This café is a favorite of mine and my friends -- the coffee is excellent, the staff is always friendly, and the sunny seating area makes it a lovely place to hang out. I genuinely enjoy coming here. However today I was quite disappointed to be charged $3 just to swap regular milk for half-and-half in my latte. It felt unfair, especially since milk and half & half cost almost the same. I left the coffee shop with the feeling that l was taken advantage of! This charge doesn't really make sense and has not logic. I hope they don't do this to anyone else, $0.50 o maybe a $1 is more than enough for that! read more

Great people and good stuff to eat and drink. A good place to chill with a friend.definitely a good place to grab a coffee or something more. read more

My go to spot for Matcha when I'm in the area. I get Iced Matcha with Oatmilk & sweetened with simple syrup. Simple order but so good! (They also actually sift the matcha so def plus) The ambiance is cute little cafe with more sitting outside:) read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - Iced Matcha w Oatmilk + Simple Syrup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Ain't normal is wild, punk rock, artsy, and Oakland all encompassing classy acts of coffee and tea for anyone. All are welcome here and no pressure, if you have questions just ask and get educated. Not only are they a multi-roaster (this means multiple drip and espresso options/rotating purveyors) the feels are unique here. From the artwork on the yellow cups to the Informative baristas, you're definitely going to have a tasty cup of coffee. Seating options are better outside and you're in the heart of rockridge, so enjoy it! - I have yet to try some of the teas or bites on the menu, but I truly enjoy stopping in when I'm nearby. Lastly, if you want to take home some of the newest or up and coming coffees in the biz, check out their unique selection of beans for sale as well as beautiful accessories for your home brewing pleasure. read more

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Came here for a coffee date with a friend. Cute little shop in Oakland with savory pastries, scones, avocado toast, etc. and various coffee drinks. Ordered a potato and Asiago pastry and a matcha latte with almond milk. The pastry was good (wish there was notice of there being cilantro in it) and the matcha latte was more on the bitter side (as opposed to sweet). - Parking is limited to street parking (signs nearby mention to not park in the Trader Joe's parking lot) - Shop is small with one counter with three seats, and three two-person tables read more

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When in Oakland, this is the place to go for coffee if you're looking for a great variety of roasters to buy! We had an espresso that was absolutely delicious and perfectly dialed in. We also ordered a cold brew, which I also found very satisfying to the palate! While I only took a brief look around, I am pretty sure they also sold some tea stuff and other items as well. They have some seats inside but can get filled quickly. Service was also great! Would love to come back here next time I'm in Oakland! read more

probably the best high end, full service, gentro style coffee shop in Oakland proper. Excellent multiroaster program, and food that is surprisingly good! Best (and most loaded) avocado toast I have had in a long time, and in general people love the shmancy (and pricy) plates. Bonus points for out of this world baba ganoush, vegan options, and still serving soy milk (which continues to be the actual best barista milk, despite the oat mafia :-) ). read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - a mountain of delicious green salad! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

My date suggested meeting at Ain't Normal Cafe. I had not heard of it, but the reviews were strong, so I took her up on it. I'm not a coffee drinker, so I go with a chai latte. When there are baked goods that other Yelpers rave about, that's what I am drawn to. My date ordered cold brew. I wanted a savory scone, but those were all gone; the only baked good that was left was the Lavender Almond scone. Since it was the early afternoon and Ain't Normal is open until 7 pm, I was a little disappointed there weren't other available options. Still, I figured that if the savory scone is popular, the sweet scone must be a solid choice, too. Sadly, it was nothing special -- and at $6, it was way overpriced. I'm the wrong judge of coffee prices, but $5 for the cold brew also seemed a little high. If someone picks up savory scones from Ain't Normal, I'll give them a try, but I don't have any plans to return. read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - Lavender Almond scone -- not nearly as good as I'd hoped. I wish there had been savory scones left. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Rude customer service, it sure why is so popular, latte was burnt and had very little flavor

The coffee is good but $6 for a 12oz? (Regular latte with whole milk no syrups). I have been twice and the first time there was a long line out the door and the second time a much shorter line. The coffee is super good and I think it's a great place to go on the weekend and sit outside if it's nice! I don't think it'll be my go to coffee place though because of the price. The scones were also $6 just a little high. read more

