Coffee Society
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
21265 Stevens Creek BoulevardSuite 202
Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 725-8091
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Fri 6:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Sat 7:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Sun 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
59 reviews
Los Gatos, CA
"Great Bear is the high school dropout of all coffee shops; this place was built for bad asses, socially awkward hipsters, starving artists,…" read more »
64 Reviews for Coffee Society
Every time I go to Coffee Society I run into at least one person I know from high school. That isn't necessarily a good thing. In fact, it's usually very awkward and sometimes even unpleasant.
But Coffee Society is a South Bay staple and 4 stars it gets.
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Dude, this place fueled me through my entire De Anza education more than a decade ago. (which led to UCLA and grad school...)
For that I am forever grateful!
I don't live nowhere near Cup town anymore but I still buy coffee beans here & stop by whenever I can.
I'm not so thrilled that an iced mocha now costs more than 4 bucks, but hey, I'll pay more just to stave off another freakin' Starbucks in the 'hood.
Service is sometimes stellar, sometimes surly, coffee is not great but consistently good as are the treats, love the spacious room to study and tons of sunlight in the giant window-walls.
The drip coffee I had wasn't anything to complain about. Friendly workers and generic looking cupcakes. Drink there, yes. Eat there, no.
I was kind of turned off by the ambiance. Some of the furniture looks decrepit and so mismatched. Not in any artsy perceived fashion, but more like I'm in a senior center that needs renovation.
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Dragging myself into work at 5:30AM and the best thing that can wake me up is a cup of coffee.
How convenient is it to have a coffee place in the same plaza :).
Generally I drag myself over around 7 in the morning or so to grab a nice cup of drip coffee. Mondo's always a cool, chill guy to talk to and there's also that one girl (her name escapes me) who's always rocking a variety of hairstyles and hair colors.
For me, it's good service, good coffee and a good location. It all equals to loooooove~
Interesting drinks -- I tried the Borgia, which is 3-layered goodness. Teas also were good, and normal coffees seemed fine. It's not my preferred coffee venue, but in Cupertino it's pretty good.
Unfortunately, the free wifi attracts DeAnza students who camp out, making it difficult to find a place to sit. Also, the furnishings are mismatched, and look like a dorm common area or something.
Decent coffee place across the street from DeAnza college and quite popular with the students and their laptops open. Because of that, hard to find an empty table. Latte was super strong and a lot of foam. They have a variety of tempting-looking desserts but when I tried the raspberry crumb cake, it was way too buttery and hard.
Bottom line: Popular but I'm sticking with Starbucks. And desserts look better than they taste.
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lots of youth hang out in here but don't let that get you down.
let the door-sign that tells you someone jacked a painting from inside do that for you.
i ordered:
- iced americano $2
and well it came out pretty decent after i added my cream and sugars - - don't know how I made myself comfortable on their comfy couches that seemed to swallow me. i was pretty charged up on the caffeine afterward.
did i mention free wi-fi?
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How the mighty have fallen!
Coffee Society was once a great place for coffee, featuring good coffee, a fun atmosphere, friendly barristas, new art, and healthy as well as sugary food. The location was convenient for any sort of meeting, being just off highway 85 near 280.
Sadly those good old days are gone. It changed hands and is being neglected. The baristas all moved to Barefoot, and the new ones can't make a decent espresso. The coffee quality dived. Stale snacks are the norm. Everything is less clean. Worst of all: the dish sanitizer broke a month ago and shows no signs of ever getting fixed. What was once my favorite coffee shop has become a place to avoid.
It still gets +1 star for location, but I mourn for the five star coffee shop it used to be a few years ago.
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Glass windows ping pong sound, uncomfortable chairs, I wonder how people at this crowded place get their work done. Lots of seats but the place was consistently busy and packed. Couches, the most coveted seats in the place are very tough to get. I tried once but on second thought, it just wasn't a good idea to ninja a couch seat from the horde of people sitting nearby.
I didn't get my usual coffee but had a classic chai instead which was a bit too spicy for my taste buds. The menu certainly doesn't lie with the descriptions, strong and spicy, definitely packs a punch. Crowd...time to play the stereotype game! Hipsters, emo looking kids, potential artist, and nerds trying to study. On the other hand, friendly baristas, one even asked customers if they would like to share their Ipod music by using the shop's system. Cool.
