This was a solid matcha spot! I discovered this matcha place through urmomashley on YouTube! The matcha was strong and a beautiful green color as you can tell from the picture. I got the banana matcha, and the cream top was light and creamy. There was definitely a real banana flavor in the cream, but not too banana-y. My boyfriend was really looking forward to trying the guava matcha latte, but they were not selling it at the time. Overall, I loved this place and I would definitely come back to try the other matcha and hojicha drinks! read more

Academic Coffee - Matcha Latte with Pandan Syrup, Banana Matcha Latte - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

It was first time coming here in a while and I wanted to try something new. Matcha Halo (3/5): This was matcha on top of coconut water. I thought the flavors didn't blend too well together and it was difficult for the thick matcha cream to blend perfectly with the coconut water. I've never been amazed about this place but I would give this place another shot. read more

Academic Coffee - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

Solid latte made with quality roasted beans. Service was pretty mediocre, I arrived after the morning rush and before the lunch rush, so I am clueless as to why we had to wait so long to order. I appreciate the value they place on art with some trade and for purchase items at the pick up counter. read more

Hojicha Banana Latte -- hojicha and banana flavors were very subtle and bland, it tasted more like milk. Pumpkin Spice Latte -- more latte flavor than pumpkin spice flavor. Bland and not as flavorful. We went around hour before they closed, all the best sellers were gone which was understandable. Overall flavors of the flavored drinks were not too strong and more subtle. read more

Academic Coffee - Menu - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

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Came here on a friday afternoon and there was no line! Luckily we were able to snag a metered parking spot right out front as well. I ordered the matcha with guava cream and WOW the guava cream was delicious!!! I loooove guava so I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor and loved the sprinkle of li hint mui on top! Tbh, the matcha itself was just ok, I wish I knew I could get guava matcha. But I feel like the matcha itself wasn't sweet enough? Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but for $9, I prob won't get it again. read more

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dirty chai w/ almond milk, half sweet! flavor was good and the espresso was there, not lost in the chai or almond milk. i do think oat milk or regular milk would be better in terms of texture but i would still get this again! the cups are super cute!! read more

Academic Coffee - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

Academic Coffee in Downtown San Jose is my caffeine love story. Just a short walk from my new place, it feels like such a treat to have them so close by. I truly appreciate that they're still around--and honestly, more popular than ever. $10 for a 16 oz drink? I regret nothing each time. The Guava Matcha is my current obsession. It's only available Thursday through Sunday, so plan to come early! If it happens to be sold out, the Banana Matcha steps in as the sweet rebound. Indoor seating? Eh..tight and not exactly cozy. Outdoor seating? Much better, but tables are limited and a little too close for comfort. Most days, I just grab my drink and enjoy it while I walk home. The lines can get long, but the service is always impressively quick. And let's not forget the glazed donut! if you know, you know. I'm just glad they offer it here because it's the perfect pairing with my drink. read more

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3 stars. I came because of the strong reviews and walked over from my hotel. The pastries were good, but the coffee was fairly flavorless. Not a bad experience by any means, just not one that lived up to the expectations set by the overall rating. read more

Solid Hojicha latte. Despite there being a rather long line, the wait was only about 5-10 minutes. I couldn't hear when they called names while waiting outside, but the person who was behind me in line, graciously let me know. There is both an indoor and outdoor area. Indoor is more for waiting while the outdoor area is nice to have small conversation. read more

Academic Coffee - Hojicha Latte - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

One of my favorite matcha spots in the area! I've been to both locations 1-2 times and always crave the matcha when I haven't had it for awhile. I've been a big fan of the flavored matchas they've had -- both the banana and guava matchas are delicious and have a great blend of flavors (didn't get to try the melon one ) Parking can be a little tough since it's mostly street parking, but we've been able to find a spot nearby within walking distance every time. There is usually always a line, but the ordering process moves quickly and they're quick with making the drinks too. I wouldn't personally bring work to the cafe to do since foot traffic is high and it's always bustling, but it's a great spot to chat with friends! read more

Academic Coffee - Banana matcha, guava matcha - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

