Busy busy cafe! I visited on a thursday around lunch time and the entire cafe was filled with people working remotely. Small line but drinks came out fast. Ordered a strawberry matcha and it was good! Exactly what I expected from their ceremonial matcha. Will return to try their caramel miso latte! read more

Been here couple times now - weekday and weekend. Interesting name- coming corporate usage of the word ...and having read many great reviews, finally had opportunity to check them out. Both visits tried different types of coffee and bakery items...and loved both times, the food, ambience and friendly service. Tried takeout hazelnut croissant ---loved the roasted whole crunch hazelnuts and flaky exterior hiding the chocolate chunks inside nicely. I think one of the best in a long time and paired with cappuccino which was just..close to perfect. Second visit while getting my wheels alignment nearby, took time to hang out there with their "pour over coffee " and chocolate croissants (I believe they source from outside the bakery items) which was served nicely by the smiling staff. The place is unique in itself due to variety of international coffee beans from Japan, South America...something will explore few of their popular coffee concoctions. Coming to few other aspects for folks wondering quick in n out, firstly finding a parking spot on the busy el Camino is a pain, and the cafe itself is not too big with many seating spots, with few coffee bar stools. And there is almost a wait line limiting 6 in ordering queue especially mornings on any day. It's worth the wait and plan for some time to enjoy that morning cuppa! read more

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I really enjoyed Kaizen and can't wait to come back! Parking is a bit of a challenge but that's the only bad thing I can say about Kaizen. There was a bit of a line to order but that's a sign of a good coffee shop, no? The line moved quickly and everyone seemed to enjoy their coffee after receiving it. I noticed the staff taking their time to explain the different options they have when people had questions which is excellent customer service. My husband and I decided on the ube and sesame drinks. From the first sip you can tell they use quality ingredients. Their sesame comes imported from Japan and it was delicious, it was earthy without being overbearing. It was easy to drink and I enjoyed to richness of the flavor. The salmon toast was out of this world. The milk bread was soft and tasty. There was plenty of lox, red onion, seasoning a capers. I think the pricing is fair and the shop itself is vibey, modern, upbeat, and welcoming. There aren't a ton of seats but we def enjoyed sitting at the bar top area and watching the baristas work their magic. read more

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This the type of place to enter a performative flow state. Minimalist interior, friendly baristas, great drinks, great bites to eat. Went on a rainy day, I felt so zen. read more

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I LOVE going to coffee shops specifically for the coffee but most importantly, the overall vibe that you get to experience as a customer and as an observer. The coffee and toast: BOMB. I had the matcha latte and the PB and Banana toast. What a phenomenal pairing that was in my mouth! I especially loved that I was able to watch them put their TLC touch since I was sitting at the bar. Lastly, this is a shout out to the coffee barista crew and the manager who hired them. I have NEVER witnessed such a unique bunch of individuals who truly bring their best selves and energy to work and I could feel it and see it. The encouragement, the smiles and laughter is infectious...I've been to MANY coffee shops, and by far this was a scene that I would imagine myself feeling good coming in and leaving amazing upon exit. Mr./ Ms. Manager - you are very lucky with this group of gems. Note: They passed out mango bit chocolates to everyone and I got a free coffee! Thank goodness for my laptop running out of juice - what a great day to fully experience Kaizen as a customer at the bar. Highly reccommend! read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

There's not enough specialty craft coffees in my area and I NEEDED one this morning, so I was excited to give Kaizen & Coffee another try! I visited when they first opened and the experience was just ok. Today was a different story and I'm glad I gave them a second chance! The cashier was nice and welcoming. She was patient, answered all my questions, and even let me try their caramel syrup for their miso caramel latte (which was a combination you didn't know you needed). We also ordered their Five Spice Pumpkin latte. Everything was complex and tasty, it definitely filled the craving! Some things to note: - It is located on a busy street with limited parking, so bring your strongest parallel parker - It's freezing inside, not super cozy - Drinks are $$$, we paid $16 for 2 drinks read more

I tried the miso caramel latte here at Kaizen. The miso flavor was very subtle, but the latte was overall tasty and not too strong. read more

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5 stars! Amazing coffee! Apparently this place just opened up and had lines out the door. They have a policy only 6 people allowed inside to be in line at time and the rest are waiting outside because its that good. I had the Tahitian Vanilla latte but all there speciality items look real good, I wish I was able to go back and try the rest. The gentlemen taking the orders was super professional and kind. He acted very welcoming and made you feel like you are a regular VIP even though it's your first time trying the place out. I gave him a $1.00 tip just for being so nice since you rarely see anyone like that anymore. It seems like this is a cashless/digital city since it's so tech driven and everyone was like WOW he actually has cash on him? LOL read more

