Verve Coffee Roasters

4.5 star rating
270 reviews Rating Details

Category: Coffee & Tea  [Edit]

816 41st Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 475-7776
Hours:

Mon-Thu 6 am - 7:30 pm

Fri 6 am - 8:30 pm

Sat 7 am - 8:30 pm

Sun 7 am - 7:30 pm

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
Free
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   

  • user photo
    "My Bowl of Soul with Earl grey was soooo delicious." In 10 reviews
  • user photo
    "Free wi-fi, great music, cool art, oh and hello." In 8 reviews
  • user photo
    "not to mention, they roast their own coffee right next door." In 7 reviews
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270 reviews in English

  • Review from Denise H.

    • 7 friends
    • 34 reviews

    Livermore, CA

    5.0 star rating
    4/13/2012

    If you know anything about me you know I'm a coffee snob and a foodie.  I love this place.  The Batista's whip up carefully crafted coffee's that make you smile.  

    This place is so different from the chain coffee companies. The people that work here look like they love coming to work everyday they are personable and take time to craft a perfect cup o' joe.   I am a big fan of flavored lattes and the one I had during our vacation in Capitola has made me realize the coffee I have drink everyday pales in comparison to Verve! Try it trust me your going to love it!

  • Review from Kevin K.

    • 0 friends
    • 1 review

    Santa Barbara, CA

    1.0 star rating
    5/14/2012

    So I'm a bit weird when it comes to espresso. I like my shots PULLED TWICE.  I asked the nice cashier girl if that could be done, and she says "all our shots are pulled twice." Fine. The coffee arrives (probably after waiting 7 mins or so with like 6 employees chilling behind the counter gabbing). It has a tiny amount of espresso, which is standard.  I ask nicely, "May I please have this pulled again? I like it a bit more watered down." Barista straight says "we don't do that here- we pull our shots ristretto." Fine, looks like a tiny sip to me. I then ask again, "could you just pull it for me a bit more?" She says no again! Her laughably lame excuse was "it's a quality thing." I smiled and said, "Even if I know I'll like it more you still won't do it?". "Nope." Fine. Never coming back again. Never recommending this place to anybody. Leaving with the feeling that this place is full of pretentious coffee people who are more ignorant about coffee than they even realize. This example of "customer service" was a joke.

    As a qualifier, I've worked in fine dining for over 10 years. I've traveled all over Europe. Needless to say this was not my first espresso. But, according to the barista I could not have it the way I knew I wanted it because of "quality." If I owned this place I would freak if an employee did that to somebody. My request was so simple, and denied after multiple times asking nicely. What a terrible spot. I'm drinking this espresso while I write, and it's much too bitter for my liking. Still can't believe she wouldn't do it.

  • Review from Dave L.

    • 11 friends
    • 21 reviews

    Scotts Valley, CA

    4.0 star rating
    2/18/2012 2 photos

    Americano. Mmmm. Get it. Small is $2.75.

    Music selection: They were playing 'What's Luv?' by Fat Joe Feat. Ashanti. They also played some Eminem and Biggie Smalls. Needless to say, I don't think I'd bring my mom or grandma here (God bless her soul). However, it would make for an interesting deep life conversation... "Grandma, "What is love?"

    I've heard mixed things about their coffee, which is why I went the Americano route. Their Bowl of Soul (with Mandarin Silk tea) is outstanding, especially if you're not really a coffee drinker. You can try it at any of the Verve locations (The Abbey, especially). I'll try it with Coconut tea next time since I've heard amazing things.

    "What IS luv?" you ask? Having an Americano or Bowl of Soul with a friend or loved one here (minus mom or grandma).

  • Review from Collin S.

