SAN JOSE CALIF.— If you’re a teen and a coffee lover that thinks coffee is a must, check out this top three list of go-to coffee shops.

During my search, these factors were mainly put into consideration: Taste, comfort and location. At the end of the search, it came down to these three top shops:  Philz Coffee, Peet’s Coffee, and Starbucks.

Caption: Alex Neri drinking at a Starbucks/Jose Neri

The teen-friendly environment helps with students or teens to do work, hang out with friends, and chill without anyone telling them to stop.

1. Starbucks Coffee

Keep in mind this was a hard decision to make, from K-cup pods to Premium Instant, Starbucks offers a wide selection of coffee, including themed seasonal drinks and thousands of possible combinations to fill your cup. 

Silver Creek High School freshman, Gavin Rosales,  had this to say about their drink combinations, “I think the big selection of drinks is really nice and it helps to make sure there’s something that interests everybody.”

Although some may feel that this franchise is overrated compared to new up-and-coming shops, it ultimately came down to location, location, location! With more than 18 teen-friendly shops around the San Jose area, it makes it the most accessible for teens because of its comfy atmosphere and available outlets present, helping it secure the number one spot on the list.

For a recommendation, if you like strong coffee, try an Ice Shaken Espresso, or if you like something sweet, try the Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino.

2. Philz Coffee 

Starting as a convenience store in 1978 in the heart of the Mission District in San Francisco, it has become a national sensation with coffee shops across California and Chicago.

Its laid-back aesthetic and cool vibe, not to mention the friendly baristas and teen-friendly environment, are what seem to draw in a younger crowd.

They specialize in customized coffee blends made from sustainably sourced green beans, which gives it a smooth and consistent taste to the coffee, which is what placed it on number two of the list. With only two local shops in the San Jose area, it makes Philz Coffee the most distant of the group.

For a recommendation, try the Mission Cold Brew. They will ask how sweet, and creamy you will like it so it will make it perfect to your liking.

3. Peet’s Coffee Shop

 Last but not least, they’re known for their high-quality roasted coffee, mainly dark and limited-release blends. 

It is student-friendly, however, you still need to be mindful of your volume level, you can always find a place to plug in a laptop, and you have a study session in their homey, comfy shop. Most locations are mainly on the south and west side of San Jose, so it might make it difficult for a teen without a car to find one. 

Some guests mentioned the strong, thick flavor of the caffeine and the bitterness, but for me I felt the dark blend had a bitter aftertaste after taking a sip, which went with what other guests said about the coffee. Which ultimately ranked it third on the list.