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A'cuppa Tea
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
2992 College Ave(between Webster St & Ashby Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94705
Neighborhoods: Elmwood, Claremont
(510) 848-2032
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 7 am - 10 pm
Sun 7:30 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
166 reviews for A'cuppa Tea
Review Highlights
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"Free Wi-Fi and plenty a plugs for your laptop." In 12 reviews -
"It's a good blend of comfy couches and tables to work on." In 6 reviews -
"A'cuppa Tea is a great place to study." In 6 reviews
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166 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew F.
Union City, CA
3/29/2012
Possibly the best spot in the area to get work done on a laptop. There are plenty of power outlets (more outlets than seats). And they have THREE wi-fi routers! You might think that's overkill, but if you've ever needed remote access to a company server, a good reliable wi-fi connection is important. I've been at crowded shops where all the laptops hog the same router and slow things to a painful, painful crawl.
So yeah, this place rocks. Also, sofas. -
Review from Max L.
Berkeley, CA
1/19/2012
free wifi, good grinds, great atmosphere, super friendly proprietor. they have a food menu if you're hungry and plenty of power strips everywhere.
this is where my girl and i hit up if we need to get some work done in a nice, comfortable environment. the big selling point of this place is that it has big cushy arm chairs and one sofa, in addition to your standard selection of hard wooden tables + chairs. i like cushy, so this is a winner to me. -
Review from Raymond W.
Berkeley, CA
1/15/2012
Very good vibe in their new Elmwood location. The food is good, especially some of the pho noodle dishes, and the tea selection is one of the best I've seen anywhere. I especially liked the chai, which has that spiced comfort food feel.
The manager is Vietnamese, attentive, charming and incredibly hard-working, and she gives the place an ambiance which seems a lot more local and authentic than the Starbucks/Peets alternative. Highly recommended. -
Review from Tuwie N.
Yorba Linda, CA
4/25/2012
A'Cuppa Tea is just my cup of tea. I've spent long hours studying here, and the upstairs room is nice & quiet for nerding it up. It's well lit and cozy, and the staff is so endearing and attentive. The Vietnamese Iced coffee and Vietnamese food on the menu was a really nice surprise in the middle of Berkeley. They play soft classical music here, so if that's not your jam, come equipped with headphones ;]
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Review from Cassandra E.
San Mateo, CA
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sat here patiently waiting for 100% Pure to open across the street... Ordered a cup of tea.The girl behind the counter was sweet and super nice. Thats always an extra perk ;-) . It's your typical privately owned coffee shop/little cafe to chill in, pass the time, whatever. One thing that was very nice about this place was the very cozy, plush lazy boy style seats with little coffee tables in front of each one. Very easy to relax and enjoy a 'cuppa tea.. ;-)
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Review from Jennifer M.
Berkeley, CA
3/31/2012
The woman who was working here on a Saturday morning was extremely nice. I love tea - in fact, I am a bit of a tea connoisseur, so I was pleased to see that she really took pride in her work and that the selection and quality of the teas was great. I do, however, feel badly that the second time I went in here it was just to get change for the parking meter - and I didn't even buy anything (I was on my way to an exercise class, so had no need for tea at that moment), so, I owe this place a visit, and I'll get two teas next time. Both times I went in I didn't stop to sit, but the atmosphere seems nice and quiet - conducive to getting work done, and it's in a great neighborhood.
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Review from irene n.
Oakland, CA
10/22/2011
I loved A'cuppa Tea in their old location - good meal food for those freelancer workdays that coincide with Thanksgiving (yes, really), a great selection of drinks, very laptop friendly, human friendly (esp. the owners). In their new location they kept the good and made it better. Did they serve awesome, custom-squeezed juices before? No idea, but it's on the menu now and I had carrot/orange/ginger and my friend had watermelon made from hunky chunks of the fresh fruit. Holy crap! That was good! I considered stealing his.
