This one of several Java Junction coffee places around Santa Cruz and this one has by far the best location. There is a private -that is to say, for pay- lot which is pretty much the best parking here. Don't want to pay for parking? in the winter-that is to say after labor- day parking is free both on the side streets and alongside twin lakes beach, which is right next door. In the summer you'll need to take care with the street/beach parking as it's permit only. Conveniently (sort of) the city puts out a kiosk which sells single day permits for 8 dollars cash only. Inside there is a small uncomfortable counter section, a small number of tables/chairs and an extensive amount of outdoor beach seating, just behind the twin lakes beach volleyball court. Also offers a great view of walton lighthouse. Most people come here to get food/coffee to go. When the weather is co operative the outdoor seating is the totally the way to go. When the weather is colder/rainy, the inside will fill up very quickly. The espresso is, as near as I can tell from from a helpful but not terribly knowledgeable counter worker, their own roast/grind which may or may not be from Java Bob's. For those of you not from Santa Cruz this means it's a local brand. Typically I go for a standard latte for (current cost-4.30) and it's everything you'd want in a latte. They have a larger then expected breakfast/lunch menu. While the breakfast is heavy on bagel choices the lunch menu offers a fairly extensive selection of sandwiches. The sandwiches are very popular as there are not really any casual food places nearby. While coffee is consistently good verging on great, the food isn't . Don't get me wrong. It's entirely possible to get a really good meal here, somewhat harder to get a great sandwich two or three times in a row. Pricing is slightly higher then the area standard. A coffee and a sweet will run about 4-7 dollars depending on choices made. Theoretically breakfast/lunch can be kept down to 6-7 bucks or so, but adding chips, a drink, or lox will put you in the ten dollar minimum range. This is a perfect place to have a nice cuppa and enjoy the beach. read more

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We walked in for a coffee right before close. All signs were on and we were on vacation. They refused to serve us and told us to leave. This was all fine. As we were leaving we jokingly said we'd never come back...I.e. we're on vacation and probably won't be able to come again. The woman shutting the doors said "that's fine, we don't care." Santa Cruz had been a wonderful place with wonderful people...right up until that wretched woman being rude to people visiting her town. read more

Java Junction - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

So bad, so bad, so bad. Coffee genuinely terrible and the rudest, bitchiest baristas making it. Really shocking!

Service was incredible. The assistant manager Delphi was extremely helpful and made the experience quite delightful. 10/10 would recommend to my friends. To be honest, she should be promoted pronto. read more

Cute coffee place at the Santa Cruz Harbor. It was a windy day at the beach so I ordered a Mexican mocha with almond milk. Nice and cinnamon-y! There are a couple tables outside to sit. read more

Java Junction - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Amazing coffee - one of my absolute favorite especially if you get the right barista!

Yeah, well, we don't come here anymore. Tired of the me-me mentality. Lack of service and the clueless blonde mentality have done it in for us. read more

The BEST bagel with lox ever! Friendly service and a wide array of drinks to choose from. We ordered a chai iced tea, a frozen caramel mocha, and a smoothie (I forgot what it was called something with "monkey" in it( which was made from banana and peanut butter. All drinks were top notch except for the Chai which was so spicy it made my lips numb. However, in their defense they did ask if I wanted the chai sweet or spicy, I chose spicy not realizing how spicy a chai tea can be. We also ordered a bagel w strawberry cream cheese and another w lox and capers. Both bagels were amazing! read more

Inconsistent. Sometimes the lattes are delicious and the barista has learned how to properly steam milk and other times it tastes like someone just heated up milk and added to coffee. So it goes. Great location so I appreciate the convenience of morning coffee at the beach. read more

This place is fantastic, best coffee from barista (I think named Hannah) so kind and great customer service. Will be coming back!

