Crema Coffee Roasting Company
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
80 Reviews for Crema Coffee Roasting Company
Solid 4
Mahogoney, mahogoney, mahogoney, wood floors, window frames, chairs, tables and misc furniture items. There is something about this wood tone that when coupled with soft cushy leather couches gives a space a certain feel, its classic, its warm and inviting yet not too sophisticated. This spacious cafe has a comfortable atomosphere and a blinged out coffee roaster.
No hot food, no mmmm!!!!!!!!!
Loose leaf teas, ciao bella gelato, and fresh fruit juices, including the must carry nowadays, pomegranate, mmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!
Outdoor patio also a +, when its not a thousand degrees outside!!!!!!!
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New ... clean ... sophisticated ... very comfortable ... good menu ... what more can I say? Ok ... how about: open late, reasonably sized patio with tables/umbrellas, a lot of room inside with various seating options, quick and friendly staff. But wait, there's more! Seems to be an instant favorite in the neighborhood as there are quite a few customers throughout the day. This is definitely a place to hang out, bring a book, or enjoy chatting it up with friends while sampling great coffee and food and it is ery laptop friendly. Visit and enjoy!
We were at Crema last thursday while getting our car fixed across the street. We sat outdoors on the Crema patio. We had an ice lattecoffee+turkey sandwich+mango italian soda all for 10 bucks! Its free wi-fi, and the patio area is nice w/ umbrellas for shade and its dog friendly. The tables inside were clean and we liked the friendly feel when you walk in. We will definitly come back whenever in the area.
Maybe I have no business reviewing a coffee place, since I don't even drink coffee. But I do drink hot chocolate, and a lot of the bigger chains (S*bucks!) make some unbelievably crappy hot chocolate. Crema not only does a respectable job, they also don't charge extra for soy milk.
I haven't yet attended any of the open mic nights, but every time I stop in there are a lot of people from the neighborhood hanging out. The place is clean and cozy, they have free Wi-fi, and now they serve gelato. What more could you ask for?
I think this place is great. I've only been here a couple of times, but they have the whole deal. 1) Decent coffee, 2) nice employees, 3) a friendly environment to do work while on the road...there are multi-plugs near most of the tables...comfy lounge chairs with outlet strips and free wi-fi. I don't give too many 5-stars, but this place earned them in my book.
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I spotted this place driving down Alameda and because of the name, I decided to stop thinking that maybe they would demonstrate their knowledge and quality of espresso drinks.
I asked for a small latte with extra foam and watched the employee make it. The milk was not foamed correctly and the result was absolutely terrible. I was not impressed.
The atmosphere is great; plenty of room on a Friday afternoon with fun furniture and outdoor seating as well. And I was thankful that I only blew $2.50 on my drink, so the prices for lattes didn't seem that bad.
This was my first and only time, so my rating is rather limited in scope and experience. I would consider going back to see if the drink quality improves with a change in staff.
This place is amazing! Russel and Br00ner were the nicest guys I have ever met in my life! they even offered to make me a turkey sandwich smoothie. I might say, it was very tasty too... seriously! They were also very cute too ^^ I will definitely go back to visit these two sexy guys again and many other ladies should just dont take them from me! 5 stars for sure!
Good coffee shops are everywhere now and competition is stiff! This place is decorated in a very modern way, with plush single sofas and round tables scattered about. They even have a small outdoor patio area which is where we sat. I'd give 4 stars for the ambiance but only 3 stars for the coffee and pastries.
I tried the caramel almond royale my friend's ordered (both the hot and cold versions) and it was waaay too sweet with barely an espresso taste. I guess it's good for non-coffee drinkers. My BF got a triple espresso over ice. The espresso didn't have a kick or bold taste to it either. I ordered a typical latte. Nothing special or memorable about the coffee here. Also got the ham and cheese croissant - they slice it for you which makes it easy to eat, but when you look at it there's barely any ham OR cheese and way too much croissant. Meh.
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Coffee is okay, ambiance is great.
This is such a cute little place. I can imagine studying comfortably here inside or outside. The interior is very vibrant and there are tables in every nook and cranny so people can still get their privacy. I had the Caramel Almond Royale and I could taste the caramel and I could also taste the almond. But when it comes down to it, there was no richness to the coffee.
I believe the owners are Vietnamese so there is also Vietnamese coffee on the menu. I got to try the ham & cheese croissant and it was not bad. They heat it up for you and cut it into about 4 slices. It's good when warm and light on the cheese.
