50 Best Coffee Shops in Berkeley

“I recently visited Roaming Bean Coffee, an outdoor gem that exceeded all my expectations! My drink was perfectly balanced with rich, smooth flavor and delightful frothy top. The staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive. Overall, Roaming Bean Coffee is a fantastic spot for coffee lovers looking for tranquil outdoor setting!“

“Had a wonderful experience at EL TINY CAFE. The café had a cozy, welcoming vibe, and the coffee and food were fresh and flavorful. The staff was friendly and attentive, making the visit even more enjoyable. Highly recommend for a relaxed and charming coffee stop!“

“Cafe Parisien in Berkeley (Shattuck) is sensational. The pastries are amazing, so fresh and gorgeous; the service is spectacular, the price of these delicious pastries and sandwiches is phenomenal. It's my new favorite cafe! (I think the chocolate croissant is my current favorite, but the almond croissant runs a pretty close second!)“

“I recently got a chance to visit Masterpiece Coffee in Berkeley. They focus on specialty coffee produced in Yunnan, China, with Asian-inspired drinks served at a kiosk. Their specialty is Chinese coffee, slow bar pour over, a minimal menu, and uniquely crafted drinks. Young Sun takes incredible pride in every cup, and my experience was truly heavenly!“

“A clean, well-lighted place for exquisite coffee, tea and pastries. They owners (very nice people) are very particular about their coffee using high quality beans from Ethiopia. Their decaf espresso is delicious. They have mocktails too.“

“Absolutely the best matcha, beautiful space, and overall perfect vibes. I love that they had an oil free oat milk option. The mochi had a lovely apricot filling and melted in my mouth. They also had a clean bathroom, which is not common at matcha cafes. Cannot wait to return!“

“Kind and welcoming staff. Told them we are doing a tour of all the Yemeni coffee shops around. Good times.

We got an orange blossom mint latte and a knafeh cheesecake to share.

Best decision for 10pm Berkeley. Both were well made and enjoyable.

Coffee was a touch on the sweeter side, NBD.

They put a dried orange slice and mint cluster on top. Cute.

5/5 will come again.“

“Friendly and helpful baristas with a lot of interesting drinks. I had the station 8, which is a golden chai. I didn't feel like it had too much caffeine. It's hard to find drinks like that for someone that is caffeine sensitive. It looked like there were a lot of interesting snacks offered too“

“I barely go here now since they have limits on the wifi usage but I miss when it was a more optimal study place, especially given its proximity to campus. Love their chai but barely get it now since I go to one of the Yemeni cafes nearby instead which are more ideal to post up at and I don’t feel like a burden there.“

“Both hands up for this wonderful coffee place I happened to stumble upon, right outside the skirts of Downtown Berkeley. They're located right on the intersection of MLK and University, right behind the Indian restaurant.

This coffee place is honestly a little bit small, so please proceed with caution at all costs. But it really makes you feel cozy at home. They do have upstairs seating, but rather really limited. It will be full at times, and at times, not at all. It depends on the time that you go.

They have a wide assortment of sweet and savory pastries available as well. I got their ham & cheese scone, as well as their speciality drink, their banana cream iced coffee. I love how balanced their iced coffee is with the banana cream, which surprisingly, is made with ACTUAL banana puree made from actual bananas.

The barista who made my drink was very nice and very chill, and served it rather quick. That's what's up!

If you're looking for a locally-owned coffee shop right here in Berkeley, look no further than Bench Coffee! Trust me, it will be a trip worth it :)“

“Wow, the hojicha latte was so good here. We also got a matcha latte which tasted a little too milky so I wonder what's up with that. The bahn mi is big and very filling for the price, cilantro especially fresh, the shredded chicken has a good flavor (although a little dry) and the pork is okay. Pandan waffle had coconut flakes in it which i personally dont care for but still pretty good. Standout was the popcorn chicken which also had fried garlic and basil that was a really great addition. Everything we got was really freshly made, our $78 order was out very quickly still (under 10 minutes). You order on a kiosk yourself or you can talk to the cashier which is nice.

They have both a lot of workers and customers, so you can tell the food and drinks are good.

