Absolutely perfect iced Latte. The barista seemed to know what they are doing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chia-Hsien Ho
Used coffee beans from Sightglass Coffee, delicious cappuccino with strong and deep tasting notes.Also recommend to try the banana crème latte, the slight hint of banana adds a lot of flavor to the latte and most importantly not too sweet at all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Austin Zhuang
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 —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.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.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 :)Dietary restrictions: They offer non-diary options for your milks! And they also have drinks that are non-dairy as well xDParking: The parking situation is quite tense here — because it’s located next to a bunch of big businesses, parking is really scarce and if you want to find a parking spot next to Spectra, on average you’d have to wait at least 15 minutes for a parking spot. Just to put that into consideration though…
SO excited to try the banh mi after reading stellar reviews-- and tbh, it was alright. I've had better banh mi's. BUT this was a good banh mi considering it came from a coffee shop. All food here is extremely cute and I want to try it allNow the drinks.... Man they're good. They use Sightglass beans and then probably make their drinks with magic because it's THAT good....
YooBin K.
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!
Mary N.
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 :)
James P.
Discovered this place when I was searching local places that serve Banh Mi's. Coincidentally, it's located right in the middle of my two main places I goto for groceries - Trader Joe's & Costco.Love that I have a option close to me that makes delicious Banh Mi's. This recent visit, I went with the shredded chicken Banh Mi and got a black drip coffee.Their Banh Mi has the perfect French roll. Crunchy outside and soft inside. It comes with all the standard veggies including pickled daikon, carrots, jalapeños, cilantro with a delicious spread combined with your choice of protein. The shredded chicken is delicious - love the flavor from the marinade with a slightly peppery finish. Little on a the dryer side but the flavor overrides it in my opinion.Their drip coffee is good. Enjoyed the taste of the roasted beans and most importantly had a slight bitterness that was pleasant. I've been drinking my coffee black lately so it's important that I get good quality beans because I don't have cream to mask it :)This is a great place to bring your laptop to get some work done or meet for coffee dates. Every time I come here, it's filled with people and good vibes. Service is always great here as well.Come check it out!
Jasper Jones
Hands down my favorite coffee shop ever. I come here very frequently and every time I get the best drinks, food, and service. My favorite drink is their rose latte, but it is seasonal. I’m a big fan espresso guy and their espresso drinks are all very amazing. A perfect syrup to shot ratio, perfect for those who prefer coffee with slightly sweet afternotes. This place isn’t obscenely expensive, I spend about as much as I would on Starbucks.Best coffee shop in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Honey Lavender, Banh MI
Allie G.
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!
Nancy I.
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.
Ambiance is great, always waves of people but you can find seating if you try. Restroom requires a passcode and is clean.Parking: It's by a Costco so it can be hard.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Alyssa C.
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!
Francis T.
LOVE this place. It's a small cute coffee shop. With a modern aesthetic.By no means am I a coffee expert but it taste good too me. It's one of my favorite coffee places and I go here when I'm around south San Jose.The Latte I got recently was solid, great coffee taste and not sweet. I will update more as I drink more coffee.
Phong T.
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 LattePASTRIES*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.
Liz P.
