute coffee shop :)
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Sebrina D.

Yelp
I'm not the biggest coffee person but the banana cream pie latte here makes me into one! The only coffee I'd be able to have on a daily basis, no lie. It is a bit pricey tbh but totally worth it every once in a while if you're looking for a good cup of coffee!
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Graciela G.

Yelp
Fav new matcha spot! I had seen the Banana Crème Matcha trending for a while and finally got to try it. Totally worth the hype! The banana crème pairs so well with the matcha. It was smooth, slightly sweet, and perfectly balanced. I went on a Saturday, and even though the line was long, it moved surprisingly fast. The overall vibe was great. It's the perfect spot to catch up with friends or get some work done. Definitely coming back to try more drinks! If you love matcha and want something unique, this is a must-try.
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Kelsey T.

Yelp
The banana cream matcha is a must try! I've tried many banana cream matcha around the bay and I have to say academic coffee is by far my favorite and is reasonably priced at $7! I also really enjoy their lavender matcha too! They import their matcha from Japan and you can really tell they put a lot of thought and love into their drinks and pastries. The staff and the environment is super welcoming! Academic coffee is the perfect place to study but it does get crowded/noisy so if you don't like that environment then it is not for you.
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Sarah I.

Yelp
I got the iced matcha latte with the banana cream pie because I saw it all over TikTok, and it's a bit underwhelming. The banana cream top is good, the banana taste is there but the matcha itself is lacking. Don't get me wrong the color was there but I don't really taste the matcha itself in this drink. To me it tastes like watered down matcha? Although the drink wasn't what I expected it to be, the service was still good.
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Marisa V.

Yelp
Pleasantly surprised by this shop. I'd been wanting to stop in for a while and finally went early Sunday morning. The shop is quite small inside and minimal seating arrangements. I was able to park directly across and walk in. I was immediately greeted and surprised how many other people were in so early. I ordered the banana cream pie latte and a chocolate croissant. I really liked the banana cream pie latte and the banana and coffee flavor went well together. They use real banana so it's not an artificial flavor cream. I would love to come back and try the banana cream matcha next!
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Angela P.

Yelp
pros: -the BEST matcha latte with banana cream and biscoff crumbs (cold); they also offer a hot version -friendly service -clean bathroom -lots of seating -huge selection of great drinks and pastries cons: -none
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Ritu V.

Yelp
Stopped by Academic Coffee in San Jose and tried their vanilla cappuccino, which was super smooth, absolutely loved their beans! My husband ordered the strawberry shrub soda, but unfortunately, it wasn't great--quite bitter and not enjoyable. The vibe of the coffee shop is pretty good, and the baristas were friendly and smiling, which added to the experience. However, seating inside is limited, so it might not be the best spot to linger. One downside was that the coffee mug had a chipped rim, which was disappointing for a $5 coffee plus tip would have expected better quality. Overall, a good café with great coffee, but a few details could be improved!
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Amy H.

Yelp
Great drinks, dog friendly and fast service. :) Hot Banana Cream Matcha Latte with Oat Milk: $8 Perfect sipping temperature and a strong banana flavor. Can't quite taste the matcha because of how strong the banana cream flavor is but gosh I absolutely love love love this drink. The texture is thick and creamy and can easily become a daily indulgence. Service: Fast and friendly!! Ambiance: Indie coffee shop vibes. Lots of natural lighting. Seating availability is a little tight.
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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. --------- 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.
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Juliana P.

Yelp
BEST coffee in DTSJ... and there's a lottttt of good coffee..... High quality beans and consistently well-balanced drinks. Great service, friendly baristas. Bright, fun place to meet a friend or read a book. Pandan cold brew is usually my go-to, but I also love the banana cream latte with a fierce passion and hope that it never goes away. I love all things matcha here and!!! can't forget the annual Lunar New Year special drinks.
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Allie G.

