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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
Neighborhood: East OaklandMon-Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Good coffee, easy-to-get wi-fi, and tasty breakfast treats.
I recommend the scrambled egg/jack cheese/spinach on an English muffin.
The best thing about this place is that it's really CLEAN.
Oh Kefa Coffee! How do I love thee,and really wish you were right down my street.
I was referred to this place again by a fellow yelper.Needing a little pick me up before heading to my destination, I was looking forward to trying this(from what I hear)Incredebly good Coffee.
Incredible good it was!!From the moment I took my first sip it was great, you could just taste the quality,the non-toxic,light, rich, bold flavor mmmm as I was leaving I really wished I would have got a larger size.
This place is very small and in the middle of nowhere.I would of thought this was some little place, that by luck would get any business, yet apparently they do, there very well know, and I now know why.The place is clean,small but cute,service is very friendly and You cannot beat the prices!
I will be back!
Whoever is behind the counter is always genuinely friendly, none of that fake smile "and how can I help you today" crap. I don't go here all the time, because I couldn't afford to, but whenever I do I see that there are regulars who seem to have a relationship with the barista(s). I take that as a good sign.
The breakfast and lunch sandwiches are tasty. Yes, they aren't the cheapest, but they are appropriately priced for the quality. I am irritated at the people who complained about how long it took to get their food. This is not mc donalds or starbucks with sub par premade sandwiches. If you want that muck, go there. You will get your food in as long as it takes to make it from scratch, and it will be worth it.
They do mean the part about not burning their coffee. Soy lattes and drip have always been delicious. My only wish is that they had more loose leaf non-Numi teas.
If you live in the Fruitvale district, this is by far your best cafe option.
Not only really terrific coffee from Ethiopia, fabulous sandwiches with fresh and wholesome ingredients, consistent service, really cool music, but Kefa offers that rare element -- a sense of community Dina always asks how you are with warmth in her voice and art work from Jingletown covers the walls.
If you are coming from Alameda, know that there is a parking lot if you turn right on Ford St. As well as the new and lovely patio. Thank you, Kefa!
I've been happy with my drink everytime I've been to Kefa. This morning I got a breakfast sandwich, which is the prompt for this review. YUMMY!!! And they are very nice to boot! Support this local coffee shop!
Get the banana mocha, it's incredible, it tastes like a chocolate covered banana! And the egg, prosciutto, swiss cheese breakfast sandwich was delicious!
MMMMmmmm- the egg salad sandwich here is truly one of the best that I've ever had- I get it w/o bacon and it comes on this fantastic bread and has yummy olives in it- so so good, I would have one right now if I could. You can buy the sandwich by the half or whole and the whole is a way better deal but the half is enough food- so bring a friend to share with! Good numi tea options, good coffee, cute desserts (the day-olds are cheaper and just as good) and an overall lovely little spot. It's a teensy-bit expensive for me, but so good, so a nice treat.
Dina and Gabe continue to amaze me with their high level of customer service and their ability to solidify their customer loyalty. Keep it up!
I read the reviews here and it only confirms my exposure to Kefa. It is as wonderful as their Roast… Read more »
K ind
E mployees
F riendly
A nd
C learly
O utstanding
F ood (fresh amazingly tasty sandwiches made on yummy gourmet bakery bread, coffee drinks, pizza, smoothies and salads)
F ree Wi-Fi
E xcellent for
E veryone."
I only took one star off because they say they have no public bathroom. I really appreciate that they have a parking lot given that they are right by both 880 on ramps, but strong morning coffee often encourages the daily "morning dump" or "caffeine-induced waterfall!"
Still, a Kefa Klass Act with beautiful choices of artwork and jazz adding to the ambiance.
I struggle to find coffee houses with good food and good coffee and Kefa is one of the rare few. The owners and staff are also very welcoming. They remember your order if you come often enough, chat with you, remind you to get your frequent buyer card stamped, provide a napkin with your meal, wave goodbye with a smile, etc. They support local artists too.
The coffee is organic and fair trade. I had a latte (large, $3.25). Excellent. The flavor was smooth, deep and rich, not at all bitter. They brew the Americano in a special way to increase its strength. The beans are for sale.
The egg and spinach breakfast sandwich ($3.95) on a toasted English muffin is much better than what you get at most coffee houses and you can tell that it's different by looking at it. Someone actually cooks the eggs with fresh spinach leaves. The eggs aren't microwaved. They don't skimp on the egg or spinach.
