Gone are the days of being a pop-up in Palo Alto. Today, Tono is located within Japantown San Jose. Although it is not closer to my neck of the woods, it tends to be a fan favorite of ours to make the drive out and enjoy our small cup of coffee. Whether its a flat white, matcha latte, hojicha latte, or something else, it is consistently delicious. They also have pastries available and super fancy Fossa chocolate that we've actually scoured for when traveling in Singapore. Parking isn't the greatest but quality in the simplicity of it all. read more

I got to enjoy Tono coffee project when they did a pop up cafe during Fanime! It was Avatar the Last Air Bender themed which was perfect for the event and worked so well. The vendor booth was a tent made to look like a tea house, there was artwork and flyers from the series (if you know, you know) on the tent, and the menu was themed after the series too. This is how you can tell the owners are actually fans and not LARP, which is AMAZING. Service was efficient and super friendly, even when the lines were busy (it's a con, what do you expect) and even though the food was prepared elsewhere and taken there, it was pretty good and helped tide me over during the long convention. For my order (over a span of 2 days), I got the: 1) Hojicha Milk Tea (Red Blooded Nephew): -I got this iced. -Not bad, not too sweet and not watered down either. Great pick me up. Nice smoky and roasted flavor to it. Pretty good. 2) Fire Nation's Butter Mochi: -Certain days they would run out of one flavor, other days they would swap it up from what I believe. -I got a black sesame and kinako banana. -I think I got a third one, but a friend ate that. It was more of a savory flavor, but unfortunately forgot what it was. -My favorite was the kinako banana since it was a neat twist on what a banana bread would be like in a different form. -Very filling, decently large piece of butter (shaped like a rectangle of butter) mochi and easily shareable too. -You have to eat it the day of since it does get dry and hard if you try saving it for the next day, sadly. 3) Spam Musubi (Sizzle Crisp Rice Snack): -Decent spam musubi. -Rice had the perfect texture, it didn't fall apart and despite it being, I'm sure prepared before hitting the con floor, it wasn't soggy in the slightest. Not bad. Hopefully one day I can stop by their actual location! read more

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A cute little coffe shop tucked away in an apartment complex lobby. Super easy to miss it! It's aesthetic with a simple menu: coffee, matcha, and hojicha. NO FRILLS. I got the Hojicha + Milk and this hit the spot. Iced and sweetened were perfect for me. Creamy and nutty profiles! The barista here was so kind! Loved supporting this small business. We need more of this in San Jose! They're also at the Japantown Farmers Market :) read more

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Such a hole in the wall! There is nothing better than a simple menu, it shows how much craft they put into their drinks by mainly focusing on just a few ingredients. Their hochija latte was so creamy and nutty, will definitely come back for this gem. They also sell various chocolates, I was able to grab some Vietnamese Cafe Sua Da ones. Employee was super nice and informative. read more

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Loved Tono Coffee Project...such a cool little modern spot tucked away in Japantown that almost has the feel of a pop-up, even though it is the permanent home. The guy running it was incredibly friendly and social, having a real conversation with pretty much every customer who came through. I got the Extra, which is hot chocolate with coffee, and it was awesome...rich and chocolatey with just the right coffee kick. The combination of the hidden location, simple menu, and genuinely warm service makes this place special. Definitely a 5-star find that I'll be coming back to. read more

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Ooh i wanted to try this place and luckily happened upon it while doing the usual stops in Japantown! There was a sign for art gallery so followed it and got to see the last day of an art popup by flabjacks with the coffee shop right next to it in an apartment complex lobby area! They are usually there but still pop up so not a permanent brick and mortar right now. I decided to try their hojicha latte since it was already 3pm and was not disappointed! It was the smoothest, but still earthy and bold hojicha i've had! It was so nice and creamy with the oatmilk i wanted another one right after i finished it loll! Def will be back to try their matcha, regular latte, and their blueberry pie!! Thanks Annie it was so nice meeting u!! (One of the owners) read more

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Cute coffee spot with zero frills inside the...apt complex? Very warm service and legendary aeration of the oat milk in my latte. I could not believe how fluffy that milk got. They're quite the simple setup, with a very pared down meny for easy ordering and cafe basics/cute shop. Ample seating around but not much space inside the shop so takeout only. read more

