We ordered 2 matcha lattes & a banana bread it was delicious!! The service was fast and kind. There is a lot of sitting to study or catch up with friends. The matcha wasn't as strong as I like it but it was still tasty! I would definitely come back to catch up on work or just do some reading. This was such a cool spot! Check it out if you haven't already. read more

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Very quick service delicious coffee very bold flavors The ambience is like a warehouse kind of feel the chairs are solid wood and they have a lacquer coating on them in the music is really nice and relaxing read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have been here twice now and the seasonal selection is very intriguing, especially if you like specialty drinks on the sweeter side. The Salted Caramel Pumpkin Latte and the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Mocha are both unique and delicious. For the Salted Caramel Pumpkin Latte, it is more caramel heavy rather than pumpkin heavy so if you want more of a pumpkin flavor, probably shoot for the pumpkin pie latte. The first initial sips of the Chocolate Covered Strawberry tastes like an actually Chocolate Covered Strawberry, but from that point on, each sip just got sweeter and sweeter. I will say to have a straw or mixing stick so the sweetness is spread throughout the entire drink and you don't end up with a sugar bomb at the end of the drink. That being, if you got a sweet tooth, these sure hit it. Inside, there's a lot of seating to study and do work, however, both times I've been here, it's pretty packed even with its 30+ seats, so I guess it's just the place to be. Service is friendly and they are nonstop making drinks. Overall, satisfy your sweet tooth with these drinks! read more

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Great coffee shop with warm staff. I was looking for a place to rest my very pregnant body and this coffee shop came onto my search radar. Upon stepping in I was warmly greeted by several staff members. I ordered a matcha latte and after getting to my seat, the latte was served to my table becuase they didn't want me to get up again - extremely considerate! The entire time I was there I saw how much the staff smiled at each and every customer, and chattered amongst themselves adorably too. Vibe is great, can't wait to come back. read more

Tucked away in an alley, SoDoI Coffee Tasting House is easy to miss unless you know to keep an eye out for it. I eventually found my way by following the signs in the alley - and saw that many others had also discovered this hidden coffee shop since all of the tables inside were filled. It took a while to place my order; while there was no line, all of the baristas were incredibly busy preparing a long queue of drinks. After waiting a few minutes, I placed my order for a drip coffee and waited another ten minutes or so for my coffee (Note: drip coffee refers to a pour-over). My coffee tasted really smooth and strong - almost like espresso. The coffee shop seemed to be filled with students preparing for midterms, but I could also envision this as a nice setting for a coffee meet-up with friends. While I was in a hurry during this most recent visit, I'll plan ahead next time and linger at one of the tables as I enjoy my coffee. read more

SoDoI is a really popular spot for students to study. There are a ton of seats and free WiFi, but be sure to get there early as they fill up quickly. The bathroom is quite clean and there's a key hanging by the door. However, the music is pretty loud and there's a lot of chatter, so bring noise cancelling headphones if you need to focus. I can't speak as to what their drip coffee tastes like as I've only ordered lattes or smoothies. I LOOOOVE their Strawberry Cream smoothie, especially on a hot day. Their matcha latte is quite sweet and tastes more like dessert (a bit like cereal milk?) than typical matcha lattes -- I wouldn't recommend it for people who are really serious about matcha, but it hits the spot if you want something sweet and milky. I got the French Toast Latte today and it was fine. It tastes a bit like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I probably wouldn't order it again, but I'm not a big fan of coffee in the first place. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - French Toast Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great working cafe in Berkeley's Southside! The staff are always super friendly and it's a crowd favorite cafe to study at among students in the area. Their drinks are a bit on the sweet side for my liking, and the place tends to always be full (unless I go early) due to its proximity to UC Berkeley, so I tend to go to other cafes if I were to meet up for coffee with friends. Out of their drinks, my favorite is their london fog, but all their lattes and mochas are solid too. I'd definitely recommend anyone to stop by this place if their looking for a good working cafe nearby! read more

