A long overdue review! We loooooove Ain't Normal. I usually get an iced oat latte or iced chai latte with oat milk plus a pastry or sandwich from here. Let's just say they understand the assignment especially on the food side. I think their iced drinks are better than their hot since they do not use Oatly, which froths better in hot drinks than Califia IMO. Nonetheless, the iced drinks are great especially considering that they don't use Oatly. Sometimes we debate whether to go here or to Blue Bottle -- if we're hungry, the scale always tips to Ain't Normal. Their sandwiches and pastries are so, so good. I think these might be the best coffee shop food items I've ever had. Yum! read more

First time here- saw it on the way to get bagels and came back to check them out. So glad we did! Lovely staff-professional and knowledgeable about their coffees! They have a nice assortment of beans so I bought a of couple bags to take home. I like the coffees with low acidity, dark and chocolaty so they recommended: Mother Tongue Bitter Sweet and Hi-Top Rosalba Cifuentes, Chiapas-they shared info on the roasters and the best way to brew. I can't wait to try them! Of course I got a cup to go- LOVED their oat milk latte! Beautiful and delicious! Will definitely be returning! read more

Let me say i work down the st from this cafe and the customer service is always not up to par. the baristas constantly have a bad attitude when taking your order and i never got a welcoming experience granted i have been working in the area for months now and would much rather go to starter bakery because their hospitality is more friendlier. at first i thought maybe their having a bad day until i noticed this behavior every time i went here. the coffee isn't bad, its not my favorite but overall i didn't like my experience at this cafe. starters team knows my order like the back of their hand and they know my name and is always very welcoming even on the days it's packed and busy. read more

TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. I walked in and was not greeted as I stood at the cash register while the guy was standing there and doing whatever he felt was more important than greeting me with a simple "hello, I'll be with you shortly" THEN he walked away, came back and took my order! I will never support this place again. It's not the first time this has happened to me. DON'T SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS read more

Well, if you are a person without emotions and only want to get a coffee, pay it and go, then this maybe an ok place to be. But if you have some pride and do not wish to be intimidated, then this is the place to avoid. We came as 3 couples to get coffee. 3 husbands went to line up to purchase coffee while 3 wives sat at an outside table chatting and waiting. One staff suddenly came forward to the table and said they do not allow outside foods while none of the wives were eating anything. We brought along a box of bakeries we bought earlier from another store but did not open it at all. The staff behaved like we are a bunch of idiots while there was not a single sign around the area stating no outside food allowed. My wife responded that we are not eating but waiting for our coffee. The staff left but continued sitting nearby watching us like we are a bunch of uneducated criminals. He continue doing so until we start drinking our coffee. I mean, come on, how childish this is! If you cannot respect customers who sit at your tables, why do you offer them? And why do you assume people to eat outside food when none did so. It is disrespectful to assume what people would do and intimidate them especially for paying customers. There is one thing I know is that I would not allow those who do not respect me to earn a cent from me in the future read more

I stumped upon Ain't Normal Cafe by accident in a morning stroll around the neighborhood. I am very well aware of the surrounding coffee shops in the area, but I had not noticed this spot until that morning. So I spontaneously went in and ordered a cortado. The cortado came in a very cute pink cup and it was very well made. The staff was friendly (she complimented my backpack!) and the interior was nice, filled with plants and nice merchandise and many coffee beans for sale. Ain't Normal Cafe is definitely not your average neighborhood coffee shop! :) read more

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The workers save their friendliness and cold water for white customers. The waitress was all smiles to the white man in front of me, barely acknowledged me when it was my turn. On top of it, my coffee was terrible. read more

Went last weekend and got a dirty chai latte. Usually about a 50% chance at the average coffee shop that a DCL is gonna be either too sweet or way diluted in milk. This was neither--on the spicy side but not too much, and could still taste the espresso. Delicious, will definitely be back (probably later this morning, actually). Better than I remember Bica. read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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The BEST latte I've had in Oakland. I got a latte with oat milk l and it was so yummy. Creamy, great temperature. I could drink those again and again. Also have tried the veggie sando, perfect sandwich. Fresh, lots of lemon and very bright. A really good portion size if you're looking for a medium sized lunch. The bread is crusty and goes well with the sandwich ingredients. I have also tried the egg sandwich. Honestly not as good as the veggie. It needed salt and was a little too gooey for me but not bad at all. read more

Grabbed coffee and ran, ended up being one of the best cappuccinos we have had in years. Looking forward to going back! Will be making special trips to get some, for sure. read more

Everything I've tried at Aint Normal- cappuccinos, pastries, egg sandwich- has been excellent. I come here often to grab a coffee between meetings. The staff are really friendly and the cafe has a great vibe. I'm excited to spend more time here once they have seating inside. Love this place! read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - Jammy egg sandwich on an amazing biscuit. 10/10 would get it again. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Good coffee, great hours ... most coffeeshops close at 2pm. Ain't Normal stays open later. Really nice outdoor seating area. Nice team.