    • 0 friends
    • 1 review

    Santa Cruz, CA

    2.0 star rating
    5/24/2012

    I've been a fairly loyal Verve fan for a couple of years now, but I've watched it slowly change over the last six months and I'm not sure that it's for the best. Yeah, the coffee is good, but it comes with a price: be prepared to be abused by the most pretentious and rude cafe manager I have ever encountered. He has caused more then one or two awkward experiences for my girlfriend and I,  speaking to us like he's way above us and bored and couldn't care less. I've watched him literally yell at his employees, which is probably why I've noticed over half of them have quit. It's really too bad. I used to come here for the vibe and how cool everyone who works here was, but it's starting to get this weird Starbucks/dance club feeling with this ultra fake cheery-ness of the blond girls behind the counter and Rhianna being played at top volume. Yeesh, what happened, guys? If you can get passed all that, and somehow manage to dodge the crabby manager, hit it when the remaining one person that holds it down (hopefully they don't quit also!) are working it, the coffee's still great and I recommend trying the french pressed coffee they have on tap. But maybe you should just swoop Whole Foods, buy some beans and make coffee at home... or maybe try something else....

  • Review from Bradley N.

    Woodside, CA

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 2/3/2012

    It's 7 am on a Saturday, a regular crowd shuffles up,
    There's a barista standing right next to me, pouring milk foam into a cup.

    He says, "How about a Helzar espresso?"
    I know exactly how it goes.
    It's bright and it's sweet, a fantastic feat
    When the beans and the water do meet.

    Lala, la, didi da, this espresso has no discernable flaw.

    Pull me a shot, you're the coffee man.
    Make macchiato this 'morn.
    Because we're all in the mood for some mellowness
    And you've got us feeling all warm.

    The customers mostly have smiles on,
    Some order to go and are gone.
    They're happy to chat, about beans this and that
    Is there someplace that they'd rather be?
    One says, B, I believe this is killing me,
    As the smile fades away from his face,
    I'd like to be surfing at Opal Cliffs
    If I could get out of this place!

    Lala, la, didi da, the waves are not very far.

    Pull me a shot, you're the coffee man.
    Make macchiato this 'morn.
    Because we're all in the mood for some mellowness
    And you've got us feeling all warm.

    It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday,
    Laptops and babies and books.
    I've come from quite far -  driven many a mile
    To forget about life for a while.
    And the music sounds like my iPod list
    And my coffee cup smells like a nut,
    So sit at the bar and put cash in their jar,
    Sweet Java! What are you doing here?

    Oh la la la didi da, for fresh beans I will give five stars.

    Pull me a shot, you're the coffee man.
    Make macchiato this 'morn.
    Because we're all in the mood for some mellowness
    And you've got us feeling all warm.

    (With apologies to Billy J. of Sagaponak, NY)

    Listed in: Coffee Confidential, Yelpetry, Saturdays in Santa Cruz

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    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 4.0 star rating
      7/11/2011

      VCR
      8:
      15
      am
      Saturday
      9
      July
      2
      0
      1
      1
      Coffee under the sign of Cancer.

      Outside
      At Opal Cliffs
      Fifty surfers (or… Read more »

  • Review from Michelle P.

    San Jose, CA

    4.0 star rating
    4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here

    I got a latte and while I would have liked the espresso to have been darker/stronger, the foam was great.  Thick and not very bubbly.  I like the ambiance of this place because it's bright and feels very open with the window walls.  Really friendly staff too.

  • Review from jenny s.

    • 23 friends
    • 28 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 3/29/2012

    I just found out they serve Verve at Bica in Oakland. PRAISE ZOMBIE JEEBUS, I can get my fix by walking for 10 minutes.

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      9/12/2010

      Easily the best coffee in the bay. While you can throw a rock and find a place serving Bluebottle… Read more »

  • Review from Ariana J.

