The coffee shop is currently under renovation. All the sitting area is closed. They open the side door for people buying coffee and coffee beans. They must attract a lot of loyal customers because in the morning a lot of customers just sit on the chairs on the sidewalk, drinking their coffee. read more

One of my favorite places to grab a cup of coffee in the area. It's not quite like other coffee places, but that's what makes it perfect. There's no internet, the food menu is sparse, and most of the seating is outside winding around the corner. It gives such a neighborhood/community feel. Everyone will nod a hello as you squeeze by to step into grab your hot cup of coffee. And it's hard to find delicious coffee like this around where I live, so when i'm in the area I'll grab a few bags to take home with me. Service is fast, prices are okay, and the coffee amazing. read more

Pretty quaint coffee place with knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful staff, but with some drawbacks. Coffee: I only came here for a cup of coffee since my go to cafes were closed at the time. I had an Italian Roast drip coffee that was suggested by the staff member after they heard about my preference for French Roast. The coffee wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't too terrible either. A blind taste test between this drip coffee and a house coffee at Peet's would probably reveal equal results. The drip coffee was poured quickly and the whisk used to stir the coffee was over used and for different coffees brewing at the same time - didn't feel too great about that. Maybe they had an off day, so I'm not writing them off just yet. Will come back sometime to try a latte. TL;DR: +great service, helpful staff +wide variety of blends +good pricing -unimpressive coffee/first impression read more

4 stars for the location, ambiance, cleanliness, and hours; 2 stars for the clueless barista who couldn't answer basic questions, and after I ordered a mexican cocoa with whipped cream, served me a regular hot cocoa without whipped cream. She explained that they whipped the cream themselves so she couldn't give me any. Huh? Then she poured water into the hot cocoa to make up for the room she had left for the whipped cream. Communicating with her had been so frustrating that I didn't want to point out that she'd served me the wrong cocoa too. Spasso about a block south is much better, with competent staff. read more

That drip-drip-drip you hear at Cole Coffee is an indication of the great cup of coffee you'll be drinking in minutes. At a couple of bucks for a single cup (the value significantly increases if you get an entire pot), Cole is a great option for your morning, afternoon, or evening pick-me-up, and it's far more time-efficient for me than having to schlep all the way over to the Gourmet Ghetto for a cup of Blue Bottle at Guerilla, not just because of the commute but really, drip coffees only take but a minute. Cole has a limited but fairly impressive selection of beans from various regions (when in doubt you can't really go wrong with the Ethiopian). Service is.... not surly, not unpleasant, but.... forgettable? Mildly off-putting? Which has always struck ironic to me because you'd imagine baristas to have the MOST pep of them all (although we did stop in past five.. maybe our server was feeling the jitters of the day's crash), but it's a cafe. Deal for thirty seconds, hand over the money and mosey on to a comfy chair or one of the outdoor tables for some coffee talk. I've found my new semi-neighborhood coffee joint. read more

If you enjoy dark roast coffees and the pour-over craze, no one has perfected the art of the pour-over like Cole's. There's hardly ever a line more than five deep and you get a custom cup each time. The staff is friendly, although diligent about their work and won't openly engage you in conversation. I stop by Cole's at least once a week, if not more, on my way to work in the morning. It's easy to pull over, hop out and grab a cup, then get back in and be on your way. One thing to note is that Cole's is a cash-only shop, but there's a Safeway across the street and a bank on the corner. read more

Cool, calm, and quaint coffee shop. What more can you ask for. If your looking for the ideal "Coffee Shop" this is your place....trust me. Extensive selection of coffee makes it easy to switch things up a bit from visit to visit. Though the Dark Viennese is the best, well of course in my opinion and really hard not to get each visit. This place has a great location nestled in a nice corner of claremont ave and overall just a great vibe surrounding this place. FYI this place is not a pretentious type of coffee place either. Enjoy!! read more

Update: person who was not nice to my friend seems to be gone so all is well & upgrading my review.

Don't know why this is a second listing for Cole Coffee and the first reviewer mentions a Starbucks that doesn't exist, but whatever. Coffee's always been good. Staff can be surly on occasion, but hey it's a coffee shop. read more

A must for serious coffee lovers. When I wake up in the morning everyday, I look forward to my cup of Cole Coffee. Starbuck's or Peet's (which is not bad) is just not the same. Been coming to Cole Coffee for years and it's the best coffee I've ever had. I've been here many times throughout the day and have always enjoyed my experience - sitting (if space available) to read the newspaper, write in my journal, or just to enjoy my cup of java. I have been here so many times that I've met a few friends too. The drip coffee is amazing and simply watching is an experience of itself. The cafe is small and not fancy, but I can see why it's always crowded. Great stuff! Their pastries are pretty good too. Even though I have moved to the peninsula, I still make trips back to Cole Coffee and look forward to it every time. read more

Friendly staff and a great selection of beans from around the world. They have a great organic selection as well and they have nice windows if you want to chill and people watch read more

Awesome neighborhood spot! Super friendly with an excellent variety of coffee. The pastries poptart are really tasty!! Yum.

