Does an establishment deserve a star just for being the the only one of it's kind that I can walk to without talking up half my morning? I really struggle with the suburbanity of my chosen location of residence sometimes. This place is classic, and also pleasant place to enjoy the morning paper with a chocolate croissant and maybe an email or two, if you are the laptop carrying type. It's also noticeably expensive. Maybe comparing Cafe Trieste to the flawed business model that UHAUL has assumed of "Where else you gonna go asshole, huh?" is not fair. In all honesty - 90% of my frustrations with the Cafe Trieste on San Pablo would easily be quieted if I had a choice of cafe's from which to purchase my morning coffee. I like to switch things up ya know? But alas, I don't. So when I'm not doing the suburban thing and brewing my own - I head the 7 blocks over to cafe Trieste. SF readers will of course be like "7 blocks!". Yeah. You know. I took the gambit. Made the East Bay jump. I'm living in the boondocks of booty-call caffination. This is where I'm at - so shush. The coffee is always the correct temperature, if not the desired strength. The staff are always polite, if not gregarious. The pastries are always plentiful, if not melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Their bagels and sandwiches are actually pretty top notch. But $2.25 for a large regular coffee? Is this place really hip enough to charge that? When living in SF, I remember not blinking twice handing over $2.75 for a drip coffee from Blue Bottle coffee in their "cooler than you" cafe housed behind a pull up garage door in front of a functional woodshop in an spray painted alley off of Hayes - but I somehow expected that the only cafe within range of a ballistic missle from my house would charge a fee somewhat correlating to it's less than trendy location. No so. Go figure. Can't say I blame em', but still - I firmly believe a cup of unadorned regular coffee should be less than $2. They do have an ecletic and interesting lineup of live music in the early evenings though. Overall, this place is a solid thumbs up because it's the only cafe I can walk to, the clientele are diverse, and it has a pretty good vibe to it - but still... see my notes above. read more

Came here for a coffee before my morning workout. It was pretty strong which is the way I like my coffee. I also got the peanut butter cookie, which was pretty good. It might have been better if I ate it right away instead of saving it for a day. read more

Lattes are yummy but not the most friendly of people here. Pastries didn't look fresh with a lot of wrapped items which didn't seem appetizing. And generally i never pass up a lemon bar! read more

A mocha, cappuccino and a double espresso. My favorite coffee date place. Find me in the corner with the Argentinian read more

Been here a few times for breakfast items - not a bad spot but not great. Serve your self pastries are pretty decent and fairly priced: Croissants, bagels, muffins, fruit tarts and the like. You can get a breakfast sandwich, and if you order with ham they are pretty generous with the meat...however they microwave the egg and I am not a fan of that at all. The egg should be fried not nuked on a breakfast sammy IMHO. I haven't tried the specialty coffees the regular brew is OK. Staff seems a little zoned out - not unfriendly but not exactly vivacious either. They have Wifi, ample seating, a lunch sandwich menu (haven't tried), a modest selection of gelatos and a convenient location at the corner of Dwight and San Pablo. read more

For me Caffe Trieste is just a place to get dripped coffee. I don't have time to hang out here, but if I lived in the area you'd see me there. Treats! there are lots and lots of pastries, but so many choices my brain shuts down and i just get coffee. Lunch time isn't the best time to head into this place, line gets long. A little bit after lunch is prime. I'll write another review once I actually have the patience to wait in line and grab some food. A warm cup of dripped coffee is good for when you walk next door to Good Vibrations and give them a look over. read more

I very much enjoyed this little corner cafe. Interior is spacious with high rising ceilings and the decor brings the antique look together. Love the fact that this place has live music nearly every night, still has great atmosphere in the day time. Tables can run a little smaller for large meals or large groups but nothing is stopping you from pulling another table, besides a full house. Menu isn't too big but the coffee menu makes up for it. Servings are very decent and well priced. Would definitely stop by another time, preferably at night. read more

Caffe Chiave - Focaccia bread, pastrami, and provolone panino. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Always happy at Cafe Trieste, no pretension, chill atmosphere, good music... no wifi, but that can be a good thing if you just need to do homework, focus, and write. Really great sandwiches and soup. I highly recommend the Caprese sandwich, not sure it's even listed, but they'll make it for you if you ask. read more

