Ain't Normal Cafe took over Bica's Coffeehouse's space with limited hours. offerings: coffee plus. didn't see list. brew: cold brew coffee (5) big house beans -smooth, cold brew, no harshness -seldom drink cold brew. they were closing, only coffee available. drips: -ritual, red bay coffee also sold here. -take out only. no tables available inside. read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - Cold brew covfefe (5) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This happened a couple of months ago but thought I'd add my 2 cents. On the outside, it looked like a nice, friendly coffee shop so decided to take a breather during my walk on College Ave. I ordered a Cafe au lait, which is just drip coffee with milk and got instant attitude from the counter person! I also ordered a pastry & was treated as if I had ordered a 3 course meal! I'd kind of understand if this was a busy time & place but it was barely after 1pm! Definitely not going back there again! read more

So glad I finally got to try this spot! I've seen it on Google Maps near the Rockridge BART station, but I haven't been able to stop by because I am often in a rush when getting off BART. I arrived around 9am and there were people sitting outside, but there was no line inside. The menu has both coffee and tea options. I was interested in the food options, particularly the pastries, but I didn't order them on this morning. I would love to try them in the future! I also saw that they have alcoholic drinks, like wine, which is interesting to see at a cafe. I ordered an iced matcha latte. I really enjoyed it! Matcha lattes can sometimes be a miss because the matcha to milk ratio can be difficult to nail. They can often be too milky for me, but I think Ain't Normal's matcha latte had a great ratio. It also wasn't too sweet, which is exactly what I prefer. The lids have a hole near the edge, so you are able to drink without a straw. Would definitely recommend for great iced matcha lattes in the Rockridge area. read more

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Delicious americano speaks to their good beans. Love the vibes - this is right on the corner of Rockridge and there's ample outdoor seating and a small counter indoors. Staff was quick and not unfriendly. Prices standard for this type of nice coffee shop. read more

Coffee is very good and the food is too, especially for a coffee-first cafe. Nice little outdoor space to go along with indoor seats and standing bar. There's a line sometimes; up to you if you want to wait but I've never left it. read more

The best staff. Perfect location. Plenty of outdoor seating. 5 bucks for a standard oat milk latte is super hard to find right now. My usual work from the office pick up ritual. read more

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

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This place has been on my radar since 2019 and I've finally gotten the chance to try. The cafe is in a beautiful location and easy to walk to after brunch. It's small, but the outside seating is nice on a sunny day. The cold brew oolong was the perfect concentration, although I do love a little overbrewed tea. I had a sip of my friends oat milk cappuccino and it was lovely. You can tell the baristas we well trained and care about the quality of each drink. I'd be interested in trying their variety of pour overs as well. I didn't have a chance to try their food but will try next time. read more

I found this place online after looking for cafes to study at in the area, and was pretty excited to check it out. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, which was really nice! I ordered an iced matcha, which was actually quite interesting. It wasn't sweetened so I had to add a bit of sugar to it on my own, and while the matcha flavor was present, I felt like the amount of milk in it just made it taste more like milk at times rather than matcha. It wasn't my favorite, but definitely not bad. I really liked their indoor seating area and was able to get some work done here which was nice. I'd still come back to try something else on their menu! read more

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

Great service, coffee, and location! Has outdoor patio seating. Great way to relax and enjoy a great cup of coffee! read more

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

The cashier/barista was so curt and rude for no reason that we left without ordering anything and went to redfields instead. Based on the other reviews I'm seeing this isn't a one off thing. I know working in the service industry can be frustrating but maybe consider a different job if you really dislike interacting with people this much. read more

The people that work at this establishment are rude. Idk who is hiring people at this place but I went there one time asked them a simple question and they gave me an attitude for no reason. Will never come here again. read more

