UNDERGRADUATE COFFEE…read more I know. When I was a student at California during the late 1990s there were numerous coffeehouses near the campus. One of those coffeehouses as was Café Berlin, which used to be located on Durant. Café Berlin no longer exists. The other coffeeshop I used to drink regularly when I was a student was Caffe Strada. This coffeehouse isn't a place to drink your coffee in peace. Caffe Strada has an energy amongst its customers because it located across from the campus. When I first went to Cafe Strada the first drink I ordered was a strada bianca mocha. The drink had a touch of sweetness yet there was a strong coffee taste. The other drink Caffe Strada is known for is bianca mocha, which does not have coffee. Since I've been going to Cafe Strada the drink i order the most is strada bianca mocha. Apparently Cafe Strada claims to be the first coffeehouse to invite the white hot chocolate drink. I've drank a lot of white hot mochas at different coffee places. Actually white hot mocha is my favorite coffee drink because of the strada bianca mocha at Caffe Strada. Most white hot mocha I drink tend to be very sweet. The strada bianca mocha has a slight taste of expresso that distinguishes from other white hot chocolate drinks. When I visit my alma mater on a weekend I like to go to Caffe Strada to sip my strada bianca mocha.

Nice spot near campus and service at the counter. They offer the classics, iced coffees, teas,…read morecoolers/juices, and gelidos. They offer various baked goods, yogurt parfait, overnight oats, fruit, and breakfast/panini sandwiches. They have indoor and outdoor seating. There were patrons there who were enjoying a quiet breakfast, conversation, and studying. Overall, this is a nice cafe to visit. Give this place a try!

Great team. Great service…read more I was taking a painting class at Berkeley City College right next door, which is how I found this spot. They were always friendly. I'd come in to grab a toasted bagel with cream cheese, and they were always great. In fact, after a few cycles of that, they knew what I was going to order. If I ever take a class there again, I'll definitely go back!

I go here all the time for a quick stop for a snack, sandwich, pastries and they are always so kind…read moreand perfect spot next to the college. Great place for studying too.

I love the Caprese Panini from here! The size was of a sandwich is in picture, just enough to fill…read moreyou up for a quick bite. Honestly for the price though, if you are hungry you might grab something more filling (might just have been my appetite at the time though so don't let my bias prevent you from trying this yummy sandwich especially if you don't want to go off campus.) Update: I actually came back. Despite my comment of it being a quick bite, I think it was because there was no meat in the caprese sandwich. After trying the Turkey Melt my eyes lit up at the amazing flavor and noticed how it actually filled me up. Good portion and wrapped nicely to eat to go If you are looking for matcha maybe not this cafe, they offer the Green Tea Latte but it is not the strong matcha flavor I prefer (extra charge for milk substitute btw!)

Long wait for mediocre club sandwich. Took 15 minutes to put together a cold sandwich... even the…read morebacon was cold, nothing heated so a) not tasting great on thick cold bread b) what took so long to get a cold sandwich.

Honestly I don't know what the hell I stumbled upon but I had a good time. If you're in the…read moreEmeryville area and got an hour to spare, 10-11am the space is open to the public for coffee education. There's a specific coffee they highlight, talk about what we're drinking, where it comes from, and all that jazz. I was super surprised by the amount of people that were in attendance, family and dog friendly. Khalil was welcoming and took time to explain some coffee basics to me cause...Im new to this whole coffee world. Gave me some recommendations for local cafes to try and coffee influencers to follow as I continue down this rabbit hole. Garrett was super informative and passionate, talking to us about the Field Trip blend we were trying today. After the presentation, folks socialized (cause there's hella regulars and hipsters are just friendly af) and enjoyed the date lattes that were served. Fun. Hope to see y'all again.

