The strawberry matcha was sooo good! The strawberry add the sweetness to the matcha. Great balance together. Will definitely come back to try their coffeee next! This spot was not a disappointment in the morning today. I was happy with the nice girl in the front, Raina. Thank you for being so quick to take my order while I was there looking around the store. It was pretty busy this morning where there was no where to sit. Good thing I didn't have to wait that long for my drink, maybe 2 mins. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Strawberry matcha was good! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

First stop after landing at SFO. My relatives were familiar with this coffee shop after receiving recommendations from others. I had the ube latte and tasted the matcha latte. Both are amazing! Gets busy but staff were really patient with our questions. It was late afternoon so they were out of pastries.) Highly recommend!!! Wish I had time to go back before leaving California! read more

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Cute coffee shop! It can get crowded on the weekends but moves quickly and has indoor seating and WiFi avail as well. First time coming and really enjoyed the ube latte. The honey lavender was also good and very unique but the floral taste was a bit too strong for me personally. Very friendly staff and clean space. I'll be back to try more of their drinks this summer! read more

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I didn't want to add to the hype because who wants to wait in a long a$$ line for coffee, but the miso caramel latte was the best things I've ever had. I'm having a craving right now. Go get it! read more

We really appreciate the friendly and knowledgable staff here. During our first visit, they entertained questions from our inquisitive little daughter, and even gave her a taste of their delicious ube milk. I loved their black sesame and my wife really enjoyed their miso caramel. We can't wait to return and try their other unique, Asian-inspired flavors! The only downside is that many, many other people also love this place. So lines can be pretty long. But if you have the time, it's worth the wait. read more

Service was great, but the taste of both drinks i got was not what i expected at all. Coffee has a good flavor but the milk or whatever flavor they add in taste like goat milk. It was worth a shot tho. However, wont be coming back ): read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Brown Sugar , Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

We came here on the way to half moon bay once and my husband who is a coffee head got their iced americano and loved it. He wanted to buy the beans for them but they had sold out unfortunately. I got the matcha latte and liked it. Fast forward a couple months and we are on the way to half moon bay again and we decided to stop here. Today it was packed since we were there earlier in the day vs just before closing. That said they were pretty quick over all esp considering they hand whisk the matcha. The matcha is high quality -- smooth and not bitter at all. It is sweetened with simple syrup and I think the normal amount is just enough for me personally but maybe if you don't like your matcha sweet get 50% or no syrup. My husband got cold brew today and he said both are equally really good so we can say they make good coffee in different style. I would love to come here to work on my writing on a slower weekend but the space is pretty small so it gets full quick. I'd plan to come in after 12pm vs in the morning. read more

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This is one of my favorite spots in the Bay Area! Kaizen & Coffee is everything you'll ever want in a coffee shop - great coffee, friendly baristas, yummy pastries, and a good amount of seating to either get work done or catch up with a friend. The staff is always wonderful and treat everyone so well, which is hard to come by nowadays. I love that they have Asian inspired drinks. My go to is always a mango matcha or one of the lattes like the black sesame latte. You cannot go wrong because they put their heart and soul into every drink they make. I sadly don't live close by anymore, but whenever I'm in the area, I always make sure to stop by. read more

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

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Went here recently on a weekday afternoon and they were busy! It's a nice, clean place and had a busy sort of vibe. Quite nice. Saw a whole bunch of interesting flavors for coffee but my review is for the cappuccino I had. Not sure if it was the busy time or something else, but my coffee was not great. Maybe I'll come back and try some of their specialty coffees which is what most reviewers like. read more

Walked here today on a 1:1 with my manager, our office is a short distance away over in Bay Meadows (this coffee shop is on the outskirts of downtown San Mateo). There were actually a lot of people working from their laptops inside the cafe - it was lively but not too noisy. My manager wanted to pick up a bag of the fruity coffee beans that they sell for his wife, but we also each ordered a drink. I ordered the Okinawa Brown Sugar iced latte and he ordered the Miso Caramel iced latte. Mine was very good! They let you customize the milk you want and how sweet you want it - I got mine full sweet but honestly with the brown sugar flavor maybe this was a bit too sweet (and I have a sweet tooth). If I order again I'd go half sweetness. read more

