Great local place to grab some coffee. Its cozy, free wi-fi, and the coffee is great. They recently obtained Spoton - so you can get some points for your purchases. The soy coffee au lait is my favorite. read more

I was going there to study as most people do an I really enjoyed it. Until one night (may third time) unknowingly I walked in about an hour before they closed. Not a problem I thought, I'll just get in as much studying as I can. Five minutes to the hour there were myself and one other guy in the place. The blond girl behind the counter (someone that didn't impress me anyway) changes the music and blasts the music. Couldn't she have come over to say to the only two people in the place. We are closing in about five minutes. I look at the guy near me and said I guess they want us gone. He laughed and agreed it was time to go. The unimpressive girl behind the counter laughed when I walked out the door. That was the last time I studied there or will come back. So, the reason I gave it 3 stars was only for the one employee. All the other emplyees are great! Just be warned if you see her. She's the one that talks really loudly about all the 'shit' other people are doing to her. She clearly has no clue even if explained in detail how that affects her paycheck. Won't be back. read more

They serve coffee and beer and food. My three fave things!! The cafe is really spacious and they have free wifi. I like the bar where they serve their wine. Classy! read more

great neighborhood spot...there is one really unhappy server/cashier...if you are a regular...you know who she is...don't have her make your bagel...it's best to just skip the snacks if she's working. fun crowd..great owners!! read more

I want to love this place but I can't...yet. Inconsistency is their downfall. I have had 1 great latte, 1 OK latte, and 1 bad latte. My housemate and I have tried a few food items and they were, eh, ok but that's it. I would like to try coming here for a day to try out the wi-fi(I work from home), but its kind of dark and dirty. Give this place a good cleaning, hire employees who wait on customers and then go back to their convos, get consistent baristas, and its got 5 star potential. read more

This place is pretty cool... a bit on the "elder seasoned coffee shop" side, but in some ways giving it 3 stars might keep the uncool out. I really like how they make espresso and there is lots of neat reading material strewn about. Reminds me of some of those Santa Cruz coffee shops without having to go all the way to Santa Cruz. When you first walk in you might be a bit struck on its overall level of hippy. Excellent pastries, wonderful coffee. read more

World Ground Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I honestly don't come here too often, seeing how it is a bit out of my way, but when i am in the district i like to stop by and get a coffee. This place has a wonderful cool and homie atmosphere and it quiet large! yes, the staff can be a bit slow and maybe even a little too chill. However, they are wonderfully sweet and thoughtful. Try the carrot vegan bread!- yuuuuuuuum! read more

Coffee and Tea are both tasty, but service is bad, atmosphere is dark, and the place seems to give me that constant sticky-table phobia. In addition, it's quite overpriced (topping in far more than starbucks or quizno's for a caesar salad), and they don't take credit cards--however, they'll take a debit card, but only if you use them as an ATM and give them 1.50 transaction fee. Ok, so they're cash only--but why don't they just say that up front? I didn't like being tricked, there is no need to sneak around on me! I like what this cafe (a small east-bay chain) is trying to accomplish, but I feel that their business plan might need some reconsideration. read more

This place is great for a light breakfast. Their breakfast panini is excellent, the coffee and the pastries are so-so . The bagels from Boogie Woogie Bagel Boy are my favorite bagel in the bay area (especially the jalapeno cheese), but you better show up before 11am on the weekends if you want to be sure to get one. C'mon World Ground, you must order more bagels on the weekends! read more

Yikes!! The tuna mufaletta really needs some tinkering with. I ordered it today at lunch (to go) and felt like driving back to get my money back!! The flavor was awful. Did not eat it. Blah. ....although the earl grey tea held me up for a while before I broke down and purchased a second lunch. :-( read more

It's rare I can write my review while in the very establishment! Even though I've lived in the area for several months, this is my first trip here. I have a lot of work to do (as you can tell, I'm busily doing it), and wanted to get out of my house to get it done. Despite pausing to write this review and a few others, it's a pretty good place to settle in & do some work. My single mocha was delicious and in a cute yellow coffee cup. The chairs are comfy, people are relatively quiet and working away. Free Wi-Fi, though that's pretty standard these days. I also love being able to support a Laurel District business that's doing a good job. That's not as pretentious as it sounds, I promise. Love World Ground & my new neighborhood. read more

