Bellano Coffee
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 6:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sun 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
33 reviews
Mountain View, CA
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27 Reviews for Bellano Coffee
A sleeper of a cafe... Since there are a couple other of my favorites nearby, I didn't even think twice about coming here. Thanks to a friend, you can always try new places!
First and foremost, they get their coffee from Verve Coffee Roaster in Santa Cruz for their drip and espresso beans from Seattle (no not that one). Pastries and muffins to also munch on.
Immaculate, free-Wifi, and sincerely cheerful staff will make you feel at home. Love the coffee mugs if you're sitting in. Seats will fill up on a weekend morning but start to empty out around lunch. There is one comfy couch that could seat three. If already occupied, watch out, I will mosey along so that it could fit a comfortable-get-to-know-me four.
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I have never fallen in love with a coffee shop before, but Bellano has wisked me away.
The decor is simple, and I like that. I prefer that a coffee shop not attempt to be hip through interior design. The interior is cozy, calming and inviting without pretension.
The drinks are well above average in quality/taste and the baristas are cute and friendly.
The music is soft and non-intrusive, which allows you to block it out easily in order to work or listen to lazily as you sip your coffee.
Bellano is just my perfect coffeeshop.
I'm not a coffee drinker, so I can't comment on the coffee. The place is great. Nice and clean (including the restroom!). The staff was friendly and did not rush me when I was debating which tea to order. I just wish they had some more comfy sofas, but the atomoshpere and the company was great, so I would definitely come back!
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My current fav coffee shop:
Good:
1. Free WiFi
2. Superb Macchiato. Actually tastes more like Cappuccino by European standards but still very good. Far superior to anything you can get at Starbucks or Peets. They have barristas that make their espresso with hand tamping so you get great tasting espressos.
3. They bring your drinks to you and the staff is friendly
4. I can always find a table unlike Barefoot down the street where it's always difficult.
Bad:
Just one in that they should have a better selection of pastries. What they do have isn't bad though.
Just hope it doesn't get too crowded anytime soon else I'll have to look for good macchiato somewhere else!
My sister first introduced me to this place, she used to work at Barefoot Coffee Roasters which is also a really good place to go to for coffee. Anywho, lately Barefoot just wasn't up to my standards so I started coming here and they have some of the most friendly staff I have ever met, they know me on a first name basis as well as my usual drink that I have. They do make some of the best drinks out there coffee wise, recently they recommended a frozen hot chocolate, and to my surprise I loved it, also the Raspberry Truffle is really delicous, and my all time favorite, just a plain white mocha iced, is worth it to make the trip there on a daily basis. Its generally fairly quiet there so if you want to study you very well can, there is lots of places outside to sit and relax and enjoy the weather.
If you know coffee ( and no starbucks doesnt count) then you should definetly come check this place out, they do everything manually so each and every cup of coffee is made to perfection :)
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A warm hearted coffee shop! I wandered in here this morning in a daze after dropping my car off at the dealer for an oil change, and I didn't know where I was walking to when I stumbled upon this shop. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a cheery hello and huge smile from the two baristas behind the counter. The barista behind the register cracked a lot of jokes with everyone and was very jovial.
I ordered a bagel and cream cheese (standard fare), and a hot chocolate. The hot cocoa came with a cute mountain of snow capped whipped cream, and a light dusting of chocolate powder. The hot cocoa was delicious! My only gripe was that it wasn't as hot as other places, but it made it more drinkable and I didn't have to fear spilling and burning myself.
Will come back again to try the coffees (I want a leaf pattern too!)
So far so good. Solid cup of coffee, real friendly staff, very well kept and clean. No obnoxious music blaring in the background (Feist the Reminder) and for the most part no pretentious conversations about Shakespeare and the Strokes.
I'm actually posting this from the corner of the cafe next to the 5x5 expedit. There seems to be a large clientele of business folks who stop by and talk shop with one another.
With the diminishing quality of coffee found at the other 'Free Wifi' cafes in the area, its refreshing to know that Bellano will have a table for me and an electrical outlet for me to plug into. If they stay consistent, i may return to upgrade the review. Huzzah.
Was getting a car wash at Harv's next door and they recommended this place, so I checked it out and I am glad I did. Great cappachino and macchiato (they convinced me to get this with a funny comic strip about Starbucks Carmel Macchiatto).
...and then there is Bellano coffee. Working from home most of the week, I do venture into my office in San Jose a couple times -- and I go a little out of my way to come here.
My drink o' choice is the coffee that reads like a story: Triple Non-fat, No-whip Mocha. It is consistently a perfect cup of coffee here -- down to the heart in my foam!