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Was excited to find a cute coffee shop to visit during the weekend and came upon Kaizen & Coffee. Upon entering, it had a chill coffee shop vibe with an aesthetic interior and a lot of people doing work or chatting with others. The barista was super sweet and patient even though the cafe was really busy, which I appreciated. We ordered the matcha latte and the vanilla latte. Unfortunately, the matcha latte was very disappointing since I tasted multiple clumps of the matcha powder in my drink, and I could immediately tell since I saw all the clumps go to the bottom of my drink when I received it. The matcha powder quality was good, and I could tell they used ceremonial matcha -- however they did not whisk and make the matcha properly. The vanilla latte was better, although nothing super special. With the prices of each ($7) being on the pricier end, I was expecting better quality drinks. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Matcha latte and Vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love Kaizen coffee! They use some of the best beans from black and white. They also sell other types of beans, and I'm sure they are great quality. I swear there's a person who buys up all the ham and cheese croissants before I arrive. They're either always sold out or the last one in the case. Service here is always wonderful, and parking on the street has never been a problem. If you can find a seat, it's a nice little spot to talk and catch up with friends. This is my go to for great coffee read more

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

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Went here a couple of times last year, which is a couple of times too many. Their service is decent, but that's the only nice thing I have to say about this cafe. The space is tiny and crowded. Seats are uncomfortable. Drinks are overpriced, average, and definitely not worth waiting in their super long lines for. I was especially disappointed in this cafe because I'm vegan. I had to pay extra for non-dairy milk, and I couldn't try their toasts because of the milk bread. They might as well post a sign outside saying they don't want to serve vegans and people with dairy allergies. read more

One of my favorite ube lattes in the bay! The ube isn't just food coloring--it tastes like some real ube halaya in your drink. And the espresso here is QUALITY. Everyone was ordering their ube lattes iced, but honestly after trying both, I looooove it hot. With almond. I'm sure it's amazing w/ oat, too. But I just didn't stray away from what I considered a masterpiece. The line is consistently super long, even on a Thursday at 1030am. There's plenty of seating but it's almost always taken up. If you're lucky, someone will share a table with you. Get there early or be ready to wait! But it's worth it. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Ube almond latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Logistics & Vibe: Came on a Sunday afternoon and there was a line prettt much the whole 3 hours I stayed. No private parking lot but there is street parking (found within 5-10 min). Workers were very nice and accommodating despite making a small hiccup on my order. Love the vibe--they sell and have on display whole bean coffees from multiple countries (Ethiopia, Latin America, Thailand, and more). I bought my laptop to do work and thankfully they have wifi, table was available with plugs. Food & drink: I ordered the avocado toast and strawberry matcha latte (oat milk and 25% sweet). If you prefer drinks subtly sweet like me, I recommend getting the strawb matcha with NO added simple syrup because the strawberry purée already has added sugar and oat milk usually has sugar as well. Avo toast was yummy, would get again. read more

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

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My friend and I came here to grab morning coffees to go. The line wasn't long to order and the drinks were prepared quickly after ordering. I got the iced black sesame latte with oat milk and really liked it! The black sesame flavor came through nicely, along with the coffee flavor. I got regular sweetness and it was the perfect amount of sweet. My friend ordered the Okinawa brown sugar latte drink and said she liked it, though I personally didn't try it. This cafe also sold pastries, but most were already sold out when we arrived. The ambiance of the cafe is also nice. There's ample seating inside (though most seats were already taken when I placed my order). There's also WiFi, so it'd be a great place to study/work. Overall I really liked the cafe and would come back to try their other drinks and pastries. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Black sesame latte (left), Okinawa brown sugar latte (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

We arrived here on a busy Saturday morning but the line went by quickly! This is your typical coffee house but they had awesome decor and quotes on the wall. Our coffee was awesome and the espresso was pulled perfectly! The toasts that we had was amazing also! So glad we stopped by! read more

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

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I was really impressed by this coffee shop! I visited on two separate occasions and got two different drinks: the mission mocha and the miso caramel latte. I've had versions of these drinks before at other coffee shops before, and let me just say... Kaizen & Coffee met my high expectations where other cafes failed to. The mocha ACTUALLY had a kick of spice, and the miso caramel was ACTUALLY salty, sweet, and distinct in flavor! I was very impressed with these drinks and will make it a point to come back next time I drive by San Mateo. On my first visit, I also had an avocado toast that really hit the spot. No notes! Side notes for ambiance: it can get pretty packed in here with a medium-level volume with so many people chatting with friends or co-workers. If you plan to sit down to work, bring some headphones! read more

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

Finally made it out here. Super cute and modern coffee shop that was had a steady stream of customers despite being off the parking unfriendly ECR. that said, I did find a parking spot right away. They had some coffee beans with a cute logo of a seal and Hangul. I got the single origin iced oat mocha. I was curious about the mission mocha (their mocha + cinnamon and a kick of pepper), but I don't like cinnamon so didn't try it. Also got the Thai mochi thing. The flavor was a little artificial for me but it had a nice texture. Kaizen was down to three pastries by about 1:30PM so come earlier if you expect to nab one! read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Single origin iced oat mocha, and Thai mochi bread/cake from neighborhood bakehouse in SF - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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As a coffee enthusiast, I can confidently say Kaizen Coffee does just about everything right. Their equipment is top-notch, and their baristas clearly know their craft--shot pulls are consistent, milk texture is excellent, and flavors are balanced and clean. While they're not spending 5 minutes dialing in each individual shot, and wdt'ing, that's by design--this is a high-throughput café that still manages to keep quality well above average. It's rare to find a place that can move fast without compromising on the fundamentals, but Kaizen pulls it off. Great coffee, efficient service, and a space that's always buzzing with energy. Easily one of my go-to spots in San Mateo. read more

