HIGH quality espresso… got the classic latte half caff, oat milk. Incredible taste, no bitterness, not too sweet. WOW. ? wish there was more inside seating. 10/10
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniel Kokin
Not very friendly and no Wifi. There was a cookie and a croissant.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 3
Caleb S
Blown away by the cold brew tasting flight. Comes with sparkling water on the side.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jose M
Their pour over coffee was amazing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Billy Xia
Good coffee, cute decor but pretty bad service. Stood at the counter for a good min as the barista (who was facing me) finished chatting with another guy without even so much giving me a nod. And then the coffee took 10min to come. ??♂️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
J. K.
Good coffees that I could experience.High quality and lot of variety. If you want to explore different coffees, strongly recommend. However, if you want to stay a bit and read a book for some time, this is not the place.Very uncomfortable music selection that sounds like trying to make someone leave soon.Anyways, mixed opinion about the place
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 3
Alexander Boulgakov
This is not the place to come with a laptop or friends and chill. The table layout should make that obvious before you enter.It is a place to taste coffee.A good thing to get is the Espresso Flight (pictured): for $11, it's a great taste journey.I usually go to cafes to work on stuff, and therefore this is not a place I will be visiting regularly, but I highly recommend it if you are searching for a coffee experience. Great staff, great space, great coffee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Espresso Flight
Brandon Valle
If you're looking for an elevated coffee experience look no further! Coffee here is masterfully done, the shop atmosphere and service is top notch. This is a spot to go to for high quality coffee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Liz C.
Excellent quality coffee, and a beautiful shop. The barista helped me pick out a roast that was perfect for my taste too.
Erin M.
There is a lack of Yelp reviewers in Oakland, for coffee specifically. It was so difficult to look for a good, third-wave coffee shop in this area- I had to consult Reddit. I'm sure if you're visiting from out of town, you've also come across this place on Reddit as well. There's some cities where second-wave coffee is super popular - *cough,cough* Seattle, Oakland, maybe even Portland, so that kinda made it harder. This coffee shop seemed to be the only coffee shop in Oakland that- 1. Has several single-origin offerings for pour overs and espresso2. Was in a walkable and not sketchy part of Oakland 3. Serves their coffee drinks in ceramics, to-stay4. Has coffee flights as an option (both espresso and pourover flights!)5. Has beautiful ambianceI'm not bashing any other coffee shops in Oakland, but I was looking for a coffee shop that was on the same level of coffee snobbery as some of the ones in LA (Kumquat, Mandarin Coffee Stand, etc). This seemed to fit the mark. I opted for the single origin espresso which was a natural processed Ethiopian, in both the cortado and the cappuccino. Both were amazing, complex, beautifully pulled shots. The pour over flight was amazing. I loved the peaberry offering the best. As for seating, only one long table inside. Can share amongst two parties of two. There's a cute seating area outside as well. The location is safe, walkable from Lululemon and the Kissel hotel. The ambiance inside is great- they even have a tasting lab inside! And people from this coffee shop have published articles about the chemistry of coffee too! 5/5 stars
Coffee is phenomenal here, delicious and dialed in. Cheap drip coffee is provided for higher accessibility and new S.O options consistently appear. However, what is with the logo? I was extremely insulted walking in and seeing a huge poster of Ganesha holding a coffee cup and tasting spoon…a western rendition and destruction of a deity that really hurt me to see. I read the reasoning for this choice of mascot that is underneath the poster, but that did not make it any better. Still very insulted that it is white run and all of the employees were Caucasian yet my deity—an old, historic, spiritual, and powerful one is used to represent a not Hindu company / service / community / product. I found this very distasteful and disturbing. If you have to leave a sign out explaining your choice of appropriation, why even choose it in the first place? Very disappointed because the coffee and people who work here are awesome but cmon man that is really hurtful and is insulting to see. It’s not okay
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 4
Jennifer J.
This place has all the vibes. I mean it's Oakland. This city has my heart. Some of the best people in the country, but I digress!! Ok, the coffee. Yasss. Delicious.
