Tried the macapuno ice cream. Slightly on the sweet side. The waffle cone was good.

Neighborhood coffee shop that offers coffee, drinks, ice cream, snacks, and other items. The drinks are good, they have indoor and outdoor seating, and it has a nice neighborhood coffee shop feel to it. Location is great too.I lowered the rating due to a few improvements I believe they can make when selling roasted coffee beans. Unfortunately, they dont publish the date that they roasted particular coffee beans. Also, the coffee beans for sale are located in large tubs with no date markings and dont look very presentable.One suggestion could be to pre package some of their coffee beans into bags and write the roast date on those bags and place them for sale. Many other coffee roasters do it and its a nice touch.

Excellent place to start your morning off - theyre located in downtown San Carlos and have a large place with outdoor and indoor seating. Their menu has a lot of coffee and breakfast food to choose from.

This is a place my husband hangs out very often and the smell of coffee and people come here to hang out for long time and it’s a simple shop but really cool and chilled out. Very friendly shop owner.

Great service and excellent coffee. They roast the beans right there! Exceptionally clean. A great local coffee shop. I love it!

Simple cafe. Dont be fooled by roastery, not for coffee lovers; ancient sweating coffee beans in clear plastic dispensers.

With Mariannes ice cream available, definitely a local jewel!

Good ice cream for the fam. They have a small table with toys for kids.

Not the same as it used to be. Used to be better before when it was cowabunga

Omg, this is the worst coffee of my life. I never knew coffee could smell this bad. I should have turned and walk away when I see the place is filled with retirees drinking drip coffee. We ordered latte and immediately regret when I see him steam milk with an uncleaned wand! The milk left on the wand had already dried! The Espresso beans are not freshly roasted. Definately will not recommended the coffee here.

Ahh the smell of coffee as you enter!!! If I could, Id go to this place just to smell the fragrance of freshly ground coffee everyday. The place was clean, has a huge variety of items on their menu, and takes required Covid-19 precautions. I got a cafe mocha and the savory Columbian cheese bun, which the owner warmed for me. Both were delicious, especially, they went well together on a cold winter evening.

Coffee is always consistent and great. Coupled with personable owners who care about the quality of their product. You cant go wrong visiting here.

Great place to sit around and enjoy a cup of coffee!Ice cream is amazing too.I love the courteous barista who is so patient with each order.Pay a visit and take a seat..savor the fresh coffee!!

Fairly bad coffee and indifferent service, won’t be returning. Their filter coffee might be good, but espresso is burned and bitter.

A modest cafe with ample seating with typical breakfast cafe menu and a selection of ground coffee. Also they have quite a selection of Mediterranean delights. I saw there were four sizes of coffee sold here instead of the usual three!!! Coffee was good, nothing extraordinary. I havent tried other items on the menu yet. On any day youll find people sitting in the armchairs outside the cafe sipping coffee and their pet sitting underneath the seat, some others spending time with their friends or family inside the cafe and few getting some work done. All in all, a nice cafe in the downtown of San Carlos.

What a great neighborhood coffee shop. Came on a sat morning to get coffee and do some work. Many locals seemed to hang out and catchup here. Everyone seemed to enjoy their time here, which made for a great atmosphere to work :) will be back

A family owned and operated coffee shop with some hearty breakfast items.Bagel SandwichesTheir House of Bagels menu is packed with delicious options. Personally Im not a fan of strips of bacon in my sandwiches but having chopped bacon made it easy for me to enjoy.Coffee BeansThey have a wide selection of coffee beans that are roasted in the store. The best time to purchase is Wednesday as they usually roast Wednesday mornings.Acai BowlThis was by far the most refreshing acai bowl Ive ever had. They use fruit that is from the Farmers market and there is no additional sugar added to the bowl. Its an absolute must try! It can be served in a bowl or as a smoothie.Seating:Plenty of tables and chairs inside and a few set up outside but go early or later in the morning as locals will gather for their daily coffee and conversations.They also serve ice cream, tea and pastries.ParkingStreet parking is available on both sides of the street.One thing to be mindful of are the trees. Expect tree sap on your car as the city seems to not maintain the health of the trees.

