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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Restaurants [Edit]
151 Washington Blvd
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I err on three stars for the wait time I get sometimes, but I give Mission Coffee some benefit of a doubt.
Coffee's decent, food-type food is expensive, but they have nice cookies, and a repeat offender program (you swipe a card that racks up EXP for ya to redeem on drinks).
Lots of couches, nice. There's a patio out back that's pleasant in the summer, though it's also where all the ashtrays are.
This is our first review of many! Please enjoy. It continues into another review because of its length.
1. Intro
Overall the this coffee shop needs some help in four areas: food, drinks, service, atmosphere, and sanitariness.
2. Food & Drink
As you may know this coffee shop serves sandwiches, salads, and soup. The sandwiches come with a boring choice of three sides: clunky raw carrots, potato salad, and plain chips. First, the price of a sandwich there is far more expensive than any café I've been to. The sandwiches cost between 8 and 9 dollars, and that doesn't even include a drink! Most café's get their sandwiches out in a decent time; this coffee shop will take no less than 15 minutes (it once took a half hour) to give you your sandwich just to make sure your drink gets cold before your food arrives. Most coffee places offer bananas or at least a fruit bowl. This one does not.
The coffee at this place is actually not bad. They roast their own coffee. My girlfriend and I have had many drinks made from this coffee shop. Let me tell you, it really matters who you get to make the drink. I've had great drinks there and terrible drinks.
3. Service
The employees are not all that bad; they're a quite friendly and really try to get to know you. The employees will always bring you your drink or sandwich right to your table even if it is busy! However we've observed their work ethic, and when it's not busy they can be quite chatty in the kitchen when the tables are covered with dishes.
Continued...
This is our first review of many! Please enjoy. It continues into another review because of its… Read more »
This place is ok..it's kind of eclectic. Look that up!
I recommend the don's blend, very good variety of coffee..the atmosphere is umm....... eclectic.
The pricing seems a little higher than average but the neighborhood is pleasant. The tables are roomy and spacious seating plan. Large area of design...seems empty alot, even with wifi with no limits, peet's only gives you 2 hrs..with small cramped seating and people talking all over you.
Better than Peet's for sure!
This place has great coffee and try the cherry italian soda...it rocks. This place is really chill...I really like the amount and variety of seating in this place.
I always reminisce about the old mission coffee...you remember the one that was by luckys/mission...until stupid starbucks moved in...don't get me started.
I'm sitting here, with my laptop on a big table with ample space, with plenty of power outlets, free wifi, and an amazingly delicious giant mug of Vanilla latte. I'm in coffee shop heaven!!!! and... evidently, on an awesome caffeine high as I am writing this review!!!!
Today is my first day trying out Mission Coffee. I had been going to Bay Street cafe for a while - almost daily -- because they have free wifi, and it's not as freezing cold as starbucks.... and then my friend suggested I check out Mission Coffee.
Right when I walked in, I noticed a table of older white ladies playing mah-jong! hahaa. How awesome is that?! Maybe i'll try to join them one day. haha. The atmosphere is so nice here - it's not too crowded. The tables are huge - great for groups. Mission Coffee is a big open space, yet has an incredibly cozy feel to it. There's people here having friendly conversations, working, playing games, having lunch.
I've found my new office away from home! =)
When I'm in the area, this is my favorite coffee place. And that's mainly because I love the taste to the various coffees I've sampled, especially the French Roast and the darker coffees. I always take a pound home, and I will order some online from time to time. The place is very casual and the clientele is very eclectic. There are lots of students from nearby Ohlone college and high schools studying and people just out for a nice cup of coffee, and maybe something to snack on. They've been around a long time and it's easy to see why.
The last time I was there, I had a chocolate chip cookie and a turkey sandwich while using the free wi fi to surf the web. They sometimes have live entertainment but have never been here for that and I think it'd be fun. The only entertainment beside my laptop when I was there was some guy loudly talked about his colonoscopy with his friend. The whole place tried to ignore him. Somehow it made me laugh when I saw the big pieces of chocolate chip I was about ready to eat. But I digress.
They also do some coffee roasting demos and tastings which helps expand customer knowledge of coffee. To me, places like Starbucks can't compare in customer service or quality with these places that roast their beans in small batches. These beans are fresher too, and the flavors are more pronounced.
The staff is very friendly. And they'll explain the various menu items you don't know about. My only complaint is that sometimes, the place isn't too clean. But customers come in droves and sometimes they can't keep up with clearing the tables. Personally, I always take my disposable stuff to the trash, and bring my coffee cup to the counter or where they put the dirty dishes. But it's really the coffee that I like most about this place.
