Spectra is a pretty interesting spot to grab a drink and a bite. The iced coffee was delicious and the banh mi, too. The only thing that struck me as weird was that the avocado toast was the same price as a much larger banh mi. Not sure why they would be the same price, but either way, the sandwich was tasty and a good deal ‍ read more

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I used to go to Spectra a lot, and will say you can't really go wrong with any of their lattes, although the Matcha is on the weaker side. The Creamy Mint is also really good! Service has always great, and they get the drinks out relatively fast. One drink I'd recommend NOT getting is the iced Americano. I love iced Americanos and it is usually my go-to drink at cafes, but here it was incredibly sour. I've ordered it here multiple times to give them the benefit of the doubt, but each time it has been sour. If you're looking to sit down and get some work done, definitely come earlier in the morning, because the place gets packed fast around 11am/12pm. There's a lot of foot traffic, especially since Trader Joe's and Costco is right there. read more

Was in the area and needed coffee. Saw this place and decided to check it out. It was hot so I got an iced banana latte with oat milk. It can be hard to find good coffee for a good price here but was pleasantly surprised that the coffee was less than $7. Not only that but it was very delicious! Perfectly sweet, great banana flavor. Added cinnamon so it was like banana bread. I will definitely come back again and try another latte or matcha. read more

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This cafe is in a busy strip mall next to Costco, and could be overlooked if you don't know it's there. But looking around it looked like a lot of people did know about it-- it was packed busy. I ordered a cappuccino and it was pretty good. They have a good amount of seating and is also spacious. I liked their decor and service was quick too. read more

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Great coffee and good variety of small bites. plenty of parking in the mall. Extremely convenient to TJ and Costco , support local businesses. read more

Spectra Coffee - Iced Coffee+ waffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

This is solely based on my drink, the orange blossom latte is not it. I couldn't finish it with the after taste. I'm sure they had great drinks, just not this time around for me. read more

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Don't sleep on their fresh and chewy mochi waffles (my favorite is banana) along with their other freshly made food items like their Banh Mi and Toasts! Goes great with my favorite Banana Creme Latte. Love that they have nonfat milk as an option (trying to watch my cholesterol!). read more

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pandan foam latte 6.5/10 I enjoyed the pandan foam. It was salted and the pandan flavor was subtle. I initially didn't enjoy the latte base because I thought it was bitter and sour, however the drink became more enjoyable once the foam was mixed in. grilled chicken banh mi 8/10 i was pleasantly surprised and it was great fresh! crispy bread and flavor of meat was yum! wish they added more daikon and carrot. other notes: - lots of parking - cute, clean atmosphere - would be a nice place to work if you're able to find a seat read more

Spectra Coffee - Grilled chicken banh mi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Surprised by the price of coffee. Very generous pricing in the bay area. Pandan wale was delicious and the service was quick and nice. Seems like locals love it here. Stopped by with hubby couple days ago. Plan to go back again. read more

Spectra Coffee - Pandan waffle and Cafe Au Lait - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

The banana cream latte was my favorite! The syrup is made by the store and tastes delicious! I was afraid it would taste artificial like a laffy taffy but it had a nice banana flavor that's not too strong. The dirty Thai tea that came with espresso and Thai tea was a bit heavy in the Thai tea. Wish they added a bit less Thai tea because it was very overpowering. read more

Spectra Coffee - Banana cream latte and dirt tea thai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

One of my go to coffee shops in the Almaden area! A great place for a meet up, to study, or just to grab a quick quality latte to go. Their specialty includes their vanilla bean latte, waffles, and I also hear their banh mi sandwiches are quite the hit! Really cute set up and aesthetic. Keep in mind it's quite small and may be difficult to find a seat at their busy times so just be prepared for that. read more

Spectra Coffee - Matcha latte and Vanilla Bean Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Picked up a mango tea and it was refreshing for the warm day and enjoyed the mango bits and jelly. Reminded me of boba shops but less sweet. Cute shop and pass by it often when in the shopping plaza but they do close by the late afternoon. read more

