Maybe my expectation was too high....I bought the American and vanilla cold brew iced coffee and both were not very good.Hope this was just a run off bad day.I also had the almond croissant, it was ok but now enough to make me come back.

This place is great! You can definitely find a coffee or tea drink to fit your taste and dietary needs. The pastries are great (very sweet).The baristas are all so kind and friendly as well.

Compared to other Cafes in the area, Academic’s latte quality is way lower. There was no art of the latte and no consistency. The milk foam disappeared into liquid after a minute.The place do not have a coffee shop vibe, it could have been decorated way better. There is an outdoor space but no seating is provided.In general, this coffee shop is rated way below my expectations.

Academic Coffee has a very friendly and welcoming environment. The cashier gives a friendly shout out when each persons order is ready.With Covid, you lose a lot of the ambiance with having to order outside. They are limited in their pastries which was one of the reasons I came to this coffee shop. Their in house created syrups are one of their specialities.When we arrived, there were a couple people in front of us,but while we waited, there were about ten people that ordered. We didn’t have to wait very long but the wait was worth it. The coffee isn’t too acidic while the milk provides a nice frothy texture.

Im sorry. I know its popular but in the morning the sunlight is strong, the few outside chairs are not in the shade. And the parking meters across the street didnt work. And the coffee was too acidic for my stomach. But the person serving was really sweet and helpful as she could be.

The menu is smaller than you would find at chain coffee shops, but they make up for its small size by focusing on quality. Their honey habanero latte is amazing and unique, I recommend giving it a try. The iced cinnamon latte remains my go-to and when in person dining returns their cappuccino will also be my favorite hot drink.All of their bakery items are great, their chocolate croissants are mine and my partners favorite. Their muffins are far less sweet than something you would find at Starbucks or a normal bakery. Personally, I love that and their muffins are my favorite while my partner does not like them at all.This is one of my favorite coffee shops near SJSU and I highly recommend giving them a visit.

My dad and I got the pandan cold brew iced coffee. Very good. Needed a little creamer and more sugar. It comes with oat milk, cold brew, and an in house pandan syrup. Our server today was super nice and helpful. Very cute cactus decor. They close at 3.

Decent coffee. They are open only for take out with few chairs to sit outside.

Phenomenal coffee and drinks here. Staff is amicable and local owners are fantastic folks. Grabbed a delicious honey jalapeño latte!

What a cute quaint local coffee shop. Everything is fresh, unique and made to order. Was there around 8am on a Sunday morning with no lines and plenty of parking around. Loved how they offered alternative healthy flavors options for your coffee desires. Their cinnamon rolls were fresh warm and melt in your mouth delicious! Prices also seemed very reasonable for such a fresh coffee option experience!

There cold brew is an acquired taste. My roommates are not really a fan but I love it. Their other coffee choices are amazing

My friend and I stopped by Academic for vanilla lattes, and we had the best experience. The pretty, blonde woman with the sweetest smile was the sole reason for this great experience. She was very friendly and wrote a very kind note on our cups. Our faith in humanity has been restored, thanks to you! I hope this wonderful human being is having a great day :). We will be returning very soon. Oh! And the coffee is good!

Quaint little coffee shop with artisan small batch coffee. Super friendly staff! Amazing coffee and baked goods! Would highly recommend checking this place out!!

