A long-haul Yelper, I frequently consult checkins on my Yelp app to find new places to try. Souvenir Coffee appeared frequently enough that I decided to try it one day. I remembered that decision as we drove down Claremont on our way to Sweet Maria's. On our way back up, we stopped off at Souvenir Coffee for a couple of sandwiches and one coffee. The ambiance and service were top notch. Also, there's usable WiFi. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon as an add-on, and then muttered something about a macchiato. After the person taking my order repeated back my drink as a cortado, I agreed that a cortado would be an even better choice than the macchiato that I had in my mind's eye. The cortado came out first, followed not long afterwards by our sandwiches. Both the drink and the grilled cheese sandwich were excellent; we clearly had a 5-star experience. Souvenir Coffee struck me more as a drink place with a few food items than as a lunch destination. I know the high reputation of the sandwiches at the Star Grocery next door. If Souvenir is be OK with my combining an espresso drink with a Star sandwich, I'll try that next. read more

I had heard of Souvenir Coffee before, but my first visit was just a few weeks ago. There was plenty of parking on the street, which is definitely a plus. My friend ordered an oat milk latte and I chose the hot chocolate. It tasted fine, but I'd say it was warm rather than hot. I also tried the sticky bun, which was pretty good. While we were sitting at a table in the corner, the power went out, and a few minutes later, everyone was asked to leave. It was a perfectly polite request and they did explain that it was for safety reasons; still, I think it would have been a nice gesture if they had said "here's a voucher for a free beverage of your choice" next time. read more

Souvenir Coffee - Oat milk latte, hot chocolate, and sticky bun - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

OK Souvenir, I'm a regular Patron because your location is convenient. My regular order is a cappuccino and normally it is acceptable. Certainly not Best in Class but that's just a problem with East Bay coffee. Too bad there's nothing here comparable to St Frank's, Linea, or many other places in the city. So I'm stuck with souvenir most of the time. The amazing thing about souvenir is I have never known a place with so much turnover. Every few days it seems there is a completely new staff. The last couple days have seen the worst of the worst. Must be scraping the bottom of the Barista Barrel because the cappuccinos I've had in the last couple days have been the worst ever. They need to go back to Barista School. So please strive for a little more consistency or I will have to venture a little further afield and go back to Blue Bottle which at least is consistent. read more

I got an espresso. It had good layers and crema. I tasted notes of fruit then dark chocolate and mild acidity that didn't distract. It wasn't bitter or burnt. I only wish it had more body, it was a bit thin. 4/5 read more

Souvenir Coffee - Espresso Blend - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

dirty dishes sitting on tables, dirty bathroom, floors need sweeping, ratty pillows, and kids behind the counter doing nothing. Next time it's Semifreddi's. read more

Sadly quite mediocre :/ The outside and interior are both incredibly charming and I love the seating options. It's a really great spot if you're stopping by the grocery store or comic book shop. But the coffee has not been very good. This is the La Croix of lattes. You can hardly taste any espresso, especially if you get a syrup. The lavender is overpowering and herbal. They have a limited selection of baked goods that are quite amateurish. It's one thing to splurge for a lovely croissant or really scrummy scone/muffin but I feel like you're paying a lot for the kind of treats that your coworkers bring to the office. It might be redeemed if the staff were particularly warm but they are just not that interested in making your drink... read more

Tried the pineapple coconut matcha at Souvenir Coffee in Oakland and... it was a miss. The drink tasted overwhelmingly like syrup -- I could barely taste any matcha at all. The color looked super watered down too. Definitely not what I expected from a matcha drink. read more

Souvenir Coffee - Pineapple Coconut Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Don't go if you want a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Barista leaves door open to loud traffic, rain and wind, no matter what. Need coat and blanket. Management needs to visit and monitor operation at least once in a while. read more

Cute coffee shop with a small, dog-friendly patio in the back. Even though most of the seats were taken, you can't hear the music in the patio so it was super quiet. Seems perfect if you're looking for a quiet working space. But a bit awkward since I came here to chill a bit with my husband and our dog. Our first barista was nice, but when my husband asked about the daily coffee offerings, they only told us the 2 roast level options. Seems like very little information to offer when they supposedly roast and sell their own beans. There is a photo on Yelp that showed the daily drip/espresso options but it's from a couple years ago and we didn't see one during our visit. I went back to order a to go drink for my friend and the second barista was way less welcoming. It wasn't a big deal but the customer after me even asked if the barista was having a bad day. Drinks: - Iced Matcha Latte, sweetened: A tad light on the matcha flavor but still enjoyable. Came in a disposable container - Drip Coffee: no complaints from my husband - Bloom Latte: my friend said the lavender flavor was nice and not overwhelming, like some lavender drinks can be. read more

