This place is pretty old-school, the furniture and decor well worn in. But the locals seems to love it, it's always packed. In the morning, everyone is ordering their bagel breakfast sandwiches. In the evening, they have occassional live music and beer/wine. It's definitely a solid casual hangout on this strip of San Pablo. For the cafe dweller types, there's plenty of seating & free wifi, but my dirty chai was odd -- served in a tall glass with no handles, making it virtually impossible to hold onto and sip from. I appreciate the generous portion, but a handle on a scalding hot glass seems practical. Those pesto-egg-cheese breakfast sammies are quite a meal deal though! Totally craveable. read more

Great coffee, but don't order the scrambled eggs. They were cold. Potatoes were twice fried (yuck) and bland. Wheat toast under toasted and cold. Sorry guys! You miss your mark on this dish. I'm not sure if they really care. read more

Went there to work for a bit before picking up from kid from school. The whole place smelled like raw sewage. Kids were gagging. None of the employees were even in the least bit concerned, going to do anything or tell new customers. Awful. read more

I love Berkeley. Don't get me wrong, there is only one other U.S. city that can kick SF butt and it is in due part to having more metro stations per square mile, in addition to friendlier people on the streets. But when it comes to affordable rents, cafes that are open late and safe/flat bicycle friendly streets, Berkeley has the East Bay won. Since several good friends live in the East Bay so for late night runs, we already have a few late spots memorized, given our night owl status. However, for early bird cups of caffeine, my hands down favorite spot is Caffe Trieste. It is far enough away from the campus to ensure a chair and table near the window AND parking that is free before 9:00 (yes, I am an early bird.) You won't find too many students here. Instead, locals walk down for their prospective morning ritual with newspapers and locate a nice sunny nook to wile away the time. The lattes here pack a mean punch which translated to my foot shaking while waiting for my friend to get ready prior to hitting the Maker Faire. I purchased a croissant that was mediocre: flat and not too many flaky buttery layers. I know that they are supplied by Semifreddies but I think next time, I'll drive further down to Arizmendi and grab one of their fresh baked goods. I'm a sucker for a fantastic scone. However, if you are already on site, they host a diverse supply of baked goods: croissants, almond croissants, chocolate croissants, sweet breads, muffins, scones, and bagels. Just remember to tuck your legs up into the bench seat when the fool next to you drops his latte onto the floor. I was ready to go to the Maker Faire unscathed since the liquid refreshment missed me by a couple of inches. read more

Decent little coffee shop. I have been periodically visiting this place for coffee on my way to work, and have been fairly impressed. They have decent poor over coffee. The small size coffee is certainly small, so if your in real need of a pick me up, I'd go for a medium or large. They have a delicious array of pastries to choose from that I have yet to try, and their yogurt parfaits are off the hook good! Service is so-so, but prices are reasonable. May just continue to frequent this place. read more

Do they train their baristas to be rude? I get bad vibes from this place. Example: recently I went there with a friend at 8 PM Sunday; they close at 9. At 8:20 they started noisily stacking the chairs, and turned up the salsa music real loud. Translation: get out of here, we want to go home. I asked them to turn down the music; the guy shrugged and said "we about to close". OK. Berkeley has lots of cafes. This place is now off my list. Oh yeah, the coffee tastes burned. read more

I've been coming here awhile now and have finally figured out how to get the best drinks: ONLY get espresso drinks if Zazou - the french/berber barrista - is at the machine. Everyone else is mediocre at best. Seriously, Zazou is the best barrista in Berkeley - hands down. He's off on Sundays, though. This is NOT a cafe to go to if you want to read or work on the next great american novel on your laptop. It's a bustling, sometimes rowdy (I watched '06 World Cup matches here) place that's a great neighborhood meeting place. The food? meh - not great, but edible when I feel up for it. read more