Food: - We went to try their famous guava matcha but they only have it Thursdays-Saturdays I believe? Which was a bit disappointing - Ended up going with the banana and strawberry matcha - $9 for each matcha - Not very creamy and did not have a strong matcha flavor in my opinion - Not worth the price in my opinion - 5/10 Service: - Servers were friendly - Helped us figure out what to pick - 9/10 Ambiance: - Very busy - Hard to park around there but it is downtown - Lots of students were there around lunchtime - Nice lighting from the sun - Not many places to sit and drink - 7/10 Overall Rating: 6/10 read more

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Yesterday, discovered on instagram that there was a collab for this double guava matcha latte. On the menu it's called guava matcha with guava cream, but double guava matcha latte does have a nice ring to it . So price-wise, I was pretty surprised how much it cost ($9!!!!). I was already there so I had to get it. I don't think I've paid this much for a matcha latte before, but I need to know the taste cause it sounded so delicious! The taste did not disappoint! The guava cream is a must for it (you do have an option to have without it but it adds such a creamy sweet taste to it). The matcha was not bitter and it went really with the guava puree and guava cream (which was not overly sweet), and it's finished with some li hing powder dusted on top. I would highly recommend trying at least once! My husband got the pandan latte. I got to try it and felt like it needs more pandan flavor to it cause it was super subtle. I wouldn't recommend getting that one. read more

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Stopped by on a Saturday around 3PM and was surprised to see if was still pretty busy! Thankfully the line wasn't too long, but it did get longer while I waited for my drink. (Surprising to me considering they close at 4PM, but now I can see why -- because their drinks are so good!) I ordered a matcha latte while my husband ordered the Banana Matcha Latte and our friend ordered the Guava Matcha with Guava Cream (and one of the remaining donuts!). The gal at the register was kind, and we didn't wait too long for our drinks to come out. Our drinks were delicious and I would definitely return to pick up a Banana Matcha or another seasonal special. Our friend did note that he wishes there was a version of the Guava Matcha where the base was just matcha and then the guava flavor came from the foam on top - similar to how the banana matcha is. He overall liked the drink but felt he was getting a bit of a guava overload. The space is small-ish and based off reviews it looked like they rearranged furniture, but the layout overall isn't my favorite. They're doing their best to work with what they got on top of all the foot traffic they're getting though! Also wanted to note that we were in the area already so we parked elsewhere and walked to the cafe. I could definitely see how parking could be difficult. Next time I'm in the area I would 100% stop by to treat myself to a drink! :) read more

Academic Coffee - Banana Matcha Latte and regular Matcha Latte - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

IG has been telling me to go try the guava matcha so since i was in the area i decided to drop by. I went around 1pm so there wasn't a huge line but my drink did take a little while to make. I got the guava matcha with cream ($9), i prefer mine with oak milk (+ $0.50). There weren't too many pastry choices left but the curry potato bourek ($7) sounded yummy. Also bought some coffee beans home, it was slim pickings but my husband said the Ethiopia Hama Limu ($22 and a $1 discount off any drink) was a good choice! Well, that guava matcha was so good. I should've gotten double cream and that's definitely what I'd do if i go back again. That cream is straight up guava dessert. The sprinkle of li hung on top gave it that sour, spicy flavor. The matcha was smooth and velvety! Yum! I'm not sure who makes the pastries but the puff pastry was also perfectly flakey and buttery! I enjoyed the spiced potato filling too, my only complaint is there wasn't more to enjoy. Def going again when we are in the neighborhood! read more

Academic Coffee - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

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First time trying hojicha, and wow Academic Coffee did not disappoint. I got the banana crème hojicha, and it was honestly incredible. Smooth, nutty, a little toasty, and just the right amount of sweet. It somehow tastes like a cozy dessert without being heavy. The shop itself has a really relaxed vibe, with friendly baristas and that perfect mix of quiet energy that makes you feel productive just by being there. If you're on the fence about hojicha, start here. NEED TO TRY THE GUAVA MATCHA NEXT read more

Academic Coffee - Banana crème hojicha - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

It's the place to be on a Sunday morning. Came here at 9:30am and all the seats inside were taken. Luckily we wanted to try a few drinks and ordered for the road. All the drinks are made to order. My daughter is going for matcha everything and their banana matcha did not miss. Amazing flavors and worth the wait. Pandan latte was good as well. I ordered it hot and enjoyed it very much. He saw their savory pastry and had to have it. No oven/microwave so it was served room temp and was ok to me but he enjoyed the hardiness of it and it was dense and quite filling. Enjoyed our orders and if we were in town, we would stop by again. read more

