This coffee is good. I especially like the mocha. Service is...miss. Last three times I came in it was just a barista at the counter busy making coffee. Last Sunday I waited about 5 mins expecting someone else to take my order. Eventually the barista rang me up. There were others in the back but none of them came out to assist the lone worker. Today was the same deal. Lone barista with a line of 5 people waiting to order. I guess the barista is expected to make the coffee and take orders? Not sure what the others in the back do. I was in a hurry today so I just went to a nearby Pete's. I like the location. It's well situated and has outdoor seating. Oddly quiet tho. A lot of folks working on their laptops. I tried for a bit but their WiFi isn't great.
Sami R.
I've always enjoyed the service and coffee here! Sandwiches are pricey but so good so I still get them. I'm not sure how often they do this but I bought a bag of coffee and got a drink for free once and that was nice. It's very open and roomy so plenty of space to do some work. Big windows to let light in and parking was too hard to find.
john s.
Outstanding coffee. Bean selection, roasting process and coffee preparation! Very skillful staff who are friendly and helpful.
Cindy L.
My new favorite coffee shop. I went back a few times to try out the food items on their menu and was not disappointed. The açaí bowl had the perfect consistency. It was cold enough that it didn't melt and had a sherbet texture but not too hard where it was all ice. It was a nice tangy flavor but not too sour. However I do wish that it came with more honey and granola. EVERYONE GO GET THE WAFFLE! Usually waffles make my tongue feel kinda scratchy and I don't want to keep eating it but not this one. This waffle was crispy on the outside but super soft on the inside. It actually comes with chocolate chip and peanut butter sauce but I felt like that was too many flavors so I took them out, and it was perfect. The syrup was not too solidified that it didn't come out but not too watery that it was just water and spilled everywhere. Even after adding a generous amount of the syrup to the waffle, it wasn't overtly soggy and was still delicious. It comes with bananas and strawberries which I wish were juicier but honestly not bad. Their whipped cream is super light and paired super well with the cinnamon sugar. I ordered my usual winter spice latte and it was amazing as usual. This time I also ordered an iced mocha and it was delicious and frothy. As a mocha lover I approve. This place never disappoints. Just wished it opened later so I could work there longer.
Arthur Glauberman
While visiting our daughter who lives nearby, we have been loving the menu and the ambiance of the Big House Beans on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. Jensen has always gone out of his way to make suggestions of the house specials and we have been consistently impressed with the delicious foods well as their fantastic coffees!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill E.
Terrific food, service, and atmosphere for a nice relaxed breakfast. Fast friendly service, delicious dark roast. Daughter’s latte was a work of art. And breakfast sandwiches are awesome. Awe inspiring backstory. Founder & his spouse are creating opportunities for others facing challenges finding employment, without compromising on a world-class customer experience. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pour Over, Breakfast Sandwich
Darlene Baxter
What a great coffee spot! Trendy, clean, fun open space to socialize with friends or go solo and get some work out of the way! Friendly eager staff patient and available to answer any and all questions. Don’t forget those amazing pastries with turimic latte
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Felipe Q.
Came here my first day after moving to the neighborhood and ordered a breakfast sandwich + latte and was impressed with the coffee. The sandwich was pretty good but I wouldn't reorder only because I'd want to try something else. The service was great and the ambience is so nice. I hope to return soon and read a book and enjoy the vibes
Samir Jain
Fantastic coffee and vibes here
Kyvan Elep
Spent $7 for an oat milk latte, a relaxing atmosphere to get some work done, and hot office gossip from eavesdropping across the tables.
We ordered takeout breakfast and coffees and pastries from Big House Beans today for a work offsite and it was wonderful! The variety of coffees folks could choose from (golden latte, honey lavender latte, oat milk latte, etc.) and the breakfast options (bagel with lox, acai bowl with fruit, avocado toast with fried onions on top) and the assortment of pastries (bear claw, coffee cake/muffin, cinnamon roll, sesame croissant, savory croissant with bacon, some deliciousness with flaky dough and hazelnuts in the center) - all were delicious! I walked from Temescal Works up three blocks to Big House Beans during a break and was immediately drawn to the cute space and the pictures of other items I did not get to try. I will be back to try their GF waffle with strawberries - if it's as good as everything else I tried today, yum! PS: I only later learned about their social mission to provide employment for folks who have experienced hardship in their lives. All the more reason to support Big House Beans!
Kels Fuller
The cafe was cozy, trendy, and the staff was nice. However, the service was incredibly slow. The barista moved with a zero sense of urgency. He moved around as though he was in his pajamas at home making coffee for himself. He made one drink at a time. The wait time was crazy. Perhaps it was his first day which would make sense. The lady at the register took her time as well. She did expedite the coffee tickets, again, without a sense of urgency. There were 5 people in line and it took 15 + minutes to take our orders. Maybe I caught them on an off day. The kitchen moved faster.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Alexi Mavrellis
So let me get this straight, you are a coffee shop but there is 1 outlet in sight which ends up looking like Clark Griswolds main connection point of all his lights. Only one outlet in the entire place.
