[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is cute and aesthetic inside, people are very friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The coffee itself was okay, alittle bitter but it was fine. The things I didn't like were that my cup wasn't filled, I know that sounds pretentious but the other drinks I saw while waiting were up to the cap, so I was alittle disappointed. Also, there was an employee that came out of the back eating a piece of baked bread with gloves on, then proceeded to start preparing coffee with the same gloves. So I didn't really like that since I just happen to care a lot about cross contamination in the food industry. Overall, it's a cool place, probably won't come back or recommend. read more

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

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Had to try the viral blueberry matcha and it's amazing! I love how they use real blueberries in their purée and not just a syrup. Definitely recommend trying it since it is a seasonal item! read more

Spectra Coffee - Matcha green tea latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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The seasonal persimmon toast was stunning - complemented by tangy bread, sweet ricotta, delicate honey, and crunchy pepitas. The seasonal banana creme latte was disappointingly lacking in banana flavor, and the espresso a tinge sour. Logistics: - indoor seating and two outdoor tables in the strip mall breezeway - a huge mall parking lot outside but since this shop is squeeze between Costco and Trader Joe's, expect to circle for a bit read more

Spectra Coffee - Persimmon Toast - SEASONAL ITEM, Banana Creme Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Grabbed a banh mi for our hike and wow I was not disappointed! The bread was so crunchy and the meat was flavorful and tender. If you do not want cold cuts, Spectra is the way to go! read more

This coffee shop is super cute! It is a bit small but they do have indoor and outdoor seating. Service was fast and decently interactive. The barista answered my questions about a few of the drinks. We tried the ham and cheese quiche with the mint cream coffee. Both were delicious! read more

Staff was completely rude - not sure if they were racist or just being rude but I stood at the cash register for over five minutes waiting to have my order taken and both workers were just looking at me and ignoring me. They didn't say one word to me and didn't take my order so I just walked out. I've been a loyal customer for a long time and have never experienced staff blatantly ignoring me. read more

After my pilates class, I came here with my friend on Monday around 8am & there was a good amount of people inside. I think it's a good place to catch up on work and studying. Lots of seating indoors and outdoors. I was so indecisive on what to order because I like my coffees strong and sweet but not too sweet... I love pumpkin season so I had to try their seasonal drinks. I was debating between the cold brew or latte & the cashier recommended the pumpkin spice cream cold brew. I went with that & it came in a tiny cup but oh my god it was so strong! I was wide awake after drinking just a quarter Would reccomend this drink if you like something strong and flavorful :) I definitely have to go back and try their other drinks as well! read more

Slowest service in town! 4 people ahead of me and it took 20 minutes to get my drink!. I only come here when it's empty..I will not come here if there is more than 3 people in line. Wish I could take my 15% tip back! read more

I like how they have fun flavors like pandan foam coffee. However, all of the times that I've been here, it took over 10 minutes for the coffee to come out. All the other specialty coffee places I go to don't take that long. They also don't carry decaf.... Which is a shame if I want a late afternoon coffee then I can't come here. Parking is difficult since they share with Costco and Trader Joe's. Pro tip: if your here anyways, stop by and probably go to TJ or the produce market while you wait! read more

Not decaf friendly.. When I searched the address for this location it took me to the crumble address. I had to look through other yelpers photo reviews just to try to find where spectra was located. As soon as I found it I waited for 5 minutes in line which was perfect. As I was trying order a special drink the cashier told me they do not serve decaf espresso. I do not drink regular caffeine coffee because I crash out and fall asleep. Pretty disappointed because I did not know where spectra was located and also they do not serve any decaf espresso at all. Pretty bummed out.. Onto the next coffee shop. read more

Yummy breakfast and snacks and the coffee was good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was super busy but had a short turnaround time and the staff were very accommodating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Spectra Coffee - Pesto and egg toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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The artsy decor makes it a cute place to have coffee, but space can be tight. There is a section of merchendise you can buy, perhaps as souvenirs from San Jose. The coffee is quite a large cup and pretty inexpensive too.There is also a selection of baked goodsand food items. Service is good. read more

I expected more out of this place seeing that the reviews were pretty good. There were a variety of options to choose from including some special drinks. I got the pandan latte, which turned out to be disappointing. I was expecting more of a sweeter drink with a thick pandan cream layer. However, it was a small portion and the coffee wasn't sweetened at all with no pandan flavor to be tasted in the cream. The coffee was extremely strong, so I would proceed with caution if you're sensitive to caffeine. The cafe itself was on the smaller side. Not too much seating but it seemed like a nice place to be in if you have some work to do. Plenty of parking but I can definitely see it full during busy hours since it's in a main plaza. read more

