On March 31, family-owned coffee shop Kaizen & Coffee opened its doors in San Mateo. The coffee shop was named after the son of shop owner Jason Naraja: Kaizen. The shop was opened to plant their family’s roots in San Mateo and be a place where people can taste specialty coffee.
From the outside, Kaizen & Coffee does not stand out much due to its simple exterior, but the unique drinks and open bar inside make it much more special. The cafe has a modern feel with relatively cheap prices for craft coffee, with prices ranging from $4 to $8.
Upon walking in, one can notice a green LED light shaped like the cafe’s logo at the back of the store. A single purple orchid stands on the counter bringing a pop of color to the place, along with a plethora of other green plants that complement the otherwise black and white theme well. The shop is small, with a few wooden tables that seat two. There are tables next to the window, which have a nice view, but are a bit cramped. The shop features plain gray concrete slab floors, mostly plain white walls and a high ceiling along with a white and black bar.
A single purple orchid stands on the counter bringing a pop of color to the place, along with a plethora of other green plants that complement the otherwise black and white theme well.
The layout of the shop is mainly accommodating for couples and groups of two. There aren’t too many people and the line is relatively short but activity tends to pick up at around nine in the morning.
After ordering, where one is greeted by a cheerful smile, the drinks are made quickly. Despite boasting a simple rotating menu, they have a surprising amount of variety and specialty drinks featuring predominantly Asian inspired flavors such as ube, hojicha and matcha. The menu presents both traditional coffees and espressos, as well as more special flavors and teas like Black Sesame and Mango Matcha. They also serve some French pastries but are working on incorporating more Asian inspired pastries in their menu.
I ordered four drinks: two warm, two cold. The first one I ordered was the Mission Mocha, a fan favorite, which had a spicy aftertaste and rich coffee and chocolate flavor. Since I did not expect to be hit by the spice, it was surprising at first, but it paired nicely with the rich coffee bean taste. The coffee art on the top of the cup was simple yet elegant, with a sprinkle of red pepper on top.
The coffee art on the top of the cup was simple yet elegant, with a sprinkle of red pepper on top.
Next, I ordered the Ube Matcha Latte. This item was not on the menu, and I heard about it on Instagram. The drink itself was aesthetically pleasing with green and purple designs and a heart made with foam. It had a nice velvety and nutty flavor, and the matcha paired well with the ube, making it not only a bit sweet with floral undertones but also a little bitter.
The two cold drinks that I ordered were the Tahitian Vanilla Bean and the Honey Lavender. They both had a nice strong coffee flavor, and the hints of vanilla or lavender weren’t too overpowering.
I ordered the Banana Almond Bread from their rather slim pastry selection. The bread has a light, fluffy and chewy texture, decorated with some sugar and cinnamon on the top. It wasn’t too sweet and paired well with the coffee with its nice, distinct banana flavor. It had some sugar and cinnamon on top.
Despite the drinks being more expensive than they would be in a chain coffee shop, the flavor is more unique with a nice flavor balance. It’s definitely worth giving it a try.
Despite the drinks being more expensive than they would be in a chain coffee shop, the flavor is more unique with a nice flavor balance. It’s definitely worth giving it a try. All in all, Kaizen & Coffee is worth a visit, especially if one lives close or happens to be in the area. There are many special flavors to try and it is a nice experience overall. I thought the drinks tasted unique, and strong but not too overpowering, with a nice balance. The atmosphere of the shop was nice and ambient and would be a good place to go to enjoy some coffee and get some work done. I give it a 5 out of 5 overall.