I stopped by here at Feb 25th 2012. I just recently came from a Tea Ceremony so we made our way to the Weddding Chapel. Me and my girlfriend still had 1 hour or so to kill so I yelped a Coffee location and POOF I found this local gem. The surrounding areas were quite sketchy -_- to say the least, but once inside it was quite the trendy coffee joint! It is located 1 mile or so from Mills College so definitely this coffee shop is targetting the studious with their Free Wi-Fi. I ordered a Cafe Mocha and man.... it was simply heaven. I needed that pick-me-up BADLY and that drink hit the spot. I don't know if it was on accident or on purpose but I ordered a Medium and got the Large instead (Thanks Guys!), so I won't complain. I think my drink cost $4.35 and it was worth every penny! I know because of its location not many people will go out of their way here to get coffee, BUT for those of you who find their way near this part and if you need a boost of caffeine DEFINITELY stop here. read more

Quite Decent Coffee Slow Service. The cafe is a pretty decent size. They have plenty of tables and seating to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine to do some work on your laptop or read a paper or book. The wall is nicely decorated with Spanish art that gives the cafe a bit of a cozy edge. This is the close coffee shop to my home. They make a pretty decent cup of Americano with Hazelnut. It's reasonably priced but service is just a bit slow for my speed however, the staff is delightful so they make up for the snails pace. read more

What a delightful gem in the Laurel District! I get their coffee beans to brew at home because they are super delicious! Just like other coffee shops, they'll give you a free cup of coffee when you buy a bag of beans. Unlike other shops, they make fresh cafe food to order. Their menu is limited, but there are always vegetarian options. The people who work here are helpful and the environment is cozy and welcoming. read more

Super chill spot for coffee, food, wine, reading, meetings, and people watching. My only issue is their prices. A bit steep. And I really wish cafes would stop charging people who are allergic to cow's milk extra for alternative milk choices. No bueno. Oh, friendly and funny staff and nice music in the background, too. read more

Average coffee and food. A bit expensive for my taste. I like that there is a lot of seating! Good place to get some work or reading done, especially if you are waiting for laundry to finish across the street. The fourth star, however, is because they offer beer and wine. One time I got two classes of wine (for me and someone else, not just me!) and it came with a cheese plate. Not a super fancy one, but still a cheese plate. What?!? Thank you!! Try having wine and a cheese plate while you're waiting for your laundry to finish - trust me, it's a great way to spend your mandatory waiting-for-laundry-to-dry time. read more

If the paninis weren't out of this world I would give 1 star or less than. The workers are rude and the coffee sucks!!! They don't even have a variety of coffee to choose from ! This place is right across the street from me and my heart is broken that this place is so awful. The breakfast paninis are something I get regularly though... suck I have to walk further down the block for coffee ! read more

Very nice employees! Was stopping by to work on my computer. After I got my order of coffee and set on the table, my almost-full cup of coffee spilled all over. Felt very embarassed I asked for a rag to clean the mess up myself. Instead, the employee cleaned it up for me. And even further, they re-did my order! Apart from the nice employees, the space is cozy and air-conditioned, and there're wifi and plenty of outlets for you to plug in to work/study. Overall they deserve 5 stars. read more

They have the best coffee in Oakland. The coffee keeps me coming back! However, the service is hit or miss. I go there rather often and at times it is like I don't even exist. That is not always the case though! I wish they stayed open later. read more

So sad that it closes as early as it does :( Everything here is great. The food, the people, the drinks, the atmosphere. Parking kind of sucks, but worth it when you want to get away and hole up somewhere with a book, schoolwork, or someone's diary that you may or may not have just happened to stumble upon. There's a large table for groups to use to meet around and it just feels so down-homey and community-based that it's a shame that it has to close as early as it does. I'm so excited that summer is coming soon because their iced-tea is phenomenal. read more

I work nearby and visit World Ground a few times a week. The staff is friendly and helpful, and not in the corporation-mandated manner of Starbucks and the like. When they were out of bagels for an egg sandwich one of the girls recommended an egg and pesto flatbread which has since become one of my favorite breakfast treats (and get it with tomato). Great coffee, delicious pastries, and a cool, down-to-earth vibe. I am lucky I don't have to resort to Starbucks for work-adjacent coffee. read more