I give this business one star because of their staff. We didn't even order so I can't rate them based on food amd/or drink. We were next in line and had been patiently waiting for several minutes. Not one of the three servers behind the counter even acknowledged we were there even though I attempted to make eye contact quite a few times and he chose to ignore us... which is fine. What wasn't fine was when another patron walked in and cut in front of us knowing we were in line and it was obvious the servers knew him, completely ignored us and helped him out right away. That's not okay. So we left. I didn't need a cup of coffee that bad. I try to patronize mom and pop places but if you want to run a business and be competitive then I suggest treating your customers fairly. Not just the ones you know. read more

Caffe Chiave - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cafes are my happy place. There's something about sitting in a caffeinated room with strangers, hunkering down with a good book, listening to the ambient music, and the occasional eavesdropping. If there's live music, extra brownie points. The vibe I get from cafes is usually based on atmosphere first, then coffee drinks and treats second. Caffe Trieste lives up to a few, but falls flat overall. I've only tried their chai latte and it was good, but it was nothing to write home about. The pot of tea is great for two friends to share over long-awaited gossip. I've never tried their snacks and meals, but there seems to be a crowd during lunch and dinner time, so they must be doing something right. Their gelato selection always catches my eye, but I've never tried their icy treat. I'm digging the concept though. This place is definitely NOT designed for a productive study day. For us laptop addicts, the outlets are very limited and are sparsely scattered around the outer tables. Also, there is NO wi-fi internet (gasp!), which is a misdemeanor in my book. During the day, there is a lot of natural light and a nice breeze from the open windows, but when the sun sets, don't expect to get any reading or work done unless you bring your own candlelight. The indoor lighting after dusk is practically nonexistent (except for the fluorescent street lamp shinning in), so manage your time wisely. They host live musical performances a few times a month. Plus 1 star because I'm a sucker for live music. It's always packed in there on the live music nights, so I have yet to grab a seat and enjoy myself, but I will be back. Caffe Trieste is not my cafe of choice for studying or atmosphere, but it's a nice spot to kick back and relax with a cup of joe on one of those lazy weekdays. read more

Expensive coffee and edibles (the pastries are from Semifreddi's, btw, they don't bake them there), rude baristas who would rather hold conversations than take and fulfill your order, agitated regulars from the neighborhood who resent the rudeness but don't wanna walk all the way to the Homemade or get the lousy coffee across the street at Bacheeso... So you know this place is doomed to be a neighborhood hangout! The only thing this coffeeshop has going for it is the lovely, albeit cramped, interior. Corner spot and coffeeshop go together like mac & cheese. I've been here several times. The first visit, the beautifully coiffured lady behind the counter was more intent on transferring the tips from the tip jar into a larger container than she was taking my order. The second visit, I got bitched at for requesting my regular house coffee in a larger glass so I would have more room for milk. I'm sorry, are you guys going to lose that much money on milk? [/snark] Third visit, the gentleman taking my order took about 15 minutes to get me my coffee. Why is that? Well, he knew the lovely ladies who were in line behind me and decided to get them their coffee first. Fourth visit, the gentleman at the counter was busy holding a conversation with another gentleman who was preparing food. There was a line of something like 8 of us and the line continued to grow, but you know, there was no way we were going to interrupt his conversation by causing him to go off on some extended customer service jag. My friend attempted to order some food and he had to go and check to see if they had a particular item, twice. Finally she gave up and asked, "Well, what DO you have?" Once we were seated with our overpriced house coffees, and she'd received her food some time later, we saw the same gentleman handling tea with his bare hands, transferring from a large canister to a smaller one, in the store section of their shop. Jesus wept. Lovely cramped interior alone does not get high marks from me, because of the craptastic service. And these guys refuse to offer fair trade or organic coffee, which loses points spectacularly. Come on, handling tea leaves after handling money? read more

Of the various outposts of Trieste I've been to, this is certainly the worst. Despite the menu stating that food was served "all day," there was nothing other than pastries available at 8pm. So i ordered quiche (ostensibly the most food-like of pastries), and let's just say that reheating it didn't improve it at all. On the way out, I took a closer look at a squashed insect on the floor, and I probably shouldn't have. I won't be back. read more