My favorite coffee in the Bay Area! The line can get pretty long and there's limited space to sit/wait, but totally worth the wait. I always get their miso caramel latte, it's perfect. read more

Really cool spot! The drinks and pastries are all Asian-inspired, which I love - think flavors like ube, black sesame, and matcha. I got the matcha latte with oat milk, and it was really good: smooth, not too sweet, and perfectly balanced. It does get very busy, so expect a bit of a wait, and parking is limited since it's mostly street parking. Still, it's a great café to stop by if you're into unique drinks and creative pastries with an Asian twist. read more

I drove up here from the South Bay and the drive was well worth. This shop is tucked in between many others on a busy street. I was fortunate to find a parking spot around the corner. The line at 9 am on a Saturday morning wasn't too bad. I think we waited a total of 10 minutes from start to finish. Our drinks were made fairly quick which was surprising due to the packed cafe. There's bar seating as well as a few tables sprinkled throughout. The cafe is quite narrow for the customer side, but that's not a problem for takeout. I was very intrigued by the signature menu so I ordered a couple of lattes. The miso caramel latte was unique and delicious. The miso really balanced the sweet caramel and created more depth to the flavor profile. I ordered the drink half sweet and it was still very tasty. The Tahitian vanilla latte, without adjustments, was a little too sweet for me. Very delicious vanilla flavor. I also ordered the iced americano and their signature beans were light and fruity. I had a fantastic time drinking the coffee. I'd definitely make the drive again and buy a few bags of beans before I leave. read more

Popular coffee shop, with a little bit of a line up on a sunny afternoon. The line up moved quickly and we were greeted by the friendly staff. I ordered the honey lavendar (with less honey) which was fragrant and well balanced. Better than I expected though a little pricey. Small, clean interior with limited seating. Ample street parking. read more

First time coming to Kaizen & Coffee. The cashier was very friendly. I asked her, what she recommended for the matcha drinks. She first said that the strawberry matcha was really good. I told her I didn't want too sweet. Then she recommended to try the Earl Grey Matcha with whole milk. I thought it tastes hella good. Great combo, earl grey tea with matcha. The matcha flavor wasn't that strong. I didn't taste any bitterness, like you do at other places. If they put less milk, the drink would taste a lot better. I would rate it a 7.4 out of 10 Try it for the experience, but I wouldn't order this drink again. This is just what I experience, maybe you will like it. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Earl Grey Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Instant love ! They carry a great selection of speciality coffees from around the world and i was sold when i learnt they sell Glitch. (Hard on wallet but magical in experience) Couldn't go wrong with anything here. I did not try the bakes though. Great place for matcha and coffee. Glad I don't live here, otherwise I would spend way too much here and upset bae. Friendly baristas, and great vibe. read more

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Great place to grab coffee :) Love the different specialties they have available. Strawberry matcha and miso caramel was amazing. Upcharge $0.50 for alternative milk for those who are lactose intolerant like me. Small sitting place so more of a grab and go place. Street parking so it's a bit difficult. Fast and friendly service. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Kaizen Coffee is hands down my favorite coffee shop in the entire Bay Area! The drinks are amazing, flavorful and well made. The workers are some of the most down to earth people you'll ever meet. They try to remember their regulars, keep conversations going, and you can tell they genuinely love what they do. On top of the great drinks, their pastries are also delicious too. The shop itself is super aesthetic, organized, and always clean. I'll always recommend this place to my friends and to anyone visiting the area. I no longer live in the area but every time I'm near by, just know I'll for sure have to make a stop here! read more

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I liked my time at this coffee establishment. Kaiden & coffee feels sleek and modern. It's staff are friendly and bustling around. There are a lot of people doing work or hanging out on the inside. When you arrive, be warned: there might be a line extending outside the building. It varies from a quick, five minute wait to a stagnant line. While you're in line, you can peruse the many coffee bags they sell on their shelf. Very aesthetic looking. I ordered the mango Matcha. It's very pretty to look at, with the mango extract sitting at the bottom and the Matcha rising at the top. It was very pricey for my taste. I mixed the two layers together myself, but did not taste too much mango within my drink. It just tasted like a sweeter Matcha. It tasted good though. Maybe I'll come back to try out their signature lattes sometime. Spent $8 read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Mango matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here on a whim wanting to try it out. Parking is tough, but we were lucky and found street parking right in front of the place. There was already a line that had formed that went outside. They have a lot of unique drinks, but I decided to stick with a matcha latte. The wait to order is a little long, but you receive your drink shortly after which is nice! It's a very modern cafe with bar seats and tables, but it seems like it's usually packed. My matcha latte was just okay -- a little watered down and less creamy than I would've wanted, but it was still yummy! They're probably much more known for their coffees, but I don't drink coffee so opted with what I do drink. Workers are super nice and friendly! read more