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Wanted to give this place a try because had heard good things about it from friends. There was a line out the door which is usually a sign of a good spot. However, we were really off put by the unfriendly vibe of the person working the register. Pretty unwelcoming and seemed annoyed with us taking time to decide. The drink menu was pretty limited with no specialty drinks, so I went for a regular iced latte. I expected it to be good due to the limited menu but it was just ok. Nothing to write home about. The real star of the show here is the food. I ordered the ricotta toast with seasonal fruit and oh my goshhhh it was delicious!!! The bread was thick, but not too dense and perfectly fluffy. The candied nuts on top gave a really nice crunch and the fruit had a tartness that balanced out the sweetness of the ricotta. They also have a really great ham puff pastry that is also delicious. My boyfriend had the cheesy grits that were actually insane. overall the coffee is just average, would hate to judge a place based off of one unfriendly employee but what can i say... first impressions matter!!! the food is really something special and would warrant this place a 5 star review if it weren't for the coffee and service lacking. even for berkeley, the prices are pretty high which is unfortunate because i'd definitely be coming back more if it was less pricy. read more

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

Was heading over to Brentwood via Antioch, where my friend was picking me up and needed some coffee as a morning pick me up. I have passed by numerous times but the lines were super long, however this morning it was manageable. I ordered an iced cortado and it took around 12 mins. The wait wasn't bad, as there were a good amount of people and the food offering looked tasty. Would want to try all the sandwiches, nibble boards and cans of fish on a lazy morning. With indoor and outdoor seats, and being close to all major transportation, I would go again. read more

I was excited to try this place, but unfortunately was slightly disappointed. I ordered a matcha latte (my go-to drink). Latte art was pretty; taste and price were pretty standard for around Berkeley. However, IMO a good portion of the reason to want to go to a cafe is for the ambiance and workspace--otherwise, I would just save myself $6 and make a drink at home. This place had very few seats inside, and while there was an outdoor seating area, there was no heating or lamps for when it was cold or dark, so I spent the first 45 minutes here working on a ledge (not sure if it was indented to be a standing desk or not, it was kind of narrow but still large enough to fit my laptop?) while waiting for a seat to open up. read more

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

I did not taste any of the food. It looks like pre made sandwiches and pastries. I got a cappuccino that tasted a bit watery, no good flavor. The ambiance is given by the outside patio with tables and umbrellas. read more

My partner and I were spending the day wandering the neighborhood. I got a pastry at La Farine (delicious, so friendly, no seats so took it to go). My partner wanted a coffee and a bag of beans so we came here. We sat down while they made his pour over and I ate my pastry. My partner was told that was not allowed. What? There were plenty of tables, we had spent a good amount of money. Next to us were multiple people on their laptops, potentially there for hours on one drink. Also they didn't have pastries so I wasn't denying them business. So much for a community neighborhood spirit. Terrible customer service, even worse vibes. Won't be back. read more

Yummy latte and avocado toast. Order at the counter - easy peasy. Plenty of outdoor seating.

This post is long overdue! This is one of my fav cafes in this neighborhood. They make the drinks with highest quality ingredients, but give you choices to make it affordable. I love mine with organic HH and each time the friendly staff always inform me re the up-charge. It's my choice and it's fair. Business owners are having a hard time with all the inflation cost on materials and labor. If you want a place with high quality lattes, be fair about the reviews. read more

I'm not in the East Bay a ton but I wanted to meet a friend over there and I kinda just picked the spot closest to Rockridge BART. Fortunately I chose wisely because I was rewarded with a great spot and a really delicious iced tea. The service was very fast and everyone was pretty friendly. It didn't have a lot of space inside but they had a bunch of tables outside and since it was a warm day it was really great to sit outside under the umbrella. I will be coming back! read more

Love this spot they have the best coffee in town and the food is amazing I love their toast with mascarpone spread w/berries and I love their Sammie's perfect on the go bite, the out door seating it's one of my favorite places to hang out and I have to shout out the Ain't Normal crew you guys do a great job best costumer service in town! read more

The coffee was great but I believe I got food poisoning from expired food. On 11/15 I had coffee and a charcuterie pack (the mild salami one) with a sell-by date of 11/1; I didn't realize it was two weeks past until I'd nearly finished it. Later that night I developed some cramps, and since then I've had full-blown food poisoning symptoms that have kept me home and out of work; I haven't eaten anything else unusual. While there, and after I noticed the issue, I mentioned to an employee that this and other charcuterie packs were two weeks past their sell-by date, but they didn't seem to care. read more

Oh, they most definitely "ain't normal"! I'll tell you what ain't normal here; their savory scones. I don't even really like scones, but the savory scones are absolutely scrumptious here! You can tell that they bake them fresh because they're soft and moist. I think it's a mix of cheese, onion, and spices but the flavor is wonderful. Even their day old scones are yummy and they discount them to half price when they have them available. Since I'm not much of a coffee drinker, I've only had their chai latte. During my two visits, the chai has been pretty average. Actually, it did taste a tad bit better the second time around. It's not a spice forward chai, so to me it came across pretty bland. I won't fault them too much though since they're known for their coffee and it's probably really good. Judging from the glowing reviews that I've read, the coffee looks to be best here. Also, I'd come back for those savory scones alone as they're just that damn good. Service from the baristas is stellar. All of them work hard and are extremely friendly. They just recently added a few tables back inside for indoor dining, but their side patio is where the real action is. It's a spacious setup with several patio tables, both covered and uncovered. I love how they have it blocked off with a retractable barrier. It makes the space feel exclusive in a way. Ain't Normal is conveniently located right across from the Rockridge Bart Station, making it the perfect spot to grab a cup of Joe to and from Bart. Since it's located right off of busy College Ave, they don't have their own parking lot. However, there is some street parking if you're lucky to find it. If you're taking it to go, parking at Trader's Joe's or Bart for a few minutes shouldn't be an issue. There are tons of coffee shops in Rockridge and on College Ave alone, but Ain't Normal definitely stands out. Happy to have them amongst the crowd of choices nowadays (especially for those delectable scones!). read more

