50 Best Coffee Shops near El Sobrante

“Beautiful space, wonderful addition to the community. Big fan of the grab and go section. However, I've visited over 5 times, and each time I found the drinks to be lackluster with much room for improvement. In my experience, the iced drinks are served with mostly melted ice and not enough ice. Every time I've visited, I've had to ask for an additional cup of ice to chill my beverage. I respect the vision and mission, and would love to see them invest in barista training.“

“I was dying from Dunkin’ Donuts in the east coast. Finally an independent owned donut shop I can come, order, relax and even do some work/studying in. The workers are awesome. Make sure you bring cash. Debit/credit has a $10 minimum!“

“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!“

“It is close to Ashby Bart Station. They have all kinds of sweets and drinks too. I like the decorations too.“

“Espresso is consistently amazing, never bitter, never burnt. The two owner brothers bake everything themselves overnight!! So every morning you’re greeted with cases full of fresh, beautifully crafted pastries.
Don’t miss the coffee noisette, the horseshoe pastry and the petite four cookies.
Get there early – their croissants are truly exceptional and often sell out! Thank you, guys!“

“Came in for brunch and had the foul here...was BOMB!! As an Eritrean who did not normally care for foul I have had my mind changed completely after eating here. Go support this local family business. Good vibes good food and good people 👌🏾😋“

“My friend had been telling me about this place for months, and I finally went. It's as great as she said! The coffee (well, I had a Chai) was delicious and so were the pastries. They also sell a small variety of items - prepared grab and go food & drinks, jams, and more! The vibe is awesome. It's cute inside & out, with lovely outdoor space on the front patio or back. It reminds me of the coffee houses in Portland (houses w/ tables set up in different rooms).
To top off how great they are on a normal day, when I absentmindedly left my purse just before they closed, they called back to confirm it was there & safely held on to it until my friend could pick it up for me the next morning.“

“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.“

“Lovely cafe and excellent chocolate shop. I love coming here with my friends or to buy fancy gifts. I love that working on your computer while at the cafe is restricted to weekdays only to encourage a more social atmosphere over the weekend. There is some but limited indoor and outdoor seating. My only complaint is that the prices aren't listed on the chocolates for sale.“

“This place is the best! Keeps it simple: Pastrami sandos and a few other items; all done well; always ready when you get there to pick it up.

Folks who work there are super friendly. Couldn't ask for a better sandwich shop. Plus they're open early so you can grab and go on the way to work. Dad's Mustard is my choice, but no choice is wrong at this spot.“

“Best specialty coffee shop in the bay area, hands down. For pourover enthusiasts, it doesn't get any better.

Whether you're deep into pourover or need an alt-milk latte, these guys deliver in an uncompromising, intimate setting with a super focused menu. I think you gotta enjoy this now before they blow up and scale up.

They're rotating globally top-tier coffee brands like Tim Wendelboe and Big Sur, while also being a micro-roaster themselves with a specialization in Chinese origin coffee. The curation is second to none, everything is superb.

Pourover and espresso are all faultless. The gear on the bar is all unmatched and cutting-edge, think Dragonfly and Orea drippers and I've actually seen them brew with (not cheap at all) Sibarist Fast filters.

The cups are absolutely dialed in with hyper clarity. These are real-deal pourover gods. The milk drinks are so elegant that you can pick anything and be sure it'll be good.

I could go on and on... but will just say this is the finest specialty coffee experience in the bay right now. Oh, and they're super nice guys.“

“Finally got to try this spot and can say that the matcha quality is very good! The hojicha as well was toasty and nutty (aside from the sesame that blended with it so well). The service was also very pleasant and helpful. Definitely will stop by to try other matcha and hojicha types.“

“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.“

“HERCULES is a great place to live crime rate is low compared to other cities . But it would help a lot to encourage neighborhood watch “ MODESTY ASIDE I DO . I have knocked to several houses esp when I was still working swing shift I kept my eyes open n still doing it if garages are open when I go hone from work n 1 time called the police station when 1 of the neighbor’s garage was opened n no one answered when I knocked her door . Let’s have a neighborhood watch all over “ HERCULES THIS IS OUR HOME AND WE HAVE PROTECT IT AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVES HERE . OUR CITY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE TOUGH LIKE ( MANILA PHILIPPINES ) MAYOR FRANCISCO DOMOGOSO HE MADE N MAKING MANILA A NICE PLACE TO LIVE IN . MANILA IS HOW MANY TIMES BIGGER THAN HERCULES !! HE WAS JUST A MAYOR FOR 7 MOS BUT MADE A LOT OF CHANGES NO WONDER PEOPLE LOVE HIM SO MUCH NOT ONLY IN MANILA BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD .“

“What a truly wonderful experience. My husband and I stumbled upon Im Moment Kaffee by total coincidence on our way to a Ballers game, and it is a total gem. The owner is such a warm, kind soul—she was so incredibly patient and sweet while my toddler ordered. The atmosphere is amazing, filled with great music and a welcoming vibe. You can taste the care in their food and drinks; the breakfast sandwiches are made in-house, and the coffee is incredible and deeply rooted in culture. They even went above and beyond to make me an off-menu iced cardamom latte, which was absolute perfection.“