I am always treated with a smile and a warm hello from all its staff, and this is quickly becoming a highlight of my week (which doesn't say too much for me).
I have also fired up my laptop here to do some work -- taking full advantage of its free WiFi service.
Kudos to Bellano and continued success!
I came here a few minutes after 6 p.m. on Sunday (they close at 6 p.m.l on Sundays) and I asked if I could still get a cup of coffee. The girl said that they were closed, but an older man said that he could make a cup. I ordered a small white chocolate mocha ($3.50) and it was great! They still made the leaf design, too. The coffee is strong and the white chocolate flavor is just right. If you're big on coffee and you know what tastes good, you have to try this place out.
They also offer free wireless internet. I'll have to come here during the day sometime.
_______________________
So I came back during the day and sat down with my friend for coffee. The baristas are very nice! For every drink anyone ordered, they personally brought the drink to the table or even outside if that's where the customer was. They try hard to accommodate customers' needs. It was raining and there was no seating left inside. A barista cleaned the wet seats outside for a group to sit, but as she was doing it, a big group left their table from inside. Well, her efforts haven't been in vain. This is why they deserve 5 stars.
Cool little spot. Much better than the Barefoot Coffee Shop (damn Avery).
I am happy that they have a better choice of drinks (including non-coffee drinks) here. I used to go to Barefoot regularly and they decided to change their menu and I was left with a small selection of drinks I like (Ok, I only drink the teas there anymore).
The service is always friendly as well. FREE Wi-Fi is always nice. The little strip mall is a bit dull and the outdoor seating and cover is minimal. Other than that, it's great.
I've been on a Silicon Valley coffee tour of sorts lately and have to put this place at the top of my list. The ice coffee I got was perfect, lots of flavor without being bitter. Its a bright sunny location, clean and a convenient set up for working on the computer ( free WiFi and outlets). There's lots of outdoor tables for enjoying the sun or a variety of seating options inside including bar stool tables, comfy couch types or just regular large/small tables for whatever your coffee shop ambitions are. I'll definitely come back!
I'm not a big coffee drinker, but if I was, I'd go here like all the time.
I ordered a reasonably priced pumpkin latte. Soon its ready and look down at the cup to see some funky star shape art and I think well that's fine and dandy but let's see how you taste like!
I took a chair outside facing the sunset as I watched the cars drive by in front of circuit city. I take a few sips...wow..It tastes gooood..like how I imagine good pumpkin-coffee pie would taste like
I take off my sweatshirt because I start to feel warm. $#i*! I knock the cup over and it spills all over the table and the ground! I manage to tilt it upright to save a fraction of what I had originally. Eeeerg! I go inside to order something else and to get some napkins. The barista quickly gets me a cup of coffee... and before I take out any money she says its on the house, and to not worry about cleaning up! Hoorah! Drank it black. Good stuff.
This family-owned shop doesn't just make coffee, they _craft_ it. Mom, Dad and Carla, Leslie and Veronica are there, morning after morning, setting the bar way higher than you'd expect for a cup of coffee.
They take their coffee creating so seriously that it matters to them whether the doors are open or not, and adjust the grind accordingly. Sure, you can drop $3.50 for a coffee at one of the chain places (yeah, Peet's fans, I'm talkin' to you, too) and get a ... serviceable cuppa jo, or you can toddle over to Bellano and find out how it's supposed to taste.
Frankly, I went looking for a new coffee shop when my favorite one reduced its offerings and raised prices. Nevertheless, I've been spoiled by wondrous coffee and can definitely discern the difference between the good, the bad, and the ugly (otherwise known as "We're proud to serve Farmers." (or Boyds or Folgers or...)).
Bellano is definitely "the good" and not just for their flavorful, expertly pulled coffee drinks. This family owned establishment has a welcome mat attitude, greeting each customer, remembering your favorite drink after just a few visits and being willing to chat about a myriad of subjects when things are slow. Free Wifi is a bonus, plus someone always seems to leave a USA Today behind for me to read. Great coffee, friendly people, wifi, and the occasional free newspaper to read through - who could ask for anything more?
Bellisimo Bellano!
After geeking out about coffee with a coworker who judges barista competitions in her spare time, on her recommendation I went to Bellano for the first time tonight. A fairly loyal fan of Barefoot down the street and artisan espresso in general, my expectations were pretty high.
I honestly have no idea how I missed this place, as apparently it's been open for a year and I live a few blocks away. I suppose I dismiss most coffee shops as being terrible, because frankly most of them are. That being said, Bellano was a pleasant surprise.