    • 0 friends
    • 8 reviews

    Santa Cruz, CA

    3.0 star rating
    5/16/2012

    I do enjoy Verve, but I've gotta say, it's overrated. Being one of the only "hip" coffee joints in town, this place is constantly crawling with hipsters going gaga over certain aspects of everything. In the design/ambiance department, they are doing SPECTACULARLY. Especially at the downtown store, the design is fresh, clean, and full of modern art that's a trip to look at. However, I've gotta say, I hate how limited their menu is. They don't have white chocolate, or mocha chai, and while I understand they want to emphasis on drip coffee and standard latte drinks, I think they'd get a really positive response if they broadened their menu a bit. The people who work at Verve are almost always SUPER nice, which I very much so appreciate. I know that the employee training program with Verve is very strenuous, and I feel that it'd be really difficult to secure a job there if you a. didn't fit their "look" or b. you didn't possess enough coffee knowledge to pass their extensive coffee test. As for their strong points with the coffee, I know they have some pretty impressive drips and put a HUGE emphasis on impressive latte art. I commend that and appreciate it, but it's not everything. Oh, also, you've gotta be a patient person to come to Verve. It takes, on average, 7-10 minutes to produce some drink, for some reason I'll never know, given that I work at a coffee shop myself and know how long it takes to make anything. So in short, Verve has its strong points, but in no way is the best coffee shop in Santa Cruz. Oh, one last thing. For the most part, I HATE The music that's played in Verve. Not always, but most of the time, they're oddly playing LOUD top 40 hits over and over again. No offense, but I'm pretty traditional when it comes to what's appropriate to play in a coffee shop. And I don't need Norah Jones or Jack Johnson to hold me over; anything really progressive or jazzy would be SO much better!

  • Review from Erin H.

    Santa Cruz, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/6/2012 1 photo

    Yumyumyumyum. Honestly, thats really all I have to say but that wouldn't be a very informative review so here are some actual details about my experience.

    Went on a weekday afternoon so it wasn't super busy. I ordered a cappuccino and an apple pastry thing. Both were terrific. Both complimented each other fantastically.

    I really liked the atmosphere too, seemed really laid back and friendly.

    Will be back. Probably later today. Yes, it was that good.

    4 stars...for now....

  • Review from Carolina P.

    • 2 friends
    • 19 reviews

    Bay Area, CA

    3.0 star rating
    4/16/2012

    *** stars ~ Enjoyed the French Press decaf coffee
    However; I ordered a Cafe Au Lait and they made me a latte. I'm so disappointed that folks don't know the difference.

    ** Stars for customer service. This was my first time here and the regulars in line behind me received their drinks before me. Meanwhile my coffee cooled off while it waited to be finalized and handed to me.

    ****Stars for location. Grab a cup and take a stroll along the cliffs. Beautiful ocean views.

  • Review from Agent I.

    • 0 friends
    • 145 reviews

    Folsom, CA

    3.0 star rating
    1/21/2012

    I guess this place is alright. We found it by accident. Tucked back into a neighborhood. They had a great chocolate mocha!
    Cons-
    It took foreverrrrrrrr to make
    Idk what it is but the locals always seem to get their coffee ahead of tourists.

    I'd go back, but FYI this mocha i talk highly of will set you back 4.50 yikes!

  • Review from Sandy D.

    • 0 friends
    • 1 review

    Capitola, CA

    2.0 star rating
    3/13/2012

    I've had verve coffee a number of times and really loved it.  However, when I went in this morning, my mocha was made by someone in training.

    The foam was beautiful, but the drink was not.  The milk was tepid, there was too much chocolate - the flavors just did not blend.

    Please train your baristas more before you have them actually make the drinks.

    It's back to Peet's for me.  They consistently make great drinks.

  • Review from Kendra L.

    • 36 friends
    • 42 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here

    If I still lived in Santa Cruz, I might never leave this place.

    First of all, I'd heard the coffee was great from about four different people. Everyone recommended the French Press so I decided against my normally unexciting "Iced Decaf Americano" and went for the decaff French Press.

    It was fabulous. And it was strong. I love strong coffee but even I had to add something to it to lighten it up. For some reason that made me like it more, not less. And while I was slightly disappointed I didn't get my own little mini-French press to do myself, I understand the reasons behind it and consoled myself over the cup of decaff and fast WiFi.

    It was crowded but the mix of people, from those working/studying (few) to those who had just worked out/gone surfing (lots), it was fun to people watch.

