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Coffee With A Beat
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
458 Perkins St(between Belmont St & Grand Ave)
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 835-5282
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
68 reviews for Coffee With A Beat
Review Highlights
"Perfect place to drop in as you walk around the lake."
(in 6 reviews)
"The bagel special sandwiches are worth the 20 minute walk..."
(in 3 reviews)
"I like this family run coffee shop."
(in 4 reviews)
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68 reviews in English
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Review from Jaymo N.
Stockton, CA
10/31/2011
Cafe with a jazzy Oakland vibe. Perfect to hold a jam session or small meeting. I held my 1st Emerge Bay Area Artists Forum meeting there in September. This is the perfect spot for it's location and population. I just wish they were open until, say 8 or 9pm, because they close at 6pm...not fair!!!
(For some reason the wi-fi didn't work on my laptop after I entered the code.) -
Review from Cora C.
Oakland, CA
10/18/2011
I stop in for a bagel or two and some of the awesome coffee. I just love the smell of it.
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Review from Elena C.
Oakland, CA
10/20/2011
Disclaimer: I don't like the taste of coffee. I usually go for lots of flavoring, sugar and milk. I also am not a fan of chains that have a store on every corner. Luckily, Coffee With a Beat has a chill atmosphere (sometimes live musicians and always good music in the background), nice service, and drinks that I like.
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Review from Chris D.
San Francisco, CA
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great vibe, and jazz everywhere with plenty of places to sit outside in the sun, Id be a there everyday if I lived across the bay.
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Review from Robert G.
Lafayette, CA
4/15/2011
Family owned and operated. Would and do go to this place often.
Service is always with a smile and a thanks. They remember you coming in and welcome you back.
Coffee in the morning is a pleasure and the pasties are some of the best around.
Lunch sandwich is something your mom would make you.
Only down side is that they do not take Credit Cards. -
Review from eli b.
4/27/2011
pretty location next to the lake. Ultimate Oakland atmosphere, with killer old-school photos and posters of blues, soul and reggae musicians, as their music plays over the sound system. Thus the place's name. Not fast service, and they sort of give the impression that is on purpose and the atmosphere they seek.
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Review from M S.
Oakland, CA
5/19/2008
I like this family run coffee shop. It is close to my work and is the antithesis of corporate coffee. Don't come here looking for a fancy smanchy drinks. This place is straightforward and has a soul. Some evenings you will find a jazz band playing outside, which is great to find during a walk around the lake. I like the early morning crew always talking about politics and sports. They love Obama.
The coffee is good, with all the standards and they make really good bagel sandwiches. My favorite is the special, with fresh lox, capers, red onions and cream cheese.Listed in: My Hood
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Review from Jessica I.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2007
I really appreciate this place, although I haven't been there since before I graduated, because I mainly went there to study. I found out I was lactose intolerant (a great tragedy for someone with my diet, which seems to be 80% dairy...or at least it was...I digress) so I don't really drink coffee anymore.
Regardless. Back in my wild, latte-drinking days, this place was a lot better than Starbucks. Plus, they serve bagel-wiches. Um, if you don't know the value of that, then you don't know much about anything.
Also, the people who work here are really cool, there is always old-timers smoking out front and having some deep conversation...its just a nice little place to go and support local business.
One big FAT minus for the overabundance of bratty screaming children, whose parents think its cute to bring their snot-nosed brats into a cafe where people go to think, study, and have adult conversations. UGH. -
Review from Polly R.
11/9/2008
Boosville.
I haven't been back in a while, and won't be unless I am dragged in by wild horses.
Being that I am down the street, I would love for my experience of this place to be just slightly better. That way, I could have a nice lil small business (which I love supporting) to walk to and get my daily caffeine lovin'.
Experience wasn't good though, much to my dismay.
Right upon entering, we were given strange looks by the men behind the counter. They didn't seem to want to make our drinks, and a few other people in there seemed annoyed by our presence.
Mind you, we're two regular gals, plain janes, not loud, just regular ol' peeps.
Super uncomfortable and weird. No smiles, no hello, no good-byes.
No, thank you.