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Ordered: Iced White (~$6): oat milk & coffee with a splash of sweetener Aya's take: A small but mighty coffee shop tucked away in the lobby of the Exhibit at J Town Apartments. I ordered the Iced White which is simply coffee & oat milk (the only milk offered). The amount of milk varies depending on the type of drink you want. I was going for an iced latte, and this delivered. It was refreshing, creamy, and the espresso was pulled nicely. Lowkey spot that will satisfy the caffeine kick! read more

Tono coffee project - Iced White (~$6) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Wanted to check out their place for a while! Finally came to try their coffee and milk tea and it was so good! You can explore the art gallery located right next to the coffee shop! The owner designed the logo and cafe itself inspired by their experience living in asia! They said they believe nothing is permanent so they wanted to arrange as a popup cafe which is unique and cool! They can simple move their cafe location to every where! Drinks (milk tea and coffee) were so good! We love to come back :) read more

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Nothing beats a simply good quality drink from Tono and walking around Japantown on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I've loved everything I've tried at Tono so far. The brew of the white (milk + coffee) was perfect. The matcha has a vibrant green color and subtle sweetness. The baked goods are delicious too. The Korean cheese bread was scrumptious. Can't wait to come back read more

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This small coffee shop located in Japantown has a nice aesthetic and simple menu. White (5/5): Sweetened and very simple. Cant go wrong with this. read more

Tono coffee project - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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A damn good cup of coffee. Friendly, warm service; nice seating area; beautiful art. But the coffee is really where it's at. They have some unique pastries, we had their blueberry hand pie, it was not too sweet and even a little savory with a hint of rosemary. Very pleasant, will come back. read more

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Nice location, friendly chat with the barista while he was preparing our drinks. Simple and elegant place. I can't vouch for the other offerings but the matcha latte was smooth and just the right size. read more

Tono coffee project - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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This little pop-up shop has been on my sights for coffee in SJ this year of 2025. I wasn't expecting to visit them anytime soon until I passed by while walking in Japantown. It is located in the Exhibit J-Town Apartments lobby with a small sofa for inside seating while tables for two are scattered out the building. Tōno Coffee Project, with its equally minimalist logo, has a simple menu of single-origin coffee and matcha with oatmilk & chocolate milk as variants. They did offer baked goods from local bakers this particular Saturday but I was here for coffee only. The baristas were fast, efficient and good with small talk. I doubt that they had restroom access as I didn't ask but the Hot Black I got was full-bodied and a waker-upper even without real milk. read more

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Easily the best coffee in Japantown, San Jose! I think I've visited Tono at least 10 if not 20 times now. Convenience plays a big part, but the coffee and service is what really keeps me coming back. The menu is simple and straightforward with just a few options -- Black - coffee only White - coffee + milk (my personal favorite and go-to) Extra - chocolate, coffee, + milk (when I'm looking to switch it up) They also have matcha and hojicha latte options, all of which are great! Their baked goods are all made in-house and of the items, I've only tried the Korean Cheesy Bun, but I absolutely love it and get it almost every time. Maybe I'll get tired of it one day and then I'll be ready to try the other bakery items! The location is almost like a semi-permanent pop-up out of Exhibit J Town Apartments. Not a lot of seating, just a few inside and a few outside, but a cute and charming little locally-owned spot. read more

Tono coffee project - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Simplicity at its best, but worth coming if you are a true coffee lover. Tono has been in my newest rotations of coffee shops to go to in San Jose. It is located in the back end of the Japantown strip under an apartment complex (it is easy to miss!) It's across Higher Fire JTown Clay and you will need to rely on street parking like most of downtown. Note: Tono is more of a quick grab and go environment with some seating outside (limited), so not a place to work from home/do school work, but more to get your caffeine fix. There are close by community spaces to sit though! At Tono, they do not really do drinks with frills, but straightforward drips, lattes, and at most chocolate/matcha lattes. That being said, all of the drinks I have gotten so far have been smooth and not bitter at all. I typically do not like plain lattes, but I did order one the other day and it might have been the best I had due to how non-astringent it was. What I truly love about Tono is their pastries. They are so delicious! When I asked the barista, they let me know it is all made in their kitchen located in East Side San Jose. My favorites I have had so far was the Blueberry Hand Pie (had a good amount of blueberries with a sharp lemon citrus flavor) and a salted pecan chocolate chip cookie. The food and drinks here were definitely crafted to complement each other and I am all for it. Overall, Tono is a great community cafe, check them out! read more

