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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Elmwood, ClaremontMon-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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For me, this place is a staple. Decent coffee, friendly employees, lots of plugs for laptops, wifi, lots of seating, and some okay food if you get hungry (mostly bagels). A good study spot or place to meet friends, not a great date spot.
My only complaint is that they ALWAYS keep the front door open, which is nice when it's sunny, but really unpleasant when it's 8 AM and 55 degrees outside. I'm not sure why this is. I've heard several people ask them to close it, but just they won't do it. I guess they think it increases business, or they're trying to stimulate more turnover with the tables. Either way, it's pretty annoying.
After our donut run at Dream Fluffs, we went straight here for some caffiene.
I ordered a double soy mocha and the boy, a double soy latte. The lady on the counter, for a Sunday morning, seemed really pissy and her "good morning" was so fake...hmm....good morning to you too!
Anyway, I agree with other yelpers that it's tough to find seats b/c of the people with laptops and books.
Overall, coffee was better than Peet's but nothing beats our Eon coffee!
...at least we're trying other places...give us that.
There's nothing like writing a review for a place while you're in it. As I look up to my left I see a sign displaying "Fair Trade Organic Coffee"... unfortunately this time I decided to get a passion fruit italian soda. So I can't comment on the coffee. Although my last experience with a iced coffee was not so good; I more of a mocha, latte, chai latte fan.
Norah Jones is playing in the background, and I'm charmed by this cute little coffee shop on College Ave. People around me are either engrossed in their studies/electronic devices or chatting quietly in a corner with a good friend.
The desserts in the front counter look really good, but I'll have to come back to try them. Oh yes, and the Wi-Fi is pretty reliable!
Beverages and food are fine. The customer service was atrocious. Something was wrong with the wireless connection and the staff was completely unwilling to help. When my friend asked if they could reboot the router the barista actually laughed at him and said she didn't care.
Great latte 2 times in a row!
Open til 10PM every night (that seems to be late for Berkeley....)
Lots of places to sit and a patio!
WiFi + lots of plugs
A few more comfy chairs would be nice...but I guess people are hanging around there long enough already!
Honestly I'm not sure why I didn't give this five stars in the first place... The veggie bagel sandwich is always delicious, and my past few trips I added a dessert along with the usual bagel and coffee.
The lemon bar is fantastic, perfectly lemony with a great shortbread crust. The brownie is very good too, fudge and dense as opposed to light and cakey (but really, if you like cakey brownies, just eat cake, damnit!), and drizzled with dark chocolate. Next time I think I'll try the espresso brownie...
I've started making a large coffee + veggie bagel sandwich + a good book a weekend tradition. The… Read more »
This place is fine... the coffee is good, there's decent baked goods for when the tummy feels empty, and the wireless is reliable. I do prefer Sack's a couple blocks down College Ave. People are there to study whereas a majority of people at the Beanery are here for conversing.
Gorgeous back patio on sunny days
Free wifi
Very friendly workers
Decent coffee and tea
Great location
Not much more I could ask for.
After a hearty meal, friends and I stopped by to grab some dessert. I wanted some ice cream and ended up getting the vanilla bean.
It was rich, yummy. The place was clean and had a cool layout. It wasn't that big so students probably don't study here that often and if they do, they can't handle a ton of traffic.
Staff here didn't blow it with the service. In fact, they were patient with some of my friends' crazy orders.
Final Call:
Good place to kick it with some friends to chat. A place to stop by with a hottie for some dessert after a nice meal on College Ave.
I've been here 2 or 3 times. Their drinks are solid. The first time I went I had a regular coffee and it was brewed really well. Today, I had a mocha and it was pretty much spot on. Being a Sunday, it was pretty busy - lots of "folksy" people in there, people in there with their kids, and so on. Along the wall I was probably one of the only people that had paper reading material out as opposed to a computer. I got a weird look from the chick next to me because my writing was causing my table to shake. Note to others: you must move your arm to get legible words to appear on paper. This may seem odd if you're used to typing, but trust me, I've tried writing without moving my hands and I've generally suffered pretty bad results.
A few things disappointed me, but may not disappoint everybody. First, the people behind the counter really suck at managing a line. I waited in line, and they ended up trying to call TWO of the people behind me to order before they helped me, despite my being closest to the register. When I went to pay the $3.40 for my mocha, the chick behind the counter didn't respond to me holding money in front of her and was instead taking ANOTHER order (from the person they originally tried to serve before me). I ended up just setting the money on the counter, taking my drink, and walking to a table. WTF!? Another thing that may not, in fact, have anything to do with the place or its owners is the lack of bike parking in front. One or two doors away, there's a bike "n" out front that allows about 2 bikes to be locked to it. More "n" racks please!!
horrible wifi. try mocha lisa down the street instead, or sacks the other direction. VERY nice people, though, and good coffee.
but now, good wifi is expected in berkeley.