So many different types of coffee!! I never knew this many existed! I had to ask the server what most of them were because I didn't want to walk away with just a latte :) I think the "Depth Charge" was the most interestingly named - a shot of espresso dropped in a cup of coffee. But my sweet tooth prompted me to get an Afogato - which is a shot of espresso poured over a large scoop of vanilla gelato (or ice cream). Yummmmmmmmmy :) read more

From now on I'm walking the extra block and going to another coffee shop. This morning I ordered a soy vanilla latte and got a soy latte. I let them know they made a mistake and again that I wanted a soy vanilla latte. This second time they made a regular vanilla latte. When I asked to confirm it was soy the same barista said, "yes", but he used milk! On top of that, in the past they made me a mocha with no coffee in it. I heard another customer complain to them about the exact same thing. These guys are unapologetic and terrible at their job. read more

Owners, Saturday morning I came in and paid for a drink and a pound of coffee to go. After waiting over ten minutes, I approached someone standing by the counter and let him know that I had been forgotten and could he please help me with the pound of coffee. As I was walking out, I was accused loudly of not having paid, in front of all the other customers. I went back in to deal with the situation and got a pretty weak apology. I don't know if people pay without leaving often, but you could have simply asked me in a normal tone, and not have caused such a scene. That really was not the way I would have liked to start my day...normally I like to go to Caffe Trieste. read more

Great cafe overall for first time here. So tempted to get a paninni while I was waiting for my car to be fixed but opted to get some change and take the bus home and make my own food. Funny thing I asked the Italian guy "Can I break a Five?" He said "Oh no, no WI-Fi" Didn't want to seem rude and he was kinda busy so I paused and then the guy behind me said "She meant she wants some change" SI!!!! SENIORITA!!!!!!!! He broke my 5 dollar into 1's and gave me some coins!!! How nice!!! I hate it when places make you order things in order for you to get change!!!!! So yup that made my day! Sat awhile and skimmed over the place. Lots of tables, quite spacious, quick customer service (there was a line)...They have lunch specials, wine, and music on other days. I will come back to try their pannini or mocha or gelato!!!! read more

When Zazou (smaller guy with emo glasses and usually a hat) is working the espresso machine, this place has to-die-for drinks and extremely friendly service. I used to work around the corner and started going to Trieste every morning after Zazou got me hooked on his mochas (I'm usually more of a small coffee with one cream type of girl). If he's not working, this place is average at best. The atmosphere isn't really conducive to studying, it's pretty dirty and the service is terrible. read more

While old school, you can tell this local joint caters to pretty much a little bit of everything. They got WiFi for the lappers. They got pastries for the sweet-tooth-inclined. They got pour-overs for those looking for a more trendy cup of joe. Whether it's the late night jams or daily specials that keep you coming back, it's a wonderfully laid out space that just screams Berkeley. However, upon getting my coffee and sandwich, I'd say quality was lacking. Coffee tasted burnt and the sandwich... well, I guess my little nephew might have done a better job. Come for the chill vibes, but I wouldn't vouch for their food. read more

The ONLY complaint I have is the messed up CD playing Jacques Brel. Everything else: perfection So MANY desserts I had never seen before. I got a Napoleon and WOW! Calories were totally worth it. The people are so cool. We sat right next to these women that were having a great conversation. I'm an eavesdropper and a people watcher. Sorry! I like stories. Not a good place to study because it's REALLY crowded. Great for meeting people tho. The friend I was with got 3 different types of coffee. Here's what he thought (and he's definitely an expert - he loves peet's to give you a frame and he doesn't like flavored coffee) -coffee: not as good as peet's, better than starbucks. -espresso: crazy strong. A+ -cappuccino: a little too foamy. otherwise very good. The guys behind the counter were super friendly. Especially given that I asked so many questions about these masterpieces of desserts! Oh and also had a pannini - some one with chicken. That was just ok. Nothing special. read more