This is quickly becoming our weekend go-to coffee spot. I've had the cortado, latte, macchiato. All delicious. Cortado is my favorite. The thing that caught me by surprise is THE PASTRIES ARE AMAZING. I've had the tomato & cheddar scone, ham & cheese scone, and lemon turnover. They are all SO FLAKY and DELICIOUS with the perfect amount of CRUNCHY BITS. These are actually the best scones I've had in my entire life. They are superrrr moist and not hard or dense. read more

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Service was rude which could be excusable since we all have our off days but it was also the worst breakfast sandwich I've ever had

Patronizing this business is a no brainer. +1 legit customer service (and you thought it was dead!) +1 well pulled shots and pour overs +1 always something new to try +1 owner is happy to talk coffee and actually give you the time of day and has definitely hooked it up +1 probably should try those pastries. Life is short, treat yo'self! read more

Stopped for a quick coffee right before their closing. Very friendly staff and didn't even rush us. Excellent coffee. We look forward to coming back soon. read more

Great coffee, scones and frittata. Once again did I say great espresso drinks. Excellent service . Awesome outside area. They need to expand with some lunch and evening food service. read more

This is the perfect coffee shop. It has been a critical pandemic survival resource for me and my partner. We live in walking distance and go about once a week. We buy coffee beans and get lunch or breakfast, and an iced coffee or latte. Their coffee is consistently excellent. Their menu is limited, changes daily, and consistently excellent. Get a cheesy scone and a ginger cookie, and don't sleep on their biscuit sandwiches. They also have all the the supplies you need for a good pour over setup, and a rotating selection of fancy coffee. Their staff is knowledgeable, and will give you good guidance if, like us, you're learning about coffee, and what you do and don't like. We've been getting into natural and fermented process coffee due to suggestions from them. Their COVID protocol is solid, too. They have a line outside and only allow one patron in the store at a time. read more

Best lattes, coffees, and pour overs! Organic is standard, which is hard to find and the way it should be. They also don't upcharge for different milks. Perfect temp and craft. Love that they feature unique roasters. They make everything in house, which means the egg biscuit sandwich with arugula is divine. The cookies and scones are delicious. And the owner and staff couldn't be more friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Such a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. read more

Savory scone was so deliciously flakey and buttery garlicky. Amazing. Staff are kind and the place is very clean and airy. People were there working on their laptops too, which I think I'll do in the future read more

There's a lot I like about Ain't Normal - good food made there and I like they have beer and wine in the mix with their well made coffees. But their mark up on whole beans can be absolutely staggering. For example. They are selling bags of Steady State Roasting (San Diego) for $40 a bag when you can buy direct from Steady State and no bags are over $24. I get a slight markup but they are in theory getting their coffee at a whole sale price. The idea of "Fair Trade" is that an even amount of profits find their way to the growers, so a $16 markup is really cra cra and goes agaisnt the ethos of Fair Trade coffee. Otherwise I would be giving them a much better review. read more

I love the vibe of this coffee shop. They have quality coffee and a few pastries and snacks as well. I got an iced mocha, and it was delicious. They also have a scone of the day and a pre-made sandwich. There are a couple tables outside of you want to sit and enjoy your cup o' joe! read more

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Stopped in just to grab a black coffee and a scone. Coffee was sour and pretty much what you would get at a diner or something Dennys and the scone was mediocre at best. The best part was I got it all for the super low price of $12.00....for sour black coffee...and a scone; Rockridge has lost its mind. read more

Great location, great vibes, great coffee. Will definitely be back! Espresso was very smooth, Cole brew was strong without being bitter. read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - Indoors - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Excellent selection of locally roasted coffees, many from black-owned businesses. Knowledgeable baristas and delicious cappuccinos. read more

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What a gem in the Rockridge neighborhood. The tea selection and bites are wonderful, and while I'm not a coffee drinker, my friends who are rave about the lattes. Ain't Normal also has an amazing outdoor seating area, it's perfect to meet up with friends or enjoy a quiet moment with a book and a drink. Stop by and find out why there is always a line out the door, you won't regret it! read more

Everything about this place is FABULOUS - the coffee, the friendly staff, setting, and the FOOD! I come here regularly for the excellent coffee offerings. Everything they brew is delicious (espresso drinks, pour overs, cold brew, teas); they offer a wide range of beans from smaller roasters (local and some select other not so local) for purchase. Every single cup is flawlessly prepared. I admire the consistency in quality here most of all! My regular macchiato is always perfectly pulled, never bitter, milk creamy. They make all their own food - with a delish egg sandwich (on homemade biscuit, with aioli dressed greens) that always sells out, superb scones, and cookies to die for! Today I had the grits with gruyere cheese, chives, and a halved boiled egg (with perfectly custardy yolk) on top. SO GOOD and filling! read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - My delish macchiato and grits, partially consumed. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