Eric Garcia
This has become my Sunday ritual. I have still yet to find a better done espresso anywhere else in the world. Their specialty drinks are so creative, beautiful, and tasty too. I feel spoiled having this place so close within walking distance. They also serve Bake Sum pastries (okonomiyaki danish!), and they’re dog friendly too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Espresso Flight
Jonathan Plotzker-Kelly
UPDATE: Owner read my earlier review & issued full refund with apology, which was really above & beyond. I appreciate that a lot. Thanks!***The space is beautiful, that's for sure, and the coffee is good. But no a recent visit (my second), I ordered a cold brew & a (tiny) muffin, and it came to $10. $5 for a smaller-than-normal muffin? OK, well what are you gonna do?Because there was some hullabaloo in the space, I wasn't paying full attention when I manually typed in the $1.00 tip... so I ended up adding a $10 tip to a $10 order.I wondered about getting a partial refund, knowing it was an inconvenience, but figuring I'd ask them anyway... I replied to the emailed receipt later than day, and got no response. Then I opted to click on the thumbs up/down on the email, and left a private "review" for them - no response. Then I sent an email, still no response.Hey, if you decide it's my problem & I shouldn't get a refund, so be it - you can reply & let me know that... but to ignore three separate communications is just rude.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Kamryn R.
Day 2 of trying out The Crown and it's made me choose to leave a higher star rating than I was going to day 1. My first trip was incredibly intimidating, the barista with a black bob and glasses was incredibly short and mildly rude. I'm a simple coffee drinker, a flavorful drip over ice (the girlies who get it get it) with oat milk and a small splash of simple syrup over at the self help station. This drink clearly annoyed her and I was told "we have cold brew for that" (their still cold brew is sour in my opinion and the other option is nitro, cool but not my thing). I said thank you twice and she ignored me both times. Fast forward to day 2: same barista, same attitude only this time she stopped making my drink halfway through which prompted the NICEST barista to take over. She was a black woman with short blonde hair and she was soooo knowledgeable and understanding. She explained the companies purpose and how the tasting room works and assured me that now they have a face and name to my order, they'll know for next time. She inspired the extra stars, not little miss coffee snob. Anyways beautiful location and the hatch jalapeño cornbread muffins are to die for.
HIGH quality espresso… got the classic latte half caff, oat milk. Incredible taste, no bitterness, not too sweet. WOW. ? wish there was more inside seating. 10/10
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Not very friendly and no Wifi. There was a cookie and a croissant.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 3
Blown away by the cold brew tasting flight. Comes with sparkling water on the side.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Their pour over coffee was amazing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Good coffee, cute decor but pretty bad service. Stood at the counter for a good min as the barista (who was facing me) finished chatting with another guy without even so much giving me a nod. And then the coffee took 10min to come. ??♂️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Good coffees that I could experience.High quality and lot of variety. If you want to explore different coffees, strongly recommend. However, if you want to stay a bit and read a book for some time, this is not the place.Very uncomfortable music selection that sounds like trying to make someone leave soon.Anyways, mixed opinion about the place
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 3
This is not the place to come with a laptop or friends and chill. The table layout should make that obvious before you enter.It is a place to taste coffee.A good thing to get is the Espresso Flight (pictured): for $11, it's a great taste journey.I usually go to cafes to work on stuff, and therefore this is not a place I will be visiting regularly, but I highly recommend it if you are searching for a coffee experience. Great staff, great space, great coffee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Espresso Flight
If you're looking for an elevated coffee experience look no further! Coffee here is masterfully done, the shop atmosphere and service is top notch. This is a spot to go to for high quality coffee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent quality coffee, and a beautiful shop. The barista helped me pick out a roast that was perfect for my taste too.