I go out of convenience since it's a few doors down from work. I'll probably keep going for convenience unless someone shows me another close place that I can go to get my caffeine fix. Cons: the quality is just average, the prices a little too high ($2.18 for a large house coffee), quiche is not so exciting, service can get slow during busy times, and not so environmentally-friendly given that it's near all these environmental nonprofits. Pros: it's busy so it's a nice place to get out of the office and see other human beings instead of staring at my computer. Sometimes nice to do some reading there. They have beer on tap and music at night. read more

Pretty good coffee. This used to be my halfway stop on my ride to work in East Oakland. However it is usually full of snobby Berkleyites who want to talk about how many carbon units they're saving with their Prius and iPad. Consumerism goes green! But yeah, good coffee... That's what it's really all about, right people? read more

First time at Treiste. Spent a relaxing few hours there this afternoon, working, reading, people-watching, drinking a caffe latte. The service was prompt, and the latte was terrific. (I say this with expert knowledge - I once owned a coffee house, and know my brew.) Perfectly drawn espresso, ideal milk temp and froth, served in a 12 oz. glass. Lots of small tables scattered about all within a foot or two of the large windows. There were some folks there when I arrived that were still there when I left, and some came and went within a few minutes, but all seemed relaxed and glad to be there. Menu has light lunch/dinner fare, but I didn't see anyone (but the staff) eating soup or sandwiches at the noon hour, so I'm not convinced this is the best place for a meal. They do offer wonderful-looking (I didn't indulge) pastries that are brought in fresh daily. Many folks were enjoying them with coffee or tea, and many took several home in boxes. Trieste has a typical anything-goes Berkeley atmosphere, and is a great alternative to the Peet's and Starbucks of the world (better coffee, too). The downside for me was that It's a little on the "cold" side - no upholstered chairs, rugs, etc., which would up the comfort factor quite a bit. I was there on a cold rainy day, and kept my jacket on the whole time. Still a nice place to caffeinate and hang out, for sure. read more

This place is nice but really inconsistent. The coffee and tea is good but some of the spaghetti I had tastes like watered down Noodles from a can. Literally some of the worst spaghetti that I've paid money for. The music is generally fairly nice for background studying but the lack of electrical outlets can really put a damper on your studying. If you're an older person looking for a spot to have a long conversation, you'll probably love this place. But if you're actually trying to study here, this probably isn't the best place for you. read more

I like the happy Italians/hot hipsters at their North Beach shop way better. The guys here are grumpy (not pointing fingers or saying they shouldn't be, if I had to work on San Pab and serve old people yuppies hippies and suits all day I would be pissed off too) and the coffee is bad. If you need a refuel it is marginally better than Starbucks but that margin is thin. Also, pastries under eye-level sneezeguard? Gross. read more

One of my favorite spots to walk to in my hood, to read a book or have a conversation. The coffee here is strong and bold. Awesome pastries. Some nights they host live music, and even sometimes show sporting events on the TV. Work here can be tricky if you need Internet because there's no Wi-Fi. You can sometimes pick some up, but it's real spotty. All in all, a great neighborhood coffee shop! read more

A café with no wifi?!!!! What's up with that?!!!! Strange puppies hang out here. So I guess wifi isn't needed with the free freak show. read more

The coffee drinks here are super strong! I got the caffe mocha, and it was very good. And unlike other coffee houses, this one served it to me in a tall dark glass with a mixing spoon. Seating is plentiful as well. However, there is only one restroom and so chances are you would have to wait to use it. The only thing I didn't like was how the guy at the cash register kept my change, assuming it was a tip or something like that. Granted, it was only about 10 cents and not worth arguing about, but still. It's up to the customer to give you extra for your already expensive coffee drink! I would go to this coffee house again. Good place to decompress and at the same time perk up on caffeine. read more

NOTE: there are way too many good-looking men working here. I cannot deal with that so early in the morning. I am in zombie-mode like URGH NEED COFFEE and then there is this sexy dude like, "Yes? What can I get you?" and I have the MOST difficult time answering. Please post a warning on the door or something, so I can prepare. I mean I should be used to it, but zombies can't think too clearly. It's not my fault. OK, I know I give everything I review 4 or 5 stars. But it's just because I tend to review things I like! For realzies! Excellent things about Trieste: prices (coffee is totes reasonable), frequent live music, BEER (HELLO?? awesome!), and fast/friendly service. Sometimes you have to wait in line, but THIS IS NOT STARBUCKS, and thank goodness for that. read more