I think my addiction to the scones from this place will be the end of me. I'm not talking about the scones to diminish how good their coffee and other items are. Because this is truly a Artisanal, high-end coffee shop. I used to live two blocks away; and of course just as they replaced the former cafe (BiCa, which I also loved but for their simple devotion to a dank cup of pourover) I moved to a different area of oakland. I still make the 10 min drive all the time just to come here. My usual order had been some fancy cup of exotic pourover. The cups are expensive here. But it is also exceptionally well, curated, well brewed and top quality, and it might be worth the money, if you're not doing it every day. I also recently had a long stint in Europe, where I converted to espresso drinks on the daily. That's also really great here and if you have the time, I highly recommend grabbing a seat in their outside, seating area, soaking in some delicious California sun, and admiring the aesthetics of the neighborhood, the cute, ceramic cup and saucer your beverage is served in, and the general vibe of the place. It's bustling, but time stops somehow. Back to the baked goods: the scones and turnovers baked here, in-house, also not cheap. At around six bucks a pop, they are a little bit more expensive than the fancy French bakery that made bon appétit top lists in your Bay Area neighborhood. But I'm telling you, it's 100% worth it, because they do it better here than anywhere else. Yes, even better than that bakery that you love so much. The coffee shop also offers a limited menu of wines by the glass/carafe, and it is open till 7 PM. With ample outdoor seating and situated, conveniently across the street from the Rockridge BART station, it's a perfect spot for a little breakfast, an afternoon pick-me-up, or some Happy Hour wine. Side note: they also sell all the fantastic coffee beans they brew from roasters all over the world, other food like delicious baguette sandwiches and avo toast, as well as a really unique selection of wines, coffee equipment and more - this is a good choice as a gift shop for those who love to live a good life! read more

Came here on a Sunday morning around 10 am after a Trade Joe's visit. There was a very short line, waited 5 minutes max. Ordered an oat milk mocha ($5.50), which was ready in less than 5 minutes. 4/5 for presentation; took the time to add foam design, but would've been cool if their cups were branded 5/5 for taste and quality; the chocolate and oat milk were well balanced, and not too rich or thick- definitely had the taste of premium chocolate 4/5 for the environment/atmosphere; standard level hospitality read more

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

My laptop was stolen yesterday within 10 minutes of sitting outside to work on an assignment. The thief jumped out from the passenger side of a white mustang and grabbed onto my laptop. I was hurt in the process since I instinctively grabbed on to my laptop and was dragged before letting go when I got close to the car. I've never felt my life be in danger like this before. It was so so scary. From 4:18 to 4:44 my laptop was snatched and sold. It all happened very fast. Please please be careful! So what makes me especially sad about this whole situation is that I messaged the cafe beforehand if customers could work outside and assumed that it would be a safe spot based on their response. Working at cafes is something I often did pre-pandemic and was hoping with the new CDC guidelines that there might've been some indoor seating but I asked about outdoor seating since that's what most spaces have. Unfortunately, I've come to learn that the former cafe, Bica, also had misdemeanor theft and assaults occur in their outside seating. Apparently Bica had warnings posted to customers. As an occasional visitor I would have been grateful to know about the thefts since I would have been more alert. Either way, I am leaving this review to let other patrons know to be careful with valuables when setting up outside. Don't make the same mistake I did! The cafe owner graciously gave me a gift card while I was being interviewed by the police so I plan to come back. I love that this place carries Cute Coffee and other smaller Bay Area roasters. From the one sip I had, the matcha latte was very good and really well made. It got smashed in the altercation so I'm grateful to be in better shape than I could've been. I got blood, a huge tear in my jeans, and matcha all over me. Anyways, the barista told me that this is the second reported theft of a laptop since opening. Another customer had their laptop stolen by a thief on foot. Please be careful and don't let your guard down! read more

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My go to coffee shop for their lattes, bubbles and small bites! The staff is friendly and it's got the best neighborhood feel! read more

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

I order a mocha and cheddar scone. I asked the cashier if they can warm up my scone and aggressively said no like she was offended I asked to warm up a scone. Like who the heck doesn't warm up their scones. The scone was bland. And the mocha was horrible!!! It tasted as if they used old milk! It instantly made me sick, I had to throw it away. read more

Bright atmosphere. Good for toasts and coffee. Limited menu options - just know before planning a meal there.