Amazing experience. They host free coffee tastings every Friday at 10am (find them on Eventbrite),…read moreso I was fortunate to finally be able to try it yesterday! They are otherwise closed to the public - they use this space to roast their beans. Free street parking is easy and abundant. They were sampling a decaf version of their idido beans when I went. But they knew their audience lol and also brewed the caffeinated version so everyone could get their caf-fix! When we walked in, we were immediately greeted by someone who worked there who gave us the rundown. The coffee was in dispensers and there were mugs all around, so you could get as much as you'd like. We poured ourselves this decaf idido and it was pretty nice! I love coffee but I am not one to distinguish the different tasting notes lol. They also provided an oat milk carton out lol they truly had me covered because I take my coffee with oat milk. Khalil did an amazing job introducing us all to Counter Culture and even explaining the Swiss Water decaffeination process. They talk through the tasting with clear explanations, and I actually learned a lot. They do a great job making the experience approachable and educational, not pretentious, so I really appreciate that. The space has that training-lab vibe, so for 1-hour it feels like we're all little baristas in Coffee 101 lol. Inside is super well-lit, huge windows lol - with all the bright natural light and caffeine, you will wake up in no time! This is also in a cute section of Emeryville. Overall I feel the passion for the craft and it was a good vibe! It was fun to try the caf and decaf versions of the same beans side by side. Highly recommend if you're into coffee or just want a fun, low-key Friday morning activity.

Visited: Saturday, August 15, 2026 -- around 3:30 PM…read more HYPER-HOT COFFEE, FLYING CARPETS & THE DEATH OF DRIVE-THRU MONOTONY Had a late-afternoon coffee craving while wandering Berkeley and landed at Qahwa Time. "Qahwa," appropriately enough, means coffee in Arabic, so nobody here is hiding the ball. First impression: friendly service, casual atmosphere, and just enough energy to make the place feel fun without someone trying to convince me I've joined a movement. I ordered the Modawar, a Yemeni-style coffee with evaporated milk, a touch of sugar and cardamom. And sweet caffeinated Moses -- this coffee arrived HYPER HOT. Not "wait two minutes before sipping" hot. I mean HOT hot. The kind of temperature where weaker men begin blowing frantically across the lid while quietly researching personal-injury attorneys. Perfect. I like my coffee served somewhere between volcanic and OSHA investigation, and this was excellent. Rich, aromatic, lightly sweet, with the cardamom coming through beautifully without kicking down the door and taking the entire beverage hostage. I was also stranded in that bizarre 3:30 PM jurisdiction where lunch has already left town but dinner hasn't been sworn into office, so I ordered a beef fatayar. Now THIS thing was fun. Warm folded pastry stuffed with beef and potatoes, carrying these wonderful curry-flavored undertones. Soft, savory, hearty, slightly doughy -- comfort food with just enough spice and personality to make you sit up and pay attention. About three bites in, I felt like I should have been sitting cross-legged on a carpet, flying directly into a genie lamp at full speed. I realize this may not be the traditional Yemeni dining experience. But it was mine. There was something almost pierogi-ish about the warm potato-and-meat comfort of it, except somebody apparently handed the pierogi a passport, introduced it to cardamom and curry, and told it there was a much larger world outside Cleveland. And speaking of that larger world: I am absolutely stoked that Yemeni coffee houses keep popping up all over the Bay Area. Bring them on. Yemeni coffee. Ethiopian food. Salvadoran pupusas. Korean barbecue. Burmese noodles. Filipino breakfast. Afghan kebabs. Georgian dumplings. Give me cuisines I can't pronounce correctly on the first attempt. Because when it comes to food, the more the merrier. A world where 95% of your culinary decision-making consists of Wendy's, McDonald's or Chick-fil-A isn't technically a human-rights violation, and I doubt The Hague will be opening an investigation anytime soon. But good Lord, what a dull existence. There are only so many times a grown adult can stand beneath fluorescent lights contemplating whether tonight represents a Dave's Double moment or a Spicy Chicken Sandwich moment before the human spirit begins requesting asylum. So yeah. Give me the Yemeni coffee house. Give me the nuclear-temperature Modawar. Give me the beef-and-potato fatayar that launches me across Berkeley on an imaginary flying carpet toward a genie lamp. Qahwa Time made my afternoon substantially less boring. And these days, that's worth celebrating.

Wow. Just wow. Talk about a NICE refresher…read more If you like juice/refreshers and have been looking for a good spot outside of Starbucks, please definitely give this place a try. Their service was very quick and nice. The ambiance was very nice as well, with a lot of nice decor.