They got kicked out of their old location to make way for the Starbucks-owned Peet's (boo hoo to local business getting bought out by the corps), Fageddaboudit- I waited for A'cuppa to re-open and am back in force. No one gives you the stink eye for staying for hours, and they're open from early to late. I'd come here in my pjs if i had a little less shame (or nicer pjs), that's how homey it is for me. And they added breakfast food that's served until 7pm. Heaven.
Yay for locally-owned businesses with heart and soul! Count me in. -
Review from Xuena S.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 3/3/2012
I love the new location! I've been frequenting this cafe for almost 10 years and I was really sad when they were moving, but the new place is great. It's cozy, there's tons of space, and they still have those amazing purple couches. This is one of my favorite cafes in Berkeley.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/26/2006
A Cuppa Tea is a great place to study or to hang out with your friends. They have a wide variety of… Read more »
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Review from Christina Y.
Santa Monica, CA
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really torn about this review. I was completely charmed by the lovely lady working at this cafe and really impressed with her recommendation of a delicious black rose tea, which I highly enjoyed. But unfortunately my overall experience here was marred by a couple of things...
Thing one: while a coworker and I were discussing work information in normal indoor voices, a man came up to us and said it was the 'norm' not to talk, or if we had to say something, to whisper. I would have felt bad except that the same man had just been talking very loudly into his Blackberry. If it's just one cranky old fart then I completely don't blame this business for it, but if it really is the established norm, then I'd prefer to go to a cafe that actually allows for conversation.
Thing two: Drinking all that tea inevitably makes you need to go to the bathroom, and that bathroom is SCARY! I think it's a shared one in the building, but it looks like a dungeon, with a scary torture-device looking lock and a roll of toilet paper on a chain. Totally didn't match the cozy-cute vibe of the cafe at all.
I saw a sign on the door that they were soon moving to another location on College, and perhaps both of those issues will be cleared up as soon as they make that move. I do recommend the cafe, but just avoid mean men and peeing!Listed in: Rockridge!, East Bay Cafés
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Review from Kate Marie G.
Berkeley, CA
10/20/2011
I went to the new Cuppa Tea location in Elmwood today. They still have good tea (I'm having a great plum-apple herbal tea right now). Now it has more light, it's tidier and less cluttered, and it has an upstairs balcony section instead of the cramped back room it had in the Rockridge location. A previous commenter is right--the big chairs could use regular vacuuming. It feels cheerier overall and yes, there are a lot of wi-fi junkies here (who, me?) but there are also some couples sitting together and talking quietly. Fast wi-fi and at least downstairs there are outlets.
I suggest they make it a little more obvious that they serve food--the menu on the wall shows only drinks, and I didn't notice the printed food menu at first. A list of the teas would be helpful too--if I had poor eyesight, I wouldn't be able to read the labels on the jars of tea behind the counter.
The woman who works here (I've never seen anyone else at the counter, though I can see she has a guy in the kitchen area now) is always happy to recommend a tea if you tell her what sounds good. They have all sorts of tea, black, green, herbal, etc. I don't know about their coffee because I always want to try tea here. -
Review from Erin G.
Berkeley, CA
10/9/2011
What I drank: Soy chocolate chai
Visit date: October 9, 2011
First time? Yes.
A'cuppa Tea is now in the Elmwood. The chai is nutty (of the hazel kind). It had a rich, full flavor. Careful, even with the sleeve, the cup is too hot to carry around right away. There are big cushy seats to lounge in, but they look dirty. I probably wouldn't want to curl up and, ie, read in them. -
Review from Karen Z.
8/25/2011
Didn't really give me what I wanted. I can't tell...do they ONLY do green tea here? Also, my iced drink was so crammed with ice that I barely had any tea.
Free wifi, though. -
Review from Robbie F.
Berkeley, CA
2/16/2012
Best chai ever! Alright, it's a pretty pricy cup but definitely the best chai I've ever had. And they serve food and are super sweet. Yes all around. I wish there were more places like this to get good tea!
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Review from M.C. H.
Berkeley, CA
Woah, you guys, they have pho (check my photo)!! Now THAT'S something you won't find at your average neighborhood coffeeshop.