Souvenir Coffee - Front - 1 other similarly-sized bench plus 1 slightly longer bench that wraps around a tree - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I got a mocha here and it was delicious, I tend to like sweeter drinks and it was perfectly sweet. They don't offer whipped cream just as a heads up. The inside is very cozy and has a couple of tables, when I went at 11 AM on a Tuesday, there was only four seats available but we managed. It's also in a nice neighborhood where you could go on a walk after. I found easy parking on a side street, it was free parking for two hours. read more

I like this neighborhood cafe but it's gone downhill since it opened. Cushions and pillows haven't been cleaned or replaced since opening and patrons regularly bring their non-service dogs in to sit up on the chairs and benches. How is that allowed? read more

Have to be honest. Interior is disgusting and needs to be deep cleaned. Stains all over the seats, tables sticky, dust and cobwebs on the ceiling and in the corners, walls filthy, floors gross. It's really time for a deep cleaning and repaint. Will get items to go next time. read more

Came on a weekend. It was pretty busy inside - almost every table had people. But I can see why, as the coffee was good and the beans smell delicious (I bought a "strawberry yogurt, chocolate covered mangoes & velvety one that I'm very excited to try). Next time I'm hoping to try their pastries and sandwiches. read more

Souvenir Coffee - Too excited, forgot to photo befor first sip - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I'm always pleasantly surprised that this little oasis of kindness and community spirit is hidden behind a tiny front on busy Claremont Ave. The owner started Souvenir as a neighborhood cafe and, luckily, even though it has grown way beyond that, it still has that home like feeling. The service is nice and my drinks have always been excellent, especiallymy Oatmilk Matcha latte. The food is fresh and hits the spot when I need to work on a project or want to simplify enjoy a nice treat like the almond croissant. Also, the backyard is a green gem in all the craziness around us. read more

Love this place, best lavender syrup & has good food options as well! My go to coffee shop read more

Souvenir Coffee - Honey Lavender Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Went for the first time and was so exciting to try a new coffee place! But the coffee and vibes were just not great. I ordered a simple vanilla latte (no adjustments to sugar or milk) because I wanted to enjoy it as it was. It tasted very watered down, it was not sweet at all (and I am not that much of a sweet tooth either) and the coffee flavor tasted like the after taste of coffee after 3 hours into the day. Ambiance: walking in, we weren't greeted (which was fine) but it seemed like a very unwelcoming place as people were staring at us as and you could tell that it was typically a place that only locals go to. There were lots of seats but all were taken (on a Saturday). There was a outdoor seating in the back of the cafe but it was also taken and we felt unwelcome there too. I was really looking forward to trying coffee in Berkeley because I don't get the chance to come to town but this was REALLY disappointing. So much that I had to find another coffee shop to fulfill my coffee needs! read more

Souvenir Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great place to grab coffee in Claremont that wasn't Peets or Starbucks. Like all restaurants/shops, you are required to wear a mask in order to enter and order. They have seating inside along with a cute outdoor seating in the back. They offer a variety of coffee from espressos to red eye to cortado and mochas. They have their own coffee blends if one wanted to buy a bag of coffee beans. Not only do they have coffee, but they have hot chocolate, lemonade, Arnold palmer, iced Vietnamese, nitro cold brews and au lait. Not a coffee drinker, no worries, they have cold/hot tea such as black, green and herbal. Hungry? They have different breakfast items and sandwiches. I got their avocado toast and that was delicious! The ricotta cheese with that beet was the perfect mix. I also like that they have their own syrup if you wanted to add it to your coffee. Will come back again to try more of their sandwiches and their coffee. read more

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Love the vibes and the flavors of this coffee shop. It can get a bit crowded inside when it's busy so if you're getting a drink to-go, there's not much room to wait. The staff is super friendly and the wide array of flavored lattes are what keeps me coming back, along with the fact that the price doesn't start at 7-8 dollars for a flavored latte. During the fall, I like the seasonal pumpkin spice latte as it has a good balance of bitterness of the coffee with the sweetness. Their other location in Albany is also excellent as well but it is a little smaller. read more

