** The following review reflects my experience prior to the shelter-in-place order currently in effect. **Y'know, I worked at the ASUC sometime in the last century way before coffee became a thing. Coffee was something my dad drank between dinner and his can of Coors. But now there's this kiosk in the lobby of the student union building, and I'm older than my recollection of my coffee-drinking father. I'm also way older than the beleaguered undergrad who served my satisfying $2.75 Batch Brew Coffee (photo: Go Bears!COFFEE - 4 stars...solid coffee for the young 'uns AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...lots of milling about in this bustling placeSERVICE - 3.5 stars...fast is all I wantedTOTAL - 4 stars...for the students...and the rest of usRELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed:
Joy A.
Good experience. Nice place to study or just relax. Lattes are amazing! Pricey but for a good cause.
Uli B.
I recently participated in a volunteering session with 1951 Coffee Shop. The mission of this nonprofit is as follows: "1951 Coffee Company [...] promotes the well-being of the refugee community in the United States by providing job training and employment to refugees, asylees, and special immigrant visa holders while educating the surrounding community about refugee life and issues." During my volunteer activity I got to meet the folks of that current cohort and my "job" was it to conduct a mock-interview with them. Soon their training will be over and they will then apply with local coffee shops. For most folks on this training program, English is not their comfort language, nor are they all up-to-speed with what the interview process in the US might look like. After the mock-interviews, we all got to see the barista trainees at work: we placed orders with fake money and then watched them prepare our coffee drinks. I played that a-hole customer who places a ridiculously personalized (in other words: annoying) order: I'd like to have a triple-shot, extra-foamy and dry caramel oat-milk macchiato. And can you make sure the milk is extra hot? Is it organic? Oh wait, I changed my mind and instead... Needless to say, the trainee I affronted with this task was a bit overwhelmed with my request and so I gave him a big tip...with that fake money! Thank you, 1951 Coffee Shop for playing your part in making the world a better place!
Sugar P.
Delicious coffee. Pricey price points. Great cause. Customer service: 70% chance of ice storm 30% chance of sunshine. Yummy snacks. Conscious of trends. eco-conscious. Sometimes lines are long ... good for them! Socially conscious. Clean. Unique menu items.
Lucy P.
This coffee shop can be easy to miss, but it is one of my favorite cafes close to campus. 1951 is a non-profit that provides assistance to refugees; prices can be a little high but are well-warranted. What's better than being caffeinated and serving a good cause? The cafe isn't large itself, but there is quite a bit of seating available. They offer tables with bar-style stools, soft seating-only chairs, and plenty of outlets which is perfect for studying. The large windows allow a generous amount of natural lighting to come through, and the interior design is . I managed to snag a seat even during noon on a Friday. The tables were packed with students studying so I'd recommend getting there early if you want an outlet. I ordered a latte and it was delicious, though the wait time was a bit long. The barista was super friendly so I would definitely come again. I've personally never ordered a mochi muffin from *here*, but I've been to Third Culture and would recommend the muffins as well. Pros: - Close to campus - Good cause :') - Good for studying - Wide assortment of drinks and pastries - Drinks made with love Cons/deltas: - A little on the pricier side - Can be hard to find a table or outlet - Longer wait times
Jeanie N.
Cool vibes and friendly service. Good place to work, linger with friends, or grab a quick cup to go. Got the matcha latte and thought the matcha flavor was good but the drink overall was a bit sweet. I'm not rushing back here, but wouldn't be mad about returning. Would probably try their coffee next time.
Ángela J.
One of the few cafes with space for laptops that is open until 7pm on weekends! In addition to admiring the mission of the 1951 Coffee Shop, I love the fact that it has late hours on weekends. Such a savior for those of us who need to get work done on weekends. It is usually pretty packed late in the day, but I have always been able to find a spot. There are places to plug your laptop along the wall. The staff is friendly and they have different varieties of coffees and teas. They also have delicious mochi donuts from Third Culture! This is the first cafe that I've seen that serves their pastries. I like that there's a connecting courtyard at the back of the cafe. I usually like to go out to get some fresh air or change settings. They also have restrooms and a fountain in this back area. Oh, I was also a fan of their playlist! Definitely recommend it if you're looking for a chill spot to be productive on the weekend.