I'd come back for the environment only.
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This has got to be one of the nicest coffee shops in the south bay. By far the most luxurious and elegant coffee drinking, wifi using experiences I have had in a while. Short of sitting on my parents couch leeching off an unprotected wireless network and brewing my own coffee, this is comfort!
Located on the Alameda down the street from the Shark Tank, there's plenty of street parking and a Chipotle across the street if you're you know into unauthentic soul-less sterile burritos.
While the coffee isn't the greatest you'll ever drink, I'm confident it will get better. The staff while somewhat inexperienced are very friendly and attentive. I believe Crema is family owned from what i've seen behind the counter.
They have a nice selection of bakery items, fresh squeezed juices and teas. There are plenty of seats, some leather couches, a big flat screen television and very nice decor. Lots of electrical outlets to plug into and most of the tables don't wobble. The restrooms are very clean and enjoyable to use. Yes you heard that right, very nice restrooms.
I hope once they get the coffee consistent, I can re-up the rating to a 5.
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i absolutely loved the ambiance! LOTS of space, comfortable seating, and even an outdoor patio.
I tried the Iced Caramel Almond Royale and I liked the sweetness because I'm only a fan of Pete's coffee. I wasn't disappointed because I didn't except the coffee to be great to begin with.
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I was excited when Crema finally opened its doors not long ago, since The Alameda is in desperate need of more good businesses. The owners definitely focused on the decor and ambiance which is modern, clean, and comfortable. The interior has interesting artwork, an array of tables and chairs, as well as a variety of seating from armchairs to high chairs against the window. The patio is nice with umbrellaed tables and a decorated deck.
The servers are generally nice, however the service is markedly slow, especially for a coffee shop. I've had to wait ~15 minutes for a cup of coffee and a bagel in the morning, which is not the time of the day to piss off customers who need their caffeine. Interestingly, I've noticed that the service is slow regardless of the time of day, or the amount of people in the cafe. I think that that is a major flaw with Crema which can be improved.
The food and drink is decent, nothing notable except for the price. I feel that the menu is priced a tad high, perhaps to pay for the nice decor.
Bonus is that they have free wifi.
I'll probably still come here once in awhile because I appreciate having a nice place to hang out in the area.
To me, the best things about crema aren't it's coffee but it's free internet and atmosphere. They have a great front patio area that people from around the neighborhood come to with their dogs. The inside seating area is also nice and most the music they place is pretty relaxing.
The coffee and food offered is ok. Pretty average for a local coffee/tea place and reasonably priced.
There;s also lots of parking which is a plus.
If you want to go somewhere that has a more intimate less standardized feel than starbucks, this is a nice alternative.
And there is actually a wheelchair ramp, it's jsut located in the pack so you can't see it unless you go around.
I liked this place! It's so cute!
I don't sit in coffee shops or cafes, it's just too "Friends" for me
But me and Tanny needed to get online and she can't afford internet service - ok, that's getting off topic
Anyway, I shoulda got the mango cheesecake, but I was full so I didn't.......now I see all these yelpers saying its great! Damn!
I'll be back Crema!
So, they had free water with limes and it was ice cold. I liked my coffee and to top it all off we had a comfy seat - YES!
This place is definitely cool and relaxing.
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The best part is the ambiance. There are lots of tables, chairs and sofas so there is something for everybody. You can sit up front and have a window or sit to the back and have a bit more privacy. The free WiFi is much appreciated.
Service can be inconsistent. It often takes a while to get a specialty drink, but some of the employees will bring it out to your table while others just call your name.
The one negative thing for me is when they start up the coffee roaster. I usually pack up and leave as it gets noisy and HOT.
Cafe Crema has become my remote office before a Sharks game. I take Caltrain a little early and download email to read or podcasts to listen to on the long trip back after the game.
After having the 7 course beef meal for dinner, my friends and I were in the mood for something sweet to offset the taste that was lingering on our taste buds.
Good thing my friends suggested Crema Coffee Roasting Company. I had read other Yelp reviews and was salivating to try their mango cheesecake (its not even offered at Cheesecake Factory)...omg...they did not disappoint. One of my friends ordered a low fat vanilla latte, which was excellent, even better than starbucks (I kid you not). The prices are out of this world cheap...$2.50 for the cheesecake...not only was I smiling but my bank account is breathing a sigh of relief...
Well, they did charge me for 2 cheesecakes when I only wanted one, but I was more than happy to take the other one home for me to indulge for breakfast...yummy...