My visits here have been to decompress after work, chat with friends, knit and caffeinate. Five stars for all of that! Yes, please get larger tables...my stash just doesn't fit ... if I buy my coffee too! So, only 3 stars. All my visits here have been great, with good service. I can sympathize folks comments about staff who are chatting away, but no matter where I am, I Interrupt their chatter, because they just don't realize I'm there...hehe. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. read more

Café Trieste in Berkeley, CA - 4 stars: Sit down café in Berkeley that had nice coffee and tea selections. You can grab a quick pastry to go with it also. Basically a little mecca on San Pablo for coffee lovers. No real sit down meals, but lots of coffee/tea/pastry selections. Give it a try. read more

Cute place to have nice coffee , party and relax . Also the ham and cheese croissant is delicious.

No frills, straight up good coffee. I had the Cafe Mocha over ice and it tasted wonderful. Being a fan of sweet... think sickenly sweet, the mocha was of the more bitter dark chocolate taste and just added enough to enhance the coffee flavor which I enjoy greatly. Unlike some, I drink coffee more for the flavor rather than the effects of caffeine, since for me there is none. I originally had my eyes set on the chicken and mushroom quiche, but I was convinced to try a panini and went with the chicken with provolone on ciabatta. I think they strategically make the line snake towards the pastries and gelato... hmmmm? I had to restrain myself from ordering a bunch of different pastries since I just finished working out before I headed over here. Anyways, the line moves fairly fast. I placed my order where the guy behind the register was more than happy to help me decide on the details of my panini. He gave me a placard to put on my table and handed me my cafe mocha. Food came out relatively fast and was real good. They put a pickle and lettuce on the side of the sandwiches, because of course some rather not eat them in the sandwich or at all. The ciabatta was grilled muy muy perfecto and the chicken was nice and tender just like it should be. Next on the list to try would be a quiche and a cannolli. Supposedly there is musical performances which can be found on the website so maybe ill come swing by next time to check it out. All in all, good coffee, good panini, and typical cafe atmosphere. Just wondering... ya i know there is google, but I never really understood what distinguishes a panini from something else? I mean you can have whatever bread... its not whats inside.... so my brilliant reasoning leads me to believe that it's the specific grill that is used for the sandwich??? read more

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Espresso drinks with interesting variations (africano = short latte, you can get gelato with a shot of espresso) Unfortunately, my soy latte was way too hot and slightly burnt. read more

This away-from-downtown coffee location is actually surprisingly good. I quite enjoy their espresso and espresso-based drinks and think that it may be the best of the class in Berkeley. Their drip coffee I like less though. The baristas all provide consistent service and attention to detail. The cafe has lots of seating, and I find that the noise level is nice. I've enjoyed this venue as a place for a coffee with a friend or some studying. It's location isn't convenient for me, so I don't end up here very often. Pastry selection is also a bit on the sparse side. They have some sandwiches, of which I have not yet partaken. read more

I agree with some other reviewers that the music is great here. What's up with the Trieste line? The regulars know to head to the right of the cash register (over towards the pastry case where you can serve yourself some nice looking croissants)...but us newbies are chastised by other customers for lining up towards the door. It's like the cafe needs to post a sign telling you where to wait. One other gripe: way too many tables for the space. Although, as popular as the Trieste is in this location, they probably need that many chairs. The coffee is fine. Many cafes in Berkeley serve wonderful coffee, so that's not a major consideration. read more

Thank goodness there is finally coffee in this neighborhood. But that's all Trieste is to me - a caffeine fix that I can walk to from work. Are the prices exorbitant because they use Fair Trade/Organic ingredients? No. Because the staff are paid well? Doesn't seem like it! Because the coffee is well-prepared? Definitely not. Call me a snob, but I've been a barista. If you want to charge $4 for a small latte, make sure the people making them know how to pull a decent shot. Oh, and it'd be nice if they actually seemed to CARE that the lines are always too long. Making those in need of caffeine wait unecessarily is never a good idea. read more

