I had two different drinks from Red Bay in one day since they were coincidentally providing the free coffee at the Life is Living festival in West Oakland, and then I went and bought a drink from their brick-and-mortar on Grand Ave. I got a mocha, large, dairy milk, hot. I thought it was quite good, you can taste both the chocolate and the coffee well, so I think it had a good balance between the two. The free coffee I got from Life is Living, which I added some oat milk to, was also quite good - not unpleasantly bitter but has flavor, and I'm someone who has a lot of sensitivity to bitter tastes. They definitely have good coffee and I respect that they center formerly incarcerated people and others who are marginalized in their employment practices according to their website. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Mocha, large, hot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Stop-and-grab coffee shop with no seats inside. I thought the charcoal latte was interesting so I got that. It looked pretty cool but tasted just like normal latte basically (expected) and made my lips kinda charcoal color haha read more

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I really appreciated the service and care I was shown on MLK jr day! Much blessings. I wholeheartedly recommend. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Great service w/ love! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I love Red Bay coffee! I appreciate that there is a location right by the lake for our weekend walks. Today, I picked up the charcoal latte with whole milk (personally, I think it's better with oat milk). There really isn't indoor seating, but there are a few seats right outside the shop. Service is quick! I really love the names of the coffees and the art on the bags of beans. There is usually street parking available nearby and it's right next to the theater. read more

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I got an espresso (Carver's dream) Good crema and texture. Slightly acidic, not bitter at all. Solid med/dark roast 4.5/5. Would definitely come back. Would be nice if they served in an espresso glass and/or rotated to their other beans. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Red Bay Coffee opened where Wilde Brothers Coffee Shop once was, next to a theatre. Only 1 table outside for seating. Offerings: covfefe, espressos, teas, pastries... Service quick, courteous by single barista as covfefe is premade. Sips: drip covfefe (L. 3.25) "Motherland" -touted as a medium dark roast, it's an earthy, smooth, full bodied brew. -didn't experience the "clementine, hibiscus, candied ginger" notes this blend has. I'm never able to taste wine notes either, nonetheless, this blend rocks! 4.5 stars. Red Bay roasts it's own beans, Oakland based. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Drip covfefe (3.25) next to roasted coffee beans. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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I came here on a mission for the candied sweet potato latte. I've been stalking this for a long time. The people in the cafe were very nice and I was welcomed. O was told that it was like a meal because it had real candied sweet potato. Sounded great. Except for the meh taste. Additionally it was barely warm. And lastly the bits of what I can only assume is candied sweet potato at the bottom. Hard pass on this one. Between the grit of my charcoal latte and Thai, I'm thinking we're await the last days of this once great coffee house. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Candied yam latte. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Super cute lil shop! Emphasis on lil no seating inside but cute tables right outside. My candied yam oatmilk latte was DELICIOUS! And if you have doggies they have pet treats inside for them I had the potato curry pastry that was only okay, but the coffee was delicious and baristas were so sweet. I'll def be back next time I'm in the area to visit read more

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This used to be my Bay Area coffee shop but have been disappointed with the device at this location. I ordered lattes and it tasted like I got two cups of almond milk with cinnamon sprinkled on top. When I asked for the drink remade, the staff tried to convince me that I must have never had a latte before. I wanted to be polite and ended pay for entire other shot instead of them just admitting they messed up the drink. There a lot Black owned coffee shops in the area that honestly are better at this point that are more deserving of your business. read more

The coffee is simply rich smooth and delicious every time! I'm glad they have several locations around the bay! It's also great to buy ground to make yummy coffee at home! read more

Red Bay Coffee - Her favorite - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Stumbled upon here walking around the area after the going to the Farmer's Market on an early Saturday morning. The bf was jonesing for some drip coffee and was slighted again because they jsut ran out.(once from another place before coming here). The bf really likes their coffee so he just got something else. I got their Red Bay Fog. Was very excited they sold Neighborhood bakehouse pastries here. I got their mushroom danish. The Red Bay fog was surprising hella good. I am not sure if it's their own brand of tea, but yum! The mushroom danish was amazing too. Kudos to whoever sourced out to Neighborhood bakehouse. It was so good, meaty from the mushrooms and cheesy. Located next to the Grand lake theater. Very small space inside. Didn't know it was max 3 people inside until we were standing outside waiting for our drinks that some Karen was getting upset at people trying to go in and snottily saying it's only 3 people inside. Very friendly workers. Standard pricing for the drinks and treats. Street parking. read more

Love Redbay coffee, their iced oat vanilla latte is my go to, until they bring out of candied yam latte during winter. It's literally the best thing ever since I have pump ink spice read more