It's decently priced and really hits the spot when I'm on a reading and writing binge. They've just earned themselves an extra star!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/2/2011
Okay, I admit that I'm writing this in a pique of annoyance since I forgot my headphones at home and… Read more »
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Review from Mike F.
7/14/2011
Not my favorite place to grab coffee on this block. But sometimes I"m lazy and don't want to walk an extra block or I don't want to wait in line.
Coffee is coffee. The stuff from here isn't particularly strong. They also serve tea and bagels.
There is plenty of seating and free wifi. -
Review from Julius O.
Berkeley, CA
9/2/2011
Last day here is 6-Sep-2011, they're moving to 2992 College. Word is, a restaurant will take it's place.
It's a good blend of comfy couches and tables to work on. -
Review from S C.
New York, NY
5/29/2011
@the negative reviewers below, who bring pastries from other places into here, don't buy anything and stand around, stealing the wifi--sleazy assholes.
The tea here is great.
The atmosphere: dingy, people, not talking, lost in their computers. Ugh, just grab some expensive tea and go on next door to get a croissant from La Farine. -
Review from Rich C.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
Big comfortable chairs, 3 wifi routers and outlets everywhere.
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Review from David W.
3/29/2011
I've had a few of the pastries and teas here over time, and nothing really stands out as having been particularly good or bad. There is a wide selection of tea here, though, which is always nice.
A'cuppa Tea is also a great cafe though to sit and get stuff done. There is a ton of seating, free wifi, and plenty of electrical plugs, and usually when I'm in here it's a nice balance between pleasant ambiance but also not being too loud. -
Review from HeartBeat Radio F. M.
Berkeley, CA
6/4/2011
It's too bad that this is one of the only places that offers an extensive tea menu in the area. This place just lacks the cozyness that a tea shop should have. Located on the bustling corner of College & Alcatraz, the place is overrun and messy. The tables, chairs, etc. are not well kept or comfortable.
The tea is pretty good though. -
Review from Carla R.
Portland, OR
Updated - 11/14/2011
Their new location is a step in the right direction. Its smaller, but its much cleaner than it was when I posted my original review. The tea is decent, but they still use water that's way too hot for certain types of teas. At least they made an improvement...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/27/2007
A while back, I use to go there quite often (1998 ish) and back then it was cute, cozy with decent… Read more »
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Review from Laura G.
San Rafael, CA
10/27/2011
Soy chocolate chai. My new addiction. 5 stars just for that drink
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Review from TiYanna L.
Oakland, CA
11/13/2011
cute and quiet place to get some work done. They have upstairs and downstairs seating and plenty of outlets for your laptop and other gadgets. The chai latte was sooo good. I love me some chai and theirs is now on the top of my list. And it's right next to House of Curries so after you study you can go there and grab some deliciously inexpensive Indian Food. I didnt try any of the other food options so I cant speak to it this time, but I'm sure I'll be there again soon cranking out another paper, so i'll give an update whenever time permits.
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Review from Jamie M.
Alameda, CA
5/24/2011
This place gets 4 stars because I think of it as a good friend on a tough day.
I came to A-cuppa Tea to start on a BIG weekend-long work project that I was not looking forward to. I arrived early in the day and claimed my territory: a counter spot right in front of the window. A place to plug in my laptop--check. A place to plug in my eternally dying cellphone--check. Wi-fi connected--check. A good start to the day!
Maybe it's the cute neighborhood or maybe it's the place itself--but A'cuppa Tea is a tea/coffee shop that gives you a really good vibe, even before you enter the door.
I ordered an iced tea and quiche lorraine. The quiche lorraine was pretty standard and was accompanied by a simple salad topped with a balsamic type dressing. Nothing to complain about. The girl at the counter (I wish I knew her name) was very friendly and helpful and we commiserated about working over the weekend.
A-cuppa Tea was the perfect place for me to make progress on my work project--for both environment and sustenance. I definitely recommend for studying or work. -
Review from Millie C.
Berkeley, CA
9/18/2011
This is my FAVORITE tea house/cafe in Berkeley. The owners are always extremely hospitable and nice.. and the woman who works there knows her teas! It's definitely not the place to order food here or coffee but they have the best tea I've tried in Berkeley and I'm sad they moved to a new location. The old place had tons of power strips and tables and I'm hoping the new place is just as roomy.