I really wanted to recommend this place but after a few inconsistent trips, with the last one being shockingly bad, I am taking a break. I found out about this place about 3 months ago. I started bringing my reusable cup after the first few visits because of the Berkeley togo cup tax of 25 cents. I almost always get an iced Vietnamese. My reusable cup holds about 18 oz. filled normally (unless it's filled past the gasket where the lid presses on) but it's thick double walled so it looks bigger. It is very close in volume to their to go cup of 16 oz. The second time I brought my cup, the employee asked me how big the cup was and I said I wasn't sure but it was either 18 or 20oz. They filled it up 3/4 because they said it was too big. The next few times I came I didn't have any problems with my cup. Then a few visits in an employee (not sure if it was the same as the first) said my cup was too big so they would put more ice in it. I was frustrated this was becoming an issue again and that they're not being consistent. If they are concerned about it being the exact amount they could have a stainless steel cup that is 16 oz to make a standard drink and pour it into a reusable cup. I am fine with them having a standard amount, but having this conversation about cup size and compensating with less volume or more ice was starting to get frustrating. I don't have a 16 oz reusable cup and I am not going to purchase one just for this shop. I mostly make coffee at home and come here as a treat maybe once every other week so it doesn't come up often. However, my dad was in town and I wanted to show him the place. I brought my same reusable cup and while my dad was looking at the menu the cashier was looking all over my cup. I asked him if he was trying to figure out the size. He said yes. I said it's 18oz. When it got time to pay the Berkeley to go cup tax was still on there for my drink. I mentioned to the cashier that I shouldn't get charged that since I brought my own cup. He said that because my reusable cup is bigger than their to go cup they needed to charge me the 25 cents to make up the difference. I said this isn't a correct usage of the to go tax, but he wouldn't remove the charge. I should have just left but I was put in an uncomfortable position and paid. As my dad was fixing his drink I approached the cashier (who was now next to the barista) and said that they need to be more consistent about reusable cup policies. He VERY clearly didn't care. Adding insult to injury, my cup felt extremely full of ice. I got back to my house (after a few sips) and separated the ice from the drink in different cups. I paid $5 for a terrible uncomfortable experience, about 14 oz of ice and not even 8 oz of coffee. read more

Souvenir Coffee - Amount of ice vs coffee in Iced Vietnamese (16 oz glass used for ice, 8 oz glass used for coffee) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cute little neighborhood cafe but nothing special if I'm being completely honest. Place was basically full when I showed up on a Saturday around 1 pm and I had trouble finding seating. Barista did not seem too happy to be there and was not very amicable. Coffee was fine. Not the best place to study, has a bit of a more social atmosphere. read more

Iced Vietnamese 70/100 Not as strong as I would normally like it but if you chug it right when you get it it still hits Really good service read more

Souvenir Coffee - Iced Vietnamese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Solid spot to study with a nice ambiance, and prices were comparable to other coffee shops. Drinks were solid but nothing to write home about, staff were friendly, and we were able to get in a productive study sesh here! read more

Souvenir Coffee - Iced latte, tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cute, cozy neighborhood coffee space. They serve really solid and consistent coffee/espresso, and have a good selection of teas and pastries. If it's a nice day, the outdoor patio in the back is a great place to post up with a book or to get some work done. Lovely staff and in an area with a TON of great cafes, this stands out. read more

We were in the area and passed by this shop. The interior is cute and modern. Not a big shop but saw quite a few people with laptops. It was a hot day. The AC wasn't on, not sure why, perhaps it was broken? We opted to sit out back in the patio area in the shade. It was still hot out there but better than being indoors. My go-to coffee drink is an iced caramel latte. I was basically tasting sweet milk with a splash of coffee - not what I wanted. The color too was an ivory color - clearly wayyyyy too much milk. I liked the crushed ice they use though. Drinks were a little on the pricey side here. My iced caramel latte was about $6.50 I believe. But it's Berkeley, so. It's expected. The latte design was cute on mom's drink. I noticed when we were ordering, the iPad said one of our drinks was to-go and was 25 cents extra. Figured someone in our group ordered to go. But when the drinks came out in real cups, I told my sis about the extra charge I had seen on the ipad and then she checked her text receipt. She went back to confirm with the guy and he returned her 25 cents lol It's the principle okay! read more

