Richard Thornton

Awesome espresso. They were serving single origin Heart coffee when I went and it was perfectly extracted. Baristas are also super nice and personable which makes the good espresso even better

Amy P

Both black coffee and white coffee have their own unique appeal, depending on your taste preference and how you like your coffee experience. Both are great in their own way—it just depends on your mood and preference! Do you have a favorite between the two?

Tuyen M Tran

Great coffee, peaceful outdoor siting. Staffs are friendly and enthusiastic. Parking on the street. Good vibes. Will be back soon since it’s near my house 🥰😜

Tōno Coffee Project is not your typical coffee shop—it’s a masterclass in simplicity and excellence. Their menu is refreshingly straightforward, specializing in black, white, and chocolate drinks, each brewed with incredible care and precision. Annie and Brian, the owners, bring a personal touch to the experience with their warm, friendly attitude and genuine passion for the art of coffee. What sets Tōno apart is how effortlessly they turn simplicity into an art form. There’s no pretense here, just an unrelenting focus on quality and flavor. The space itself mirrors this philosophy—clean, cozy, and inviting, making it the perfect spot to savor a moment of calm. Whether you’re enjoying the bold richness of their black coffee, the creamy balance of their white, or the indulgent decadence of their chocolate drinks, Tōno Coffee Project delivers an elevated yet approachable coffee experience. Annie and Brian’s love for what they do is contagious, and it’s impossible to leave without feeling inspired by their dedication to their craft.

Both black coffee and white coffee have their own unique appeal, depending on your taste preference and how you like your coffee experience. Both are great in their own way—it just depends on your mood and preference! Do you have a favorite between the two?

I should’ve go with black!!! Next time🥺 bean selections are great too White is pretty good - just craving for regular milk but i didn’t check before I ordered (default is oat milk) Leaving this comment so I won’t forget to go with black next time

If I opened a cafe, I'd want my menu to be as minimal yet customizable as tono coffee project. It's tucked in an apartment complex in Japantown next to an art gallery and you can either get a water-based "black", milk-based "white", or chocolate milk-based "extra" at whatever ratio you'd like. I got a white at a latte milk ratio. The coffee is toasty and subtly sweet and they only offer Oatly oat milk which was a bit strong, so I'd probably try a 1:1 ratio next time, but I still really enjoyed my drink! The barista was sooo friendly too! There’s no bathroom or WiFi but there’s some outdoor seating and some couches inside that make it a great place to sit and yap.

I have visited Tono coffee at the San Jose Japantown farmer’s market, but found they have a fun, new space also in Japantown. Brian is very friendly and conversational and makes a great matcha latte/americano. Lots of outdoor seating as well. Our dogs love it here.

It’s a pop-up coffee shop, seemingly set up inside an apartment building — there’s no indoor seating, but my friends and I sat in the apartment lobby. Hopefully we didn’t make too much noise! I ordered a white (espresso with oat milk), which was pretty good, though there don’t seem to be any milk alternatives. The barista was super friendly and made a real effort to chat with each guest and make everyone feel welcome.

My favorite local coffee shop that my partner and I go to every weekend. Their drink menu is limited but they're all expertly crafted. We like to get the White, Extra, and Matcha Oat Latte. They also sell exotic-flavored chocolates which we try every week. The owners are kind and friendly. I love this coffee shop so much ❤️

It’s such a cozy spot! As the gentleman at the register takes your order, the lady beside him is already prepping—so efficient! The coffee tastes like heaven. We tried several other highly rated coffee shops nearby, and this place easily comes out on top. With the warm service and excellent etiquette they have, there’s no doubt their business will keep growing.

Tōno is a pretty cool little spot to grab a coffee. Not a huge selection of stuff, but given that it’s kind of a popup situation, that’s to be expected. What they do have is quite nice, however. The latte was delicious, and the PB&J rice crispy treat was quite good as well. Definitely recommend checking this place out. Do check their IG for hours, though. Google seems to be showing this place as being temporarily closed, but as of writing this, they aren’t.

Love Tōno! I call the white coffee as the feel-good-coffee. Love the subtle, light, and balanced sweetness of it, which I can drink anytime of the day (unlike the super strong Vietnamese coffee.) The owner, I think 🤔, is quite friendly and making small talks to the customer with his gentle soothing voice. There's no restroom available as it's like a pop-up shop, but the tiny bar is very well-kept and super clean. The atmosphere was calm at 9am. Easy parking on the street as well. Definitely come back for the matcha next time!

Parking is easy and free with street parking around San Jose Japantown. I like coming here in the morning for a hot black decaf coffee. The barista seems to change between morning and afternoon. The café is located in an apartment lobby, so there’s no indoor seating, but the outdoor seating is quiet and relaxing. They only offer oat milk, which is good to know in advance. It’s decaf, but it really tastes like regular coffee. I’ve had it about seven times so far, and only twice it tasted a bit weak. Overall, the quality has been quite consistent.

+5

Coffee first, probably the best in this area. You can taste that they are passionate about good coffee and know what they’re doing. They only use oat milk as a default, but it tastes wonderful with the espresso. Simple, small set up. Has pastries, an array of chocolates. Even some really exotic flavors like lemon ants and durian. Must try if you’re a coffee lover. They have outdoor seating, some tables and chairs. Ambiance is perfect for a weekend coffee.

Such a great spot. Everyone who works here is so kind and helpful. The pastries are all consistently delicious. The banana bread mochi blows my mind. Also can’t go wrong with the coffee or matcha - I really appreciate the simple menu.