The best coffee eveeeer. So flipping good it has ruined all other coffee for me. The bar has been set high and I am prepared to be disappointed by every other establishment. I was a barista for 8 years in the bay and have never tasted anything like this. I drink coffee for flavor and taste, not caffeine. I ordered an 8 oz decaf almond milk latte. Chefs kiss!!! Service was cool and chill. Helpful and alert. Nice outdoor seating in Rockridge near some beautiful trees so it felt quite serene for being in the city! Do yourself a favor and go get the best coffee in the bay read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - 8 oz almond milk latte, perfection! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Great coffee, minus - the price (too expensive) Place is small but has good outdoor area next to BART read more

Tried this cafe for the first time the other day and might I say I was not disappointed and ended up wishing I lived closer. The atmosphere was amazing it was such a nice day and there is so much fresh air flowing inside the cafe. The coffee was amazing I usually order lightly when trying a new place like ordering a plain drip straight up or just a latte with oat milk the coffee is extremely smooth and very light in flavor and acidity which is a big one for me. The food was extremely tasteful pretty good selection. The service was great I was helped straight away with a friendly welcoming read more

This place might be my new favorite in Oakland. The coffee is amazing and so are the beans and the baristas- also super knowledgeable when helping to choose beans. Definitely give this place a try everyone read more

Ain't Normal Cafe - cold brew- so smooth - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Found this coffee place in Rockridge and wanted to see what ain't normal lol. They have coffee, tea, wine, and pastry and light brunch options. We ordered iced latte and cold brew coffee. We are super happy with the coffee. Vibe is chill. There's seats inside and outside. Parking is available at Trader Joe's plaza. read more

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I have been meaning to check this place out for years and today was the day! Smallish shop with a couple of indoor tables, most of the seating is arranged outside. I had the cappuccino and it was very satisfying, I wished I could have upsized it because it was gone too fast. I also had the cherry scone. I am usually a harsh critic of scones because they are done so poorly so often but these were little triangles sent from heaven. The cherry was pronounced and not some dry little bit, the consistency was delicate and flakey. Where ever these scones came from they deserve a pat on the back. Staff was very welcoming and accommodating too. I am making it a point to go back and try more - I did see wine... read more

I was craving matcha and stopped by Ain't Normal on a walk along College Ave. The matcha latte had a great earthy flavor - it wasn't overly sweet like matcha from chains like Starbucks. The flavor was delicious and hit the spot. The space looks great - the interior feels so fresh and bright following the remodel. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and speedy! They have a few small tables to sit at outside. Kudos to Ain't Normal for opening a brick and mortar spot in the midst of this tough pandemic. They're off to a great start. I'll be stopping by again soon! read more

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Taking over from Bica, Ain't normal coffee just opened with a new decor. Drinks only for now, among them an excellent espresso. read more

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Cozy spot. Grab a seat outside if it's sunny. Good coffee. Not a crazy menu. Great mochas

Having coffee here with the hubby on Saturday mornings is how I like to start my Saturday. I can never get coffee out on weekdays, so I tend to indulge with getting an Americano on weekends. Plus, It is a nice, calm start to a super busy day of baking. Their coffee is really excellent. No bitterness and lots of flavor. I always get the Americano, black no sugar. The hubby always gets their drip which is also excellent. I have tried one of their day old scones once and it was still good. I love their outdoor seating. The chairs are pretty comfortable and we tend to stay until Trader Joe's and Market Hall open up. I do miss Bica which used to be here before the pandemic but so happy that Ain't Normal opened in this spot! read more

AND THE BEST COFFEESHOP AWARD GOES TO "AIN'T NORMAL!" They are the best coffee shop in the East Bay. Why? They're open until 7PM, no other coffee shop is open till then. Perfect during summer. They carry a great specialty of bean choices and coffee gear. And the most importantly, they make the best cortados, flat whites. The staff is super cool too, they know what they're doing. Oh and they have a variety of bakery, sandwiches, desserts, meat/cheese plate. read more

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

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This really isn't a normal cafe! First, the scones are the best in San Francisco. Typically not a big fan but these are so soft and buttery and crumbly. Both sweet and savory made fresh every day! Other yum breakfast items too like frittata and sandwiches. Then you can get wine in the evening as well as small bites to go with! Cute small in door space with a couple of tables and a large outdoor area. All compostable spoons/forks/Coffee cup lids. Perfectly bougie to be honest ;). read more