Super cute coffee shop near japan downtown! We stopped by and grabbed a sweetened ice matcha and iced hojicha. We both thought the hojicha was more flavorful! Staff was friendly and the space was very quaint but cozy! read more

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As long as I've lived in the area, I had no idea that there was coffee around the neighborhood besides Roy's Station. Tono Coffee Project is Japantown's hidden gem, but I'm glad I found it. No wonder Tono Coffee Project is unassuming because it's tucked inside an apartment complex. I don't think I would've ever stumbled on it if I hadn't let my dog wander off our beaten path. Tono Coffee Project was cute and simple. I would say that their selection of artisan chocolate bars (they got that good, good chocolate) and pastry case drew my attention more than anything else. There were indoor lounge chairs in the complex foyer as well as tables outside. What hospitable staff members! When I went up to order, the employee at my register welcomed both me and my dog. He also observed that I had my hands full and offered to assist me with adding a lid to my coffee and bagging up my pastries. I ordered the "Extra," which was basically a mocha. I thought it was excellent. Smooth with rich chocolate undertones. It also was at the perfect temperature and didn't need a sleeve. All their baked goods looked delectable, but I went for something savory and got their Korean garlic cheesy bun for me and my husband. We both agreed it was the best Korean garlic cheesy bun we've ever had. In addition to the bright garlic flavor and gooey cream cheese, the crunchy corn flakes added a nice texture to the buns. Can't wait to make Tono Coffee Project part of my routine! read more

Tono Coffee Project is a hidden gem-easily missed yet hard to forget. Tono serves one of my favorite hot mochas to this day, and the creamy chocolately oatmilk flavor still lives in my head rent-free. This location is within walking distance of SJ Japantown so parking is mostly free street parking. The cafe sits on the bottom floor of an art gallery/shop with a small seating section inside as well as an uncovered outdoor patio with small tables. The menu is simple with just 3 options but these three options are done meticulously and with care. There is a small selection of baked good to enjoy your coffee with and they are certainly not your average pastries. The pastries are unique in flavor and textures. My favorite one was the furikake bun filled with an overflowing amount of cream cheese (not complaining at all). I do wish they served their pastries warm, that would be my only complaint. Service is warm and friendly as always. The owner really takes his time to make each cup of coffee with love and care. He always makes short and sweet small talk with each customer too. If you're looking for a simply heartwarming cup of coffee, come to Tono. read more

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This is seriously some of the best coffee around! Was happy to find out Tono has a brick and mortar store now, inside the lobby of Exhibit J Town Apartments. It's a small spot but very chic and modern. Their menu is simple with only a few options that are done very well. Their coffee has a unique and distinct taste. They usually have a few baked goods as well. The barista was very friendly and knowledgeable. There's a few couches since it's an apartment building lobby, but most people get their coffee to go. Will definitely stop by any chance I get whenever I'm near Japantown! read more

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I've visited Tono Coffee Project a couple of times recently, and I'm consistently impressed. It's such a charming little spot, offering a straightforward coffee selection and some really interesting snacks that are a nice complement to their drinks. What stands out the most is the staff; they're always incredibly friendly and very helpful when it comes to making recommendations, which is great for someone like me who isn't always sure what to order. The coffee itself is good quality, and I also appreciate that they have a small outdoor seating area, perfect for catching up with friends over a coffee and a chat. read more

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Love visiting Tono when I'm in Japantown! Small spot, easy to order with no frills. I usually opt for coffee + milk or matcha + milk (both sweetened)! Their hojicha is also really good. They make their drinks quickly and sometimes have beautiful latte art so service is top tier. The taste def shows that they use quality ingredients! There's some seating indoors and outside too. It's next to an art shop/studio so it's nice to walk over and check out their items read more