I'm a big fan of Kaizen! I've had friends help me pick up coffee from there a couple of times, but I was finally able visit! I got the iced ube latte this time - they strike a good balance between the coffee and ube flavors. My only gripe is the price - it's on the higher end at $7.50 (sad). There's a good amount of seating (a lot of people just grab and go) and there's free WiFi. Parking can be a little tricky since it is on El Camino. read more

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

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This is my go to coffee shop with my girlfriend. She usually gets the miso caramel and I would get the black sesame latte. I get pretty lucky I usually don't have to wait too long but it can be pretty crowded in the morning. Parking is relatively easy if you park in the back. Highly recommend this spot! read more

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

I had a great time here! Ambience is less important in my opinion, but the store still has a cool look indoors and outdoors. The person at the point of sale was awesome. I found it super interesting how despite getting a latte, the espresso still has a sort of "punch" that you can taste through the milk (I got oat). Next time I might ask if they could make it with water instead since I sometimes find lattes to be overpowered by the milk. Only drawback is that the parking is actually awful. Basically only street parking in the front or else you're parking blocks away. Either way, I'll come back to try other things on the menu because of how unique the choices seem. read more

Was surprised to see a long line here on an otherwise sleepy, quiet Sunday afternoon- and given the other reviews here, we figured it might be worth the wait. The cafe was buzzing with energy and good vibes while we were waiting and the staff had a positive attitude and didn't seem overwhelmed at all. Got the strawberry matcha and ube latte which were both excellent. Unlike Boba Guys, you can opt to have the strawberry matcha drink unsweetened which was excellent because the strawberry purée (almost sorbet-like) lends some natural sweetness already. They were out of food so we'll definitely be back to try some more. A great addition to San Mateo overall! read more

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

Amazing coffee with unique flavors. Get the black sesame latte. It's soooo good! The vibe is super cool, there is always a line (a good sign), and they are an excellent coffee shop. Dogs are allowed. (I made some dog friends. Lol.) Shout out to Joanne for making the seahorse latte art. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Black sesame latte art by Joanne. Beautiful and Delicious! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Have come here a few times now and have to say this is one of the best coffee bars in the area. Parking is not great since the location is right on El Camino but there is usually street parking. In terms of seating, there are a handful of tables, and the place is clean and sparse which fits the zen ethos of the coffee shop. The staff is also very friendly. The first time we came we actually chatted with the owner, although I forget his name now since that was a number of months ago. But now to the star of the show: the coffee! I've now had three different espresso drinks and they've all been terrific. Not bitter and with just the right balance. I especially recommend the "Mission Mocha" which I love because it has just the right amount of chocolate (i.e., not overly chocolate-y) and Korean red pepper (gochugaru). TBH, I never thought about mixing gochugaru with chocolate, but I really like it! It actually has the "Goldilocks" amount of spice -- not too much not too little. After ordering one for the first time a couple of visits ago it has become my go to drink, even though it is a little pricey (more than $8.00). read more

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This place has an innovative recipes for coffee, meant for those looking for something new and never tasted before anywhere else. We met one of the owners, Jason who made us Shiso Mint coffee. Never had this drink before and it was amazing! Him and his team made coming here a pleasant experience to say the least. Seeing a line of people going out the door says it all. read more

We love coffee and clean aesthetics. Kaizen & Coffee is a craft coffee shop serving up traditional lattes with a unique twist. From the first sip you can taste the quality in the espresso. I played it safe for my first visit with an iced honey lavender latte with oat milk. My boyfriend ordered an iced mango matcha. Both had a good flavor profile, not overly sweet. My only gripe was the lack of ice. This is a controversial opinion, but I just want my drink cold not warm espresso getting cold. Does that make any sense? lol The drinks did take a minute to be made, but it was busy and a weekend and we had a great conversation with the owner while we waited. Just something to keep in mind if you're in a rush. There are minimal tables so it can get a bit crowded while you wait. The space is completely unassuming from the outside. It's minimalistic and stunning on the inside. Very clean and contemporary. There's a super cute Tokyo Cheese Factory vending machine towards the end of the cafe, super cute! Too bad it wasn't working the day I went :( those little cheese cookies are fire!!! Prices are on par with the rest of the bay. If I'm spending less than $10 on my lattes these days, I'm not complaining. Parking sucks. read more