The atmosphere screams modern middle-class shopping center, with curvy clean lines, pretty tile floors and snazzily painted stucco walls. They have plenty of sitting room, but the shop feels more like a bakery than a comfy coffee shop. However, I didn't mind any of that. I go to coffee shops for the coffee; the environment is secondary. That being said, I have to mention how nice it was to walk into an uncluttered, cigarette free environment only to be welcomed by smiling and happy staff. Barefoot could learn a lesson or two from the cleanliness and welcoming nature of Bellano.
Now, to the coffee. Any coffee purist orders drinks with only coffee and/or milk, none of this froufrou caramel chocolate whipped cream iced milkshake business. I ordered a cappuccino straight away, priced at a very reasonable $2.75. I watched as the barista properly pulled a fantastic shot, leveling the coffee, tamping correctly and cleaning up afterward. The drink was delivered to my table with a quite impressive microfoam latte art, something I'm still trying to begin to master myself. The coffee was darker and richer than the caps I'm used to at Barefoot, and quite simply it was delicious.
I will definitely be going back for more. They're receiving four out of five stars simply because the environment needs to be spruced up to be a little more cozy; the coffee is excellent. Bellano, thank you for expanding our options for proper coffee in the South Bay!
This place opened up when i lived in my old apartments and on rainy days me and my boyfriend used to go over i'd always get hot chocolate or their blended drinks they were really good. They have games and Wi Fi so we used to bring my laptop and play around on it while playing mancala. There was never a ton of people there so it always felt really homey. I loved this place and i miss it i live too far away now :(
go there i recommend it
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A really cute coffee shop with good service conveniently located by all the auto dealerships (so you can walk there while waiting for service). They made me a really good chai with lots of foam on top and served it in a nice big ceramic cup with a saucer. There's something to be said for serving drinks in cups that aren't made of paper. :)
Free wi-fi! Yay! This place is charming, everyone that works here is really nice. I haven't tried that many drinks yet though.
Soy latte- Mmm!
Frozen hot chocolate - My favorite! I've always been a fan of hot chocolate and this a good a twist on the classic
Rasp chocolate frozen thing - Pretty good, but a bit too sweet for me.
I wish they had more comfortable couches though. Sometimes I just want a place to curl up a read or something but theres none to be found here.
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Really good coffee served here. I had a cappuccino for $2.25. Pretty average for most places. The foam was perfectly made and the espresso was excellent. Slightly sweet, almost as if it was added with sugar. I'd definitely go back for more. I'm not sure where they get their beans but there was no roaster in-house visible.
The atmosphere is really where they lost a star for me. The space is nice, but it lacked any sense of character. In fact, it looked as if it was trying to be a Starbucks. Complete with curved lines and their abstract, stringy, patterns on the table. At 10am I was trying to work, but the sun was just blazing through ceiling high windows. The shade drawn was worthless because it was paper thin. Anyway, didn't mean to rant on that so much. Overall, they serve good coffee and that's the best assett for a coffee shop. Free wi-fi as well.
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I love these place. I discovered it recently because my hair salon is in the same plaza. I didn't realize they'd been open since last summer. It's a convienent location for me. Between Vallco and Valley Fair. Close to B&N.
The best part is the free wireless. Although that's starting to be a problem for me because I can never get off my mac and do some work!! Some sites they block though and I have no idea why (hey I'm not looking at any porn here!!)
My favorite is the MOO which is hot milk. yumm! with very nice foam and your choice of syrup or actual chocolate. I always get the sugar free vanilla though (it's the only sugarfree one!).
They have good cool iced tea flavors too. I can't speak for the expressos because I wouldn't know a good one. Too much caffeine makes me itch like crazy. grr!
It does seem not so.. homey..as in like central perk on friends. It could use some more pillows and couches. Yes it is empty most of the time but that's good because there are no annoying loud groups of high school kids while you're trying to get your work done.
The only complaint I really have is some of the people who come in are rude. Just yesterday I had this man and his friend actively turn around and check me out as I was getitng up and packing my stuff to leave. I mean, how gross are you?? Dude, I was in a corner!! And they turned around to look at me. The place was empty. They were just CREEPY. But that's not Bellano's fault. So oh well.
Oh yea they also have board games and magazines and the staff is very friendly.
The best cafe latte I've had in the South Bay. This place just opened. The coffee is much better than *$ (S-bucks). They also have Wi-Fi.
I also recommend the scones, cheesecake, and muffins.
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3/29/2008
I've now been going to Bellano Coffee for 2 years. The mochas and lattes are consistently good. Lately I've also been ordering whole beans here as well. They carry beans from Zoka in Seattle and Verve from Santa Cruz. I'm quite a fan of the Verve Lekempti.
