Preservation Coffee & Tea

I’m giving this two stars because the Espresso was amazing! Truly. If it was not for that, then a one star for sure. When I asked for my espresso poured over ice, the staff were a bit snobbish, «This is a specialty shop.» So what. «We don’t serve our espresso over ice it would ruin the espresso.» …Nope. I’m sorry, but if I want my drink the way I want my drink, then I want my drink the way I freaking want my drink. It was a short interaction with the employees, but it was painful. So I ordered, because I need my Espresso. I got a double in a house cup (no to go!!!) and an ice water in a mason jar (isn’t that cute). I downed the water, which my wife would agree I should have had anyway. I tried the espresso hot (I’m not opposed to that… I JUST WANTED IT OVER ICE), and it was like nothing I have had before, smooth, almost a nutty hazel flavor, creamy, and fantastic. Then, after being polite and doing it the way of the speciality shop, I dumped the remains of my double into the ice of my mason jar and added a splash of half and half. OMG… Guess what, it was everything l wanted. PERFECT!!! I’m pretty sure I wasn’t breaking the laws of espresso and coffee houses. The space and time continuum didn’t cease, and the ground did not open up to swallow us all whole. There was no negotiating with these guys, they were firm in their position. So heads up if you want to get your coffee the way you want to get your coffee maybe go somewhere else. Also, I do not go to Starbucks or any chain espresso shop. I love finding independents. I don’t live anywhere near this location, and if I ever pass through this town again I might consider coming back just for the flavor of the espresso. But if there’s too much traffic then that would be a deciding factor that would keep me from coming back here since they are in downtown. Keep in mind the entire time that you’re in this coffee house, your will is not your own. You will order from the menu, or you will not order.

I drink coffee every day. Starbucks has its own dedicated line in our monthly budget. It’s serious here and I have at least one free drink every couple of weeks (you have to spend a lot to get a free drink, wink)…anyway, I wanted to try this place out and it is fully deserving of all of the great reviews. I’ve had a cubano, a serrano mocha, and a regular cup of joe. I had excellent customer service all three times that I’ve visited so far. I come early enough to get some items from the case. The bakery items are provided by Pure Love bakery and they are the
. I am usually very anti-​vegan on principle (no butter!!!) and I would normally roll my eyes at some ridiculous vegan offering, but something about the crumble crown drew me in… maybe it was the oatmeal topping? Or the bits of fruit eyeing me from the crumbled topping? I don’t know, but I decided to go vegan, just this once. Well, I took one home to eat in private, so I could pass to my spouse once I didn’t like it (she just loves vegan stuff). …and…it. was. heaven! Oh yeah, it was so crumbly and had apricots and raspberries! MMMM! Loved it. I fantasized about going back for a second one all day long! My spouse got a piglet scone of some sort that I didn’t like, but she went back the next day and bought two, just before they sold out 15 mins after they put them out. Apparently, those piglet scones are very popular, but I didn’t care for it. I got a second crumbly top on another occasion that had apricots and apples. It was just as delicious! The coffee was great on all three occasions and the staff was so friendly. Everything was served with a smile and courtesy. I am a fan and will be back for sure!

Tried this little shop on the suggestion of a friend. It is in the place of the old «J» Street Café. It is a great little coffee shop in Downtown Modesto. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Tried the Serrano Mocha. It was very tasty. The interior is simple, but I really liked that it had local art on the wall for sale. Nice little selection of cookies and light cakes. Customer service was great. I certainly hope this shop survives. The City doesn’t make it easy for great businesses downtown to survive. I look forward to frequenting it again.

Friendly staff. Great atmosphere. THE BEST COFFEE. Try the clubhouse mocha (iced or hot) you won’t be dissapointed.

Love it.
been here many times and each time is amazing. The simple menu and coffee severed in coffee mugs if you chose so sit in.