Limited menu but they said they’d be willing to customize drinks. But I’m not there for foofoo drinks so that didn’t bother me. I got a black filtered coffee and it was fantastic. Almost went right back for a second cup! It was a lighter roast than I usually drink but I still really enjoyed it so that’s saying something when it’s that good even if it’s not my usual go to flavor profile.

Excellent coffee, coming from someone who is a bit picky. Perfect flat white ratio of milk to coffee. Unique in house pastries that are not too sweet. I have tried the Korean cheese bun, green bean casserole pie, and chocolate chip walnut cookie, oatmeal raisin rum cookie. Parking can be tricky since it’s close to the center of Japantown and there aren’t much indoor seating options. That said this still currently my fav coffee place out of the ones in the area.

Pleasant surprise stop as we made our way over and down the 1. Honestly one of the best milk based coffees I had while in CA. Tangentially related, visiting here inspired me to pick up a Tellason jacket while in LA.

The best drinks, carefully crafted and smooth finish. classy and cute Barista. Totally would go there for my everyday coffee. And also the pastry sooo good and not overpriced

Steve Hong

Limited menu but they said they’d be willing to customize drinks. But I’m not there for foofoo drinks so that didn’t bother me. I got a black filtered coffee and it was fantastic. Almost went right back for a second cup! It was a lighter roast than I usually drink but I still really enjoyed it so that’s saying something when it’s that good even if it’s not my usual go to flavor profile.

Julia Schulze

The best drinks, carefully crafted and smooth finish. classy and cute Barista. Totally would go there for my everyday coffee. And also the pastry sooo good and not overpriced

Huyen Nguyen

Excellent coffee, coming from someone who is a bit picky. Perfect flat white ratio of milk to coffee. Unique in house pastries that are not too sweet. I have tried the Korean cheese bun, green bean casserole pie, and chocolate chip walnut cookie, oatmeal raisin rum cookie. Parking can be tricky since it’s close to the center of Japantown and there aren’t much indoor seating options. That said this still currently my fav coffee place out of the ones in the area.

Suman Hazra

It does only one thing, and that is coffee which is great for coffee purists. It’s located in the lobby of a residential building, so there isn’t much space indoors to sit, but they have some chairs and tables outside, which is nice on a clear day. The menu is super simple. You can either choose coffee or coffee with milk or non-coffee drinks. I got the ice latte, which is simply espresso and oat milk and then sweetened with simple syrup. I asked for flavours but did not have any and they also did not ask me my choice for milk which makes me assume that they do all the drinks with oat milk, which is not a problem for me at all. The latte was super creamy and smooth. My only issue with the latte was that it wasn’t strong enough for me. I probably would have liked one more shot of espresso. Although this is my fault because I probably could have asked for it in the beginning, but I just assumed that it will be pretty strong. Had a lovely chat with the barista, who is very welcoming and patient. I think this place is really good for people who enjoy “coffee” coffee and not coffee based drinks like I do. Also, the prices are super reasonable.

Sydney Ruan

Love the aesthetics of the entire place! The stickers, cups and signs are all so cute and clean! The staff were also very nice and friendly. I got a matcha latte and my boyfriend got an americano. The matcha latte was made from a premade syrup and was very watered down you could barely taste the matcha, but the americano was pretty good. You can tell they know their coffee. We also got the jalapeño cheddar pastry and coconut pineapple mango muffin, both were really good! I’d come back for their coffee and pastries but def not the matcha.

It does only one thing, and that is coffee which is great for coffee purists. It’s located in the lobby of a residential building, so there isn’t much space indoors to sit, but they have some chairs and tables outside, which is nice on a clear day. The menu is super simple. You can either choose coffee or coffee with milk or non-coffee drinks. I got the ice latte, which is simply espresso and oat milk and then sweetened with simple syrup. I asked for flavours but did not have any and they also did not ask me my choice for milk which makes me assume that they do all the drinks with oat milk, which is not a problem for me at all. The latte was super creamy and smooth. My only issue with the latte was that it wasn’t strong enough for me. I probably would have liked one more shot of espresso. Although this is my fault because I probably could have asked for it in the beginning, but I just assumed that it will be pretty strong. Had a lovely chat with the barista, who is very welcoming and patient. I think this place is really good for people who enjoy “coffee” coffee and not coffee based drinks like I do. Also, the prices are super reasonable.

+4

Very tinny place, it is in a Building’s lobby. But that being said, feels cozy. Lattes are fine. Pastries are ok. Like many other coffee shops, it is on the pricier end, which it is what it is. Overall good place to go to sit and sip for a good 45 mins in a fall day.

Edegar Vergara

Very tinny place, it is in a Building’s lobby. But that being said, feels cozy. Lattes are fine. Pastries are ok. Like many other coffee shops, it is on the pricier end, which it is what it is. Overall good place to go to sit and sip for a good 45 mins in a fall day.

I don't know if this was the worst cup of coffee I've ever had but it's in the running. I ordered hot black coffee from the limited menu. I was served a cup of very thin lukewarm coffee. The consistency and color were akin to green tea. On the plus side, the space is cozy, warm and inviting. The line was short and moved quickly

LoopUniverse

I don't know if this was the worst cup of coffee I've ever had but it's in the running. I ordered hot black coffee from the limited menu. I was served a cup of very thin lukewarm coffee. The consistency and color were akin to green tea. On the plus side, the space is cozy, warm and inviting. The line was short and moved quickly