Loved our matcha latte, mocha with dandelion chocolate! The espresso shots are strong and higher acid and pairs well with cream. The Lox and avo toast was delicious though the Taiwan toast element not as elevated as I thought it would be! ( not fluffy and tall ) Still would order the avo toasts here. Yum ! There are lines ... so be prepared and set aside time. read more

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Arrived on a Wednesday 30 mins prior to closing and there was no line. Ordered a miso caramel (hot) (whole milk) and was served less than 5 minutes later. Miso caramel: Great consistency and it hit the notes of miso perfectly. Seating space: There's a couple of two seater high tables with a three seater counter by the shop's front window. Parking: Street read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee beans from various roasters and other things to buy. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Swung by here on a Saturday afternoon before heading up to a kids' event (as you may know is needing a lot of caffeine;)). The line was long, indicating that it was a the "it" place right now. But the line went relatively fast, which was appreciated when you're holding down impatient kids. We got sesame latte with oatmailk (25% sweetness), brown sugar latte (regular sweetness), avocado toast, and hazlenut and chocolate croissant. Everything was delicious. The staff were pleasant. Will be back! read more

Went on a Sunday around 11am and there was a line out the door. Due to the small size of the cafe, they limit 6 people to wait in line inside. The end to end experience of waiting in line to finally getting the drinks took 40 mins. The drinks itself were pretty good. I ordered the black sesame iced latte and it tasted smooth and not too sweet which is great. My friend loved the Ube latte. They offer milk alternatives to sub out too. Would like to come back another time to try out the other drinks! They also sell glitch coffee beans from Japan which was pretty cool. Few seats and tables inside. Cute spot but you may feel a bit cramped. Street parking only. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Black sesame iced latte and Ube latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Blink and you'll miss it, this modern Asian fusion craft coffee shop located down on El Camino somehow became a staple in San Mateo. Sticking out like a sore thumb in the old and sleepy part of town, this modern and sleek cafe stands out with its contemporary and moody looks that bring tons of foot traffic where there previously was none. While most would be forgiven for driving by without being any wiser, often the huge line out the door can serve as an indicator to locate one of the best cafes around. And that's the thing, even 2 years after opening and despite the high prices, you'll often find people lining up and waiting for their caffeine fix, showcasing that Kaizen and Coffee has serious staying power and it's not just hype. Once you make it inside, the cafe is long and narrow. The interior is modern and sleek but doesn't shy away from boldly using dark colors whereas most going for the contemporary athletic just stick to white walls and light wooden accents. There are but a handful of small 2 person tables. The focal point is obviously what happens behind the counter. With high tech and expensive coffee making equipment, quality beans and ingredients, and a skillful army of baristas working in unison, Kaizen and Coffee is able to pump out five star drinks at a fast pace without sacrificing on quality. From the everyday espresso to the more creative matcha americanos, hojicha lattes, and calamansi matcha tonics, Kaizen and Coffee delivers on the classics as well as more modern drinks and blends in an effort to offer something for everyone. Overall, despite the long lines and high prices, Kaizen and Coffee delivers on high quality, exceptional taste, welcoming atmosphere and top notch service, quickly becoming a staple in San Mateo and a cafe that proudly stands out. read more

Great coffee and friendly owner. I came in the early days when they were just starting up, and it was easy to grab a seat and get some work done. Now the secret is out and it's always busy with lines out the door. Drinks might be pricier than most, but you're also paying for the quality. Staff measure out the grounds and weigh things so that the drinks all come out uniform. You can tell that they strive for consistency and perfection. read more

I've been here around 4 times. Got the black sesame latte most of the times. It never misses the mark. It can sometimes get crowded and there is a queue but it moves quickly. Black sesame latte: 5/5 everything croissant: 5/5 read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Everything croissant, ube latte and black sesame latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Bit of a wait! Street parking only, with the max amount of time. Close to the mall. The Uber coffee was absolutely delicious. I also love the Matcha latte, it was a perfect shade of green. The smoked salmon and toast was to die for! Very fresh, light, and filling. Will definitely be coming back here to try some of the other drinks! read more