    Can't wait to go back next time I'm in town. Word is that their lattes are amazing.

  • Review from Robert H.

    • 9 friends
    • 35 reviews

    Sunnyvale, CA

    2.0 star rating
    3/28/2012

    Well appointed and cheery coffee spot. If you like darker coffee (and I do) you will not find it here. Their selections are all light or medium roasts. Too bright for me. A bit pricey with a small coffee costing $2.50 plus tax. They do French press however. Not my cup of tea....so to speak.

  • Review from Ryan M.

    • 0 friends
    • 10 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    4/3/2012

    Really good coffee. I would put them up there with Philz and Blue bottle. If your in the Santa Cruz area this is the spot you want to get coffee. Done.

  • Review from G Z.

    • 6 friends
    • 18 reviews

    San Jose, CA

    2.0 star rating
    1/10/2012

    I like Verve coffee, having drunk it in various coffee shops (e.g. Roy's Station), but not "at home".
    However, looking for some after dinner coffee in downtown Santa Cruz on Saturday evening about 9pm, I got there to find it closed! I had been looking forward to trying Verve but ended up at the old favorite, Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting.
    Oh well, I'll try again some other time.

  • Review from Jamie S.

    • 24 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Los Gatos, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/30/2011 2 photos 1 Check-in Here

    Love this place! Their espresso is delicious and roasted right next door to the cafe. Seriously experienced (and fun) baristas (wo)man the bar crafting up traditional espresso, coffee, and tea drinks that seriously please the palette. You won't find fancy/sugary syrups here, but you will find the unique Bowl of Soul which pairs your choice of full leaf tea with steamed soy milk and honey. Lattes are the best in SC and the mochas are good as well (somewhat on the sweet side for me). Your drink will be handed to you looking like a piece of art, the foam designs are almost too pretty to drink (almost... But it's worth it to get to the prize). Ambiance is contemporary/ calming with accents of wood, metal and local art. Bonus: free wifi.

    Go here if you want a great cup of coffee to wake you up in the morning, chill out with in the afternoon, or cap the night off as the baristas wind down.

  • Review from Audrey C.

    Santa Cruz, CA

    3.0 star rating
    10/20/2011 1 photo 1 Check-in Here

    The coffee here is good but not amazing or anything. The really special thing here is the designs on the foam of the coffee! I've always wanted to have a cup of coffee with a design on it and this was my first place.

    Me and my friend wanted to do some studying here but the seating was limited. We brought our laptops but there were no outlets by the tables, only outlets by the bar seating. The place was pretty packed for the 2 hours that we were there and there was always a line for the coffee. Not a very good place to study but with headphones it isn't bad.

    The portions are kind of small for the price that we paid for the coffee.
    I probably wouldn't come back here but it's always nice to try a new place!

    The parking is kind of weird cause it's not the lot behind the shop but its the lot across the shop.

  • Review from Alice S.

    Santa Cruz, CA

    1.0 star rating
    2/22/2012

    Went in once and they were playing N'Sync or something equally as bad. Trying too hard maybe? Anyway just got a cup of house brew and husband got a latte. Latte was forgettable but house coffee was sour and watered down. Tried this again at other places that sell Verve coffee, same experience.

  • Review from kathleen s.

    • 0 friends
    • 25 reviews

    San Jose, CA

    1.0 star rating
    4/28/2012

    Waited over 15 minutes to get my cappacino which was luke warm. The staff was nice but I will definitely not be going back.

  • Review from Kaylie A.

    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews

    INCLINE VLG, NV

    5.0 star rating
    4/30/2012

    This was one of the BEST coffee shop experiences I have ever had. The staff was SO friendly, and warm and the coffee was DELICIOUS.. seriously like nothing I have ever tasted before. I was only in town for the weekend and made it there twice before I had to leave. I highly recommend it!

  • Review from James O.