Love this place. They make the best latte I've ever had! The atmosphere is clean, quiet, and comfortable, and the staff is always friendly - true service with a smile. They have a decent selection of pastries that are actually *good*, and they'll even bring things to you at your seat/table/couch instead of just calling out your name.
Best of all, I've never had to walk through a cloud of cigarette smoke or a gaggle of teenagers to find the front door. I think you know what I'm referring to.
They have a system for "frequent diners" where you get a card, and then swipe it each time you buy a drink. Every 10th drink is free!
yay~ my friend just recently discovered this place and ask if I would like to joined her to study there.
Omg.. I can't believe I drove by that place like million times all these years and never once thought much about this.
This place is freaken awesome... in compare to bay street cafe which my friend and I also goes to study.. this place is a lot better.
Better because
the tables are bigger, the windows are bigger and the place is brighter, the bathroom is cleaner and the coffee taste better.
lol~ yay.... I got a new spot to go study....
something in the afternoon it can get noisy with all the high school students coming in.. but other than that the place is great.
o... of course.. free wifi... =)
there is plenty of parking is across the street...
This is my place to study. Before all my SATs and AP testing, I was in this shop with my books and all that wonderful stuff. The place isn't quiet, but I guess it's just because I can tone things out easily.
I always get the mocha frappe. If I'm hungry I get a BLT (I get potato salad as a side - which I find delicious), a bit pricey but worth it. If I don't aim to stay for very long, I usually just get an iced tea (the sport ginseng one; I don't think it's on the menu). I find it very reasonable as its served in a tall glass, with a free refill, for only $1.50. It is more than enough to last me while I stay there.
I absolutely love the atmosphere of the place. I love the rustic feeling. The service is excellent and everyone is friendly and nice. They also bring your food to you, so I'm just happy they can remember a face after seeing so many throughout the day. (:
As much as I'd like to give this local cafe more stars, I just can't justify it when the "barista" behind the counter actually told me he doesn't drink coffee!
Now, I'm in no way a coffee snob. I don't drink black coffee. I don't savor it's aromas, or make taste comparisons between the steaming hot temperature and it's cool-down flavor (okay, I've done this just once).
I like to drown my cup a' joe in cream and 2 lbs of sugar.
BUT, I do expect the person serving the coffee to at least know what the coffee kinda tastes like, other than "it's strong".
Props for the free wifi, ample table space and adequate parking in the dirt lot across the street. Warning: No A/C.
Mellow place with good coffee.
I come here just about every day for two reasons: 1) Obviously for the good coffee and 2) Every single person is great and all with an awesome sense of humor. They also serve pretty good sandwiches and pastries which is a total plus. The only negative thing i will say is that it closes at nine. Oh well.... i still think its the best place to grab a cup of coffee in Fremont.
Continued...
4. Atmosphere
All the reviews here talk about the great atmosphere in this coffee shop. We're not exactly sure what they're talking about since it is a dump. There are cob webs, dust, and grime everywhere. The bathroom looks like it gets cleaned about once every month. The tables in the coffee shop are all STICKY no matter how much they're cleaned (it is very gross). The tables are not sturdy, every table wobbles, have fun balancing it while you're studying or eating. You'll like the atmosphere if you enjoy a door slamming louder than a gunshot when people enter the store. It's very annoying when you're trying to concentrate. The floors are disgusting we don't think they mop the floor to tell you the truth. The windows are dirty, covered with dust, spiders, and spider webs. The lighting is very dim and not bright, half of the lights in the store are burnt out and not replaced. The fans in the store have clumps of dust that naturally fall off in your food. Air conditioning? They have it, but I've never seen it actually produce any substantial cooling. If you enjoy bussing your own tables because the employees won't, then go to Mission Coffee. Newspapers clutter the floor, tables and chairs. Occasionally my girlfriend and I will stay and drink at the coffee shop, more often than not we're given dirty dishes with lipstick or some sort of grime. Be sure to inspect your dishes if you go there. Behind the counter: filthy. Covered in coffee grounds or coffee spills, it's pretty gross, try not to look over there before ordering your drinks.
5. Sanitariness
Sanitation will never be this coffee shop's motto. It is a dump and it doesn't seem like cleanliness is a priority at all. I've personally have seen employees wipe down the counters with a towel and use it to clean the steam wand (used to steam milk). Gross! That can't be sanitary.
Our review is pretty long so we'll make our conclusion short. Drinks are good, but this coffee shop needs some major help. The food is bland, the service is slow, and the coffee shop is very very dirty.