Yelp
I don't know how it took me this long to check out Academic Coffee, but it was worth the wait! I was able to easily find street parking on a Friday (late) morning. The interior was on the smaller side and had fun decor, including a wall mural, framed prints, and their own version of the Duct-Taped Banana "artwork". For drinks, I chose the iced Pandan Latte and my sister got the iced Banana Cream Latte. We also ordered an Everything Bagel Croissant and Maple Old Fashioned Donut to share. Service was friendly and quick, and they had indoor seating available. The Pandan Latte was tasty and had a nice earthy flavor. However, my sister's Banana Cream Latte was even better. I was worried it would be too sweet and not caffeinated enough, but it actually had a great balance - would totally get this next time. Both pastries were also fantastic. The Everything Bagel Croissant had all the flavors of a bagel with the texture of a croissant, and the Maple Old Fashioned Donut was a delicious treat. Overall, a great experience - will definitely return to try more!
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Krisstina C.

Yelp
I came here to try their matcha and it did not disappoint! Their matcha had a strong flavor without being bitter. They also had different ways to customize their matcha which was fun to try new flavor combinations. They also have other canned drinks available & some pastries. I tried the chocolate crossiant which was so flaky and had the right amount of chocolate. This place is on the corner of a busy street so there is street parking but it can be full at times. I would definitely come back for my next matcha fix!
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Elizabeth D.

Yelp
I tried the Banana Cream Pie Latte with oat milk, and the banana flavor was authentic, not artificial. There's some outdoor seating, and they sell coffee flavors in cans, from pandan to vanilla. Parking can be tricky, but service was quick. The Everything Bagel and Ham & Cheese Croissant are must-tries!
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Julie M.

Yelp
I went on Thursday with my best friend at around 2pm. I had heard from my sister that lives nearby that the matcha there is good and worth giving a try. Not only was there matcha, but there was banana cream matcha! My best friend and I got the banana cream pie latte and I the banana cream matcha latte. Both iced. I wanted to try a pastry from there, but everything was sold out and we had gotten there at 2pm, two hours before closing, so plan accordingly! It's most likely because the coffee shop isn't too far from SJSU, so college kids gotta eat! For my drink, I would give it a 8.5/10. Only reason being is that the banana cream is what makes the drink sweet. If you drink it with a straw the matcha, you will taste the bitterness. However, if you give the drink a little swish and swirl it around and mix everything, the perfection. The sweetness was not overbearing and it was just right. I would definitely come back here again! + the shop being on the corner was really cute! :)
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Michael C.

Yelp
I came here on a weekend morning to get some work done. Great place to do so; WiFi is fast, good amount of tables both inside and out, and pretty tame environment. The cortado was just ok. The steamed milk was way too frothy and bubbly, so didn't create the smooth mouth feel that I look for. Espresso was solid. Will probably be back if I ever want to get work done in the area, but don't think I'm rushing back for the coffee!
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Mckenna M.

Yelp
Whoever is in charge of social media for academic coffee is selling it. I had tried academic coffee awhile back and didn't think much of it. But the other day I saw an instagram post that they had a seasonal latte that people were loving so I had to come try it! Banana cream pie latte!!!! The banana cream foam on type wasn't too strong or too sweet. It didn't mask the coffee either when stirred together and instead worked incredibly well with the espresso! This drink was so yum that I'd make the drive back into downtown SJ to get it again! The drink came out fast and the cashier was also very friendly. 10/10 yay!
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John T.

Yelp
It has been a while since i've had their coffee. from once when it was a ritual for our friends where now my friends have moved away. Today i swung in and was going to just go cold brew but they had a sign up for banana cream coffee and i did it, i had to give it a try. This was just ridiculous, great coffee with a cream that has a hint of banana. i drank it so fast that i was about to walk back to get another one. i found my new go to sweet treat.
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Katelyn D.

Yelp
solid coffee shop! parking is limited since it's a corner shop in dtsj, but luckily if you go on sunday you don't have to pay meter fee & i was able to snag a spot right in front of the store :P + banana cream latte: 7/10. again i don't fw banana flavored stuff BUT this was pretty good considering that fact. the coffee itself was strong and the overall drink wasn't too sweet either. + matcha honey latte: 8/10. at first, i got strong floral notes from the matcha but as it got diluted it tasted pretty much like what Izumi USED to taste like.. ifykyk. i prefer my matcha to be on the nuttier/creamy side, but this was p decent. milk subs are 50¢ each & our total only came out to be ~ $12.50 which was surprisingly cheap.
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Alayna K.