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

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My boyfriend and I stopped by on a whim after thrifting at the nearby Goodwill, and we were amazed by the ambiance and how busy the place was. Despite the crowd, the staff was extremely friendly and talkative, which made the experience even better. Unfortunately, both drinks my boyfriend and I originally wanted were sold out, but that's understandable given how busy it was and the fact that all their syrups are house-made! I ended up getting the strawberry matcha, and it was delicious. You could really taste the strawberry, and it even had chunks of fresh fruit in it. Because of how busy it was and the small size of the café, there weren't any seats available. So if you're looking for a place to sit and hang out, I'd recommend coming early or hoping you get lucky. That said, they do have free Wi-Fi posted (a big plus), and I saw several people with laptops getting work done. Overall, it's a great spot! Next time we visit, we definitely want to try the toasts,they looked amazing read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Strawberry Matcha and Brown Sugar Lattee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Went here from a recommendation. While the quality of the drinks is good, it felt a little hyped up from the wait. I got the Mission Mocha which had a pleasant heat and subtle chocolate undertone without being too overpowering. Not bad, not great. The cortado was decent but lacked the richness from the microfoam I've had from different coffee shops. Would I go if someone brought me, yes. Would I choose to return on my own, couldn't say I would. read more

Parking can be hard but park on palm st and walk around Appreciate the Asian flavors like sesame latte and interesting that the Mocha has gochugaru Coffee beans from a Seoul roastery Cozy atmosphere that is nice for a catch up when not too crowded read more

I came across this place while looking for a matcha latte in San Mateo. Service was quick and there's only street parking here. The inside decorations were minimal yet welcoming in a way. I wasn't entirely impressed with my drink as I couldn't taste much of the matcha but more of the milk. After it had been mixed, it became grainy and the color wasn't what I hoped for. I would like to come back and try their other drinks options though. read more

My boyfriend and I tried two lattes - the miso caramel and the okinawa black sugar latter. Both were insanely good. The quality of the beans + the froth of the milk were exactly perfect. Be prepared for a line! Also, shout out to the ube croissant. That was delectable. read more

Probably would have given a better rating if I didn't make any adjustments to my drink. I requested less sugar in my black sesame latte and I believe that it changed the flavor profile, as the sesame flavor may be part of the syrup that they use. I wish that there was an option to request less sugar but keep the same taste. It may be because I requested an adjustment, but I found that the sesame flavor was lacking in my drink. At the time I came the pastries were mostly gone, but they had some pretty unique pastry options, just looking at the name of the pastries. Minimal seating. Friendly staff. There's a shelf of coffee beans next to the register that look like they're good quality. read more

I came here because I love matcha, but honestly this was the worst I've ever had. There was no matcha flavor at all--it just tasted like a cup of sweet iced milk. Pretty disappointing. On the positive side, the café itself had a nice vibe. It was packed but the service was friendly and the workers were attentive, and I have to admit the bathroom was surprisingly clean and well kept--that's probably the only thing saving this review from being one star. If you're looking for a cozy spot and don't mind skipping the matcha, maybe it's worth a visit. But if you're here specifically for the matcha, I'd say save yourself the letdown. read more

I've actually been here so many times I can't believe I'm only now writing a review. This is my go to coffee shop since I live close by! Their drinks are really good but I wish they would put less ice because 65% of the cup is ice! My go to has always been their miso caramel coffee but recently I've been enjoying their hojicha latte. We've occasionally have bought some beans as well and it's pretty good! The cashier that helps us out is really sweet! Def recommend! read more

Made a quick stop at Kaizen & Coffee on a Saturday morning to give one of their coffee drinks a try! The shop itself is very cute and clean inside with a very relaxing atmosphere. The staff was super kind as well! I tried the iced ube latte, and I really enjoyed it! The color was really beautiful, and the flavor was great! I could really taste the ube through the coffee. You could also taste the real ube that they use in it as well, which I really appreciate it! I'm looking forward to coming back and trying their other drinks. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Iced ube latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Visited on a busy Saturday afternoon. Ordered the Iced Matcha Latte and Okinawa Brown Sugar Latte, both were great! Didn't get a chance to try the pastries this time but I'd definitely return if I'm in the area. read more

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

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Solid spot for Matcha within the Peninsula! Service was friendly and prompt. Loved the modern space. Ordered the Earl Grey Matcha Latte - 9/10. Great balance between two flavors, very smooth. read more

This place did not miss. Not only was the service amazing, but the food and drink were great. The toast was still soft and the bananas were ripe. The strawberry puree they use was one of the best I've had but the matcha was a bit watery for my liking. Still quite enjoyable though. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - PB and banana toast, strawberry matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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