Great Bear Coffee Roasting — Restaurant in Los Gatos

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...

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...

BEWARE OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT Came in with a positive attitude looking for a nice cup of coffee with my service dog. The barista was extremely rude and proceeded to tell me that they didn’t allow service dog. My father came in before me with the dog and the owner or the barista didn’t say anything to him, which leads me to believe the barista had a problem with me for no reason. On my way out I decided to tell her that I didn’t appreciate her attitude, I asked for her name and her manager and she wouldn’t tell me. I told her I had been a barista and worked in service and that’s just not how you treat people. She apologized and I left, and her manager followed me to my truck, harassed my father and sister in law, frightened my niece, who is only 3 months old. She then saw me walking across the street and was screaming at me in front of the whole town telling me I wasn’t allowed in her store any more. I work in customer service and know how to be respectful to every type of person, even on a bad day. I am no longer allowed to get coffee here ever again because I stood up for myself. Nobody should be profiled and then get yelled at about it. Not like I would anyway, because overall the coffee is way...