The matcha here is pretty good, but I do miss their seasonal rose syrup. Both the pesto and ricotta toasts were very yummy but I wish there were more tomatoes on the pesto toast, considering how many strawberries were on the ricotta. Other than that small detail, this is a lovely local place with super nice service that I enjoy coming to. read more

Spectra Coffee - Ricotta Toast Pesto Toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Awesome match latte with oat milk, taste great even with no added sweeteners. Best chicken bahmi I've ever had! read more

Spectra Coffee - Chicken bahmi and Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

I had a great experience here. The coffee was great and it came out very quickly. The barista was also very helpful. I also had the pork banh mi which was great. I would love to sit there and get some work done one day. Overall decent amount of seating and there were outlets. I hope to come back to also try other specialty lattes. They had a Pandan cold foam but they sold out so I fingerscrossed for next time! read more

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

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ordered online 20 mins before going in, it was not done. it took a whole 35 mins for 1 coffee after having to go to the counter to ask them about it. They didn't even start it !! but they were standing around talking and talking to each other, like they had nothing to do. read more

Dropped in on Sunday--late afternoon. This is appears to be a typical bay area coffee shop, there are people working on their laptops, music is playing and the baristas are working very fast to complete orders. But, the quality of the coffee and pastries are amazing so I see why it was a full house 45 minutes to close! The Turmeric Latte (seasonal) was delicious. I ordered a slice of banana walnut bread and it was very moist and fresh. My friend got a warmed Apple Croissant--words cannot describe how good this was so: read more

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

This spot is nestled in a bustling shopping center with Costco and Trader Joe's. I ordered a matcha and was told it was on the sweeter side. I enjoyed matcha but it was nothing special, just an average matcha that costed me about $6.5. The vibe of the cafe is really cute, but it gets really loud and busy if one was to do work there. read more

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

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Solid coffee shop in south SJ. It's located in the same plaza as Costco and Trader Joes. Given how many stores are located in this plaza, it was super busy on a Saturday morning. The line was pretty much out the door the entire hour I spent there. It's also pretty small with not much seating so my group had to be on the prowl to snag a table. They actually offer quite a bit of food ranging from small bites, banh mi sandwiches, and pastries. Plus they sell merch and coffee beans. Drinks- -Iced banana creme latte with almond milk. So good! Per our request they made it less sweet and it was perfect. -Drip coffee was delicious and it's nice they offer mugs for in house visits Food- -Sun-dried tomato quiche. Yummy little treat. -Cinnamon twist. Had to try this since it's one of their best sellers and wow!! So good. If you love cinnamon pastries this is a must -Avocado toast was solid. On the pricier side but we enjoyed everything. read more

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I'm not happy with my coffee from yesterday. I ordered a latte and specifically asked for it to be extra hot. First, it took quite a long time to prepare. Second, when I finally received it, it wasn't hot at all -- it was actually quite cold. I ended up drinking the whole cup in about two minutes because it just wasn't hot enough to enjoy properly. Overall, I was disappointed with the experience and hope this can be improved in the future. read more

I've been seeing this cafe for a while, but I took a while to finally try it. Some friends of mine have tried it before me and they all had different opinions. I finally decided to try it myself, and for me the food and the drink was just okay. Maybe what I ordered isn't the best seller, but I tried their banana creme latte and the pandan waffle. The latte had a little burnt coffee bean taste and i couldn't really taste the banana flavor. I would say the same thing about the pandan waffle, the pandan taste was very faint and you couldn't really taste it much. Maybe I'm just used to the small Asian stores that sell pandan waffle where the pandan taste is strong But besides that the service was good and they were fairly fast with serving my order. The cafe itself has a nice vibe to it since it's a corner store and they have windows surrounding the cafe. There were people doing work and some were just chatting, overall a good place to chill. I would definitely try going again to see if it my review changes read more

I've seen a turtle move faster than the people working here. Waited for over 25 mins for my 2 latte. It was busy but not to the point of that if people could move at a normal pace. Flavor. Meh Maybe I had my hopes too high but I was just meh. read more

I visited Spectra Coffee on a Friday morning and found it relatively empty, with only a few other patrons in the shop. The decor was bright and modern, with plenty of natural light and different seating options. They had a small list of seasonal specials, so I ordered an Iced Coffee with Pumpkin Cold Foam and the Pesto Toast with egg. The coffee was ready quickly but I did wait around 10 minutes for the Pesto Toast. Since I got the Iced Coffee unsweetened, I thought I'd be able to taste the pumpkin a lot more, but it wasn't super flavorful. A lot of the cold foam also ended up at the bottom of my drink, despite me swirling it around to try and mix it. Good coffee though! The Pesto Toast was very tasty - I loved the texture of the bread and the pesto itself. Would return to try more in the future! read more