Patrick B.
1951 is a cool coffee shop within First Presbyterian Church with a mission to help train and employ refugees from around the world. Awesome to know that the profits will go to this great cause. You get a pretty good cup of coffee, and can spend quite some time in the place to study or hang out. There aren't that many spaces within the shop, and if you're cool studying at community table types of places, then this is for you. Overall, it has great vibes and a great ambiance.
Angelica Q.
Their store on Channing has more room and can handle a larger load of orders at once thanks to their increase in space and workers, but if you're already on campus and want coffee that's made better than the student workers at GBC, this is only a quick 100 feet away. I've been to both locations and find that this one is comparable in quality; I always get their mocha and mochi muffin right before my morning meetings. Sweet way to start my mornings. Pros: - great on campus location - company mission is fantastic Cons: - wait times can be long
Emma G.
I love this place! It has a very cozy vibe even when there are a lot of people in the shop. The baristas are very talented and they always make beautiful latte art. I had a Honey Latte the other day and I got oat milk because they didn't have soy- turns out oat milk in the latte was delicious!!! I recommend it. The only tiiiiiiny complaint I have is that the 2 most recent times I have gone there, the cashier has given me a large and charged me for a large drink when I ordered a small. I don't really mind because I'm getting a delicious drink anyway, but some people might mind. Otherwise this is one of my favorite coffee shops in Berkeley!!
I was convinced to give this coffee shop a try based on its overwhelmingly positive reviews. I'm glad I gave it a try, but I don't think I'll come back. Pros: -Coffee is good! -Business supports refugee resettlement. Cons: -Completely crowded when I went -Mediocre customer service (no welcome, no smile, no thank you) -Expensive, especially when taking customer service into account I would love to support altruistic businesses, especially if the cause is noble. Unfortunately, due to the lackluster service, and the crowded environment, I cannot give it 5 stars.
Sonia S.
Cute coffee shop for a great cause! I went to 1951 today for the first time and ordered the matcha latté. The aesthetics of the café is great--it has a decent amount of seating, clean wooden tables, and wall decor that brighten up the space. The service of the place is also great--the workers are so friendly! Regarding the drink, I'd give it a 4/5. It was a good matcha latté that had a good level of sweetness. The shop overall is a little pricey, but the profits go to helping refugees, so the prices are well-warranted. Would definitely come again!
Soham K.
Love this place! A great spot to grab a coffee and usually a good place to study or have a chat with someone. This place was definitely one of my favorite spots in college and I love coming back here whenever I'm back in Berkeley.
Stephanie F.
AMBIENCE 3.5/5 & WORK 4/5 To start with parking, there was a lot across the way that cost about $12 for a full day of parking. Also, sparing 2 hour street parking, and a few meters one street over. Slightly a pain a be driving around and moving your car but expected of the area. Additionally, as expected of most coffee shops in this vicinity, this was the perfect place for college students to set up shop, college roommates to grab a coffee, or RAs to meet with their residents. 1951 has two entrances, one from the front and one that leads to a back courtyard that is shared with a church, Plenty of seating area in the space, and outside there are nooks and crannys you can find a seat. There were a few outlets scattered along the wall. Overall, for the amount of people there were, noise levels were pretty low. FOOD/DRINK 4/5 Got a mochi muffin and my friend got a blackberry cheese danish. There was a BOGO deal the day we went so both were around $3. Drinks were average price $4-5 for a latte of some sort. Drinks were quite tasty, I got a latte with oat milk! Overall, a pretty good experience. I love what this coffee shop is about as well - supporting refugees and raising awareness.
zenn wong
This place can never let you down. It has amazing coffee, literally the best I've had in California. Pastries are perfect too - I've tried the chocolate chip cookie and the chocolate croissant, both buttery, chocolatey, just impeccable. The decorations in the shop are very educational about refugees in America, which is the cause that underlies this business. I would fly back here just to visit this cafe. Amazing. I just can't reiterate how amazing this place is.