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4 stars for the atmosphere, 3 for the service.
My sister and I stopped in for coffee & and pastry. It took 15 minutes for two mochas. I'm not sure if they were short handed that day. Although, the employees (mom, dad and daughter?) are very sweet. I love the outdoor patio and fire pit. It's really cute inside too. OH! And too bad Starbucks didn't jump on those Stix To Go...they make driving so much easier.
I'm sad that I only discovered this place during my last month in San Jose. Forcing myself to focus and search for jobs was a difficult task, one that was made easier when I quarantined my bubble butt in a coffee shop without the distractions of TiVo and puppies. For a long time, I had been oscillating between the Mission coffee house near SCU and Orchard Valley in downtown Campbell that somehow always managed to be busy. Always. Both were good, but neither felt right.
Crema is a breath of fresh air. Not the largest place in San Jose, but always has a seat available. Parking is really easy because of the parking lot next to the DeFrank center (I only went during evenings and weekends, not sure what it's like during the day). The people who work there are nice and very attentive. The decor is modern without trying too hard. The seats by the windows in the front part of the store are clutch. Great for rainy days, better for distractions.
I think the word that sums up Crema is "comfy." That's how it made me feel. I went here a lot during those two months when it actually rained, and it became a great refuge from the wet, dreary weather. Coffee is good, people are nice, atmosphere is tops.
Yay! Im so excited about this place. I went there this morning and had to review it ASAP! I've been looking for a good non Peets/Starbucks Coffee Shop close to the train station and I finally found one!
Stopped in this morning on my way to Caltrain. The ambiance is great. Deco is nice and the space is nice and open with plenty of seating. The owner was the barista/cashier and she was very friendly and quick in making my latte. 3 shots in the large. Awesome! They did in fact have sleeves for me (but I think I was the first customer) and she even put a tabby thing in the drinking hole of my cup so my coffee wouldnt slosh all over my sleeve and hand, burning me. Its the little things that make me happy...What can I say.
As I was walking out, the male owner was watering the flowers next to the sidewalk, saw me approaching, turned the hose off and smiled at me. Outside. On the sidewalk. Again, it's the little things that make me happy.
The latte was very tasty!!!! And good news, I didnt have to curse while getting on the train because my coffee didnt slosh onto my hand and burn me as usually does. Yay!
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Surprisingly, we didnt find out about Crema via Yelp. My coworkers and I were sitting at mustard cafe commiserating about the horridly expensive food there. Our tummies and tastebuds felt unsatiated after our lunch. We decided to head on over and check out the cafe with the pretty orange umbrellas in front.
Lo and behold, Crema Cafe! Wonderful mom and pop cafe owned by a Vietnamese family. The owner is really nice and friendly. Love the smell of roasted coffee as you enter the doors. Cute decor. Nice patio area to sit on a sunny day. Very chill atmosphere. Free WIFI. What more can you ask for?
Yummy lattes. Good smoothies. $1 nonfat steamers with 50 cents for a shot of vanilla. The blueberry coffecakes are better on some days. The mango cheesecake is pretty good.
BTW, they do enforce the 2 hour parking in front of the cafe and you do get ticketed. Your best bet is the lot next to Billy De Frank Center.
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Love the ambience of this place! It has some nice leather seats inside, and the rest of the area is lined with many tables. There is also a "bar" type of seating area that faces a window. Also, of course, free wi-fi!
I really like the outside seating area, and the outdoor firepit really does it for me. The landscape of the place is also really nice.
I don't do caffeine, so I don't know how their coffees are.
I highly recommend their mango cheesecake. So yummy!
I had their rasberry smoothie. I was a little disappointed because it was more sour than sweet. Too tart for my taste.
Nice atmosphere, and the coffee was pretty good - got a caramel almond royale and it wasn't overpowered with syrup and had a nice flavor. It made me happy since I like latte drinks that aren't over-sweetened. Decent selection of coffee drinks and teas. Loving the free wifi, which is good, since I go to school down the street, and I can only handle the library for so much.
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Cute, warm place--I like the feel and decor. My date and I came here last night thinking it was an event night for one of the groups from the De Frank Center, but found out it was the wrong week. While my date had a hot apple cider, I had a hot Vietnamese coffee. Totally the stuff if you want to stay awake for the evening and then some! Beautifully served up in what appeared to be a thermally protected clear Bodum(tm) double wall tumbler/cup. I love the combo of the condensed (sweetened) milk with the strong coffee. Looking forward to coming back at some point and trying some of the goodies in the pastry case.
