Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Co

I was at Elaines the same time as Paul S and had witnessed his experience, you can see his ⁵⁄₂₀ review.
I like to support independent local businesses and avoid large chains like Starbucks that roll over their competition. I do like Starbucks when I’m in other countries because it’s familiar and they are bringing dollars back to the US.
At Elaine’s I like the coffee frappos made with real ice cream and their blends of coffee are good (when the containers are full), I’m told they are made the same as the previous owners. I do miss the old days but it’s a new look/​brand. I especially like the pastries and had sandwiches and quiche which were quite good. I’ve been here a few times and yes the staff is inexperienced and occasionally the f\rappos were inconsistent depending on who was making them. One staff didn’t realize they offered danishes but then they either run out or forget to order them usually when I have a desire for them. The service can be slow so I don’t go when I’m in a hurry and they are working out their identity and processes so I am patient and give return business. Like I said I want to support local businesses and I know they aren’t «Stepford wives» with highly trained fast service and perfect communication. I“m sure they can only get better so hopefully there are more good days than bad.

Elaine’s is AWFUL. Went in at 12 today excited to try them out. I was the only person in there and they had 4 people working in the kitchen area. I think one of them was the owner. I ordered two simple sandwiches, came back in after 10 minutes to pick them up and they hadn’t even started making them. Still no other customers, and it took them another 10 minutes until they were done.
It’s not that difficult people !!! You have 2 competitors practically next door (Le Boulanger and La Villa) and I could have ordered from them twice by the time you were done.
What do people want out of a sandwich shop?
Cleanliness, friendly staff, efficient service, and tasty offering. It’s not a difficult equation.
What’s worse is that manager was sitting right there watching it all, and didn’t say a word. You guys won’t last 3 months if you don’t make a drastic change. Fire the teenage staff that have no skill at all. Hire someone that knows how to take orders and run a simple kitchen. And — to the manager, Open Your Eyes.
Customers are the most important part of your business, you might want to think about them.
btw, sandwhich was Tuna. It’s way too runny, has pickles incorperated into mix which most won’t appreciate, and the bread is very dry. The potatoe salad side was so dry I choked on it.
Nasty. Won’t be going back, and won’t be telling neighbors too either. $ 15.00 for 2 sandwiches 20 minutes later is no bueno.

NOTE: This review is for the new régime at this location, called ELAINE’S.
I was extremely excited to see the former coffee shop here get a revamp, even though I did enjoy the comfy couches and relaxed vibe. Now, Elaines is up and running as a café/​bistro sort of place, with chairs out on the sidewalk and much more seating.
It has been two weeks and a day since they opened, so my wife and I gave them a try, hoping they had gotten the kinks out that most places have after first opening. Well, they haven’t.
Simple order of two iced drinks and breakfast sandwiches. Order not filled in 45 minutes, even with a staff of four employees behind the counter, in which time we saw several other couples leave in a huff for similar slow service. Shocked to find out our order was actually given to another couple by mistake, to which the staff didn’t fix it for us or for them (as they stormed off).
WIth no food and no drinks, we asked for our money back and got it promptly. Frustrating waste of time on a beautiful Sunday morning, and even more so that we weren’t alone. Even heard (presumably) a manager tell an employee that everything was «on the house» to placate the angry customers.
I am very sad that this place failed so miserably this morning. Who knows how many locals are now totally turned off by the whole ordeal. I know my wife and I are.

Sadly, Andrew has sold the business and has moved on to other ventures. I will miss the comfortable, shabby chic vibe, lively conversation, eclectic music and excellent coffee.

We didn’t know about this place until we walked pass the big glass window and glanced at the big empty sofa inside. Pushing a stroller with a young baby, an empty sofa and a quiet room seemed pretty attractive, so we gave it a try.
The barista was friendly and knowledgable. It gave us a feeling of a nice local business that deserves supporting. The menu has some non standard items and I tried borgia, which is similar to a mocha mixed with almond syrup. It tasted wonderful, a hint of almond, balanced just about right with the coffee, rich and yet not overly sweet, simply delish.
We stayed for an hour, on a Sunday afternoon, the clients were generally quiet and minding their own business, a very nice place to hang out.

When I run out of Starbucks money on my card and am in the WG area, I come here for my hot beverage of choice. They have a large variety of flavored syrups for lattes and a larger variety of food. They usually have live music on some nights too.
I have been more conscious of supporting small businesses lately and this place fits the bill. I don’t usually stick around here as I like to walk up and down the WG loop.