** The following review reflects my experience prior to the shelter-in-place order currently in effect. **Y'know, I worked at the ASUC sometime in the last century way before coffee became a thing. Coffee was something my dad drank between dinner and his can of Coors. But now there's this kiosk in the lobby of the student union building, and I'm older than my recollection of my coffee-drinking father. I'm also way older than the beleaguered undergrad who served my satisfying $2.75 Batch Brew Coffee (photo: Go Bears!COFFEE - 4 stars...solid coffee for the young 'uns AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...lots of milling about in this bustling placeSERVICE - 3.5 stars...fast is all I wantedTOTAL - 4 stars...for the students...and the rest of usRELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed:
Good experience. Nice place to study or just relax. Lattes are amazing! Pricey but for a good cause.
I recently participated in a volunteering session with 1951 Coffee Shop. The mission of this nonprofit is as follows: "1951 Coffee Company [...] promotes the well-being of the refugee community in the United States by providing job training and employment to refugees, asylees, and special immigrant visa holders while educating the surrounding community about refugee life and issues." During my volunteer activity I got to meet the folks of that current cohort and my "job" was it to conduct a mock-interview with them. Soon their training will be over and they will then apply with local coffee shops. For most folks on this training program, English is not their comfort language, nor are they all up-to-speed with what the interview process in the US might look like. After the mock-interviews, we all got to see the barista trainees at work: we placed orders with fake money and then watched them prepare our coffee drinks. I played that a-hole customer who places a ridiculously personalized (in other words: annoying) order: I'd like to have a triple-shot, extra-foamy and dry caramel oat-milk macchiato. And can you make sure the milk is extra hot? Is it organic? Oh wait, I changed my mind and instead... Needless to say, the trainee I affronted with this task was a bit overwhelmed with my request and so I gave him a big tip...with that fake money! Thank you, 1951 Coffee Shop for playing your part in making the world a better place!
Delicious coffee. Pricey price points. Great cause. Customer service: 70% chance of ice storm 30% chance of sunshine. Yummy snacks. Conscious of trends. eco-conscious. Sometimes lines are long ... good for them! Socially conscious. Clean. Unique menu items.
This coffee shop can be easy to miss, but it is one of my favorite cafes close to campus. 1951 is a non-profit that provides assistance to refugees; prices can be a little high but are well-warranted. What's better than being caffeinated and serving a good cause? The cafe isn't large itself, but there is quite a bit of seating available. They offer tables with bar-style stools, soft seating-only chairs, and plenty of outlets which is perfect for studying. The large windows allow a generous amount of natural lighting to come through, and the interior design is . I managed to snag a seat even during noon on a Friday. The tables were packed with students studying so I'd recommend getting there early if you want an outlet. I ordered a latte and it was delicious, though the wait time was a bit long. The barista was super friendly so I would definitely come again. I've personally never ordered a mochi muffin from *here*, but I've been to Third Culture and would recommend the muffins as well. Pros: - Close to campus - Good cause :') - Good for studying - Wide assortment of drinks and pastries - Drinks made with love Cons/deltas: - A little on the pricier side - Can be hard to find a table or outlet - Longer wait times
Cool vibes and friendly service. Good place to work, linger with friends, or grab a quick cup to go. Got the matcha latte and thought the matcha flavor was good but the drink overall was a bit sweet. I'm not rushing back here, but wouldn't be mad about returning. Would probably try their coffee next time.
One of the few cafes with space for laptops that is open until 7pm on weekends! In addition to admiring the mission of the 1951 Coffee Shop, I love the fact that it has late hours on weekends. Such a savior for those of us who need to get work done on weekends. It is usually pretty packed late in the day, but I have always been able to find a spot. There are places to plug your laptop along the wall. The staff is friendly and they have different varieties of coffees and teas. They also have delicious mochi donuts from Third Culture! This is the first cafe that I've seen that serves their pastries. I like that there's a connecting courtyard at the back of the cafe. I usually like to go out to get some fresh air or change settings. They also have restrooms and a fountain in this back area. Oh, I was also a fan of their playlist! Definitely recommend it if you're looking for a chill spot to be productive on the weekend.
