Great tea and lovely customer service but odd location and hard for parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eddy G
Academic Coffee is an odd little spot. It’s right in the driveway entrance to a parking garage for an apartment building, and the entrance is kinda tucked around the opposite side of the building from the parking. Also, beware if you have a car that’s even remotely low to the ground. The entrance to the parking lot is extremely steep, and you can bottom out very easily.
All that strangeness aside, the drinks here seem pretty solid. Although a bit expensive. I got the banana cream matcha latte and was pretty happy with it.
The shop itself was pretty nice, but a little small. I was also a little bummed that they didn’t have any sort of microwave or oven to quickly heat up their backed goods.
Overall, not a bad spot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Waylon Chan
Parking is tough and restricted
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Lila S
Stopped by Academic Coffee in Santa Clara around 9:30am and ordered the banana cream matcha—and honestly, that drink alone deserves 5 stars. It was delicious, not overly sweet, and you can clearly taste both the banana and the matcha without one overpowering the other. Smooth, balanced, and really well done.
That said, the overall experience brought the rating down a bit. When I walked in, there was no greeting or simple “hello,” and I noticed the same with others coming in while I waited. The guy who took my order just said “what can I get you” with no eye contact, which didn’t feel very welcoming. Not a huge deal, but a friendly vibe goes a long way—especially at a coffee shop.
Parking is also pretty rough. There are only 6–30 minute spots, which were completely full, and some cars were clearly parked longer than allowed. I got lucky with street parking, but it could easily be a hassle.
Overall, amazing drink, but the lack of warmth and difficult parking brought it to 3.5 stars. I’d come back for the matcha, just hoping for a more welcoming experience next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Hanna Lin
I had a hot pandan latte, which was just ok. I might go back to try something else though. I felt a bit of a rush by the staff when placing the order, and she didn't smile. It was 9am and they weren't really busy. The shop had cute sitting for small group inside, but plenty of chairs and tables outside the beautiful front yard. There was free parking on the side and the back of the building.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Elaine Wang
Matcha was pretty yummy here! I like the banana cream from bloom bagels more but the banana cream here was not bad. My sister's seasonal drink the cranberry strawberry matcha was better imo, the jam made it thicker which I liked.
Be careful pulling into the parking lot if your car is closer to the ground, the dip is huge so it could hit the bottom of your car as you go over it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emily Shaffer
The coffee and pastries are great. But for some reason the seating area doesn't make you want to linger - wobbly chairs at the espresso bar, no power outlets anywhere. Kind of a bummer, I'd prefer to sit and continue buying drinks all day but I only have as long as my laptop battery.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anne Branch
My first trip here, went for their signature banana latte and once I got to my car and drove away to taste it, it was luke warm...so sad. Tastes pretty good but had to go home and warm it up.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Aimee Huang
drink is good no indoor seating there is a long line on weekends
amag13
The coffee is great. The pandan latte is a staple for me. The baristas are friendly and the pastries are also top tier. I like the ham and cheese croissant a lot. But the parking situation is so bad haha
Ordered a hot matcha latte - came out lukewarm. Asked for a remake, which was also lukewarm, not hot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Marcel
Fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kris Hopkins
The taste of the guava matcha was not well balanced for me, but I like guava a lot so it was still enjoyable. The banana matcha was much better in my opinion. The line was intimidatingly long, even though it goes fast. Overall my experience was positive, it is a good place to study and the staff are nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Hadleigh Painter
Food sells out so be mindful! Parking is suuuper limited to maybe 7 spots so I had to park across the street and walk over. Great drink offerings though! Indoor seating is limited but there’s plenty outside
Great tea and lovely customer service but odd location and hard for parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Academic Coffee is an odd little spot. It’s right in the driveway entrance to a parking garage for an apartment building, and the entrance is kinda tucked around the opposite side of the building from the parking. Also, beware if you have a car that’s even remotely low to the ground. The entrance to the parking lot is extremely steep, and you can bottom out very easily.
All that strangeness aside, the drinks here seem pretty solid. Although a bit expensive. I got the banana cream matcha latte and was pretty happy with it.
The shop itself was pretty nice, but a little small. I was also a little bummed that they didn’t have any sort of microwave or oven to quickly heat up their backed goods.
Overall, not a bad spot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Parking is tough and restricted
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Stopped by Academic Coffee in Santa Clara around 9:30am and ordered the banana cream matcha—and honestly, that drink alone deserves 5 stars. It was delicious, not overly sweet, and you can clearly taste both the banana and the matcha without one overpowering the other. Smooth, balanced, and really well done.
That said, the overall experience brought the rating down a bit. When I walked in, there was no greeting or simple “hello,” and I noticed the same with others coming in while I waited. The guy who took my order just said “what can I get you” with no eye contact, which didn’t feel very welcoming. Not a huge deal, but a friendly vibe goes a long way—especially at a coffee shop.
Parking is also pretty rough. There are only 6–30 minute spots, which were completely full, and some cars were clearly parked longer than allowed. I got lucky with street parking, but it could easily be a hassle.
Overall, amazing drink, but the lack of warmth and difficult parking brought it to 3.5 stars. I’d come back for the matcha, just hoping for a more welcoming experience next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
I had a hot pandan latte, which was just ok. I might go back to try something else though. I felt a bit of a rush by the staff when placing the order, and she didn't smile. It was 9am and they weren't really busy. The shop had cute sitting for small group inside, but plenty of chairs and tables outside the beautiful front yard. There was free parking on the side and the back of the building.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Matcha was pretty yummy here! I like the banana cream from bloom bagels more but the banana cream here was not bad. My sister's seasonal drink the cranberry strawberry matcha was better imo, the jam made it thicker which I liked.
Be careful pulling into the parking lot if your car is closer to the ground, the dip is huge so it could hit the bottom of your car as you go over it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The coffee and pastries are great. But for some reason the seating area doesn't make you want to linger - wobbly chairs at the espresso bar, no power outlets anywhere. Kind of a bummer, I'd prefer to sit and continue buying drinks all day but I only have as long as my laptop battery.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
My first trip here, went for their signature banana latte and once I got to my car and drove away to taste it, it was luke warm...so sad. Tastes pretty good but had to go home and warm it up.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
drink is good
no indoor seating
there is a long line on weekends
The coffee is great. The pandan latte is a staple for me. The baristas are friendly and the pastries are also top tier. I like the ham and cheese croissant a lot. But the parking situation is so bad haha
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Ordered a hot matcha latte - came out lukewarm.
Asked for a remake, which was also lukewarm, not hot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The taste of the guava matcha was not well balanced for me, but I like guava a lot so it was still enjoyable. The banana matcha was much better in my opinion. The line was intimidatingly long, even though it goes fast. Overall my experience was positive, it is a good place to study and the staff are nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Food sells out so be mindful! Parking is suuuper limited to maybe 7 spots so I had to park across the street and walk over. Great drink offerings though! Indoor seating is limited but there’s plenty outside
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Delicious food and great coffee
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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