They also have a case with pastries (brownies, lemon bars, scones, muffins, croissants). For lunch they have sandwiches, pizza and salad - made to order and cooked by someone who cares. For dessert they have gelato, and sorbet. Everything looked delicious. They just seem to really care and have a passion for the business - it's rare that I get that feeling.
Too bad they're located in the middle of a warehouse area and they close early - but maybe it's not a good idea to be in that area when it gets dark. It's close to the 880 and parking is easy to find. The free wi-fi is secure and it's a pleasant, laid back place to hang out, with comfortable chairs and jazz music. It's cleaner and the furniture matches; it's not your typical run down independent coffee house and it's not a hipster hangout either. There is no public restroom.
I'm here with some regularity, so I figured I'd get my first five star review on the board. Here's the verdict: Best behind the counter service at a coffee shop that I've ever had. Dina is so very friendly. The prices are pretty comparable to their competition (which I imagine is tough to do as an independent coffee house). I'm universally down for their lip-smacking breakfast sandwiches (if you don't like pepper in your egg just ask for it without)...best way to have it is on a croissant. The sandwiches are equally good. Everything is fresh. You can squirt your own syrup if you want. Additionally, I am a huge fan of the Jingletown neighborhood, and one can easily tell that Kefa is a good neighbor. There's local artwork on display, and even a mosaic out back (presumably from the Mosaic studio nearby). Kefa seems very community oriented, and they deserve their ever growing base of loyal customers. I smile inside (and sometimes on the outside) every time I come here. My only criticism is that their hours preclude me from swinging by on my way home from work to grab a latte. Oh and they have free Wi-Fi if that matters to you...use it to check out their dope website!
Dog note: No dogs inside, but (if you don't mind all the cars streaming out of Alameda) there is patio seating around the back where your pup can hang out at your feet while you sip a yummy smoothie.
Entree Cost: $5 to $8
Dessert Cost: $3 to $5
Cocktail Cost: N/A
Dish: Breakfast Sandwich
Flavor: 5
Ingredients: 5
Novelty: 4
Attractiveness: 5
Temperature: 5
Texture: 5
Edibility: 4.42
Noise Level: 5
Temperature: 5
Aesthetics: 5
Space: 5
Lighting: 5
View: 0
Ambiance: 5
Courtesy: 5
Timeliness: 5
Service: 5
Dogs?: Yes
Dish: 4.42
Ambience: 5
Server: 5
Overall: 4.61
Rating: 5 stars
I'm so glad to have some of the best coffee in Oakland just a few blocks away. It's always nice to see local art hanging on the walls and the staff couldn't be a friendlier bunch. Highly recommend the Iced Americano, better than anywhere else I've had it! Breakfast sandwiches are also amazing if you don't mind a little wait. My boyfriend is there several times a week, they know how to keep their customers happy and coming back for more.
This place is awesome! It has a bit of everything, not just your typical coffee joint. This place in unique in many ways. Not only do they have organic fair trade coffee, they have gourmet type deli filled with delicious breakfast & lunch treats, along with yummy pastry goods, and even have gelato & sorbet!! Prices are also reasonable for the quality of coffee and food. So you get a bakery/gourmet deli/gourmet coffee/free wifi all in one spot!! The owners smile and are interested in making sure you enjoy your meal there. The decor is modern and contemporary, and the art pieces displayed are from local artists.
I enjoyed the mocha and a egg & spinach breakfast sandwich. The bread was well toasted and crunchy just how i like it, and they egg & spinach was well cooked, and they weren't skimpy on the fresh spinach. The egg was also well flavored (not rubbery or bland like they were nuked in the microwave). The coffee was also great, not burnt, but very smooth.
I love non-franchised coffee spots & this place has just been added to my list of favorite coffee spots in the east bay. They even have frequent buyer cards & free wi-fi!! Too bad i didn't know of this place when i was a student.
I got lost the other morning driving around to avoid traffic and found Kefa... WOW!
I entered to get a cup of coffee before trying to figure out how to get back on the freeway and experienced the following in order:
music = really cool
art = terrific
beautiful smiling woman taking my order = delightful
drip coffee = major thumbs up (oh, and organic free trade!!!)
the scones = still warm, fresh baked, moist fluffy crisp goodness!
