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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
458 Perkins St
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Great outdoor sidewalk seating for having some coffee with your four-legged friend or for "crazies" sightings. I was sitting outside at one of their chairs waiting for the hubby to get his coffee to go the other day and a shoeless man walks out of the cafe carrying a bottle of apple juice.
5 seconds later another man runs out of the coffee shop yelling at "Shoeless" and saying "Amigo! Amigo! What's up? Come on man! You didn't pay for that apple juice. You need to give that back. Come on, amigo!" Shoeless was not responsive but rather stood in a catatonic state refusing to give up his stolen bottle of apple juice. The coffee shop man then wrestle-hugs Shoeless, prying the bottle out of his hands, at which point Shoeless deadpan-edly tells the coffee shop man "You gonna die." Now, a regular response once you've recovered items from your coffee shop and been threatened would be to go back inside and either forget the situation or call the police. But instead, in response to Shoeless's statement/threat (?) the coffee shop man asks him, "How? How am I going to die?" Shoeless didn't have a response for that, so the coffee shop man came to the conclusion, telling Shoeless, "You drunk man!"
i heart this place. i love the music; i adore the staff; the sandwiches are good and the people are kind. i like that pretentiousness is disallowed and arrogance won't be served well.
it's a people's cafe; it's not a chain. they attend well with endearing gestures and service. when i'm done with my food, they ask to take it away for me. when i come in with sniffles someone offers to make a special (and delicious) tea. when someone is donating records, they ask if i want a gander.
so people who are more accustomed or appreciate the likeness of starbucks or hipness can find places elsewhere. i appreciate the beat and everyone that i know who studies here does as well.
whoever said anything about strange people chilling outside might check themselves on the arrogance of their own "normality."
peace.
I'm new to the area, just moved in about a month ago. Saw their cute sign on the corner and thats what drawn me in. I pulled open their wobbly screen door. I walked to the counter, there was a lady with long braids behind the counter just looked at me surprisingly and turned back around, stocking the fridge. So i patiently waited about 4 minutes she finally came up to the counter and asked can I help you? I told her that I wanted a small hot chocolate. She rung me up then finishing stocking the fridge before starting on my drink. I didn't mind the wait at first thinking well it s small mom and pop business, not a chain location, but I would expect friendlier service. When I got my drink it was lukewarm, not as hot as I would have liked it, but oh well. I took a sip and it tasted watered down and cheap!. I was a bit surprised by that. It was a sunny day I wanted to sit outside but it looked like some homeless and non-customers were already sitting there. Inside the decor is alright but confusing, They have all this "afro-centric" decorations which is ok, but the area doesn't blend in with it. The area is a park across the street.There are runners, joggers, cycylists, and families in this area. The decor and their menu doesn't match the area its in. Its a charming location, but their menu, lack of customer service, and quality of drinks, doesn't match or fit in this area. Too bad.
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.
You ain't coming here if you're looking to get your coffee quickly. Or to avoid sugar spills on the… Read more »
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a great little cafe to go and read or chat. There is no pretentious "lounge" atmosphere, and it is obvious that folks go there for the coffee and community. Sure, it is not super clean, but that is fine with me. I do wish there were more fans inside to keep a breeze going on these hot summer days.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
"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!
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.
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...
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.
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!!
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.
I used to live a block away from this place, and I love coffee.
This place has the absolute worst service ever, in terms of speed. I've been in there many times, mostly when I really needed a cup and was in hurry, and the people behind the counter are very, very slow. I honestly think that most of the times I've been in there that everyone was stoned out of their minds. Several times I waited 20 minutes just to pay for a cup of coffee I got myself, with only one or two people ahead of me.
The people who work there have always been polite, though, but I'm also pretty sure they're stoned out of their minds and can barely function.
The coffee itself isn't all that spectacular either. I prefer to drink Lattes, but I am not patient enough to wait for them to actually make one.
It's a real shame, as this place is in an excellent location and is probably staying in business for that reason only.
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.
I'm going to have to agree with the consensus that the service is slow, and I wish I liked this place more. It's a short walk from my apartment and has outdoor seating by the park. The bagel sandwiches are pretty good, and I like the books and posters inside. Sometimes I go back to check it out 'cause it has a cool vibe, but usually, it just doesn't quite make the cut.
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)
Two blocks from my house and on the way to the playground. Not very clean. Strange people hanging about outside. Coffee not all that great. Only take cash.
I love this coffee shop especially since its family owned and right by the lake. It has such a chill atmosphere and no one is in a rush here which in my opinion is a great thing cause they entertain you while you wait with a few funny and not so funny stories/jokes. Their sandwiches are on point, get the wheat bread because its so delicious! I love the two sons who work it diligently, Justin and Nate, they rock! They even play with the kids when they can. The outside seating is wonderful and you can do some serious people watching here. This is definitely one of my favorite places to get some work done or lounge around and chill.
Their coffee is really good. The bagel special sandwiches are worth the 20 minute walk to get there. A bagel smothered in cream cheese with lox, capers, tomato, onion. The prices are good and the atmosphere down home and comfortable; very un-corporate which I find refreshing. Good outdoor seating, and I really like the mix of people that are drawn to Coffee With a Beat.
Million-dollar views, ten-cent ambience. Not my cuppa.
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.
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???
on the way and after leaving this place, you see hundreds, maybe a thousand geese busy nibbling away on the grass of lake merritt.
this cafe is an hole in the wall with no fancy decor redo. after one enters the cafe, there are a few steps downward as you approach the order counter.
entree: medium roast coasta rica blend (1.25, 1.50, 1.75) drinkable by itself, a little strong.
pros:
-free wifi
-plenty of room to walk around, many tables available to sit and read or chat.
-pastry, sandwiches, and bagels available.
-music
cons:
-street parking is sparse as days wears on
-decor may not appleal to modern asthetics enthusiasts
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.
I came here with a visiting friend, because we wanted a cafe where we could get a beverage, sit on quite comfortable chairs, read write & talk, and generally chill in a pleasant atmosphere for an afternoon. This place fit the bill. I didn't think the staff was very nice -- they seemed to be making fun of us the whole time for not knowing the drill, and one dude flirted with me (well, you could call that a positive or a negative, depending on your nature). The comfy chairs were best. I'd go back.
Formerly "Nicole's", this is one of my favorite chill-out coffee shops in all of Oakland because it's simple, inviting, and unhyped. Great vibe, socially harmonic atmosphere, good sandwiches, and a location nestled in a spot just slightly off the beaten path, right by Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park.
Great place if you have a lot of time to just relax. There are always people sitting in front of this cafe debating something and soaking up the sun. It's lovely. Dahled is right... you will need a good amount of time here. BUT, you will get the personal touch. Everyone is so nice! And then when you're done, walk half a block to lake merritt and feed the geese!
Nice community coffee shop - friendly folks, lots of progressive politics on display and discussed. It seems that every time I've been here - even many months apart - the same people are there, in the same spots! Gotta love it. I've met some interesting folks here for sure. I don't know why other review ers are so fussy about it not being clean enough. It seems fine to me, but if you're looking for a foofoo coffee shop, obviously this isn't it. My issue - coffee could be a little stronger.
Friendly, chill place to grab a cup of coffee and a bagel. They open at 6:30, so it's a perfect spot to hit up before the commute. I like how this place doesn't try hard to fit the whole cafe scene.
It's not Starbucks! The coffee is exactly what I want coffee to be. I don't need a 1/2 caf, 1/2 decaf, soy, extra hot, with whip; I just need coffee, cream, and sugar.
Oakland, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
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