Sooooo... this review is skewed because I'm not a coffee drinker and have only eaten their pastries here. And they are damn good pastries! I find myself walking here from work almost every morning in hopes that my favorite breakfast buddy will be sitting on the front counter in his little plastic home. Waiting... just waiting to be squished and toasted on the panini grill only to be devoured quickly by my fast chewing teeth and welcome by my growling empty stomach. Which breakfast item am I talking about? Their spinach mushroom and feta cheese criossant. Ohmigawd. Just kill me now. They're so good. The croissant is buttery and flakey and the inside had just the right amount of filling. I've had a few other items here but that is my absolute fav! Sidenote: Their staff greatly lacks in the English speaking department and sometimes they don't understand my "Yes, please toast it" so I have to microwave it when I get back to work. Still good, but not as crispy. =( read more

If you're in the mood for a cup of really strong Italian coffee and you don't want to trek to San Francisco's North Beach district, this is the place to be. I'm a huge of strong coffee. To me, medium and light roasts doesn't really cut it for me. If I were to indulge, I'd prefer something that would kick my butt and keep me awake all day. At the same time, my coffee had to be flavorful and not bitter or burnt. This Caffe Trieste is a great spot for a morning brew. Not as crazy noisy or busy as the one in North Beach but good for some quiet time. The place is pretty spacious and the layout flows. There are canisters of cookies and a display case of delicious baked goods for you to grab yourself. I'm a true blue coffee drinker so I'll have a cup of straight up brew every time I visit a coffeehouse. Caffe Trieste doesn't disappoint; the coffee was exceptionally tasty and served piping hot. The baristas are very friendly and are glad to see you. Seating is plentiful at this coffeehouse but there's not Italian opera playing over the speakers. However it's located in a great spot and easy to find. Plenty of parking on the streets. read more

Cafe Trieste is the history of coffee in a cup. The cafe's founder Pappa Gianni brought espresso to San Francisco over 50 years ago. The espresso they serve here is still old world and wonderful. The cannolli (leave the gun) is to die for! Pappa Gianni is a singer and Cafe Trieste has a great musical tradition. Check out the website for the calendar: http://www.caffetrieste.com/pages/music.html One Sunday a month Pappa brings in his band and they sing traditional Italian songs - it's like something out of a movie. Other concerts include jazz and traditional music through the week. Expensive, yeah, but most sit down, atmospheric cafes are these days. BONUS! The Berkeley location is next door to Good Vibrations. A terrific opportunity to have a romantic rendevous followed by a romantic rendevous. read more

Summary based on several visits: --decent coffee --standard Berkeley service --convenient to several car repair places, which is why I hand out at this place --no wifi & competition for AC power is a drag read more

- Photos of Bill Cosby on the walls - Around the corner from Good Vibrations; getting coffee is good "cover," as in the following scenario : "mm this coffee is good, let's strolll...oh, i had NO idea this sex shop was here...." (proceed to look around) Or maybe you aren't shy about it at all; you could just grab coffee and caffienate so that you have the energy to browse all of GV. - Artisan gelato of the gods. Hazelnut is my favorite. But I will have to keep taste testing and get back to you all.. ; ) - Fast service, yummy drinks - Historic SF bay area chain What's not to like? Well...my only cons are - Hard to study in unless you need a lot of noise in the background - Not much space between tables; every time I go there I feel that the people next to me get TMI about my life. read more

We ordered the Spaghetti and 2 meatballs, the Lunch Combo (1/2 Panini and 1/2 soup/salad), Caramel Latte and the Turtle Dove Cheesecake slice. First off.... the Spaghetti could use a little more salt and pepper but those meatballs were definitely the highlight of the dish. I could eat those for dinner by themselves! For the Lunch Combo, I got the Veggie Panini and a side Caesar salad. The bread on the panini was a little too toasted for my liking but I did enjoy the mushrooms, tomatoes, pesto and cheese. The Caesar dressing was on point though, I just wish I had some more with the salad. To end the brief lunch I got the Turtle Dove Cheesecake. IT WAS HEAVENLY! There was some chocolate cheese in the cheesecake and it was topped with caramel and nuts... It was overloaded though, just the right balance of sweetness and texture. I read in previous reviews that the barista staff and servers are rude but I seriously don't have any complaints. When the man behind the counter made my Caramel Latte order, I SERIOUSLY don't know what he did, but it ended up so perfect. My Latte was had the right blend of sweetness, creaminess, and strength; just like me (LOL). So I would definitely get that again... Plus I heard they have a happy hour from 3PM to closing, definitely going to come here--perhaps when a band is playing?! :D read more

