I spilled my entire coffee at the bar while I was holding my baby and the baristas were so incredibly kind about it. Great coffee. Love drinking it at home and at their brick and mortar. Love their outdoor seating. read more

I discovered mother tongue brand at a place called Tamper Room in Fremont. I had bought some beans for my dad, and he enjoyed, so was so excited to see that there is a cafe close by. The space is lovely. I love a cafe that has different seating options in terms of height, and there is a lovely spacious outdoor area as well. It's functions well as a work and social gathering space. I tried a guava pastry that was delicious and got a lot of work done (I worked in 3 spots since I like to move around when I work). Service was great, and there are so many drink options as well! Looking forward to returning soon! read more

Both a coffee shop and bar. Expressive about progressive values with signs about KYR for immigration enforcement and free Palestine. Got the Latte ($6) with Cafe de Olla Syrup ($1). It was pretty good. The interior has nice pink lighting, some cool art on the walls, and aesthetic areas. A lot of people come here to study/work on the laptops, but it doesn't seem like the best environment for that because it can be quite crowded with lots of conversation. There is also plenty of outdoor space as well. read more

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I got coffee from this place a few times and also there beans twice. Coffee is great ok but not the level of top 3rd wave coffee places - service is decent, no complaints there. Ambiance is ok nothing special, nor is it bad. My biggest complaint is the Ethiopia Guji coffee beans I bought recently which were a major let down, priced at same price like top Bay Area 3rd wave coffee places but quality was much lower. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Mother Tongue coffee beans - Ethiopia - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came back to try the espresso again and it was very well executed. Creamy, almost syrupy texture. I tasted dark chocolate bitterness balanced by mild acidity and sweetness. This was a 5/5 for me. read more

In short, GORGEOUS space with the best matcha tonic I've had so far. To expand, I wish I lived closer to Mother Tongue! I came here one day after already having my first cup of caffeine about an hour before, but I couldn't resist the sound of a matcha tonic with orange blossom vanilla syrup. When first walking into the space, you walk along a lovely outdoor patio with an array of seats and tables (and if you're lucky-friendly pups) but then you open the door into the cafe and are greeted with a magical pink hue across the welcoming cafe interior. The barista was super friendly, there are bathrooms available, and it looks like a great place to work/chat/exist. Also, my boyfriend got a cortado and it was perfect as well! Would definitely come back to this lovely little spot. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - matcha tonic + orange blossom vanilla syrup - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Best beans in the bay!!! So delicious... vibes in the cafe are immaculate. Love the energy and decorations. Plenty of space to sit inside or outside and even at the bar. Can't get over that this cafe has cocktails too! Coffee and cocktails? Yes please! Staff is so friendly and welcoming. Very patient and helpful! read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Bar vibes - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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The coffee is delicious, but the people who work here are so incredibly rude it made me laugh out loud. I guess that's cool though! Its oakland, so you can be rude af to people who think arent as cool as you and who are beneath you. Super immature and definitely ruined the vibe. Typical cool girl on the spectrum spit in your drink vibes. read more

I kind of love places that are like 2 things in 1, in a surprising way. Like Mother Tongue is a coffee shop, but it serves cocktails and they were good. I headed there post dinner with a friend for a drink and a catch up, and it was casual, chill and easy. They have plenty of outdoor seating and a little 4-5 stool bar, with indoor seating as well. No food options at night, but looks like pastries for the cafe portion of the business. Overall, I really enjoyed this spot. Not pretentious, authentic and a little alternative. Enjoy a coffee or a cocktail, your choice! read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

I like the ballsy approach this local coffee roaster takes with their retail operation. It would've been quite predictable to open a cafe to serve their coffee, throw in a couple of pastries, and call it a day. However, the purveyors decided to add not only pastries from The French Spot but some Spanish tapas, creative sourdough toasts with savory toppings, and out of the blue, Colonial Donuts. The real topper, however, is that they operate a cocktail bar, too. Since they're a roaster, it only makes sense they serve a seductive $14 Espresso Martini with cold brew, tequila, and Irish cream with smoked ancho and cinnamon (Photo 9). It was a tasty late afternoon treat even as the baby strollers roll by with mothers giving me small mouth. OK, maybe I had two. I can fantasize about the day I can devour a Colonial apple fritter while downing a martini. Then I know I've hit not only the mother tongue but the motherlode. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...a smoothly smoky espresso martini AMBIANCE - 4 stars...nice boho vibe with a comfortable parklet setup SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly crew TOTAL - 4 stars...know your mother tongue RELATED - Exploring Oakland's Temescal area? Here's my collection of places l've patronized and reviewed: https:// bit.ly/210RAHj18 read more