Its not bad... Just not coffee... Its all sweet sweet sugar, cant taste any coffee at all. If youre craving a really sweet cup of syrup, this is your place!!

I stopped in for the first time to grab a bite of ice cream, I love ice scream! I got a fish off ice cream then realized i didnt have my debit card in my phone case, She had already dished up the ice cream and I explained to her I needed to go get my wallet and my car was 2 blocks away so I asked her to put it in the freezer so it wouldnt melt And Im sure she may have thought I wouldnt come back but I rushed to my car and drove down found another parking place and went in and she was happy to see that I came back and she took it out of the freezer and I paid for it. I have to admit that on my way back to my car to get my wallet, i thought about just taking off because if the traffic and having To find another parking place, O but when I got my ice cream I was glad I made the effort it was delicious!! 👍👍👍😊

Friendly neighborhood, family owned coffee joint. Not sure how much of self roasting they do nor quite understand the interior theme of a surf shack. Also they seem to sell anything and everything. Coffee is spot on. Great tasting latte. Will return.

It is our neighborhood go to! We have been drinking Plantation coffee for the past 15 years! It is the only coffee we drink! We love Sue and Young! ❤️ They are hands down the best!

Wonderful service and welcoming atmosphere. I was given complimentary bags and a free pastry plus extra care for my 3 year old today. What a great experience! Food is tasty too, thank you so much!

My favorite mom and pops coffee shop. Now shared with Cowabunga Creamery its a little more cozy than before, but the quality keeps me coming back. I love their breakfast bagels and die for their coffee. They roast their own beans! How much more authentic can you get than that? Throughout the years they have also remained affordable.

Rare mom and pop coffee on Laurel. Roast their own beans which are also available for sale. Nice selection of pastries/bagels and, when the time is right, also hosting Cowamunga ice cream! A San Carlos gem.

Mariannes ice cream! Decor needs to he updated. Otherwise nice neighborhood gem.

Amazing food. Awesome icecream. Incredible coffee. And fantastic customer service. My new go to.

Great local spot with amazing coffee that they roast on site every Wednesday.Always friendly service and there breakfast sandwiches are delicious!

I stopped in one morning for some coffee. I read online that its owned by a couple; the husband is passionate about coffee and roasts his own beans (you can see the roasting machine in the shop). It was nice to see a sense of community here -- when I stopped in on a weekday morning, there was a crowd of elderly folks chatting and reading.

Terrific coffee shop

Very nice friendly low-key coffee and cure cream shop. Good bagels and bagel sandwiches. And open impressively early (4:30am, even before Starbucks), perfect for jet-lagged travelers from Europe. :)

I have coffee and a muffin almost every day at The Plantation. They roast their own coffee and it has a delicious, full body. I sometimes return in the evening for an ice cream. Inside has nice tables to sip at, and in front youll find two comfortable Adirondack chairs painted a cheery bright orange. If youre in town, dont buy corporate coffee, buy from this local entrepreneur.

I would love to love this place because its cozy and has all the fancy artifacts of artisan coffee place like big coffee roaster and boxes of different coffee beans. But coffee is just not good. I tried different beans and different coffee drinks, because its very convenient location for me to spend around an hour on some weekday evenings. But nothing from what Ive tried here was bearable. Its maybe a bit better than Starbucks because it doesnt stink from my mouth after I drink it, but this is where all the goodness ends. Maybe I have different taste buds than most people born in US, but yeah, its just not good coffee at all, as Starbucks or Peets or you name it...

Tried a macchiato there and was alright. Really dark roast for my taste.

It was a busy evening, as you would expect in spring. The service was good. The sole staff person provided us with a list of ingredients to verify whether certain flavors had egg. The ice cream was good. We got the smallest one. My wife had the affogato. I had the goofy foot which was good.

Expert barista, great coffee selection, a sizeable and tasty food menu!

In town for business and looking for a latte to start my day. Chose Plantation over Starbucks and Peets because it was local. The man behind the counter was distracted and not particularly friendly. When my Corp credit card came up asking for a PIN (which is something that happens occasionally in error) he was not helpful and basically said doesnt work. Other establishments have been able to figure it out. He couldnt be bothered. I went to Starbucks. They were friendly.