    • 2 friends
    • 49 reviews

    Livermore, CA

    5.0 star rating
    3/13/2012

    I have been going here for years, ever since my friend Josh (one of their promoters) suggested I try them out. I also used to visit a lot for my afternoon cup, to study, or when a new friend comes into town. I have gotten friendly with a few of their baristas. I generally have an above and beyond experience. I always get caps and they are always great. These guys are pros, you can't deny it. Competition/business/image aside, these guys are really great at what they do and even though I work for the competitor, I have to hand it to them, they do a great job.

  • Review from Adam B.

    • 0 friends
    • 38 reviews

    Sacramento, CA

    5.0 star rating
    8/26/2011

    Excellent.  High quality beans and unmatched roasting talent make this one of my top 5 favorite coffee roasters.  I've never had a bad experience here, from the staff to the quality of the product.  Staff in knowledgable and enthusiastic about good product and is more than willing to take the time to make a thoughtful recommendation.  The talent behind the La Marzocco is equally impressive, I've sampled a number of offerings from the espresso machine and been impressed everytime, oh and dont miss the chocolate chip cookie, so good I'm pretty sure it's made with unicorn dust.  The experience on a whole makes it well worth the extra 40 or so miles to hit it after a day of bouldering in Castle Rock, which is what draws me to the area to begin with.

    Now if they'de just restock the tshirts...

  • Review from Nick B.

    • 232 friends
    • 281 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/16/2011

    It is always very funny to me when I find a coffee shop packed with people on laptops working. I am a writer and can never actually focus at such a busy spot like a coffee shop to actually be productive. But anyways....

    Verve was really crowded. This is good and bad. I don't particularly like waiting for something as simple as coffee but the crowd let me know quality bean was afoot!

    It was a grab and go stop for me. But all the tables were being used by people with much better concentration that myself. The service was good. Pleasant people and they kept the line moving - no slackers working back there!

    I really liked the coffee. It was fresh and had a nice flavor. As I have mentioned I am a BIG fan of people who design shapes on the top of my mocha. Really it makes me feel like a pretty princess on the way to a ball.

    Two snaps in C formation for this coffee spot!

  • Review from brian k.

    • 11 friends
    • 80 reviews

    Santa Cruz, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/30/2011 5 Check-ins Here

    Well let me tell you this place is awesome.
    When in rome you will you wish you were in SC getting some Verve. Trust me I have literally heard someone say this.

    Verve atmosohere is really fun and is decorated somewhat like urban outfitters (but in a good way). The baristas are pretty darn awesome too, a great lively group that somehow remembers peoples names and even preferences in their orders.
    In terms of taste they rank pretty darn high in my book (and I drink A LOT of coffee).  
    They make a delicious tea drink called bowl of soul which somehow makes me actually like tea.  Their lattes are great but the mocha they make is a bit sweet for my liking.
    The verve baristas have a lot experience and have received many accolades for their espresso pulls. If you are there just stopping by and only have one option ask them for an espresso shot.

    Cool tidbit of info- they roast their coffee in the building next-door

  • Review from Andree H.

    • 5 friends
    • 37 reviews

    Port Townsend, WA

    4.0 star rating
    2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here

    A friend told me to drop by on my way up the coast to pick up some coffee - I'm not sure it was worth the extra drive, but I did like the coffee.

  • Review from Brent E.

    • 15 friends
    • 9 reviews

    Atlanta, GA

    3.0 star rating
    11/20/2011

    Good: fast wifi (11.4 down, 4.58 up), nice ambiance, music selection (mostly indie), lots of outlets, baristas were really chipper, attractive people, for-here mugs/cups/saucers.

    Bad: I found the coffee to be oddly sour.., somewhat expensive (small coffee $2.50) music is definitely on the loud side, only one bathroom (but it was clean..)

    Other: I showed up on their 4th birthday and got a celebratory free espresso shot, which I found to be quite sour. Also this place seems to be perpetually crowded so if that's not your thing, beware.

  • Review from Mark A.

