Coffee By the Books

Two stars for the very good customer service staff was very friendly and patient I just thought the coffee was terrible. Very weak and watered down, I’m sorry :(
We are fans of coffee klatch and I don’t think any place can beat that!

I feel bad giving this place one star because the girl at the counter was nice but she honestly does not know how to make coffee… or at least their «frappuccino». I ordered the caramel frap and it tasted horrible. Too much caramel at the bottom and the frap itself was barely blended, very watery. I couldn’t even finish it after one sip and it cost me almost $ 5…what a shame.

I got the Spanish Latte… Really gooooood! Smooth, creamy, not bitter, just enough cinnamon for chilly morning… one of the best Dpanish Latte i had. i think better than the Urth Caffe.
The space was small and not very well decorated, but i think it will bring out more charm when the book store is open.

This is a really cute shop hidden in a book store which i find really nice because coffee and books are just good together. The barista was super friendly and efficient. The vanilla latte i got was also fantastic. Love it!

Very few things can ruin my entire Monday and my mood. Being ordered to go to court as a witness ranks pretty high on that list. After waiting over 2 hours, I was told by the DA (prosecutors) to return after 3 hours. Well that just puts me in a happy happy mood (mumbling all kinds of foul words!) so I walked on to the street and naturally began searching for coffee on my helpful Unilocal app.
I found 2 coffee places with high ratings. One turned out to be a coffee stand, the other … Coffee By the Books, with seating and free wifi. Jackpot! it’s only 2 blocks away from the courthouse.
This little café is tucked away in the corner of a bookstore called Archives Bookshop. There are about 4 stools at a counter facing outside, a few small tables, a small couch and a comfy leather chair. I scored the comfy chair! It’s quiet and has a cozy warm atmosphere. The girl that helped me was very friendly and made a great cappuccino. It had just the right amount of boldness, yet very smooth. And a little coffee art doesn’t hurt either.
After the first sip, I immediately felt my mood improving. Since it was slow, they didn’t seem to mind me sitting there reading my magazines. Coffee by the Books actually managed to make my day much better. If I ever get dragged to court again to testify, I’ll come here to relieve my stress with another cup of cap.
note:
* You can walk through the bookstore or enter through the back.
* Ask them for the wifi password
* They sell pastries too!
* 2 blocks east on walnut, from the courthouse

It really as good as they say. Espresso is comparable to Jones. They serve Jones as their drip. They have almond milk which I use daily so that’s a big plus. I send our guests at the Westin here. Note: they do have a convenient 15 minute parking spot on the street if you need to dash in and out.

I decided to take a walk and found this little place inside the library. I couldn’t read the menu so I just asked for the barista’s fave and got handed a chortado. It’s in a cute little cup 1:1 espresso and milk. It was just what I needed.

Great coffee and espressos! I came here every morning for 10 days while I stayed at The Westin. The crew is very attentive and delivers great service. It’s a shame that The Westin personnel never recommend Coffee by the Books when someone asks for the nearest coffee and tea shop. Coffee by the Books is not only much better coffee and service than Star$, but also it is one block away from The Westin.
Highly recommended if you are in the area! I’m going to miss this cute coffee shop and it’s personnel.

Nice service. Great and affordable latte. Not the best selection of pastries but I usually stop by for my morning latte only. Tried chai latte as well — too sweet for my taste.

These guys are awesome! I’ve watched over the course of the last two weeks as they have completely overhauled their entire coffee program. The apparently have brought in an outside consultant to bring them up to speed, and are now pulling Herkimer from Seattle as their espresso and Andante from here in L.A. for their pour over bar. In a matter of two weeks they have become leaps and bounds better! If you have been here already, I highly recommend going back to see what they’re doing, and If you haven’t been there yet, DO! It’s refreshing to see a smaller shop like this turn things around and launch themselves into the direction of third wave coffee, and I wish them nothing but the best. Pasadena definitely has another contender in the coffee heavy weight division, and I can see it only getting better! Nothing but love for these guys, and can’t wait to get back for another amazing cup. Herkimer and Andante, you should be proud of how these cats are repping your beans!

WOW!!! They just switched up the beans and revamped their process. The Batista’s are trained and know how to make coffee. They have a selection of three single origin beans using a V60 pour over. Some are smooth and nutty as well as fruity types. I love this spot. Good specialty coffee and espresso. On top of this the Batista’s are super friendly. This place has just joined third wave coffee without the snobbery.