Souvenir Coffee - Middle: iced caramel latte. Pretty much drinking milk with a splash of coffee. 1/5 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Ok so I came here off of a Yelp review, while I was around the corner in line at Boichick waiting for my bread...story of my life... waiting for bread, lol. So, the oatmilk cortado I had was soooo gooood and put such a pep in my pulled hamstring step that I circled back for another. I took the first ToGo and thought twice but tossed the cup in the trash only to find that there is a .25 charge for read more

Souvenir Coffee - oatmilk cortado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great oatmilk latte, coffee, and sbocafo toast. The servers were so kind and friendly. Cute outdoor back patio. We sat with the dog. Highly recommend. read more

Souvenir Coffee - Oatmilk latte and avocado toast with beet ricotta cheese spread. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Good coffee very nice baristas one negative is there are some flies on the back patio and a couple make their way inside. It's summer I get it but still they should fix but coffee was good and I would come back so it's a 3 read more

I think I'm a bit of a coffee snob. It was refreshing to connect with the cashier and/baristas about hopefully they one day serve or have on their menu-- cafecito Cubano. I hope to come back soon! read more

Souvenir Coffee - Menu as of 12/11/2021 on the wall from entrance. Hopefully serving-- cafecito cubano one day :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I LOVE this place! Easily knew it was a "dont hesitate / go to" coffee shop my first trip here. I highly recommend and I take people here when they come visit! Their breakfast sandwiches are classics that are made super well. Their brioche bread is flakey, buttery, yet soft. Their tomatoes, eggs and avocados - ugh they can't get any better! Their coffee here is good. Drip is a bit darker roast than I prefer but there are typically medium roast options that satisfy me. Their espresso is awesome as well as their espresso - steamed milk drinks like lattes and capps. I would also recommend their chai as the spices come through well though it's a bit sweet so I think getting a dirty chai latte is just perfect I also come here to buy whole beans since they roast their own coffee! They have the cutest outdoor patio with limited seating in the back. Also a bench in front Staff is always chipper and helpful read more

One of my go to spots in the neighborhood! They are always super friendly, have great coffee and service. whenever I've gone to try to get some work done, I've always managed to find a seat. It's nice a quiet even when there's a bunch of people. Highly recommend checking this little shop out for your caffeine fix! read more

Visiting Berkeley this week and needed my morning coffee. Found this place on Yelp. The coffee was actually delicious. I got the dark brew and it was delicious. Not bitter at all. Service was very friendly. read more

A great spot to walk to for a morning cup of coffee. Souvenir is located on Claremont Avenue in a stretch of cute, sunny shops. The interior is bright and welcoming, and is the type of spot I'd spend an afternoon in pre-covid. Their menu includes a wide range of coffee and tea drinks, as well as pastries, breakfast plates, and sandwiches. I ordered an iced latte with almond milk and the flavor was nice and rich. The pastries in the pastry case looked fresh and tempting! read more

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Coffee was alright with the options around we wouldn't go back here. We ordered mocha, latte and regular croissant. Initially we wanted chocolate croissant from the display but the young lady behind the counter said it has been reserved for somebody else so I will have to choose something else from the display (almond/regular croissant). Advice: please don't display anything that's not available. It was 8:40 am and I was not in a mood to start my day being upset about chocolate croissant so I just had regular croissant with my coffee. About the seating inside it needs some good cleaning apart from that it's a nice setting. read more

Souvenir Coffee - Regular croissant, mocha and latte. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here for the Wi-Fi to do some work while waiting for an appointment nearby. Wi-Fi didn't work and when I sought help from staff at desk her response was "oh, it's always like that." Meaning, it never works. Couldn't connect on laptop or phone. Bummer, and odd since there were a number of other people with laptops in the cafe at that time. Seemed like others in the neighborhood find this place quaint and cute. But I wouldn't have ventured here otherwise. Wish I had known before coming here. Note to other visitors: if you're looking for strong Wi-Fi, look elsewhere. read more