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Fellow Vietnamese Coffee lovers will really enjoy this place. There are of course, two ways to drink it - iced or hot. Iced is good for on the go or over some pho. Hot is good for everything else. Cafe Crema serves theirs in a quirky clear cup AND they give you a thermos of hot water. It's just like how Mom used to make it. Some hot Vietnamese Coffee combined with their authentic pate chauds can become a morning ritual.
Add excellent decor, cleanliness, good music and free wifi. This place has it all.
Great design, lots of art work the rotates through, free internet, lots of power outlets, and great espresso!
At times it gets a bit noisy (e.g., groups talking, roasting machine, road noise).
The owners and staff serve and talk to you... service, wow! The bathrooms are good, and the windows are numerous and big.
The Alameda is making a come back, and Crema is nice cornerstone.
I'm not a dramatic writer AT ALL---but let me just say that Crema is owned and operated by the Sweetest family in the WORLD!!! Im so lucky to have crema as a neighbor in my humble little zipcode.
The atmosphere is so relaxing and the art displayed is always impressive and has real history and inspiration behind it.
You better believe the drinks can perk you right up---and I never feel rushed in and out like other places.
Crema is NOT the Grumpy-Rushy-rush-Uppity coffee house you're used to... its the total experience.
See you at Crema!
I came in on a cold, rainy day and ordered a pumpkin latte. Although the cashier instead gave me a peppermint latte, I still loved it. Their cookies are incredible as well. However, it is the location that I love most. Most cafes on the Alameda, and even heading downtown are not worth growing excited for. I am glad that such a tasteful cafe has moved into this part of town.
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I was suspicious when I walked in here and saw the rows of teabags. I'm not a coffee drinker, and I don't think highly of coffee shops who like to charge for a teabag and a cup of hot water.
But I found they also have lots of freshly squeezed juices. I had a raspberry lemonade, and it was EXCELLENT. Add that to a nice ambiance and free wireless, and we have a winner. After another visit or two, Crema might earn that fifth star.
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This is a great little coffee house that I'm glad I stumbled upon! The coffee was very good, and the cranberry scone was excellent. The prices were very good...I don't remember the last time I saw coffee/pastries for such a good price.
I wish this place was closer to my house but I'm sure I'll be back.
Though personally I like the place. They workers are kind and responsive. A bit new however, so their coffee isn't as great. It's subpar... I only get it when I'm on the way to work.
That's -1 star.
I must suggest the awesome blossoming tea. It makes a great present with a clear glass tea set.
They have started to have a open mic every 1st and 3rd Sunday, however it's a older crowd with not too much flair. OMG too much acustics....
-1 star
I would have imagined it to be much more entertaining, especially since it's in the Gay Neighborhood of San Jose. Why not hit this up my fellow Slam Poets?!?!? Gosh, it's a new venue. Take advantage if it!
Then again, the guy at the counter (not the older one) is kinda cute in his glasses... but I think glasses are cute non the less haha.
Also the setting is comfortable, including the large screen TV haha
PS You get free wifi too!!! The password is latte!
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5 stars on people, 2 stars on atmosphere 3 stars on coffee = 3 stars overall.
The owners are LOVELY PEOPLE. I've been a Crema customer from day 1 of their opening - through the trials of learning how to make a proper coffee - and what has been unwavering is the PEOPLE and service. The owners care. They try and constantly fight to get me back - which they do - about twice a week.
The atmosphere is a bit cluttered, and it gets a touch loud with the layout, which isn't a bad thing unless your child is asleep in a stroller and you really need coffee yourself to make it home and put her to bed... Also there is no ramp for strollers to get into the building so get ready to "heave ho!"
I'm a drip person... yes - my coffee represents my simplicity and savory style. I'm pretty picky on quality - no grounds, really hot, and evenly strong. Sometimes Crema has it dialed, sometimes not. I am also curious about their roasting technique and haven't seen that in action yet. I'd also like to know if Crema gets their beans from fair-trade farms, which would give them another star for sure.
I will continue to be a loyal customer and bring my family and friends to Crema at any occasion as my number one rule is that I do business with PEOPLE. And Crema has the right owners that ensure a pleasant experience.
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About a half month after moving into the Race St./Alameda neighborhood, it was brought to my attention (by Yelp, thank you very much) that there was a coffee shop within walking/biking distance of my place. I was already aware that there was a Peet's about equidistant, but I prefer to patronize privately-owned establishments over chains when given the chance, so I was really happy.
