Central Coffee Co. — Restaurant in Tracy

Extremely Unprofessional and Unsafe – Disappointed at Central Coffee in Tracy

As a regular customer who has supported Central Coffee in Tracy for quite some time, it’s disappointing — and honestly upsetting — to have to write this review. I’ve made this place part of my daily routine. I’ve stopped in nearly every day for breakfast, coffee, and even desserts. I’ve always appreciated the vibe of a small local spot where you can count on good service, a familiar face, and consistent quality.

And to be clear — this place is not cheap. The prices are on the higher side, which I never complained about because I thought I was paying for a premium experience. But what I experienced recently was anything but.

One day, I gave a harmless compliment about the iced tea prepared by a young female employee — something casual and respectful. I don’t even know her name, and our interactions were always limited to the normal customer-staff level. But her boyfriend, who works next door, somehow took offense to that and confronted me aggressively, clearly out of jealousy. I calmly told him to relax, that there was no reason to act like that — I’m just a customer who comes in for breakfast and coffee. That should’ve been the end of it.

But a few days later, he approached me again, making more bizarre and accusatory remarks. Again, I told him he had nothing to worry about — that his girlfriend is young enough to be my daughter, and I wasn’t there for anything other than my regular drink and food.

At this point, I brought it up to management, hoping they’d step in and handle it appropriately. Instead, I was told they can’t do anything about it. That response was shocking and frustrating, especially as someone who’s supported their business daily. No customer should be made to feel uncomfortable or targeted for simply patronizing a business.

And it didn’t stop there.

After I spoke to management, the same female employee — who clearly knew about the complaint — confronted me publicly inside the coffee shop, raising her voice, causing a scene, and acting incredibly unprofessional. Her reaction was completely inappropriate and uncalled for. Other customers saw the interaction, and I was embarrassed, uncomfortable, and honestly shocked that something so unnecessary escalated in a place I once enjoyed.

The whole experience felt more like something out of a toxic high school drama than a local café that charges premium prices and presents itself as a friendly neighborhood spot.

To summarize: • I was confronted twice by an insecure boyfriend over nothing. • I made a respectful complaint to management. • The employee confronted me in public, loudly and unprofessionally. • Management did nothing to address any part of it.

If Central Coffee can’t protect its regular customers from harassment — or even maintain basic professionalism — then I can no longer support them. No one should have to worry about being dragged into personal drama or feel unsafe in a coffee shop.

I won’t be coming back, and I sincerely hope the owners take a long, hard look at how this was handled. It’s one thing to have bad service — it’s another to feel harassed, disrespected, and unsupported in a place you’ve spent your money...

Best coffee shop in Tracy, hands down.

The Drinks: The shop uses beans from San Joaquin Coffee Co - high quality and locally sourced 👍 The espresso roast is tasty and consistent. My go to iced drink is a quad iced Americano. On cooler days I go for their drip coffee. They keep the batches small and fresh and generally have various roasts on rotation. My favorite is Grapes of Wrath. They also offer free refills on the drip for dine-in which is a plus.

They also have a nice selection of non coffee beverages too. If I'm looking for something non caffeinated The Cure is my iced drink of choice and the Cozy Latte if I'm wanting something warm. The Cure is the perfect blend of sweet, fruity and a little spicy - super refreshing. The Cozy Latte is chamomile tea with oat milk and honey and a dusting of cocoa powder on top. Highly recommend giving this one a try on a cold day. So good!

The Food: They have a selection of toasties and snacks as well as both sweet and savory pastries and a handful of other sweet treats. Some favorites are Jules' banana bread, the ube croissant and Kristen's butterscotch biscoff cookie.

The Atmosphere: The shop is small but cozy. They have a few high top tables, some low top tables, a loungey area with a couch, coffee table and two chairs as well as outdoor seating in front and out back. When the shop is busy it's bustling and lively. When they're less busy it's quiet and relaxing. I enjoy both atmospheres equally. And their music playlists never disappoint.

They also host monthly trivia nights, karaoke on Friday nights and Java and Jams on Saturday nights.

The Staff: I can't speak highly enough about the baristas here. Every single employee is wonderful. They greet everyone who walks in with a smile and a "Welcome in!", they're personable and they'll remember your name and drink after only a few visits. They really make an effort to make the shop a positive environment.

Overall, great coffee, great people. I highly recommend checking this place out if you...

Central Coffee in Tracy — You Lost a Loyal Customer Today.

I’ve been on a daily mission to survive this heat — iced coffee in the morning, iced tea lemonade in the afternoon. Between myself and my staff, I’ve probably spent $30–$40 a day at Central Coffee. That all stops today.

Today I had one of the most ridiculous experiences I’ve ever had as a customer. One of the baristas — whose job is literally to make drinks — made me an iced tea. Her boyfriend, who works next door, decides to get jealous and starts acting crazy. Like… what?

He actually tried to start a whole scene over his girlfriend doing her job. Not to mention the tea was half-decent at best. I kept it respectful, brought it to management’s attention, thinking they’d shut it down. Instead? The employee backs up her little boyfriend, causes even more of a scene, and management does nothing.

Let’s be real — this place just became a liability. When your staff and their drama start interfering with your customers, you’ve already lost.

I spoke to the owner — zero help. So, I’ll take my money (and my team’s business) elsewhere. Plenty of coffee spots in town that know how to act professional. Heck, I might even open one across the street for fun.

Stay cool, Tracy. Stay far away from...