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Free wifi and pretty good drinks. The French vanilla nut latte is very yummy, and the Oregon chai is decent. The decor is a little homely, but the many power outlets more than make up for it.
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Ok, so the deal here is the regulars and the staff. For everyone who is sick, sick of the slick slick Starbucks and Peets thing, irrespective of whether or not the coffee is great; Coffee Society offers a local, quality cafe where things are going on. The original art which is rotated through, the books on the book shelf in case you need to read something, free wireless that works most of the time, and great staff with attitude, and an eclectic music selection all attract a diverse crowd which makes me go out of my way to get my favorite drinks.
Depending on who is up at the espresso machine, there are some real artists who know how to make a great latte with foam too beautiful to drink (but I dive in anyway). My favorite usual is classic chai. They, unlike the national chain gangs, serve a liquid product made in Santa Cruz with a choice for either the currently popular sweeter version or my preference of a traditional spicy, less sweet one. It is the best chai tea around in my experience.
This is a great place to sit for as long as you like and enjoy the people watching, the music, working on your laptop, and of course a great drink.
Downside: as always in a small business with no employee policy manual mandating a cheerful smile and insipid pleasantries at all times from the staff, you get real people serving you who are genuine and engaging but you can also get the occasional clueless rotating new hire who can't make change, can't get the order right, and generally looks at you as though it's your fault. Not to worry, that category of hire is generally missing in action after a short spell and the long-term regulars are wonderful and interesting people.
I also like the branch over in Campbell next to the Camera One Theater.
See you there.
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Meh. I come here every morning for coffee before my 8:30am class at De Anza. I'm not too much of a fan, but it's convenient to come here. I always order the Irish Stout, which isn't really extraordinary.
I think the reason this place bothers me so much is that they don't really give you too much of a menu to choose from. The selections on the board seem kind of bland, and the prices don't seem to match the quality of the drinks. The drinks are NEVER consistent! I've worked at coffeeshops for almost 10 years (since I was 15!) and I can't stand places that make different flavored drinks every time I order one. No bueno.
My favorite barista guy doesn't work the morning shift anymore, and the new morning people seem sort of lost when working the register. That said, ya, this place doesn't do it too much for me. I think I prefer the location in the Pruneyard next to Camera 7.
Also, ask for a student discount!
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Eww. This place is kinda dirty. When my boyfriend ordered coffee, it came with a big pair of red lips on the mug. Before handing over the lipstick stained mug, she put it under the steamer for like 2 seconds. I guess that's considered clean in some parts, but not in places with running water and advanced sewage systems. The drinks were all right, but I was afraid to touch anything. We had intended to stay and read a little while, but decided to slam our drinks and get the heck out there. Dirty mugs, sticky counters, and broken tables and chairs just aren't my thing.
I've been going to this place since I was 9 years old. My first drink ever was a hot chocolate and my first coffee drink was a Witch Hazel.
My last drink there was what was supposed to be a Grapefruit Italian soda.
Me: small, Grapefruit Italian soda please
Girl at bar: Let me see....oh we're out of Passionfruit
Me: Oh...well...I wanted Grapefruit
Girl at bar: Yeah Passionfruit and Grapefruit are the same
Me, trying to be the least condescending: ....nooo. Passionfruit is a tropical fruit, grapefruit is a citrus fruit.
Girl at bar: No, they're the same
Me: whatever, I'll have a Raspberry Italian soda.
See what smoking weed does to you !!
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This is practically my second office. If I have a lot of work to do and I don't feel like staying in the office, I'll come to this place. The coffee is decent, but their teas are better.
I'd give this place 3 stars since there really is nothing else in this area.
but their internet is always reliably fast so +1 for them.
Love Coffee society for the place they have , you can enjoy a coffee / tea at the same time work on your laptop in their little area for students .. sometimes they have musicians do a small show on weekends. It's a really good hangout spot and can also be the place to have meetings.
There is though this one guy who charges you a dollar extra.. he's new or something.. that's annoying, besides that it is sometimes difficult finding a place since there are a lot of people with laptops to use the free Wi-Fi.. can't comment on coffee since I mainly drink tea.. however, Cafe Valencia is pretty good.
I think I've found another favorite in my chai search. They have both a classic that packs a spicy kick and an Oregon chai that is sweeter depending on your mood. Spacious area outside to chat or tables inside if you want to read and study. I'm guessing this place is popular with the Deanza studets across the way but it makes for a good caffeine run after a nice meal over at Simply Thai a few doors away.