    Alexandria, VA

    5.0 star rating
    1/17/2012

    A local coffee shop that is a must try.  I had the peach strudel and French press coffee. At $3 a cup, it was well worth it and the pastry was excellent.  This place will get busy after 8:30 so the sooner you get in there the better.  A must stop for Yelp'ers and anyone who loves true coffee.

  • Review from Faye A.

    Santa Cruz, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/15/2012

    If you're a fan of middle-of-the-road diner coffee, stay away from this place. Verve coffee tastes like COFFEE...some might call it strong - I call it good, really good. Love the 41st avenue location - servers are friendly, space is immaculate and comfortable.

  • Review from Tony B.

    • 3 friends
    • 38 reviews

    San Jose, CA

    4.0 star rating
    7/17/2011 9 photos

    Decided to get out of town this weekend and try coffee shops a little further out.

    I got there at about 10A on Saturday to find a line out the door. Yay. Surprisingly, I only waited for about 5 minutes before getting to the counter. The drink menu is pretty basic....latte, mocha, chai, cap, macchiato, au lait.

    I just ordered a chai with a shot and a chocolate chip and pecan cookie. $9.50, WTF?! There better be some yayo or something in this chai.

    The cookie was just ok. Not super sweet. The drink was about what I expected. Dude put on a bit too much nutmeg though (reference pics).

    The vibe is cool, laid back, beach town. The crowd was middle-aged yuppy-ish types when I was there. I wonder if it's always like that. I read some Dan Dennett for a while and then bounced.

    I guess I got $10 worth of utility out of the visit (?).

  • Review from Albert C.

    • 35 friends
    • 10 reviews

    Palo Alto, CA

    5.0 star rating
    8/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here

    Remember the scene in Half Baked where Dave Chappelle responds to his girlfriend's remark that her dad was serving 4 years for selling illegal drugs?  That was the same reaction I had for the very 1st sip I took of their Cafe Mocha:  "Gawd Dayam".

    The perfect levels of the essential characteristics. Not too sweet, not too bold, not too rich. Very tasty... Beautiful!  Oh, yeah: Awesome ambiance. Spacious, open, not stuffy at all, and very active with the hip music and a lively customer base. Totally inspires me to learn about coffee and the coffee-serving business.  Watching the employees make coffee is like watching artists painting their masterpieces.

    Big thanks my cousin for her recommendation to checkout this place.  I'll surely pay the recommendation forward to my friends.

  • Review from Andrew M.

    • 32 friends
    • 27 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    2/12/2012 3 Check-ins Here

    As an avid coffee drinker (Philz, Blue Bottle, Four Barrel, Site Glass, Ritual), this is my favorite coffee shop in Santa Cruz county.

  • Review from Josh W.

    • 4 friends
    • 7 reviews

    Santa Clara, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here

    The bowl of soul is a great way to wow your t. buds.  I personally enjoy the cinnamon fig. The employees are friendly and engaging.
    Verve is a great spot to go after visiting the hook or waiting for a hair cut appointment at Rick's nextdoor!

  • Review from Dave F.

    Santa Monica, CA

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 7/6/2011

    As promised, I'd follow the review of Verve Beans with a visit to Santa Cruz to check these guys out. One word: Incredible.....gives Vivace (Seattle) a run for the money and definitely makes the Top 10 list.

    The Baritas are incredible and knowledgable. There's lots of sweets, but their espresso and single origins are awesome. The presentation on the lattes and Cappuccinos rivals Caffe Luxxe.

    Excellent 5 star experience. And yes, I did drive 45 miles for a cup (or 3) of coffee!

    Listed in: My Favorite Coffee Spots in LA

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    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      5/31/2011

      This review is for the product v this location.

      Recently, while visiting one of my favorite coffee… Read more »

  • Review from Meghan R.

    Santa Cruz, CA

    5.0 star rating
    7/11/2011 29 Check-ins Here

    I have finally located a coffee place that rivals Groundworks (los angeles-based awesomeness coffee)

    When I moved to Santa Cruz I was told by some Blue  Bottle drinking mofos (meaning: fancy san franciscans) that Verve was THE place to drink coffee in Santa Cruz.. I had always been put off by the location but parking was a snap and FREE.

