It's A Grind Coffee House
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Fri-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
287 reviews
Santa Clara, CA
"Best coffee in the Bay, hands down. Does this place even need another review? I haven't been here much since they changed and simplified…" read more »
39 Reviews for It's A Grind Coffee House
Great mocha. Very friendly servers. Free Wifi. Comfy and clean seatings. Lots of parking. Close to other restaurants (great Thai restaurant and Potsticker Chinese restaurant, as well as Wahoo Fish taco place).
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Came here looking for some pastries one early afternoon but nothing looked very appealing in the baked good case. A friend got one of their iced coffee drinks and said it was way too sweet.
Bottom line: The food/drink didn't make a good first impression on me or my friend. But they do score some extra points for free wireless.
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Super nice customer service. Peaceful ambiance with pleasant people coming in and out. Good plan-B if Barefoot (down the street) is too packed with unemployed hippie kids. Their espresso drinks are candy, liquefied -- could be a good or bad thing depending on what you're lookin for.
I'm surprised to see so many fans of this place. I had it a couple of times (once to try it when it opened and again to confirm my disapproval of the place).
The espresso was weak and the drinks were overly sweet (dessert-esque). Kinda like a Starbucks away from Starbucks...
Nice try, but not for me.
The people who work here are really nice and friendly. I like the iced coffee..
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE this location!! The baristas at this location are ALWAYS no matter what time of day it is. I've been there at the crack of dawn and they're just the right amount of cheerful--not too smiley, not to grumpy, just the riiiight amount.
I always get a consistently great tasting latte, and when its not too busy they always walk around the counter to bring my drink and whatever else I ordered.
Free wi-fi is always an added bonus. . . . .
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Granted this place is a chain, I don't feel as disgusting after patronizing them like I do when I have no choice but drink Starbucks. I'm sure it will come with time but until then I can feel fairly comfortable with drinking the brews they have on hand. They use PEERLESS coffee beans for those keeping score at home.
Free wifi in a clean environment is a plus, the prices are pretty cheap, 50cents for a refill? Sign me up. The coffee is not bad, they have High Octane, medium, mild etc, you won't get an exotic Ecuadorian blend here nor will you get any overheard conversations about the subtleties of Shakespearian Buddhism. ha. whatever. decent cup in the mold of Dunkin' Donuts if they had free wireless.
The place is fairly small so finding a seat or a table to work on may be difficult especially when you have jobless folks like myself occupying a table for hours on end.
Smaller Starbucks-esque coffee chain with free wi-fi and mediocre setting and drinks.
1. Drinks: I say it is Starbucks-esque because the drinks are still your average, mass-produced by a non-passionate teenager barista, served in a paper cup - type drink. Compared to other local spots, such as Barefoot, the barista's--and therefore the drinks-- seem to lack that coffee know-how and carefully prepared taste. I ordered a Nutty Cow (hazelnut espresso drink) which was kind of watery and bland. I recall the iced blends being better. Prices are fair.
2. Atmosphere: Starbucks-esque again. Jazzy Miles Davis and Sinatra paintings on the wall, 4 loungey chairs, and about 3 other tables with chairs inside. A selection of decorative mugs (hooray). A few tables outside as well.
3. Laptops: good free wi-fi signal, and 2 outlets available.
4. Crowd: seems to fluctuate, there were several grandpa's sitting on the couches reading the newspaper, younger people either smoking outside or studying inside, and middle-aged professionals on their lunch/coffee breaks. Good for individuals and small groups.
I'd prefer Barefoot or even Le Boulanger down the street, if I'm looking for free wi-fi, tasty food/drinks, or ample seating. This place only delivers on the first. Who knows, maybe I just haven't ordered the right drink yet. I'll try the mint mocha next time. 3 stars for now.
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It's A Grind is definitely my favorite coffee franchise. The barista's at the Steven's Creek location are super friendly and greet you with a smile as you walk through the door. Plus the mocha's are incredible. They use Ghirardelli chocolate which adds the perfect amount of flavor w/o being too sweet. I'm not a big mocha fan (I usually stick to Americano's), but I can't pass them up here.
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I think this is one of the best coffee houses around. It's very clean, the staff is very friendly, and they have a great variety of coffee. When I come here I usually get the Nutty Cow because hazelnut is my favorite flavor.
Another nice thing about this place is the free wifi. No need to pay for internet like Starbucks. They have clean tables and chairs if you need to study or just wind down with a book.