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I've been coming here since I was 13 years old. There's nothing to do in Cupertino, and Coffee Society was the only late-night spot (other than Donut Wheel).
Ten years later and I still come here when I'm in town. Sadly some of the same people are still sitting outside on those benches and the cruel nicknames my brother and I adhered to them still apply. It's refreshing to see a new flock of degenerate kids stoned out of their minds and thinking to myself: "dear god, that was me!"
I highly recommend the Gritty Kitty. It's not on the menu anymore, but it's to die for! Blended ice with cream and ground espresso beans all in a cup coated with chocolate syrup. Yum!
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The brews are rather weak and there aren't any organic or fair trade options-- most flavors are pretty run of the mill (i.e., hazelnut, French roast, etc.). $1.50 for a 12 oz. isn't too bad, though, and if you bring your own mug, you get a quarter knocked off.
I can imagine that this coffee place is really popular with De Anza students just based on location. They have tables outside and inside along with a more comfy seating area in the back which appears to be full of students.
I didn't see many pastries I would really be tempted to purchase, but their biscotti was a little unusual so I had to try a piece. I think it was two kinds of chocolate with raspberry. There is also one with white chocolate and apricots.
The coffee was just okay - I think because I got a lazy barista. Somehow, my sister's drink got screwed up and so another barista ended up making it but then forgot the syrups! He felt bad about our having to wait so he put some extra effort into making the beautiful design in the foam.
I really thought this was their "signature" and so i have been really surprised the last few times that I just get a normal latte without the little extra finishing touch. :(
at this time, in the year 2007, i will have to say that this is the best coffee house in the south bay. In the past, my vote would have gone to mission city. but their live music nights are really killing me.
First of all, good coffee. good brew coffee and espresso. second, the baristas play consistently good music. lots of chill electronic, some ska and reggae, and indie rock. im mostly there in the mornings and afternoons doing lesson plans and grading papers ( i teach at de anza), so i cant say much about the night crew.
the food isnt so great, but you can walk to one of the many restaurants at the oaks if you get hungry.
if i were a de anza student, i would live here i think.
sometimes its hard to find a seat, especially one close to an outlet for laptopping. like i said though, this isnt much of a problem in the a.m.
free wireless: awesome.
thank you.
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This cafe was the first to show me that Starbucks sucks ass and since then I have gone to many other cafe's in search of better espresso drinks. I must say, there are MUCH better cafe's though even just down the street. This place is kind of uncomfortable and humid because there are so many people packed into one place. The atmosphere is just not friendly and people are pretty rude here.
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I'm giving this place a low score because I need a place to study and don't want hordes of people coming here every night. GO TO B&N PEOPLE AND USE UP ALL THEIR ELECTRICITY AND DEFILE THEIR BOOKS! Leave the serious studying to people who like me who need the comfy couches in the back.
I made the mistake of having a frozen coffee drink here. It was just as disgusting and horribly sweet and fattening and overpriced as any other Binge in A Cup that I've had at Starbucks or any other coffee joint.
The scene here is very much student and local. It's a divey place with art on the walls drawn by middle schoolers going for $140. Kudos to them for learning the fine art of hustling at such a young age and Kudos for Coffee Society for taking a slightly different tack in regards to 'community art'.
I like this place. But you shouldn't. So please stay away and let me drown in pool of discrete mathematics.
I wouldn't recommend the frozen coffee drinks. because I had it made with soy, but the hazelnut frappe drink was pretty bad.
It's a decent place to study and there are some interesting conversations that go on around you if you want to distract yourself. In terms of ambiance, it's an indy joint, and they pull off the shabby mish-mash type of look.
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This place has been open for as long as I've been drinking coffee and that's a long time. This used to be and remains a high school and De Anza college hangout where people used to just chat and study. I like the fact that it's an independent coffee shop and the vibe is so much less corporate. Sure, you have the goth/hippie/emo folks smoking outside on the benches by the side door, but I think it's just that kind of place... it just draws people from a multitude of backgrounds.