Red Bay is a staple in my life but I have to limit myself. I like to treat myself to a vanilla latte a couple of times a month. This location is ideal, with ample parking (however, on the weekends it can be difficult finding a spot due to the busyness of the area (Farmers Market on Saturdays, restaurants, shops, etc) Everyone is always friendly and welcoming, I enjoy going especially when Amir* is working. He's such a cool dude and always holding it down. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Vanilla latte posing next to the flower shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

soooo insanely delicious and the workers are super kind and make the drinks with so much love!! such a cutesy shop as well i'm obsessed with the chill ambiance read more

Red Bay Coffee - iced canela mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Treat yourself to a wonderful cup of coffee made with care and love. Experienced a vanilla latte that was perfect. A rare treat for me but red Bay coffee hit it out of the park. read more

I love this place and regret that I fail to check in! Such great vibes here. And, guess what!?!? I love tea. I prefer it to coffee. They have magnificent coffee alternatives. They also have coffee bags I can put in my tea pots at home. Tea, coffee and lovely things to eat! read more

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I love redbay coffee but the past 4 times i went to grab a coffee at redbay at this location, the worker has been on break. And long breaks. Kind of ridiculus being that they are only open in the mornings. I will no longer support this location. read more

SUMMARY: Nice coffee spot in a great location, but could use a few tweaks. PROS: + Nice selection of coffee. + Black-owned business. + Grand Lake Theater is an awesome location. + Friendly staff no matter who's working. NEUTRAL = The roasts they use aren't my absolute favorite in the area, but they aren't bad. = I love their specialty drinks selection, in theory because many are unique and sound exciting. In practice, most of the specialty drinks end up being too rich in sweetness and flavors to overpower the coffee itself. This is purely a subjective take, but if you're like me and enjoy a subtlety to the drink flavors, then ask for some custom tweaks from the barista. CONS - The lids are useless. I don't say this lightly, but for both hot and cold drinks, their lids do not give a proper seal, and coffee ends up dripping slowly out when drinking from the cups. On four separate occasions, with coffees that are hot, cold, large, and small, I've had coffee spill onto my shirts as it slowly edges its way over the lip of the cup, past the "seal" of the lid and down below. It's not user error. I've triple checked every time to ensure I have the best seal possible to no avail. I truly believe the cup + lid combination is an imperfect fit and they should reevaluate their vendors. I've reduced my star count by one purely for this reason alone. - The quality and accuracy of your order will greatly depend on the barista at this location. On 4/9 recent visits, I've had issues with my orders (e.g. wrong type of milk used, wrong size, hot drink instead of cold, etc.). To their credit, if you notice the issue then they will apologize and correct it, but it's unfortunately time consuming for everyone. I will also say that these issues have been less in the last 3 months, so perhaps they've been improving. I've noticed the errors on morning shifts when the barista on hand verbally confirms the order and makes the drink before ringing me up. Being a barista isn't easy and I've mad respect for the staff (they are very friendly and good folks). read more

Red Bay Coffee - Their lids don't properly seal and will slowly drip onto your clothes (true for hot and cold drinks). - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

The shop has room for you and the barista, the coffee is good and keeps people coming but I'd be mindful of when you come or try to order ahead to minimize wait times read more

The pastries here are incredible, and the service is always sweet and friendly. Though it is a small stop in coffee spot, they made it cozy and cool! read more

I wholeheartedly recommend the candied yam latte, which is a seasonal drink offering. It's the most delicious and cozy fall/winter drink ever--less spicy than pumpkin spice, but with wonderful burnt sugar notes. Red Bay's other drinks are fine but the candied yam latte is what makes them stand out. They make the yam sauce in house and you get some of that pulpiness in the drink. The espresso itself however is very smooth and not at all bitter. I love their rotating selection of pastries too. The mushroom pastry is a great vegetarian option. read more

Fantastic coffee. Don't pass by on your way to Starbucks. This place is a gem. Hours online are incorrect. If you're thinking... what kind of coffee shop opens at 8am!?!? Don't be fooled. They are open and serving up deliciously caffeinated beverages at 6am on weekends and 7am on weekends. read more

Red Bay Coffee - a dog sitting in front of a sign - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Local, sustainable, and delicious? Everything I want in a coffee shop. When you have mega chain shops as your neighbors it can be hard to pull in crowds, but Red Bay offers the conveniences I love in the chains (namely, rewards programs and an order-ahead option) with trustworthy, local flair. My favorite is the Red Bay Spritz (ideal for summer!) but their seasonal offerings are always delicious too. Staff is amazing - every time I come in I'm greeted with warmth and authenticity you don't find many places. My only reason for 4 stars is the lack of seating - it's a grab and go model, which is fine, but to me a five star coffee shop is somewhere I can sit for hours to work and keep ordering yummy coffee. read more

