Good coffee if you happen to be in the area. I enjoyed my cold brew coffee. My husband enjoyed his oat milk latte, but we waited what felt an eternity for these drinks. I believe that we ordered around 10:30am, and we didn't receive our hot beverages until 10:57am. Granted, this was on a Saturday morning....but get going on your drinks!!! Perhaps they need the help. I guess it's fine to be backed up with orders, but I would have appreciated the memo ahead of time, as we were heading to Horn BBQ right after. If I knew the drinks were going to take almost 30 mins to be made, I wouldn't have ordered the hot drink at all. read more

Not sure if some of the employees were having a bad day, but the cashier/barista was definitely coming across as microaggressive. What started off as a very monotone cashier seemed to turn into a very negative experience. Here are some things I noticed while visiting: -Drink was very bland/water downed -Not given a lid despite customers before and after me receiving one for their iced beverages. -Sandwich took forever, yet the 5 people who ordered food after me all received their food before me. -Not asked for my name. I only point this out because the same cashier called out drink orders by name and the employee making sandwiches did the same. Finally the sandwich is ready and they keep calling some random persons name. I make eye contact with the the second employee and then the cashier and he blurts out it's mine. Lol like okay wtf did I do. Don't worry mediocre sandwiches and drinks water downed like piss...definitely won't be back. read more

The coffee was exactly what I needed! I was surprised by the attention to detail when I asked for a simple latte. JoJo and Andreas were especially helpful and gave off a welcoming impression for my first time coming here. The atmosphere is comforting, they play great music and have beautiful art around the shop. read more

When I lived in Oakland, I used to walk to this coffee shop at every opportunity I had. The coffee is truly one-of-a-kind. Truthfully, this is the place that changed my relationship with coffee forever. I worked in San Francisco and tried almost every chain and hole-in-the-wall café I could get my hands on. Kilovolt beat them all out of the water. It's my absolute favorite. Devastatingly, I don't live in the area anymore. If you have the opportunity, please check this place out so I can live vicariously through you. It's one of Oakland's hidden gems. read more

I had the impossible sausage, egg and cheese and it was a lot better than Starbucks, the yolk was even runny! The latte was tasty, too. Staff were nice, but the store was not particularly cozy or well decorated so I did not want to hang out. read more

Excellent espresso, kind staff, love their bfast sandos, excellent bagels, the art is also something I always look forward to. My friend says their hot chocolate is yum. Love this place. read more

Super cool hole in the wall coffee place in Oakland. There's a lot of street parking in front of the cafe. Great place to grab coffee and a bite to eat. Seating is pretty limited. There are some tables out front and a few picnic tables to share inside. Took down one star only because of service. There were about 5 customers ahead and it took about 10 minutes before I ordered. It took another 10-15 minutes before I got my order. The barista apologized for the long wait, but I'm not sure if it was worth the wait. I would stop by if I'm in the area. read more

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KV is my go-to local coffee shop. First of all, the folks who work there are excellent. They're friendly and always down for chitchat or crack some fun jokes. The seasons drinks are amazing (I hope they bring the passionfruit mocha back, but the ube latte is rather excellent right now ;p) and don't skip on the classic lunch sandwiches as well! (and if you're lucky enough to be there in the summer, get the affogato if it's on the menu!!!). The staff is also leans mostly queer presenting (at least when I'm writing this) and it's clear that they try to make a welcoming environment for anyone/everyone coming into the shop. Love this spot! read more

Truly a gem of a coffee shop! Their seasonal drinks are creative, tasty, and delicious. The sandwiches are also some of my favorite. If u haven't gone yet, you're missing out. Highly recommended! read more

Creative tasty warm drinks, great chai tea, great selection of yummy pastries and delicious breakfast sandwiches. Wonderful neighborhood spot! read more