On the menu it says a latte is $5.50, so imagine my surprise when I get charged $7.50 for my iced vanilla latte, which was really just a too-big cup of vanilla flavored milk. When I asked the cashier with the red hair why the overcharge, he curtly explained that the syrup is $1 and THE ICE IS $1!!!! Of course, nowhere is it posted that adding flavored syrup or, heaven forbid, ICE, comes at a $1 premium. What. A. Joke. You know when people who aren't from CA always complain about it being a terrible state and in particular the Bay Area being overpriced and full of snooty rich people and pretentious hipsters? They are talking about places like this. No character, mediocre coffee, and pretentious staff who would prefer it if nobody ever walked in the store to make them have to actually do their jobs. Wish I hadn't wasted my time and money at this place....DO BETTER. read more

Love this place so much but please please pleaaaase price your coffee beans for sale! It's so hard to make a decision on what to buy when the shop is busy and I either have to wait in line to ask a price or interrupt a barista while they are working. Otherwise great coffee. read more

I ordered a cappuccino with oat milk and the barista prepared a cappuccino with almond milk twice. I definitely did not understand why he'd do that when after preparing the incorrect order the first time I mentioned that I wanted oat milk. He was very nonchalant both times, not at all apologetic and offered to prepare the right order the third time. I didn't feel like a customer who paid for her coffee. It felt like they were doing me a favor by giving me a coffee. Pathetic experience!!! Your coffee may be good but you need a 101 on customer service. read more

I've been coming here about 6 months now. I decided to check it out when I first worked in the area. I only get one item which is the Matcha Latte. There's been a few people who have made it (and I'm not knocking them) but there's one guy (named either D or Dee. Not sure how it's spelled) but he actually makes it right. Matcha can be really strong so if you don't blend/mash it correctly and don't put enough syrup, it can be bitter (like some folks I know but I digress) and not enjoyable. I might have asked him a couple of times to add a little bit more syrup but other that, he gets it right whenever I come in and gets it. He even knows my name and knows what I'm going to get (but then again, I get the same thing over and over). read more

I don't stop by this shop often but when I am in the area, I really appreciate their cold brew teas. It's not common to find a lot of coffee shops that serve it that way. I find their iced tea reasonably priced, delicious and refreshing. I was in the store for only a minute but I always feel like the atmosphere is a little off, bordering on slightly hostile when I come here and I see that I'm not the only reviewer that felt this way recently. I said hello to someone standing by the register as I walked in. They ignored me and walked to the back area and someone else walked up front and helped me. I get if they were being tasked to do something else other than take orders but it was to completely ignore a customer is just Very Weird Behavior. read more

I love trying new coffee shops around the Bay Area and coming from the city I wanted to pop in and give this spot a try. Unfortunately before even walking in the door I was greeted with "Dogs aren't allowed". They were unwelcoming and didn't even bother to say "hello". An order of coffee takes all but a minute if that :/ read more

Before becoming the lovely establishment it is today, I've always walked by this cafe when it was previously Bica. Truth be told, I went to Bica twice in it's time in Rockridge, and both times were disappointing. The coffee was alright, but the true disappointment was the service. Not gonna lie, but part of that feeling was still lingering even after Ain't Normal stepped in. I thought, "It's okay to not give this new place a try since I tend to go to all the coffee shops in the area." Well that changed when I saw how they completely renovating the space, giving it a whole new vibe. My first time here I immediately gravitated to how lovely the employees were. No treatment like they couldn't bother, and conversations felt so organic. After coming a bit more often, I got to know the owner Faunus, who is absolutely the kindest person you could ever meet. He truly seems to care about his customers, and you'd agree if you met him! I also love the fact that they sell some items from local artists, like ceramics from Mitsuko (@tsuchikara_pottery). Now I still bounce around all the cafes in the area, but my pro-tip for Ain't Normal is their iced oat milk latte. I know, pretty basic (and truly not my norm), but it's just so delicious here. They use Califia Oat Milk, so nothing out of the norm there, so I attribute it to their espresso. Most definitely worth it, and won't disappoint! read more

This place is exactly why people make fun of Rockridge. Ridiculously expensive pretty average food.

i once gave it 2 stars bc i had issues w the name the more i visit- i love def delicious lattes & the vibe is chill read more

Loved the grits with egg and chorizo. Good lattes as well.

I wanted to order a coffee and cookie before work. However, I was told I can't because I have a skateboard. The counter person asked me to put skateboard in a certain spot along wall, I asked if I can just keep holding it and they said no. There excuse was other skateboarders bang the boards against the counter. So...everyone with a skateboard is now terrorizing your baseboards. Ugh...def Aint Normal with service like that. Hit up Highwire or Coles Coffee, they treat everyone with respect. read more

came in on sunday morning, excellent coffee and cute coffee and quickly bay area / coffee / misc. related gifts. only downside is no indoor seating still, there's counter space but no stools and they aren't allowing more than 4 customers in at a time despite loosened COVID rules. they have some outdoor sears but not an ideal location where you'd go to work outside, surrounded by construction and right next to rockridge BART station, more a grab and go place read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I have purchased beans twice now and both occasions the customer service has been phenomenal. I asked for a recommendation and it was obvious how knowledgeable they are. I was also given instructions for how to make my pour over coffee at home. They have not led me astray. The coffee I make at home with the beans I have purchased from the cafe are stellar. read more