Anyone, under the age of 100, who says they like the decor of this place seriously creeps me out. It's really old. It's beyond the cool-type-of-rustic and venturing into the Twilight Zone.
To sum it all up: the people (both the employees and guests) are nice, the coffee is good, but the paninis are not.
I got the Monterey Panini ($7.95) which consisted of mozzarella, pesto, tomatoes, and mushrooms on Focaccia bread. First of all, the food took a really long time to come out and some of the orders were wrong but we dismissed that since there was only one guy working behind the counter and there was a mad rush coming in. But secondly, the bread was just too hard. It tasted old and/or over pressed. I did like the potato salad though.
My Cafe Borgia (orange-mocha) was delicious! Strong espresso, rich mocha flavor with a hint of orange. I like the variety of drinks on their menu which include: Con Panna, Mocha Bianca, and Breve.
So I notice that there are a lot of students there and if I was one again, I may go back but the feel of the place is just not me. I do see why people like it... it's one of those places "where everybody knows your name."
I used to like this place, but the last few times I have been here, I feel like it's going downhill. They are currently working on their roof, so a lot of dust comes down to the tables and get into my computer, books, drinks, food, and recently, eyes. Since the entire roof is being replaced, regardless of where you move to in the cafe, the dust follows you.
I must mention that everything here is old e.g. tables, chairs, doors. Really old. Ancient old. Really ancient old. Like those left behind by your dead relatives...who passed away in the 50's...1750's. The front door slams really loud every time someone enters or leaves the cafe. The sandwiches are not very good either. For $8 a sandwich, I expect something a little better than those chewed by your 1750's relatives.
1 star off: dead people's furniture
1 star off: dead people's door hinge
1 star off: dead people's food
I like this place, I really do. Ok, so I like coffee, they serve coffee, therefore I like this place. No, I'm just kidding. I'm not a blind idiot who salivates at the thought of coffee... oh wait....
The drinks here are good! Their plain old black coffee is tasty and that's what I usually get, but they also make a nice Italian soda that is not too syrupy sweet (omg YAY that's hard to find). When you order tea, please be sure to get the loose leaf. When you get bagged tea, they will usually only give you one measly bag to a giant cup of hot water and it's never strong enough (for me anyway). The people working there are friendly and they have a frequent customer card if you ask about it. Oh yeah, I'm also here a lot, so I've had plenty of chances to check it out.
Oh, and about the decor? It's a little weird, like a whole mess of grandmas died and left their furniture to this place. And the art on the walls is usually haphazardly hung and doesn't always make any sense. I don't really care about that stuff. They have stable, free wifi and good coffee. Good enough for me.
I JUST discovered this place because my boyfriend works down the road at a Vet Hospital. I was looking for a place to kill time and study, and usually I go to Starbucks or Panera bread, but I didn't feel like driving far so I came here.
It's great!!! The furniture is like someone's living room, and the free wi-fi is SO money. The coffee is also good and I've had a salad, which is kinda pricey b/c it wasn't very big, but it was fresh and good. There are lots of people just hanging out, studying, working on projects, reading newspapers, etc. It just feels so homey and like a wonderful little neighborhood spot. If you want to get out of the big chains, like I like to do sometimes, then this is the perfect place to go.
Review for only the Hot Chocolate:
My brothers class had a little christmas party, and they ended up getting a huge "tub" of hot chocolate from this place. Being the nice little kid he is.. he fill a water bottle with it for me. We got home and I heated it up and drank THE BEST HOT COCOA I have ever tried! It was sweet, but not too sweet, chocolatey, and just creamy enough!! Best Cocoa Hands Down! The best part is when I drink something of the same flavor for a while, and it is creamy, it usually starts to taste "boring" but this hot cocoa tasted really good, through my second and third cup.
Three and a half stars.
I came here and got a blended drink when I had some time to kill waiting for some friends to get out of class from Ohlone. It was good for the first few sips and then slowly turned into a block of ice with whipped cream and frozen chocolate stuck in it, as I had sucked out all of the coffee.
Well that was fast.
I was pretty disappointed, especially since it had cost me almost 4 bucks.
Still, those few sips were pretty good!
I'll have to stop by again and give them another try, but Bay Street has been pretty good to me and I'm very faithful to me. They have suckered me in. Oh noes.
Awesome place to study. After three, a lot of their pastries are only one dollar. Nice. I really like how wide and open the floor plan is, and there is lots of seating (which is good since it can get busy). Overall, the drinks are good. I usually only get coffee because I'm cheap, but their mochas and hot chocolate I have tried and loved.