Spectra Coffee - Mango Wango Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Came in to grab some coffee with my sister on Memorial Day around 2:50pm. They closed at 3 that day, so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure they were rushing to get everyone out of the store so that they could go home. Totally get it! Staff were very sweet, and the shop itself is very cute and cozy. Perfect place for hanging out! The rating mainly goes for the drinks itself...I had ordered the vanilla bean latte and my sister had gotten the matcha. We were both pretty disappointed with the drinks, as the latte barely tasted of coffee or vanilla for that matter. Just tasted like warm milk with a hint of coffee. The matcha was very bitter, no sweetness at all, and had some sort of cream foam on top, which tasted salty. My sister and I ended up throwing out our drinks later. Again, staff were SO sweet!! They handled the rush of last minute customers as well as they could. But for the price we paid for our drinks, we expected something a bit better. read more

I was intrigued by the lunar new year seasonal menu and I ordered the jasmine cream iced latte. The jasmine cream was a wonderful flavor complement to the latte. Service was super quick! The staff are also very friendly and nice. The size of the drink is on the smaller size, but the quality of the drink is high. The inside has nice simple decoration with a multitude of different types of seating. I come to South San Jose area somewhat often to watch tennis matches, so will probably be back! The only downside is this is in a plaza with Trader Joe's AND Costco so the parking is a little crazy read more

Spectra Coffee - Jasmine cream iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

A really cute spot with a decent number of tables (indoor and outdoor) and wifi for working. It is pretty busy, but if you can snag a spot, it's a fun spot to study or work on a laptop. There are charging ports under some of the tables. The menu is a bit hard to read--some items are on a big hanging letterboard, some are on a laminated printout, others are in a standing letterboard, and some of the items lack descriptions (would you know what an All Nighter drink is without having to look it up?), which made it a bit confusing to order. There are some interesting food options, and the menu is on the limited side which assures me that each item will likely be or a higher quality. The prices make sense for the portion sizes as well. I think the coffee is better than the food--the All Nighter was very interesting, as the coffee flavor was pretty strongly fruity compared to what I am used to with Vietnamese lattes (this item was described as the cafe's take of one). I would love to try some of their other flavored lattes, which they profess are made with house-made syrups. The ube waffle was okay--it isn't better than anything I could make at home with a storebought waffle mix, and is not served with any condiments or toppings. I am curious about their other food options but am thus far not particularly awed. I like that they are pretty coffee-forward and that their drinks are not overly sweetened, and I would recommend it. I plan to come back to try their other offerings. read more

I gotta say their banh mi is pretty fire the price is a bit steep $11 for a banh mi but I guess that's the prices now. The size of the sandwich is big can can easily be a full meal. I could only eat half for lunch. The bread is so crispy without cutting the roof of your mouth. The best bread for banh mi I've had. I'd say it's pretty worth it and would get again read more

Spectra Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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Great selection of beverages to choose from: drip coffee, specialty lattes, matcha, house-made lemonade, green teas as well as sandwiches, snacks and pastries. I stopped by for a quick tiramisu foam iced latte and it was so so good. They don't serve decaf so instead they suggested a single shot of espresso and that was perfect - the foam was super thick and creamy. $6.95 for 12 oz which seems to be normal pricing these days - sigh. Friendly staff and some space for seating - there was a bit of a wait for my drink although it didn't seem very busy; still worth the wait for me considering how good the latte was. #25-11-12 read more

Spectra Coffee - Tiramisu foam single shot espresso latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Very friendly customer service. Lots of space and tables to enjoy or just do work. Didn't have much speciality drinks just your supply coffee but they they did have different flavors like salted caramel which I got, vanilla bean, honey lavender and they also had banana crème which I also got and tiramisu I believe. They have pastries as well I got the apple croissant which was so yummy! The banana crème was ok didn't really taste the banana as for the salted caramel it was good it even out the coffee and even could a taste the flavor for this drink. They also had pandan waffles as well! read more

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Had a hankering for a Latte this morning and I had seen the ratings were pretty solid here so after a little Costco Shopping I popped in. Very friendly service lots of energy in the place, OK outdoor seating for a strip mall. I was having it dine in, but they were behind on washing dishes, so didn't have any ceramic cups for me. The drink was great, I would certainly try them again. read more

Hot take--I don't come here for their coffee/espresso. I've tried it several times and it's just not good coffee in my opinion, it's bitter and just has an unpleasant taste no matter which latte I get (you can skip the matcha as well). However I do regularly come here for their bahn mi's and chai lattes. Their shredded chicken bahn mi sandwich always hits the spot. The pickled veggies are perfect, the bread is fresh, the chicken is well seasoned and moist, and the mayo is homemade. The chai lattes are a little sweet but make a perfect pairing to the sandwich. I especially like to add seasonal cold foams on top, like their pumpkin one in the fall which is out of this world delicious. The parking in this shopping center is not fun. Spectra is located between Costco and a Trader Joe's..so no surprise as to why it can get pretty crowded in here as well. I like to mobile order mine for pick up via door dash to avoid the long waits when it's crowded and there's not enough room to sit. Seating inside and outside gets filled up quickly and stayed filled as most people sitting are students/people on laptops. read more