My fav: Iced PassGo Mango! -
Review from Adrienne O.
Oakland, CA
12/11/2011
Awesome, healthy tea selection: they have a slumber tea with Valerian Root;and an Achoo tea with Echinacea. Very friendly service.
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Review from Heshimu C.
Oakland, CA
6/8/2011
Great atmosphere, over expensive tea. She wants to charge $3.50 for TEA refill!! You can't just put in more hot water? No. She wants to pour out the tea that is still good and give you another pot, just to recharge. Horrible.
Wifi is good. -
Review from Alison W.
Oakland, CA
2/10/2011 17 Check-ins Here
Excellent service and great tea. Food is very good.
As a student, this is a great place to hang for hours and get studying done. As a business professional, it may be too relaxed for networking meetings.
But I'm still a big fan. Mostly because the staff are great. -
Review from Linda T.
12/19/2010
This place now accepts credit cards! :) (It didn't before.)
I'm writing this review because the service is pretty top notch. I ordered a Green Tea Latte. And when I got it I thoughtlessly dusted my cup with chocolate powder. At this point, my barista jumped in, horrified and ready to stop me at all cost. "Nooo!! It'll be too sweet." He quickly retrieved my drink and remedied my newbie mistake.
Cheers to one dedicated barista and a tasty latte.
One star off for my friend's pricy house coffee. -
Review from Jay S.
Berkeley, CA
11/18/2011
I discovered this coffee shop after it opened on the street I like to lunch at. The decor is inviting, pleasant music, accommodating and friendly staff. The food and beverages suit my taste. I have started doing a series of free bunch and learn lectures there on natural medicine and people can sign up at the front counter. I'm happy to introduce more people to this shop and to advanced natural medicine approaches. The next is on women's hormone imbalances Monday November 21, 10:30-11:30 am. RSVP at 510-849-1176. Jay Sordean, The Redwood Clinic, Berkeley CA
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Review from A K.
San Francisco, CA
6/9/2011
Pros: Good tea, plenty of seating, free wifi, lots of outlets, good for working at,
Cons: Not very cozy -
Review from La F.
San Francisco, CA
11/28/2011
Love it.
Plenty of tables, workspace AND outlets upstairs for the workers/students.
Comfy couches downstairs for the loungers.
Fast internet that doesn't crash.
Love the classical music - it's a really refreshing change from most busy busy coffee shop atmospheres.
Great service - so nice, helpful and pleasant.
And good food too.
Bravo A Cuppa Tea - very well done - I like this location even better and I hope your first year goes really well. -
Review from Plunket P.
San Francisco, CA
7/21/2011
I really like that they have tons of plugs & good wi-fi here! The girl that works here needs to smile more !
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Review from Marisa R.
Berkeley, CA
10/12/2011
Great new location right near College and Ashby in the Elmwood district. Beautiful neighborhood, amazing tea & coffee.
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Review from Vanessa F.
Covina, CA
10/13/2010
Coffee is okay. Does it's job.
I like the fact that this place is large with oversized comfy chairs so it's not as crowded as the nearby cafes.
They've got a large menu of products and wifi, and the service is super friendly.
While I went twice this past weekend I enjoyed sipping my coffee and going through the notes stuffed in the "secret drawer." It was uplifting to see so many positive thoughts, stories, and notes. -
Review from Angela C.
Oakland, CA
12/4/2008
Counter guy: "Haven't I seen you here before"?
AC: "Yes, you asked me if I was going to buy something, or just steal your internet. I told you to step off before I call the county health department about the thick coat of crud that covers every surface in this shithole.
CG: "Did you buy that here?" (referring to the slice of chocolate pound cake I bought from La Farine next door)
AC: "Uh nooooo, since the closest thing to edible in here is the chewing gum in my bag.
CG: "Are you going to buy something"
AC: "I did. From La Farine."