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On part 13958284 of my journey of supporting local businesses around my area... what other coffee shop could beat Spectra Coffee? I've been here a couple of times, and wanted to give it a try after not having come here for... about two months I think? Here's my experience this time around -- Food: 5/5 We came at around 1:30 in the afternoon, shortly after lunch rush hour reeled. To my surprise, I didn't expect that there was less people than I anticipated. My friend and I got the banana cream latte, the iced vanilla latte with oat milk, and the apple strudel turnover -- because they had ran out of the apple crossaints already (which, by the way, are REALLY good and I recommend you get them when you go!). The banana cream latte was just right -- it wasn't too creamy, neither nutty. It had just the right amount and consistency of dairy and everything surrounding it. The oat milk latte, according to my friend, was really taken to a whole new level -- the coffee was just right for her too. The apple strudel turnover was just right -- the crust was golden and it wasn't burnt at all. Even an hour later, it felt warm and toasty and still gave that aroma out. Service: 5/5 The people working at the bar and at cash register were really understanding and gave me recommendations -- which I should thank them for because it isn't easy to choose especially when there's plenty of options to choose from. Atmosphere: 3/5 Now... this is one I have to talk about. In terms of studying environment, this one can be a hit or miss at times. The parking situation can be quite messy because it's conveniently located next to a pho place, Trader Joe's, and Costco. There are also a lot of people in the coffee shop trying to be productive, so at times, they can get quite stubborn to let you sit next to them. I wish I could do something about this... but unfortunately, this is the reality we all have to face sometimes. I'd definitely come again for sure :) read more

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This nice coffee shop is surprisingly in a plaza that makes it appear very out of place, I would have never expected a coffee shop to be in this area by Costco and Ross. If you enter on the correct side of the plaza (closer to Trader Joe's), it would be easier to find parking than if you try to enter from the Costco side. This coffee shop has some small pastries and unique drinks. Once you're inside, it has a modern but cozy feel. There's not a ton of indoor seating, but I've managed to find seating the times I went. The workers there are okay too, just trying to do their job mostly. This is probably one of the nicer independent coffee shops in South San Jose. read more

Spectra Coffee - What I ordered - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Honestly, idk what's going on w/ this place recently. This is how my drinks have been for the past few weeks via DoorDash and Clover. If you think this is ok, then no thanks. I will gladly pass. read more

I was recommended by a friend to check out Spectra Coffee. I've gone here two times now and both times I had a good experience. However, I will say that it does get really busy and it may be hard to get a seat if you're planning to get some work/catching up done here. One thing to keep in mind is that this cafe is located in the same plaza as Trader Joes and Costco... so people will definitely be coming by to get their caffeine intake. They do have a lot of tables inside and outside, so try to come by during off hours to grab a seat! As for the drinks, I actually enjoy their coffee here. I ordered a Vanilla Oat Latte last time and it was the perfect balance between bitter, creamy, and sweet. My friend ordered the Snickerdoodle Latte and said she really liked it as well! The interior is very clean and bright. They have wifi here as well, so no need to worry about that. Give it a try! Just be prepared to wait due to the busy plaza :) read more

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

Solid coffee shop! I got an iced matcha latte with oat milk. The matcha flavor is strong with perfect amount of bitterness, and not too sweet. Good matcha latte for matcha lovers. WIFI connection is great Good amount of seating inside and outside Parking is alright, there's grocery stores and Costco next door read more

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

Spectra Coffee is in a busy plaza, which includes Trader Joe's and Costco. The shop has been bustling the two times I've frequented. I can't thank Yelp Bay Area for introducing me to Spectra. After attending an elite event here, I knew I had to come back and bring my SO to check it out again. Very modern rustic coffee shop. It's warm and welcoming--plenty of indoor and outdoor seating for patrons to work or play. The staff here are amiable and knowledgeable of the menu. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! DRINKS *Iced Dirty Chai Latte w/ Almondmilk *Iced Creamy Mint w/ Almondmilk *Iced Rose Latte PASTRIES *Croissant *Apple Danish Everything is well-balanced, and most importantly, the coffee is delicious. The pastries are great, too! I have to return and try the Banh Mi on the lunch menu. read more