Outdated «trendy-​coffeeshop-​handwriting» menu board.
Lighting was like a warehouse.
Impatient employees (although to be fair, that might be due to it being crazy busy.)
Creepy, falling apart furniture.
It felt a like a cross between a daycare and senior center.
I had zero hopes for this place.
And then I taste the espresso. OMG… rich and smoky, just the way I like it, heaven in a cup.

I’m giving WGCRC an extra star for these reasons:
–The owner is getting REALLY good at coffee roasting. My husband and I buy whole espresso beans from him and we’ve been quite impressed with how delicious they are. We just got back from a trip to Italy, and I truly think the espresso we make at home using these roasts are better.
–Well-​behaved dogs are allowed inside… and they even have a treat jar.
–The owner is supportive of local arts groups.

Nothing special. My cappuccino wasn’t even good. Go to Starbucks across the street. I think the only reason people leave good comments is because it is a local business and there is a nice ambiance. Truth is, there is just no reason to go here over Starbucks.

As I sit here in Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company (formerly some French name), my first thought is NOT to write a Unilocal review. What prompted me to do so, was a rather friendly employee who I have to give utmost respect to. I’m a simple customer; iced Americano. I don’t even care what size. The customer behind me, however, is not so simple. Had he not been here, I wouldn’t be writing a review.
I arrived at 9:45am. It’s now 10:15am and he has not given up talking to her. I’m not the smoothest guy around, nor do I pretend to really understand women, but this guy is just ridiculous. 30 minutes harassing a coffee shop employee should be about 29 minutes too long. Buddy, she hasn’t leaped over the counter and groped you yet, so it’s likely not going to happen. She has, however, done her very best to resist calling the cops (two are actually SITTING near me right now), avoided the use of pepper spray and refrained from telling him to get the hell out of here. For that, I give her five stars.
As for the coffee shop, I’ve been here a few times and it’s always been great. A great selection of drinks, great location, plenty of power outlets and really everything you can ask for in a coffee shop. Five stars, and not just for my entertainment value.
Edit: It’s 10:30am and he’s talking about Star Wars, medieval swords and weaponry and Marshall arts. ’nuff said.

I think this may be the first Unilocal review I write living in San Jose.
So I’m so accustomed to going to Starbucks for coffee, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Last Saturday, the Starbucks across the street was packed. In need of a place to study and use the internet, we decided to try this coffee shop instead. Thankfully we did. This place is amaze-​balls.
The décor is a mix of quaint, artistic, and vintage. Case-​in-​point, there is a chair with a hand drawn smiling sun, with Totoro on the back board. TOTORO!!! They have works of art on the walls for sale, presumably by local artists
Great green tea. Had their Venezuelan arepa with sliced avocados. It tasted like Doritos with cheese… IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. So good, highly recommended.
The staff is very sweet and sincere. They will bring the drinks to you. Street parking. Free wifi. Casual environment to study, hang out, or having a conversation. Will be back!

Walking in the café smelled heavenly.
While the honey was ordering coffee and after I had been handed my biscotti I wandered around and found the full room of seating adjoined to the café. It’s huge, a great place to host book club meetings or other community gatherings. In fact the café itself seems very community based.
My biscotti wasn’t very fresh (Read hard as a semi-​soft rock) but the boy likes the coffee here and though it’s not super quick service (like any small café) I adore the community/​small café vibe of this place.
We’ve been back and will again!

Definitely enjoyed my coffee here after strolling the farmer’s market on Saturday morning. I had the Downtown blend, which was nice and rich but still smooth and yummy.
The ambiance is definitely A+ here, as there was a big group of 8 or 10 people sitting and talking and eating and drinking.
While I only had a cup of black coffee, I can’t attest to their other food or drink, but I assume it’s good, since it seems like people who work here are passionate about their business and what they sell. That’s why I go to places like here, and not Starbucks across the street, because if it’s coffee and friendly service you want, this is the place.
If you want to take your kids somewhere or be seen by the «in» crowd, maybe try across the street. Although, I would imagine that true Willow Glen residents know the difference, and the smart ones meet here!

This coffee shop resembles some of Berkeley’s coffee shops. It was funky and very community-​oriented.
Unfortunately, other than that, the coffee and cookie wasn’t all that great. In addition, the table top that I was sitting at was sticky. To say the least, I didn’t get a very good vibe.
Probably won’t be back.