The coffee here is best in Modesto and the county, hands down. They brew Kuma which is from Oregon, but I would say it’s good as Philz. I got a cold brew black and it was smooth and beautiful.
For someone who is transitioning from the sugar-​laden coffee drinks which are ubiquitous in Modesto, I would recommend the Serrano mocha. It’s chocolate-​y, creamy goodness.
The only thing is they have Bay Area coffee prices, but I know your rent isn’t as high. I suppose there’s no competition…
Don’t think too much about your wallet, and use Preservation to indulge in quality for your next caffeine high

This place is a gem in the Central Valley. I decided to come on a Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. while passing through Modesto.
I was able to easily find free two hour street parking close to the shop. When I arrived I was greeted with friendly and helpful service and was pleasantly surprised that they have vegan baked good options. They also don’t charge for almond or soy milk unlike many other places.
The Serrano Mocha was recommended to me and they said they could replace the honey with raw sugar. I ordered that for here with almond milk and it came with cute latte art. It tasted great too which is the most important part!
I also got this vegan blueberry and apple crumble which was excellent and a vegan chewy chocolate cookie to-​go made by Free Cookies Baking Company.
If you need to use the bathroom while here, there is no key, but you have to ask them to use it since you have to walk through the kitchen to reach it.
I definitely recommend this coffee shop if you are in or passing through Modesto!

Drinks: The Serrano Mocha was fabulous, and my wife had only good things to say about her iced clubhouse.
Atmosphere: The shop is small, but with enough seating. The upstairs area is a cool feature, and I found it to be a great perch for chilling with my coffee and a book. It’s a good spot for people-​watching, as the shop is pretty busy, with a steady stream of folks coming in and going out.
Service: Friendly hipsters inhabit the bar area and chat it up, both together, and with the regulars. The drink itself took a few minutes, but was well worth the wait.
Overall, it’s a great cup of coffee in a shop with a distinctly local vibe.

Vanilla Latte– BEST EVER. The tea closest to English Breakfast was very good, and the gluten free apple crumb cake– what a TREAT. Thank You! Wish I lived closer. Your customer service was also terrific.

Good coffee, the Havana is great. Parking can be a pain but still the place I go to when I want good coffee in Modesto.

Decent cappuccino. The cookie was good. The upstairs area has interesting hipster décor.
Service quite slow.
Memorial wall is thoughtful.

Place is a quaint little coffee shop that has a few tables and a small upstairs area bar-​type seating with local art throughout its walls. I wanted a cup of good joe to get a feel for my new work town/​hometown. I only order a cup of regular coffee, that’s how I roll. No fancy schmancy mocha frappacino with an upside down caramel pour shaken not stirred. Just coffee.
The coffee they serve is Kuma and some others from Oregon. I would have loved a familiar brew like Peet’s, Blue Bottle, 4 Barrel, Stumptown, Philz, but this a new town with different offerings.
The ambiance felt a little squished for even for this city guy. Service was nice, but I’m still getting used to the speed here. I had to wait 5+ min just place my order because the «cashier/​barrista» was chatting it up so much with the a customer ahead of me. All I wanted was a pour.
Summary: Good tight little place to chill with free wifi. Coffee is not bad.

Amazing cup of Havana.
Come taste and you will know what’s good in Modesto.
Best cup of coffee I have had in Modesto so far.

Tall, dark, & handsome is all fine, well, & good.
But in the morning? I need strong, dark, & bold…
roast, that is.
Evidently, I’ve recently graduated from pansy, girly coffee to the serious stuff. I need kick, sharpness, & complexity now. No more soft washes of a suggestion of the bean will do.
In SF, we have so many options to fill this need, it’s hard to keep track of them all. Blue Bottle, Four Barrel, Ritual, & my favorite, Philz. And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.
But here, in Modesto?
There is one place.
It’s Preservation Coffee & Tea.
This used to be J Street Café. Forever.
Then, it became The Serrano Social Club.
And now, Preservation.
I must have spent a thousand hours upstairs back in the day, w my mocha & apricot danish. My high school & college sweetheart & I were here all the time. They made a premium mocha.
And they still do.
So far, the gluten free pastries I’ve tried here have been pretty forgettable. And I’m not giving up my unsweetened matcha green tea soy lattes at Starbucks yet. But when I literally need a jolt in my routine when in Motown?
This is the place.
4 stars.