The baristas aren't super friendly. But, to loosely paraphrase every reality show contestant ever, "I didn't come here to make friends, I came here to get a cup of coffee." They make a good latte. read more

Yes, the staff is more interested in speaking spanish to one another than helping you. No, there really is no good food here. No, there is no wi-fi or power outlets (might be time to google "co-working" kids). Yes, it is kind of grungy, and not in the kinda hip, authentic Berkeley way other joints seem to be able to pull off. But my cappuccino was spot on. It was 100% crema mixed with delicious micro foam. Toasty notes with zero bitterness. And it looked lovely as well. Rating Scale: 1 Star: Avoid the town in which this place is located just to be safe. 2 Star: Risky at best. 3 Star: I'll try it again or consume here in a pinch. 4 Star: I eat here regularly if financially and calorically feasible. 5 Star: I'm comfortable taking other chefs here. read more

If you long for a nostalgic classic italian cafe, I think this fits the bill. You don't come here looking for a quiet meeting space. You come here to have good coffee and be social, there is a buzz. I enjoyed a delicious vanilla latte, I think this has become my drink of choice lately. It was good and given the jittery-ness of my internal being I suspect it was strong. It wasn't too loud to be heard, so it just has a nice warm vibe about it. The wifi was good. Didn't look for outlets because I was there for social time, but many of the tables are not near a wall so I'm guessing they don't have a ton. Parking is reasonable if you look in the neighborhood but in front you'll have to use a parking meter and refill on the hour. They get 4 stars because it's a classic, the warmth, and I think they still have live music from time to time. read more

The San Pablo in Berkeley Cafe Trieste is uncool. The guys making the coffee are good. As too is the pastries offered. The problem i have with it is that sad little station where the napkins, sugar and milk is located, and then on the other side of the room, a stupid water station which is strangely and unnecessarily hard to get too. Is the staff just too lazy to do anything about it? For all the money you guys get everyday...can't a clean, sanitary space for those that need a clean spoon or a cup of fresh water be provided? As it is, there are many that feel like they are putting one's posterior into someone else's face to get a napkin? The tables and chairs are falling apart. This place is NOT fun. read more

I love affogato. Espresso poured over choice of generous amount of gelato. $5 including tip. Perfect. Especially after visiting good vibes down the block. ::: scrolling through contacts::: Is there a term for caffinated dialing? read more

Cmo se dice?- WHATTHEHEEZIE?!? I strolled in around 8pm on a Wednesday night. Hand there not been that hip knitting group in there I would have walked out. They gave me hope...I didn't notice until later most of them had water or tea. lol The fellas, as blase as they could be- rattled on in Spanish to each other about this and that, irritating customers, etc. Pretty much ignored and overpriced tiny house coffe. The place was dark and crowded. I'm no coffe connoisseur, but if it tastes burnt does that mean it's strong? or that it's burnt? *eyes roll* I managed to eek out a small well lit corner to study. I have to go back b/c I have a ton of studying to do for big test. I'm sure the fellas won't even notice I've walked in with my own cafecito..... read more

I lived like 5 blocks away from Trieste for over a year. Dangerous! It was always too tempting on a lazy Saturday or Sunday morning to walk down with the boyfriend, order a couple lattes, split a few of their AMAZING pastries in half, and sit at one of those cute little wooden tables and people watch. Yes, I will admit that I was at first thrown off by the lack of wi-fi. But seriously people, it's like the ONLY coffee shop that DOESN'T have it... which, when you think about it, is really kind of nice. It's not overrun by students and other folks sitting on their laptops for HOURS while you look hopefully around for an open table so you can enjoy a quick snack. Instead, there are folks reading books, reading newspapers, chatting with friends over lunch... total goodness. read more