I committed to working from home today only to find my internet not working, so found myself here out of desperation for free...WiFi...now!
Now I regret it because I'm pretty sure I'm going to have nightmares tonight of CG hovering over my bed with a stocking on his face.
Note that the coffee mugs are black for a reason. Ick. -
Review from Shannon F.
Brentwood, CA
6/20/2009
This place is nice and cute though certainly nothing to rave about.
On my way back from doing an open house, I decided to stop by a local bakery and pick up a treat for the next day. After leaving my destination I stumbled upon this place.
In the mood for little pick me up, I figured I would give them a try. I got my usual Cafe Olay.It was a little dead in there, so being a slight coffee snob... I was a little hesitant to order. Anyhow since I was there and did not want to drive all over the place in disparity trying to find coffee, I figured what the heck I'll give them a shot.
They had a nice selection of yummy looking pastries (though nothing compared to La Farine next door) an extensive selection of coffee drinks, sandwiches and many things I did not really take the time to look over.
The girl behind the desk could not speak perfect English, well I guess in regards to the questions I was asking. However she was incredibly sweet and very helpful.
Coffee is certainly nothing fantastic, its self serve for your coffee then they steam the milk/soy (in my case) and complete your drink. Coffee was ok, slightly bitter, soy was nice and foamy so I will give them a thumb up for that and overall it gave me the much needed pick me up for that moment. While I was there I also ordered there hard to resist, petite delicious looking Cream cheese Pumpkin muffin (something hard to find this time of year though it was moist and fresh so I figured it was worth the try.
Overall this Cafe is ok, nothing special, coffee was ok,(over priced) service was much better, definitely not a destination point but adequate enough for if you happen to be strolling by and like in my case need a convenient pick me up. There plenty of seating and its perfect to sit with a friend chit chat, kick back read a book and people watch. -
Review from Abi W.
Los Angeles, CA
2/18/2009
I used to LOVE this place. It was so lovely to hunker down in their uber comfy couches, have a latte and study. With free wifi, what's not to love?
Then, I went there tonight and suddenly, I was awash in all the things that had gone wrong with my beloved coffee shop:
1. the couches are dirty. the floors are dirty. the space is dirty. the bathroom is especially DIRTY.
2. I asked the woman at the register if they had any sugar-free syrups available. She said yes, they all were, and showed me the bottle to prove her point. The bottle said, 70 calories and the first ingredient was cane sugar. She said, oh, when I showed her the bottle.
3. It is SUPER expensive. $2.18 for the smallest coffee in the shop and while she gave me the french roast coffee from behind the counter that she had freshly brewed, it was too acidic for me and I couldn't drink it.
I am so sad. I used to love the quirky vibe here. I used to meet my statistics tutor here weekly and go out of my way to go to Cuppa but not anymore. Alas, not anymore. -
Review from Molly W.
4/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
I am beginning to think that I should write a book on East Bay Cafes. I am like Perez, working out of cafes as my office (replace work with diligently trying to study).
A'cuppa tea has me coming back because they have comfy chairs that remind me of Blues Clues (yet appropriately sized), and a multitude of tea selections. For those that use cafes as a work space, there is free wireless and a decent amount of outlets. Another plus is that it never feels so crowded that you can't hunker down for a good amount of time and pound out some work (or some Yelp reviews, she says guiltily)...
I have been here many times and I wonder if anyone but the nice asian lady works here...Good thing she is super nice! -
Review from Angela P.
San Diego, CA
9/21/2009
This is the closest coffee shop to me and I still won't go here after what I saw the other day. My friend was jonesing for coffee. We stopped by this place because it was close and I hadn't tried it before.
There's definitely a lot of people on lap tops there so it gets 1 star for letting people work there. The cup my friend was given to get his own coffee had OLD COFFEE in the bottom of it. The cup wasn't washed. I took it up to the woman behind the counter and she literally just rinsed it and handed it back to me.
Diiiisgusting. So disgusting. My other friend got a Chai thing which also sucked and was way overpriced.
Take the extra block or whatever to go down to Cole Coffee. This place needs a good washing and the people, a lesson in manners.