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The coffee is good, and the location and outside seating is nice, but the upcharge for a Breve latte, stopped me going back there. Most small shops will charge an extra 75 cents to a dollar for half and half, but the $3.00 Aint Normal charges is too much. Perhaps the real goal is to keep us sniveling, pretentious Breve Latte drinkers away. I can well understand that. But what would the corking fee be, if I brought my own half and half, or better yet ...full cream? read more

Ain't normal cafe really is a AINT NORMAL CAFE, The staff there have the face of annoyance, at first i thought maybe it's just a bad day for them but it's seems like they tend to have that type of face and attitude all the time. Really gives into their store front name. I work at a corporate office near by and two of my colleagues talked about how much they love their coffee and how nice they are so we gave it a try! However my two colleagues look the same as the staff members there at the cafe. It's starting to seems like Ain't normal cafe just isn't for the culture. If you're a person of color most likely you'll get treated differently, my colleagues and i are of color, we went in there a few times and observed the kind of service we get when it comes to people that look like us vs others that don't. And well we didn't have much of the great experience there. Just wanted to share our time there and a reminder that not everyone will have the same experience as us. Happy drinking! xx read more

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

Historically I have never liked coffee. But Ain't normal has changed that for me. I've slowly been experiencing coffee here and every time I have gone in here, the staff go out of their way to help me understand what I am drinking why it tastes how it does, and even explain the complexities of grinding and brewing methodologies. I have now been coming around once a week for the last few months. And it all started with a Cortado the barista made for me, and they even told me they wanted to make sure THEY made it for me when they checked me out to make sure I enjoyed it (though I'm sure the other baristas would have made it great.) Their service is immpecable every time we go. One time the owner even went out of his way to try and comfort our screaming two year old to help give my wife some peace over her coffee. He brought my son stickers and treats. And the food. Oh the food. The biscuit sando I bought this morning was hands down the best biscuit I have ever had. Their capicola and brie sandwich is exquisite in its simplicity. And every time I leave, I have a new song to add to my spotify playlist. As far as neighborhood coffee spots go, we have hit the jackpot. And the name is right. In this day and era service and quality of this kind ain't normal. read more

I think the accusation that A.N. is pricey because it's too profit oriented is unfounded- especially if they pay employees a decent wage. Small businesses operate on tiny margins and to suggest they ought to "negotiate lower rent" is glib and naive. Independent cafes higher prices are the result of inflation not the cause. That said, I did have an unfortunate experience at A.N. when I was charged extra for a half decafe latte without being forewarned. Another time I waited to order for a long time without anyone acknowledging my existence. Very good coffee and a comfortable outdoor patio ups my rating to 4 stars. read more

I enjoyed my cappuccino and pastry. Service and space great. As a small business owner, I completely understand the increase in prices. I am seeing inflation on my supplies, insurance, licensing , etc... Skyrocket. One 1/2 oz product increase of $20. Do what you need to do to survive. If you don't like the prices, make your own coffee. read more

Visiting here is a must. The staff are delightful and helpful, the coffee always perfect and the grits...I have braved the bridge more than once for a lovely bowl of southern comfort. Just go. You will be delighted. read more

Stopped by here to meet a friend as this place came highly recommended. Makes sense because this place is charming, has a good variety of high quality roasted beans, and the drinks were well executed. Located at the corner near the hub of Rockrodge this cafe is a lovely local gem. We got the cappacino and mocha with oat milk. Quality: 5/5 stars Service: 5/5 stars Value: 4/5 stars read more

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Went this morning, excited to try this cafe for the first time because we enjoyed it at the coffee fest. TBH pour overs were mid and the mocha was slightly too tangy/sour. Food was much better than the coffee. Cafe does offer great beans on retail and variety of menu options BUT the baristas are honestly really snobby and lack basic hospitality. We're from the Bay Area and are very well experienced in the cafe scene, and this ain't inclusive and ain't normal. How does this place have 4.8 stars? read more