I bestow this place with 4 stars for the laid back, chill ambiance that isn't too clean, not at all corporate, and just about right. I give this place 4 stars for the quality of food, coffee, pastries, and service. The prices are reflected in this star rating - not cheap. Lattes run about $2.60-$3.00. I award 2 stars for their speed in attending to customers in line. However, they only have one barista. So, should you go, please don't come in a hurry or in a gruff, because you will inevitably have to wait, and I don't want to have to overhear your comments about the slow service. Make nice and smile at the hard working barista-boy. I recommend 5 stars for initiative. They serve beer and wine and have live music more days of the week than not. I also commend the place for being quiet enough that you can work with your computer and books. It's usually at about 60-80% capacity, so you can usually find a nice table for your work-roost. Cafe Trieste: Good when you find yourself on San Pablo looking for a warm, tasty, friendly, and non-rushed coffee break. read more

This place pales in comparison to the mother store in North Beach, but it has definitely helped bring new vitality to the Dwight/San Pablo area. The Cafe has decent coffee but I can never figure out the rule of Pastry. One employee tells me its self-serve, the other says don't touch. Too complicated for me. On the side shop, Trieste offers coffee-ana to take home including espresso makers and coffee sets. This place fills a might quick so if you want to hang out get there early. read more

Came here today since I always walk past it but never go in. Well, this was my 1st and last time. Once walking it, I asked the guy behind the counter about the carrot cake and he stated it was fresh (I should have known better since its refrigerated). A while after consuming cake, within 10 minutes, I began sweating and my abdominal area began to have piercing pain. I ran to the bathroom and had a Horrible case of diarrhea. Not sure about the regular food or drinks, but stay away from the desserts! read more

Rude and prejudge people! Asked them wifi and told them I'm waiting for my friend so we will order when she arrives. The respond I got from employees was 'No! You have to have receipt to get wifi password'. I said 'I will order food with my friend, just waiting for her' and the respond was 'Nope! You have to order now!!' It's really bad that they think everyone wants to take advantage of their wifi and not going to order anything! Poor customer relations!! read more

Coffee drinks are great, however, there is something to be said about a coffee at 10:30pm in North Beach (original store). Of course, after a night at Amante and a slice of Golden Boy pizza! Still a nice place. Parking is typical Berkeley in the morning. Self rightist. read more

If you're in the mood to grab a book and go chill some place public, but quiet, this isn't it. If your flavor is for some interesting people-watching or to chat with strangers while sipping your coffee, this place is for you. I've been there at all different times of the day and days of the week and it's never been quiet or slow. The only thing slow about this place are the baristas, but as long as you can resist the temptation to slap the dude behind the counter and tell him to speed it the fuck up or step aside, you'll be rewarded with a pretty damn good cup of coffee. Also, they have live music almost every day of the week. Check their website for the schedule. http://www.caffetriesteberkeley.com/ read more

Well, it's cluttered. But I guess that avoids the slick Starbucksy feel that a lot of coffee shops strive for these days. It's a good place to have a conversation, given that they don't have free wi-fi so not everyone is glued to their laptops. I like Local 123 up the street better and I am one of those wi-fi junkies, but when I'm not lugging a laptop and don't feel like walking all the way up there, Cafe Trieste is fine. read more

Hey, outdoor seating, coffee in a tree-lined walkable shopping district. Are you sure this is San Pablo Avenue? Yes, it is . Just steps from a vibrator emporium, art gallery, and a swanky restaurant. The coffee's good, the pastries just so-so, and the line is long, while the service short. But Trieste, I love thee, for thine ambience and occasional live music. read more

Since I started my new job in this area today, I decided to check out the espressos at this cafe. I ordered an espresso (I wanted the single); he assumed I wanted the double. I was too lazy to correct him. The two stars is basically for the taste of the espresso. IT WAS AWFUL!!! Sooooo bitter and no good flavor and it was too long. I'd give it 1 star, but the espresso was actually so strong I was overboard wired for the entire day...not so good for your first day of work! But it's ok. I'll probably come back here again if I need caffeine desperately, but other than for that reason, I probably won't visit again. Their double espressos definitely aren't worth $2.35. I will note that the next time I come here, I will re-evaluate the quality of the espresso and re-rate. I know my 2 stars is kind of harsh but I just can't help it. I needed a good coffee this morning and I didn't get one. read more