Definitely would come back! All tables have only 2 chairs so expect to do takeout if you have a big group. Also some people come to study here.“

“This is one of my favorite spots to get matcha! Their Earl Grey Einspanner is delicious. I’m not a coffee lover but I’ve heard their coffee is great too. They have some inside seating which can fill up quickly when school is in session. Overall, I love this place and definitely recommend!“

“I love this place! I have been going here since it opened and it has always been wonderful. Everyone is always so kind and welcoming, and the food is great. They are also very fast, which means my family can always get food when we are in a rush.“

“I'm a recent customer here, about 6 weeks, but in that time I've tried to make this coffee shop one to visit often. The selections for food items seem interesting, but I'm a chai latte kinda guy, and this the staff does well. It's a neat, clean, and well ordered establishment, and the staff is friendly, and accommodating. A good place to frequent.“

“By far the most creative and exquisite coffee drinks! Plus Pepples vegan donuts!! Danger Will Robinson...addictive And live music on Sundays.“

“Hidden Gem!
This place is peaceful, clean and family-friendly. I love the large wood slab tables for working on the computer and staying a while. My favorite thing about this coffee spot is that they use quality ingredients: ORGANIC coffee and homemade blends. Skip the overload of sugar at Dutch Brothers and try this place. You will find it addictive.

- Sierra & Thor

P.S. Try the Brown Butter Latte! ;)“

“Nice corner cafe serving a wide variety of empanadas, sandwiches, and a few other baked goods. They offer a long menu of beverage options, including coffee, tea, smoothies, chocolate drinks, etc. I tried the mushroom empanada and harvest greens smoothie, which were good, but nothing special.

This cafe has a casual ambience with a low key vibe. There's a mishmash of tables & decor.

There's a large screen TV mounted on the wall that was playing a world cup soccer match fairly loudly, which most of the customers were watching. I'm not sure how often they have sports games playing, but when they do it's not a great spot for having a conversation or focusing on work or reading.“

“I live their expert roasts!“

“There were three in my party. We ducked in here to take a break from the cold rain. We ordered a chai, a golden/turmeric chai, and a caffé latté, all with oat milk. It’s our first try of oat milk. We all liked it a lot. The foam on my golden chai was lovely. I’d reorder it anytime. I tried my mate’s latté with oat milk, I can recommend it. The pastries we ordered were all worth the consumption. I’m so glad there was one pretzel cheese bun left. It was delicious even though it wasn’t warm. I highly recommend them. We also ordered a quiche, a chocolate croissant, and an almond pastry. They were all superb. The almond pastry which was super light and flaky tasted like baklava more so than an almond filling. I liked the vibe here. So often I want to grab my order and split, not here. I felt fine taking refuge from the outside environs. The staff were sweet regardless of their spoken English being nearly impossible to understand. It was cool assuming they were part of the refugee program. It felt good being a patron there and the inspired conversation it led to. I am sure my party was surprised I was already knowledgeable about the topic on current refugees. That made our café and conversation time only that much more enjoyable.“

“Wow. I could not believe espresso would go perfectly with avocado!!! This is a must try. I feel healthy and wired at the same time!!!! 2x espresso, avocado juice, coconut milk. Again, WOW.“

“massive sandwich with a big pile of salad on the side!!! the heat came out warm & tangy with a good kick to it but not so spicy that it was uncomfortable to eat. portions were big enough that i could have shared my meal with another person.
i also got a cup of famously stretchy booza, which seems to be very hard to find in the bay area. they have a couple of flavours but i went with mastic which had subtle floral taste. you can add toppings like petals, pistachios, & kadayif- i got everything but the kadayif was stale unfortunately.
the guy who took my order was also a little unfriendly & it almost felt like i was inconveniencing him for ordering. anyways this is a cool place for either a sweet treat or a meal. definitely will be back to try some of their drinks & the knafeh…“

“Best of the best. Tons of choices, exquisite French patisseries, true North African specialties… there is so much to choose from. High quality and scrumptious! We will be back!!!“

“Fabulous assortment of specialty coffees and a delicious food menu. My favorite go-to is the quiche!“

“if I could give 6 stars, I would. this is the type of place where you could close your eyes and point somewhere on the menu and order it and it would be the most delicious thing ever. quality ingredients you can taste! staff is super friendly!“

“The best place ever. Love them ❤️ 💕“

“It was the first Peet’s !!“

“Most of the bagel sandwiches come open faced and you can mix & match two different halves, which I love. My favorites are the Bartavalle, Brusco, and Gold Standard. The fennel orange latte with homemade syrup is tasty and well balanced.
They make good use of the small space and have several spaces to sit, including some outdoor seating.
Lots of street parking around.“

“Great selection of sweet and of savory pastries. I love the cheddar scones. And two quiches daily, one vegetarian and one not. The chocolate cream pie is superb. Good coffee. Really nice folks.“