    My second trip, I parked in the back and walked up some breezeway..there were huddled masses standing around an open doorway like it was some speakeasy for the morning crowds. Turns out they have limited, though excellent, selection of coffees for people in a rush.

    If you have more time, go inside and order the best latte you will ever drink. It is so refreshing to have a coffee beverage where both the coffee AND the milk aren't burnt. Burnt does not equate to strong coffee holmes!  I had given up and ordered iced lattes at other establishments in santa cruz until i found Verve.

    This review is focusing far too much on other places/experiences though!

    - Go to Verve
    - Parking is totally easy
    - it is worth the drive to the east side
    - The coffee is so flavorful and awesome
    - prices are fair
    - line is kinda long, worth the wait, or stand outside in the breezeway and order for fast times.
    - great artwork on the walls
    - They were blasting Phil Collins "Take Me Home" last saturday morning. Awesome.

  • Review from Lupe T.

    • 20 friends
    • 31 reviews

    Palo Alto, CA

    5.0 star rating
    7/4/2011

    Holy crap. Best latte I've ever had. And I live in coffeeshops. In the mornings, the baked goods are tumbled throughout the case like a thanksgiving cornucopia. I usually don't get pastries at cafes because  dehydrated scones and sickly sweet fruit danishes hold no appeal to me. Every. Single. Pastry. looked fantastic. The giant cookies, the walnut crumble things, the morning buns, the blueberry cheese danishes...wow.

    In the Bay Area, there is nowhere outside of San Francisco that serves better coffee. And I only say that because I can't fairly say I've tried all the coffeeshops in SF. Even better, you don't get any of the snotty barista attitude. Genuinely friendly and happy people, and will give you smiling advice no matter how clueless and unhip you appear.

    So I hear.

  • Review from Miss S.

    • 7 friends
    • 36 reviews

    Santa Cruz, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here

    Coffee was great here! I like how they decorate it on top and my mocha was just the right amount of sweetness and their latte was good too. It's a bit on the pricy side so I won't go here always, but once in a while it's worth it. Service was friendly and good.

  • Review from cesar r.

    • 0 friends
    • 34 reviews

    Los Altos, CA

    3.0 star rating
    10/3/2011

    Staff has always been pleasant and friendly and the soy lattes are strong and nutty.  And yeah, they make cool little designs with the foam, so cool in fact, I feel just a wee bit guilty drinking it.  Regular coffee drinks have never tasted better than average to me.  There's a bit of a chalky taste to them so I just never order them.

    The deal breakers for me at Verve are the excruciatingly long lines that I just don't have the patience to wait in and the lack of seating due to the solo laptop table sitters.  If there are no smokers outside in the little area where a few tables are set up along the side of the cafe, then I'll opt to sit outside.

  • Review from Karrot L.

    • 0 friends
    • 89 reviews

    Cupertino, CA

    5.0 star rating
    8/21/2011

    Excellent coffee beverages and beans.

    We had -

    - macchiotto - Delicious tasting espresso topped off with a dap of expertly foamed milk.
    - bowl of soul - this was recommended by a neighbor, so I had it and it was really good. It's thick hot foamy milk with chamomile tea  and honey. Very soothing cup compared to a caffeine drink.

    We also purchased a bag of freshly roasted Helsar C Alpizar Costa Rican beans and they tasted far better than the stuff we got from Blue Bottle.

  • Review from Sean S.

    • 1 friend
    • 5 reviews

    Ben Lomond, CA

    5.0 star rating
    7/1/2011

    Excellent coffee and great atmosphere. Obligatory wifi and nice, comfortable seating with great open views. They also have a decent outdoor seating area but it's not very large.

    I came here for the first time on a Friday around noon on 4th of July weekend and found that the baristas were very friendly and business was just at that perfect level of being busy but not crowded or noisy. Their cookies are the bomb as well!

    Great neighborhood coffee shop in a hip corner of Santa Cruz.

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