Great Bear Coffee Roasting

Cute little cafe in Los Gatos. I love the art here! Staff are friendly and quick! I always order the iced citrus black tea. A few vegan options for sweet treats. Sadly, I couldn’t find any dairy or gluten free treats there.
A relaxed place to get work done or to meet someone for a coffee!

I have lived in San Jose for 18 years, in Santa Clara and every weekend we go to different areas of the bay. One of my favorites is Los Gatos. After lunch we go to Great Bear Coffee to drink coffee or matcha, many times with lemon cake or pastries and work on the internet because the Wi-Fi is strong. In summer time we sit outside and always order the Famous Chocolate Coffee Cream, just delicious. The staff is young dynamic & friendly. The place is spacious and has tables for four people - my favorite in winter - and other larger ones for 8 people to share. It also has 4 tables outside and now in times of covid they added more space on the street. I highly recommend it for a break with something delicious to eat and a good coffee. 😄☕️
Update: We took our drinks for a picnic 🧺 happy to see they use Eco friendly paper hot cups 🪴

this coffee shop is the definition of cute and cozy! i got the peppermint mocha which was one of the holiday specials recommended to me by one of the baristas and it tasted like holiday spirit :) loved how roomy the interior is and definitely a great study or remote work space. will have to come back and try their pastries and food.

Man, I really wanted to like this place. On the upside, the decor is cute and the person who served me was friendly.
But the coffee was awful! We got two sips in and couldn't keep going - it was super bitter. It wasn't the ratio of coffee to milk, either: I got a single-shot cappuccino. Expected better from a roastery, too.
Bottom line: if you're coming for pastries or a sweet drink it might be fine, but don't order a normal coffee.

Brand new owner. Same Great Bear!

After “The Bear” was sold a couple of months ago, I was worried that the new owner would change everything so that he could put his stamp on the place. Fortunately, he decided to keep the same unique character of the original shop while just making a few tweaks. The old bathroom has been updated, the walls have been freshly painted (but the clever trompe l'oeil murals are gone), the floors have been replaced, and there’s a large new outdoor seating area with colorful tables and chairs. He wisely kept the experienced baristas, including the longtime manager. Most importantly, his team still roasts the same high quality coffee beans on-site so you know you’ll always get a fresh cup.

I had a chance to chat with the new owner, Abdy Mirzadegan, while he was grinding a pound of beans for me. He told me that he always wanted to own an independent coffeehouse like this and he was delighted to have the opportunity here in Los Gatos.

Based on my recent experience, I’m glad that I can continue to recommend The Great Bear. After more than 30 years, it remains an ideal destination for coffee lovers who also want to support a small, family-owned, business.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: 7/5/2022
In 1991, as corporate coffee chains began to dominate the landscape, an entrepreneur named Sue Ann Van Epps took a chance and opened an independent coffeehouse in the heart of downtown Los Gatos. The family has been roasting their own small batch selections on site ever since, and their little shop has built a loyal following of coffee aficionados just like me.

I love black coffee and have learned to appreciate the quality of freshly ground beans. My personal favorite is “Eyes of the World”, a medium-bodied blend of Sumatran beans with just the right earthiness and very low acidity. It’s usually available by the cup and by the pound. They also offer sweet and savory food items from their Los Osos Cafe (Spanish for “the bears”), as well as custom-crafted espresso drinks, hot and cold teas, and other beverages.

The shop has a casual, lived-in vibe with wood floors, exposed brick walls, and gently weathered furniture. It’s often hard to find a table, especially in the morning. Unfortunately there’s no outdoor patio.

If you’re looking for the latest trendy Frappuccino or Alpachino, this isn’t the place for you. But if you want to enjoy a terrific cup of coffee while supporting one of the two independent coffeehouses in downtown Los Gatos, then make it a point to visit Great Bear Coffee. Get there soon — and go back often — because the town has recently issued the very first permit for a well known corporate chain to open a coffee shop in the heart of the historic business district. Shop local!

Amazing coffee and pastries
The company I work for they had Great Bear Coffee catering for a thanksgiving event and all I can said was a success coffee was very very tasty and the Pie amazing I highly recommend for event or just simply to go there and enjoy a great cup of good quality coffee

Downtown Los Gatos Coffee scene: good food, nice outdoor (& indoor) seating, expensive. Loved the pistachio latte - nice pistachio flavor, not overly sweet. I got an extra (decaf) shot, which made the coffee just strong enough (meaning without it, the standard would've been too weak). We had the berry pie (too sweet) and quiche (good but too small). Dog friendly outside.

Great Bear is my favorite coffee shop to go to when I visit Los Gatos. The staff are always friendly, there are lots of choices (including many that cater to different dietary restrictions), and their famous Chocolate Coffee Cream is absolutely to die for! 100% recommend stopping by Great Bear Coffee if you have the chance!

I am not a coffee drinker but the coffee was great. I just wished it was not and not warm. I will be back and just request it extra hot. It was a holiday and they were short staffed but we were not in a hurry,it was such a cute coffee shop and very sweet employees.

Everyone is very friendly, Atmosphere is very calming. I've only tried the different slices of bread and the flavors are amazing. And THE TRIPLE C IS A MUST!!