This place is around the corner from my boyfriend's house and he decided to take me here yesterday afternoon. It's hard to articulate my feelings about this place. On one hand, I think it's great that there's a local coffee shop in this area, but on the other, I feel like this place could use a little something more. The decor is typical of a coffee shop, but it needs an update or a renovation, something to make it feel cozier. The food isn't bad. I had the tuna muffaletta sandwich; it had good flavor and I appreciated that it was served on warm bread. The coffee was okay, nothing special really. I think I would have liked for it to be a bit stronger. If I come here again, maybe I will try an espresso. Overall, World Ground gets a solid 3 stars. read more

Excellent espressos and macchiatos. Delicious food selection, much of which is made to order (sandwiches, salads), or at least house-made in advance (soups); my favorite menu item is the Prosciutto, an open-faced sandwich smeared with basil pesto, covered with sliced fresh tomatoes, prosciutto (go pig!), and aged parmesan shavings on large slices of good rustic bread. They also offer wine, and 4 taps of New Belgium Brewing Company beer (some of which are sometimes out), currently including the new Ranger IPA release (one of my favorites). This is my favorite local coffee shop and hang out. When my son had child care in the Laurel, I came here often to work for a bit in the morning (free WiFi, whoot!) before heading into the office. A funky, chill, down-to-earth atmosphere that reminds me of my home town of Santa Cruz. The large community table that used to adjoin the food/coffee prep areas has been replaced with a bar, which offers the same friendly atmosphere without reminding me of a poor public school. In response to some of the other reviews, I find that the staff tend to give what they get in terms of attitude; if you're polite to them (even if you "need your coffee"), you won't find them rude or indifferent in response. read more

I came here for the first time this morning, and was very happy with my visit. I am so glad that this place is in the Laurel district. My latte was great, and my breakfast burrito was alright. I will definitely be back! read more

This is the closest thing I have to a neighborhood coffee shop. When I want to treat myself, I stop in on my way to work for a cup of coffee. Their sandwiches are really good - last time I got one I think it was the roast turkey, which comes with sprouts and artichoke hearts...oh man it was so good! A bit oily, but whatever. Good portion size for the price too, like $7.25 I think for the sandwich but it more than filled me up. I didn't think I was going to finish it but I guess I was pretty hungry by the time I got to it. I just wish they had some fruit or something in their display case - it's pretty much all bakery items and some bags of chips. It's a bit sparse. That's really my only (slight) complaint though. Parking can be a bit of an issue as well, but that's not their fault. I've often pulled into a spot right in front. read more

First impression: Welcoming and warm. They have amble seating with 4 different sections. Bar top, Benches, hallway seating and back room seating near the restroom. They have a section of books to borrow from if you need some reading material. Staff: The staff is friendly and busy during the rushes [might be off putting to some]. They've always been pleasant and are welcome to striking up a conversation. Food: The food here has been amazing! Despite being a coffee shop, the food here has been a delight. Given that I have only tried a few items on the menu, I can say that all of them have been good. The vegetarian sandwich was both filling and light. Both the breakfast panini and burrito are all awesome choices, with vegetarian and meat options, they are sure to please both the meat and leaf eaters! Internet: The free wifi here isn't the best, which is common where there are more than 3 laptops running at once. While it tests out with over a download speed at 15Mbps and an upload speed of 3Mbps, it's a little uneven. I'm crediting that to the amount of people using their laptops here[ usually over 5 people at a time] All and all, I'm glad that I have a coffee shop that is within walking distance to my house. read more

The people who work here are really nice, it seems like they have a good menu...but when I tried to order something the girl was so confusing! I wanted a BLT with cheese and avocado in panini form but apparently they only have pre-made food and you have to order specifically from the menu? Also, they only had breakfast burritos which was even more confusing. Honestly, I'm just very confused and still hungry and I don't understand why they couldn't melt cheese...or why they had such a delicious looking menu but nothing to eat...? read more

Great space, funky and warm. Bad coffee most days. Good salads and decent pastries. Slow, slow service. Never go here in a hurry. Nice to have in the 'hood. Too bad their coffee sucks. read more

It's true, there's a quality control problem. I've had serious problems with those World Grounds getting into my espresso beverage and making it a little crunchy. That said, the atmosphere is wonderful. This is more than a coffee shop - it's a community center, the local hang out for moms and meeting groups, college students and neighbors. And the pastries are always good, so if your coffee's burnt, get a freaking cookie to sweeten it up and stop complaining. read more