The food is where it counts. I love the breakfast croissant ham and egg sandwiches I get here every so often. The pastries are really good too. The service - well, everybody seems kind of ticked off. Sorry dude, it's not my fault you got a job where you have to get up at 5 every morning and provide excellent customer service. In case it wasn't obvious - they need to improve in this area. read more

The coffee here is divine, classic and delicious... but the waitstaff is incompetent at best. Unfortunately I'm one of the scmucks that will put up with the blank stares and incorrect orders to get that sweet, sweet elixr called the Fantasia. Mmmmm.... Evil Stuff. Also, it's crammed full of cranky people and no one knows what's going on. But... really... the COFFEE. SO GOOD. The Service. SO NONEXISTANT. But please, try it, I promise you'll forget the bad service once you have the amazing coffee. read more

The Trieste in SF seems to be a popular locale for mostly nostalgic reasons. Aging (and wannabe) beatniks and hippies, as well as the neighborhood locals seem to go there often. I used to go because it was a couple blocks from my old office. I never loved it, but it was convenient, and they had a good chocolate croissant. The point I was trying to make was that the SF branch was cool for a few reasons even if their coffee was just above average, at best. In berkeley, however, it just seems like a fish out of water; a congregating point for aging (and wannabe) beatniks and hippies who are too lazy to go to san francisco. the coffee is okay, but there is much better. Still there was a long line and not a single table to be had. on top of that, no wi-fi. what are we, in the 20th century still? read more

What else can you want? Has live music, great strong coffee, and located next to Good Vibrations. Love this spot! read more

I agree that it's an expensive latte. Often, I find myself asking, "A gallon of gas or a cup of latte?" But of course I easily give in to my indulgences, and plus there's nothing more rewarding than to end the work week with a Friday afternoon walk for a latte. 5 stars for their latte. read more

Frequent customer.. - Usually get a pot of tea. Their tea is excellent and they have a wide variety. It's $2.50 for a pot and that works out to about 3 cups of tea. - Service is variable. At busier times there will be a bit of a line and it might take awhile to get your food, the drinks still come out quickly though. - This isn't a good place for studying unless you can put up with noise. The music is somewhat loud and there are always people talking here. It is a good place to go for a chat. - The food is overpriced. It's pretty good though. read more

A fairly average cafe. Now, granted, I was very hungry, so light cafe fare probably wasn't quite important, but the sandwich I got was rather sparsely minimalist. The coffee is, by pacific northwest standards, around average, decent for the setting, but it's just espresso. The European-ness is mostly marketing. Even so, it's a nice place to relax, if busy, and my real complaint was that they served my latte to me in a drinking glass, which means it was way too hot for me to pick up without a glove on. When they're that busy they apparently run out of actual coffee mugs.... Oh well. Then there's also the lack of wifi, which I guess can help promote conversation or something like that, except for the fact it isn't cozy enough for random strangers to start talking to begin with. On the other hand, it did keep me from starving to death while touring the USS Hornet. read more

My favorite coffee place(s) in the East Bay. There's at least one in the city but I haven't been there. There latte is the best. Overall their coffee is amazing. I buy it by the pound as well. The spaghetti is good (I had it at the Piedmont location, not sure if they have it everywhere), but I get the panini a lot. Good space to hang out. Nice people. Nice staff but they need to warm up to you! Love this place! read more

I usually avoid this place if possible because the coffee is consistently poor but it's walking distance from my home so I went for convenience. On this particular day, I ordered food and every table received their food from a waiter except for mine and I sat in front of the counter with my number displayed. I waited to see if anyone would bring my food, but nope. I don't want to say this happened because I'm black, but I'm confused as to why this happened. I mean, this is 'Berkeley'... read more