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“

“Love this little shop! So convenient and they always have fun seasonal flavors like basil syrup. I normally do some sort of matcha and theirs is one of the best in the area. Made properly and with customizable sweetness. The baristas here are always super friendly and quick as well!“

“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 !“

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

“Best coffee ☕️ and the best service“

“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!!!“

“The best place ever. Love them ❤️ 💕“

“Ariana is absolute perfection! The espresso-grade coffee here is incredible, but honestly, Ariana's warmth and energy are what make this place a must-visit every single time.

My only wish list item for management: Please add breakfast burritos to the menu, and join the movement to stop charging extra for oat milk!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Popped in here before a game at Oracle Stadium. Devi and Kiki went above and beyond while I was in. Smaller location so food menu is limited but still great choices! Got the Teamosa and Dirty Diana and they exceeded my expectations. Picture is of the Teamosa. Also have a loyalty program for points! 10/10 will come back.“

“Best avocado toast evah! I love it“

“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!“

“On one of the cutest streets in SF, very fun to window shop. The cafe is beautiful inside. Lots of nice small brand goods you can buy. I ordered the green smoothie and it was awesome. I’m super picky with smoothies - this one had a thick, smoothie texture, great flavor, and not too sweet at all. And good nutritional content.

I’m knocking a star bc $20 is insane for a smoothie, and if you get any add-ins they are $5 each 🫣“

“This place is truly a little hidden gem, it is such a nice environment to get a drink or a snack. The plants are everywhere and make the place feel so whimsy and cozy.
We got the churro mochi muffin which was unexpectedly amazing. I loved the texture and it’s truly the best balance between a muffin and a mochi.“

“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!!!“

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

“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!😍☕️“

“Sweetest people work here! I was running to a meeting and wanted to grab something quick. I'd placed an empanada order online, but when I got there, it wasn't ready yet. The person explained that it had split in the oven and offered me another filling of my choice. In the end, he gave me both, which I thought was really sweet.

The onion empanada was excellent, and the Mediterranean one didn't disappoint either. My only wish is that service was a bit faster, especially for online orders. I'll definitely be back!“

“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“

“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 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.“

“Great service Clean Food was amazing“

“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“

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

“Great pastries and coffee!“

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

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

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

“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!“

“The best place ever. Love them ❤️ 💕“

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

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

“The staff at this coffee shop are incredibly friendly and easy to talk to. They’re great at teaching you how to make your own coffee and find the perfect drink for you. I’ve been a regular here for a while now, and they know exactly what I want every morning. If you’re in the area, stop by and grab yourself a cup of coffee. The owner is always happy to chat with you.“

“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.“

“Love everything there. My fave! ❤️“

“Came here to check out Tierra Mia in Oakland on Broadway and it definitely lives up to the hype. The vibe inside is super chill—rustic but modern, really spacious with plenty of seating, and just a great overall atmosphere to relax or get some work done.

The drinks are next level if you like Latin inspired specialty coffee. The Horchata Frappe is a total standout, perfectly blended, refreshing, and has that authentic scratch made taste. If you want something hot, the Coco Loco Latte is incredible with a really rich, tropical coconut flavor that pairs perfectly with their espresso.

You also can't skip the pastry case. The Hazelnut Kouign Amann is an absolute must try, super flaky, buttery, and the hazelnut filling adds the perfect amount of sweetness.

Service was super friendly and fast, and they have reliable Wi-Fi too. If you’re in the area and want a great coffee spot with an awesome environment, this place is definitely a must visit.“

“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.“

“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…!“

“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....“

“Great pastries and coffee!“

“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.“

“The place is very conducive to drink coffee.“

“I come here for lattes and they never disappoint. They have the best latte hands down. Great tasting coffee. I’ve gone to other “good ones” and other hole in the wall type cafes but they have never impressed me. This one takes the gold.“