Only bad point, for steamed milk and espresso enthusiasts: their foam is not amazing. In fact, it is almost non-existent. Of course, it's better than the evil Starbucks... but it's nothing like a European cafe.
Also, for what it's worth, the staff is very friendly. I've been going regularly for a relatively short amount of time and they already recognize me, know my name, and usually remember my drink.
The hot chocolate is too milky, ya know what I mean?
The sandwiches are good. I like turkey & cranberries cause I live in November. However, $8 for a turkey sandwich? Come on, I can go to Trader Joe's and make that same sandwich for $4.
Anyways, good little pick-me-up lunch & coffee when you're at work, school, pretending to be a contributing citizen.
This is the best coffee house in Fremont, but then again, that's not saying much.
I love the decor and the antique feel of the place, the free wifi, the friendly staff, and the coffee. They also have a great selection of hot tea and pastry. After 8pm, the pastry is only a $1. There are plenty of outlets and it never really gets too crowded.
A lot of retired Fremont folks, students, and stock traders come here. They have bands and musical acts come in some nights. They support local artists and community events, it's really cool.
The downside of this place is that the food is not that good and they have really small portions for the price. $8 for a veggie sandwich? Really?
But overall, great place to get work done.
I think I just found a new favorite cafe hang out! I love the atmosphere. It has a very welcoming feeling and looks very different from the usual corporate coffee house.
I went in with my lap top and my lab notebook geared up to finish work outside the office. I had my coffee served to my table and I was able to be very productive. There is a mix of students, locals, and families. The place is clean and the coffee is fantastic. To top it off, free wi-fi!
love this place...looks like it has been cleaned up. Live music, wi fi, yummy baked goods, great coffee. Great mom and pop store! we need to save these you know...always had a great experience here !
love this place...very homey! One of the last true family run coffee shops. Always see the owners… Read more »
I miss the Mission Valley location, it just had a cozier feel to it. But I'm thankful that at least one location is still around. The coffee is excellent, especially Don's Blend! Try it. My parents got me hooked on the Don's, and every once in awhile my dad will pick up a bag for me when he's getting more for him and it just makes my day! The cookies here are also delicious and huge. Love the peanut butter & chocolate chip :)
I have to say after coming here pretty regularly during some of the past school terms for a study haven, this place truly takes the cake as far as consistency and quality, even with the drinks and treats being slightly on the pricey side. And the fact that Mission Coffee not only roasts their own blends, but also bakes their treats onsite has me coming back, time and again! Besides the marvelous zucchini muffins, I love the seasonal pumpkin muffins.
Truly local flavor I encourage anyone near or in Fremont to give a try.
good coffee drinks, nice staff (good looking too ;-)), excellent baked goods (especially the… Read more »
I actually didn't even have coffee when I came here but I did have lunch with the parents they ordered some java which they enjoyed. They bring your drinks and food out to your table which is nice and the staff is really friendly. There is free wifi which is perfect for studying and had a selection of different drinks.
It does take a little while for your food to come out but I guess that's good because they are actually making it as you order.
I'm pretty sure that if I lived closer I would come here ritually.
Another one of the few true coffee shops around. What I meant by "true" is that they do their own hand roasting here, on location, not like the big chains who paid pennies for some third world kids to gather the beans and roast them in a gigantic oven. Their coffee is not those run of the mill fancy boutique brand and IMHO they taste way better than you know what. =]
There are plenty of seating and some of them are actually dinning tables. And that's good for big groups to meet for scrap book projects or for students to do their group projects. Smaller tables along the wall with plenty of wall plugs for laptops. Oh did I mention they provide FREE WIFI? Anyhow, now you know.
You'll find family gathering (large groups of locals) during the weekend with kids running around so be prepared if you plan to do some studying here. This and the fact that parking is across the street in a gravel lot knocked 1/2 star off. (Yelp, why no 1/2 star rating?)
I love going to Mission Coffee whenever I get the chance. The espresso drinks are pretty good.. (not as good as Peet's), but the baked goods are amazing. The tea is great and the food is pretty good. I love the atmosphere... there's always a table to sit at (however wobbly it might be). The free wi-fi is a great connection, and the staff is really nice! They walk your drink around to you - so sweet! You can tell they like working there and enjoy their jobs.
Overall a very pleasant place to get coffee and relax.
Came here for a drink today. The service was iff-y because they gave me my coffee. I ordered a mocha latte that was very STRONG. The coffee was nice and sweet, and the cashier spilled the drink on the side a little, so I had to get some napkins to wash it down. My friend took a gatorade because he "just had a milkshake and needed something to wash it down" (that doesn't make sense to me at ALL)
My friend and I played a little stratego and some cards. (After 15 minutes we started cheating in stratego...)