This is our go to coffee spot. Great coffee, good breakfast food and we love the customer service!

Its funny to eat ice cream from a creamery that doesnt make its own ice cream. I had the goofy foot and mango ice cream in a banana split (not on the menu but the worker made it for me upon request). The mango ice cream flavor was great but I did get some ice (frozen water) in one of my bites. The employee was nice, but the owner seemed a little distant.

Pretty good! Extremely friendly service. I had drip coffee which was very strong and a dark roast...good, but not exceptional. Very middle-of-the-road almond croissant. I enjoyed sitting in their small cafe.

This is by far my favorite place and best coffee shop ever. It is family-owned and the staff are super friendly. Try the Iced Kona Mocha for a mouthwatering, refreshing take on coffee. Ice cream and cafe snacks are also available.

If you are looking for deep roasted coffee and a delicious variety of ice cream, you should definitely go. Please note that many people have breakfast early in the morning.

Nice people. Saw beans being freshly roasted. Lots of seniors like it here in the early afternoon.

A true neighborhood coffee shop. One of the few cafes that still roasts their own beans. Opens 5 am everyday, except Sunday, when they open at 6:00. Great coffee and food priced very reasonable. Try it Youll like out.

Pretty good. Nice place to take a break in town.

Great coffee roasted on premise. Plantation has terrific local character and charm. Family owned and operated that is dedicated to high quality coffee, food and service. Go.

This is exactly what a hometown coffee shop should feel like, provide, and be. That its a small welcoming part of The city of Good Living should not be a surprise.

I was so excited about this place. Came here based on the reviews but when I tried the coffee, it was extremely burned. Brought it up to the lady asked if there was a different brew, she said this was the only coffee she makes. She insisted that it wasnt burnt even though you could smell it was burnt. She just gave me a refund. Will never come here again.

Great coffee and almond croissant!!..good ambient.

I tried to go over there once an a week for the ice cream. Is yummy and delicious. Enjoy!

Great coffee and food

First of all, its an ice cream shop. Nice though not extraordinary

They;re also called Cowabunga Creamery!! Good ice-cream. Half-hearted service. 2 tasting flavors per person. Great coffee almond fudge!

They roast coffee every Saturday. Buy a cup to drink in store or a pound to take home. Free wifi. Kid friendly with toys provided. Not a Starbucks ambiance. More functional like a small town coffee shop.

I like their coffee, and now they are also serving ice cream, which is very good. Lady behind the counter is very friendly and helpful

Great tasting coffee can be found here and this is the Cheers of coffee shops .

Always great to be here. Great Cowabunga Ive cream too

This is a wonderful home town coffee shop with freshly roasted coffee. Sue the owner, truly cares about her customers and you see it by everyone who come in. Its simply the best little slice of San Carlos.

The place now has a board for COWABUNGA. They have amazing ice cream. Whenever we go to San Carlos, this is a must stop. My favorite is the coconut.

Kid friendly!!!!Toys and a kids table, reasonable prices, I cant complain.

Great family run business Sue is wonderful. Great coffee ice cream and sandwiches.fun meeting place to see freinds

For a coffee roastery I expected much better coffee although it could be just a poor barista. Latte was super hot and beans tasted burnt. Very close to Starbucks style. Not for me.

Excellent French Roast and latte. Now part of Cowabunga Ice Cream shop so its easy to miss if you are looking for it.

Came in near the end of the day and bought an espresso. They gave me a pastry on the house. Coffee was good, pastry was great. I would recommend.

Friendly, and so friendly. Been visiting for at least 20 years. Great quality.

Good bagels, hot cocoa and more.

The place was very busy, which is why I went in to get a café latte because it is usually a good sign when people go there. The rating in Google Maps was quite okish. However, the water used to make the espresso was too hot and the latte tasted burned. The milk foam was mediocre. I had to throw the latte away after five sips... sorry, but this place does not serve good coffee

Great quality coffee, nice little shop. I like the outdoor seating!

This coffee shops owners are kind enough to make customers feel very comfortable. Caffe latte and bagles of this shop are my favorite to drop by almost everyday during my stay in San Carlos.