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Yall sleeping on this place. It's tucked away down el Camino from the main downtown, but that doesn't make it any lesser! Really huge options for coffee and matcha. You can get any espresso or pour over variant you want. If coffee isn't your fancy, then grab a matcha latte or mixed tea drink. Skies the limit here. They also have some snacks! I tried the everything croissant and the mushroom tart. Both absolutely hit the spot - the croissant was filled with a layer of cream cheese and the tart was brimming with mushrooms. Totally worth it. The staff are super friendly and they do have several tables inside. If you're here to stay a little while, I'd say it's nice to do it, but they are a small joint, so it may be hard to get open seating. I'd say best come, grab your favorite drink, then go for a walk! Don't forget to check out their wall of coffee bags. They have a huge variety of different coffees from around the world. Basically something for anyone. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Cortado (single origin) and coffee bag - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

The Absolute Best Coffee in the Bay Area!My husband and I are total coffee seekers whenever we travel, and finding Kaizen & Coffee was the absolute highlight of our trip to San Mateo! It might be the smallest coffee shop we've ever visited, but it packs a massive punch. The modern black-and-white interior is incredibly clean and inviting, and the baristas are wonderfully friendly and helpful.We stayed for a week and literally came back 5 times--that's how good it is! We tried three of their signatures: the Black Sesame Latte, Ube Latte, and Miso Caramel Latte. The Black Sesame was our absolute favorite, closely followed by the Miso Caramel. If you love perfectly balanced drinks, trust me: these are exceptionally delicious, never overly sweet, beautifully creamy, and topped with the thickest, perfect foam.The biggest selling point for us? Absolutely zero chemical syrups. They make all of their bases and syrups in-house, which is exactly what we look for in high-quality specialty coffee. We live in Arizona and are already wishing we could clone this place and bring it home. We cannot wait to visit the Bay Area again just to come back here. Don't skip this gem! read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Black Sesame Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Cute little coffee shop with Asian flavor inspired drinks! It tend to get busy but I don't blame them. Drinks are delicious! The Matcha Calamansi sparkler was different and hit the spot for afternoon pick me up. The cold brew which I usually get was exactly what I need to stay alert. 10/10 The service is always great despite how busy it is. One of the sweet barista even offer to give my son milk with strawberry purée on the house which he happily enjoyed. Def check this place out if you're in the area! read more

Kaizen & Coffee has won me over as a customer for life. Top 3 reasons: #3) Espresso you can actually taste. Whether as a standalone sip or in a mixed drink, the featured notes genuinely come through. #2) Deep rotating selection of single-origin beans. Great for pour-over lovers who like experimenting with something new every few weeks. #1) Staff that actually cares. Even during the morning rush, I've been greeted warmly and never felt like a burden asking questions about drinks, food, or beans. But what truly sets Kaizen apart: I once left my bag of beans on the counter after paying and didn't realize until later that night. I panicked and tried calling, even slid into their Instagram DMs. They responded quickly, assured me the team had it saved, and told me to swing by whenever. I was floored. Such a small thing, but it said everything about who they are. See you all again soon! read more

No latte has ever been worth leaving a review about. But this one was exceptional. Def recommend

I really loved my Tahitian vanilla latte (iced with oat) from here. I'm just thinking about it right now and suddenly wondering when I can have it again. I've been meaning to try this place for a while now and I will definitely be back. My drink was very well balanced, and I didn't need to adjust the sweetness of it. I came on a Monday/long weekend day off (Presidents' Day) around noon and it was somewhat busy (all but one was table full) but the service was really efficient. The baristas were incredibly friendly and gave off really good energy-- from the one who rang me up at POS to the one who handed me my drink at the end of the bar! That really made my first visit honestly quite memorable! There is street parking , they sell a ton of whole beans and even some coffee making supplies (specific filters), and in addition to some small tables, there is also a nice little bar seating area. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Okinawa brown sugar latte (left) and Tahitian vanilla latte (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

I hae seen many a social media reels highlighting Kaizen & Coffee, located in San Mateo. On this particular day, I took one of my most dependably caffeine-fueled friends to check out the promised coffees. On a sleepy thursday afternoon, there was still a line out the door for Kaizen & Coffee. We were pleasantly surprised with the variety of asian-inspired flavors offered here. Overall, our consensus was that Kaizen inspires through its flavors, with a particularly nutty black sesame latte offering that impresses, with the underlying caffeine taking a step back to those immense flavors. Still worth a visit, but beware of possibly other, stronger caffeinated options available elsewhere. read more