After 30 minutes, I finished my drink and we headed out.
Great place to hang out, but I think their coffee is a little strong for me.
~The Sleepy Thinker Award: Best Atmosphere near Mission San Jose~
At one point, I was friends with everyone who worked there and I would be around everyday.
I'm not sure about the employees now, but I have always had such a pleasant experience with customer service. It was more of a hang out for me than anything, but the coffee is great as well.
They roast their own beans, as well as do all of the baking of the scones and other baked goods. The sandwiches are tasty but quite pricey.
The location is prime - right on the corner near the Mission San Jose, and close to Ohlone College and Mission San Jose high school. It's popular with people of all ages.
Came here a lot in high school--one of my classmates' mom owns the place, and it's just a nice, cozy place to grab a sandwich and some good coffee. Two thumbs up for the pesto chicken sandwich and the chipotle beef sandwich!
Not just great coffee, but sandwiches, salads, desserts. Plus, there's a piano in there if you want to tickle the ivories and free wireless internet.
We live next to a Starbucks, but I'd rather go here.
This place is such a great coffee house. I love the decor....different tables with different chairs...several couches and paintings on the wall. Very spacious too. They had a pretty big menu but I stuck to a coffee and oatmeal cookie. The coffee was good but not strong. The cookies was tasty. We used the free wifi which was a huge plus. Nice environment to relax, work, study or read.
A great place to study, Mission Coffee is one of the holdouts in a rapidly changing neighborhood which saw the the long standing dive bar Mission Bell Tavern across the street turn into a arts & crafts place some years ago. The fact that Mission Coffee has held its own against Starbucks which opened further down Mission Boulevard is a testament to how much the local community values this place. I've seen a number of my high school friends moms hang out here and play bridge, while other people are ready, studying, or just hanging out. There's a piano which I've seen no one touch - don't know what would happen if someone started playing (I guess it depends if they sucked or not).
Hope Mission Coffee stays on for quite some time. Fremont needs gems like these. Too many people there now are content with generic stripmall fodder. I say put up the good fight!
And to qualify the stars, the espresso is good. Pretty damn good.
A friend of mine works here, so I would go in to visit her. I don't like coffee, no matter how you spin it- but this place is great.
The atmosphere is really chill and they even have performers in from time to time.
The food is great, especially the sandwich's! Oh, and the cookies too. :)
The people that work there are really great people and are ready to help you.
Open, well-lit, and many large tables conducive to quiet newspaper readings or nightly social meetups. There's even a piano in the back.
I was happy with my Americano drink and vegetarian sammie that had creamy avocado and hummus, yumm... The banana and pumpkin breads sold by the slice looked very homemade and not calorie laden, unlike some places that order them from elsewhere packed with preservatives. Their pastries and paninis is something I'd like to try next time!
I miss Mission Coffee!!! We use to have one over near my work and they closed down. I think they lost their lease or something. I haven't been to the other location, but I know it's near the Mission.
The chai lattes and frappes are GRRREAT! So is the coffee. Now I have to settle for Starbucks or I just brew my own (which I prefer to Starbucks!).
The owners were so kind and the employees were always happy regardless of the time of day.
We miss you at Gomes!
i LOVE this place! I just discovered this little gem and it is sooo good! Very SOHO for fremont and they make extraordinary lattes! Yum! The seating is a little uncomphy though
I was in a downer mood the other morning, and my best friend came by to pick me up to grab some coffee. Instead of supporting the man, we decided to go to this local spot instead.
The atmosphere is great- free wifi, lots of open airy space. The food selection isn't bad either. However, the food itself isn't particularly tasty and the coffee is pretty dissapointing. My friend ordered a mocha and could barely drink half of it due to the overwhelming sticky sweet taste. My double latte on the other hand was extremely bitter- and I typically like my latte's without sugar.
I do believe this place has potential- but they need a major revamp of the menu.
I used to live walking distance of this place, and I felt so lucky! They make really good lattes, and they have a variety of pastries and cookies for your sweet tooth. They also make sandwiches, but since it's not close to work, I never went here for lunch.
It's a big open space inside, with sofas and chairs, and stacks of newspapers to peruse at your leisure.
Outside there are little benches and chairs for hanging out. It's right next to Olive Hyde Art Center, where I used to take some watercolor classes. It's such a cute area to just sit and hang out in, with wisteria climbing all over and the mellowness of the Mission District of Fremont. I miss it!! :-(
Fremont, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Union City, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Fremont, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Fremont, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Fremont, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
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