I returned the very next day (this morning) greeted by the same delightful woman (who is the co-owner) and her friendly barista...
coffee = yum
simple sesame bagel toasted with cream cheese = the best I ever had (and I am a bagel snob!)
boyfriend ordered bacon and scrambled egg on croissant = best he ever had -- croissant fresh baked, perfectly cooked crispy bacon and actual scrambled (not zapped) eggs
Kefa is an oasis in a circus of traffic with free wi-fi and really great food and overall service and ambience!
I love getting lost!
I really wanted to like this place, but in the end I'm not really sure what all the hype is about. You show up, and the parking lot is five, maybe six spaces. Not ideal. We walk in to a busy cafe and I'm thinking, "great! this will be wonderful!"
It took us 25 minutes to order and receive our food: one soy latte, one bottle water and two egg, bacon, cheese sandwiches on English muffins. 25 minutes? On a Saturday? The same person who rang us (and the rest of the line) up made my latte. A different person cleaned the cafe area and another mysterious person made our sandwiches in the back.
Ok, so 25 minutes later we get our food. The sandwich was large, but GREASY. VERY greasy. I would have liked it a lot more had it not been so greasy. I had a puddle of grease sitting on the bottom of my wax-paper lined basket. The bacon/egg/cheese bit was also quite salty. The English muffin was good, though. Towards the end, I ditched the bacon/egg/cheese part and just ate the muffin. I'm really hoping their lunch sandwiches are of a different caliber.
The latte was OK...nothing to rave about. Their drip coffee looked descent. I'd try it if I went back. Their cookies also looked pretty promising.
Like I said, I was ready to love this place. I know we all have our off days, but I'd only give them another shot if I drove by and there was no one waiting in line or sitting in the cafe. They definitely can't handle a crowd.
This is another place I have driven past time after time, but only tried after reading all these great reviews. Sorry, but I wasn't really impressed with the food at Niko's so I unfairly passed this place over in my rotation of lunch spots for work.
The coffee here is good; flavorful but not harsh. Nothing life-altering but it was very good. In other words; good, but not Blue Bottle-good.
The egg salad sandwich, was downright awesome. This is the egg salad I only wish Bakesale Betty could have. The egg salad itself was the perfect blend of mayo, egg, olives and mustard, the crispy, almost-overcooked (but thankfully, not-yet-burnt) bacon was a very welcome addition to this sandwich. The bread was toasted perfectly; crispy and warm on the outside while still soft on the inside.
Good portions and not too stressful on the wallet. This place most definitely warrants multiple return visits.
I Came here on a cold sunny day to experience the words that i heard about this place about how excellent Kefa Coffee was.
I didn't really know what to expect since the place was a hidden little cut thats on the way to the freeway so i had to check it out.
So i walk in and right when i step into this kefa atmosphere, i get greeted with a smile and a "HOW ARE YOU" which i really loved. Right away i knew this lady was no joke, she was so nice. Alright, so i ordered the regular chai and i would have to say i loved it because it wasnt to sweet nor bitter but it was just right.
She made the drink pretty fast by the way.
Overall, the atmosphere of this place is very "GREAT" and I'd say that i would come here again
In fact, Everything about Kefa Coffee is incredible, its irresistable and I just love the customer service
5 Stars...MY NEW NAME FOR THIS PLACE WOULD BE KEFACAFE
I am quite possibly the world's most impatient person. However, if you are slow, but nice, play some good music to keep me distracted, and provide a comfy chair on which to rest, I think I can keep myself in check until you hand me that delicious roast beef and blue cheese sandwich. And I will probably be back at least once a week to repeat the experience.
My boss bought lunch from here for a few months until I decided to go there myself. The lady taking the order was extremly sweet, she even gave me some samples of the pastries. I ended up buying the brownie together with 3 sandwiches a lemon brownie.
We eat from here once a week for lunch ...sometimes twice.
By the way they remember your face...they knew who my boss was...haha
Current Activity: Enjoying my Latte!!!!
And next time I'm picking up one of them Egg Sandwiches, they look sooo damn goooooooood!
A hop, skip, and a jump from my house lay this wonderful location which I've been hearing about for… Read more »
Expensive, small, out of the way. Drip is average, espresso slightly above average. Nothing to write home about.
Kefa coffee shop, if you are leaving Alameda crossing the 23rd Avenue bridge and blink you might miss it to your right. It is a nice small shop with some great coffee in jingle town. I ordered the house drip which was a Ethiopian blend of beans. I haven't had a great cup of coffee like that in awhile, besides my pho ao sen regular cup i usually get.
