In the heart of San Carlos’ bustling downtown, between Laurel and San Carlos Avenue lies a small coffee shop, The Groovy Goose. Opened in the fall of 2023 by Nathan and Sierra Conte, the Groovy Goose is an inviting hangout spot for all generations. Along with the lattes, espressos, teas, and pastries found in a typical coffee shop, the Groovy Goose sells coffee beans sourced from Peru, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. The small shop’s cheerful blue and yellow hues create a relaxed vibe that matches the comforting food.
Strawberry Basil Squeeze ($6.50): 8/10
Visually, the Strawberry Basil Squeeze is quite appealing, with chunks of freeze-dried strawberries and shredded basil floating above the ice. While the drink can be enjoyed any time of the year, it would be best on a hot summer day. It is refreshing and sweet, and the lemon flavor is not overpowering, which lets the strawberry shine through. The drink has a pleasant but mild basil aftertaste that goes well with the strawberry flavor.
Turmeric Milk Latte ($6): 6/10
Traditionally, turmeric is used in evening drinks, so seeing it in a coffee shop is surprising. However, it is refreshing to see a coffee shop advertise a caffeine-free latte option. Similar to their other drinks, the turmeric flavor isn’t overpowering, but besides that, the drink lacks dimension. The only flavors are the turmeric, which isn’t a bold enough, and the steamed milk. So, while this drink is not bad at all, in comparison to some of their other drinks, it is a little boring. The latte does not come with sweetener, but adding some honey improves the depth of flavor.
Iced Blueberry Matcha Latte ($6.30): 5/10
Compared to their other matcha drinks—Matcha Palmer, Hot Matcha, and Strawberry Matcha Latte—this Iced Blueberry Matcha falls short. The blueberry at the bottom is more of a puree than a syrup and sinks to the bottom no matter how much it is stirred. It’s also chunky and the blueberry flavor doesn’t pull through yet at the same time overpowers the drink, leaving it bland. It’s more of “milk and faint blueberry mush” than matcha at all. The green tea itself is not bad but it is a little grassy and tastes like it was added as an afterthought. A better alternative would be the regular hot matcha latte, as it is stronger in matcha flavor and doesn’t taste watered-down.
Pistachio Cold Foam Cold Brew ($7.10): 4/10
While it sounds delicious, the Pistachio Cold Foam Cold Brew suffers from imbalanced flavors. It is just adequate. The sickly sweet cold foam has all of the pistachio flavor, while the cold brew underneath is bitter. Furthermore, the foam leaves an oily texture in the mouth. When the cold brew and foam mix together, the sweetness mellows out, leaving a standard cold brew that lacks a distinct pistachio flavor.
Vanilla Rose Latte ($6.85): 10/10
This is one of the best coffee drinks on the menu. The coffee itself is smooth and light, which allows the faint rose flavor to shine through. The rose syrup does not taste artificial, instead having a mild floral aftertaste that perfectly compliments the coffee. The latte itself is mellow, balanced, and not at all sweet. It pairs well with the sweetness of the Carrot Cake Pecan Muffin.
Butter Croissant ($4) 6/10
The butter croissant is standard, with a crispy shell but a slightly doughy interior. It doesn’t pull apart easily and is slightly tough on the outside, signaling that it is overbaked. While better than its Starbucks counterpart, it pales in comparison to that of a true pastry shop.
Carrot Cake Pecan Muffin ($7.20): 9/10
A unique twist on a classic dessert, this muffin is an ode to everything fall and winter. The carrot cake’s trademark moist interior contrasts the crackly pecan sugar topping, providing a balanced texture similar to that of a blueberry muffin. The flavor of the pecans compliments the carrots, which have a perfect texture: shredded but not mushy. While the muffin looks dense, it is quite light and not too sweet.
