Oakland: The (Coffee) Town

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.

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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).

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Bicycle Coffee

@sarahmarie

Bicycle has an incredible brown sugar boba iced coffee, just trust me on this one.

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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.

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Blue Bottle Coffee

@sarahmarie

I love their Nola Iced Coffee, reminds me of Cafe Du Monde!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Equator Coffees

@sarahmarie

Equator has really good quality coffee and they often have a seasonal specialty coffee that never misses.

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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.

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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!

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Sweet July

@sarahmarie

Sweet July is great because the coffee shop is in the store so you can sip and shop!

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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.

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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.

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Modern Coffee

@sarahmarie

I really love Modern, they have this blackstrap molasses coffee that is an unexpectedly delicious flavor.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Cole Coffee Café

@sarahmarie

Cole Coffee had the nicest barista and they sell boichik bagels.

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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.

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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.

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Motivāt 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.

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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!

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States Coffee

@sarahmarie

States coffee goes perfectly with their bread/baked goods. It's like my two favorite things in one place!

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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!

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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!

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Alem's Coffee

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Cafe Uccello

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Kinfolx

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The Caffè by Mr. Espresso

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Marie

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🌟 Meet Sarah Marie – 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. 🗺️ 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. 🌍 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. 🎓 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.

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Oakland, CA, USA