I’m not a fan of coffee but needed something with a kick to get me through the last several worksheets of an audit I was conducting. I hesitantly ordered the Contractor as I was afraid it would be a little too strong since I don’t enjoy the espresso taste. Thank fully the drink did the trick and provided several hours worth of energy that I needed. I didn’t even finish the whole drink, maybe about half.
I may not need the Contractor next time, but I will definitely be back to try some of their other drinks and baked goods.

Enjoyable atmosphere. Small space but has a second floor for seating. Simple but delicious menu of beautiful crafted drinks. Decorated with artist painting.
I am «all things coffee» and really appreciated the simple menu because it took the guessing and extra pressure you have at the counter when you really just do not know what you want. For that they have the «Whim of the Barista». Where the barista freestyles a beautiful drink. You’ll never get the same thing twice with this one.
I had 2 drinks, one cold one hot.
COLD: The Contractor — half clubhouse & half cold brew. I added a little more ice and a splash of half and half. It was really smooth and great on this hot day. It’s was definitely a heavier richer ice coffee compared to like a Starbucks ice coffee. This was a «Yay!»
HOT: Havana — Cuban coffee with textured cream and raw sugar infused espresso. Well this… This was so good it’s habit forming for me. Anytime I’m in modesto this is a must. It’s not super sweet more focused on the coffee taste which was staring but balanced. I loved it!
Overall we had great coffee and will be back… Like tomorrow
Only minus
It’s in downtown so parking is a little harder to find. No biggie

Nice hipster joint that brings a sense of community to the area. But. really horrible wifi out here! The coffee and service is great but what’s the point if you’re trying to get work done and can’t enjoy your coffee in peace.
My husband had to take a call outside so his coffee cooled off and he later asked them to reheat it and they made him a new one for him on the house!

Requested Iced Americano w soy.
I was then informed from the barista «we do not pour our espresso over ice. We do an ice coffee that has the same caffeine as our espresso!»
So you will not make me what I’m requesting?
«No, sir»
If it wasn’t for the pure fact I was going to a interview I would have gone to a different coffee joint. To avoid your pretentiousness — you’re a down town Modesto coffee shop.
Pink Panther Espeesso on crows landing — made me what I like.
Pink Panther –1
Your joint (because your name is so average) –1
Your iced coffee is trash canned and my PP– Iced Americano is delicious
Hint — the customer is always right

Back again FEB 2016 for #SweeneyTodd. This place is my everyday!
I was in Modesto for a production of TOSCA with Townsend Opera. This place became my daily tradition before going to the Gallo Center Theatre. Even on Sunday when I arrived 10 minutes late they still let me in for one last cold brew!!!
Great place!!! Fantastic staff and amazing coffee.

Probably my favorite hipster coffee shop in Modesto. I’ve been here a few times and the coffee here is awesome. I’ve tried their Americano and Spanish mocha and lattes. You definitely need to check this place out.
I also tried their orange scone! It was realllly good.
It was soft on the inside of the scone. It was a bit expensive but bc of the quality of it, it’s totally worth it.

I really hated this place. It´s just very very pretentious. The first thing is that no one says hello to you or anything so you’re kind of standing at the counter and no one acknowledges you. Next I noticed the sign «no cell phones at counter» — which is a little obnoxious. I mean, I know not to be rude and look at my phone while I’m talking to a barista. Imagine a place that puts a sign «say thank you after you get your drink». The sign kinda presumes that all your consumers are rude.
Next thing is they don’t have a lot of choice, I. e no low fat milk, just whole milk.
All this could have been forgiven if the coffee tasted good, but alas the coffee was quite acidic. I think that their standard «hot coffee» is probably not the best coffee.
So — just one star. I am not usually too suspicious of reviews but here I kinda have a feeling they got their friends to write them a ton of positive reviews.