Bagel with lox was good, latte was mostly milk and took about 20 mins to come out (not because of any error Or backlog, the server simply said 'your drink is taking a while'). Area lacks options so worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood and in need of a fix- but wouldn't go out of the way for this. I imagine pre-Covid this was a lovely place to hang out and with much greater efficiency. read more

Wonderful casually cool service. They were flexible with my order and made me an almond steamer, off menu and didn't give me slack for it. The Americano was deep and peppy. Good stuff. Interesting artwork on the walls, the seating and sparseness could use some work, it's kind of sad looking. Wasn't a huge fan of the clientele. Yes hipster, but it's not that, look, don't stare, didn't mom teach you that's rude!?!? Not sure if I would make it back just for a sip, nothing else in the area to entice me to drop by, but great neighborhood vibe. read more

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I love this mom and pop cafe! The ambiance is A1 they make you feel very welcoming. The food is always fresh. The cafe is very clean. I always recommend this spot for lunch meetings. read more

A slightly generic feel as a coffee shop, without any real signature items. But pretty good stuff nonetheless: solid drinks and breakfast sandwiches. I wish it had a little more personality, but it's far from bad. read more

Hey, so Kilovolt is an awesome shop, I like the owners and until today I enjoyed the employees. My interaction today with "Jeff" was extremely unprofessional and upsetting. I ordered a cypress sandwich and asked to get it on a different bread, the bread change of which I would pay for. He then refused to make it that way and said he would give me the bread separate but refused to make the sandwich on the type of bread i wanted, his reasoning being "he didnt want to" he was super aggressive throughout the entire interaction, both his co worker working the register and his supervisor both interjected and i got my purchase refunded, but just overall a shit interaction with a very unprofessional worker. read more

Best bagels in the bay. Really cool workers. Straight up service. Good drinks. Love the industrial/neighborhood feels. Easy parking. read more

The perfect hidden unexpected coffee spot in a very industrial neighborhood. The last thing i expected in this sort of deserted not so great neighborhood is well made coffee and on the spot made morning sandwiches. A mile away it's a neighborhood where gunshots are not uncommon, on the other side of the street- one of the most famous and largest artist warehouses reside ( American Steel). The area in general is safe. The coffee shop is big ( don't let the small door trick ya). The coffee is strong, the crowd is young professionals and artists. Free WiFi. The food choices are healthy. Things I wasn't a fan of: a bit expensive and the sandwiches are small (for the price). read more

There isn't a whole lot in this area, so I get that it is great to have a coffee shop there, and totally understand the community supporting it, but it wasn't a great experience. The coffee wasn't that good and it isn't a very comfortable coffee shop to hang out in. I think it has potential, but really more of a neighborhood spot than a destination. read more

Not my cup of coffee. The mocha I ordered was bitter and pretty bland and while I'm a huge supporter of local spots, it being a neighborhood hole in the wall does not automatically make it a great spot. My husband ordered an egg sandwich on an English muffin and it looked and tasted like something my teenager could throw together at home. I really wanted to love it but I just didn't. read more

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Awesome!!! Super cool. Great. Fun. Eat. Drink. Nuff said. . ..... ........ ............ .................. read more

Kilovolt Coffee - Stickers!!!!!! - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Would rate it 4.5, cause their iced latte was a little watered down, but it's a local place with friendly service, so I bump it up. We walked in and were greeted with a smile. We asked about the various offerings and she gave us a great rundown. I ended up with a gibraltar, my fiancee with an iced latte. We also had a kouign-amman (the new thing) and a morning bun. These were decent, not too sweet, but also nothing to write home about. The gibraltar was smooth and strong, plenty of crema. We were able to sit and hang for a little bit. A fun place, I hope to return again! read more

They used to make good coffee but not anymore. Last time I went there I got a cappuccino and it was more like a cup of steamed milk. Terrible service, terrible! They always have an attitude. That is not right and simply not acceptable. read more