I got the chai with a shot of espresso for my first time visit at SoDol, and the coffee tasted so rich and amazing! The interior is very interesting and fun! Lots of space to do work. Service was ok! read more

Better late than never! I found this fascinating coffee shop when the nearest public restroom was out of order a few months ago. I was surprised the barista let me and my friend use their restroom without questioning us or forcing us to purchase a coffee before using it. What a relief! I decided to try their Chaggacino since no other coffee shop ever served it in my life. It was creamy with oat milk, less mushroom taste, more of a sweet coffee latte. I feel a little smarter after that lol. Their decor is like studying in a theater set of a nautical scene with a working piano and a mural of famous activists. I could film a mini skit of activists as Pirates of the Caribbean. Maybe I'm experiencing a side effect of drinking the mushroom chaga latte. read more

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Love their matcha and coffee! Also good study spot right next to campus. Music is a bit loud sometimes but free Wi-Fi!

Cool coffee shop with plenty of space for to do work/study. We were looking for caffeine to take to our drive home and this was on our way back to our parking. They had some interesting coffee options like mushroom coffee and chocolate covered strawberry mocha. The staff was friendly, the coffee was delicious, and the painting of the man with a surf board in the bathroom did scare me read more

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A great coffee shop in Berkeley with a great atmosphere to study in. Tucked away in a small alleyway near campus, the cafe offers a variety of drinks and spaces for students to study. It has many outlets and free Wi-Fi, which is very convenient for students who want a change of scenery from campus. I usually order their Strawberry Matcha Latte or their Chai Latte with an added expresso shot. Their Strawberry Matcha Latte has a very creamy texture and their strawberry puree is very sweet. I definitely recommend cutting on the sugar level if you like to taste more of the matcha. Their Chai Latte is by far the best I had in Berkeley. My friends and I always watch them steep the tea per order and it is simply amazing. Sometimes I liked to add an expresso shot for an extra caffeine boost and it never fails me. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - Large Strawberry Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cute study cafe near campus and dorms. It was pretty full so go earlier if you want seats. There was darker lighting which was nice, but some seats have brighter lamp lighting. There was wifi and outlets to use. The drinks were really good! Would definitely try more drinks next time! read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - red velvet latte and strawberry matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I'm kind of conflicted about Sodoi because I love the vibe here and the workers are always super sweet, but I can't stand the fact that every single drink here is so sugary, and for most of them you can't adjust the sugar level. I'm also not sure if it's because of all the sugar or what, but the matcha here also lacks the strong tea flavor I like. It's a nice place to study and I'm down to come here to chill with friends, but I hate that I'm always queasy afterwards from all the sugar. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - strawberry smoothie, matcha strawberry latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Hands down my favorite in Berkeley!! Drink - 5/5 - Go-to drink: Iced Hazelnut Latte (+ Oat Milk) Vibe - 5/5 - I've visited Sodoi multiple times around 9am to step out from WFH. (Very busy by 11am!) - The music here is a vibe - Love that they play Niki here! - Aesthetics: Dark tone walls with murals and spotlight lighting. Feels like you're in an art gallery. Plenty of seats, too! - Plus, super clean and spacious bathroom Customer Service - 5/5 - Kind employees. One barista delivered drink to my table. read more

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The salted ice caramel pumpkin latte is delishhh!! I also love their iced vanilla latte. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Best spot in Berkeley to study with outlets everywhere and a good amount of space. Vibes are always bustling with Berkeley students in and out. Music is also top tier cafe music imo with a mix of lofi and indie pop the last time I went. This time around, I got a matcha frapp and my friend got a mocha frapp. Both were super filling and yummy. The matcha flavor was a little like cereal milk though so if that's not your vibe when it comes to matcha, I recommend the other items. Food wise as well, I feel like they get their pastries at Costco (no shame at all!), but if you're looking for more brunch or breakfast-y items, you may want to bring something over or try out a different cafe. Overall, 5 stars for vibes, outlets, and coffee, but docking points for menu items which could offer a better variety. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - Matcha frappachino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