I was a little taken aback by this, because when i followed the wooden sign and saw it from the outside, I expected something... else.
It seemed like one of those " We love ALL people!" places, with all kinds of customers from different walks of life and all that dumb-happy stuff I'm such a sucker for.
I guess I shouldn't assume, because it felt so far from that it wasn't even funny.
The one star isn't just mandatory, but I'll give it because the mochas weren't horribly bad, though nothing memorable. -
Review from Lush L.
Austin, TX
1/16/2008
Oakland is so fucking cool! I heard four languages here the other day. Swahili, French, Farsii? maybe and Spanish. Well and English so five! Such a cool small town.
I love this place. Its nice if you're over by this part of the lake. The staff is always super friendly and nice. The tables get a lot of sun usually which is really nice. Great place to stop after a walk around the lake. -
Review from W R.
Oakland, CA
10/31/2010
Cash Only, Lovely spot to chill at. Smiles and maybe freestyles :)
I've been here many times and always had an enjoyable time. The comfy furniture and overall decor give it a homey feel. This is a place I have chosen to meet friends, study, set up interviews/meetings...I've spent rainy days here with live music playing just loud enough to be enjoyable and not distracting. If your looking for a quick coffee at a rush hour time you might want to go somewhere else, but if you don't mind waiting, and might want to converse with some lovely folks from Oakland this is the place. Perfect place to drop in as you walk around the lake. The majority of times I've been there a lady with locks has been there she's lovely and seems to genuinely care about all her customers.
Its also really kid friendly, I've brought kids here while babysitting and watched kids stop by, and they seem to enjoy the character of the spot as there parents stop for a caffeine fix. Unlike Starbucks its not always crowded. Can't really speak on the food I've never ordered anything besides a bagel and coffee, and next time I go I guess I gotta check the "everything bagel" (thanks Sean M.) -
Review from Karen S.
Burlingame, CA
8/6/2007
What an absolutely brilliant cafe!
Totally diverse crowd, I saw dreads, cowboy boots, a hijab, a harley t-shirt, a hairless dog, a couple of little kids, a couple of senior citizens and many Mac books.
Apparently they have live music, I think on Fridays. I'd like to check it out.
The coffee was very good, not the acidic stuff you get from Starbucks. Next time, I have to try one of their bagels, they smelled so good! -
Review from Sean M.
Oakland, CA
9/4/2010 83 Check-ins Here
Mornings happen everyday. So, too, is the consistency and frequency of my neighborhood coffee shop.
Nate and his crew recognize the importance of coffee drinkers' needs in the morning. Every time I walk in (several times / week), I'm greeted with a smile, and the familiar environment of seeing the "regulars" of the coffee shop.
It is, for the most part, quiet, chill, and uber-convenient. I'm still waiting for the masses to catch on, but I love how they prepare my favorite: everything bagel with cream cheese, tomato, pickle, and salt/pepper.
Coffee with a Beat might be one of the more perfect blends of everything that is great in Oakland. On any given day, you can overhear (or interject) opinions of sports, politics, neighborhood, history, music, crime, and lifetime inspirations.
It all begins with a cup o' joe... -
Review from Bonnie M.
Oakland, CA
6/15/2007
I kind of expected to hear some cool music when I walked into Coffee With a Beat this morning but, it was only 10 o'clock in the morning on a Friday. However, it was already about 70 degrees outside so I opted for an iced soy latte and let me tell you-that drink sure woke me up. I'm still feeling a little jittery 2 1/2 hours later. Kind of reminded me of those times in Tucson when I used to take my neighbor's Adderal for kicks.
This place uses Kirkland (Costco brand?) Organic Vanilla flavored soy milk. I can't say that I really tasted any of the vanilla in the drink but I'll definitely be back if I need that extra little pick me up that their espresso provides.
Coffee With a Beat is located across the street from a cool little park and this is probably one of the better places for lounging around and drinking coffee. They have quite a few tables out front to sit at and non-pretentious furniture inside. There's also a bookshelf with shared reading material available to use during your visit. Very simple place and I like that.Listed in: Soy Lattes in the East Bay
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Review from Jehoshaphat X.