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I love the pink lighting here. I feel like there's the perfect amount of music and busy conversation to get some work done here. The greatest plus is that they open late and function as a bar or cafe day to night. Fun: they start projecting anime on the tall walls when there's enough shade. I got the orange blossom vanilla latte ($7) - good syrup flavor, the right amount of sweetness and espresso that's not burnt or bitter. Haven't tried their drinks hot but this was a good iced latte. Note: they usually keep the front door or windows open so the temperature will be pretty similar to the outside temp if you come in the day or late. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Orange blossom vanilla latte - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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Favorite coffee roastery in the east bay by far. Whenever I'm at a restaurant or cafe and like the coffee enough to ask about where it's from-- it always seems to be from Mother Tongue. The cafe is very nice and has outdoor seating as well. They could have more food though. read more

Super yummy drinks and vibes. I got the Iced Black Sesame Latte. Great black sesame flavor and not too sweet. My friends ordered the Latte with Orange Blossom Vanilla, Malabar Tea, and Apple Fritter. I really like the Latte with Orange Blossom Vanilla. It tasted very fruity and, again, was not too sweet. Warning, drinks are a bit pricer (but they seem like a very socially responsible spot). Also, our drinks were ready super quickly! Super cool spot. I'd love to come back! read more

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I came from an event and I wanted to decompress before going home so I decided on getting some coffee and a light snack. I ordered a cappuccino and an egg salad toast. It was delightful. I sat outside. The weather was perfect and it was just a great vibe. The people were friendly. The service was fast.. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Egg salad toast and cappuccino - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Absolutely love the vibes of this artsy little cafe. But even more than that...omg that matcha-tini. It's so good. Exactly what I wanted it to be. Slightly sweet matcha with a hint of vodka. Perfection. read more

Cozy spot! Just gets a little busy and tight inside their space. I got the black sesame latte, it was really really good the only complaint I have is that it was already warm when I got it so I felt the need to finish it quickly before it gets cold. Other than that great spot! read more

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I can't speak about coffee drinks, but I greatly enjoyed their non-coffee options on the menu. I ended up trying their iced Chai and a hot Oolong tea, and hanging out inside for a bit! Pros: - great, community-supportive atmosphere - fun decor - plenty of indoor and outdoor seating - open early - wifi - wide variety of snacks (dietary restrictions should have options!) - reusable cups/mugs - gender neutral bathrooms that are spacious - quick and friendly service - available simple syrup to customize sweetness level Cons: - chai was under-spiced for my taste read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - decor - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Such a deeply cool place, with consistently great music, a great vibe, and great coffee and pastries (I love that they carry Colonial donuts). It can get crowded and a little loud - it feels like a hybrid bar and cafe (which it is), even on a weekday morning. read more

I stumbled upon this cafe in Oakland, nestled on the corner of broadway and 41st St . I needed a mid-day pick me up so I stopped in. I ordered a Cortado with oat milk. I'm no stranger to coffee I usually have at least 1-2 cups a day. I have to say this was absolutely a beautiful cup of coffee. Fresh , strong , silky and delicious. To top it off they have the cutest cup. Staff were so nice and helpful. I will be back soon also would like to try some food. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Cute cup - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Review for take out coffee and donut. Cute neighborhood location with street parking on various side streets. Fun decor and they have their own coffee beans if you are running low and need to stock up. Service was friendly and fast. No complaints there. Ended up getting a regular whole milk latte and an apple fritter. Donuts are from colonial donuts. Very solid latte. Good balance of foam, milk, espresso. The cost is about what I expect from the Bay Area, so not going complain about that. Overall solid location for your caffeinated beverage! Will need to come back for the other food options. read more

Love Mother Tongue! Good food, good coffee and cocktails, great vibes and nice outdoor seating

Another drop in at the last moment after an appointment in Oakland since we are rarely there. Quirky coffee place with a bar, food and inside and outdoor seating. Staff is nice. Nice mix of people working on laptops or sitting around reading. If I had to kill sometime in Oakland, I would do it here. The highlight of the morning was the Espresso Martini. It was topped with cinnamon and smoked ancho chili powder. Took it to a new level. The next day I found some ground ancho chili powder and use it every morning along with cinnamon on my whipped bulletproof coffee. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Iced coffee and regular drip. - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

MTC, where have you been all my life? I love this coffee / bar / cafe! As a *very* recent LA transplant by way of DC, I felt at home like no other. The orange blossom vanilla latte was pretty insane. They make the orange blossom syrup. And the vanilla syrup. In house. I'll be back later for a shot of Michter's. Or Oban. Or both. Honestly this feels less like a place to get coffee and more of a refuge / embassy of awesomeness. The staff is super cool, you won't regret stepping inside. read more