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Atmosphere Academic Coffee is such a popular matcha/coffee spot in San Jose! The cafe itself is pretty spacious, and when I walked in there was just a short line to order, but lots of people hanging around waiting for drinks (always a good sign). Tons of outdoor seating too, which is perfect for a nice day. Only downside--no parking lot, so it's all street parking. What I Ordered Banana Matcha Guava Matcha The guava matcha was sooo pretty I couldn't resist ordering it. The Experience The guava matcha ended up being my fave--I honestly didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was super refreshing and paired so well with the matcha. My friend got the banana matcha and was obsessed--he said he could easily drink the whole thing without it feeling too heavy. Final Thoughts Lowkey loved this spot more than a lot of Bay Area matcha places I've tried. I'd 100% come back, either to try more fun drinks or just to get the guava matcha again. read more

Academic Coffee - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

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! read more

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Line can go out the door. Lattes can cost $9. If you're a big matcha head/ or are super critical on coffee, this might not be for you. I like their lattes because of their fusion of seasonal flavors and uniqueness. I like their old "Melon Matcha" more but they no longer have it on the menu. This time I got the banana matcha and guava matcha. I like the uniqueness of the Guava, but I'd prefer the banana matcha if my goal was to finish the whole drink. Make sure to add money to your meter if you park on the street, I saw parking enforcement checking meters and giving tickets. There are some seats inside and more outdoor on their patio. read more

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Quite busy on a Saturday afternoon. We came for the banana cream matcha lattes but unfortunately there was a sign by the cashier saying that they were out of banana for the day (included all the banana drinks). I got an iced strawberry matcha latte with regular whole milk and it was quite delicious! Tried a bit of the strawberry matcha latte with oat milk and I liked my latte with whole milk better. Tried some of the orange dream latte too but we weren't huge fans of this drink. Parking is mostly nearby metered parking. Indoor and outdoor seating both available. read more

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We've been to this location a couple of times, and I will say I prefer this one. The banana matcha here is the best I've had in the bay area, but this time I wanted to try the new guava matcha. From what I saw on Instagram, I expected there to be a guava cream top and a guava puree, but there's no puree. Cream top was just okay. I think it's on the thinner side in terms of consistency and guava flavor was not as strong as I would prefer. The matcha itself was good. Over all, 3/5 for this drink. Get the banana matcha instead. I would really only come here for specialty drinks. As for a regular matcha or hojicha latte, they would not be my top choice. We waited around 45 minutes from when we arrived to when we got our drinks (weekend afternoon). read more

Academic Coffee - hojicha latte, guava matcha, jasmine passion fruit tea (L to R) - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

Had Academic Coffee bookmarked for a while and during our most recent trip up to San Jose, I was able to finally give it a try. I think I first heard about Academic Coffee on instagram and they had a pandan latte featured. I love everything pandan so I just had to go and give it a try. I got an order of their pandan latte with whole milk and my husband got a hojicha latte with oat milk. Honestly, not a huge fan of the pandan latte. The pandan was very subtle and the espresso they used was also very subtle. I'm used to the pandan coffees that we get at Vietnamese cafes so this was definitely a change. My husband's hojicha latte was OK -- nothing mind blowing or anything. I've had better but I've also had worse. Overall, decent but not really my preference. They're super popular though! read more

Academic Coffee - Pandan coffee - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

Due for an updated review and happy to say Academic is and has been a frequent since the viral Banana Matcha Latte, yeah I hopped on that bandwagon. I've had the pleasure of stopping in for matcha whether it was the seasonal banana, standard latte or honey matcha latte. Their pastries are also delicious, my go to is their Chocolate Croissant. This location in particular churns out drinks quickly but made consistently well. The staff is friendly. Love the bright light of the interior and the outdoor patio seating area. Always plenty of street parking nearby, so haven't had any issues. WiFi and password is noted on each table. There is also a bathroom available. read more

Academic Coffee - Matcha Latte and Strawberry Matcha Latte - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

I love their melon matcha latte, which they unfortunately don't offer anymore. My next go-to is their banana pudding matcha, which is so decadent and creamy. Good amount of sweetness and banana flavor. Due to the matcha shortage, they no longer offer the double matcha cream but that used to be my favorite. Great cafe for coffee or matcha and has a few spots to sit. read more