Oakland, CA
7/17/2008
I. Love. This. Place.
For years I have been searching for a "hangout" spot. And not since the closing of the Jahva House on Lakeshore have I found one.
This is that spot.
I don't like the people who go to Starbucks or Peet's. Sometimes I want to walk in and one by one punch them all in the shoulder. Hard. Gaylord's is okay, but it's not really a diverse crowd (99% white people under 35) and people in there are too "cool" to talk to one another. Coffee With a Beat draws in the young and old, different races, nationalities, religions, and the vibe is outstanding.
I don't drink coffee, but a trusted source tells me the coffee is great. The tea is great. Their bagels and pastries are good, and not overpriced. Their sandwiches are outstanding. I always find it takes me 30 minutes to get in and out of this place, and this is exactly what I need in my life. Laugh, smile, joke, talk sports, politics, music... yes.
Yes. -
Review from Mindy K.
Oakland, CA
8/21/2006
Good coffee- their small cappacinos are actually small, which is nice (no paying for the extra foam no one wants). Walking distance from my apartment and the lake. Friendly counter guys and a nice Oakland vibe, plus nifty little pastries and some tables outside in the sun to read at AND a shelf full of books inside in case you forgot to bring your own.
And no mention of the words "venti" or "grande" anywhere to be seen.Listed in: Get to know Oakland, Adams Point
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Review from Roger G.
Berkeley, CA
9/26/2008
Meh.
My coffee tasted awful. Burnt and diner-nasty.
This surprised me a bit, until I saw glass carafes sitting on heating elements, cooking their precious cargo into sludge. Perhaps it was just because I was there off-peak (11ish) but still - coffee must go directly into the airpots after being brewed, thankyouverymuch.
Combined with the inexplicable plague of flies and the people smoking next to the door (under the no smoking next to door sign) and I wasn't really in the mood to hang out for long. -
Review from Allison L.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 2/24/2009
I went here today for the last time.
This place is unacceptably dirty. They've brought chairs in from the outside ... and they still have bird excrement on them. The barista blatantly ignores a posted warning to use gloves while making sandwiches. The bathroom is ... no. Just no.
I ordered a coffee with my sandwich and asked that it be served in a glass. The barista handed me a glass that was so stained and spotted you could barely see through it. I had to ask for another. This after he gave me attitude about serving my drink in a glass: "What, you want me to have to do dishes later?" Apparently, y'all don't bother.
The Bay Area does sketchy coffee shops to perfection. But Coffee With A Beat isn't sketchy in a cool way. It's just dirty, and it feels like the people who work there don't give a damn about much except groovin' to the Beat. Well, have fun, guys.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/16/2008
You ain't coming here if you're looking to get your coffee quickly. Or to avoid sugar spills on the… Read more »
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Review from Barbara D.
Oakland, CA
6/14/2011
If you want a friendly, comfortable place to have good coffee and pastry and hear good music, this is the place. If you don't want the warm feeling you got from sitting in the kitchen of your favorite "hip" auntie, then I suggest you go to Starbucks.
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Review from Ant ..
Oakland, CA
9/6/2007
This place is definitely up my alley. The atmosphere is chill and unassuming.
I hadn't seen this joint before, but found it when I was exploring my new neighborhood in search for a cup of joe.
I dig it. The coffee doesn't come in trough sized cups, instead it's the way it should be. Bigger isn't always better.
There were a few people surfing the web with the free wifi, but unlike some coffee joints, there were still seats open and folks were not camped out.Listed in: Brand New Stomping Grounds
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Review from Phil D.
Oakland, CA
8/4/2007 1 photo
I just moved in across the street and I don't know who Nicole is, but the Nicole blend is some of the best coffee I have ever had and I am a huge coffee snob. It's dark and strong and delicious. Until the moving truck gets here (moving tip: take the French press and grinder in the car with you, duh), I am going in here every morning. Also an extremely good lox bagel can be had for a mere $4.99. Such a steal.
So far this place is the best part of my new neighborhood. -
Review from Menaka M.