The service here was great. Once you walk in the lady greets you with a smile and takes your order instantly. When your leaving she takes the extra time even if she is busy doing something else to tell you good bye.
5 Stars for Kefa Coffee
Kefa is adorable and the owners/staff are wonderful people!
Conveniently located just around the corner from my work, I am fortunate enough to frequent this fine establishment as often as I so desire.
I've ordered lunch to go and we've also had company lunches catered by Kefa. I have always enjoyed the menu options, particularly their delicious sandwiches. There's a nice selection of sandwiches, salads and personal pizzas. They also have some lovely fresh pastries, coffee & tea.
Though the east bay has its fair share of great cafes and coffee shops, Kefa definitely stands out as their staff is righteous! I will continue to support this business, whether it's my own personal appetite or introducing more new fans.
Thanks Kefa, see you soon!
Yet another great coffee shop I've found solely because of all the great recommendations on here. I mean, people, I drove to Kefa Coffee in a blinding rain *purely* because so many of you professed to love it. And that, in fact, is why I love this site so much. I walked into Kefa this morning, shivering and soaked, and was immediately greeted by two of the friendliest baristas I've ever met. Seriously, ever. And I've met a few in my day.
The cafe au lait I ordered was strong and smooth, and at $2 even, was one of the cheaper I've found in Oakland. To top it all off, I happened to have visited on a day when they were celebrating their first anniversary, and as a result walked away with a free scone. There's not much more I can ask for.
I've been to quite a few oakland coffee shops and Kefa get my vote for #1. Great service with a smile, eclectic music selection, local art and most importantly - the strongest coffee around. You can add cream to this coffee but its not going to stop your eyes from rolling back in your head.
This is also the home of the best scone i have ever tasted. It is Gabe's (one of the owners) recipe and he really knows what he is doing when it comes to pastries. The croissants are wonderful as well if not a bit on the small side.
The egg sandwiches are another treat, especially if you like butter with your eggs.
Forget Peets or Starbucks - support small business because Kefa Rules!
I wandered in here really depressed because my apartment search was going so badly. Got an americano (excellent) and a bagel (pretty good, but a bagel's kind of just a bagel--hard to mess up but equally hard to make it stand out). The best thing about this place was that the barista gave us great tips about where to look for an apartment, told us about the area, and gave us the phone number of a nearby complex that was currently leasing. I left feeling sooooo much more hopeful and well caffeinated on top of it.
I love ... LOOOVE their breakfast sandwiches here. I usually stop by for a quick Latte and egg/sausage breakfast muffin. The staff (well i think its actually just 2 people) is wonderful, they always greet you with a smile. The place is small but big enough to chill and hang out with a friend. There are a few tables around so its quite comfortable.
I also love the fact that they showcase new artists and their art work on their walls. I believe there's also FREE Wireless access in case you were interested in surfing the internet. They also offer a variety of sugar free flavors like vanilla in case you were interested in that!!
My bf and I come here solely for the egg sandwiches on croissant. They kick a&% even beside the fact that the coffee is one step above mediocre. This place is perfect on a sunny day when you can grab your spinach, cheese and egg sandwich and sit out on the "patio" and bask in the East Oakland sun..;)
I really love a good cup of coffee so I took a trip specifically to Kefa from Emeryville to sample it. I had the drip coffee so I cannot comment on the espresso. But it was a reasonably good cup of coffee. My favorite part of the shop was the board with the business cards. I was a little bummed that they did not have the glass cups that they use on the website the website is far more handsome then the actual shop. After ordering out coffee my partner and I had a walk around Jingletown and it is a really interesting neighborhood with heaps of mosaic and iron art,
I went here for lunch and I have to say I LOVE IT!! :)
It's a nice little humble shop with many paintings by local artists. It's clean, chill, and relaxing. Kefa was just absolutely wonderful. They also have pastries as well. There's wireless internet connection, so it's 2 thumbs up for me.
TIPS: try the tuna sandwich AND if they have it, Wild Alaskan Salmon Sandwich. Oh my my my... it was indeed delicious!!
Kefa rocks, and it looks liked they've turned a rather jinxed location into a neighborhood fixture, serving the arts community from Ford Street and around in peaceable unity with the condo crowd from Glascock. One can also chill with Ignacio de la Fuente here, just look for the Harley. Prices are modest and quality is excellent. Lucky enough to live within walking distance of this one, they start pouring my coffee for me when they spot me shuffling up the sidewalk of Strauss Carpets. That, as you know, is service.