“Very good coffee and very kind people! I forgot my credit card at this place and the owner hold it for me for a week. Really appreciate. And this business is owned by Hazara people from Afghanistan, very welcoming and warm. Highly recommend.“

“The place: cozy & calm & quiet
The staff: wonderful & kind & helpful
The service: amazing
The product: delicious & natural

One of the best boba places in town, 110% recommend“

“I have only had the coffee here and it's decent. The food prices are a little high for me, plus I don't eat out often. The cafe is a nice quiet, clean and spacious place to get work done. People do come in for the food, so it must be good. I would recommend this place if you are in the area and need a quick bite or drink.“

“Bakerie demonstrates a strong operational standard in both product quality and customer experience. The assortment reflects a thoughtful balance between classic offerings and modern preferences. Execution is consistent, indicating a well-managed production process. The service team maintains professionalism while ensuring efficiency during peak hours. From a customer perspective, Bakerie delivers a dependable and scalable experience that could easily meet the expectations of a broader market.“

“Mey Café is truly one of Berkeley's hidden gems! The date latte is unlike anything I've had before, rich, perfectly balanced, and absolutely delicious. Their pastries are all fantastic, but my personal favorites are the blueberry scone and the tiramisu. Everything is made fresh by the wonderful owner, Sanaz, and you can really taste the care and quality in every bite.
The atmosphere is warm, vibrant, and incredibly welcoming. They even have a cozy little corner filled with cute toys and books to keep kids happily entertained while parents enjoy their coffee. Such a thoughtful touch. Wednesday story time is absolutely adorable.
Friendly people, amazing food, and a space that truly feels like a community. I can't recommend Mey Café enough!“

“Best coffee by far in this part of Berkeley“

“Best coffee and croissant I’ve ever had. The opening barista Ben is also super nice and personable. Eventually it would be awesome if this place upgraded to a larger venue with in-door seating but, for the space they have, they make the absolute most of it.

Had to dock a couple points for atmosphere since the shop is five feet from a busy roadway (but if you arrive early enough then there’s usually no cars driving by). Please save a croissant for me. <3“

“The Mexican hot chocolate was authentic and tasted like an elevated version of my childhood hot chocolate. The maple scone was slightly moist and not too sweet which was a pleasant surprise. The vibe was intimate and calm, but also nice enough to study. Customer service was kind and to the point. Will be returning!“

“I love their strawberry iced matcha and what i love the most is that they have LACTOSE FREE MILK OPTION!!
I also like their topping option of STAR MANGO JELLY so gooooood! Their Bahn-mi Sandwich is also really good as well!
I love coming here! I hope they can add on organic matcha option later.“

“Thank you Third Culture for satisfying my gluten-free cravings, for your wonderful service and staff, and for your commitment to your community. Wenter and Sam rock!“

“🙃Came to visit and didn't know what to expect but I'm glad that I did! Some of the best Lattes I had in the Bay Area and the ambiance is really nice and relaxing. The people here are what makes the place thrive and people love to come back again and again because of it! 😋“

“Friendly staff🥰, best bagel in the states🥯“

“The womlettes are delicious! the teas are great too. Definitely recommend "party at the beach"“

“it's a great place, especially if you're looking for a place to work and eat/drink“

“Not too sweet and great place to hang out!!!“

“Stopped for breakfast one morning; what a delight! Tasty filling on a scrumptious bagel. The sight of all the donuts and pastries had us vowing to return. Which we did, scoring a box of various donuts and pastries and the biggest croissants I’ve ever seen. Definitely worth a return visit.“

“Good selection of foods, drinks, and games. Good prices. Friendly service. They need better ventilation or air filters for the cooking smoke, not good for people to sit in that or the staff. Busy, not too many seats indoors, but there’s indoor and outdoor options. Lots of people playing games, fun spot.“

“I recently visited this restaurant and had a really good experience overall. The atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable, with a nice balance between casual and stylish. It’s a great spot whether you’re going with friends or just grabbing a quick meal.“

“Operated like a mom and point coffee joint even with the big brand name. Coffee is great and next door you NEED to get a pastry at Fournee.“

“muy rico el caffe y muy amables las personas que te atienden“

“had a nice brunch before class started and was on a budget, cashier was sweet and recommended me a nice sandwich and i tried a smoothie which was way better than expected, workers were all sweet and i sat for a bit while waiting for my next class to start, will come back again“

“Great coffee and elegant atmosphere. $195 for a manual Brewer? $85 for tin coffee pot? I think I'll pass.“