Miami Beach, FL
12/25/2008
I want to like this place because it's a block and a half from my house. I have gone three different times with an open mind, but I haven't wanted to give it a fourth shot. I really like the outside seating and that it's pretty simple. It has the potential to be really cozy and inviting.
The customer service is ... not good. I walked in and smiled at the dude behind the counter, asked how he was doing, etc. He may have forced a response, but there was no friendliness.
Bagel: It took like 10 minutes on a not-very-busy day for a toasted bagel with cream cheese and a slice of tomato. They seemed confused by my request at first (I thought bagel + cream cheese was pretty standard at a coffee shop) ...and they forgot the tomato.
Coffee: Once I went in and they were out of half and half so they had milk and creamer powder. Ew. Something was wrong because it would not dissolve.
Tea: I would still go to this place if I only wanted the simplest, "can't screw this up" item -- Tea.
Oh, and the place could use a good cleaning.
I hope that management reads up on these reviews and does something to make the place more attractive. The location and layout could make for a great spot, but almost everyone I know in the neighborhood avoids it because of bad experiences they have had in the past. -
Review from Kimbo L.
Oakland, CA
1/7/2009
I held off on posting this, but yesterday was the last straw.
One of the employees that works here jokingly thought it was okay to put me in a choke hold and not apologize.
Besides that, the employees here are terrible baristas. How? They have a tendency to wear head phones while making orders and take their SWEET time in making sandwiches, in my experience. (20 MINUTE WAIT WTF)
Let me give you an example.
*Man walks in.
"I'd like to get a turkey sandwich, please," I said, reaching for my wallet.
"Aite. I'll get to it," mutters the employee, sitting down in a chair and listening to his music.
*20 minutes later...
"Are you going to make the sandwich?" I asked, looking at my watch.
"Yeah, I'm getting to it, hold on." Ignores me and listens to more music. I slowly put my wallet back.
It's like they don't even want to sell their foodstuffs.
*Coffee with a Beat loses out on $5.75 because of a stupid employee. Grand Lake Coffee, a place where customers are respected, just got a new regular.
There wifi is also shit. I could barely connect to the internet over half the time I went here.
If you don't have the time to wait for the bullshit service or wifi, I'd advise you to drop by Grand Lake Coffee.
Nate Sr., I really hope you fix this up. Seriously, I'm going to spread to EVERYONE how horrible your cafe is. Sons or not, they should be bringing you money, not turning it away.
Good luck. =]
I will never drink coffee here again. Neither should you. -
Review from Chris B.
San Diego, CA
4/11/2008
I enjoy the atmosphere of this coffee shop the way one appreciates a dive bar. It's family owned, nobody dotes over you and you get what you need with little fuss and probably a little joke.
The main reason I started cruising into Coffee With a Beat at first was convenience. I come back because I enjoy seeing the local flavor around The Lake and the coffee is really good. I get the Costa Rican Blend and it's better than what I make at home and reasonably priced. I got a medium coffee and an amazing pear danish for $3.50 which I'm sad to say is impossible to do just about anywhere else I get coffee, especially at Peets. Thanks for the great jazz too, always makes my head feel a little less fuzzy in the morning.
Great coffee shop to go get your morning brew and a little centering in the morning, or early afternoon... -
Review from Ellen O.
3/18/2008
I love this quiet respite from the busy thoroughfare, and it is a natural stop on my walk around Lake Merritt. Always cheery and you get a nice greeting from the staff. Good sandwiches and coffee, wireless, relaxed atmosphere.
Check it out!! -
Review from Holly F.
Oakland, CA
12/15/2006
Don't get me wrong. Friendly.
But I find it to be hot & stuffy in here, w/ not much ambience. They need some better books.
That said, the outside tables/chairs are pretty glorious on a sunny day. Great location, bordering the park. -
Review from Katie H.
Berkeley, CA
2/16/2010
It's taken my mind a while to settle on Coffee With A Beat. The coffee is hit or miss, probably depending on how fresh it is. The food is okay: it's hard to be either visionary or terrible with bagels-from-a-bag-based cuisine. What makes it great is the space and the location. Across from Lakeside Park, on a side-street just off Grand Avenue, there's nowhere more pleasant to sit on a nice day. The inside is airy and comfortable.
