Cafe Capuchino

The Greater San Francisco Bay Area (GSFBA) is the seismically active epicenter of a rapidly changing coffee counterculture that can take fascinating fractal form in unexpected enclaves scattered throughout the West, from university towns like Medford, OR and Missoula, MT to unlikely Golden State standouts in spots like San Juan Bautista, Templeton, and beyond. But the Bay Area truly stands out as a mythical, somewhat irrational place of unaffordable real estate and skyrocketing rents where headstrong artisan roasters and 20-​something entrepreneurs find ways to sell willing customers their small-​batch, shade-​grown, fairly traded single origins in blends in unmarked 10 oz. brown bags (without succumbing to the Siren’s call fiscal allure of «Big Bean» in the process …) or who run quirky coffee shops on shoestring budgets that serve nitro cold brews and Kalita «Wave» pourovers, and who dish out exquisite little caffeine shots perfectly pulled by overeducated and underpaid baristas on custom-​made (read: expensive) espresso machines named after mythical things like the Hydra, served in hand-​thrown, individually numbered unglazed ceramic vessels that come to your reclaimed redwood countertop steaming gently from the grass-​fed, organic Marin County whole milk microfoam, or from the steamed house-​made vegan almond milk infused with Tahitian vanilla beans, saffron threads, and finely ground pods of sustainably harvested cardamom. As you slowly savor the $ 5 pour over and $ 3.50 macchiato, you tap into an ultra-​fast hotspot to upload your latest batch of latte art shots on Instagram while updating your earlier Unilocal review from 4 to 5 stars because of the new siphon-​brewed Sulawesi peaberry you’re currently smitten with.
Café Capuchino, which is literally located on a street called Capuchino, about a block off of historic Burlingame’s main drag, called Broadway, is not one of those third-​wave (or is it fourth?) coffee pilgrimage sites. Instead of flash and dazzle, it serves up authenticity, old-​world style, smile-​inducing service, and prices that will make you hum a favorite Prince song from the 90s, one that you once listened to on your very own Walkman through foam-​padded headphones, while adjusting your unlaced Adidas «Samba» soccer flats and checking to make sure that you didn’t just spill French Roast drip coffee on your heather grey Izod or $ 100 Ray-​Bans, which are casually perched atop your perfectly gelled mop of blown-​dry, slightly tousled hair.
(Alternatively, insert your own age-​appropriate bit of sappy nostalgia here).
The coffee at «the Cap» is made to order using Equal Exchange organic beans, the kind you can buy for home at a good grocery store, and $ 2 gets you a generously-​sized espresso with light crema and satisfying flavor. You can even ask for it to be made with Ethiopian single origin beans, or accompany it with a toasted bagel or fresh glass of vegetable, wheatgrass, or fruit juice.
Inside the narrow café with high ceilings and calming natural light are a few simple tables by the window and side wall, close enough for you to inspect the workboot footwear of waiting customers or eavesdrop on a casual conversation about Catholic primary schools in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, back in the days before Facebook and iPads when Vince Guaraldi’s effortless jazz piano riffs might be enjoyed while drinking a well-​made cup of Graffeo dark roast coffee.
And while a light spring raindrops pelt the sidewalks outside and doubtlessly are causing traffic snarls and Siris all over the East Bay into instant digital re-​routes for driverless cars stuck on the Nimitz freeway, you are slowly drinking your $ 2 Ethiopian coffee that tastes like the Bialetti Italian stove pot espressos you used to make with friends in Baltimore or Berlin, back in the days before you even had a cellphone.
«Surely 2 dollar bills and 20 minutes of voluntary Internet abstinence are well worth the effort to enjoy a retrieved memory microburst like this,» you think to yourself — while trying to recall what the name of that hyperactive little monkey was that Ross adopted on «Friends» (which you can’t DuckDuckGo search because of aforementioned web abstinence). Try doing that next time at Sightglass or S’bastians, and see how far back into the past millennium you will get. At Café Capuchino, the trips down memory lane are complimentary with the coffee. Grazie mille, and cheers, for that!

Perfect little spot for a veggie lunch! I was planning to go to the vegan spot next door but was dissuaded because they didn’t have any seating. I wound up here with a delicious vegan sandwich at a fine price with plenty of space to sit.

Giuliano and Esther have the best coffee shop in California as far as I can tell, and I have searched from Fort Bragg to Orange County. The coffee and cream are organic and Giuliano makes an espresso that has only been rivaled by Da Nada in Roccatederighi in Tuscany, no lie! I didn’t try the organic salad until my last few days there, so satisfying when lunch is in order. I was impressed from the get-​go by the loyal customers calling and dropping in for their orders. Customers actually talk with the owners and the other customers — charming and delicious.
You’d be a fool to waste your time and money at Starbucks, get yourself around the corner!

His store is amazing but not as amazing as an amazinglamppost but it is still amazing

I was looking for some coffee near my work (that wasn’t Starbucks, which I’m tired of), and found this little café. I was kindly attended to right when I walked in. I ordered an iced soy vanilla latte. It turned out to be really good! Better than Starbucks, in my opinion. I loved how smooth it was. I’ll definitely be coming back.