This is your go to local coffee shop offering up friendly service to go with your coffee. Hippie type vibes more than your techie vibes here. Met my coworker here to go over some stuff and I enjoyed the chai latte. Street parking can be a bit challenging. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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They were really busy for a Friday morning, which means they must be serving the community well! They were helpful and nice, and I had a tasty drink. Ambiance was nice too. read more

Very enjoyable spot with outdoor seating in shade and sun. Cool indoor space by not large. Friendly service and timely delivery for eating in. Oat chai latte large $6 nice spice flavor not too sweet. Only found one vegan option and likely better than if they had vegan donuts. Regular donuts sourced from Colonial Donuts Vegan toast pate $12, tofu tumeric Serrano cilantro topped with tomato pieces and parsley. Tasty and like a vegan egg salad open faced sandwich. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Large oat milk chai - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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Wonderful stop for coffee drinks, sweets and savories. The vibes are perfect. Everyone is so nice. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Pastries in the box look great and the menu has so many more listed for savory - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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This is the BEST coffee ever !!! Jen makes the best roasted beans you will ever find. I will be a repeat buyer. read more

This place is such a vibe, it's fun to say the name aloud, and overall great atmosphere to chill on the patio or sit inside and enjoy spying on colorful fun decorations and great music for a date in the morning or evening. The staff are chill and helpful, I would love to visit again since we're from out of town but our friend lives nearby. The surrounding area is walkable, including the short distance up the street to another park of Piedmont littered with lovely restaurants, other cafes, bakeries, boutiques, and book stores. Did not have a chance to try their pastries or heartier food off their menu but I trust it's good and worth the journey back next time. read more

I've never seen a collection of more miserable and rude employees. Not a smile, not a hello, not a thank you. Is it so hard to be a little nice? At least don't force us to leave a tip for your less-than-basic service :) It's a shame cause the coffee was decent. read more

It's neat that this cafe (Mother Tongue Coffee) is just a block from my new auto shop in Oakland. I can hang out in here with my laptop for the 2-3 hours it takes to have my car serviced. Free WiFi! Plugs for laptops! Fresh-tasting ham and cheese croissant! Quality capuccino! Lots of fresh-air outdoor sitting! And topped with friendly and helpful staff! Drop by! It's also a full bar! read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Inside Mother Tongue - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Great coffee, fun drinks, nice music, excellent cocktails for the parents and hot chocolate for the kids and donuts for all. Woman owned, queer, superb! read more

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Meh. For all the hype I find it to be overpriced, and very average. Ambiance is nothing out of the ordinary and does not justify the prices and hype tbh. read more

Alluring ambiance, quality coffee, clean restroom, and shaded outdoor seating. Cute trivia nights. Open late for workaholics!!! read more

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience here was truly disappointing. The service was inattentive and unwelcoming, which set the tone right away. The coffee I ordered tasted off and was undrinkable. Unfortunately, not long after, I felt sick and experienced severe stomach issues, which I can only trace back to what I had here. Between the poor service, bad quality, and health concerns, I cannot recommend this cafe, There are far better options in the area where both the food and customer care are taken seriously. read more

Amazing experience! I love this place. The fact that it's a coffee shop and bar is wonderful. Coffee shops usually close so early but since this is also a bar, they are open till 7pm. The staff is super cool and nice. They are always moving quick to get through all their orders. There is plenty of seating indoor and outdoor, though it does get full because it's very popular. Prices are good, especially for glasses of wine (only $10). They also have happy hour every day 4-7pm, which is a way better timeframe than most bars. I've been twice this week and will definitely be back. It's a great place to meet up with friends, read a book, or do some work. My decaf vanilla oat milk latte and orange wine were both delicious. read more

My favorite coffee-cocktail shop in The Bay. I frankly cannot say enough good things about it. It's a great spot for a drink after work, when you just want to read a book or catch up on some light work. read more

Such a cool place and I don't want to tank their reviews but the staff is by far the most rude and unwelcoming people ever. I work in retail too. It's really not hard to be decent to people. And if you can't do that, you're in the wrong industry. They were so condescending and made me feel like an idiot. I asked for the drink for here and didn't even drink it. Will never come back. read more

I got the hot drip coffee and my friend got the decaf iced latte and both of us liked our coffee. The bean of my drip coffee was flavorful and the barista who took our orders were nice. I like how there are both indoor and outdoor seatings and perfect to hang out with friends and catching up. The ambiance of the indoor area was quirky and they also served drinks and food. I recommend this place. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Drip coffee - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

this is such a cute cafe! they have nice pinkish lighting so it's really vibey. the space isn't too big but it does have a decent amount of seating which i enjoy. there's also outdoor seating which is nice on a warm day. read more

Mother Tongue Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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