Yelp
Wonderful coffee shop and drinks! We really enjoyed the pandan latte. It was the perfect amount of ice and a tad sweet. The baristas were welcome and the ambiance was relaxed. Nice place to study or catch up with friends.
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Jasmine Y.

Yelp
great matcha - esp with the banana cream. I always crave it now! I also love the ambiance and seating area, perfect place to do work!
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Winnie T.

Yelp
Addicted to their matcha with banana cream Friendly service, great music & laid back ambiance
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Wayne T.

Yelp
Stopped by today for some morning coffee. I saw a long line outside. I found out that today there was a new year celebration out in front. After I made my way in ,I was able to purchase a pandam latte,and a red boat latte,also the banana latte. The last two are seasonal. The red boat has a rich salted caramel flavor. Definitely a flavor that should be in their normal rotation.
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Annie L.

Yelp
I randomly discovered Academic Coffee because of its location, which is close to SJSU's campus, and I'm definitely coming back for more. There's indoor and outdoor seating, and most people come here to study or socialize with their friends. The ambience is perfect for that. The staff is VERY attentive and personable and they make you actually want to come back. The cashier wrote my name on the cup & dotted the "i" with a heart & it literally made my day haha. (It's the little things haha) Banana Cream Pie Matcha Latte: I visited this place before "Banana Cream Lattes" started trending on social media and I loved it. I am obsessed with matcha and I've never had anything like this before. The balance between the banana flavor and the matcha is perfected here and I'm definitely coming back for more! The only downside of this place is it closes around 3-4pm!
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Angeline P.

Yelp
THE MATCHA IS SO GOOD! I've been here so many times and they do not disappoint....I always get the strawberry matcha and it's my fav! The strawberry really enhances the matcha flavor. I prefer getting whole milk at this place because I find their matcha to taste quite strong with the oat milk, but if you enjoy that, get it!!! However, this place doesn't accept cash so bring your card/apple pay. The baristas are always so friendly and the place is extremely clean. Don't miss out!
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Lupe V.

Yelp
I think I found the best matcha of my life. Their banana matcha is incredible. The service was excellent. I love the open concept of their seating area. Will absolutely be returning!
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Aurora R.

Yelp
I bought 4 different drinks for some coworkers this morning and 3 of us disliked what we selected. I got a chai latte w/ oat milk and it was severely watered down. I haven't had good chai's before and this one was probably the worst. 2/10. My other coworker got the vanilla latte and claims that it is also watered down. It was also ordered extra hot and came lukewarm. After tasting it myself, she was right. 0/10 (her review). Lastly, we got a blue pineapple iced tea which was basically water with hints of pineapple. 1/10. (other coworkers rating). The 4th drink was an iced piloncillo latte that was the best out of all 4. It tasted like coffee and had a nice cinnamon flavor, but was still a bit watered down. 7/10 (other coworkers review)z I believe that academic coffee is only popular for their banana cream pie matcha or latte. If you get anything else on the menu, it's not worth it. This is really upsetting because I had high hopes for some good coffee around my area.
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Kelly T.

Yelp
Although this store only has street parking, it was super easy to find a spot since the streets nearby aren't that busy! The service was also very nice and I got my drink in less than 5 minutes. I got the matcha honey latte and it was delicious. Even just by looking at the color of the matcha, I could tell that the quality of the matcha was good. They sweetened the matcha latte at just the perfect amount. I can't wait to try many other drinks here!
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Kayla M.

Yelp
We stopped by Academic Coffee while traveling to visit family, and it was the perfect quick stop! It was a cute spot and the staff were super efficient, which was exactly what we needed. Despite being in a rush, we still got top-notch service and amazing coffee! I opted for a matcha, and it was absolutely delicious. The presentation was 5 stars, and the taste was just as good--super flavorful. The donuts were also super delicious! If you're looking for a great coffee spot in San Jose, Academic Coffee is a must-visit. I'll definitely be stopping by again!
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Gabriel C.