Academic coffee is a little further of walk than other coffee shops that I frequent but the walk was worth it today! It's always packed in here so make sure you allow for some wait time but otherwise I would say it's definitely worth a try... The ambiance is bright and buzzing just like their double melon matcha! If you want the foam make sure you order it as a double, it cost extra but we had a few people in our group who were disappointed there's didn't come with a foam top. They also have a pineapple tea and other tea variants but I would say they're known for their matcha! For a while they went viral because of the banana matcha but they don't have that anymore. read more

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I stopped by Academic Coffee in San Jose while I was in the area for a work thing, and of course, the one drink I really wanted was the guava matcha and of course it was unavailable, due to it being seasonal. Classic timing. Instead, the barista recommended the strawberry matcha, and honestly, it was pretty good. The balance between the strawberry and matcha was well done, and I appreciated that it wasn't overly milky, which let the matcha flavor still come through. One important note though: please mix it really well. If you don't, you'll end up with big sips of strawberry jam or syrup at the bottom, which throws off the experience a bit. Also, the space itself is pretty small, so don't expect to come here to hang out for long or get work done. It's more of a quick stop-and-go kind of spot. Overall, a solid stop with good recommendations and quality drinks--but I'll definitely need to come back specifically for that guava matcha next time. read more

Timing: I usually come by when I work at the office after lunch for a sweet coffee treat. I usually order the pandan latte but saw they had the banana latte, so I opted for that. My friend got the honey matcha drink. Service: I asked them to see if they can add pandan syrup to the matcha and they said no, not sure why, didn't get an explanation. We also asked where the matcha is sourced from and which business and all they said it's ceremonial premium grade matcha, which doesn't really say much since those are "buzz" words but it seems like they use good matcha. Came here many times and cannot say they are known for their service but drinks are good. Food: The banana latte - cream tastes good but there's definitely some masking of the burnt taste of the espresso. The pastries are delicious, especially the donuts from Stans! Had more of a grab and go experience so cannot say much about hanging around here. read more

Academic Coffee - Vanilla buttermilk donut - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

I ordered the guava matcha with guava cream, and I loved it. The matcha itself was pretty strong considering the drinks base was flavored. The guava cream was sweet and kind of salty? It was really well balanced so that the drink itself wasn't too sweet. The cashier and barista were super kind, too! read more

Absolutely loved the creativity of the drinks! The matcha was super strong and well balanced by the banana cream. Highly recommend the piloncillo if you like a cinnamon latte. read more

Academic Coffee - Piloncillo latte with oat milk and banana cream matcha with oat milk - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

I saw some posts on their banana cream latte and really wanted to try it. They unfortunately don't make that one anymore so if you were coming just for that specifically, sorry to disappoint. I settled for the regular matcha latte instead. It was very mid, nothing special. There isn't a lot of matcha flavor and it also doesn't come with any cream/foam top (which I think would've made the drink a lot better). I also got to get a sip of the melon one, it was very sweet and made the matcha taste diluted. Overall, I wouldn't come back but it was nice to try something new other than ceretea or Izumi. The service was good, didn't get to get a pastry either but it's from a bakery in sf and heard good things about it. There's a little parking lot so getting here was convenient. read more

Academic Coffee - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

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Cafe on a corner street with outdoor seating. Small cafe with some seatings inside. I got the double melon matcha and the server described it as a melon melona mixed with matcha. The drink is on the sweeter side but great melon flavor. Subtle matcha flavor. The melon goes well if you aren't looking for a strong matcha flavor. The strawberry matcha had fresh strawberry syrup in it and that was the sweetener for the matcha. Strong matcha and subtle strawberry flavor. read more