A lot of older men from the neighborhood come here to talk about politics for hours. The atmosphere is more like a civic forum than any kind of hip. There's something cynicism-melting about sitting in Coffee With A Beat, which is both bracing and inspiring.
It's been in this neighborhood for like 15 years or whatever, so currying the favor of staff and regulars is an uphill battle if you kind of look like a yuppie even though you are really a poor graduate student.
Also that guy in the neighborhood who talks to himself about Jesus but looks like Richard Pryor is a regular. -
Review from Luke M.
Oakland, CA
2/26/2011
Friendly, inviting, and a delicious "bean pie" thing that the barrista suggested and which I quite enjoyed. Nice relaxing place in which to tap away on the laptop on a relatively lazy Saturday afternoon.
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Review from F M.
Oakland, CA
8/28/2011
Yum! I'm not a coffee drinker but everyone I've gone with loved the coffee. The bagel special (capers, onions, lox, cream cheese, tomato) is soooo good. Would definitely recommend.
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Review from Jennifer S.
Oakland, CA
1/26/2011
As a local to the lake I appreciate any cozy, cute spot with some character.
This place fits that bill.
Sure it may not have all the bells and whistles of Peet's or Farleys...but friendly staff that makes you feel welcome and part of the family is what I feel when I visit Coffee with a Beat.
On my brisk walk to Bart, I stopped in for the first time for a cup o joe, not knowing that they do not accept credit cards...the man (Nate) whom I'm assuming is the owner b/c he's always there, insisted that I take the cup and just repay him some other time. Yea, that happened, and yes it made my morning, and yes I returned the next day for another cup of Costa Rica and to repay him.
Maybe it was my tired eyes or he could tell that I'm a grumpy girl before I get coffee in my system...either way, I was grateful.
Besides this experience its an easy and comfy spot to stop to read the paper, etc . Or just take in some people watching. Early mornings you can find what I like to refer to as "Good Ol Boys" chit chatting about who knows what...likely music, jazz, news, history, back in the day stories, etc.
I'll be back soon...
Thanks again Nate :) -
Review from M D.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2009
The people in here are really friendly, personable and real.
The music is good, there is a great sense of community (young and old) and the wi-fi works as much as it need to.
I find it really refreshing that this is one of the few places I can hang out with a dollar tea outside, have a cigarette with an old lady and relax.
Coming from Europe, it is a simple pleasure to go to a place where the service is composed, and where you can lounge without televisions everywhere.It's just a different set of criteria I guess.
I like how places like this are self regulating, as I wouldn't want to be hanging around the type of person offended by the type of stuff mentioned in some of these bad reviews... -
Review from DowntownSnobs Z.
Oakland, CA
5/21/2009
Stay away from the dark roast coffees, in my opinion. The medium roast is fine and decently balanced, but they tend to overdraw the beans on their French roasts.
What could be a 2-star establishment though gets up to 4 simply by sheer force of personality. The workers are always up to yap about pretty much whatever, and are funny and personable. I tend to go when I'm in a lousy mood. I recommend that you do the same. -
Review from donna d.
Oakland, CA
2/3/2011
Wonderful, family-owned neighborhood coffee & sandwich place where everyone is welcome. Sit outside on a warm day & watch the world go by on Grand Ave. & Lake Merritt park. Nate is the best!!!
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Review from Michelle S.
Brookline, MA
11/20/2008
"I'm hot, so hot, you need gloves to touch me."-Mistah FAB
Sexy, beautiful, and progressive liberals only. Or at least that's what the signage says. No joke. There is actually an "Attractive People for Obama" sign above the counter.
