Emerald Hills Cafe & Roastery

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! I first discovered Emerald Hills at their pop-up stand at the College of San Mateo farmer's market, where a friend clued me in to their excellent coffee and, to my surprise, some of the best quesabirria I've ever had.

Last week, I was lucky enough to have them cater a backyard party, and they completely blew everyone away. Edwin and his team brought everything needed to cook fresh, made-to-order tacos, quesadillas, and quesabirrias right in our backyard. The food was absolutely incredible, getting rave reviews from our guests. The variety of fixing, salsas, and the refreshing aqua frescas were the perfect additions.

Beyond the fantastic food, the service from Edwin and his team was truly the best. They were professional, friendly, and made the entire experience seamless. I can't recommend Emerald Hills Cafe & Roastery enough, whether you’re grabbing coffee and breakfast while at the CSM farmers market, visiting the cafe in RWC, or looking for a top-tier catering experience. They’re awesome.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Cute place. Lot of potential. But unfortunately not a lot of coffee expertise. The roast is not a great pick. The foam is too hot and dry. Just some training and it could be a great go-to place BEYOND the local crowd. I would drive there from San Mateo if the foam was on point. But instead I go to Kaizen or St Frank.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 3

Best breakfast burritos in the bay (the tortillas are SO tender and the salsa is fire)! Favorite spot at the San Mateo farmers market

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Visiting this place was such a pleasant experience—enjoying a cup of coffee and a pastry on the way to San Francisco. Everything here felt just right—a cozy, welcoming spot filled with the rich aroma of mocha. It was the perfect little pause in the journey. ❤️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

I had a blueberry muffin and it was delicious. I also ordered an iced caramel latte which has very strong unique coffee flavor. Overall this spot is cozy and good coffee quality.

Such a great place to eat and drink
Environment and staff is so kind and helpful
Everything was ready in a timely manor
I will be back

Great coffee, and wonderful people!

Emerald Hills Cafe & Roastery is hands-down my favorite local spot! The staff here are the friendliest, most personable people, and their warm, welcoming energy makes every visit special. As a family-owned and run business, they do an incredible job maintaining the cozy, relaxed vibe that has made this place a community staple since its Canyon Coffee days.

Their espresso is rich and delicious, and the food is just as exceptional! What sets them apart is their unique menu—you won’t just find the usual pastries and breakfast items here. They offer delicious tamales, chorizo breakfast sandwiches, and other creative bites that make every visit feel like a special treat.

I saw a negative review about the staff being rude and the WiFi not working, and honestly, I can’t imagine any of the team being anything but kind and accommodating. Reception in Emerald Hills is naturally spotty, so I appreciate that they offer WiFi for their customers in the first place. Since that review, their WiFi has been vastly improved, and it’s completely understandable that during peak coffee rushes, fixing a minor connection issue might not be the top priority.

If you’re looking for fantastic coffee, a one-of-a-kind menu, and a welcoming atmosphere, this is the place to go! A true neighborhood gem. ☕✨

Everyone is really friendly and they get to know you as a local customer. It truly feels like a neighborhood coffee hangout.

Found their pop up coffee at the farmer's market in San Mateo and Belmont, so delicious! They roast their own beans, so they are fresh and tasty! Coffee made on site is delicious too!

Very rude staff. I am 9 months pregnant and was evacuated from a fire and needed a place to use the internet and the staff was so unhelpful and told me to “get a life” when I asked them to check the network. They told me too many people were using it, but another customer mentioned that they also were unable to connect. We were told there was a problem with our computers. Maybe the manager should talk to the staff about how to treat customers. I really just needed to connect to do a few things and check on my house which is in an evacuated area.

Whether it’s coffee or meals, you can feel the professionalism, attentiveness and enthusiasm, great!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Really nice barista, the customer service was lovely. My cappuccino was so good, really smooth and foamy. Plenty of seating options, overall great vibes, definitely coming back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Coffee and Madelines

Love the service and the coffee is delicious. They roast and responsibly source their own coffee beans.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Heerlijk romige cappuccino