However, since they've put in free WiFi, there are just a sea of LCD screens and people surfing the web and taking up space. Sometimes it's really tough to find a seat here when there are midterms and finals at DeAnza and the students hog up tables for a few hours at a time. Some of the coffee baristas have been there for ages and they're all pretty nice. Sure, some of them aren't the most customer oriented, but can't say the place doesn't have personality. They often have local artists put up exhibits of their artwork on the walls for about a month or two and they sometimes hold open mics here. Overall, it just feels more like a neighborhood coffee shop if you're interested in that sort of vibe. Oh yeah, they did a semi-remodelling job here, but it still looks pretty old . The bathroom improved a bit, but it's still kinda sketchy.
If you're not in the mood for coffee, Jamba Juice is right next door, Hobee's offers some decent breakfast options, and Cold Stone is just a little further down from Hobee's.
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I love this place. its been the same for years and years. My favorite is still the Cafe Borgia. This is one of thew coffee shops that I know that makes it. The last time I ordered the Borgia, the barista was so excited about making it. They have lots of seating, indoors and out.
I took a class at De Anza last quarter to get ready for my MBA app process. I'm working about 65 hours a week plus classes, so needless to say I need a pick-me-up on occasion.
The staff here is the typical "I'm paid by the hour" type cronies you would expect working at a Blockbuster. Each time I went there, the conversation they were having about who's hemp shirt was more ecologically friendly than the others was only 10x more important ringing me up. The coffee was decent, but on par with Peet's, which I drink when there is NO other option.
I don't mind smokers, but the sheer number of them outside makes me feel like I'm in Vegas.
Overall, my least favorite coffee stop in the area. Go to Barefoot and get a REAL cup of coffee without the attitude of a bunch of smelly, tree hugging, anti-customer service hippies.
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I really like this coffee shop because it is right opposite De Anza College. What I like about the shop is that it is alot bigger than starbucks, and has an area in the back where u can sit on couches and study. However.. most of the time that area is full. However u can sit outside if the seats inside get full. In the evenings it seems to get quite full on a regular basis.
The pastrise and drinks are good. I like the different herbals teas they offer. The coffee drinks however seem to be a bit overpriced.. as are the pastries. The plain cheesecake was on the lemony side.
If your looking for a nice place to chill near campus i would recomend it.
Everytime I go, there's usually a group of skaters outside smoking and hanging out. I usually come here to grab a quick mocha or latte or sit at one of the tables to chat with my girlfriends. They changed the menu and it seems as if they reduced the amount of coffee drinks they make. I do like the fact that they use Mighty Leaf teas which is packaged in these little silk bags. Their flavors are Mighty yummy!
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Ok I've been here a lot, but never reviewed it oddly enough. I went to have coffee here the other day as a short break from work and it was just really nice. The girls that worked there were friendly and made a mean vanilla latte.
Everyone inside was studying, except for me and a friend. There was a constant chatter within, but no so much that you hear everyone's conversations. For me it just feels better than a Starbucks, which just doesn't get the same cozy feeling as this place. Chatted till the place closed down, and then I bid adieu to my friend and went back to work... meh.
I LOVE coffee. LOVE it. I actually plan to open my own coffee shop up one of these days. So I always try new coffee shops to see what the competition is out there. I 100% mean this in all honesty. I HATED this place. The employees were rude, and not helpful. I asked for a grande on accident and the girl says all rudely, "What's a grande?!" R u kidding me?? Unless you've been living under a rock you know what a stupid grande is! Sorry I am used to ordering at stupid Starbucks (which I don't think is that wonderful anyway.) Their coffee was so bad that I chucked my iced, nasty white mocha poop flavored coffee in the parking lot when I left. It was horrible!!!! I'd never go back. Ick!
This place is a bit "scene-ey", but on the whole it's a nice place. You'll find a lot of students there that are gossiping, talking loudly on their cells, and hunched over laptops. Doesn't bother me, but if you don't like that kind of atmosphere don't go here.
The coffee is OK, nothing to write home about, but it works. The food is a little sub-par but the pastries are pretty strong with a good mix. You absolutely cannot beat the free wi-fi and the amount of open outlets for use. If you want to work on your laptop, and don't mind a little background noise, this is a good place for you to come. There's also a few tables in a cordoned off area of the patio which is a nice place to hang out when it's sunny. All in all, a nice place with a lot going for it.
Alas, could it be true!? This Coffee Society has gone tremendously downhill since I graduated high school. Yes, I'll admit it. I was one of those high school kids who came to hang out in some effort to be "trendy" whilst dumping spoonfuls of sugar in my dark roast to help it go down with a bit more ease.