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Secured the bag. One of the only few to carry Heart. Keep doing a great job. Y'all are appreciated

i'm not the kind of person to base my opinion solely on customer service (i'm not a karen!) - but the customer service at Ain't Normal ain't it. the workers are really standoffish and unwelcoming. i tried giving them the benefit of the doubt on my first visit, but now that I have been at least 3-4 times, nothing has changed. whenever I enter the coffee shop, the person in the front who is supposed to take orders does not even greet me with a 'hi' or 'hello' - is it too much to ask for someone to greet a customer when they enter? it's pretty sad because at other coffee shops, I never noticed how much I appreciated this basic courtesy, but here, it doesn't exist. throughout my 4 visits, the barista handling taking the orders appeared visibly annoyed and barely took the time to ask me what I wanted. they definitely need a lesson on how to talk to and greet customers because other than that, the coffee is really good. the iced vanilla lattes are 10/10 every time and oat milk is free, which is really surprising because every other coffee shop charges at least $1.50 to $2 for it nowadays. it's a shame that this place could have been an easy 5 star review if it wasn't for the blatant annoyance that is shown to me whenever I go. best vanilla lattes I've found in berkeley/oakland so far, but the customer service needs work. read more

Sleek cafe with friendly vibes. Service is impeccable because not only were we acknowledged and told that they would assist us shortly, but one of the baristas made a coffee and personally brought it outside for a cyclist. Most places would have just called out coffee is ready. Anyway, we got a cappuccino to go because we were headed elsewhere for pastries. Cappuccino was not only pretty to look at, but tasted bold and smooth. They have a really nice outdoor area with a few shaded spots to enjoy your cup of joe. read more

Love Ain't Normal! It's my go-to coffee shop in the East Bay. The pour overs are delish, so clean, and crafted with care. They also do a mean matcha latte, and they have a wide selection of premium coffee beans for purchase. Be prepared to wait a little - good coffee takes time! And while indoor seating is quite limited, there are many tables and chairs on the patio/sidewalk. If you're looking for an experience akin to Starbucks/Peets/Philz, this isn't the place (and I think that's a good thing). I appreciate their no-frills approach to coffee and focus on quality! However, I did witness a barista make a hot chocolate with a dog-shaped latte art for a young one the other day. Totally warmed my heart. Tl;Dr Go for the best pour over in the Town and be sure to ask the barista what their favorite offering is at the moment. read more

Sat outside. Super loud, annoying amplified radio commercials, followed by annoying lite rock. Wooden chairs were uncomfortable. They don't brew coffee - had an Americano instead - flavor was thin. Appreciated the all-gender ADA restroom. Overall, the vibe is more Walnut Creek than Oakland. read more

Great place to grab an iced coffee on a summer day! I got to try the iced matcha latte. It was creamy, smooth and not too sweet. They do charge an additional fee to make it iced just a heads up. There are also some select pastries you can try here as well. There is limited seating indoors but some outdoor tables with some umbrellas. This location is conveniently located by the Rockridge area where there are plenty of shops and restaurants around. read more

I tried their drip coffee and it was full of lots of flavor. This is a cute corner shop with unique vibes perfect for a coffee date with a friend or to pop in headphones and get some work done. The staff were friendly as well! read more

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

Staff were pleasant but disorganized, brought the wrong food order, said we could keep it and that they'd bring the right one, but never did. Drinks sat on the counter and got cold. Inside sits around five people, so we sat outside, but it was difficult to have a conversation due to street and freeway noise. And spent nearly $40 for two pastries and two coffees. Is that normal? I hope it aint. read more

Wow... had one of the best avocado toasts ever!! Everything was simple and perfect!! We enjoyed our toasts sitting outside in the sidewalk patio area and savored every single bite. The bread was toasted perfectly and was the perfect thickness. There was a wonderful amount of avocado. Some nice greens topped it off. Sheer perfection! We will be back again and again and again. read more

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

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