The overall quality of the establishment has been about 75% favorable, 25% unfavorable.
Favorable first:
1.) The staff is very pleasant
2.) The service is swift
3.) The cafe' itself is very clean
4.) There is ample seating both indoor and outdoor
5.) The espresso beverages have body, aroma, and a distinct flavor
6.) Zippy WiFi
7.) An overall pleasant "vibe" from the other patrons
Unfavorable:
1.) The drip coffee isn't nearly as strong as I like it to be
2.) A couple of sweet pastries that I ordered had a surprising and unsettling beefy flavor to them
3.) The walls, ceiling, and floor are all very hard and smooth surfaces, resulting in a very echoic (read: loud) atmosphere. When a large group gets to talking, it can get very cacophonous in there.
If there wasn't a business like Crema on that part of The Alameda, there would be a really boring void in its place.
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I've been here only once, and right away I felt at home inside. The servers are very friendly, and there is a pretty decent selection of food and coffee for very low prices. What I liked best about the place was that they had a chessboard and other board games laid on on a few of the tables. It was a fun way to spend the time drinking coffee, eating breakfast and playing a round of chess.
I wish it was closer to downtown San Jose, I would be going there much more often.
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I come into Crema for business meetings because of ample seating and a comforting atmosphere. My taste is simple. I like good strong very hot coffee for a good price and I have found that here. Their cookies are outstanding. The owner, June, is one of the nicest ladies you can meet. Even if the coffee was crap, I would come by for a cookie and a chat with June anyday. Overall a very good coffee house.
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The setting is very nice and inviting. Unfortunately, the wait staff has no idea what they are doing. The coffee is supposed to be roasted on site, but the baristas do not even know what an "Americano" is. The coffee is also poured out of a thermos pump. NOT REAL COFFEE! You cannot say coffee that is brewed two hours ago is real coffee. If you want real coffee go down the street to Peet's.
A pretty large coffee shop with a wonderful, cute decor. I had read all the wonderful reviews in here and finally was fortunate enough to try this place the other day. Excellent mint chocolate chip iced coffee. Absolutely love the service by all. They made me feel at home.
I too will be back to Crema in the future.
As locals we have been waiting for this place to open for months...hoping for a local coffee hangout spot that is not Starbucks or Peets. We go at least once or twice weekly, and love that it's never TOO crowded.
Inside decor is warm and welcoming, LOVE the comfy red leather chairs in the back corner and the wi-fi access. The staff is always up for a chat and right now their Halloween decor adds a fun touch to the place.
Interestingly enough, the espresso is quite strong, I had a latte at 8pm and was still awake at 3am...my poor body is so used to weak Sbucks lattes that it went into shock with real caffeine I guess.
We've also sampled most of their desserts, which come from outside pastry sources...and they are very good. Highly recommended is the triple chocolate mousse and the double chocolate cake. Carrot cake is so-so but might depend on how fresh it is. Haven't tried their pastries yet...give me time!!
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Very nice and cozy place. Huge Television above the fireplace. Has got lots of cafe-like seating, as well as a few couches.
One corner is stacked with coffee beans from all over the world, which can be freshly ground and taken home.
They have a good variety of desserts (Cakes etc) and coffee (Ofcourse).
The coffee was just OK. We tried the Au-Lait, and it was a little powdery for us. The chocolate cake was very good.
They have a nice patio outside, but we couldn't sit, as it was already 9 pm, and was relatively cold :)
Overall, nice place to go and hang out with a group, or alone and have dessert or coffee.
Bonus that its open late. ( 7 am through 10:30 pm everyday)
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Everything about this place makes you feel comfortable; the nice people behind the counter, the very loud satisfying click the bathroom door makes, the comfy leather chairs, board games and free wifi. Thay also have a good selection of drinks and play mello rock music at a quiet volume. I would recommend the place for studying or hanging out with friends.
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Great neighborhood coffee shop with a real "independent" feel to it, unlike the other large coffee chains nearby. If you get lucky, grab a seat on one of their plush sofas or chairs near the fireplace and television! All of the other seating is also great, with large tables for each of them, providing enough room for a laptop, drink, and a pastry. Great study and "work from home" place too as there is free WiFi available.
In the morning, the folks at Crema can be found freshly roasting beans, which creates a great aroma throughout the cafe. The coffee here is smooth and while I haven't had the chance yet to try a smoothie here, the ones I've seen ordered here also look great.
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