Academic is a nice treat for me just a short distance from home.I stick to plain coffee with half-and-half. Ive tried Ethiopian, Nicaraguan, and Costa Rican to date. I think the best and most consistent of the bunch has been the Nicaraguan. I do find that the flavors and acidity on the brewed coffee fluctuate between visits, so some days are better than others, overall its solid.Main negative critiques comes from my partner whom has only tried two drinks. Decaf Breve Latte and Decaf Americano. Breve used too much half-and-half, and not enough coffee, and foam was lacking. The Decaf Americano we could tell the beans had good flavor, but the drink itself was brewed really weak. It was quite busy, so your mileage may vary. I might try a chai or vanilla latte one of these days and update my review.As for food and pastries....Miso Banana Bread is a top contender for my favorites. Not quite had a banana bread like it in taste and texture, the crispy rice I think is what makes it for me.Chocolate Chip Cookie and Brownie are absolutely awesome, and are worthy of a 5-10 second zap in the microwave for melty bliss. The cookie edges over the brownie slightly just because of the added salt.Orange Sugar Bun is really good, fluffy and moist, the candied orange peel and sugar pearls add a nice touch of flavor and sweetness without going overboard.Cinnamon Roll and Cinnamon Apple Danish take their cinnamon seriously. The roll had some flavor notes possibly cardamom or maybe just a not so typical variety of cinnamon, either way it was very unique and for any die hard lover of cinnamon youd be doing yourself a disservice not to give it a try.Miso Cookie is subtly savory and more on the sweet side. Its a very interesting cookie. Slightly crispy edges and chewy center. Goes really well with their coffee.Ham & Chesse Croissant if it was offered everyday would probably be my go-to. Croissant is crispy and buttery. The ham and cheese on point.Seasonal Lox Bagel and Smoke Trout Bagel were some menu items I decided to give a try since it was available. Both were awesome, the Lox Bagel was hands down way better. All the ingredients were high quality, and super tasty on their own.

I loved this shop ever! Thank you so much for the nice breakfast you brought to me. The coffee and foods were delicious and very good. Besides, the waitress that served my order was very friendly and nice. Also, the ambiance was nice and elegant. Thank you so much! Ill keep coming back for more!

Fantastic coffee shop. I love the Piloncillo Latte!

If you want a place to relax, work, and enjoy a solid brew or tea, look no further. This is the only coffee shop in San Jose where I can truly focus. The staff is extremely inviting and accommodating while serving delicious in-house baked delights and flavorful drinks.

This coffee shop offers a lot more than just coffee, and its conveniently located near my house. It gets pretty crowded but has indoor and outdoor seating. The service was fast, and the food is excellent. Locals and college students, along with the tourists, know that this is a great place for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, or desserts!

First of all. I will start by saying that I am a coffee fanatic. Can always travel an extra mile to taste different varieties of coffee. I like the Philz the best, and Starbucks if near me, so Starbucks is my daily driver. This place makes coffee with a twist. The one I had was orange latte. The orange flavor blended well with the coffee. The have other varieties of coffees like spicy honey latte, etc. I would recommend this shop to anyone around this area.

I always prefer a small local coffee shop with personal touch -- This is a good example :) Loved your coffeeStaff is super good :)

I love this place! Used to come here all the time before I moved back to Australia! So yummy and well-priced.

As a bustling college student I always find myself going to local coffee shops to fuel myself and crank out some work!Academic is the perfect location and mixes an amazing workspace with amazing coffee, pastries and staff. I have been coming here for a little over a year now and dont plan to stop any time soon!Academic is one of the best third wave coffees in the San Jose area. They have plenty of milk substitutes (my favorite being oat milk) along with a really good selection of pastries.I ordered the oat milk latte with the Ube pastry and chocolate croissant and it was the perfect pick me up! The staff is super sweet and talkative.Things to take into consideration when visiting academic:- have your laptop charged, there arent many ports to plug in devices- it tends to get full pretty fast, but there is outside seating as well- parking in downtown SJ is always a pain- post on instagram and tag them! they are super active on social media and love to share posts and stories

This is one of the few places I know in San Jose which have excellent coffee along with great bakery items. Latte was good and flavorful. Good balance of milk and espresso. Their bakery items selection is excellent. I was told they get these from Third Culture Bakery, Berkeley. I tried the Thai tea and Churro tea cakes. Both were really really good. These had very soft, moist center and go perfectly well the latte. I would return to try the vegan muffins, donuts and chocochip cookie.

Best cup of coffee in San Jose. And I know my coffee. These folks know what theyre doing. I treat myself every morning for getting the kids to school on time. I dream about the chocolate mochi donuts and the half-sweet vanilla latte with almond milk. Theres never a long wait and its not pretentious. A great small business to support. Thanks for making my mornings so much better, Academic!!P.s. The chocolate mochi donuts are the first flavor to sell out, so get there early!

Just took a Sunday walk and decided to try it. Delicious coffee. Smells wonderful around there too.

