Academic Coffee

Place was packed and had to wait in line for a bit but the line moved fast anyway so I didn’t mind. Ordered the banana matcha latte (?) and it was great! Would definitely come back. Parked across the street and almost got towed so be careful.

A banana flavor that does not rely on imitation banana is surprisingly hard to find. Good thing Academic Coffee knows what's up. The iced latte with banana cold foam was such a great cup, and the pastries were incredible. I highly recommend the buttermilk donut which was somehow crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside. Overall, it's a great shop with great banana drinks and outstanding baked goods. Can't wait to go back and try some new things!

I visited Academic on a Saturday morning around 9 AM. There was a line but it moved quickly. There is a decent amount of indoor and outdoor seating and they are dog friendly. I had the matcha banana latte and loved it. I could definitely taste the matcha - it seemed like a high quality matcha powder and was not bitter. The banana cream tasted so good! It tasted like it was made with real bananas and not extract. I would definitely come back for the matcha banana latte and to try their other matcha drinks.

Academic Coffee in downtown San Jose is a great stop if you’re looking for quality coffee and excellent pastries. The pastries were especially good, fresh, flavorful, and clearly well made. You can tell a lot of care goes into the ingredients and the overall product. The coffee itself was generally very good, though it did have a slightly fermented flavor profile that may appeal to some but wasn’t quite my personal preference. That said, it seems like many regulars really enjoy it, and the shop clearly has a strong and loyal clientele. The main downside is the size of the space. It’s very small, with no tables and almost no room to wait. Most people are standing around for their orders, and if you grab something to eat on site, there’s unfortunately nowhere to sit. They also don’t offer a way to heat pastries, which felt like a missed opportunity given how good they are. It feels like the shop is intentionally designed for quick in-and-out service, which I can understand for a busy coffee spot. Still, a bit more attention to hospitality and customer comfort, however limited the space, would really elevate the experience. Overall, a solid coffee shop with great pastries and a strong identity, just not ideal if you’re hoping to linger.

Great eclectic coffee shop with chairs and love seats along window and a high top work table facing out to the street. The accessible height table looks out to the street and can be moved The comprises are displayed and the coffee and treat menu is posted in plastic stand for no contact. White background with readable black letters. They close at 4 and I arrived at 3 to find all the sweets already taken home by others. My green tea is delicious with green tea leave in a high quality bag Great service at accessible height counter for order and pick up. Outdoor wooden benches and chairs with wooden side tables under shade and stalls roofed are. Gender free accessible restroom requires a code Subtle background music. Great lighting to work but not too bright