Found this place on yelp. I was looking for a coffee shop that had free WiFi and this place fit the bill. If you were just driving by, you might not know this place exists because there is no large sign that advertises this place out in front. However, there is a small sandwich board outside. Just look for the green frame of the building. There are a variety of seating options inside ranging from arm chairs to regular chairs and tables, padded corner seatings and counter seating. I sat at the counter and was happy that there was an electrical outlet I could plug into. While it was really quiet when I arrived, it definitely got noisier when certain people met up and conversed. Overall, cute place! Pros: -Free two hour street parking. -they have a frequent user card at the cash register -free WiFi- password is posted near the cash register -tasty pastries -coffee art -good, chill background music -free 2 hour street parking -they had an art instillation with prices attached to items you could purchase Cons: -n/a read more

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The ambiance of this coffee shop is really nice but I can't help but notice every time I order that they either forget my drink or take super long to make it, or they take super long to take my order even though there is no line. Honestly, this has been really inconvenient since I have meetings and things to do and I have to rush to them. So if you're willing to wait this place is great, no complaints about the coffee but tbh it stresses me out to go here now. read more

I've literally only tried their chai latte, but that sucker is so friggin' delicious! It was enough to make me come back for another one. One of my favorite sandwich places (Star Meats) is located right next door. I had passed by this coffee shop a few times but never made it in. It wasn't until after I read Keith H's review that I finally decided to go in and give it a try. And, wow! I'm seriously diggin' this new coffee shop! There are about 6 or 7 coffee shops that are within a few minutes walking distance from where I work. Souvenir Coffee is about a 10-15 minute walk which isn't too far, but it's too far to walk when you only have a 15 minute break. I've driven there twice so far because I really like their chai latte! It's sweet and the chai spices are really prevalent compared to the other coffee shops that I've been to on the block. I've had it both hot and iced and it tastes great both ways, but their iced chai emits a much more radiant flavor. This is honestly the best chai that I've had in Rockridge! I have a feeling that this shop is going to be my new go-to for chai lattes. As far as their coffee goes, I don't know because I don't drink coffee. But, from reading the other reviews, it sounds like it's also on point. I've also had one of the white chocolate macadamia but cookies which were really tasty. Loved that they add white chocolate right on top of the cookie. They also carry other pastries and they make breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The gentlemen who work here are super social and friendly! One of them remembered me from the first time that I came in. The atmosphere is perfect for studying or working. I observed many people doing work on their laptops. It never seems to be overcrowded here like it is at Cole Coffee or Peet's. The decor is simple but chic. Really enjoyed some of the local artwork that they had on display. They have a back patio that is set to open up really soon. I can't wait for that, especially since the weather has been beautiful. What I also like is that they allow you to bring in sammies from Star Meats next door. It's really a great combination! The only reason why I rated them a 4 instead of a 5 is because their prices are a bit high compared to some of the other coffee shops in the area. I love their chai, but it only comes in one small size that costs $4. Their pastries are all also around $4 or higher. Their breakfast sammies are $6-$8 a pop. It's a bit high for breakfast in my opinion. Other than that, Souvenir coffee is wonderful! I'm excited to have them nearby. read more

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This has been the best coffee I've had before. I've never thought this coffee could taste like ass and smell like fertilizer. This is the best trucker coffee, compared to the ones I usually get at the gas stations on I-5 North (ARCO is still better tho). I think I was tasting the Ethiopia natural drip. But Gosh DANG did that shit taste like the finest authentic bitter bean sauce that I've ever had in my life. However, I must add that I prefer pulp and chunky grit from the beans. I wish they had an option for this, but I guess I have to settle for bitter ass tasting coffee. read more

Souvenir Coffee - My Ethiopia drip coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great experience with this coffee shop. They are friendly and seem to have a commitment to high quality, which shows in their products and shop. I had a flat white with the single origin Ethiopia, it was extremely tasty and very well done. Flat white is a drink originally from Australia that the US is just starting to appreciate and is often not created properly. The foam should be velvety smooth consisting of microbubbles, not the typical starbucks style bubble bath foam. The temperature should also be pretty warm, not excessively hot, otherwise the flavor of milk and espresso is overwhelmed by heat. Both consistency of foam and temperature were spot on at Souvenir. read more

This is a delightful little coffee shop. #1 - they roast their own beans. You can actually buy the bags of beans right in the shop. #2 - the outdoor patio is adorable. This is a great place to chat it up with a friend on a warm summer day. #3 - this is a good study location. Lots of seating and good natural light. Parking is generally available within 1 block. You can always go residential in the surrounding streets. At most it will be a 3 minute walk. Highly recommend - thanks, Sourvenier! read more