First time going in & was received with 2 ladies smiling & a warm HELLO ;)

A disclaimer before we start off: I am, by no means, an expert when it comes to coffee. If were talking about straight up black coffee, I definitely have my opinions about it, but when it comes to anything thats not straight dark caffeine, I tend to not notice much in the way of differences.So, that said, my friend and I swung by after lunch down the street at Cuisinett, with myself ordering a soy latte (damn that lactose intolerance!). And, hey, it was a good, solid latte. While the froth was not as nice as a cafe I used to frequent in Seattle, Ive been told getting soy milk to froth up nicely is actually fairly difficult to accomplish.***Accessibility Info***Venue - The venue is a little on the smaller side, and the two-top tables are not ideal for scooting under, but all around, the place is fairly accessible.Bathroom - Didnt check them out, so no comment.

Love the hard boiled eggs and bulletproof coffee! The folks who work here are the best!

No one has mentioned the yummy bagel sandwiches and nice tea selection. My family likes to go here for a simple breakfast.

Great coffee, very friendly service. Nice area to sit outside.

Great fresh and robust coffees, and fine selection of breakfast bagel toppings. Sue is cheerful and welcoming.

The blueberry mocha whatever was good.

Love this place, local coffe shop rocks...

Not super nice folks. Ranted about trying more than two ice cream flavors. Cowabunga was better.

So friendly!

Good place to meet old time friends. As to the coffee, its OK.

How can you operate an ice cream shop and not know how to serve a decent hot fudge?

Cute convenient Mom and Pop coffee shop with efficient service.

My friend and I were looking forward to Mary Anns ice cream as part of our usual San Carlos evening - dinner at the wonderful Chinese restaurant (King Chuan) followed by a walk and then ice cream at Cowabunga Creamery. I guess well lose weight now as we wont be going back to Cowabunga.We walked in and two kids, maybe 10-12 were ordering ice creams. After the employee had scooped one bowl, one of the boys thought to ask to make sure their gift card still had enough money on it. The employee asked the owner about it and the owner said one free scoop. The kid said it was supposed to have a few dollars on it, but the owner kept saying free scoop. The employee explained to the owner that the card had a cash value, but the owner didnt say anything more. I spoke up saying it was a prepaid gift card, thinking the owner just didnt understand. But then the owner told me he doesnt accept the gift cards since he took over from the old owner and doesnt have a machine to read them, so he just trades them for one free scoop.The boys said that was all they had and asked what they should do, given that one serving of ice cream was already scooped. The owner didnt say anything and the boys ran out of the store, embarrassed and afraid. Our hearts ached and my friend suggested she pay for the boys ice cream, but they were already down the block.The employee then asked what he should do with the ice cream and the owner told him to put it back in the ice cream serving tubs!My friend and I left. Not only was that a health violation, but we lost our appetite witnessing the owner being mean to those boys. We will not be going back.Its one thing to explain to an adult that even though you bought the business, kept the name, logo, and reputation, you dont want to honor outstanding gift cards, but to treat little kids like that? Thats just wrong. It cost him two ice creams tonight and plenty more in the future.

A nice independent cafe where the locals hang out. Free Wi-Fi.

What can you say it sells yummy ice cream! Just wish they had Butter Brickle on a regular basis so I dinged them 1 star. Maybe I am being too harsh.

Nice coffee place to hang around

Great ice cream. Forced to pay cash though.

Run in and grab your coffee, and they open early. Or you can have breakfast ice cream of you want a

Plantation and cowabunga share the same building now. Check out plantations rooibos beverages, I had their delicious cappuccino.

My favorite turkish delight

Great Local Coffee Joint with fantastic Breakfast Bagel sandwiches

Good people...... Thanks sue

Great coffee and eats always served with a smile

Very slow, unfriendly service. Generally messy. Cafe borgia was espresso, milk, and orgeat syrup (not orange). Not good.

Very small, but great food.

Worst thing that has happened to Laurel St. this whole area reeks of roasting coffee now. Can’t eat outside at any of the restaurants in this area now.

Great cup of coffee and treats

Great egg on bagel sandwiches!

Great coffee, nice and cozy ambiance!

Coffee is alright, Not as good as I was expecting. Beans are fresh though.

Great ice cream and latte.