Tono coffee project - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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I cannot say enough about Tono. OMG, is this an incredible coffee. No sugar needed; just savour the excellence. Clever details, delightful barista banter. Gorgeous. read more

Tono coffee project - The white, hot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Ordered the white and it was amazing! The last time I had coffee that good was when I was in Taiwan. I appreciated the small menu and that Tōno was the type to stick with the basics and make them really well. The barista/cashier was really friendly and made my drink super fast. I enjoyed my drink outside and the vibes were great. Downsides: no internet, outlets, or bathroom. I could easily overlook these because of how good the coffee was read more

Tono coffee project - Iced white coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

I would come here again when it's a slow day Pros Really affordable matcha and expresso at a nice apartment lobby Everything tastes high quality Cons Not enough space inside the store. The cashier is the batista so it might result in some wait time read more

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The iced white coffee here is my go-to, and it never disappoints. I've also tried their pastries and chocolate, and both are wonderful. I even got two drinks for myself yesterday because I enjoyed it so much. What really sets this place apart is the staff -- they're genuinely friendly, remember their regulars, and make you feel welcomed every time you come in. It's the kind of cafe where you get quality drinks, quality food, and most importantly, quality people. read more

4.5 Located in Japantown, might be hard to find parking. It was initially hard to find because it is in an apartment complex. I love the simplicity of this spot. Very simple menu, which is nice for indecisive ppl. There is black, white, and extra on the menu. If you're not a coffee person, there is also matcha and hojicha. My friends and I got the hojicha, extra and white drinks along with two pastries to share. Every thing was amazing, I will def be back! read more

Tono coffee project - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Tono is in the lobby of The Exhibit apartment building off of 7th Street - an artistic building that greets you with an awesome mural outside. When you enter the building, Tono's coffee station is just to the left. They have a small menu with a few coffee and tea options, and they use oat milk by default. Every drink is high quality and excellently made. My drink of choice is their matcha - the last time I got it, I thoroughly enjoyed the texture and flavor. They've expanded their food options, now offering a variety of sweet and savory baked goods. I loved the cheddar jalapeno biscuit! They also have a variety of artisanal chocolate bars and some coffee beans and matcha for sale along the shelf as you wait in line to order. They get some unique flavors in, and I find it hard to resist picking up a chocolate bar to take home. I think there's only 1-2 people working at any given time, and they are always super friendly. I get the feeling that they work really hard to curate the experience and care a lot about their craft. There's a little bit of indoor and outdoor seating, or you can just walk over to Heinlenville Park to enjoy your drink & goodies. Highly recommend giving them a try! read more

Had a wonderful time at Toni coffee project! We got the matcha and hojicha lattes - both were high quality and delicious! The barista was also friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend! read more

Tono coffee project - Matcha and hojicha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

I've been trying to go to the little place for the longest time!! I didn't realize it was on the other side of Japan town by the new tall condo building with a beautiful murals and a little Parkside dog run!! There's also a cute local gallery, seventh empire over here as well! This café was actually inside of the condo/liming community but open to the public. I ended up getting an iced Matcha latte with oat milk, and it was perfectly mixed and tasted delicious! I also got one of their almond cookies, and it has the perfect almond taste to it! Not overwhelming, but not so fat I couldn't taste the almond within the flavor itself!! My friend got the roasted Matcha, hojicha and it traditionally does not come with sugar so she asked if they could add a little pump of simple syrup and she loved her drink also!! We were very impressed with this cute quaint little coffee shop, as well as their customerservice and unique drinks and the mural was beautiful to look at outside while we got to play catch-up! We will definitely be back and next time we'll just walk since it was two blocks up from the Manju shop. We thought it was farther away so we drove on Accident. Lol. read more

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2/5/26 - I haven't tried them since they were doing pop ups at SJSU many years ago! Still so good and happy they have a physical location now! Simple and delicious community coffee! read more

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I've been coming here a couple of times. Great coffee and the cookie I was ordered was good as well. read more