World Ground, oh World Ground, what happened to you? This used to be my any time of day, quick stop, go-to, absolute favorite coffee place on this side of Oakland. Their food is delicious, coffee is buzzy and atmosphere is chill. Wait, maybe too chill. Every time I've gone there in the last 6 months the service is slower and slower and slooowwweeer. Last time I waited 20 minutes for a salad that was being prepared by a guy who was more concerned with grooving to the music on the stereo than filling people's orders. (Literally - I saw him dancing around behind the counter!). EDIT: So I actually had the opportunity to speak with the cafe manager the other day, and I feel a whooooole lot better about World Ground now (again). I will reserve my visits for those rare moments when I truly want to treat myself to a leisurely lunch and coffee. read more

Just moved to the area from San Diego and am pretty impressed with this place. I've been a couple of times and, yeah they're busy and may take awhile, but it's good food/drink. They make a great egg, cheese and avocado on a croissant. YUM-O! And their white mocha isn't bad either. read more

I don't really spend time in this neighborhood, but had some time to kill before an appointment. So, I took my handy dandy yelp, and this was the closest cafe to my location. What I love: free WiFi, lots of outlets and fun artwork on the walls. the CHAI!! I love chai and one of my personal pet peeves is that so many places use a chai mix that is completely laden with sugar and sweetness. World Ground Cafe has a choice of "sweet chai" or "spicy chai". I, of course, ordered the spicy chai and have not been let down. It is still pretty sweet (I'd probably cut it back a bit), but there was enough zing and spice to balance it out. This feels like the neighborhood spot to sit down and get a few things done. It feels friendly and yet like there is space for privacy to do your own thing. read more

This is a great place to hang out and work. The free Wi-Fi is a definite bonus, though a temptation for the procrastination-prone. There are bright, sunny areas to sit and also corners that feel more out-of-the-way and reflective. One thing to watch out for: if you're going to come to study, make sure that you either feed the meter regularly or park on a side street because the parking police come by often. Better to walk a block and save yourself the $40 ticket. read more

With the way the news portrays Oakland, this coffee shop was a great surprise! Good coffee and a nice spot to hang out. I will definitely return if I'm ever in the area! read more

Well-made drinks, beer and wine, a simple menu with good quality food, really nice people and service, good music, and a great environment to get work done at with plenty of places to sit. The breakfast panini has pesto in it and is amazing. The Laurel would not be the same without this classy joint. I only wish they were open a little past 9 pm for those nights when I have a bunch to do. read more

World Ground sure isn't fancy but it isn't trying to be, and you better believe that's what I like about it...in a world full of snotty baristas, fancy shmancy drinks and scenesters, this is one of my favorite places to sit, do some work, people watch, eavesdrop and have a beverage or two. Food-wise, the salads are pretty good, if sometimes overdressed, and the sandwiches don't disappoint either. Baked goods might be gone by the evening, but when they're there, I'm eating one... Last time I paid a visit, I had delicious pea and potato soup, heard some great jazz, and listened in on an impassioned conversation about Little League plays. Community groups are always welcome to use the space, and local art chills all over the place. Sure beats a roomful of folks hiding behind their Mac books and artful haircuts... read more

Great veggie sandwich on the menu and a great atmosphere to do work or hang out with a friend. Also they have wine and beer and free wifi! read more

It's a good place to get some work done while enjoying a good cup of coffee. The sandwiches are delicious and the customer service is decent. The art aesthetics through the cafe also add on to its overall atmosphere. read more

Location...interesting kinda in the "HOOD" but once you walk in you finda forget there was a guy asking you for change one street down lol. Unique ambience, some cool artwork, subtle but hip beats play nicely in the background and plenty of comfy seating. I really love the vibe inside. My Caramel Latte Chino was amazing, I got it iced: sweet just how I like it. The girls working were pretty and sweet and helped us with siggestions. Downside was the price. Sandwiches were roughly $9 without a side or anything. Coffees were about $5. We spent whopping $28 for 2 sandwiches and 2 coffee drinks, actually $32 with a tip. I would def come back here tp study and maybe grab one of the cheaper options like breakfast bagel. read more

I hate white walls. I generally feel confined and oppressed by them. On the contrary, the warm mustard, deep red and brown, and funky green strike the perfect atmosphere for me. Yes, color is at the top of my priorities in a place I am going to spend time in. That is just how I roll. The coffee and food live up to the coziness I get from the space. I love their turkey sandwich, even though I add pesto instead of mustard. They have the best smoothies in the city and thank God I can get a size-able and tasty cup of coffee for less than $2. read more