3 of us walked in @ Noon on Sunday June 11th and no one else in line, after @ 30-45 seconds watching a young woman count bills in the open register she said "We're closed for a few minutes". Okay, so we sat outside, the reason we came, and looked at the beach view. We were called back after 5 minutes to give our mocha drink orders. $18.75 later, we recieved our warm drinks @ 5 minutes. Half way through my drink I requested a coffee warmer. I was told, after explaining it was a shot/refill of coffee in my drink, "We dont do that", she dismissed. Okay! Well when Java Junction gets it's staff training together, I suggest they explain some facts of good service to their new (one was starting that day) and existing employees. It takes more than black dyed hair, tatoos and piercings ( all 4 staff ) to serve coffee to the public. I have done fine dining service in S.F. for more than 25 years and I made good living."Try it, you'll like it", and people like you better. read more

Walked in today after a harbor walk with my friend. I ordered an ice tea and she ordered a smoothie. The girl at the counter said, "we close in one minute" with a shitty look on her face. My friend said, "but you're still open, right?", which was a rhetorical question as we'd just walked in wide open doors. And the rocket scientist behind the counter repeated her mantra. We got two iced teas for the bottom barrel price of only $8. The person pouring them put her filthy mitts all over everything, including the entire lid. Never ever again will I give this place one cent. Horrible customer service and attitude. read more

Rating scale for occupyadventure couple: Genuine: 1 Correct order: 1 Cleanliness: 0 Value: 0 Overall taste: 0 OVERALL FOR EACH OF US: Occupyadventure: *Bathroomwas gross and flooded out. -1 *COST 18$ Excluding tip for two coffees an eggle and a small coffee cake. -1 *coffee was good. Ordered a white mocha. +1 Missoccupyadventure: *My coffee was not hot. -1 *I asked to add egg after i ordered and they were very nice about it. Cost an additional 3$. They were really nice about it. +1 read more

Best place for a cappuccino in Santa Cruz! Super friendly staff, gorgeous photography, amazing view right on the beach, yummy bagels, what else can you ask for?! I'll definitely be back! read more

Java Junction - Best cappuccino ever! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Service here is great. Especially from the sassy rad male cashier.. I don't know his name.. but he makes great smoothies and bagels 10/10

Great coffee and bagels, friendly service, and you cannot beat the view of the ocean, jetties, lighthouse, and harbor. So glad another cafe opened in place of the recently closed Kind Grind!!! Plus you can have dogs on leash on the back patio. I'll be back. read more

Java Junction - From out on the patio in back - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This is my favorite coffee shop in all of Santa Cruz. Their wifi is fast, their turkey & avocado sandwiches or simple but fresh and yummy, the owner always brings my food to my table and clears out what I ate before. I spend every morning here on Wednesday's. It gets a little loud sometimes so I usually wear my headphone and answer emails instead of client calls. The beach front view is my favorite part. Friendly and fast service. I will miss this place when I move next month. read more

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Great location. I would probably go here often if the staff could learn how to toast a croissant. If they carried Chill Out breakfast burritos like the one on Seabright, I would be hooked. As it is now, you're better off making good coffee at home. read more

Great coffee. Minimal seats inside, but more outside. I am a coffee addict/Junkie/ I would die without it! I can't express that enough. My family and I just moved into the area so this is the closest coffee place within walking distance for me, aside from my kitchen. I am pleased to know I can get good coffee and on the beach. What's better than good coffee on the beach with a book in hand? Nothing!! The seating on the inside didn't really bother me because I'd much rather be outside with the gorgeous view. If this is a issue for you I would get there earlier. I wish they had bathrooms in the establishment instead of walking outside to use the outdoor restrooms, but it is what it is and at least they keep them in good condition. So all in all I am a happy camper as long as I have a coffee in hand read more

Java Junction - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Not sure why this location can't make a good blended coffee "freeze" unlike the other 2 locations which make an awesome one. I have been here several times when I'm not near the other locations and every time the drink is awful. It is not a milkshake consistency, it is liquid almost like an iced latte, with big chunks of ice. Maybe they need a new blender. Go to the other locations if you want a blended coffee. And yes I agree with other reviewers, the staff here is not very attentive either. read more

I've given these guys a try so many times and every time they seem to let me down for one reason or another... today was no exception. I was finally at the front of the line and the person who was supposed to take care of me never acknowledged I was there and instead shouts out "I need to make bagels! Someone else can take orders." Okay maybe she's busy but she did just take 5 minutes to chat up the customer in front of me. However the icing on the cake is after my order was finally finished, my 2 large chia teas were only filled 80% full. How rude! read more