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I don't know if I can give an accurate review since I only got iced chai tea from here. So I can't give any feedback on the coffee! But the chai tea was good. The chai flavor wasn't that strong though.
The place was nice and clean and new looking but it was really empty! Also it was a new plaza so there wasn't much there...
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Bellano is my favorite place to go during my lunch break. It's been open for a while, but still has this feeling of relative newness. It's clean and a bit sparse, but still manages to make itself seem homey with a couple of cushy chairs. Their tables are cute. They also have paintings hung on the wall that change from time to time. (That or I have a really bad memory.)
The people there are SOOOOO nice. Just absolutely fabulous. One of them knows me by name (although it helps that I have loyalty card, I suppose. ;) and says hello if I come in when she's there. Once I came in during the holidays and I got a free sample of their biscotti with my drink. It made me so happy. It's the little things that count, seriously.
Also wonderful are their actual drinks. Man, I sort of adore their latte and their frozen mocha thing. And their teas aren't bad either - I suppose I'm not the only one to think that, since they've started to sell them loose-leaf in canisters. Something I think is particularly delightful is their green tea chai! I have to admit, I don't taste a bit of green tea in that, and they don't even do that thing that other places do and make it look green. It's just this beige color. It tastes wonderful though! Actually, if anyone here is an ex-Borders cafe fan like I am, you may be familiar with the chai tea they used to have, before switching over to Seattle's Best. (UGH.) Mm, that was good chai. I was really crushed when they switched over, and hoarded my last can of chai for about a year and a half. It's all gone now, though... but that's okay! Because Bellano's green tea chai tastes JUST LIKE Border's old vanilla chai! FANTASTIC. It's almost all I order now, when I don't need a coffee kick...
As for snacks... I haven't had their baked things, but they look good. I've sampled their cheesecakes though. They go wonderfully with their coffees.
If you need a really good jolt, I recommend their Shot in the Dark. Mmm.
Oh yes - and if you stop in pretty often, make sure you get that loyalty card! Every ten drinks nets you one free one - any size! No restrictions!
[edit 2/20/08] They changed their wifi! Except for some occasional slowness no doubt related to any amount of other customers with laptops, I now have nothing to complain about.
They've gotten quite popular since their first days. Sometimes they get slammed, and that may take awhile since the slamming seems to happen when a whole flock of businesspeople decide to take their break here.
Same quality and service though, so five-starred they remain!
[edit 5/6/08: Their scones, their scones their scones their scones their SCONES. They are delicious, okay. Absolutely FANTASTIC. Fresh and fruity and not too sweet at all. Also, probably laced with CRACK.]
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I went to this place on a Monday at around 5pm and it was totally empty. It is a little strange, because it is new, and in a tiny strip mall of of Steven's Creek, and I can't imagine how it will get much traffic given its location. But, it is near a busy intersection (busy for cars, not pedestrians), so maybe some people will stop in.
The barista was straightening out a few things when we walked in and seemed completely surprised that we had walked in. Maybe it's busier in the mornings, the usual coffee-in-the-AM hours. I do hope they are getting some business there though since they seem nice.
The latte was good and tasty (not super-delicious, but better than Starbucks) and an attempt at latte art was made with the foam... I think the barista needs more practice! But at least there was something there, so 'A' for effort - most places around here don't try.
The place is new so the tables, chairs, and environment are generally clean. There are lots of windows and a lot of natural light, but not a lot of personality - maybe that will develop over time. Given it's location and general vibe, I could see myself stopping by here once in a while if I'm nearby, but maybe not for an afternoon study break. But, I think it has a lot of potential, so 3 stars for now and maybe more later.
Update: This is now one of my more-frequented cafes. The staff is very friendly and makes you feel welcome to come here, especially if you are a repeat-customer. The coffee is good and the location turned out to be fine.
I was excited to find out about a new shop in the South Bay serving Zoka coffee, so I stopped by to check it out. The barista ground the coffee to order and pulled my espresso shot through a naked portafilter. The cup was unfortunately not pre-heated and the crema was a little thin, but otherwise it was a fairly tasty cup.
The verdict? Pretty good espresso. They're also new, so it will probably get better with time. It's still a step down from Barefoot down the street, and it certainly pales in comparison to the espresso served at Zoka's shop in Seattle. The atmosphere also leaves a bit to be desired. They desperately need some couches.
I discovered Bellano Coffee a few weeks ago and it's become my favorite place to have coffee and do some work. The staff are friendly and I enjoy their latte's much more than Starbucks. It's great for people who need to have a quiet, clean, space to concetrate on studying or doing work. And they have free wireless.
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