Good place to study. For some reason no one talks, pretty much ever. Their coffee is normal, not bad, not phenomenal either. Just coffee.
My fiance and I go here after we go to La Mediteranee sometimes for a dessert. They have cool tables that are like shadowboxes with different grains or coffee beans in them.
The brownies are a little on the hard side but the milkshakes are decent - not the greatest but good.
When you first walk in here, you'll think this place is small! But it's deceiving because as you walk to the back of the store, there's more seating! There's even an outdoor patio area to hang out on a nice day.
They have really good coffee here. I ordered the caramel latte and was very pleased with it! The free wifi is a tad deceiving as well... because it's really only free for 2 hours, then you have to pay for internet. They do offer lots of outlets for your laptop. However, the tables are a bit small for group study.
I popped into the Beanery looking for a refreshing drink to quench my thirst. What I found was a cute café with many locals hanging out and enjoying a coffee. I decided to order a Vietnamese iced tea and it's was DELICIOUS. If you're in the area shopping, I recommend taking a break and grabbing a drink at the beanery. Parking can be challenge, and remember to bring change Monday through Saturday for the meter machine.
Oh, the Beanery. How I've spent countless miserable hours in you, reading, writing papers, and procrastinating.
Though I graduated over a year ago now, I still find myself coming back here. Why? To be honest, it's not really the coffee. Their drip is pretty mediocre, and their expresso just okay (though they do know how to make some beautiful-looking lattes). It's the veggie bagel sandwiches and laid-back, "this is a place for everyone and anyone"-type feel that attracts me to it. It's a great place to read or do work, meet a friend for some mellow conversation, or sit at the bench outside to people-watch. They have every kind of bar/brownie that you could ever desire with your afternoon cappuccino and I will say that the time does pass awfully quickly in the place. I love the patio outside on warm mornings, and I'll say it again, it's the only place in the immediate area where I can sate my bagel sandwich (with tomato, cucumber, onion, cream cheese and salt and pepper) desires.
I say they've gained at least half a star since they got free wifi (though i think it's free for a maximum of 2 hours). Also outlet wars are averted by plentiful plugs.
I'm not much of a coffee aficionado, but they do make a good brew here. I wish there were more places to sit because this is a hotspot during finals.
Tables are pretty neat with coffee beans imbedded onto the top. This place popular with students and locals alike, and I can see why. Good brew and a chill atmosphere to boot. Nothing is too over-the-top or hip. It's just a straight-forward coffee shop with no hassle.
I find it sorta cute that elderly couples come here, and they all know each other. Maybe I see something in my own future?
Double mocha for me - more coffee flavor than chocolate. The way it should be! This is my choice for coffee in the Elmwood area, and it should be yours too!
This was my default study spot when I lived nearby, and I still come back semi-regularly now that I don't.
The Beanery definitely wins the atmosphere prize among south Berkeley cafes. Somehow they achieve a clean, we've-got-it-all-together look that most cafes only dream of, yet they sacrifice nothing in the way of quaintness and personality. The tables are admirable works of art that are great to stare at while zoning out. They also have the only cafe bathroom that I consider clean enough for number two, which makes it an especially good candidate for long-haul study sessions.
They have considerably more plugs than chairs, so it's pretty impossible not to have a power source for your laptop there. Unfortunately you have to pay to use wi-fi (available by the day or by the month), so I tend to go there only when I can do without the internet.
Coffee is above average though not the best that I know of, and pastries range from decent to great. They also serve ice cream, and bagels with some different toppings to choose from, but there's nothing really substantial if you're looking to eat a meal.
I don't know what to attribute this to, but the Beanery is also my favorite place to eavesdrop on conversations. Seriously, people talk about some crazy shit here.
When going, keep in mind that they close at 10 (earlier than many others) and accept cards only for purchases over $5.
I was very under-whelmed by this place. The coffee wasn't bad. The seating wasn't bad. The staff was fine. There was just nothing about it that would make me go back. Of the three times I've been, I only actually stayed once, because the other two times there was not a single seat in the whole house (not even outside in the back). While it's good for the business itself, it's annoying for customers like me who lug books there to study. I don't fault them for it, but it sure doesn't make me a fan.