Why would you guys call my name and push out someone else's drink to me??? It doesn't make any sense at all and it's pretty ridiculous. When I got the drink the name wasn't pointed towards me and it didn't help that I threw on a cup sleeve. It wasn't until I got into my car and I was driving away that the drink tasted off, it was definitely the half n half milk. I got home took off the drink and realized I got someone else's drink. I wanna thank Eugene for his amazing cappuccino, although points get knocked off for drinking half n half milk . Oh yeah p.s cappuccinos come usually in 8 oz not 12, if I was Eugene I would've been someone annoyed won't be back :) read more

Spectra Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Their coffee is excellent - tried a vanilla bean latte - although the vanilla bean flavor wasn't strong, the coffee itself was so smooth and tasty. I had a quiche this time which was good but wish it had been warmer. I've tried the vegetarian bahn me as well and that was delicious! They have been quite busy the few times I've been there but they get through all the orders fairly timely. They also have a reward system to earn points and free food / drink. read more

Spectra Coffee - Interior seating - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Cutest little coffee shop with unique coffee drinks /snacks , they have a cute little side patio with outdoor seating and dog friendly! Would recommend the banana cream latte! read more

Their matcha is on the weaker side, but coffee is decent. The seasonal lychee matcha was super light, I couldn't taste a distinct matcha flavor at all and it was milky overall. Vanilla bean latte was pretty good! It had a prominent coffee taste and wasn't too sweet. I drink more espresso than matcha, so I see myself coming here if it's ever on the way. Indoors is cute and workers are kind. It also looks like a decent place to study at. I went on a weekday afternoon and still, parking lot was busy. It shares space with Costco, Trader Joe's, and other food places. Overall, decent place for coffee. read more

Spectra Coffee - lychee matcha and vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

This place is always so crowded and it's tricky to find a seat so I always get my drink to go! The vanilla bean latte is really really good probably one of the best I've had in the area. I love getting one when I need a pick me up or I'm in the plaza shopping and need a sweet treat. The service is pretty friendly, but the wait times for drinks can be pretty long because of how busy they get! read more

No frills, friendly service, care for the coffee, and the Honey Lavender Oatmilk Macchiato was next level! Conversational atmosphere indoors, but the outdoors is surrounded by a busy parking lot. read more

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This coffee shop was very crowded when we came and the parking lot is also very crowded and hard to find parking as it sits next to both Costco, Trader Joe's, and a local grocery store, among others. So the line to get the coffee was about 15 minutes in itself and by the time we got our tea and coffee it was another 15 minutes. The tea came out much faster than the coffee. And although we asked for less sweet and less ice, it was still sweet. The latte with oat milk was also just basic. They did not offer soy milk. Overall, everything was just fine. read more

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Came here on a Saturday with a friend after another nearby spot was too busy with a line. Spectra Coffee have their fare share of customers too, but it's not nearly as crowded even though it's in the same shopping center as Costco. Friend treated me to a Pork Banh Mi sandwich, slice of banana bread and ginger tumeric tea. Everything was delicious and the service is timely. Was able to get a table outside to enjoy fresh air and conversation with my friend. read more

Great little cafe, can get pretty busy. Located in the same center as a Costco and Trader Joe's so parking can be pretty tricky at busy times. We first came when my son was a baby so we were up early morning. The cafe wasn't busy then. Fast forward to a few years later and I came back for a solo visit. Had a nice mocha and quiche. Coffee came out quickly and actually had to ask for the quiche since maybe after 10 mins it still wasn't out. By then coffee was cold but everything was still great tasting. Looking forward to the next visit but maybe will reconsider ordering food. read more

Spectra Coffee - Mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Excellent coffee and pastries. Only downside, bring time, it takes forever until you get your drink!