A cozy neighborhood café nestled on the edge of downtown Willow
Glen, I always have a good experience here. The coffee is okay, but I come here mainly for the laid back and friendly ambiance. My co-​workers have come to this café on a few occasions for team meetings, where we stake out the comfortable couch and coffee table. There is a good amount of table space and chairs throughout the café and free wi-​fi is here (which is starting to become a staple for the café experience).
Andrew, the manager, is really friendly and very supportive of local business collaborations and local artists to showcase at his café. When I used to work as a jewelry stylist, Andrew let me set up my display a few times at the café. If parking isn’t available on the sidewalk, there’s a lot behind the building. With its convenience, great vibe, and relaxing atmosphere, it’s definitely one of my go-​to writing spots in the South Bay.

I was looking for a coffee shop to get my daily caffeine intake and to get some work done, and I found Willow Glen Coffee. There’s no parking lot, but I found some nice parking right across from it. I asked the barista what coffee they had brewed, and he said the have Chocolate Raspberry ready, but I could also pick any coffee I want and he’ll grind it and brew a single cup for me! I chose the Toasted Almond, and it smelled really amazing. I love almonds, and I haven’t really seen too many places carry almond or amaretto flavored coffee. The barista was very friendly and chatted a little with me while I waited eagerly for my cup of coffee. My coffee was delicious and very strong, so I enjoyed it a lot.
t’s also surprisingly spacious inside, and I was able to find my own table right next to an outlet. It’s great how they have outlets all over, because at Starbucks I tend to have to reach over people or wait for people to leave to get my own outlet. Free wi-​fi was a nice surprise too.
Overall, great place to spend some quiet time. My only complaint is that their chairs can get a little uncomfortable after a while.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for unique, independent coffee shops and this is definitely one of my favorites. The community bulletin board and huge number of regular customers speak to its role as a Willow Glen institution. I saw a guy come in today and say he just moved back after 11 years and thank god this place is still open. That says something, no?
To me, one of the most special features of the coffee shop is that they roast their own coffee and there are ever-​changing specialty coffee flavors. I’m not talking about syrup that they add to your coffee, I’m talking about flavor that gets infused when they roast the beans that you can smell and taste in your 16 oz. drip. My favorites so far are Apricot, Toasted Almond, and Chocolate Macadamia. The pastries are also completely delicious.
The staff couldn’t be nicer, the set up is eclectic and comfy, the music is good (Kings of Leon, the Kooks), the WiFi is free. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of a very talented musical twosome jamming on their guitars and singing the Beatles.
My one gripe is that it gets really hot in the mid afternoon/​early evening and the two ceiling fans in the main room just don’t have the horsepower to keep it cool. That said, I’m currently here typing and sweating and enjoying myself immensely!

After being here twice I had to write up a review! This place gets a full 5 stars hands down.
A friend of mine (Pauline L.) had a fund raiser here for the Haiti at this coffee place. So I thought I would stop by and support the cause!
The selection of coffee’s is pretty extensive. The prices are about average. There is an extensive selection of pastries and sweets.
They coffee place also offers free Internet. Their lounge is nice, they have some nice tables and sofas. The employees are very nice and welcoming. Over all great place to go meet a friend, read a book or just enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

This is a little coffee shop nestled nicely in downtown Willow Glen and keeps with the old charm of the main street. There are several comfortable couches and soft chairs inside and all the other wooden chairs are uniquely decorated.
Today there was a single person who was working behind the bar. He was very pleasant and told me that it’d be a couple minutes because he was crafting a sandwich for someone. And he truly was crafting it. Taking time to cut and place everything neatly on the bread. I wasn’t in a rush and had no trouble waiting.
I ordered a double cappuccino and when it arrived, it had a large head of foam that was dripping down the side of the ceramic cup (good so far), but no saucer. I really love good, thick, foam, but this was kinda loose and airy without much texture to it. The milk had also been steamed for too long and was too hot to drink immediately. The espresso itself was bold and dark but just kinda tasted burnt without much real flavor
This is a nice little coffee shop with great charm and atmosphere — but don’t expect to be blown away if you’re a strict coffee connoisseur. If you have the choice to drink here or the Starbucks across the street, go here.

I LOVE the smell of this place (yes, I said «smell» and not «aroma», I’m trying to be less bougie…)! It really is the quintessential neighborhood coffee shop filled with eclectic chairs, couches that look like it belongs in someone’s basement, artwork from local artists, and even table video games.
Their drip coffee is wonderful and I just had their double espresso shot last night. Both coffee experiences had great flavor, well brewed, perfect temperature, and my espresso had a great rich/​creaminess to it.
The staff is super friendly and welcoming. We stayed past their closing hour last night and they didn’t rush us out at all. Bonus.
I just wish that there was a Monsieur Beans at the corner of my block… guess I’ll have to settle for the tasty taqueria instead! :)