TLDR: Mid coffee and ambiance I'm honestly shocked. I kept seeing reviews on how great the ambiance and coffee is. Idk if it's because I'm from Seattle, but $7.50+tax for a mediocre coffee is really wild to me. And the ambiance? Guys, it's white walls with black lines. Yes there was a TV playing hunter x hunter, but other than that, I really don't get it. Seating was limited and cramped. I'm genuinely wondering why this place has so many good reviews... I even asked my husband "are we in the right place?" WHAT AMBIANCE? One good thing: I've never had a blackberry pistachio croissant.. that was yummy. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Sesame late and blackberry pistachio croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Finally made it to this popular matcha & coffee shop. Worth the walk across busy El Camino Real. A posted sign in front instructs customers to enter if no more than 6 customers are in the que to order. They offer a variety of coffee drinks, tea drinks and specialty beverages that can be served hot or cold. We ordered a cold matcha latte, which was one of the better versions we have had compared to many other places. You can taste the matcha and the drink was not too sweet. We also ordered the Mission Mocha, made with espresso, Dandelion chocolate, Vietnamese cinnamon and a touch of gochugaru pepper for a hint of spiciness. I had my mocha cold with light ice and oat milk. It was delicious and decadent. The drinks were a splurge and cost about $7.50 each. We savored our beverages. We will return again to try other drinks. read more

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COFFEE PEOPLE!'!! Your future is here at Kaizen & Coffee. Coffee is one of life's priorities and if you want to taste how and where it's going, this is a must stop for you!! Black Sesame Latte To Die For!! Not kidding Awesome flavors, made to perfection Tahitian Vanilla Tasty Perfect sweetness How do they do it!!! Parking kinda challenging but we found a spot across the street just fine. Long line that moved fast Ten Stars & Ten hearts!!! read more

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The layout of this place came off as unique to me. Dropper bottles for coffee seasoning, the quote board, the tv playing Jujutsu Kaisen (if this was intentional, nice touch), it was like all the stars aligned. We ordered the Ube latte and the Okinawa brown sugar latte. I thought the Okinawa brown sugar was perfect. Not too sweet, good choice of beans. I wasn't a fan of the Ube latte but my Fiancée loved it. They also have spaces for you to get some work done but it can feel a bit small if the place is busy. I will come again and utilize the coffee seasoning station. read more

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First of all I need to say I'm NOT usually a big coffee drinker. Never been one of those people that need it daily or even weekly. However one cold morning I wanted something warm and decided to come in, and I became a big fan. I've tried the miso caramel, the black sesame, and the mission lattes and all are tasty and comforting on the cold mornings lately. The miso caramel is probably my favorite. It's got the just right sweet enough but a little bit of the salt / umami hint in the back. However the other 2 are great as well. The mission has just enough of a spice kick thrown in and that perfect coffee meets hot chocolate flavor. Just a perfect balanced taste. The black sesame offers that nutty yet sweet but not too sweet flavor too. Seriously all were delicious and I've become that person that needs to get one every so often now. ‍ Not for the caffeine but just because it's so tasty. I will say I was a little disappointed and thrown off by the extra 1.50 each for half caff. I've never encountered that anywhere else and honestly it was like a hidden fee till I saw the receipt. I didn't see it on the menu and it wasn't stated that it would be extra for each drink?. So wasn't too happy about that. To some it's nothing but when you get a couple drinks and wasn't expecting it, it mattered to me so far most times there is usually a long line. They have a sign that has states inly six people in the queue, which I understand and makes sense. It's not a big place and the line area can get a little crowded. Some people don't read the sign and then it gets a little jammed up in there. I've also tried a few of the food items. Big fan of the whipped truffle ricotta, and mushroom toast, and enjoyed the mochi cake. Had the ube croissant as well. It wasn't bad but not something I would need to have again. The staff is pretty friendly. However if someone orders 3 drinks you would think they would anticipate that you'll need a tray to carry them, but multiple times I've had to ask for one. Just my personal opinion. They do sell packaged teas and beans I believe. Some really interesting flavors I saw when looking at the labels, while in the line. I also did see a couple different chocolate bars. A regular chocolate and a strawberry matcha one. There are some counter seats and a couple table top areas, but not a whole lot. I've seen some people working, but it can get a little loud there. read more

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Kaizen has easily become one of my favorite specialty coffee spots. I love their rotating single origin pour overs, but they have some unique lattes as well. So far I've only tried their Mission Mocha which contains gochugaru red pepper and it has a nice kick to wake you up. They also carry beans from Japan, Korea, and other places. The shop is quite small. There's usually a line when I go, but it goes by pretty fast. There's also a couple of tables/seats available, but you have to be super lucky to snag one. Parking can be hit or miss, depending on when you go, but I've never had to park too far. read more

I love their coffee and their matcha too. The only "bad" thing is that sometimes it gets very crowded and you need to spend a lot of time (if you have the time to spare) in the line to order. read more