the interior of this place is super cozy, and there is plenty of studying for anyone who needs a study space! however, it's literally right next to campus, so good luck finding a seat on most days. strawberry matcha latte - the first time i got this it was too sweet and thick, but i got it again the second time less sweet, and it was much better! i wish they'd add a little more strawberry, but its still pretty good. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - strawberry matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Matcha was good, but not the best I have had. I enjoyed the atmosphere and a great place to study read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love this coffee shop! The employees here are mainly students and they're always very friendly and welcoming. My go to is the red velvet latte or the strawberry matcha latte. I like my coffee on the sweeter side and they make it perfect to my liking. I've never sat around and enjoyed my coffee in the shop, it's always filled with students who are studying so I just grab and go -- I've never have to wait around too long for my drink to be ready! read more

We were walking around Berkeley and wanted a good place for a drink. We saw SoDol on Yelp and decided to try this place out. I pressed "directions", and continued following the walking map via my iPhone. Well, directions took me to Unit 3 dorms haha. I was confused, but I didn't give up! I walked towards Telegraph from where the map left me, and saw a small alley. Well what do you know, it was down that small alley across this Cheese Sandwich spot. After finally finding the spot, we were greeted by the friendly staff. She gave us some recommendations and was very informative. She even congratulated our new Bear! Anyways, the spot looks to be a nice place for people to hang and study. It wasn't too busy, maybe because school hasn't started yet? I personally got the Matcha Frappe, and after drinking it, I wish I got the larger size. It was exactly what I needed after Move-In Day errands. My son loved The Golden Bear. Overall, don't get discouraged if Apple Maps leads you astray haha. Once you find this place, it'll be worth it! read more

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Sodoi is an Asian owned coffee shop located under the parking structure right next to Unit 3. It's a bit hidden and the immediate outside location can be dirty but inside is big, spacious, and very clean. There are a lot of tables and outlets so it's a great place to study or chill with friends. They also have board games available. I love the interior and the art on the walls, you can tell everything was selected to match a certain vibe and all the pieces fit together to provide a fun (but not annoying) atmosphere. My go to coffee order is an iced vanilla latte with oat milk and at Sodoi the large size cost $6 which is the average price nowadays. Every time I've ordered coffee here the drinks have been great and consistent. I know they have a special selection of coffee beans so I'll need to try that next time. They have free wifi as well but the only thing is the music can be pretty loud. Love this place so far and will definitely be back! read more

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Coffee adventures done right! Drinks: Iced Yuzu is one of their seasonal items. It was delicious and thirst quenching with pieces of the citron. I will get this again. They didn't have the red ginseng latte so we went with the dirty chai; no concentrate here Sodoi brews the chai.... Very yummy tasted like Fall on a cold Berkeley day. White Chocolate Raspberry mocha hot with oat was preferred over the iced version. Iced tasted way more sweet and the hot version was more balanced with the espresso & sweetness. Caramel Macchiato was def better than any Starbucks option. Overall, one of the better tasting espresso. Environment: the inside reminded me of a poetry cafe. I loved the "not success, but service" board with darker lightening. Come for a good vibe and a coffee to chat Service: The young lady was super friendly and helpful. The drinks were made fresh and with love I will come again and try the Chagaccino!! read more

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SoDoI is spacious coffee place with a lot of seating and huge tables, definitely great to come and study. The French toast iced coffee was good and in the sweet side so if you like the strong coffee flavor I recline to ask it for less sweater. The baristas here were really nice and helpful with deciding what to get and they were very welcoming. If you're in the Berkeley area I definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - French Toast Iced Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

A popular café among Berkeley students so it does get pretty busy on certain days at certain hours. I usually get their iced vanilla latte which is really good but I got their iced matcha latte and it was pretty disappointing. It didn't taste anything like matcha and was basically milk with sweetener with its pale green color :( Their red velvet latte is a pretty solid option if you're looking for a sweeter drink! read more

the vibes are so cute! music is pretty vibrant in the background so I wouldn't say it's on the quiet side. But the workers were so nice and great with service. I already had coffee before coming so I decided to try the icecream. And I'm glad I did! The vanilla bean icecream is strong in its flavor and it's stretchier than normal icecream, more like a gelato. I love the texture and bursting flavor! I would come here with friends to work on a project or to chitchat. read more