This location is a cute small shop right next to the Grand Lake Theater. There is signage that says the capacity is 2 customers inside due to social distancing. There's street parking right in front. I like that they have typical coffee shop staples, but also a few interesting ones I haven't seen at many other coffee shops. My go to drink is the Saigon Latte! read more

A friend was late so I stepped into Red Bay Coffee to pass the time. I tend to judge coffee places by their cappuccinos. Had a most delicious capp here noon 12/29/24. Needed no sweetner to make up for lack of flavor. No indoor seating, but a couple of tables outside. They also sell a few pastries and whole beans. Really good service from the man who explained what a charcoal lattewas.and from the fellow who made the capp. I will return here next time Im this way. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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After a girls' mani-pedi at a nearby nail shop, my best friend surprised me with a matcha latte with oat milk from Red Bay Coffee, and it was absolutely divine! The matcha-to-oat milk ratio was perfect, creating a rich and robust flavor that really hit the spot. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to come back to try more drinks on their menu. With multiple locations throughout the Bay Area, Red Bay Coffee is a must-visit--I'd definitely recommend it to fellow Yelpers! read more

Candied Yam Late snubs it's nose at the PSL life. Less sweet and oat milk brings out the flavors that cow milk covers up. The line was long but moved swiftly, service was nice. I will definitely stop by the next trip to San Fran read more

Red Bay Coffee - Candied Yam Late - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

An in and out situation. A guy who works there is super cool. The drinks are awkward great. Been going to multiple locations for years. Glad to see this location. No cash location due to robbery. Small batch of pastries. Quality of coffee better than Starbucks. The space is tight inside but worth the stop. The Candied Yam drinks are great! read more

Red Bay Coffee - Candied Yam Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Love Red Bay coffee no matter wherever they are! I'm so glad they're expanding and are now around Lake Merritt. Friendly service as always, quick too. My favorite is getting the charcoal lattes. Tasty, creamy coffee with a unique look to it. You just walk right up to the door and place your order. There's a few seats and tables right outside. And it's next to the movie theater so there's a lot of foot traffic. Perfect spot to grab and go! Great lovely ambiance and views for people watching. Highly recommend any Red Bay location! read more

GO GET THE CHARCOAL LATTE! A friend recommended this spot for their charcoal latte. I had never heard of this drink before and wanted to see what was up. It's a smaller spot and may be easy to miss, but the staff are friendly and quick to make drinks. The charcoal latte tastes like it has a vanilla bean milky base with a charcoal powder mixed in. It's similar to a cookies n cream vibe but different. They also usually have a vegan pumpkin bread that is phenomenal, but you have to get there early in the day as they go fast! read more

Best vanilla latte I've ever had. I've done charcoal version too and amazing- this is my go to weekend coffee spot. Worth the wait. read more

Went in yesterday and had a very friendly and chill barista who held a conversation with my half asleep brain and made me a delicious candied yam latte. It was delicious, warm spices, had some molasses my flavor and was not too sweet which is an ultimate plus for me! Everything I could have possibly asked for on a rainy morning in September :) read more

Red Bay Coffee - Candied yam latte! (Latte art slightly messed up because I needed to take a sip before snapping a pic ) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

First time I came here it took like 35 minutes to get a coffee and then they got it wrong. Second time I came on a Friday at 9:30am and the door was locked and people confused waiting outside. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Operating hours but no one home and no sign stating when they would be back. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Great to have quality specialty coffee in back on Grand. The coffee and service are excellent, pastries are yummy (Firebrand I think?), and the location is great. read more

Plus: Good coffee. Minus: Scant selection of decaf (one bag). Minus: Barista didn't know the setting to grind for a Chemex. Plus: Baritsa offered me a free cup 'o joe since I was buying beans. Minus: Coffee was lukewarm at best, also meager pour. Plus: Large picture of Cicily Tyson in France from the 70s, so I'm good. read more

I love visiting here whenever I'm in the Bay Area. All the drinks are great but I especially love the Vietnamese Cold Brew. Good pastries and fast service too. Pro tip is to sign up for their emails because I've gotten a few good deals from that. read more

iMoja Latte... excellent. Fresh not too sweet smell of coffee.. Love love . Excellent Amia . This is point to make customer come every day and can waits more than 5-10 minutes. Great read more

Red Bay Coffee - Moka Latte .. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Excellent customer service, Excellent coffee and even better people at this place! Give it a try!

Best coffee in the bay. PLEASE add another staff member-- especially in the morning. There is always a long line and your amazing staff look so stressed going from cashier to making coffee and back. read more

This spot has grown so quickly throughout Oakland for good reason. Incredible story and coffee.