After grabbing pastries nearby, we came here for drinks. There was a line out of the door, but it did die down. I had the iced matcha latte with whole milk. I thought the drink could've used more matcha flavor. Overall, it's a chill place with a good amount of outside seating. read more

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

One of my favorite cafes. The freshly made scones and pastries are both buttery and tende. I also love the flavor of their coffee, it has a unique almost fruity aroma. read more

Prices on menu do not match prices charged (very high compared to area average, and also unethical.) As others have noted, staff has a bit of a sour note to them. Much can be forgiven if the coffee is amazing, but it's pretty meh. Oakland has a million great coffee shops, suggest skipping this one. read more

i've been here at least a dozen times, each time thinking, "maybe they'll have their act together." the coffee is good, they are creative with the menu items and there's nice outdoor seating. these things do not overcome the brusque attitude and apathy of the people working here. i'm not giving up my money to be disrespected. If you're wondering where this attitude rolls down, the owner's profile caption on ig: if you're a hating little bitch gtf off my nuts read more

YUM! Such a cute location and the outdoor seating was nice. Sun-filled with umbrellas and lots of convos, seemed like a great place to people watch. I grabbed an iced latte, they pull shots in two so I got a quad. Sounds crazy but that's my normal. There were little black dots in my drink so that has to mean the vanilla was fresh, right? My drink was actually perfect. One of my favorite lattes to date (I've only been drinking them for 6 months). I don't remember the price of which means it was reasonable. I didn't try anything else but I will go back for the wine & charcuterie type snacks AND the toast. I need the toast. There are so many different kinds and toppings. Who knew toast could be so fancy? I don't like avocados so I've been left out of the toast trend entirely. I'm happy with my experience all around. Quick service, good product, nice location. read more

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My friends and I love this cafe, it has great coffee, friendly service, and a beautiful sunny seating area -- I really enjoy coming here. However, I was really disappointed to be charged $3 just to substitute milk for half-and-half in my latte. They don't charge for other milk alternatives, so it felt unfair and like I was being taken advantage of. It doesn't make sense, and I hope they rethink this policy. It really is a 5 stars but for this reason l am only giving 3. Otherwise, it's a fantastic spot. read more

Just wanted a decent Cortado but sure didn't get it here! Don't know what bean it was or just made wrong. Nasty bitter taste like it was made with dish water! And yes I've been drinking espresso drinks for 40 years. And walking in their menu is on the opposite wall high up which is annoying. Too bad High Wire down the street isn't there anymore. read more

I ordered a lavender latte and the avocado toast and spent $23. I got one slice of toast. It took a bit longer to get my order than I expected but although it tasted good it wasn't worth $14. I'm disappointed I got so little. I was also disappointed there is no number to call the business to let them know about my dissatisfaction. So yelp review it is. read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - Avocado Toast (Only Came with 1 slice) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

The have the best lattes and the absolute BEST smoked trout toast I've ever experienced. My daughter and I absolutely love this place. Service is fast and friendly, location always clean inside and out. There is usually a small line, but that only speaks to the quality this small coffee shop pushes out. Truly a gem. read more

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

I was on my way to BART, so I stopped by to get a drink and breakfast. I don't really drink coffee, so I got a Chai latte and a Grana Pepper savory scone (since I wanted savory and they only featured one type of savory scone). The Chai tastes more tea-forward and less milky, but I actually prefer the opposite. It tasted only slightly sweet, which is definitely healthier for you (though also not my preference). The drink was warm when I got it, so I didn't have to wait as long to drink it. Overall, I felt like it had spice, but with little flavor. I'm not sure if it was because the proportions were off since my reusable cup is bigger than their disposable to-go cups. The Grana Pepper savory scone tasted like what I expected - plain scone with embedded pepper. I kind of figured that was going to happen, but it still tasted disappointing as a combination. It might be that I don't like pepper as the sole flavoring. ECO NOTES (To-Go) Drink packaging: Paper to-go cups, but I didn't get a good enough took to see if they were BPI-certified compostable. They also have lids, but I didn't see what they were made of. They put my drink in my own refillable cup. Pastry packaging: Brown paper pastry bag read more

I frequently stop by Ain't Normal Cafe when I want a good cup of coffee. Everyone has always been welcoming and nice. Today I had some time to actually sit down and work there which I never have done. I ordered a cup of coffee and had a small wrap with me. I decided to quickly eat my wrap with my coffee, and did not know that outside food was not allowed. (My bad!) I'm not as upset at the rule, because I get it-- they want people to buy their food, but more upset at the way I was told that there was no outside food allowed. First of all, there is no sign so it was an honest mistake. The worker there came up to me and told me loudly so that everyone around me could hear that no outside food was allowed. I feel like the delivery was deliberately to shame. I should have known that this cafe was like that. There are no outlets either so if you're looking for somewhere to work, maybe find somewhere else. read more