Great coffee, the pastry I got was delicious(Ham & Cheese Croissant) and their customer service was excellent.

If you are looking for a trendy style coffee place for quick drink and bite, this place is great. Enjoy some free WiFi and/or a convince with a friend. There is indoor and outdoor seating with nearby parking on the street.

Great service and fantastic coffee.

SCIENCE! I have always wanted to yell it, and this coffee shop might be the right spot XD!What I ordered: I got a latte, a matcha cake, a kouigan amann, and the ham sandwich. My latte was excellent, smooth and had a very mellow coffee flavor. I personally am not a huge fan of matcha, but my girlfriend got it and loved it. The kouigan amann was decadent, crispy and very buttery! I highly recommend that and the magical ham sandwich. The meat was a little dry, but the cheese they put in the sandwich will make your mouth WATER!Dislikes: None, this place won over my tastebuds!Tips: They also have killer cortado!

Unique high quality coffee and exceptional pastry and food! They are a friendly establishment with great staff!

Amazing atmosphere, even better espresso. With every sip youre placed on a journey to the depths of flavor, so be sure to buckle in. Not only that, but their staff was wonderfully kind and helpful in explaining their particular specials to me and their individualized complexity.

Good authentic coffee in the heart of San Jose, but not easy with parking around. Also really nice high quality and fresh banana bread!

Great coffee. very Friendly staff. Good place to hangout. May get crowded and slow sometimes. Good selection of pastries as well.

This is a great coffee spot with great pastries as well! The staff is friendly and helpful. I’ve had almost every coffee drink, and they’re all great!

Awesome experience. The staff were warm and friendly. My latte was better than any of the chain coffee places out there (in my humble opinion). I usually like my lattes with breve (half and half) and sweetened with some kind of sweetener. Here at Academic Coffee, I elected to not have any sweetener. My latte was so rich and creamy that I felt that it didnt need sweetener. Its there if you choose to sweeten it though. Its not a beautiful location but it is clean and has in door and out door seating.

Excellent, carefully crafted coffee drinks, and unique pastry treats. Try the mochi muffin!

SO good. Its been a while since Ive been back and the drinks are still as delicious as I remembered it. I got the pandan latte with oat milk and the habanero honey latte for my boyfriend. Pandan latte was on point with a hint of pandan. Habanero honey latte, however, was a tad too milky and we couldnt really taste any flavoring.

Excellent coffee. A mark of a great coffee shop for me is the execution of their cappuccino. Academic’s cappuccino has notes of toffee, bread crust, and easy on the roasted dark tones. Their piloncillo is delicious as well, not overly sweet as most latte flavorings are.

Soon after, A found a new cafeteria where she could relax while doing her homework. There is a wide range of music available, as well as delicious food.

True espresso bar. Serves multiple espresso flavors. Can have also floral espresso compared to usual medium dark one. This is coffee and espresso enthusiast place.

Great coffee!! I absolutely adore this place and will return!!

Probably the best coffee place in SJ. Super friendly staff! Offers takeout coffee with pre-order during the pandemic, as well as pastry items and other things. I got a french press from them as my former one broke.

Good little spot, always get a iced vanilla latte, always hits

Literally the sweetest people i’ve met and the coffee I ordered was wonderful

This little coffee and pastry cafe was pleasantly surprising, but it misses the mark just by a little. The coffees are pretty good, but not the best I’ve had, and the pastries, while amazing visually and in description, are a little dry and bland for my liking. And lastly, it’s a tad bit too pricey, but I get that they are in an expensive area and need to make ends meet. Still overall, I really like this cafe and their staff have all been very nice and friendly. It’s one of those places that I really look forward to going back to, even if I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s staff and this expectation that the experience is better than the consumption.

I can say that they have the best matcha latte here. I order either hot or cold and it is very good. Their pastries are very limited but you gotta try the mochi donuts and their matcha bread pudding. My fave mochi donut is passion fruit mango. The service is ok. Sometimes the wait takes a long time. So its not the place if youre in a hurry. I usually consume my drink and food here. The place is charming and they have outside seating.