Spectra Coffee came highly recommended by a friend, taking over the spot that was once a Starbucks. While my hot latte was enjoyable, I didn't quite grasp the excitement, as the coffee bean quality seemed similar to other high quality coffee brands – it's definitely a different league than Starbucks.My friend raved about their flavored lattes, which I might explore next time, though I aimed to savor the natural coffee quality before delving into any sweet flavors that mask the true richness.The pandan waffle that my friend ordered was tasty, but it didn't astound me, given its availability in several great Vietnamese bakeries around SJ.Also, the limited seating indoors could be attributed to the bustling Saturday afternoon crowd. We sat outside in the wind. I'm inclined to revisit Spectra, but it might not become an outing for me. Service was quite slow that day but they had a line; I’ll make a point to visit on a weekday to see if things improve slightly.Solid 4.5 stars
Absolutely perfect iced Latte. The barista seemed to know what they are doing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Used coffee beans from Sightglass Coffee, delicious cappuccino with strong and deep tasting notes.Also recommend to try the banana crème latte, the slight hint of banana adds a lot of flavor to the latte and most importantly not too sweet at all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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 —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.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.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 :)Dietary restrictions: They offer non-diary options for your milks! And they also have drinks that are non-dairy as well xDParking: The parking situation is quite tense here — because it’s located next to a bunch of big businesses, parking is really scarce and if you want to find a parking spot next to Spectra, on average you’d have to wait at least 15 minutes for a parking spot. Just to put that into consideration though…
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 3'' Quiche, Apple Croissant, Honey Lavender, Banh MI, Butter Croissant
SO excited to try the banh mi after reading stellar reviews-- and tbh, it was alright. I've had better banh mi's. BUT this was a good banh mi considering it came from a coffee shop. All food here is extremely cute and I want to try it allNow the drinks.... Man they're good. They use Sightglass beans and then probably make their drinks with magic because it's THAT good....
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!
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 :)
Discovered this place when I was searching local places that serve Banh Mi's. Coincidentally, it's located right in the middle of my two main places I goto for groceries - Trader Joe's & Costco.Love that I have a option close to me that makes delicious Banh Mi's. This recent visit, I went with the shredded chicken Banh Mi and got a black drip coffee.Their Banh Mi has the perfect French roll. Crunchy outside and soft inside. It comes with all the standard veggies including pickled daikon, carrots, jalapeños, cilantro with a delicious spread combined with your choice of protein. The shredded chicken is delicious - love the flavor from the marinade with a slightly peppery finish. Little on a the dryer side but the flavor overrides it in my opinion.Their drip coffee is good. Enjoyed the taste of the roasted beans and most importantly had a slight bitterness that was pleasant. I've been drinking my coffee black lately so it's important that I get good quality beans because I don't have cream to mask it :)This is a great place to bring your laptop to get some work done or meet for coffee dates. Every time I come here, it's filled with people and good vibes. Service is always great here as well.Come check it out!
Hands down my favorite coffee shop ever. I come here very frequently and every time I get the best drinks, food, and service. My favorite drink is their rose latte, but it is seasonal. I’m a big fan espresso guy and their espresso drinks are all very amazing. A perfect syrup to shot ratio, perfect for those who prefer coffee with slightly sweet afternotes. This place isn’t obscenely expensive, I spend about as much as I would on Starbucks.Best coffee shop in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Honey Lavender, Banh MI
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!
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.
Restaurantji Recommends
Ambiance is great, always waves of people but you can find seating if you try. Restroom requires a passcode and is clean.Parking: It's by a Costco so it can be hard.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
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!
LOVE this place. It's a small cute coffee shop. With a modern aesthetic.By no means am I a coffee expert but it taste good too me. It's one of my favorite coffee places and I go here when I'm around south San Jose.The Latte I got recently was solid, great coffee taste and not sweet. I will update more as I drink more coffee.
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 LattePASTRIES*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.
Spectra Coffee came highly recommended by a friend, taking over the spot that was once a Starbucks. While my hot latte was enjoyable, I didn't quite grasp the excitement, as the coffee bean quality seemed similar to other high quality coffee brands – it's definitely a different league than Starbucks.My friend raved about their flavored lattes, which I might explore next time, though I aimed to savor the natural coffee quality before delving into any sweet flavors that mask the true richness.The pandan waffle that my friend ordered was tasty, but it didn't astound me, given its availability in several great Vietnamese bakeries around SJ.Also, the limited seating indoors could be attributed to the bustling Saturday afternoon crowd. We sat outside in the wind. I'm inclined to revisit Spectra, but it might not become an outing for me. Service was quite slow that day but they had a line; I’ll make a point to visit on a weekday to see if things improve slightly.Solid 4.5 stars
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4