Maybe it was just the day I visited, but this place is waaaaay too QUIET!!! Once in awhile when I have to study or write a paper, I like to escape the quietness of my house for the noise of a coffeeshop. This place was the complete opposite. Seriously, I was in the back room and it was like a library. Yikes.
This is a GREAT place to study! There's two free hours of WiFi a day --- which keeps me from procrastinating AS much. ;-) I'm told that you can either purchase more WiFi hours per day OR the two free hours renew themselves at midnight. Which is nice.
I'm impressed with the coziness of the place. It's definitely a great find. The staff is SUPER friendly.
The coffee served here is FAIR TRADE and ORGANIC. There's also quite a selection of STASH teas to choose from --- which is fine. I'm loving the numerous outlets and the pleasant lighing plus high ceilings.
Also, a WORD of WARNING to the weekend crowds --- it IS crowded. A nice lady was willing to share her table with me until another opened up next to her. I'm charmed. THIS is why I love the East Bay so much!
Yesterday was a fun and busy day. First, I met with my friends Suzy and her girl at Cafe' Roma for a chat/tea/look see, then lunch with Allison at Cactus and then....tea with my wonderful "mudder", Toni. You see, yesterday was a momentous day and Toni met me to savor the moment.
We had some time to kill and happened over here. It was a warm day and for some reason, we both ordered hot tea. We ended up sitting outside under a nice shade of umbrellas on their private patio. We had a nice conversation with one of the guys who works here about his home country. It was a lovely way to spend time and with great company.
Almost every Saturday and Sunday you can find me here at about 8am; when only a few regulars are quietly seated at a table positioned in the corner with a laptop or book taking up their attention.
Quiet, excellent service, and the coffee blows any other "trendy" coffee shop out of the water. No more petes or starbucks ever. One sip of this delicious non-crank coffee and you will get all your sunday errands done with time to spare! No come down. No icky residue left in your mouth.
I would only be sad if I moved out of this neighborhood because I'll miss the beanery.
It was pretty good. Nothing special or too impressive. I came here after a long day of walking around and being sprinkled on/freezing. Of course, i still got an iced drink because i wasn't in the mood for a hot one (I know, i don't make any sense). My boyfriend got a White Mocha and said it was okay. Kind of burnt. I just got my usual iced mocha with an extra shot and it was alright. Also tasted a little burnt but at the same time not strong enough. too milky or something. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. their pastries did look delicious though. All of them. But we had just eaten and were still full.
Cute place though, and really nice guys working. they get 5 stars. But as for the drinks themselves, definitely a solid 3 stars.
When you think of "Beanery", the word associates a little spot in the high school cafeteria where spoiled kids bypassed the cafeteria food and purchase "real' junk food.
Well, this little Beanery coffee shop on College Avenue in Berkeley doesn't serve and make "junk" food and beverage. The coffee shop makes some good quality coffee. What attracts me?
There was a banner on the awning. And on that banner, they have an attracted special for a one-pound bag of French Roast or Columbian Roast coffee for $6.99. Since the gas-price is continuously getting expensive and pricey, my coffee-fuel is one of the best deals I've had in a while. By coincident, the shop had a brew of the same coffee being made, and with the purchase of my beans. In result, I also got a free cup of medium (16oz) coffee with the purchase of the bagged coffee.
While sipping on my free cup of Joe and waiting for my beans to be bagged, I was walking through the comforting and nice patio area. This place and patio would definitely work for my family or company's meeting.
Even with my meager purchase, the shop does accept credit cards. The shop also gives a frequent card: buy a total of ten lbs worth of coffee beans (whole or ground), get a one lb. bag "free". The card is also valid at the two San Francisco locations. Yes, great coffee and I can't wait to wake up and enjoy my cup of coffee with the coffee beans from the Beanery.
I came here this morning for breakfast, deciding to try a new coffee place instead of my old standard of Nefeli on northside. I needed to run errands in the Claremont area and I wanted a change of Scenery. The beanery seemed like just the place.
The decor was very nice with lots of open spaces a a very beautiful patio area. There seemed to be lots of outlets for people studying or working. The line was long but I decided to wait and order my standard double nonfat cappuccino. None of the baked goods appealed to me, so I took my coffee to go and had it elsewhere.
The coffee was too strong (and I'm a person who likes strong coffee). It was overly bitter without having any complexity. It was just harsh on the pallet (even being a cappuccino that's diluted with milk... no complex flavors).
