50 Best Coffee Roasters near Emeryville

“Excellent Coffee with Above-and-Beyond Customer Service.

Recently moved to the East Bay area and was looking for a reliable roaster with a blend that is dark but not bitter, chocolatey but not overly fruity, and not sour. I looked up roasters in my area, walked up to their locations, tried their coffee, and picked up their dark roasts. I didn't ask my barista for a recommendation because the Highwire location I visited didn't feel particularly warm or welcoming.

That's when I discovered Shadow Play, which my household lovingly calls “Shadowfax”. It was everything my coffee should be: dark but not bitter, chocolatey but not fruity or sour, and the best part was that it was consistent across my Moccacamaster, pour over, or Aeropress (as long as I used the right grind size). I can't say the same about my other local roaster (I won't signal which one): different grinds/processes and entirely different flavor profiles from the exact same bean/batch.

But I honestly did not like buying the beans from my local location, so I wanted to get it shipped from the likes of drinktrade.com; that's when I discovered Highwire has a subscription model where they ship freshly roasted beans every week to my doorstep, and they do throw in a discount, so even after shipping costs, the total amounts to the same as buying in-person.

Things were fine the first week, but then a funny thing happened: USPS decided my freshly roasted East Bay beans needed a cross-country detour through New Jersey before finding their way back to me. I was not amused. I shot off a slightly irritated note to Highwire expecting either silence or a form response.

Instead, Steve from production wrote back within the hour, on a Sunday, and offered to personally drop off fresh beans at my place on his way home from the roastery. Which he did. No fanfare, no coupon code, no customer service script. Just a person who cares about the coffee he makes reaching out to make it right.

That's when I stopped being a customer and became an advocate.

Shadow Play is excellent coffee. Steve and the team at Highwire are the reason I'll keep drinking it. In an era when most businesses treat customers as numbers, Highwire still operates like a neighborhood roaster that actually knows what good coffee means and why it matters.

If you're looking for a roaster in the East Bay, stop looking.“

“Good coffees, responsive customer service, reasonable prices compared to most online coffee sellers“

“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!!!“

“By far the best coffee in my opinion. Not only do they have the best coffee, but their customer service is absolutely amazing. Olga and the entire team always make sure to treat every customer with nothing but respect and smiles. The staff goes above and beyond to make sure every customer is happy. Must try coffee.“

“Amazing local roastery by two founders. Ben and Santana are a great duo who offer complementary tasting on their blends, and snacks too! Ben makes an amazing to latte, holy smokes!

Free wifi and chill vibes all around. Come check out their beans and space!

Thanks, you two!“

“Just tasted their coffee for the first time, and WOW! Had their dark French roast at a restaurant. It was SO good that only had to add a little cream and sugar. I definitely recommend this coffee!!!“

“Motivat did the barista services for a private event I attended. The coffee was delicious, full bodied with tons of flavor. Later on I had a Chai Latte, creamy and very flavorful. Customer service was top notch, friendly and efficient. Really impressed with how professional this company is. Highly recommend this business!“

“I like what they offer and they have good info on their products.“

“the place is very nice plus the view across the street is like a gigantic mirror ! you should see it for yourself !!! it really is something to look at while having your coffee.... it is spectacular !!!! and of course, the staff were super sweet !“

“I personally love this coffee and drink it every single day. However, the true worth of this coffee and the brand is the staff. Even though the world has been incredibly difficult to work and thrive in, they still work at a high level. Their professionalism and competence can be tasted in each and every cup. Thank you.“

“My favorite drink at Abanico is Pinolillo, which is a traditional Nicaraguan drink made from cacao. Delicious and frothy and yummy with Almond milk.“

“The best place ever. Love them ❤️ 💕“

“Best coffee ☕️ and the best service“

“I’m highly recommend it ..I’m here every day“

“I just discovered this place and it’s such a hidden gem! Ariana who works at the front is so lovely and literally memorized my name after I had gone maybe 2-3 times. The coffee is super high quality (reminds me of Saint Franks) and is in a lovely little hidden corner. I’m definitely a regular now!“

“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.“

“Best addition to the neighborhood. Love the drinks, the food, and the service. I’ve tried the bacon and chorizo waffles - both are buttery and delicious. I highly recommend the garlic bun and the sweet potato pie if you get the chance before they sell out! I’ve tried lots of the drinks, but my favorite is the laid back lemon cayx as an espresso soda. Such a unique and refreshing drink! The folks working are personable and kind.“

“We love this little shop. Cute space for sitting and working, and the shaken espresso is the best espresso drink I’ve ever had. It’s what I am asking for every time I ask for something flavored to be half or a quarter sweet: perfect deep coffee flavor with out being bitter.“

“I popped in here by chance on my way to the pier and can I just say the coffee is exceptional. I feel like most coffee places now churn out coffee that isn’t of great quality. These guys really stood out to me. I would 100 per cent recommend this coffee and they do delicious Empanadas too. It is well worth your visit.
The service is lovely too. They are really helpful and were willing to cook me a veggie version that wasn’t available at the time.“

“Sanaa Cafe offers an excellent selection of coffee, desserts, and delicious Fatayer. The atmosphere is truly unique, featuring authentic Yemeni architecture and Coffee. It is a perfect environment for productivity; it’s inviting, bring your laptop and work while enjoying a Sanaa Adani Chai or a Pistachio Mocha. I also highly recommend trying our delicious pistachio cheesecake.“