Atmosphere: 1
John Harris
Great working cafe. Not much ambience and customers are all heads down in their laptops. But service is quick, friendly, with good
This coffee is good. I especially like the mocha. Service is...miss. Last three times I came in it was just a barista at the counter busy making coffee. Last Sunday I waited about 5 mins expecting someone else to take my order. Eventually the barista rang me up. There were others in the back but none of them came out to assist the lone worker. Today was the same deal. Lone barista with a line of 5 people waiting to order. I guess the barista is expected to make the coffee and take orders? Not sure what the others in the back do. I was in a hurry today so I just went to a nearby Pete's. I like the location. It's well situated and has outdoor seating. Oddly quiet tho. A lot of folks working on their laptops. I tried for a bit but their WiFi isn't great.
I've always enjoyed the service and coffee here! Sandwiches are pricey but so good so I still get them. I'm not sure how often they do this but I bought a bag of coffee and got a drink for free once and that was nice. It's very open and roomy so plenty of space to do some work. Big windows to let light in and parking was too hard to find.
Outstanding coffee. Bean selection, roasting process and coffee preparation! Very skillful staff who are friendly and helpful.
My new favorite coffee shop. I went back a few times to try out the food items on their menu and was not disappointed. The açaí bowl had the perfect consistency. It was cold enough that it didn't melt and had a sherbet texture but not too hard where it was all ice. It was a nice tangy flavor but not too sour. However I do wish that it came with more honey and granola. EVERYONE GO GET THE WAFFLE! Usually waffles make my tongue feel kinda scratchy and I don't want to keep eating it but not this one. This waffle was crispy on the outside but super soft on the inside. It actually comes with chocolate chip and peanut butter sauce but I felt like that was too many flavors so I took them out, and it was perfect. The syrup was not too solidified that it didn't come out but not too watery that it was just water and spilled everywhere. Even after adding a generous amount of the syrup to the waffle, it wasn't overtly soggy and was still delicious. It comes with bananas and strawberries which I wish were juicier but honestly not bad. Their whipped cream is super light and paired super well with the cinnamon sugar. I ordered my usual winter spice latte and it was amazing as usual. This time I also ordered an iced mocha and it was delicious and frothy. As a mocha lover I approve. This place never disappoints. Just wished it opened later so I could work there longer.
While visiting our daughter who lives nearby, we have been loving the menu and the ambiance of the Big House Beans on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. Jensen has always gone out of his way to make suggestions of the house specials and we have been consistently impressed with the delicious foods well as their fantastic coffees!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Terrific food, service, and atmosphere for a nice relaxed breakfast. Fast friendly service, delicious dark roast. Daughter’s latte was a work of art. And breakfast sandwiches are awesome. Awe inspiring backstory. Founder & his spouse are creating opportunities for others facing challenges finding employment, without compromising on a world-class customer experience. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pour Over, Breakfast Sandwich
What a great coffee spot! Trendy, clean, fun open space to socialize with friends or go solo and get some work out of the way! Friendly eager staff patient and available to answer any and all questions. Don’t forget those amazing pastries with turimic latte
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here my first day after moving to the neighborhood and ordered a breakfast sandwich + latte and was impressed with the coffee. The sandwich was pretty good but I wouldn't reorder only because I'd want to try something else. The service was great and the ambience is so nice. I hope to return soon and read a book and enjoy the vibes
Fantastic coffee and vibes here
Spent $7 for an oat milk latte, a relaxing atmosphere to get some work done, and hot office gossip from eavesdropping across the tables.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great coffees. Great service. Wonderful idea!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We ordered takeout breakfast and coffees and pastries from Big House Beans today for a work offsite and it was wonderful! The variety of coffees folks could choose from (golden latte, honey lavender latte, oat milk latte, etc.) and the breakfast options (bagel with lox, acai bowl with fruit, avocado toast with fried onions on top) and the assortment of pastries (bear claw, coffee cake/muffin, cinnamon roll, sesame croissant, savory croissant with bacon, some deliciousness with flaky dough and hazelnuts in the center) - all were delicious! I walked from Temescal Works up three blocks to Big House Beans during a break and was immediately drawn to the cute space and the pictures of other items I did not get to try. I will be back to try their GF waffle with strawberries - if it's as good as everything else I tried today, yum! PS: I only later learned about their social mission to provide employment for folks who have experienced hardship in their lives. All the more reason to support Big House Beans!
The cafe was cozy, trendy, and the staff was nice. However, the service was incredibly slow. The barista moved with a zero sense of urgency. He moved around as though he was in his pajamas at home making coffee for himself. He made one drink at a time. The wait time was crazy. Perhaps it was his first day which would make sense. The lady at the register took her time as well. She did expedite the coffee tickets, again, without a sense of urgency. There were 5 people in line and it took 15 + minutes to take our orders. Maybe I caught them on an off day. The kitchen moved faster.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
So let me get this straight, you are a coffee shop but there is 1 outlet in sight which ends up looking like Clark Griswolds main connection point of all his lights. Only one outlet in the entire place.
Atmosphere: 1
Great working cafe. Not much ambience and customers are all heads down in their laptops. But service is quick, friendly, with good
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5