Oakland: The (Coffee) Town
Oakland: The (Coffee) Town
Sarah Marie
Available for hire
Welcome to Oakland, California, your unexpected coffee destination. Did you know in 2023 Oakland was voted the #8th best coffee city in the United States? It has continued to be in the top 10 for about a decade climbing as high as #3 in 2018. This comes as no surprise to the locals as there are well over 2300 coffee shops and 17-plus roasters. Studies say that for every 2500 people in Oakland, there is a coffee shop. So I hope you'll join me to get a small glimpse into Oakland's bustling coffee scene.
Updated ago
Save
Share
Orbit Coffee 14th St.
@sarahmarie
Orbit has the most gorgeous coffees! They all have some sort of fun twist that usually makes them extra picture worthy (and delicious).
Add to
Details
Bicycle Coffee
@sarahmarie
Bicycle has an incredible brown sugar boba iced coffee, just trust me on this one.
Add to
Details
Red Bay Coffee
@sarahmarie
Red Bay has a black charcoal latte that is so unique. The flavor is smooth but fair warning, the charcoal makes it a little gritty.
Add to
Details
Add to
Details
Peerless Coffee & Tea
@sarahmarie
Peerless is one of the oldest coffee shops in Oakland. It looks like it's just a warehouse from the outside but their shop is so cute and they have this incredible tuxedo mocha which has white and milk chocolate.
Add to
Details
Dusk Coffee
@sarahmarie
Dusk is a fun shop that turns into a wine bar at night! It is black female-owned and the owner is the absolute nicest and coolest!
Add to
Details
Tierra Mia Coffee
@sarahmarie
Tierra Mia has a really great horchata latte and it's in this cool building that reminds me of the Wizard of Oz.
Add to
Details
Equator Coffees
@sarahmarie
Equator has really good quality coffee and they often have a seasonal specialty coffee that never misses.
Add to
Details
Farley's East
@sarahmarie
Farleys East is a great spot to get breakfast and a coffee. I am a big fan of a slow morning here.
Add to
Details
The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room
@sarahmarie
The Crown is the most gorgeous coffee shop I've been to. It doubles as a tasting room and they do cool classes here as well. They get creative with their flavors which I love!
Add to
Details
Sweet July
@sarahmarie
Sweet July is great because the coffee shop is in the store so you can sip and shop!
Add to
Details
Awaken Cafe & Roasting
@sarahmarie
I got the ube/taro coffee here and it was so good! It had a good balance of flavor. This is a good spot to get work done too.
Add to
Details
Timeless Coffee
@sarahmarie
Timeless has sweet treats that rival how good their coffee is, I'm a fan of the classic iced coffee here though.
Add to
Details
Modern Coffee
@sarahmarie
I really love Modern, they have this blackstrap molasses coffee that is an unexpectedly delicious flavor.
Add to
Details
Ain't Normal Cafe
@sarahmarie
Ain't Normal also sells wine! This is a fun spot for a quick cup of coffee (or wine). I really like their bright yellow cups too.
Add to
Details
Snow White Coffee
@sarahmarie
Snow White has the most beautiful exterior by far which is funny because the inside is so unassuming. They don't do much fancy but they do the ordinary extraordinarily well.
Add to
Details
Big House Beans
@sarahmarie
Big House Beans has a really incredible founding mission so you feel good about going there, the fact that the coffee, food, and atmosphere are amazing is just icing on the cake.
Add to
Details
Add to
Details
Highwire Coffee Roasters
@sarahmarie
I visited the Highwire in the market and it was really good coffee to have while I checked out the market goodies.
Add to
Details
Cafe Santana Roasting Company
@sarahmarie
I LOVE THIS PLACE. The owner started roasting with a popcorn machine but now they have a huge in-house roaster. It's so good and they make their empanadas fresh in-house. Like made-to-order fresh. It's too good.
Add to
Details
MotivΔt Coffee Roasters
@sarahmarie
Motivate is my go-to when I'm dog walking. I love that you can walk up to their window without having to go inside. I'm a big fan of their iced mocha.
Add to
Details
Burlap Coffee
@sarahmarie
The owner of Burlap is so nice. It's also a huge coffee shop which is a great place to work. I think they might do open mic or poetry nights here too!
Add to
Details
States Coffee
@sarahmarie
States coffee goes perfectly with their bread/baked goods. It's like my two favorite things in one place!
Add to
Details
Hudson Bay Cafe
@sarahmarie
Hudson Bay is definitely a local shop. It's always busy with people so you know the food and coffee are good.
Add to
Details
Ultimate Grounds Et Al
@sarahmarie
Ultimate Grounds is family-owned and they put so much pride in their coffee and food. (I know the family, they rule, support their shop)
Add to
Details
Mellana Cafe
@sarahmarie
Mellana Cafe is good because they have coffee and smoothies. When you walk in you are greeted with the site of mounds of fresh fruit. It's awesome.
Add to
Details
Lane-E Kefa Coffee
@sarahmarie
This shop feels like a secret shop because it's not well known but it has really good coffee and made-to-order comically large breakfast sandwiches. They also have smoothies!
Add to
Details
Brewja Coffee
@sarahmarie
This is by far my favorite coffee shop in Oakland. They have the most unique flavors, but everything is super homemade. They have a s'mores coffee in the summer and they make their own marshmallow which they torch in front of you. Their pastries are also to die for, it's the spot I recommend most to people. And it's Latina owned!
Add to
Details
Alem's Coffee
@sarahmarie
Add to
Details
Cafe Uccello
@sarahmarie
Add to
Details
Kinfolx
@sarahmarie
Add to
Details
The Caffè by Mr. Espresso
@sarahmarie
Add to
Details
* * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Marie
Available for hire
π Meet Sarah Marie β Your Adventure Architect!
Greetings Adventurers!
I'm Sarah Marie, your dedicated guide in crafting personalized adventures from the comfort of your planning space. With over 15 years of solo travel under my belt, exploring the hidden corners of destinations has become my second nature. While I may be going solo I have always thought of my experiences as "scouting missions" to guide others to get out there and explore. I'm not physically joining your trip, but my guidance will be your constant companion. From personalized recommendations to detailed itineraries, I'll be your Adventure Architect, crafting the perfect framework for your solo exploration.
πΊοΈ Design Your Own Sarah Marie Experience:
Imagine having a personal architect for your adventures, one who designs thrilling journeys and immersive experiences tailored to your preferences. I specialize in transforming your travel dreams into meticulously planned realities. I want to make you feel like a local no matter where you visit.
π What Sets Me Apart:
What makes me your ideal travel companion? It's the passion for exploration, the dedication to crafting budget-friendly adventures, and the commitment to inclusivity. I understand the nuances of solo travel as well as group/family trips, having embraced it for over a decade. Trust me to guide you to destinations that resonate with your soul.
π Credentials You Can Trust:
With a background in outdoor recreation and 15 years of high-adventure experience, rest assured that your journey is in capable hands. My travels have not only honed my navigational skills but have also instilled a deep respect for diverse cultures and the natural world. When I travel I'm looking for the heart of the destination so I can highlight what makes it incredible.
Send A Tip
Support Sarah Marieβs work.
Select your tip amount
$5
$10
$20
$50
Or type in other amount
Explore related destinations
Read more about places in this guide
Powered by Thatch
The home for unique & authentic travel
The home for unique & authentic travel
Powered by Thatch: Where great trips are made.
Β© Sarah Marie 2024 β’ Help β’ Privacy β’ Terms β’ Copyright β’ Become a Seller β’ Seller Academy β’ About β’ Careers β’ Blog β’ Explore Places