Good Grub: Silicon Valley Coffee Shops

I LOVE good coffee. There are tons of interesting roasters and shops all throughout SV, so skip the chains and support local. It turns out SV makes a lot of "top" lists for best coffees and roasters and there's good reason why. Here are my pics for the best of the best small chain/local spots to grab some coffee and get some work done or meet a VC and fund your startup.

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San Jose coffee shops

Philz Coffee

@amyposey

Philz started in SF and now has blown up as a chain. The spot on Lincoln Ave in Willow Glen is a good one to get work done. The one by SJSU is always pretty crowded with a college crowd. Campbell's spot is big with a great outdoor area. Take your pick and grab an Iced Mint Mojito or a Philtered Soul.

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Nirvana Soul

@amyposey

I was stoked when Nirvana Soul showed up in San Jose. Good vibes, Black owned, and great artwork in this small spot (and they've expanded to Cupertino!).

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Chromatic Coffee Co.

@amyposey

Probably the best tasting coffee on this list, Chromatic roasts their own beans and has amazing blends. They're located in a cool warehouse on Lincoln Ave. Good outdoor seating and their Dark Coconut Mocha is immaculate.

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Voyager Craft Coffee

@amyposey

A solid choice for a DTSJ cup, Voyager is located in San Pedro Square Market. They have great pourovers and some interesting custom drinks (a bit spendy, tho). They have other locations in Cupertino and Santa Clara.

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Con Azúcar Cafe

@amyposey

A newcomer to SJ, Con Azucar replaced a Starbucks a few years ago (yay!) and offers up authentic flavors from Mexico with coffees, sandwiches, and sweets including some amazing specialty lattes with latin flavors. Definitely some Instagram vibes going on, too, if that's your thing. There's a "giant concha" which looks ridiculous but if you need a picture of a giant food, I guess come here.

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Academic Coffee

@amyposey

One of the best roasters in SJ, Academic puts out consistently great tasting coffee. In an unassuming strip mall just south of DTSJ, they make great drinks, have awesome pastries and sell their blends. They also have great outdoor seating.

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Roy's Station Coffee & Tea

@amyposey

A SJ Japantown staple, Roy's Station serves up Verve coffee (if you don't want to make the trek to Palo Alto or Santa Cruz). They make strong drinks and have a cute outdoor patio that is always packed with neighborhood folks and their pups. Not a huge food selection, but their iced coffee is strong and tasty.

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Cupertino coffee shops

Coffee & Water Lab

@amyposey

It definitely has a "lab" like feel. Coffee & Water Lab realizes that making good coffee starts with good water. They serve up single origin coffee, great sparkling drinks, and a wide variety of tea. I also love that they serve cofee and soda floats if you're looking for a great hot day pick-me-up. Coffee & Water Lab showcases some amazing Japanese milk bread toast, so don't sleep on those.

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Campbell coffee shops

Barefoot Coffee

@amyposey

Maybe not in the most convenient location, Barefoot Coffee has some great drinks and good outdoor space. It's a quiet place to get some work done with a solid cup of coffee.

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Manresa Bread

@amyposey

Ok, ok, I know this isn't just a cafe, you can get some amazing food at Manresa--but they serve Verve and I'm here for it. Grab a loaf of bread, a pastry, and a great coffee and thank me later. There's another outpost in Los Altos if you find yourself up there.

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Palo Alto coffee shops

Verve Coffee Roasters

@amyposey

Most of my suggestions are squarely south of Palo Alto (to me, "true" Silicon Valley) but I can't leave out Verve. A chain that started in Santa Cruz and thankfully has creeped over the hill, Verve serves up some amazing blends and the PA cafe is lovely for meeting people or getting work done.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Posey

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California-based traveler focused on short attention span travel. My guides provide info on how to make the most of a short trip and find the best eats (usually healthy/veg!) in town. I've spent the last 22 years traveling, living, and working overseas and love experiencing the very best a place has to offer even if I don't have a lot of time. My guides focus on 2-4 day trips in a place. I tend to get out into nature🌲, check out great restaurants 🍽️, and find great coffee ☕️. 📍Currently: San Jose, CA 🇵🇹 Soon: Albufeira, Portugal 🌎 visited 80+ countries 🏃🏼‍♀️ fast break expert 🏔 mountaineer & paragliding enthusiast 🌱 plant forward + foodie ☕️ coffee lover ✈️ married to an airline pilot, so I live that #nonrev life ____________________________ Shop my guides to suss the best things to do with not a lot of time. There's a sample guide or two available for FREE! so check it out. New!: Cartagena and Medellin Colombia Coming soon!: Algarve, Portugal, Global Pizza Quest, San Jose Burrito Throwdown

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