So, my favorite coffee shop closed (Blue Bottle on Webster). So I have been trying different shops. Came in this morning and ordered a pour over coffee. I was told it takes 20 min. Then I was told I cant pour my own Oat Milk. Unfortunately for me, I like my coffee really sweet and there was no way to pour raw sugar into my coffee. I was offered maybe 5 sugar packets. What a waste of paper and my coffee still isnt sweet. I guess this will not be my new go to coffee shop. My search continues I dont like this place !! read more

Where West Oakland blends with diesel deserts, this local coffee stop sits unselfconsciously on the divided ghost corridor known as Mandela Pkwy just shy of the shiny lights in Emeryville. There's no parking lot, but there is street and bike parking. There's WiFi and seating, but "work" would be out of place here. Interior is airy and minimal but not like that container lady got loose on it. Instead of mid century furniture and geometric shapes and weavings made from white unicorn cashmere, the wall decor alternates between local artist installations and billboards covered in flyers for local events. No vegan pastries, but (1) this isn't Portland and (2) they serve oat milk so it's break-even. Staff and patrons are friendly. Openly welcome to all genders and identities. Music changes with the mood. Regulars chat it up. My only complaint -- and it's important but I'm just gonna leave this as 5 starts -- is the price. Food and coffee here are somewhere between Oakland and San Francisco prices, which feels like a pinch sometimes. A loyalty card or something would be aweeesome.. In all, Kilovolt is solid. Go there. read more

Great coffee! Horrible service. Both times I've come to this place I've been treated with a bit of an attitude. I should start by saying there is a sign that says pick up orders by the window and when you order online naturally you come to pick up an order. When I came to the window I got scolded for "cutting the line". This was confusing and a bad way to talk to someone. I decided to go back just because the coffee is very good, again I ordered online I'm not sure why I didn't learn my lesson from before but I did place very simple instructions,coffee with cream and I get a black coffee that's been spilled over the cup and stained. Goes to show that customer service and attention to detail really does make all the difference, I won't be back. read more

I have been here a couple of times and enjoyed the coffee's I have ordered. I have had the regular coffee, cappuccino, and latte. All were good. I found the staff to be friendly and the service fast. read more

Nice local coffee shop. The bagel with cream cheese and avocado was delicious. Coffee was good also. Prices are fair, and the place is clean

As a lover of all things West Oakland, I appreciate this cafe. It is conveniently located on Mandela Parkway where a morning walk or bike ride down the trail is nice. It is a quiet peaceful space where you can bring your laptop and work on projects while enjoying your coffee. read more

Kilovolt gets 5 stars for opening a java joint in the 'hood,seemingly in the middle of nowhere. (unseen brown sugar kitchen is nearby as are many old Victorians,and the American street artist colony across the street) upscale ambience with a few mod seats for wi-fiing. local pastries/bagels availble, vegan sammies? brew: sightglass (L2.75) -superb brew, easy sipping. drips: -located in a converted warehouse -doesn't feel like it, really upscale ambience. -plenty of parking (but who wants to park around here?) -an highway used to divide this hood on this street until an earthquake damaged it and was dismantled. read more

I went here expecting to get sightglass coffee, But when I arrived they said they no longer carried it. So we decided to try the Linea Coffee. It was ok, a bit on the light side (I put them in the category of Starbucks, yuck), so we had to go to another coffee shop to get a real coffee. read more

Easy parking. You know, that's already a star in Oakland. Not tons of seating but it seemed like lots of folks just pass through. Easy vibe. Good music to work too. Yummy yogurt and granola. I also had a hot chocolate because I had reached my caffeine intake but my friend with me had a pour over that was delightful. The staff were friendly and themselves... Which was the best. So I'll be back! read more

The cinnamon and butter reminds me of childhoods in the woods coming in from a cold winter day. This place is great! Great coffee! read more