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The staff was very friendly and informative and gave me good insight on what to get. The space is lovely and lively and I can tell a lot of people spend time there! I wish the drinks weren't so expensive but that's life, but that's my only complaint. read more

Home of the most delicious, perfectly spiced chai latte ever. Friendly staff and wonderful, study atmosphere. A must-stop if you are visiting Berkeley read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - Chai Tea Latte. Perfectly foam capped! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Was in the area and decided I needed a pick me up in the middle of the day! Had a friend recommend this coffee shop to me and he just raved about it, saying this was the best coffee shop near UC Berkeley's campus. I decided to get a dirty chai latte and was immediately delighted at first sip! It tasted rich and was just perfect for the rainy day! The baristas and cashier were very friendly and easy-going. Naturally because of the shop's location, it was super full and busy, but it goes to show how much this place is loved by students and professionals! Can't wait to come back to try more things! read more

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My favorite study spot near campus! The owners are super sweet and always have the biggest smile on their face. My fav drinks are definitely the Iced Hazelnut latte with Oat Milk, Red Velvet Latte (SO GOOD), Strawberry Matcha, and the Strawberry smoothie! It is a bit dark but I find it helps me lock into my studying :) Wifi can be a bit spotty though when there's too many people and can be difficult to find spots so come early! read more

TL:DR - They really care about coffee! Super smooth Americano! After waking up early to go on a hike, I needed some coffee. I stumbled upon Sodi Coffee Tasting House and was surprised by the quality of coffee they offered! I ordered an Americano, something simple and refreshing. It took about 20min for it to be made because they were making a handful of pour overs before me. While I watched them, I noticed their meticulous attention to the amount of water they poured and the heat at which it was boiled. I thought to myself, maybe I should have gotten a pour over instead. When I finally received my Americano, it was rich with flavor and smooth. There wasn't that acidic taste that can sometimes be found with coffee shop that care less. I enjoyed my coffee thoroughly and quickly downed it, despite it being 16oz. LOL. Overall, if you like coffee, than Sodoi Coffee Tasting House is where you should head! read more

The waiter was very sweet and asked to customize our order however we liked. I asked for a medium roast coffee with a splash of oat milk. Average price. The vibe of the coffee shop was a hot spot for Berkeley students to study and meet up with friends. read more

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Sodoi is one of my favorite cafes in Berkeley. It's located close to campus in the alleyway across from Cheese n Stuff. There is a wide selection of both coffee and tea options. I don't drink coffee, so I appreciate that there are so many non-coffee drinks. My favorite is the mango loveya sweet ice tea. I love the subtle mango flavor and light sweetness. I've tried some other sweet ice tea flavors, including the seasonal yuzu iced tea, but I always come back to the mango flavor. I also really like that they use nugget ice. I don't know how much of a difference that it makes, but it brings me joy nonetheless. The service has always been friendly and quick even when on the busier side. Sodoi also has wifi and a fair amount of seating. During the school year, it may be difficult to find a seat during the day. It also also a bit dark because there isn't a lot of natural lighting. Still, if you can find a seat, it's definitely a nice place to work with a cool ambiance. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an interesting selection of drinks and a place to study. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - Mango Loveya Sweet Ice Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