You can smell the food and coffee from the parking lot! The decor is adorable and really makes me want to spend the afternoon just sipping on my coffee. Which by the way (my cappuccino) was amazing!

Im in love with this little coffee shop. Really nice staff, and pretty good coffee. Would recommend.

Great coffee, meticulous service, deliciously different food!!

Lovely little coffee shop that has snug seating as well as a patio. The vibe in the shop is airy and fresh with big windows and plenty of sunlight. Sinful coffee preparations as well as exciting sweet treats makes it a favorite hangout for the young and energetic.

What a gem of a little coffee shop. Fabulous espresso. We also got a baked permission and cinnamon topped bagel and it was out of this world. Creative and delicious—worth the bake time wait.

Cute, small coffee shop. A little out of the way of downtown. Small menu but with some different items like matcha lattes. Come early for the pastries. I went at 1:45pm and they were already sold out. They have oatmilk! yay

The coffee is really good. I tried the almost croissant and it was yummy as well. Service was pretty fast, but I stopped by on a Sunday before 8 am. Id do a pick up order later in the day.

Very good coffee, cute place!

I just love this place. The staff is so friendly. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the drink are amazing. I got a mocha (the best I have ever had) and my wife had and amazing latte with some flavor I have never heard of and the was mind blowing as well.

This is my favorite coffee shop in the area. The staff is always very friendly and makes an effort to make you feel at home. If your like traditional coffee or something new & different they got you covered. I’d recommend their Pandan Cold Brew or a traditional Cortado.

I enjoyed Macha here. The taste is mild and very nice. I am originally from Japan and I really happy to find the place where I can enjoy Macha!! I have an another reason to love here. I could enjoy having tea with my baby on the stroller at the outside seat. Definitely I will go there with my baby.

Matcha!!! This place has a KILLER Matcha Latte! They staff is always very nice and the drinks are always on point! This neighborhood spot is the perfect spot to work and sip. We definitely visit on a regular for their matcha.

Their servers, in my opinion, are fantastic, and the management did an outstanding job of preparing them.

Never disappointed with the taste of the coffee. Everything was so tasty and the atmosphere was lovely. The staff was super kind and responsive as well. I recommend this place!

Academic might as well be my second home. Frank and the gang are all so wonderful and have done an excellent job keeping things safe and caffeinated during covid. Everything on the menu is delicious. If you want coffee in DT SJ, go here!

Great corner for coffee, super convenient for cyclists, with lots of bike parking. I had a drip coffee, El Salvador, roasted by Temple in Sacramento. Simple menu with the famous Mochi muffin. Im looking forward to this being an anchor location for south #DTSJ.

Did not go there

Awesome coffee, great outdoor seating, and the best goodies. Love it here!

The nitro and cold brew taste good! They provide indoor and outdoor seating. Street parking is available.

Nice little friendly coffee shop I had a house blend it was a dark roast nice hot cup of coffee clean friendly quick and good service

This place is excellent!! Academic coffee is delicious and I highly recommend there black coffee as its one of my better ones.

I have been coming to this cafe very frequently to study and get some work done. It is an amazing environment with wonderful staff, especially Sofia, Alex, and Kate. They are very nice and friendly. They know how to put a smile on your face. You will never be disappointed by coming here. I would also really recommend trying their Matcha latte.

Staff and owner are great. This place is becoming an important asset for San Jose. Perhaps the Best Coffee and pastries in Town (next to Forager and Chromatic Coffee) They know their craft and they utilize the temple coffee beans - which are just right (from sacramento)

This is Our Favorite Coffee Spot. They are Super Friendly and serve great Coffee!

The cakes that they had were also delicious. The prices were very affordable. What a great coffee shop!

Academic Coffee was vandalized this past Tuesday, and this was heartbreaking to hear, especially since this incredible coffee shop just celebrated their One Year Anniversary. If youve never been, I highly recommend seeking this place out on 2nd Street; the coffee is fantastic, the aesthetic & vibe is so cool and calming, they have a great shady patio, the pastries are super yummy (I love their Orange Cookies as pictured!), the owners and staff are so friendly, and I encourage everyone to rally and support this coffee shop -- Im a black coffee drinker and usually get their Nitro Cold Brew (amazing), and I ventured out and tried their Organic Chai Latte with Vanilla, and yall, it is sooooo gooooood.