What a charming, casual and hip lunch place! It was spotless and has the Alternative Vibe captured with hip artwork and stark furnishings. It has the A+ rating beat with smiling employees and great sandwiches! All 3 of our sandwiches had extremely fresh produce and bread. We all felt each sandwich would have been a better value with one more slice of lunchmeat but overlooked that by tasting fresh cucumber. read more

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The truest sign of brilliance is the bringing together of everyday things and crafting something so singularly impeccable that poseurs would simply be defeated. My routine or ritual or habit is to come here and order everything "for here" because you just don't want to rush through any of it. It starts with an almond latte which is then paired with a salt lox bagel with the veggie works. And whatever algorithm in life you're tripping on, this combo neatly solves it. read more

Great coffee and staff and great vide We need more of that in west oakland Try most of their coffee n food very solid read more

I've been to Kilivolt twice so far and have been impressed both times. The first time I came with two friends and the owner, Ethan and 2 of the friendly staff served us. The first time I had a Sightglass coffee that was really good and the staff recommended the lemon macaroon which was amazing. I actually came back later in the day to get a chocolate one for my girlfriend. Today, my second time back I tried a cappuccino and the cottage cheese and avocado open faced sandwich. It was actually a tasty and refreshing combo and not too expensive, $5. The staff were once again very friendly and even let me use a charger to recharge my phone. And, I love the sign hanging outside too though it could be a bit larger to be seen off the street. read more

Kilovolt Coffee - Lemon macaroons are amazing!!! My favorite spot is the counter by the window. - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

thank God for a friend/neighbor who informed me about this place. I've lived around this place but never realized there's a cafe in our area. I was supposed to meet with a friend here but ended up missing him. Parking is not hard to find so I went in and checked out their coffees and food. I was very pleased. Coffee is by sightglass..which I love. The menu is small but it has good stuff. Juices, yogurt and such in the fridge are good options too. Now I bring my son here on the weekends. We especially like the fact that we can see dogs in or outside the store. Wish there are more chairs but I can't complain. The staff are always to me and my son. read more

I live a few minutes away by car. It's a good place to meet because the parking in the area is really easy, the coffee and food are good, and the people who work here are mostly quite friendly. When I show up it's usually to meet up with someone. I'll bring my laptop to get work done, so I'm not sure about the review that says working here wouldn't be appropriate. It's a coffee house with wifi - people will check email and get things done in a space like that, and the staff and other customers are fine with it. One time I was here with a friend. We were chatting and catching up, and she bought one of the paintings that was on the wall for a family member. The person she dealt with behind the counter rubbed her the wrong way, so she asked me if I knew him as that would explain why he was so casual with her. I took his words as sarcasm with no bad intent. All three of us were black, so I think his chumminess was a bit of "family" chumminess. She was mildly annoyed but got the piece of art and called it a day. It was interesting to see how people interpret the same action in different ways. Kilovolt is a pleasant spot that's nearby and worth checking out. It's easier to park here than in Jack London Square or downtown Oakland, it's closer than Emeryville or Berkeley, and it's on the way to BART. Definitely a good local spot. Keep up the good work. read more

You know what? Ya gotta respect a good brew when you see one. -great staff -single origin pour over was clutch -transcendent bfast sammies (haven't tried the lunch sandwiches, but looks like ripe fruit from the same dope tree) -smooth latte Not that I live to find amazing coffee places, or anything. Just saying. read more

Kilovolt is doing much better! They've provided a good space to hang out and there's art now and little jars filled with flowers. They have good coffee and breakfast items. Previously I said they needed to stand out. They still don't stand out apart from any other coffee spot in terms of coffee BUT they're stand alone in West Oakland and they cater to folks who ride bicycles! Example, they sell bicycle accessories, have a bicycle air pump, and their lids are conveniently made with an extra high rise so that if you put your coffee in your bicycle drink holder it won't spill! Thanks for being in the neighborhood!! read more

Kilovolt Coffee - Nice touch. - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California