The coffee at this place reminds me of the coffee I used to get at a donut shop in the SF Valley that was near the 405 Fwy. Average beans, average slightly bitter drink that helps chase down the sugar-​filled donut I’m cramming into my face while racing to get back on the fwy.
The price is between $ 3-​$ 4 for a small which is too much money given the sub-​average quality. It’s not bad coffee, just tastes like instant coffee. Not bad in a pinch, but definitely not worth $ 3-​$ 4 for a small 12oz cup.
For the same amount of money, Jameson and Urth Caffee offer a much better cup.
Coffee By the Books needs to lower their prices by $ 1 across the board to match up to their average quality coffee. OR, they should offer a free pastry for the price.

I like the smell of books and coffee. The smell that Starbucks does not offer.
The coffee is delicious and the barista staff are always on their game. The atmosphere here is fun! You can tell the crew here has a good time on the job. It’s a meeting point on Fuller Theological Seminary’s campus so you are always sure to find a good conversation!
There is good seating both indoors and out! They close at 6:00pm which is their only set-​back.

While some people may be uncomfortable with going to an overtly religiously affiliated coffee shop. This is by far the best little coffee shop in this area of downtown Pasadena.
Old town is too ritzy and expensive, all the other shops around are pretty dumpy, over-​priced or both and Jones never leaves me with an open seat. The baristas here are friendly and helpful.
Normally I avoid ordering chai lattes because I make better chai at home, but theirs is pretty good. And they have apple cider on the menu all year around. My friends enjoyed their lattes which means they must be pretty good on the espresso machine.
I’d gladly take any of my friends to this little shop… just clean up your potty mouth before you go inside. Or drink your coffee at the Lucky Boy’s across the street.

Best coffee ever! They also use real loose leaf tea for their teas.

This coffee shop is inside the Fuller Seminary Bookstore. They have wi-​fi and outlets. Its definitely a nice change from the bustling local Starbucks, which is always packed, loud, and distracting.
This place is small but it has a nice, calm ambiance. The lighting is nice, the chairs are comfortable. The music is soothing and light. Loud enough that you can hear it if you want, but not too loud so that you can put in headphones and easily block it out without destroying your eardrums. There is patio seating outside under umbrellas when the weather is nice. Yes, they do have outlets, which are a big plus.
Also, the staff there are great! They’re very, very helpful, friendly, and happy!
Most importantly, their drinks are delicious! They have a nice variety and everything is really good. Try a tea or a mocha. Or if you’re here to study, just ask for a cup of water.
Another important feature is that there are two bathrooms that are well maintained and well stocked.
So if you need to find a place to study or you’re sick of the burnt coffee beans and cacophony of Starbucks come to Coffee by the Books!
Service — 5
Drinks — 5
Ambiance — 5
Bathrooms — 5

Apparently, I made it here on the last day the book store belonged to Fuller Seminary. So things were in sort of packing mode. I agree with previous reviews that coffee shop-​books-​alliance is always a great idea.
I had iced mocha, and must say it was excellent taste & quality. I hope the new owners keep the coffee shop and its current coffee vendor. But do change the armchairs — it is time.

Everyone who knows me will agree that I am a big freakin’ coffee snob. That being said, I am a fan of the coffee drinks at Coffee by the Books. The drinks are prepared one at a time by baristas who take pride in their drinks. The people who work here are all so very nice! And each drink is adorned with some lovely latte art. Usually it is hearts or flowers but this morning I got a cute little latte art snail which really made my morning.
It is located inside The Fuller Theological Seminary bookstore. There is seating inside and a large patio outside. It may be a little out of the way but it is definitely worth a visit.

This is a smaller coffee shop with friendly staff and a lovely assortment of teas (peach tea, blended teas, and other fruit-​flavored teas are yummy). The condiments, such as cream, honey, and raw sugar make this place feel generous and service is definitely not rushed.
There are also pasteries, the regular list of esspresso/​coffee-​based drinks and then some others like chai and hot chocolate.
If I’m ever in the area, I’ll be back!

This is a cute little coffee shop with a nice outdoor seating area. It’s also attached to a decent bookstore affiliated with Fuller Theological Seminary. The coffee is great (yay for Koffee Klatch coffees), and the baristas are friendly and helpful.