On a side note: they have a very clean bathroom with an awesome toilet. I think it's one of the strongest flushes I have ever seen in my life. When I buy a home, I'm so getting one! =)
I must be a big fan of It's A Grind, because this is the third location that I have been to here in the South Bay. Came to this particular location as I was in the immediate area. Ordered the triple chocolate mocha. Excellent! It definitely had Ghiradelli chocolate, of which I am so hooked on.
Great service, great stuff. I'm so glad that there is a location within minutes of my home in Milpitas. Will definitely return to this location if I am ever in the Sunnyvale/Cupertino area. It's much better than Starbucks.
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I absolutely love It's A Grind! This is the only place I get coffee now. I love their white mochas (I get a single, non-fat, no whip white mocha) and their breakfast bagel is delicious too! Sometimes I go inside and study with a friend or two and they have these 4 big comfy chairs around a little table which is perfect for studying. On nice days, I bike over and sit outside with my dog and have an iced coffee. Every visit, the staff is VERY nice and the coffee and food is amazing. They've even offered to bring a cup of water out to my dog on more than one occasion. So nice! It's such a quaint little shop in a really great location. I'm so happy It's A Grind came to Cupertino!
WHITE CHOCOLATE MOCHA!
The name and quality of coffee speaks for itself.
Yumm-OH!
I used to go to the Prospect/Saratoga location a lot before they closed. I was SOOO happy when they opened this one up; as the next closest one is all the way down in Gilroy.
A really nice change of pace from Starbucks. My usual is the Iced Blended Triple Chocolate Mocha. Yes..triple. As in three DIFFERENT kinds of chocolate...mmmm..
Seating's not that great; but that's not really an issue for me because I'm usually just stopping in on my way to work/on the way home.
I've found the people who work here (and the other locations) are fanatically friendly and helpful. And not in that weird creepy "I have to be nice to you" way. It feels genuine.
for all of u starbucks-lovers out there,
my recent coffee fetish: IT'S A GRIND
Solid quiet place away from the Starbucks crowds over at De Anza. Kind of hidden in the plaza. Not much outdoor seating.
Never really too busy so you get your drinks fast.
Both the atmosphere and staff are friendly & welcoming. I mean, GENUINELY friendly. Wait...did I mention the staff are super-nice?
I, for one, DO think the coffee is superior to that of Starbucks, Peets, and any other coffee chains that I can't be bothered to mention. The menu is so much more diverse that you're almost encouraged to try something different each time. Oh, and there's a greater selection of house coffee, which you can help yourself to instead of waiting for ages in line.
It's true there isn't much in the way of indoor seating (a bit of a pain in the Winter months), but it's clean, there is free Wi-Fi, and it's opened pretty late.
Great staff. They acknowledge you as soon as you walk in the door, smile when they take your order, and actually walk to where you are sitting and personally give your coffee to you. I don't know if this is how all It's A Grind franchises are done, but it's the same way at the new franchise in Milpitas.
The coffee is great and imaginative. I've only had their triple chocolate mocha, and it's to die for. Like the name says, it has three kinds of chocolate and tons of chocolate shavings are mixed into the drink.
The coffee shop itself is small but quaint. Comfortable leather wing-back chairs are there to sit on. The decor is eclectic. I've yet to actually go here to study but I'm assuming it'd be a nice place to go.
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I LOVE this place, used to go there a lot more when they first opened. Minus one star for not having lots of tables that are study friendly. ANd yes, the staff are WAY nice, but overly friendly for my taste. I want to say, "Hey, can't you tell I'm trying to study?"
Not the best coffee in the world. Mochas are overly chocolatized. The lady who cashiered me seemed like she might be the owner and it was obvious that she was more concerned with selling me stuff than making good coffee. I don't blame her, most coffee shops run this way now, including the one I used to work at, which is partly the reason I quit. I give you two stars for effort.
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Fifteen minutes after my tall soy Carmel Macchiato was delivered to me, a staff member checked up on me, even remembering my name. Now if that doesn't warm you up fifteen times more than your heated blueberry muffin, I don't know what will. The place is very clean, with seating outside too. Try and snag one of the leather chairs next to the outlet so you can enjoy the free WiFi here.
//edit: But if you ordered a drink with soy milk, verify that when you receive your order.