“I like to sit at the sidewalk tables in the morning with the sun shining and I always enjoy the friendly banter w staff. Try the Wu Wei tea! Wu Wei. You could look it up :) And the cortado! Peace.“

“This is real chai. The only time I’ve ever tasted chai like this was when my Sikh friends from the UK made it and shared their recipe with me. This is not your pre-made chai mix from a typical coffee shop. This is AUTHENTIC CHAI. Didn’t know I could taste chai like this at a cafe. Wow. Love love love.“

“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“

“Sway worked closely with us to host a successful event at the Codi space in San Francisco. The central location in Embarcadero 3 provided easy access for our guests, and the unique ambiance of Codi Space, with its high ceilings and surrounding windows, created a memorable experience.

Our event hosted 65 people, and we had plenty of space to eat, drink, talk, and listen to the presentation. There are nice wooden tables in a variety of sizes and around 80 chairs that are yours to use and can be moved around to your liking. Adam, the owner of Sway, offered top-notch customer service, responding quickly to our many questions.

An added bonus was that Sway provided an employee, Ishaan, to be onsite to assist with the setup and kickoff, ensuring a smooth and stress-free start to our event. We had access to the space all day and night. They represent many locations in the Bay Area, which will be helpful in the future.

We look forward to hosting another event with you.

Thank you for your help Adam and crew!

Cheers to you,

Meg Lynch Wiskind
Petaluma“

“My latte was an absolute delight: rich, foamy, and brimming with flavor, the perfect companion for a long catch up with an old friend. And the almond croissant…oh, the almond croissant! Flaky, perfectly sweet, and honestly the best I’ve ever had. Surrounded by greenery and the gentle hum of fellow coffee lovers, it felt like a tiny whimsical escape from the everyday.“

“Just discovered this place. The foos was great and so was the service“

“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!“

“And a wonderful Yoly who is very welcoming, has a great laugh and makes good food and coffee👏😘👍“

“Hizcafe is a wonderful spot in Hercules, perfectly located by the waterfront with beautiful bay views and a welcoming outdoor atmosphere. The shaded patio is dog-friendly and ideal for relaxing with a drink while enjoying the scenic surroundings.
The drink menu is excellent, offering a range of rich and robust coffee options—from classic espresso drinks to indulgent lattes and macchiatos. Tea lovers will find a nice selection of teas, and there are also refreshing cold beverages available. Every drink is crafted with care, making Hizcafe a great place to start your day or unwind in the afternoon.
While there’s no indoor seating, WiFi, or restrooms, the friendly staff and peaceful outdoor setting make Hizcafe a standout choice for anyone seeking quality drinks and a relaxing environment by the water.“

“Great local and family owned coffee shop. It's small but we appreciated the space and the wonderful service very friendly and she made our breakfast sandwiches to order. They take cash, Venmo, and Zelle just a heads up but that wasn't an issue for us. Would highly recommend to anyone.“

“The vegan banh mi was so flavorful and satisfying. The tofu is really well seasoned with some kind of five spice-adjacent flavoring, the daikon and carrot pickles are crunchy and the perfect mix of sweet and sour, and they add some kind of crunchy condiment to the sandwich that is both incredibly flavorful and also adds an amazing texture to each bite. The bread is also really nice, both in texture and flavor. One of the tastiest vegan banh mi I've had in a long time.“

“Incredible service. On a cold Sunday morning, Janette is dedicated to the community. Keeping us caffeinated and fed. There are a lot of food options as well as some seating area inside and outside on a little patio. A very well kept secret. The drinks are great too with rose lattes and mochas and delicious cappuccinos.

Definitely stop in and try this place and don't let the hours sway you because they may just be open!“

“Wow! As a vegan with a non vegan coffee connoisseur, we both left fully satisfied. So peaceful, can sit down and have a coffee. I can’t believe all the pastry options they had for vegans and you can even go to the bakery next door as well“

“Great service Clean Food was amazing“

“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.“

“Gem of a neighborhood coffee shop! Excellent coffee and very friendly staff. Only downside is that seating is limited, it’s always so crowded and hard to snag a table. It’s become my new favorite to walk to in the morning especially if you live in the elmwood/college ave area“

“Awesome place to shop! My “go to” produce market for incredibly fresh produce, fruits and dry goods. Great meat and fish market. Superb bakery. Excellent wine shop, And Market Hall pasta shop/main market is simply amazing in SO many ways. Plus, super easy parking and good hours ... important to me and a for real plus. Love this place!!!“

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

“My wife and I stumbled into Drift for the first time last Sunday while spending the weekend in Wilmington for a comedy show I did. Absolute great coffee and a fantastic brunch. Bought a bag of beans for home, and the coffee I’ve had the last two days is out of this world. The coffee is rich and flavorful. I can’t wait to get back to Wilmington so I can go to Drift. Java Junkie approved! Thanks, Beau Johnson Java Junkie Comedy @bjohnsoncomedy“