What a beautiful little café! I stumbled across this gem while passing through Burlingame and I am sooo glad I stopped in! Everything is made to order, delicious and fresh and hand-​crafted. The coffee is even ground for you right there! Fresh boiled eggs from the organic store right next door, and you can purchase bags of fair-​trade coffee on the spot. The owner does everything himself and knew the name of everyone who walked in the door. Even as a total outsider it was clear to me that this café is a staple of the community. This is the kind of place that helps remind you of what retail could and should be in a neighborhood. I had a perfect chai latte and enjoyed the peaceful, beautiful atmosphere. What a magical little corner of the world! I will go out of my way to drive through Burlingame to come here in the future.

First off this coffee shop has a limited food menu, yet, all organic fresh ingredients.
A great place to get some fresh pressed organic juice, coffee, or bagel. Awesome salads for lunch. I love to get the carrot juice with a pinch of ginger. This place is owner operated and everything is prepared to order.
Minus one star for the small menu this place is a healthy gem.

This is the best coffee in Burlingame. I came from Seattle, so I have pretty high standards for my coffee. This is the only place that doesn’t disappoint. Everywhere else has weak, flavorless coffee or is a Starbucks. No thanks. Also, the owners are super friendly and awesome, and you can buy fair exchange beans here too.

A charming coffee shop with a very kind owner, delicious lattes, and many satisfied regular customers. It’s always a good sign to see the owner and customers address each other by name and treat each other as friends.
I’ve only tried their lattes and a bagel with cream cheese, and both are fantastic! Definitely my favorite Burlingame/​Millbrae coffee shop.

I love this place. Their organic coffee is awesome, and I love the feel of the place. Very good Juju. And the owner is so very nice!

Skip the Starburnts… get great tasting organic espresso and beans here. Rich, smooth, no acid.
Had Columbian and Ethiopian on hand.

This place worth every penny you spend! Not only coffee, flax tea or salads are good here but this locally owned gem has amazing owners! Get to know them and your day will be better!

I stopped in this morning for a cup of coffee and to do a bit of studying. Café Capuchino is a tiny little coffee shop, with 3 tables and about 8 chairs and a very cute, homey atmosphere. Thankfully it was pretty slow on a Monday morning so I didn’t feel guilty about hogging a table for a few hours by myself. I ordered a mocha, and it was absolutely delicious. Its very rich and chocolaty with the right amount of sweetness (for me.) The barista (owner?) was also very friendly. I definitely recommend the mocha and will come back again. However I don’t recommend this place for studying because it is really small and I wouldn’t want to drive away other customers from the awesome local business by hogging up scarce table space.

You know i never knew this place existed except through Unilocal.Never thought to turn the corner here and see what was around it. After having a decently heavy lunch, it was decided we needed some post meal pick me ups before heading back to work. Got a ginger tea which was a very strong amount of ginger (good in my eyes), lemon and hot water. Definitely picked me up. Place is small, and a little worn, but definitely has some character. The guy working was pretty mellow and didnt say too much. I’ll have to try a coffee based product next time and see how that fares to all my normal caffeine joints. 3.5 stars

Cozy and neighborly place. I love the made to order apple carrot juice with a bit of fresh ginger in it. They also make interesting and yummy sandwiches. The owner and his wife are great.

This guy charges too much — he charged me over 5.00 for a cappuccino.

Cute, cute, cute local café in Burlingame — this is as neighborly as it gets! With a pretty extensive menu of freshly squeezed juices, healthy smoothies, brewed organic coffee, and a variety of sandwiches — this is where you go to support the locals. Four dine-​in tables remind you of old Burlingame in the world that once once. Love the character and rusticity of Café Capuchino!

Every now and again, I go on this healthy eating streak. Sadly, I am very all or none when it comes to food. I am either all in with BAD foods or all in with GOOD foods.
When I am all in with good foods, I find myself here often. I love freshly squeezed juices and as much as I enjoy a smoothie from Jamba Juice, I am slowly moving away from Corporate Titans of America and trying desperately to find Mom and Pop. You know Mom and Pop, right? Those are the people who work their ass off, have a dream of opening a business and are doing everything within their power to get us to show up and avoid Corporate Titans.
This place is definitely Mom and Pop. Small digs, cozy, nice setting. Fresh, organic ingredients. It’s a bit pricey, which I am sure turns some people off BUT healthy eating isn’t cheap. I’ve done the math and at the end of the day, I spend roughly $ 3 more here than at Jamba and based on my fanatical explanation above, $ 3 is worth it in my book.
Find this place, invite your friends, tell your co workers and let’s get this place rockin’ so that the little guy can win the fight. Feel me?
** cash only**

Usually I would never be caught dead in Burlingame, but here I was in the neighborhood. So I wanted to give Café Cuchino a try. They juice and serve Fair-​Trade Sustainable coffee which I’m all for. I especially am all for supporting small local coffee shops.
What I’m not for: spending $ 2.10 on a large cup of coffee that looks like a rinky dink cup. Add soy milk to the expense!
The shop is pretty small so you would think that they would have a fresh pot of coffee brewed at all times. Nope not this time. The coffee shop owner poured my soy milk into my coffee and my coffee turned warmish. Usually it would still be steaming hot even with the soy milk additive.
While turning the ignition… I took my first sip of coffee only to be immensely let down. Not only did I not have time to march back in there and make a scene among the 2 customers, but I didn’t have time to wait for another pot of coffee to be brewed.
The customer service was up to par. However, being a coffee shop it would be assumed that they would take some pride in their coffee. Apparently not this time.

Best coffee shop around.
My favorite local coffee /​sandwich shop that serves the most unique and delicious veggie sandwiches and salads (once you try one, you keep coming back for more) as well as healthy blended drinks (veggie) and espresso.