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Sooooooo...sick of Starbucks....and Peets......2 stars for NOT being either .... the coffee is just as good as the others that a star....the mugs for purchase another star...since I like to treat myself to a new mug every so often, ,,,are hella cute...got a pink thermos with a black cat on it and still get compliments on how cute it is. I haven't been able to find one cuter yet...its been about a year. (Santa Cruz coffee roasting gets my 5 stars)
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I have never been the type of person that appreciates that over-caffinated, way-to-early-in-the-morning cheerful greeting that Starbuck's employees are brainwashed to deliver, but the employees at It's a Grind have found that perfect balance of being extremely pleasant without being fake or annoying.
When you walk in, they acknowledge you. Not that "GOOD MORNING!" kind of hello, but a "Good morning, we'll be right with you" greeting. They take your order and offer a sample size of coffee while you wait for your latte. They get you in, they get you out. And they don't make you feel like a herd of the cattle, standing in line, move to the left, scream your name and drink that many other coffee places have developed.
Best yet, this place is two blocks away from where I work and when our network goes down in the office, I can walk over to It's A Grind, tap into their wireless for free and get some work done.
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I went to this coffee house for the first time today while I was waiting 2 hours for my battery to be replaced at Sears (and it was only supposed to be 20 minutes) ANYWAY... Finding this coffee shop really helped turn the morning around. There were 3 really friendly and helpful employees, the cashier, the barista, and the pastry guy. As a bonus they have free WiFi and I was able to VPN with no problems. The only thing with protein was a turkey and cheese croissant. It was really good. They warmed it up and brought it to my table. I almost forgot the coffee - I had a caramel macchiato. It was very flavorful and VERY HOT. I would totally go there again next time I'm suffering from an over optimistic car repair estimate.
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Wow! I came by for an Iced Mocha earlier this afternoon and it came out on the pricey side, ~$3.75 for a small...
I am very impressed with the service and quality of the drink I must say. I've had Mochas at Starbucks, Coffee Society etc, and this one does taste pretty good.
I like the fact that they have Chocolate shavings in the drink to make a more authentic Chocolate taste! :)
I was also very impressed that the cashier acknowledged me when I walked in the door as well as seemed to care when they took my order as well.
I can't say bad about this place. Their coffee is awesome, but not something to lose an arm over. However, I don't really care about their coffee. In the end, coffee is coffee. The tea choices are great as well. Enough said.
The service is superb and that is what truly separates this coffee house from the others. They like their job. For instance, the two owners, an Indian couple, and Jim are some of the greatest people there, but all of the employees are on the same level and will go the distance to give excellent service. They even talk story with you and remember your name, especially if you come in regularly. I think that is how a coffee shop should be. I like the fact that it isn't a big chain, because I fell if the franchise expanded, the quality of service will drop i.e. Starbucks.
It is just one of your quaint, unpretentious coffee houses. Overall, I love the place!
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After visting the erstwhile location in Saratoga, as well as the Concord store, I figured it was time to hit Cupertino. My cousin and I both ordered the mint mochas and were far from disappointed. Not only were they automatically made with nonfat milk, but mine went down so sweetly and jazzed me up like nobody's business!:) I spent a good hr and half to two hours there and could have stayed far longer. Now they just need to install one closer to me--somewhere in the heart of San Jo rather than near the airport.
I fell in love with this chain for their wonderfully tasty blended mochas. Yes... the plain mocha or the white chocolate mocha are my favorites. They actually have pretty good hot mochas also. However, one time I ordered a large one with my friend before she had to leave for LA and we agreed that it had us wired. Caffeine usually doesn't phase me much, but damn! I was up and about, sweating and moving around like the Energizer bunny. Can you say "PERKY"?
*Service at this location is great, they go out of their way. The owner makes it a point to try to learn your name. Did anyone notice the advertising for this chain in the show WEEDS? Well, it made me crave it the other day... and ahhh.. So good! Starbucks, move over.. Here comes something better!
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The place is a wee bit small, but it's quaint and the staff is nice. I went here a few times to study Korean with my class partner, and we were often there for 3 hours with only 2-3 drinks between us and they had no problem with it. When the sun was setting and in my eyes, they pulled down the drapes. Sometimes it's the little things that make the coffee place.
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This is a place I frequent not only because it's near my work, but because it's a cool place. The coffee is average and the pastries are good. There is air conditioning inside with some cozy chairs, and several tables outside with a view of the coastal range over the tops of the nearby buildings.