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Came across this place via social media. I didn't know it was a pop up concept inside an apartment complex, but it was nice, clean modern look. There is seating outside in the shade and inside there's a long couch and 2 chairs. There's no restroom but you can go to the grocery store that's about a block away. The menu is straight forward which I believe helps customers out. The drinks automatically come with oat milk. The menu on the wall is the original menu, but they had a special menu where the matcha was added. I ordered an iced matcha w/ a bit of sweetener and my boyfriend ordered the black coffee. Simple easy. I think because the matcha is premade, it loses a bit of the taste, but it was still good. The barista was friendly and approachable. They greeted us when we walked in as they were helping a customer. Whenever we're in SJ again, we will be back! read more

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The menu is straightforward, and the drinks are simple but very customizable to your liking. I ordered the white with less sweet- I liked how it automatically came with oatmilk. The drink was refreshing and had a good balance of milk and coffee. I enjoyed the simplicity of the drink! The space feels like a good spot to catch up or take a short break. There's not a lot of seating, but perfect for a quick pause in your day. read more

Tono coffee project - White - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Wonderful hidden lil caffeine pick me up spot with unique snacks! There's not a lot of parking in this area depending on what time you come but def worth checking out. Lots of cool artwork nearby as well for some aesthetic photos if you'd like. There's not much seating inside though but that's fine if you weren't planning on coming here to do work. It's inside an apartment complex (lucky for the people who live there) and the owner was super friendly. He's the only person working so he takes one order at a time and makes your drink on the spot quickly! When we got there I thought they only had coffee drinks, since the menu on the wall only had 3 coffee drinks, which is pretty cool for those who are indecisive! When i got to the front of the line, I saw a paper menu showing they also had some teas so i opted for a Hojicha since i was in a tea latte mood at the moment. I asked for light sweetness which he accommodated and it came out perfect and a nice pick me up for the day! Very cool pop-up spot to check out :) read more

Tono coffee project - menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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If I opened a cafe, I'd want my menu to be as minimal yet customizable as tono coffee project. It's tucked in an apartment complex in Japantown next to an art gallery and you can either get a water-based "black", milk-based "white", or chocolate milk-based "extra" at whatever ratio you'd like. I got a white at a latte milk ratio. The coffee is toasty and subtly sweet and they only offer Oatly oat milk which was a bit strong, so I'd probably try a 1:1 ratio next time, but I still really enjoyed my drink! The barista was sooo friendly too! There's no bathroom or WiFi but there's some outdoor seating and some couches inside that make it a great place to sit and yap. read more

Tono coffee project - white - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

got some drinks at a thrift pop up and i thought the drinks were okay. it was a little pricey for the size they give (~$7). i got the hojicha latte and thought it was good, not the strongest, but it was decent. the matcha latte hot was good as well, i think their hot drinks are better and the flavor shows more. yummy rating: 7/10 read more

Tono coffee project - matcha latte, hojicha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Super cute little shop in an apartment complex! I'm so jealous of the tenants that can get good coffee right in their lobby. It's a one-man team but he is very friendly and efficient. I got an iced matcha drink and my partner got a hot coffee. We took it plain w no milk/sweetness and it was very tasty. I would definitely come again! There's a few sitting areas outside but it is very small. There's street parking but you may have to search a little since there's a few apartment complexes nearby. read more

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Quite a unique coffee shop located out by the front lobby of an apartment complex right next to an art gallery. Menu selection is quite limited so I chose the iced milk chocolate comes in one size for a mere $5 nothing really special. Exact change is required or pay by debit/credit card. Appertizers are very slim which they had more to choose from. Staff very friendly and attentive they do have a great outdoor seating and parking is along on the residential street just a walking distance from Japantown. It would be nice if they were open seven days a week and extend their hours. read more

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[REVIEW WRITTEN: 17 Nov 2025] This pop-up-ish is EPIC. Great neighborhood addition! The deets: + Set up is outside on sunny days. For colder days, they set up in the lobby of the Exhibit at JTown Apartments. + All drinks with the option of milk use OAT MILK. No dairy available. + My fave is the matcha latte lightly sweetened! + Pastries and chocolate are available to pair with their excellent coffee. + Owners are rad and very personable. Staff are friendly and the team is always asking how your day is going. + For hours of operation, check out their IG: https://www.instagram.com/tonocoffeeproject/ + Will sometimes make an appearance at JTOWN Farmer's Market (May - Oct) (https://www.japantownsanjose.org/sunday-farmers-market) read more