A cute little coffee shop with excellent baked goods. Their mint coffee is really nice too, but nothing in comparison to the mint mojito philz makes. However this coffee shop is a great alternative to the more crowded Philz shop.

Coffee and deserts was delicious and so tasty ☕️🍪

Another cool coffee shop in SJ! Great coffee made by people who love what they do. Friendly staff. Beautiful space. 😍

One of my favorite coffee spots in downtown San Jose. The Pesto focaccia and oat milk cappuccino are everything 🤩

Very good coffee (I get Cappuccino), and outstanding in-house baked goods (Pesto Focaccia is amazing).

Friendly and personable.Coffee is pretty outstanding and the variety on offer is extensive as far as taste goes but some things are hit, some things are miss. Thats up to you.Normal, non apocalyptic offering of sweet treats and snacks is pretty good and pretty diet inclusive so definitely help keep this place afloat during this wild time and hit it up in 2 years when we arent at war with each other and a bioweapon.

Stopped by Academic this morning and everything is still spotless and excellent. I see they did add fencing around their patio area and added new baked selections to their menu. Didnt try the new donuts but I did try the Lemon Madeleine. Just the right touch of sweet. Thats what I like about Academic they do their research in the taste good department. Hope they expand one day, and spread their theory.

Seems like a lovely place. Wasn’t very crowded on a Saturday afternoon. The menu is small, which is excellent. The staff are very personable. And the coffee is excellent

Good strong coffee, oat milk options and mochi muffins from Third culture bakery. My favorite coffee place in San Jose

Super friendly staff and the decaf espresso was so flavorful and fresh! Cannot go wrong with anything and the pastries look inviting!!!

I loved to enjoy this colorful coffee shop. You feel the easy atmosphere and you may taste different type of coffees. Service has been quite good and price are OK. Love the central position near the University. Hope to come back soon.

Great drinks and baked goods! They never disappoint~ I love their tea lattes.

Very friendly staff, nice welcoming interior, good coffee, and some unique drinks (pandan latte!). Its a neighborhood favorite, definitely worth checking out

The ambiance is perfect. I came here with my sister to get some work done, and its been one of my favorite spots to go to. Its a very comfortable environment to be productive. It was pretty easy to find a spot to set up shop when I got there, as there is a lot of space, either outside, downstairs, or upstairs.

Cozy little coffee spot with some interesting snacks. Well pulled espresso shots, with beans from Temple.

Morning coffee here on a beautiful morning

Good coffee plus a friendly barista made for a great afternoon cappuccino.

Great coffee, great service. The staff always put a smile on my face no matter how tired I am.

Great find with cool people, loads of sunshine, good vibe and really quality espresso drinks.

Machiatto: very small expresso. It was okay. Ill try setting else next time. Staff is very pleasant and helpful

Noce play to stay and drink a coffee with delicious sweets

These guys and gals know how to put together a killer oat milk cappuccino or latte. If youre downtown, and appreciate a high quality espresso, you owe it to yourself to stop by here.

This is my favorite San Jose coffee shop hands down. Consistently delicious pastries and drinks with the friendliest service around. The staff even gave me a free cinnamon roll when I found out my cat died. Great vibes, great lighting, great wifi, and of course great coffee.

Tried Academic today, 2 drinks actually! Americano and Cappuccino. Both were delicious, dont even need cream and sugar. Service was super friendly. You do have to park on the street and feed the meter, but its all good, it was worth it! Very simple menu and quality coffee and espresso. Ill be back. :)

Great little place with some unique drinks

Cool coffee shop! The most delicious coffee in this location, very cozy interior design, excellent staff!

Very very good coffee! And the people who work there are so chill! I should have taken a picture of the artwork on the wall but I didnt but Ill get it next time I go back because I definitely will go back to this place! To megood coffee is one thing and thats great! But good service and good coffee well thats a double whammy! Fivestars guys thats for sure!

One of the best espresso in the San Jose downtown area!