My co-workers and I jokingly refer to this place as "the happy place" because of their over-the-top hospitality which is comical though sometimes invasive. It's not always this way, many of their employees are laid back, but sometimes you get assaulted by insanely happy greetings before you've even opened the door. This really sucks if you're not a morning person and you're ready to bite somebody's head off before you've had your coffee fix.
They opened up at least 6-8 months ago. I was bummed when they closed the It's a Grind on Saratogo and Prospect/Campbell. I've been trying to find an ice blended mocha that tastes like Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and where I don't have to travel to SF. This is where it's at. Though it's too cold to drink one, at least for me, it's tastes soooo good! The coffees to me, are so-so. I do like that the coffee dispensers are out so that you can pick and choose which one you'd like.
The owners are very nice, an Indian couple. They try to make an effort to get to know you, make a little small talk. My husband and I were coming regularly so the wife would remember my name. It has its moments when it does get packed though.
I wish it were a bit bigger but it's a good place to get together, study, or do a little laptop work. It does offer free Wi-Fi. Always a plus! When it's warm, sit outside.
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their white chocolate mochas are made with ghiradelli chocolate as opposed to Torani syrup and the best I've had! I usually order it w/a little less powder because I don't like my white mochas too sweet.
I also am a big fan of their big, fluffy blueberry muffins and their scones!!
Their have an amazing selection of frozen drinks, especially with their rotating specials. You usually can have them made even when it's not advertised, and i love their triple black cherry and 50/50! My favorite when I'm in the cupertino area!!
I give them two dollar signs b/c it's more expensive than starbucks, but proportional to their sizes and the quality of the coffee.
I wanted an alternative to Starbucks, so I went to Pete's. It was alright. I have one on school campus so I get coffee there when I'm craving some caffine but it wasn't all that. After months of passing by this establishment, I gave it a shot. It's great! I frequently get iced and blended coffee drinks and It's A Grind has won me over.
Try the iced or blended white chocolate mocha... mmm. It's my favorite thus far. What suprised me was that they bring the drinks right to you. How awesome is that?! That is one reason why I love CJ's (Carl's Jr. for you uncool people) for burgers... delivery with a smile!!! ;)
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this place reminds me of college. days spent 'studying' at coffee shops with big, squashy couches. this place has couches, but most structure, sherlock holmesy couches.. well at least kind of baroque. the place is a bit small, but the staff are all extremely nice. free wifi, and pretty decent drinks. my vanilla latte was a little too sweet though. my only gripes are that its small and thye play the music a bit too loud here.
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good quality coffee, we always just get the house coffee, cheap!
dessert not that good, kinda dry :(
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i love this place. it's everything starfuckers is not. super friendly staff who actually will talk you into sampling the different coffee's, they put your coffee into real cups if you're not taking it to go and if you order a pastry, they warm it up and put it on a nice little plate and bring it out to you. they are also extremely clean and they don't play music so loud you can't hear yourself think. they also don't try to cell me on cd's, board games and electronic gadgets while i'm making my coffee purchase.
what more could you want in a coffee place, right? ha - how about free wi-fi access? no t-mobile $10 day access here, surf away at your leisure as you enjoy one of their house specialty blends and no lines...EVER.
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The first thought I had stepping in was wow, very clean! There was a display of pastries and many house coffees to choose from by roasts or blends. I tried their vanilla blend and it was a little dilute, but still tasted pretty good.
It was really empty when I went, so I'm not sure how the atmosphere is. They were open bright and early on New Year's Day. Bless their souls.
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i give only one star for the baristas working there. other than that, when i ordered some sweets from the glass case it had to be microwaved because they just pulled it straight from the freezer two seconds before i came in. i struck up a conversation with the owners about why they chose its a grind and basically what they told me sounded like they put a number of chain names in a hat and it happened that its a grind was pulled out. when i tried getting deeper into the conversation about business with them (husband and wife) they seemed like a box of rocks. it doesn't seem as though they knew what they were doing and it came out in the way they presented themselves. coffee shops are for passionate coffee lovers not for a quick fix for money. the coffee was bitter and the bathroom had computer paper covering graffiti. on the paper it said,"how about buying some paint?" while another piece of paper was taped to that first one in attempt to cover the first one saying on it,"please do not write on the paper"
on a happier note, the girls behind the counter were friendly and chipper while their blended drinks were alright
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Good quality, good service. Thank you!
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