Yelp
BY FAR!!!! The best coffee spot in San Jose! It is the perfect place to study and do work, and the workers always play good music! The workers are by far the best part of it all, you can tell they all genuinely love their job and they always have conversations to strike up! I love that academic hosts community based events and invites other small owned businesses to come and host, it's rare to see places do that nowadays! Big shoutout to Marnie and Molly for always getting me right I usually get the Hojicha Latte, and I have never been to another place that can do it better than academic! Definitely have recommended this place to everyone I meet :))) if I could give this place a higher rating I most definitely would!!!
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Ana C.

Yelp
Academic's baristas just know what they're doing behind that bar. Amazing tasting coffee, always consistent, & always great service! Thanks for making Sunday's coffee extra yummy, academic!
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Mary J.

Yelp
Love this place! Always solid coffee and pastries! I usually just get a cappuccino here but sometimes I'll go for one of their flavored lattes. It can get a little busy at times so just be prepared if you're trying to sit at a table. Parking is on the street at meters fyi!
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Elaina V.

Yelp
I've heard a lot about this place and wanted to give it a try. I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but I ordered the seasonal banana cream pie latte. The banana flavor was good, and the drink itself was ok. I also tried the chai latte, which had a strong spice flavor but was pretty watered down. I will say, the drinks aren't sweet. So if you like sweet beverages like me, I wouldn't recommend. The chocolate croissant was just ok. There was not a lot of chocolate inside. Inside is small, but pretty cute. The menu isn't displayed on the wall, it's at the counter. As a first timer this made it difficult to order, as I didn't see the menu until getting to the front of the line. Staff were nice and welcoming.
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Thuy Anh T.

Yelp
I came here with my friends yesterday after class and it did not disappoint! I tried their matcha honey latte and it was really good. Not the strongest matcha I've had, but one of the best I've tried in the downtown SJ area. It was whisked well so that there wasn't excess matcha powder at the bottom, and it was perfectly sweet. The matcha tasted good quality, and they use Oatly milk which is great. We sat at a table outside; they have a nice shaded outdoor patio. This is a great place to catch up with friends or get some studying done.
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Ninah P.

Yelp
I've heard great things about Academic Coffee and it definitely lives up to them. Just from the look of their matcha, I could tell it was going to be good and it was. It wasn't too sweet and wasn't bitter. Their pandan coffee was amazing and so was their pumpkin latte. Their flavored drinks felt like it was made from the real thing and not just artificial flavors. I also had the curry potato pastry. I liked it a lot. I originally wanted the ham and cheese croissant but they were unfortunately sold out. The space is small but they have outdoor seating as well. Everything has a nice vibe to it. It could be a good study spot as long as it's not too busy. Would love to come back!
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Gagan S.

Yelp
Corner of downtown SJ with the cozy cafe vibes and great service. Both indoor and outdoor seating for a relaxing place to vibe but does seem popular as most seating was occupied. Pictured: matcha honey latte. My favorite part about this shop is that they have 2% milk as an option as most places only have the usual whole, oat, soy so it's great to have something I prefer for my first choice of milk. You can never go wrong with matcha and honey so no complaints on that end. The matcha flavor is definitely on the stronger side which is better than it being diluted as other places can be. Always appreciate the lite ice option as well. 9/10 will come here whenever possible!
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Chaela N.

Yelp
Academic Coffee is such a gem in downtown San Jose. The coffee is always great and you're greeted by their friendly staff . I'd recommend the pandan latte, but their new addition of the banana latte is climbing the charts. If you're a matcha lover the banana matcha latte is also really good.
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Veerawan T.

Yelp
Aesthetic coffee shop located in downtown San Jose. This review only consists of their matcha latte. Service was great, the wait was a little long on the weekends, and they have a corner of flyers/cards for local business events. The place has natural lighting, indoor/outdoor seating, offer pastries, etc. I asked the cashier if the matcha honey latte or the matcha vanilla latte was more popular - he said the matcha honey latte and I ordered that. I ended up ordering a regular matcha latte as well for my family member. Matcha Latte - not as sweet and I wish there was more matcha taste when I first sip it. Matcha Honey Latte - still not as sweet even with the honey and not much flavor. I wasn't entirely impressed with the drinks.
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Yvonne F.