Cute coffee shop right next to the Costco on Almaden. We ordered on the app, but they didn't call out our name so it kinda got cold before we talked to them. The avocado toast was good with flavorful bread and fresh avocado. It has a nice seasoning (probably "everything bagel seasoning "). They don't offer any utensils unless asked. The matcha latte was ok. Wasn't very hot and was somewhat watered down. At this price point, I'd hope for a stronger matcha flavor. The service was just ok. We barely talked to them. read more

Spectra Coffee - Avocado Toast and Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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Had a pleasant experience with the baristas! They were so kind to remake a drink for us without charging. On the menu, it says "banana cream" but it doesn't specify over espresso or matcha. Be sure to specify the drink base you want it with! We ordered the banana mochi waffle. It was chewy with a hint of banana. Perfectly cooked! The pork banh mi was surprisingly good too. The baguette didn't cut my mouth and there was a perfect layer of veggies, and seasoned grilled pork. read more

Milk Alternatives available for those of us who aren't so great at digesting lactose! Not sure if we got unlucky but it took about 15 minutes to get our coffee. The employee apologized for the wait, so maybe it's not their norm. We ordered the Creamy Mint Latte and Salted Caramel Latte. Both were okay. My partner had the Salted Caramel latte but he wished there was more of a salted caramel flavor. He mentioned that the creamer overpowered and muted the flavors. For my Creamy Mint Latte, I also thought that the mint flavor didn't really come through as much as I would personally prefer. They also had a few snack options like avocado toast. Very curious about the Banana Mochi Waffle! Spectra seems to be a popular place to study if you need a quiet place to do so with access to outlets for charging read more

Spectra Coffee - Menu and Merch - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Atmosphere was chill and the space is really nice to hang out in. I tried the banana latte, and it was a bit underwhelming for me. The coffee itself was still good quality, but I could barely taste any banana flavor even after asking for extra syrup -- it came off more like a vanilla latte. I also had the strawberry ricotta toast, which was just okay, honestly something I could probably make at home. Nothing really stood out on that one. Overall, nice spot. I'd still come back to try something else on the menu. read more

Spectra Coffee - Banana creme latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Spectra Coffee in San Jose is a solid spot if you're looking for something a little different. I tried the pandan latte--it was good, creamy, and had that distinct pandan flavor, though I personally wish it was a bit less milky to let the pandan shine more. The price was reasonable, especially for a specialty drink. Parking, however, is definitely a challenge, so plan ahead if you're in a rush. Overall, a nice place to try something unique if you're in the area. Service is fast and ambiance is pleasant. read more

Spectra Coffee - Pandan Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Great food as usual! I came with a friend cause I wanted to intro him to the incredible pumpkin foam iced latte. So we got: -pumpkin spice foam iced latte - this place makes good drinks but this might be their best creation ever. It's HEAVENLY GOOD. Every sip had me looking to the sky and thanking the gods.... -avocado toast -pesto tomato toast Everything was great. We found nice seating outside as well. Parking: plenty but can be packed since it's next to Costco. Interior: nice and cute read more

Spectra Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

This matcha was honestly awful. The color alone was a huge red flag. It tasted like plain milk, like they barely added any matcha at all. Watered down milk pretending to be matcha. Not to mention it was 8 dollars. And this is after they said they improved their matcha powder. Super disappointing overall. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. read more

Spectra Coffee - Terrible - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Seen this coffee shop for years and finally decided the check them out. On the first trip I had their hot vanilla bean latte with whole milk. It was better than I had expected. Their menu doesn't state its vanilla bean but the guy at the register stated they make it themselves. Vanilla bean is my go to for ice cream and coffee flavors. This tasted great! Took a second trip with the a friend a week later to check out some different options. Avocado toast with everything but the bagel seasoning was perfect! Despite wishing there was some Tapatio to add I thought the dish was well done. I'd seen photos with egg on it and I didn't have that. For the drinks my friend had the ice salted caramel latte and I tried the hot banana cream latte. Friend didn't care for the flavor of their beans and said it was going to give them a headache like Philz does (YMMV). My banana cream latte lacked the main ingredient, banana. It tasted like a plain latte. Imagine biting into a slice of banana bread and not tasting banana, you'd be disappointed too. Best way I could describe the miss. Overall the vibes were ok, afternoon trip had music while the morning visit was dead quiet. Or maybe the music was just in my own head. Lol I will definitely go back but next time stick with the vanilla bean latte. read more

Spectra Coffee - Banana cream latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Solid drinks and even tastier banh mis. It can definitely get busy though, so make sure to go early.

Cute coffee shop with a relaxing vibe in a busy plaza. Drip coffee tasted good. I added cream and a pack of raw sugar. Caffeine is too strong for me so next time, I'd see if there's decaf! read more

Spectra Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California