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Noelle's Yelp Notebook 2023 Post Pandemic Chronicles Spectra Coffee is located in the Almaden Plaza Shopping Center right near the Almaden Costco. I remember when there used to be a Starbucks where the current Spectra Coffee shop stands. It's a definitely a great addition to the neighborhood. It's been here for a while but I made my first of many visits in 2023. I clearly remember my first visit- there was a line almost out the door. Eek- the line was almost a deterrent but it moved fast. The people at Spectra are so amazing- kind, helpful and friendly. My first visit I was helped by Jenny and received excellent customer service. I pretty much ordered everything except the banh mi sandwiches (on my list to try). Here's what I've ordered so far all their quiches - so amazing matcha iced latte salted caramel iced latte vanilla bean iced latte minty iced latte pandan waffle ube waffle I always get my iced lattes with oatmilk. The coffees here are amazing quality. The food is equally amazing. Great coffee, delicious food and pastry plus excellent customer service make this spot a winner in Noelle's Yelp Notebook. Today, I had 3 iced oatmilk lattes - vanilla bean, minty and matcha (with condensed milk), mushroom quiche and ube waffle. Everything was amazing as usual!!! Special shout-out to Jenny and the amazing team at Spectra. I'm confident I'm properly caffeine fueled today for all of Sweet Noelle's Yelp Adventures. Just a special PSA- check out the Yelp Events page. There will be an Yelp event open to Elites and Non-Elites at Spectra on September 11-15 via RSVP. Have a wonderful and Yelpliciois day :) xoxo, noelle Noelle's Notes Spectra is one of my favorite coffee shops Get the ube waffle Iced matcha latte with oatmilk is magical read more

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Been in a mood to find sit down cafes for chatting with friends or studying. Spectra Coffee definitely fits what I'm looking for! There's plenty of seating both inside and outside. They have free wifi and water stations while you stay. If you also want to grab something to eat, they also offer sandwiches and some small bites. What I ordered: Banana crème latte $6.10 7/10 You can definitely taste the banana flavor, and it is creamier than their rose latte. Tasted like your standard coffee with a flavoring. Rose latte $6.10 - 7/10 Rose flavor could be stronger (For those with a preference for strong rose flavor and creaminess). Tasted like rose flavored coffee as you'd expect. Coffee came out quite fast despite a steady flow of customers, and the service was great! read more

Spectra Coffee - Rose Latte (left) Banana Creme Latte (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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Found this place while waiting for my boyfriend to finish work. It was quiet and slow in the morning but got suuuuuper packed and busy and loud. I enjoyed their banana latte and got one to go to share with my bf after his shift. There aren't a lot of seats but there's a long table for communal seating and people here are very friendly. Will enjoy coming back again when I'm back in the area! read more

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

This salted caramel latte just healed my soul. So delicious. Thank you Spectra Coffee. read more

Spectra Coffee - Salted Caramel Latte with Oatmilk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

I visited spectra today, which happens to be their 4th birthday... I am so glad they made it thru c-19. They were a new business was and walking distance from my house at the time, so I was rooting for them. Their ability to make a latte starts with quality beans from sight glass and a professional machine. They use barista milk which has a better foam, but also offer milk alternatives. They offer specialty drinks and a limited food menu too. The vibe is very third wave coffee with Edison bulbs and subway tile. Previously the outdoor seating seemed like you were in a parking lot but they have since added planters to make it cozy and protected. 10/10 recommend the latte with no need to add sweeteners. read more

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Food is AMAZING - the Persimmon Toast is a seasonal item on the menu, and we were lucky enough to try it out! It tastes SO GOOD - I would definitely come back again just for the toast. The atmosphere was nice, I think it has awesome decor, but the spaces fill up pretty fast. I came on a normal weekday at 9AM (one hour after they opened), and we barely were able to find a spot to sit down. Also, half of the spots here don't have an outlet, so it's hard if your device is low on battery. In any case, definitely recommend the place! The workers were really nice to us even though it was my first time here, so I took my time when looking at the menu and placing an order :). read more

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

No gluten free food options, and no decaf espresso. Fast and friendly service, cute decor, and the prices are high but not outrageous for the area. read more

Perfect little coffee shop with delicious food options! Stopped in on a Saturday morning and it was busy, but still calm. I ordered a matcha latte with almond milk and it was perfect! Not too sweet. They have a lot of great food items. I ordered the avocado toast with hardboiled egg sliced on top of the toast. The portion was large and there was a good serving of avocado on top. It came with great seasoning and was a hearty breakfast. In addition to the avocado toast, they had a variety of delicious looking pastries as well as fresh made waffles (pandan flavor!) and quiche. Plenty of accessible parking and a good number of seats. read more

Ordered their delicious iced pumpkin cream latte (unsweetened). It was so good! Definitely recommend it read more

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

We enjoyed our coffee and breakfast of pesto toast this morning! Friendly staff and super artistic barista. Been here before, and will be back again. The place is clean and quiet. read more

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