My wife's latte was good, but my hot chocolate was a watery mix of hot chocolate mix and God knows what else. Not good, not hot and indifferent service. read more

This is my go-to spot to meet my friend in the adorable Elmwood section of Berkeley. The location and ambiance are awesome: big comfy chairs, 50s retro feel. And while the food is also great (I've had two yummy sandwiches here - turkey and mozzarella), the coffee - which is supposed to be the pinnacle of this place (hand drip etc.) always seems to be bitter. Even worse is that there is no wifi. All this makes me feel a bit too Portlandia - but i'll keep coming back because it's in such a great location! read more

The staff is very unwelcoming. My family and I decided to get coffee here instead of crossing the street to Philz. Big mistake! We were trying to support a local business, but the ladies working there need to work on their customer service skills. Plus our "hot" drinks were lukewarm. A gentleman had walked in about 15mins before closing when he just walked out and walked into Philz. Why? Because none of the workers acknowledged him. Next time we're just going straight to Philz. read more

I finally tried Cole Coffee this past Saturday and I AM COMING BACK. These guys have the best cappuccino I have had in Berkeley! read more

Cole Coffee - Where the coffee magic happens @ Cole... - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Best coffee in the east bay. Friendly staff, cute atmosphere, wide selection of exotic brews. Perfect for a coffee date or just a quick cup. Try the delicious Flor Cana...yum! read more

5 stars for service, in particular. But 4 stars for overall experience. Staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating but some little things could be better: * Echoing others, they don't really notify you when your order is ready or are inconsistent about announcing orders. They were incredibly quick about making my drink! Was slightly dismayed to realize my drink was getting warm while I waited, seated, for any notice that I expected to come but didn't. * Bear in mind: NO WIFI, VERY FEW OUTLETS. I wouldn't fault the cafe for this though. Come here to converse, read, & sip with your thoughts! If you need to stay connected, get your things to go and go elsewhere. HOWEVER, if you have access to XFINITY WiFi hotspots the signal is pretty decent here & it's possible to access some limited WiFi from Philz across the street. * I ordered an iced vanilla latte. Good if you don't prefer these sweet. Paid extra for the vanilla shot (that was "eh" for me but I realize that's not uncommon). * Nice ambiance, clean and well kept - made it easy to focus for study/work. read more

This is a belated review that I should have written years ago, especially since I've been a customer for decades. I'm now inspired to write something because of a mediocre experience at "Ritual" coffee in Napa ( see my review). Unlike Ritual, Cole is a real coffee bar. Cole has 22, count 'em, 22 classes of beans from mild to very dark roast for your preference on demand. A 14oz cup is only $3. You can't beat that. And they're not in the low rent district. The quality of the coffee is excellent and the staff is friendly and helpful. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, and you've never sampled Cole's coffee, give them a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

Cole Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

The new remodel is very beautiful but I have to say that their cappuccinos are frightful. They are very old school, bitter coffee with a little thin foam on top. You would think with all the competition from the likes of blue bottle they would want to up their game a bit. If you served something like that in Italy you would be arrested. Even raise the price if necessary. The drip coffee is excellent, but why can't they make a decent espresso drink. That is a big minus as far as I am concerned. read more

I love love love their coffee!!! I'm a decaf drinker after having been a caffeine drinker for many years. It is so hard to find a good cup of decaf and Cole Coffee definitely changed my decaf experience - in a very good way! (I live in Brooklyn and have not been as lucky to find anything like Cole Coffee out here) I love their individual drip cups! Nothing like a super fresh cuppa coffee in one of my favorite towns :-) read more

This place has awesome coffee and amazing staff! Particularly barista Corey. Definitely will be back to buy their beans. I've been coming here for years and they never disappoint! read more

We love the remodel at Cole and are so happy they can compete (not just with quality coffee and a great location) with Philz. We get our weekly coffee grounds from Cole and when there's a lazy morning, we enjoy sitting in the cafe or out on the sidewalk. Thanks, Cole, for staying in the neighborhood! read more

Of all the good coffee available in the East Bay, Cole is the best. We've been buying beans and brewed coffee here for a decade or more. It's a wonderful locally owned business, and the relationship between the staff and customers is also wonderful. The epitome of the kind of business that makes Oak/Berk a great place to live. read more

Same great cup of coffee, re-opened with a brand new facelift and more seating (yaaaaaas!!!). As varied as cafe environments are, some cafes make me want to put on headphones and crank out work on my laptop, but Cole's makes me want to slow down, enjoy my coffee, and say hi to my neighbor sitting next to me. Definitely a well-loved neighborhood gem. read more

Drip coffee that's totally worth it at a weekend morning spot that's bustling with local eye candy. Whether you're into Cal kids, indie studs or bike-fit folks, Cole offers a quality brew and solid scene. It's my pick for pre-ride treks up the Berkeley hills or afternoons spend basking in the sun, laptop or book in hand. read more

Easily the best dry cappuccino in the East Bay. Most people just make a latte with some foam and call it good, but Cole's actually takes the time to get it done right! read more