If you come here, please do not get the matcha latte. I got their matcha latte earlier today and I asked for less sweet, however, it came out to be super sweet that I had to ask them to remake it. They remade it and it turned out to be super milky and barely any matcha taste to it :( I was so so disappointed because Sodoi used to be one of my fav study spots at Berkeley! I just hope they could improve their matcha. The color threw me off :( It was not even green but mainly just milk and sugar. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

i have yet to have a bad drink from here, every drink i've tried so far has me thinking "damn that's good" after every sip. so far, i have tried the strawberry matcha latte, red velvet latte, white chocolate mocha, and dark chocolate mocha. todays dark chocolate mocha was delicious! very prominent chocolate and coffee flavor which i appreciate. i will say that i will probably start ordering less sweet because with how strong the flavor is at normal sweetness, i could probably cut some calories and sweetness and still have a flavorful and enjoyable drink. also great place to study! wifi works well, there's outlets, and most of the tables are big so you're not feeling squished into a tiny space read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - dark chocolate mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ambiance: it's a bit off putting to walk through the dinghy parking lot with a ton of flies to get inside but once you're there it's really cute inside. I will say it's a bit dark inside so that's a bit strange for a studying space. Love the lights they put up in the winter. The owner is also extremely kind and empathetic to students. Food: their red velvet latte is solid. Honestly everything they make here feels quality and overall contributes to a well thought out, intentional space. read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - red velvet latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Nice little place in Berkeley. And loved the fact that they make a personalized pour-over among other offerings. Definitely check out their blends and enjoy the ambiance. The staff was great and was overall very chill go hang out at. read more

best lattes in berkeley! service is great! great spot to study with outlets! they have seasonal drinks too!

Unfortunately, I have to update my review for SoDoI to be two stars. Here is my thorough review: SoDoI is tucked away in a sort of indoor / underground alley connecting Durant and another street. They often have a sign out front near Plentea to indicate they're open. The hours differ than the ones posted on their window, so I frequently ask the staff when they will be closing before I come here. SoDoI fills up quickly as it is a pretty popular study and hangout space for students. If you want a table, it is best to arrive earlier in the day around 10am or 11am. There is a variety of seating. On one side, against the wall, there is a long, thin bar. On the other side, against the wall, there is a variety of tables with two seats. In the center, there are much larger tables with backless stool like chairs. If you plan to work here, I will warn that there isn't a lot of space on the individual tables and the larger tables in the center tend to fill up pretty quickly. There is free WiFi, a plethora of outlets, and a bathroom available. If the bathroom is in use, there are also public bathrooms outside of SoDoI. The staff is incredibly friendly here, and will often bring you your drink personally if you somehow fail to hear them call your name. Additionally, I like all of the drinks I've tried here. Onwards to the reasons for the two star review. Firstly, the music they play comes from two large speakers in the back. I think, in order for the staff to hear the music, they turn the volume up quite a lot. This leads to the music becoming rather overwhelming and loud. I happen to like the music taste of whoever's playlist is frequently playing, but it is still a little unfortunate to have to resign my listening choice to the establishment rather than being able to listen to my own music in peace. Second, and most unfortunate, I ordered a latte here with oat milk instead of milk. It was, of course, delicious. However, I am lactose intolerant and, about an hour later, that intolerance kicked in because they had failed to use the correct milk for me despite charging me extra for the oat milk. This took me out for the day. I am pretty certain they had failed to use the correct milk because I examined my cup and realized there was no note of oat milk on the side. When I asked my partner to taste the drink, she said she couldn't taste oat milk. I later examined a friend's cup and realized they did mark theirs with oat milk instead of regular milk. Cards on the table, I still go to SoDoI sometimes. I like the theming of the place, and I like the staff. Their yuzu lemonade is something my partner frequently asks me to pick up. However, I don't order any of the lattes for fear of a repeat of the last incident. If you intend to go here and ask for a replacement milk, check your cup for a mark indicating the replacement has been used, and maybe watch the staff make your drink. read more

Just sitting in here for a few minutes compelled me to write a review. Yelp is still saying this spot is closed but it's not! Sodoi gets everything right in my book. Drinks are good. Staff is extremely nice. But what puts this place above others to me is their ambiance. The dark interior, decor, and chill music make this spot so cozy and pleasing. I love that there's lot of tables and outlets as well! It's surprising how lacking other coffee spots are with providing outlets. So glad Sodoi is open again :) read more

SoDoI Coffee Tasting House - Iced Vanilla Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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