Yelp
The matcha is always fantastic, and the baristas are not only kind but also quick with their service. I also enjoy their unique and diverse selection of pastries, including savory options like the pull-apart bread and everything croissant. However, one challenge I've encountered is that on a few occasions, when I've tried to visit, they've had modified hours on Saturdays or were closed entirely. It's become a bit of a running joke with my partner to see if they're open or operating with normal hours each time we visit.
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Eddy G.

Yelp
Academic is a nice little coffee shop. The staff is really chill and friendly. They have some fun food options, with unique pastries and donuts. And of course, the lattes are good too. If you find yourself in downtown San Jose, definitely swing by and grab a donut and some coffee.
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Alex L.

Yelp
I only really go here for their matcha lattes. This is a cute and quiet coffee shop with decent seating inside and plenty seating outside for chitchat and studying! The Matcha Latte never fails to impress me and is just right. As you can tell from the green shade, it does provide the matcha flavor any matcha lover seeks. The only downside is you will have to find some street parking in the nearby neighborhood to avoid fees, otherwise you will have to pay the parking meter to avoid getting a ticket.
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An K.

Yelp
A couple of friends have raved about this coffee shop and mentioned they offer pandan flavored coffee. I love the pandan flavor, and grew up eating pandan desserts and drinking pandan jasmine tea. The hubbie also enjoys pandan desserts and tea. So when we heard this place offers pandan cold brew and latte, we were super excited. He ordered the pandan cold brew and I had the pandan latte. The cold brew was not good and had no actual pandan flavor. It tasted overly sweet (he really liked sweet treats) like artificial sweetener. The latte had zero pandan flavor. It also tasted artificially sweetened. I'm not sure how to describe what the sweetness tasted like, it was an unfamiliar flavor and definitely not pandan. We have not tried other items since our objective was the pandan options.
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Jessica V.

Yelp
I had a dream that I had a matcha latte with oatmilk so I told myself that I think I need to fulfill that dream. It just so happened was in the neighborhood one morning and noticed Academic Coffee was nearby. I'm hardly in downtown, so I thought I'd make my morning eventful and decided to have a matcha latte. The gentleman at the cashier was beaming with energy at 8am which is exactly the kind of energy you need early in the morning. He was wearing a cardigan with flowers on it. Sad I didn't get the name, but he's great! Matcha latte was great. They don't carry soymilk if anyone was curious. The temperature could be hotter in my opinion, but otherwise, it was delicious!
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Amadeo D.

Yelp
Small, clean, hip, well lit, cafe on the south side of downtown. Friendly service and good quality coffee and pastries. At 7:40 am, I ordered a drip coffee and a pastry on a Sunday. The coffee, while a delish light blend, was not piping hot. Tasted like it's been in an air pot for a good hour. I chalk that up to bad timing on my part, I guess? Otherwise I enjoyed the flavor profile of the Joe. Had one of the best pastries in recent years that morning, an Everything Croissant. It was a square of buttery flakey croissant pastry, layered thick on top and bottom with Everything Bagel Seasoning, and stuffed with cream cheese and green onions. I don't know where they source their pastries, but this one hot all the marks for me. Perfect!
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Maria P.

Yelp
My favorite coffee spot to go to in San Jose. Consistently the drinks are good and the pastures are also tasty. They run out quickly so unless you go early in the am, you won't be able to snatch some. I normally get the cold brew or the matcha. The only service is great, it's just more of an artisan coffee shop so coffee takes longer than usual to get made. Overall an enjoyable spot to stop by when I have the time.
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Minah L.

Yelp
Academic always has amazing seasonal drinks. I tried their banana cream pie top with matcha as the base and it was delicious and perfectly sweet, otherwise I usually get their pandan oat latte. Most of their baked goods are from Neighbor Bakehouse in SF and they're super tasty (I love the everything croissant and curry pastry).

Katelynn G.

Yelp
I came in this morning and it was decently busy! my drink came out quickly however and all the baristas were super sweet:) I got the banana cream pie latte and I think it's my few favorite coffee. I want to come by sometime this week and try the banana matcha!! looks delicious