Honestly, though... this place holds a dear and special place in my heart. Going to high school in Cupertino (especially coming from the East Bay) is like handing someone shit covered strawberries and telling them it's chocolate. They will enjoy it. They will benefit from it. It will be just like something you knew in your past. No, No, No, No, No. I'm not down.
Thus, Coffee Society became my refuge from all those stacks of math and science homework I was "supposed" to be good at and that nasty above 4.0 GPA I was "supposed" to be achieving. Barf. All over your face, CUSD! I remember sitting on one of those old leather couches and reading The Virgin Suicides in its entirety while listening to Miles Davis. I felt good about myself, smart, happy, and like I wasn't in God-forsaken Cupertino for 3 hours. It was lovely.
Sadly, Coffee Society just ain't what it used to be. I will remember the giant, delicious bundt cakes, amazing brownies, Apple Chais, free re-fills, and comfy century-old couches with fondness.
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I've been here twice and it's a good independent coffee company (this resulting in the 4-star baseline; I feel bad giving any non-mega-chain-cafe any less than 4 starts, sort-of an A-for-effort attitude, unless of course they really deserve to be marked as average, meaning some sort of significant negative pull making the starbucks-phyla alternatives considered...but [as others have pointed out] what's with not allowing us to give a 3.5 rating to more accurately capture our rating conundrum? And but then sorry, obviously I've been reading too much David Foster Wallace lately, so back to the review...) , but neither time had I felt wowed or moved past the point of "Oh, ok, nice room, good coffee, I'll be back at times, I'm sure."
Some notes: right across the street from De Anza; hit-or-miss conviviality from the staff; good A/C in the "back" room; a nice patio facing out to the blandness of Stevens Creek and strip-mall-eria.
So, check it out when you're looking for something new. Try it on, see how it fits, after all, it's only you who will know if it's comfortable or not.
A friendly and detailed-oriented barista...Finally! A person who takes pride in his work! Hard to find these days.
Baristas who clap their hands in glee when I order a double espresso con panna. Yeah, I'm sick of people ordering those sticky sweet and fattening drinks, too.
A perfect Americano with 2 shots of espresso for $2.
What more can I say? Coffee Society all the way! Yay yay!
I've grown up coming to this place, so I do have a sort of attachment to it. I don't really drink their coffee; I mostly have the iced mochas or shakes. The killer man java is really good (and sweet) if you like chocolate. Also, their pecan bar is also delish - buttery crust and pecans!
The one negative thing I have to say about this place is that it can be inconsistent. Sometimes I order a drink but it tastes differently than when I ordered it another time. However, I usually come here for the company rather than necessarily for the coffee. It's a nice and relaxed place to sit down and have a conversation, read, or study.
I must admit, I come here pretty often, but it's not their coffee or ambiance that drives me here. It's the wi-fi. First off, their coffee is overpriced, and empty tables are hard to come by. With all those people crammed into that space, it also gets REALLY loud. It's the price you pay I guess. There have been several times when I felt compelled to just leave because the table beside me was too loud, so bring your headphones!
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Ah, I'm so old I remember when it didn't exist... went by there the other day on my commute from SF to Monterey and got a scone and big mocha for South Bay prices. The guy behind the counter was singing to his girl help-meet, some indie sensitive song. It's great that the teenage angst is as bad as it was when I was there; kids too artsy for their soul lounging around the dark Oaks hallways, jonesing cigarettes.
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Minus - to crowed, always outside smokers, that limits for non-smokers outside pleasure, coffee is so-so, staff is so-so
Plus - and this is why I still go there for years - atmosphere is great and this is the best place to be when no traffic and best place to make new friends
Coffee Society used to be where gutter kids threw things at one another and compared skateboards. The atmosphere was unbearable. With the new ownership, it's better. Gutter kids no longer hang around in packs, baristas actually make coffee sometimes (instead of standing around comparing tattoos), staff attitude has changed from openly hostile to merely lackadaisical, and the wireless internet sometimes works. Drinks aren't bad, but no better than Starbucks. With the soft seating in the back, and the sunny patio in the front for listening in on pseudointellectual discussions such as "Starbucks is so... corporate," it can be fun for sitting. Service is still hit-or-miss, and prices high (especially the convenience-store-quality sandwiches for $6), but Coffee Society has its charms.
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