“I grew up with an Argentinian family for a brief period so I had to come check this place out. I lucked out with parking right near the restaurant. Really loved the vibe inside! Staff were friendly, service was swift. I ordered two empanadas, and a smoothie. Everything was delicious! I will definitely be making a stop before I head back home to Los Angeles. Cute little place with some of the best empanadas I’ve had the pleasure of tasting.“

“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.“

“The BEST coffee I've ever had outside of Italy. A variety of rich, complex, nuanced roasts, plus a strong freshly brewed cup in-store. I have loved and been loyal to them since 1988 (formerly Royal, where the kind owner Michael was a baristo)“

“This place is always great when I run out of time to eat and gotta get on the road.
They're always fast and their food and drinks are good.
Now it's pretty simple stuff, but it gets the job done and it means I'm supporting a local business, so I feel good about it.
The staff are always nice and fast, I love them!“

“It was the first Peet’s !!“

“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.“

“Great, unique drinks and friendly staff. Fantastic place to sit alone or converse with locals. Very warm and friendly atmosphere!“

“Excellent food and customer service from the staff and owners Dave and Carol. Best red chicken curry and chili!“

“I found this gem on my way to Vallejo and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! This has an Oakland vibe, the smoothie was all organic, the açai bowl was fresh, and I could tell they probably source their ingredients locally. I loved the music as well! Finally, the shop itself had a cozy vibe. Love this place and will be back!“

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

“Best breakfast burrito I've ever had.“

“I live their expert roasts!“

“I realize vegan isn't trending anymore and so I was concerned that this place would be doing poorly. Went for the first time today and I was so happy to see a line of people ordering bright and early, and going for some of the vegan things. not only was it absolutely excellent (best croissant I've had in a long long time, and certainly best vegan croissant), but it was quick, loads of options, and in a great neighborhood for foodies. My husband had a PB chocolate cookie and I took a bite. Also excellent. The pistachio croissant was too decadent for me, but i feel that way about most sweets. the arroz con leche apricot i felt the apricot overpowered the arroz con leche but to his palate, they were perfect. He also has the ham and cheese croissant (not vegan) and said it was his favorite thing. Grateful for this bakery. Maybe will get a loaf of bread in the future.“

“My favorite Easy Bay cafes for working during lockdown - #1, Hudson Bay One of the things I miss the most during lockdown is having a place to get coffee and work for a while – yes, I know I’m not alone there ;) So I’m going to share my very favorite places to work during lockdown – i.e., cafes that have a fair amount of outdoor seating (and preferably decent Wi-Fi coverage too). The Hudson Bay café was a fairly regular haunt for me during normal times, and during lockdown it’s running pretty well with lots of safety precautions: Perspex screens, sanitizer, and a window counter if you don’t want to walk inside. Staff members were super-friendly as usual and there’s always good music playing (it’s faint outside, so I could just barely hear The Smiths and The Weeknd drifting out through the side door). One thing to note is that the prices are very reasonable – my veggie burrito cost an amazing $7 (or maybe $7.50) – and it had guac in there too! And it was big! I also had an oat milk latte and a slice of pound cake and the whole tab was around $14. For comparison, I paid the same amount at another place this week for a coffee, cookie and plain croissant. Lockdown Stats: • Seating: There are about 6 tables outside and chances are reasonable that you’ll get a spot. If you’re stuck without a seat you can hang out on a bench outside the library across the street. • Bathroom: Another good thing about going to Hudson Bay to drink a lot of coffee – the bathroom is open! It’s surprising how many cafés have no bathroom availability after selling you a big old cup of diuretic! • Hours: Note that they close at 5 pm at the moment, not 6, but they’ll let you linger till maybe 5:30. • Weather: Hudson St. faces southwest, so it’s often pretty warm, even around closing time! • Budget: As mentioned above, Hudson Bay is one of the cheapest places around (esp. on College Ave.) to get lunch. I’m also giving the Hudson Bay Café 4/5 “green stars” for social and environmental impact, based on this: • Very longstanding independent café and community gathering spot. • Coffee beans come from McLaughlin roasters in Emeryville - another East Bay staple. • Some of McLaughlin’s coffee varieties are organic and most are bought directly from cooperatives or family farms that support communities. • It kind of goes without saying that plant-based milks are available – and raw turbinado sugar too. • The menu is a bit more traditional but there are a few veggie and vegan options. I think they’ll also make veggie/vegan mods to a menu item, if you ask, since everything is cooked to order. • There’s not a lot of info available about Hudson Bay’s sourcing of ingredients – my feeling is that the owners want to keep things as unpretentious as possible. Since it’s lockdown I’m not going to bust their balls over it :D • Waste is minimized pretty well, even during lockdown when most places are loading on the plastic. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, please check out the Green Stars Project.“

“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!“