Barista with orange glasses made the best cappuccino I've had in my entire life. Give that lady a…read moreraise

AlleyWay Café is one of those places that just gets it. The pastry selection is always on point,…read morethe baristas are genuinely kind (not performative, actually warm), and the space is consistently clean and welcoming. The outdoor seating is a huge plus -- perfect for people-watching or easing into your day with a good cup of coffee. The vibe works whether you're coming solo with a book or meeting up with a friend to catch up. It's the kind of café that makes you want to stay a little longer than planned. Highly recommend if you're looking for great coffee, simple pastries, and a calm, comfortable atmosphere.

Love Artis Coffee!…read more My wife and I haven't been on Fourth Street Berkeley in a long long time! Thankfully while doing some shopping and after a great meal at Divan Restaurant a few block away we popped into Artis Coffee. Wow! It was after 4 pm but what the hell, I ordered a cappuccino and my wife order a defca cappuccino, several pastries and took in the HUGE space! Our cashier was very friendly and appreciated our humor and debate on whether to have a "decaffeinated" cappuccino or not. I convince my wife to order one and she loved loved loved it! My "hi test" cappuccino was spectacular, smooth and perfect! Honestly, It took me back to Roma where we had aour honeymoon 22 years ago! Bella! If you find yourself on Berkeley's Fourth Street and looking for a perfect roasted coffee make sure to hop into Artis Coffee and I know you will love it too!

Artis Coffee was okay…read more I had an Ube Latte, 12 oz, iced, with matcha and oat milk ($8.50 plus $2 tip) and it was good. Artis opened on December 7, 2013 and is located on the northern end of the Fourth Street Shops (a.k.a. Fourth Street Berkeley). This is a fairly spacious cafe with an industrial/warehouse, minimalist look. During my afternoon visit, it was busy inside and out on the covered patio. Lots of people on their laptops. Artis roasts their own coffee. Service was fine. I got a side eye from the cashier/barista when I asked where the water station was (it was my first time and I was unfamiliar with this place), but they were nice and polite otherwise. The water pressure at the self-serve faucet was too strong and sprayed water everywhere. Good for a coffee fix if you're in the area.

spot right in the Student Union, and honestly, the bear-and-quail wallpaper is just elite. It's got…read morethat perfect "between-classes" energy, and I love that it's entirely student-run. The service was super solid, the staff was friendly and kept the line moving fast, which I definitely appreciated. Plus, they have a whole setup with rice and paper straws, which is a nice touch. I grabbed an Iced Honey Oat Milk Latte, and it was honestly great. The espresso was smooth and the oat milk made it really creamy. For most people, this is a 5/5 drink, but I'm giving it a 4/5 just because I love sugar and wished I could've added more honey to make it extra sweet. If you like a more balanced drink though, you'll love it. They also have Boichik Bagels and Starter Bakery stuff in the case, so it's a perfect place to grab a snack too. Definitely worth a stop if you're on campus!

Super convenient to my office in Eshleman, also located next to the Amazon pickup location and,…read moreobviously, inside the MLK Student Union. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I've had a great hot cocoa from here. My colleagues get coffee here regularly. Goldie's is staffed mostly by friendly students, and I think is often closed during school breaks (including summer). The impetus for my review is: (1) they have bagels from Boichik, which in case you hadn't heard was rated by the NYTimes as the best bagel in the country when it opened a couple years ago. I live near the original Boichik location, but the lines are long in the morning, and Goldie's is right on my morning commute. Sesame bagel with cream cheese, YES. (2) the service: the cafe manager (I think her name is Deborah, with the emphasis on the second syllable) is warm and helpful -- once actually saved a sesame bagel for me when I had arrived too late and they had been sold out the day before. She actually remembered to instruct her staff on the following morning to save the bagel for me, and they had it ready. I've worked retail before, and it is actually quite challenging to accomplish saving a bagel that will not arrive until the next day when you are not present, and to have your staff all be informed enough to catch the request. I've seen lots of sophisticated restaurants fail in similar tasks; it takes focus and personal attention for a place to do it successfully. I should note that I am NOT a regular customer and have no "favored nation status". I'm just a guy who happened to casually express disappointment one day at their being sold out of sesame bagels one afternoon.