More than that, the service is completely scatter-brained. I first saw them pouring lowfat milk to steam and I corrected them that it was nonfat. Then they made my drink for take in instead of to go even though I asked to go. They then simply poured my cappuccino into a to go cup, leaving half the foam attached to the edge of the mug and giving me too bitter espresso.
It's not my worst coffee experience, but I have totally experienced better
I'm sitting in The Beanery right now, taking a 'temporary' break from researching the dictatorship of Kim Jong-Il and enjoying my free wi-fi (limited to two hours, which is perhaps a good thing). Reading about North Korean gulags seems especially strange in such a charming and cozy environment. To my right is an elderly couple working on crossword puzzles. Across from me is large glass display case full of many kinds of dessert bars and brownies, along with some cake slices, croissants and assorted other goodies. Occasionally my glance leaves the ugly glare of my laptop screen to the perpetually traffic filled College Avenue, currently bathed in lovely late afternoon sun.
My toasted sesame bagel with cream cheese is ready now, and I'm going to return to my paper research.
This is my fav cafe. The music is great. The atmosphere is great. The coffee is Great!!!! I would spend hours here studying when I was in college. The other Cafes are okay but this one has everything going for it. It feels like a place you dont want to leave.
The bathrooms are clean, and that says a lot for Cafes in Berkeley. Also the counter people are very friendly. Cafe Roma is okay, but I prefer this one if you can find a seat.
This is a great neighborhood coffee shop. When I lived in Elmwood I studied at the Beanery every weekend. It is usually crowded and hard to find a seat, but if you get one it is a great place to study. It is not too loud and definitely not too quiet, so it is perfect for a person like me who needs noise to concentrate. The Beanery offers 2 hours of free wireless, which is enough time if you actually need to use the internet and aren't just procrastinating on facebook. Their coffee is pretty good, their iced tea amazing and their chocolate chip cookies are as big as my head (which is great for a cookie lover like myself) and delicious if you ask someone to heat them up for you. I have spent many a lovely afternoon studying/cramming/writing with friends. They also serve ice cream, which I think is a great treat after the successful completion of a paper!
It's cozy in here, especially when you're trying to escape from a downpour. Listen, my children...Ella Fitzgerald used to sing a golden oldie called "Mountain Greenery". There's a lyric in that song that goes..."Beans could get no keener reception in a beanery." I think she meant this place, and here's the bigger question..."Is it live, or is it Memorex?"...http://www.youtube.com...
Good, rich coffee is served here, and there are tables in front - though the WiFi-obsessed laptoppers seem to hold fort here - and several in the back where it's quiet, a great place to listen to the rain hit the window. There are actually several coffeehouses in the Elmwood-Claremont corridor, but I just like the vibe in here...and the caffeine.
COFFEE - 4 stars...a good cup of joe on a rainy day
AMBIANCE- 5 stars...nice, relaxing place to chill
SERVICE - 4 stars...comes up quick and piping hot
TOTAL - 4 stars...worth a break when you're in the neighborhood
I came in here to work on an essay. I live on the northside but I wanted a change of scenery and to explore College Ave. The walk here was beautiful and the street was pleasantly calm.
I sat at The Beanery for a good two hours with my laptop. There are plenty of outlets but they are in a hard to reach spot under the benches. I had to practically get on the floor to plug in my MacBook. The tables also seemed to be pretty close together.
I got an iced tea, which tasted good. I haven't had their coffee drinks or food, so I can't comment on those. I didn't see any tasty looking vegan treats. I wish they would get soy ice cream so they could make me a milkshake.
Overall the place was average. I might come back and try more of their items. Hopefully after another visit I can give a more comprehensive review.
This is my spot. MMMIIIINNNEEE!!!! It opens at 7am and when I m studying I love to go here. I French guy is sarcastic, cool, you just got to love him : I havent been here for about 6 months .... to tell you the truth I dont know if still works there or not. But from the smell of the coffee to the music and photos on the wall to the little out door spot in the back. This place is MINE!
ALL MINE!
I love the ice cream ! oh and its peaceful too
Beanery is open later than most of the other shops around, and offers free wifi. Their coffee is pretty good and the place is small and cozy - maybe a bit too cozy. This old white guy followed us in and tried to speak chinese to us. Unfortunately only one of us spoke and we ended up staying for an extra 15 minutes listening to this guy's lame jokes. Pretty small place though
If you're in the East Bay, and you're looking for a good place to either lounge, eat wi-fi bandwidth, or just have a really good time, this place is it. I come down this part of college whenever I go out of Zachery's, and it always pays off. Great atmosphere, baristas that don't spend part of your visit finding tongs to retrieve their nose from their ass, and OH MY JESUS IS THAT AN EXPRESSO MILKSHAKE GIMME NOW!