Great coffee and tea. Only complaint is no air conditioning on hot summer days and seems like no heat in winter, so it's really cold if you're sitting next to a window, which is most of the seats. Otherwise, great atmosphere and friendly service. read more

Cute place. My wife had the waffle with fruit, which was beautifully done and tasted great. I had the avacado toast - very good. Service average, but overall a great place. read more

Fantastic local spot for coffee in the Rockridge neighborhood. When I was still in college, this was my getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Berkeley campus area. Situated across from Safeway and right next to the different markets and stores on College Ave., I found myself frequenting this shop on the weekends. My go-to was always their pour-over coffee. I don't know what it is, but something about pour overs just taste better. Cole Coffee's selection is massive, and I was completely overwhelmed when I first walked in, but they have a menu that nicely breaks down each flavor in terms of roast. I asked the barista/ cashier for a recommendation, and I always seem to be directed to the Red Sea. Unfortunately, I didn't find the employees here to be of much help, but I slowly but surely trucked my way through the menu. Seating here is tough- consists of a couple of small tables and a sofa in the front store and mostly standing space in the odd back store. Still haven't figure out the logistics between the two stores, but I just come here for the coffee. Give it a try! read more

LOVE stopping by here when I have the time on my way to work. Great food and coffee and tea! Great service and attention to detail.

Coffee is good, but they seem to be struggling with new concept. Ordered a Turkey sando to go, which took 20 min to make. Very basic sando on small baguette for $7.50. Only saw one other sando or other food item come out of the kitchen during my wait. No apology offered. It's a pass for food. read more

Vastly improved remodel. Same great coffee. Support it. Taste is what matters to me, so I get their Colombian or Mexican pour over. Oh and they raised their prices a dollar a cup so that sucks. Bye bye read more

I love this place. No frills, no nonsense. No fancy drinks or an indecipherable menu. Sometimes the line goes out the door but it moves fast enough that the aroma of coffee won't be too much of a painful tease when all you want is your caffeine fix. The drip coffee might take a little longer than the usual, but it's well worth it. Their espresso drinks are also on the good side. Strong and tasty. I've been satisfied with their soy lattes, but I think I'm gonna switch over to Americanos as the one I had today totally owned Ritual's. It was perfect. I love being wired! read more

Good coffee, good eggs (though I think they'd be better if they cooked them a bit less - my yolk was about half cooked...bread was totally yummy. Friendly service, and nice seating along the sidewalk. Jam packed with hipsters (to the point where there were about 20 of them across the street as well!), but c'est la vie. It was tasty indeed, and great for a light breakfast/brunch. read more

Score, a place in the East Bay that serves fresh coffee dripped one cup at a time! They have a large variety of coffees from Central America and all over the world. Tip -- The staff start the drip and you take it from the under the filter when it's done dripping. They don't call your name or hand it to you. read more

Best coffee in the area, and there are half a dozen cafes within a two block radius. Their remodeling is finally complete, and the space is now clean and bright, and the menu has been expanded. I also buy their beans, usually their New Guinea (Italian roast) for espressos, and their Max's Decaf blend for later in the day. read more

WHY do people rave about this coffee? It's borderline-mediocre on a good day and tastes like butt on a bad one. The snacks are good, the service is okay, and it's a nice place to sit and hang out for a bit, but for decent coffee go to Subrosa, or if you can't be bothered to got that far, to Helloakland. read more

Was shopping at Yasai market next door and I happened to see Cole's and decided to stop in for a latte. I headed over and noticed there were a few people outside sitting on tables enjoying some coffee and reading newspapers. Im guessing these are the regulars, because I sure didn't have the greatest first hand experience. For starters, I walked in to a store with NO LINE... so hey service will be expedient, but no. I stood there staring at the two girls behind the register who were just chatting it up instead of greeting or asking if I could be helped. There is a few chairs and a small sofa inside Cole's, but no one was utilizing them and it would be pretty cramped in there if people did. Supposedly, you can buy the teas and coffee's from them from another store front which is just next door. Dunno how that works, but I guess they have 2 of these things right smack together. The girl making my latte calls over the other girl to take a look at something that I believe had to do regarding my drink... and started laughing. My guess is that she messed up somewhere and gave me the drink anyway and just thought to herself, dumb ass here's your coffee. Cole's offers a menu of breakfast and lunch items along with pastries. I was about to order some poached eggs and toast, but figured I would give up on Cole's by this point. Supposedly, they advertise fresh ground customizable coffee just how you like it. I guess that only applies for coffee, because the latte was pretty so so and I would honestly go to Starbucks over here any day. Maybe I should try the one RIGHT NEXT DOOR? would it be different? perhaps, but I highly doubt it. read more

I'm conflicted, because I'd love for local, longtime coffee places to thrive among all the chains nearby. But this place is actually just not good. I've given this place several tries over the years and each time I am equally disappointed by the burnt espresso, undercooked eggs, and general dirtiness of the place. The sloppy presentation and thoroughly charred taste of the espresso served here is horrifying compared to what other nearby cafes are doing. Go elsewhere if you want fantastic (or decent) espresso. read more