We take our 6 year old here about once a week for dessert. My husband reads aloud to my kid as she slurps gelato or eats cake and I knit. The staff always recognizes us and is always really pleasant. Sometimes we hit it on a live music night and are always blown away by the caliber of the musicians they get. Love the sleepy night time vibe. Totally different during the day - no empty tables, line for ordering, buzz buzz. But still, a great place to spend a few minutes or a few hours. read more

They cappuccino with a double shot is absolutely delicious and perfect. We also get the meatball sandwich and the bread is perfectly toasted. But the hot chocolate tasted watered down :( but can't wait to go back. :) read more

Caffe Chiave - Very delicious cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here with a group of friends hoping for a somewhat quiet place to sit and chat a bit. We were fairly surprised to see a band setting up as we walked in, but we joined 2 tables together and sat down any way. (Note, this place isn't ideal for big groups, they mostly offer tables for two.) I ordered a bolognese lasagna and asked for advice on a good drink to pair with that. I can't remember the name of the red wine the server (maybe owner?) offered, but it was 6 dollars a glass and sounded something Italian. I got my wine poured right away, and they brought the food over to the table when it was ready. Boy am I glad I asked for advice on the wine, it paired so well with the lasagna! Serving size wasn't too big, but it was just perfect for me. It's not the best I've had, but it felt like one of those perfect meals which when you finished, you are fully sated and felt content to just sit there and rub your belly and purr like a cat. I would definitely recommend this place if you want good food, awesome wine, and great music! If you want a place where you can actually hear each other without shouting, you'll have to either go in early or find another place. read more

Mmm... coffee. This is a great neighborhood cafe if you live around the area. Sure, the water dispenser could be placed in a more convenient location, and yes, I suppose the coffee/tea fixing station could be improved, but you know what? Trieste has always been there for me, and that counts for a lot! The best time to come to Trieste, in my opinion, is in the morning, early afternoons, early evenings, and nights. Ha! All day I guess. Morning can be a little kid-congested, especially over the weekends, but so far nothing too out of this world has happened. Clientele include all kinds, from mildly famous intellectuals (Judith Butler alert!), to middle aged men who wear muscle tees and sunglasses on their foreheads. I don't particularly enjoy Trieste when there is a "special event" going on, but during the everyday, I like its bustling vibe and the charming christmas lights that are wrapped around its high ceiling beams. The coffee certainly doesn't follow the light roast trend going on right now, so don't come here if you're looking for anything fruity or too acidic. But do come here if you are looking for a nice place to sit, alone or with a friend, get some coffee, maybe with a piece of cake or a pastry, in a place where you can both focus on what's going on at your table while still being reminded that the world keeps turning around you. The service is friendly, coffee is better than decent, pastries are abundant, and the ambiance ties it all in. In my opinion, if you're looking for a well-rounded cafe, you might want to check out Trieste. Oh! But, ps, no WiFi. But that's okay. Because copies of the East Bay Express are always floating around. AND! AND AND AND! A really mesmerizing wall of "Papa Gianni" in the olden days, as well as with a few celebrities. There's one that supposedly shows him helping to write the screenplay to THE GODFATHER. Do we believe it? I dunno! I ask myself this every time I look at the photo. I do enjoy the one with Bill Cosby though. As well as the one that addresses the photo to "Papa John." read more

Trieste answers the question, "what do people do at night that don't drink alcohol?" I used to ask myself this all the time. At the start of this year, I thought I'd dry out long enough to find out the answer.. Now that I know I feel safe to go back to drinking. read more

Ive come her for lunch for almost couple years (not much, because this place seems to even higher than SF prices rather ...) and I forget I will have lunch, really who cares if my mr.stomach gets satisfied. The best thing is that Im getting a good capp. hands down so who cares about the pesto panini. one star less because theres not too many veggie paninis. nice crowd mix BEANS: their own of course BIKE RACK: on their sidewalk, on the dwight side of the buidling. Highly visible while you eat. read more