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A friend and I came around 9am on a Tuesday to grab matcha and try to get some light work done. We found and paid for street parking a block down, which was limited to 2 hours. The space is pretty small, with one large table with 2 stools, and one smaller table with a chair near the front window, and two chairs with small side tables along the side. There was also some more seating/small tables outside, but we hoped to stay inside due to the weather. The service is friendly and quick. I got the seasonal matcha with citrus cream foam, and I was expecting this to taste like a orange creamsicle, but it turned out to be pretty spot on to what the worker described it as - kind of like a key lime pie. The flavor was very unique, but I don't think the citrus worked as well with the matcha latte as I would've hoped, but regardless the foam and matcha separately were both excellent quality! We managed to grab two seats at the table and get some work done for about 2 hours before leaving. There are outlets, and though there was music playing and it got a lot busier with a line of people waiting the noise was definitely manageable with noise canceling headphones. Academic Coffee has really good quality and tasty drinks, and is a nice spot for grabbing a quick drink, but I probably wouldn't recommend coming here to try to get a lot of work done due to the space and parking limitations. Just come for the drinks :) read more

Academic Coffee - seasonal orange cream matcha - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

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My favorite coffee and matcha place. Pricey but really good. Very decadent cold foams. All of their seasonal flavors are good. Their drinks run sweet though so I always ask for less sugar in mine. It can take a bit of time to get drinks cause it gets busy, but the service is overall fast. I will say i had the piloncillo latte once and it was terrible. Very watery and no coffee flavor. read more

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Speaking for only the melon matcha- 5/5! I love flavored matcha so this was really delicious to me. It didn't taste too milky and the melon does overpower the matcha but it's so yummy. Reminds me of melon milk but without the heaviness of cream/milk flavor. They made my drink very fast. *Get a Stan's donut, you WONT REGRET IT. The glazed donut literally melted in my mouth. Not much seating but there is an indoor and outdoor space. Only downside is finding parking (look along the purple mural or down 1st/market st.) read more

Academic Coffee - Melon matcha latte with oat milk - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

I would say this place is good, but not amazing. I didn't check all they per before going and I was not expecting the lines, the hype and the TikTok crews. I found it as a local to my hotel and open at the time I planned to head out. The line was wrapped around the building with all seats, inside and out, occupied. The line moved reasonably fast and the cashier was kind when I asked a few questions. I went with the banana cream pie because of the uniqueness. I think the smell was stronger than the flavor. The coffee was good, and when mixed, it was fine, but that's just it. It was just fine, not stand out brilliant and to die for. Next time I would skip to a spot with less hype. I walked over, but the shop is in an area with limited street parking. On a busy day, this would be a very tricky stop! read more

Academic Coffee - Banana cream hojicha iced latte - after drinking and mixing. - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

Tried their banana matcha and it did not meet my expectations for $9. The drink was half cream and there was barely any banana flavor whatsoever. The matcha taste also wasn't there and it tasted more like milk. The worker at the front wasn't friendly or welcoming either. read more

Academic Coffee - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

The melon matcha is such a superior drink. It's sweet and the taste of the melon hits you right off the bat. I personally rate this a 10/10. I thought the honey matcha would also tastes sweet, but it tasted weird. Idk if it's got to do with the honey or something. I didn't like this drink. read more

Academic Coffee - Melon Matcha & Matcha Honey - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

Parking might be hard around this Academic since it's in the downtown area! Luckily, we found a spot on the street to park in. We came around 10:30AM on a Sunday and the store was PACKED and all the seats were taken. However, there was a short line and we waited around 10 minutes for our drinks. The staff were very friendly and helpful! I got the Melon Matcha Latte, and IT WAS SO GOOD!! I feel like added flavors at other places are usually so overpowering that I can't taste the matcha itself, but the Melon Matcha Latte here had a nice balance between the melon flavor and matcha! It was so fragrant and refreshing, I can't wait to come back! read more

Academic Coffee - Melon Matcha Latte - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

we stopped by on a saturday morning & it was pretty packed but the service was quick and we got our orders quickly after ordering. The banana matcha is yummy, i appreciate they did not skimp on the matcha part(as they should for a 9 dollar drink), i do wish the banana was stronger, the flavor is barely noticeable. The matcha was good over all and i enjoyed it! read more

Academic Coffee - banana matcha - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

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Originally came for the banana matcha that was viral all over tiktok, sadly it was a seasonal drink. Food: Double Matcha Melon Latte, Hojicha Latte, Chocolate Old Fashioned Donut. Melon Latte tasted just like the honeydew melona bar which i thought was nice and not too sweet. Adjusted the sweetness level on hojicha which made it perfect. Donut was actually nice and not too dense or sweet. read more

Academic Coffee - Chocolate Old Fashioned Donut - Bakeries Near Me - San Jose, California

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