1951 is a cool coffee shop within First Presbyterian Church with a mission to help train and employ refugees from around the world. Awesome to know that the profits will go to this great cause. You get a pretty good cup of coffee, and can spend quite some time in the place to study or hang out. There aren't that many spaces within the shop, and if you're cool studying at community table types of places, then this is for you. Overall, it has great vibes and a great ambiance.
Their store on Channing has more room and can handle a larger load of orders at once thanks to their increase in space and workers, but if you're already on campus and want coffee that's made better than the student workers at GBC, this is only a quick 100 feet away. I've been to both locations and find that this one is comparable in quality; I always get their mocha and mochi muffin right before my morning meetings. Sweet way to start my mornings. Pros: - great on campus location - company mission is fantastic Cons: - wait times can be long
I love this place! It has a very cozy vibe even when there are a lot of people in the shop. The baristas are very talented and they always make beautiful latte art. I had a Honey Latte the other day and I got oat milk because they didn't have soy- turns out oat milk in the latte was delicious!!! I recommend it. The only tiiiiiiny complaint I have is that the 2 most recent times I have gone there, the cashier has given me a large and charged me for a large drink when I ordered a small. I don't really mind because I'm getting a delicious drink anyway, but some people might mind. Otherwise this is one of my favorite coffee shops in Berkeley!!
Restaurantji Recommends
I was convinced to give this coffee shop a try based on its overwhelmingly positive reviews. I'm glad I gave it a try, but I don't think I'll come back. Pros: -Coffee is good! -Business supports refugee resettlement. Cons: -Completely crowded when I went -Mediocre customer service (no welcome, no smile, no thank you) -Expensive, especially when taking customer service into account I would love to support altruistic businesses, especially if the cause is noble. Unfortunately, due to the lackluster service, and the crowded environment, I cannot give it 5 stars.
Cute coffee shop for a great cause! I went to 1951 today for the first time and ordered the matcha latté. The aesthetics of the café is great--it has a decent amount of seating, clean wooden tables, and wall decor that brighten up the space. The service of the place is also great--the workers are so friendly! Regarding the drink, I'd give it a 4/5. It was a good matcha latté that had a good level of sweetness. The shop overall is a little pricey, but the profits go to helping refugees, so the prices are well-warranted. Would definitely come again!
Love this place! A great spot to grab a coffee and usually a good place to study or have a chat with someone. This place was definitely one of my favorite spots in college and I love coming back here whenever I'm back in Berkeley.
AMBIENCE 3.5/5 & WORK 4/5 To start with parking, there was a lot across the way that cost about $12 for a full day of parking. Also, sparing 2 hour street parking, and a few meters one street over. Slightly a pain a be driving around and moving your car but expected of the area. Additionally, as expected of most coffee shops in this vicinity, this was the perfect place for college students to set up shop, college roommates to grab a coffee, or RAs to meet with their residents. 1951 has two entrances, one from the front and one that leads to a back courtyard that is shared with a church, Plenty of seating area in the space, and outside there are nooks and crannys you can find a seat. There were a few outlets scattered along the wall. Overall, for the amount of people there were, noise levels were pretty low. FOOD/DRINK 4/5 Got a mochi muffin and my friend got a blackberry cheese danish. There was a BOGO deal the day we went so both were around $3. Drinks were average price $4-5 for a latte of some sort. Drinks were quite tasty, I got a latte with oat milk! Overall, a pretty good experience. I love what this coffee shop is about as well - supporting refugees and raising awareness.
This place can never let you down. It has amazing coffee, literally the best I've had in California. Pastries are perfect too - I've tried the chocolate chip cookie and the chocolate croissant, both buttery, chocolatey, just impeccable. The decorations in the shop are very educational about refugees in America, which is the cause that underlies this business. I would fly back here just to visit this cafe. Amazing. I just can't reiterate how amazing this place is.