The place merits 4 stars just from one or two visits, but a specific visit pulled the last star from me. Me and my trusty German exchange homeboy Ben were coming back from Zach's, half Spinach-Pesto, half Sausage, Pepperoni and Mushroom pizza in tow, when Ben decided he needed coffee to get through the following night of studying, naturally, I suggested the Beanery. After a few minutes of deciding, I get my 500th Expresso Milkshake, and Ben gets something he's never tried before. After paying, Ben sips his drink to learn that it is not at all what he wanted. Before he can pay for a different drink, the staff insists that he allows them to make something different, free of charge.
Yeah, when you do things like that, it goes without saying that you get a five out of me.
I really like The Beanery. It has such a cool and chill vibe. The coffee's good and well-priced, you get 2 hours of free internet (unlike other coffee shops that charge you...lameness...), and it's in a great location.
The atmosphere is nice. It's a great place to study since they have a lot of seating/tables and outlets (which I greatly appreciate). They're always playing fun music, but it's not too loud. Service is friendly and it's a clean environment.
Overall a great coffee spot :)
The thought of this place makes me smile.
One of the best little coffee houses around the Berkeley/Oakland Area. There's a sunroom in the back part of the coffee shop where it's quiet so you can read, study or work on your laptop without having to tune out others' conversation. You get lots of natural light without having to be in the direct sun. There are outlets and free internet access for up to 1 hour per 24 hour period. The front part of the coffee shop is where all the hustle and bustle happens, so if you want to people watch or hang out to chit chat, you have that option.
This place is super cute and every time I get an opportunity to relax, drink some coffee/tea and have a pastry, this is the place I go. When I want to take a break from doing whatever "work" I have to do, I can window show along College Ave or grab lunch from many restaurant options.
What a great place to study undisturbed for hours. Plenty of tables, no loud obnoxious music. Love the chai latte with soy--tastes similar to coffee bean's tea lattes.
Also, if you go at night there are pasteries selling for about $1. Yum!
I came here after researching for a nice coffeshop on Yelp. The reviews were right... for the most part...
The place is exceedingly clean, in a very nice area, and the baristas aren't bitter, gruff servers. I studied there for two hours and only midway through did they turn on music, and even then at a minimal volume- and I do believe it was classical!
As for the actual food and drink, I was sorely disappointed. I have a pretty high tolerance for strong coffee, but I almost spit out the first sip of my macchiato! It was a tiny serving for a pretty high price. The pastries cost about the same as anywhere else, but leaving something to be desired. Actually, I'm being rather kind. The blueberry bran muffin I got was gross.
It's a nice place and all, but I won't be coming back.
Love this place - definitely my favorite coffee place in the Elmwood/Rockridge area. It's the perfect cafe to chillax with a book or paper, or to cram for exams, or to work on your project deadline after hours. You walk in and the place is decked out w/ reprints of old jazz and parisian posters surrounding coffee bean filled glass-top tables. Usually there is some relaxing muzak like the Amelie soundtrack on in the background - and yet it's always quiet here. The desserts are tasty, the drinks well executed (the espresso milkshakes are good and will get you wired!), and the nice thing is that they put power strips underneath the benches for all you laptoppers.
What's not apparent about this place from the College Ave. storefront, is that if you head down the hall past the restrooms it opens up into a nice little solarium with more tables, benches, powerstrips and a door that leads back to a covered patio out back. Great on a warm day.
Super-comfy, spacious, quiet - Beanery offers up sweet solitude and is quite the far cry from the bustling Roma down the street. Downsides are that they aren't open that late, and their free wifi is actually through surf n' sip, which can be tricky.
I love this place! I've been here a dozen times and have never had a bad experience. I like to see how well I study in different shops, but I am most productive here. Hands down, my favorite coffee shop to study in.
Reasons to study here:
* Ambience: Good lighting. Cute coffee bean tables. Unabrasive jazzy/classical/foreign music (Mori's Amelie music is about right). Clean!
* Back room: Extremely quiet, usually.
* Drinks: The espresso drinks here are POTENT. I'm a small person, and I will jitter about an hour after having their iced mocha. But it is always good! Good selection of teas.
* Staff: Friendly. Animated. Interactive.
Living on Southside near campus makes it easy to get there. But even if I lived on Northside, I would still trek to the Beanery.
Neighborhood: Elmwood
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Elmwood
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: South Berkeley
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Coffee & Tea
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