There is a lack of Yelp reviewers in Oakland, for coffee specifically. It was so difficult to look for a good, third-wave coffee shop in this area- I had to consult Reddit. I'm sure if you're visiting from out of town, you've also come across this place on Reddit as well. There's some cities where second-wave coffee is super popular - *cough,cough* Seattle, Oakland, maybe even Portland, so that kinda made it harder. This coffee shop seemed to be the only coffee shop in Oakland that- 1. Has several single-origin offerings for pour overs and espresso2. Was in a walkable and not sketchy part of Oakland 3. Serves their coffee drinks in ceramics, to-stay4. Has coffee flights as an option (both espresso and pourover flights!)5. Has beautiful ambianceI'm not bashing any other coffee shops in Oakland, but I was looking for a coffee shop that was on the same level of coffee snobbery as some of the ones in LA (Kumquat, Mandarin Coffee Stand, etc). This seemed to fit the mark. I opted for the single origin espresso which was a natural processed Ethiopian, in both the cortado and the cappuccino. Both were amazing, complex, beautifully pulled shots. The pour over flight was amazing. I loved the peaberry offering the best. As for seating, only one long table inside. Can share amongst two parties of two. There's a cute seating area outside as well. The location is safe, walkable from Lululemon and the Kissel hotel. The ambiance inside is great- they even have a tasting lab inside! And people from this coffee shop have published articles about the chemistry of coffee too! 5/5 stars
Restaurantji Recommends
Coffee is phenomenal here, delicious and dialed in. Cheap drip coffee is provided for higher accessibility and new S.O options consistently appear. However, what is with the logo? I was extremely insulted walking in and seeing a huge poster of Ganesha holding a coffee cup and tasting spoon…a western rendition and destruction of a deity that really hurt me to see. I read the reasoning for this choice of mascot that is underneath the poster, but that did not make it any better. Still very insulted that it is white run and all of the employees were Caucasian yet my deity—an old, historic, spiritual, and powerful one is used to represent a not Hindu company / service / community / product. I found this very distasteful and disturbing. If you have to leave a sign out explaining your choice of appropriation, why even choose it in the first place? Very disappointed because the coffee and people who work here are awesome but cmon man that is really hurtful and is insulting to see. It’s not okay
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 4
This place has all the vibes. I mean it's Oakland. This city has my heart. Some of the best people in the country, but I digress!! Ok, the coffee. Yasss. Delicious.
This has become my Sunday ritual. I have still yet to find a better done espresso anywhere else in the world. Their specialty drinks are so creative, beautiful, and tasty too. I feel spoiled having this place so close within walking distance. They also serve Bake Sum pastries (okonomiyaki danish!), and they’re dog friendly too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Espresso Flight
UPDATE: Owner read my earlier review & issued full refund with apology, which was really above & beyond. I appreciate that a lot. Thanks!***The space is beautiful, that's for sure, and the coffee is good. But no a recent visit (my second), I ordered a cold brew & a (tiny) muffin, and it came to $10. $5 for a smaller-than-normal muffin? OK, well what are you gonna do?Because there was some hullabaloo in the space, I wasn't paying full attention when I manually typed in the $1.00 tip... so I ended up adding a $10 tip to a $10 order.I wondered about getting a partial refund, knowing it was an inconvenience, but figuring I'd ask them anyway... I replied to the emailed receipt later than day, and got no response. Then I opted to click on the thumbs up/down on the email, and left a private "review" for them - no response. Then I sent an email, still no response.Hey, if you decide it's my problem & I shouldn't get a refund, so be it - you can reply & let me know that... but to ignore three separate communications is just rude.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Day 2 of trying out The Crown and it's made me choose to leave a higher star rating than I was going to day 1. My first trip was incredibly intimidating, the barista with a black bob and glasses was incredibly short and mildly rude. I'm a simple coffee drinker, a flavorful drip over ice (the girlies who get it get it) with oat milk and a small splash of simple syrup over at the self help station. This drink clearly annoyed her and I was told "we have cold brew for that" (their still cold brew is sour in my opinion and the other option is nitro, cool but not my thing). I said thank you twice and she ignored me both times. Fast forward to day 2: same barista, same attitude only this time she stopped making my drink halfway through which prompted the NICEST barista to take over. She was a black woman with short blonde hair and she was soooo knowledgeable and understanding. She explained the companies purpose and how the tasting room works and assured me that now they have a face and name to my order, they'll know for next time. She inspired the extra stars, not little miss coffee snob. Anyways beautiful location and the hatch jalapeño cornbread muffins are to die for.