Great Bear Coffee Roasting

Location: Located at the far end of downtown Los Gatos, this coffee shop is very easy to miss if you drive or even walk by. Free parking is available on the street and around the block.

The storefront is nestled and hidden well by adjacent buildings so as you get closer, do look out for the signs.

They have a great selection of coffee and snacks. I ordered the rose infused latte and was pleasantly surprised by the nice aroma of rose and the subtle yet appealing rose flavor. The drink was made well and absolutely recommend you try this if it's listed on the menu.

They do have adequate space inside the store but also outside. The day was warm and pleasantly inviting to sit outside and tried it. You do have to put up with the noise from heavy vehicles passing through.

Cute little coffee shop in the heart of downtown Los Gatos. Staff is super nice and helpful. Coffee is good. And there are always wheat free and vegan baked goods options!

An all together great coffee house experience. They've done everything they set out to do. Food and coffees/teas were great, staff was cool, atmosphere was authentic and fun.

They have so many vegan options!

Had the vegan tofu tamale pie and the vegan chocolate chip scone. Amaaaaaazing 💕❤😇

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!

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.

Amazing little cafe in the Los Gatos downtown! What a lovely vibe on a Saturday morning.

Great neighborhood coffee shop. I go once in a while and work from here. Good ambience.

The coffee aroma will have you seeing things. Try the spicy chai if you Good things. There are a few tempting nibbles as well.

CCC is the way to go - Chocolate coffee cream, the name says it all. This perfect blend of coffee, chocolate and cream is a delight. Cafe has a great peppy vibe and indoor/outdoor seating. Highly recommend this place and the CCC is a must!

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

I love this place! I used to come here often. The chocolate coffee cream with whipped cream is out of this world! I just wish I can get it in 20 oz. The pastries are wonderful as well. I’ve had their various types of pies. Sometimes they have live music.

👍 Coffee

Long lines in the afternoon! Very nice and friendly staff.

Plenty of breakfast and snack choices.

Environmental reviewer here. This is my favorite coffee shop in LG. The coffee is always good (they know how to pull a shot), they wear masks consistently, they have drink-in mugs to reduce waste, and their "to go" cups are a mix of compostable plastic and paper. Plus they're open early and have a great vibe.

Los Gatos Coffee House: Classic Small Town Gem

At 31 years of age, the Great Bear has been around as long as I can remember. Even as businesses naturally grow and evolve (or phase out) naturally and as a direct result of the growth of Silicon Valley this coffee house remains and holds its own as a Los Gatos gem and historic coffee house. They have a bean machine in the back of the house that customers can watch and select various blends from. Beans can be purchased as is or ground (available upon request). Impeccable quality at fair pricing.

Local artists showcase their paintings, photography, and art on a large brick wall that can be enjoyed as you sip your coffee, tea, juice, kombucha , or nibble on your snack (art also available for purchase). A nice way to support local artists and business, while also providing an artsy and community oriented aesthetic and vibe . I personally really love businesses that provide such a feel of sustainable, ethical , and balanced sense of community and business.

At the counter area, there is a deli that hosts a variety of fresh quiches, breakfast burritos, carrot cake, cheesecake, bakery items, and calzones can be selected from. Next to the deli there is a cold case stocked with fresh pressed juices and kombucha. Above the deli case are chips, gluten free snacks, vegan snacks , and allergy friendly snacks (such as Heart Healthy Nut Free Dairy Free Oat Protein Cakes in various flavors ) so there is a little something for everyone. The location is in the heart of downtown Los Gatos so there is also a multitude of restaurants and cafes to choose from after your Great Bear session.

The CCC (chocolate, coffee, and cream) is a blended milkshake-like caffeine decadent treat that myself and my friends loved when we were growing up (before I developed my food allergies) - a local treat I highly recommend for those without dairy allergies or chocolate allergies- however always ask the cashier as they may offer a dairy free allergy friendly version now (many coffee houses are offering oat milk, hemp milk, and coconut milk in addition to soy and almond now). Never hurts to ask for a classic to be customized to your modern medical diet . A yummy and delightful surprise, surely.

Free parking in the lot in the back or street parking- just make sure to read the signs as some are hour time limits, some are 3 hour time limits, and others unlimited.

Love their selections of coffee, other drinks. Love the ambience.

Cozy little coffee shop in heart of Los Gatos. Friendly service. Live music. Board games. Perfect for an afternoon chill.

They actually have some very reasonably priced goodies and yes, like many people mention in their comments, the CCC can definitely drive in a lot of customers! Quite a treat that is perfect after a week’s hard work! Pretty cozy, rustic atmosphere.

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.

Really cool cafe at the heart of Los Gatos. The coffee is great, pastries are also nice. Good place to unwind with a book or just watch people go by(get a window seat if you can!) while sipping carefully brewed coffee ☕