Seriously, why did I wait until last weekend to check this place out? Oh yeah, because I live by 504. BUT not for much longer....I am leaving that side of the lake and this will soon be the new neighborhood spot for me. Seriously, they better learn my name pretty %$#@ing soon! Because, guess what? I'm totally hitting this place up with my lappy (free wireless) while wearing my jammies (HOT!!! Velour track suits baby...oh yeah) on the weekends in order to work on that book that I keep threatening to write. Totally laid back and neighborhood-friendly...totally not filled with yuppie breeders and their strollers. (I'm sorry Peet's; I know it's not your fault.) Lots of furniture to get comfy in (hopefully it doesn't have scabies like Parkway's probably does...I'm kinda kidding...but Parkway's couches are kinda nasty). Lots of tables to sit at. Near Ahn's Burgers. They just aren't open at night; hence not five stars.
It may not be 504; but their iced latte is a force to be reckoned with. Also, the iced drinks (yeah, I'm an iced latte girl...even in the winter...I want to drink that coffee quickly so that I can get caffienated sooner...really...only one step below mainlining it really...well, not really...maybe snorting it is) come in red Dixie cups. Because I'm totally lame and because I fondly remember when I would drink Boone's wrapped in paper bags, I'm totally digging the "remembering my wild kegger days" feeling that I get when I drink lattes from the Dixie cups.*
*Let's be honest. I drink nice wine from Dixie cups too. I'm KLASSY!Listed in: 510 Represent, Good Coffee...
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Review from Anna G.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2006
I needed a second cup of coffee this morning, and opted to grab it on my way to the Bart station instead of brewing it at home as per usual. I stopped at Coffee with a Beat because I'd been meaning to check it out at some point, especially since I'm new to the neighborhood. Overall, I dig the vibe and the setup and everything, and the coffee is a strong and tasty brew. However, I'm not a fan of the fact that they pretty much have only half-and-half available (I prefer low-fat milk), which is a deterrant for me in the search of the perfect local coffee shop. But, good place to be, overall.
Listed in: My (previous) Oakland Lake…
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Review from Mijiza M. S.
Oakland, CA
6/22/2007
Yo, this is my favorite neighborhood joint....java & music!!?!?!? I've died and gone to heaven! Seriously! All I gotta say is WHITE CHOCOLATE MOCHA!!! They put white chocolate chips in the bottom of your mug! Talk to me my fellow yelpers, does it get any better than that???
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Lisa T.
3/26/2008
Million-dollar views, ten-cent ambience. Not my cuppa.
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Review from Dorothy S.
San Francisco, CA
8/25/2008
Granted, I didn't come hear right at the crack of dawn and spend my day or evening here but my company and I popped in for a last minute mocha right before closing on a late Sunday afternoon. We stuck our heads in at about 5:15 and the barrista gladly made us a mocha. I think it's because we were really nice. It was a great mocha too. The overall attitude seems laid back but I can see how there may be a little fly here or there (it's right near the park and the Lake). For the most part, it's really friendly with a limited menu (minus one star) but it really is a coffee place, isn't it?! I would definitely come back to treat myself to some coffee after a walk around the lake.
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Review from aly e.
Oakland, CA
8/24/2008
I like to support small local businesses. I really do. But this place really needs some improvements. I like the fact that they have free wireless. Also, the caramel cake is the business. But...half of the outlets don't work, there's always flies buzzing around my head, and while the internet is free, it's always going in an out. And I don't like my iced coffee served in plastic red cups like I'm at a college frat party. That said, I will continue to support with my purchase of caramel cake, but you'll probably find me posted at Peets or Whole Foods where the internet is more reliable, the flies are minimal, they give you cups with a lid, and the outlets work. (...If I could, I would give this 2.5 stars, they're a little better than 2, but not quite at 3)
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Review from Dahled J.
Oakland, CA
9/25/2007
Cool little neighborhood coffee shop. Good (strong) coffee is a major +, free wifi is another major benefit as is the availability of workstations set up for internet rental. (not sure what they charge) The place is little and cozy and family run. They also have good sandwiches and muffins, scones, etc. The one major downside is the pace. Do NOT go here if you're in a hurry and there's even one person ahead of you in line. Just don't do it. If time isn't an issue then this is your spot. The folks working will gladly have a nice conversation with you about alsmost anything, they're very good natured and friendly and that goes a long way - but if you're in a hurry this ain't the place to stop in.