Love the location and the view. I have also heard that the coffee is fantastic. But as a non-coffee drinker - please get better Chai Lattes - or at least offer different versions! They are so bitter and I have a sweet tooth... read more

Super rude staff. The staff person had no problem bending over backwards for her friends order which had all sorts of special stuff added to it. But oh no, I made her reach for another lemonade, that clearly had more than the others, and she rolls her eyes, then stares at her coworker and gives me a face. Girl please. I wasn't the only one that day that got crappy service. I would just go visit another java junction location, unless you want to be treated like shit or have friends who work there. read more

The location of Java Junction is perfect! Right on the beach and next to some other eateries. This summer I went here every week with people I worked with at a camp. It is walking distance from Twin Lakes Beach, which is really nice when you need an afternoon pick-me-up. The staff here is overall friendly and accommodating, but usually they are in a rush due to the long lines this place draws. One of the baristas though helped me create a cherry iced tea. It wasn't as good as we both had hoped, but it was kind of him to help me figure out what I wanted in my drink. The drinks here are average. Nothing special, but nothing bad either. I stick to the basics here: lattes, iced coffees, ect. I heavily advice AGAINST their Mexican Mocha (really any of their Mexican drinks -it's pure spices) and Dirty Chai Mocha. Both drinks are pretty disgusting, as in no one on my staff would drink more than two sips. So glad a coffee place opened here again! I do miss the gelato The Kind Grind served though.... read more

Extremely slow service. Do not stop by unless you have 15-20 minutes to wait for a black coffee and a bagel

Location is amazing! I've only been here once and my initial impression was good. My coffee was pretty average and the breakfast sandwich on a bagel was OK. Nothing to write home about but serves the purpose with a spectacular view. Major turn off: a barista with a very booming voice - so loud it was hard to concentrate. I also got more details than I needed about her Saturday shenanigans. I wouldn't recommend but I wouldn't rule this place out either. read more

Awesome location but terrible, terrible coffee. Light roast was so bad I have to scrape it off of my teeth, the chai latte was undrinkable and the cappuccino was too hot, and gross. Such a shame a coffee person doesn't run this place..... All the ingredients for an incredible cafe yet the actual business lets it down. Been several times and never had a decent cup of anything. Guess I will have to have a margarita instead at the Polomar read more

Limited seating inside but lots of seating outside looking over the ocean and the lighthouse. Love it here

This coffee shop is my ideal place to grab a cup of coffee. The food and drinks are well priced and are really good. The baristas are so friendly and willing to make any drink modifications. I couldn't be happier, and the best part is that it's located on a beautiful beach! read more

This is my absolute favorite coffee shop. The atmosphere, the service and the view are winning. Baristas really take their time to make a quality product and it shows. Try the monkey business smoothie, it does not disappoint. read more

I ordered an iced white chocolate mocha from here while on vacation. It was fabulous. It wasn't too sweet and had a nice, strong espresso flavor. Still thinking about it days later so yeah, it was great. Only 4 stars because it was a bit pricey but it is on the beach. If I was in the area again, I'd come back. read more

Best almond milk lattes in town! My favorite spot to come and enjoy a cup of coffee on Sunday morning!

This place is in trouble. The personnel is rude and does not care about customers. Hot coffee does not taste right and it is not hot. We will never return. read more

We ordered a frozen mocha and regular coffee. The frozen Mocha had a weird bad taste to it so much so that we had to throw it away. The regular coffee was lukewarm. This place doesn't know how to make coffee. Best avoided! read more

The parking was a nightmare from hell.It is awful that the crudsnest Resraunt has over half the parking lot closed off for there own use every day of the year.after sitting through a long line of crawling traffic I parked went inside got my Cofy and scone I think or stone whatever Togo walked out and had a ticket for being in the spot more than 30 min . Yes there are painfully slow in there but it don't take half hour to get my stuff and leave. Found out those tickets are 85$ .that was the most expensive Cofy I ever baught.I noticed that there were double parkers and trucks and Personel vehicles parked all around the property Not in parking spots .In my frustration I asked the worker out front smoking why and she said only our customers parked in front of our spot get tickets whether ur there 1 min or 29 or the limit 30 WTF worse yet they gave me decafe heartbreak I almost cried don't forget to get a cold stone scone read more