The coffee is delicious, far mellower / richer than the burnt french served ubiquitously. They show local art and permit their customers to (gasp!) post flyers about events and services, a practice that seems to have fallen by the wayside in the corporate coffee house. At long last I can wake up in a downtempo setting and discover what's on in the hood.
Found this place on the way to the freeway. Decided to stop in one day and discovered a friend worked there!
The friend and barrista is super cool and quite hilarious! The coffee is solid...love the dark roast...whatever it is. Today I tried an egg sandwich with ham on an english muffin....delicious! I'm expanding my morning breakfast stops from Bakesale Betty's and Arezmendi's!
So super clean, well decorated, friendly and good coffee. I'll be back for sure.
The staff is very, very friendly here. Only had an iced mocha, and it was pretty good stuff. Much better than Starbucks.
Too bad they close early, so it's not really much of a hang-out type of place.
I come to Alameda often, but have never had occasion to take the 880 southbound from Park Ave until this afternoon. On the way out I discovered Kefa, and I'm thrilled for it. It's great to see a such a welcoming and well-run business with clear pride of ownership operating in this somewhat transitional area!
I'd already eaten, so I only had coffee, but I'll be back for a meal soon... For now I'll give it four stars, wishing that it had expanded weekend hours and coffee that was a little less bitter, but I may well upgrade my rating after my next visit...
This is HANDS DOWN the best bar coffee in Oakland. I am very, very, very particular about my coffee and I have found that this to be the best. Their espresso drinks are perfect too. Again the coffee that they use for these, espresso drinks, is not a brand that is easily found. Excellently roasted and prepared very well. Do your self a favor, pass the Peet's and Starbucks, and high-tail to Kefa. The have wonderful iced coffee as well.
I am all about the Kefa. Something particularly charming about this family-run cafe keeps me coming back. They get all the details right. Tea in a teacup. Comfy seats. Free wi-fi. The place is spotless and prices are reasonable.
All sorts of cool people come through here. See you there!
Kefa Coffee and Cafe is art enclave, Jingletown's local hang and gathering spot for a great strong brew and awesome gourmet sandwiches. They take the tuna sandwich to new heights (yummy tuna, capers, arugula, a specialty mayo-secret sauce, on warm, crusty olive bread)- really, it does seem to be a favorite and all the tasty breakfast sandwiches hit the spot. I have yet to try the Eggplant sandwich and other gourmet sandwiches, pizza, pastries or gelato, so lots of good reasons to go back - If I can just stop ordering the Tuna. I enjoy stopping after my Pilates class a couple blocks away, and if other Alamedans only knew this little gem of a hot spot was so good as they whiz by on their way to work everyday....but this place won't stay secret for long.
Love all the local Jingletown art that graces the walls and adds local Jingletown flavor and the owners & baristas are super nice!
I loves me some well-roasted coffee, and Kefa's house cup is done right. Strong, but not burnt--it's that fine line, walked just right. Service here is alway spot on.
I have been back quite a bit. This is the corner coffee shop that everyone wishes they had in walking distance. Plus they serve GOOD sandwiches. Their egg-salad is probably the best one I have ever had (outside of my own!).
Everything about this place screams "Patronize me!!"
Only been once, and just for a cup of coffee, but I will certainly be back. The owners were super… Read more »
If I could give this place six stars, I would. Imagine another star ...
This was my first time here. Unbelievably good coffee, an amazing tuna sandwich, a parking lot (in Oakland -- thought I had died and gone to heaven), the nicest owners (unlike all the surly staff in Berkeley, which also does NOT have free parking -- far from it. Bitter, table for one.), free Wifi and a gorgeous mosaic mural on the wall facing the parking lot.
If you have read my other reviews, you know that I am bossy, so when I say you must go here, you really MUST go here. It's all word of mouth right now and my mouth is saying check it out before their website goes up (I loved this place so much that I offered to write the content for them!), more Yelpers Yelp ecstatically about it, and the place is overrun. Seriously. I mean it.
Neighborhood: West Oakland
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: East Oakland
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: East Oakland
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: East Oakland
Category: Sandwiches
Oakland, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
I drink it every day (well sometimes not on…
If you happen to live in the east bay & need a…