“Best avocado toast evah! I love it“

“This place has been open for a whole year and I'm just now visiting! I ordered the bananas foster latte, hot per Lena's recommendation and it was so good. They have a bunch more yummy flavors and I look forward to coming back to try more. They have food options here as well, a beautiful spacious interior with plenty of seating, and lots of community flyers and events up. Really nice place to work or just kick it. RnB music bumping too. Thank you Soul Blends!“

“I order my Highwire Coffee online, being that I live in Nevada City. While I love my local Foxhound Coffee, I found that Highwire's 'Bauhaus' coffee is beyond exceptional and I have to have both Bauhaus and my local coffee in order to function properly!😍☕️“

“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.“

“Temo's Cafe - the place, the people, where you find good coffee, a smile, understandig and, if needed, helping hand. Lamea is an angel...was our angel... long time ago. We never will forget you, Lamea, and your open heart... And your nice, lovely family ... A kiss and a hug from Petra and Anna“

“Nice small coffee shop, the coffee is quite good. They can improve their hours, my only gripe is that they don't open till 8 which makes it hard to get coffee from them in the morning. Overall the coffee is good, I have been there a few times“

“Progeny’s coffee changed my life ! The quality is incredible and the company is the only one that truly helps farmers in their process.“

“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!“

“Great service Clean Food was amazing“

“This coffee place is from far the BEST in the mission district. I live in the Nob hill and walk all the way to Grand Coffee II for their flat white and for the smiles of the baristas !“

“I live their expert roasts!“

“Good food and atmosphere. But please staff, remove your masks! It's not necessary !“

“Great pastries and coffee!“

“Great selection very fast shipping secure packaging and nice people“

“Really good coffees and pastries. They need one more person at peak times. Glad it’s gotten popular w all the dog folks.“

“I’m not a coffee maven, but the tea and sweets were excellent. (My friends who appreciate good coffee say that it’s excellent as well.) Good service, even in the face of an exacting clientele.“

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

“Great tasting coffee and vibes from this little coffee shop! The customer service is spectacular and there is a nice little seating area to stop and have a chat or work a bit. The food also looks great which I have yet to try but one day may grab a pastry. Highly recommend the burnt cinnamon latte or iced blackstrap latte. Delish!!“

“A damn fine cup of coffee! ☕ I've heard this called the best coffee in SF and honestly, I may agree. Small, snug spot plus chill and approachable staff made my visit feel cozy. Despite no indoor seating, there were still ceramic mug options! I got a maple Americano in a mug (so kind of small) and it was the creamiest coffee drink I've had. Definitely a must for fans of that espresso crema.“

“great tasting coffee with robust flavors, very satisfied, going to be a regular customer now that our search for a good coffee is over✌💖🙏✊“

“Very good and very perfectic. San Francisco coffee ☕ and burger 🍔 fast food Restaurant has all it takes to make your day. So quickly rush and have your own coffee ☕ and burger 🍔 🍔 @ ADNOC PETROL ⛽ station MADINAT ZAYED BY LIWA ROAD ABU DHABI. ..... Believe Me, You Can't Beat the Test....“

“The staff is always very friendly. I showed up yesterday exactly at 4:58 pm, and one of the staff members was kind enough to let me in and order. I always have a positive experience whenever I go and the coffee of course is so good and the price is reasonable in my opinion compared to other places“

“Linea Roastery on Mariposa is my go-to for fresh roasted beans. The beans are always high quality, and their espresso drinks are consistently excellent. They also often have flash sales for 50% off, which is a huge bonus. Really solid spot for both coffee beans and a dependable espresso drink.“

“Love everything there. My fave! ❤️“

“Great pastries and coffee!“

“Whoa! Who knew this cool little cafe made food like that???

My buddy & I shared a Brisket sandwich- juicy, savory & delicious - French Toast (buttery croissant dough!!) & the most insanely good home made yogurt w granola (also home/house made). A perfect 2 person brunch. Don’t hesitate…!“

“The best place ever. Love them ❤️ 💕“

“What a lovely spot. The atmosphere here is absolutely wonderful: beautiful lighting, warm, inviting, and a perfect place to settle in for a while. I spent a couple of hours working and it was such a comfortable, inspiring space.

The people are incredibly friendly, and the woman working today was especially kind and helpful, which made the experience even better.

The food and drinks were outstanding. The French toast casserole was hands down the best I’ve ever had—truly delicious—and the crème brûlée latte was amazing.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for great food, excellent coffee, and a welcoming place to relax or get some work done.“

“Ritual Coffee Roasters is awesome. Listen, I first heard about them randomly through some passing mention from Adam Savage (formerly of Mythbusters) in one of his YouTube videos. I happened to be on the hunt for better options, so I decided to give them a try. They’re a local coffee shop in San Francisco with 3 or 4 locations, but they do offer their coffee to order and ship. It was VERY good coffee, so even though it’s a little pricey compared to grocery store coffee, I started a small monthly subscription with them. No regrets! I’ve been very happy with their seasonal varieties. Well this month their shipment has disappeared inside the USPS somewhere. I called them to ask if they could help figure it out, and after looking it up and confirming they were lost with no resolution in sight they said no problem they’ll just send a whole new shipment out expedited to me, on them, no charge. If the others do show up, great, keep those bags, too. I know it’s “just coffee” and just a couple bags somewhere, but that kind of responsive, customer-first service isn’t exactly common anymore. Right now I’m subsisting on an old bag of nasty Starbucks French roast and have been eagerly awaiting a package that may never arrive. If you like coffee, DEFINITELY give them a shot. I can recommend them with no reservations!“