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    Bench

    4.9 (55 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

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    BENCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Bench

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    Reviews With Photos

    Austin Z.

    Both hands up for this wonderful coffee place I happened to stumble upon, right outside the skirts of Downtown Berkeley. They're located right on the intersection of MLK and University, right behind the Indian restaurant. This coffee place is honestly a little bit small, so please proceed with caution at all costs. But it really makes you feel cozy at home. They do have upstairs seating, but rather really limited. It will be full at times, and at times, not at all. It depends on the time that you go. They have a wide assortment of sweet and savory pastries available as well. I got their ham & cheese scone, as well as their speciality drink, their banana cream iced coffee. I love how balanced their iced coffee is with the banana cream, which surprisingly, is made with ACTUAL banana puree made from actual bananas. The barista who made my drink was very nice and very chill, and served it rather quick. That's what's up! If you're looking for a locally-owned coffee shop right here in Berkeley, look no further than Bench Coffee! Trust me, it will be a trip worth it :)

    Counter
    Sara L.

    In between errands, I stopped by Bench to try a latte and baked goodie. In this early afternoon, the place wasn't crowded. And has the feel of an art deco loft. After reviewing a range of options, I decided upon a Golden Latte and chocolate chip cookie. Each was @$5 with tax, decently sized and absolutely yum. The latte tasted like a perfect blend of espresso, steamed oat milk, and turmeric. Major kudos to the barista. I've found most not to be blended well at all nearby. The chocolate chip cookie had just the right amount of sweetness. All in all, this place is a great weekend stop!

    Banana cream iced coffee
    Maggie W.

    I was intrigued by the banana cream iced coffee. It certainly seems like this is the summer for ganan coffee drinks. They use fresh bananas in the cream and you can definitely taste the difference (compared to creams that use banana flavoring). I think the cream flavor is really good and the coffee blends well with it. I took off 1 star because there is a bit of a sour undertone, which I'm not sure if from syrup or from the coffee itself. Service was very quick! There seems to be two stories with a spiral staircase to the upstairs. Some chairs and benches to study or read on on the first floor. Didn't check out 2nd floor.

    Dog friendly cafe and a homemade pastry and the best coffee.
    Yalda A.

    Lovely Dog friendly cafe and the best coffee and nice home made pastry. Sweet owner sun is creating the atmosphere for community.

    Bar area
    Mia B.

    Had such a good experience at Bench! It is such a quaint shop with relaxing vibes to match its lovey menu. I got the date latte, and it was so tasty! The flavor was a nice balance of sweetness and nuttiness that made every sip taste so so good. Would for sure come back here.

    Cute decor
    Amanda L.

    Me and all of my coworkers' go-to spot for amazing coffee and solid matcha! They have fun flavors if you wanna change it up, but my basic vanilla latte is always great. Their house made pastries are all super good too and serve as a the perfect treat. Staff are very friendly and accommodating and the space is very cute! Definitely recommend.

    Latte
    Sherry Z.

    Small coffee shop along MLK near trader Joe's. There is not too much seating, so don't expect to be able to sit and do work while enjoying your coffee and pastries. Service was fast and friendly. It would be nice to have some placards saying what pastries were in each display, but being told in person was fine! Got a latte and a spinach and mushroom handpie. I really enjoyed the handpie. It was filled to the brim with spinach and mushroom and had a lovely buttery crust. The latte was enjoyable, with no complaints here. Plan on coming back to try some more pastries!

    Menu - didn't get pic of coffee but their banana cream was awesome!!
    Angie G.

    Super cute and great coffee!! Don't forget to try their pastries! Their customer was awesome i don't remember their name but they were so sweet and amazing!

    an ivl and banana cream latte
    Dina A.

    The vibes in the cafe is great! Definitely go here if you like calm and relaxed environments. From the coffee to the decor, everything was great and beautiful. I tried their ivl (iced vanilla latte) and it was sooooo good. Service was amazing.

    Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cake

    This past Valentine's Day I bought a piece of Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cake from Bench and my partner and I loved it and couldn't stop raving about it. For her birthday this year I wanted a custom cake made for her. I asked the owner of Bench she could make the Chocolate Raspberry Cream cake for my partner's birthday. It came out beautifully. Delicate, delicious and the perfect sweetness. My partner and her family were very impressed. The cake serves 8-10 people and when I opened the box we were greeted by the soft exquisite scent of roses. It was a WOW moment for sure.

    latte art inside a coffee coffee mug, framed photography in the background
    Marissa M.

    Yummy pastries, beautiful space, and (most importantly) great music! Incredibly kind staff. Nice shop to chill at and enjoy my own company.

    Persian rose tea

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    6 months ago

    Very yummy Macha and pastries. The environment was also very lovely inside inside. Nice and fast service with good recommendations.

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    1 year ago

    Bench is truly a gem! Everything is delicious: homemade scones, cookies and meat turnovers. Wonderful selection of teas.

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    3 years ago

    Best cappuccino in town. Amazing homemade pastries. Even Persian cookies and tea. Brand new place so still a hidden gem. Highly recommend.

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    Ask the Community - Bench

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    Forest Tea Bar - Matcha latte, hojicha latte

    Forest Tea Bar

    (111 reviews)

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    I'm slowly making my way through all of the new matcha cafes in Berkeley. But I fear I might pause…read morebecause Forest Tea Bar has my heart! First off, the vibes are so zen, even if it's extremely busy! I came with my friend, both of us Japanese. It was a nice change of pace being in a cafe like this. It's common in Japan for cafes to be more western, so she was shocked that this cafe was more minimalistic, Asian-inspired, haha. There's bar seating plus indoor and outdoor tables. Most customers are Cal students studying or working, and seats can be limited. Communal seating is communal, and there's seating outside too. The service was great! We sat at the bar so we could watch what was happening. We loved how sweet one of the workers who helped us was. Kind service, and they put time and care into making each drink. Wait times can vary, but it's so worth it! I love any Japanese tea--matcha, hojicha, I'm all there! But I especially loved how they have genmaicha. I got the Genmaicha Latte with Oat Milk. It was perfect, subtle sweetness and roast, and a nice earthy matcha blend. I'd get it again. My friend enjoyed her Hojicha Latte, and they were kind enough to accommodate her request and give us Hojicha Tea as well! Everything was great quality and delicious. Forest Tea Bar is a wonderful cafe in Berkeley to get a matcha or other tea drink. Find them off Shattuck Ave. with street and metered parking around. Looking forward to coming back again and again!

    Small, high-quality matcha tea bar with a super simple aesthetic. This place was absolutely…read morephenomenal! They whisk everything by hand--none of that premade matcha sitting in a pitcher. You can taste the effort (and maybe the arm workout too). I think there are only about three staff members making drinks at a time, so if you come during peak hours... yeah, you will be waiting. Patience is part of the menu. If you're not about that waiting life, I highly recommend coming on a weekday before the rush. Trust me, your future self will thank you. Also--no bathrooms and no parking, so plan accordingly. Street parking is your only option, so may the odds be ever in your favor. Overall, I would definitely come back... even if it means circling the block a few times first.

    Mind Coffee - Earl Grey Cream Cloud ($8)

    Mind Coffee

    (252 reviews)

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    Mind Coffee is one of my favorite coffee shops in Berkeley - it's easy to miss unless you know…read morewhere to look. I came here recently for a pick-me-up while I was walking near campus. It was an unexpectedly warm day, so I stopped in for an iced caffeinated beverage. I was indecisive when it was my turn to order, so the barista recommended the orange blossom matcha sparkler. This sounded intriguing and refreshing, so I decided to give it a try. My beverage was prepared about two minutes after I ordered it, and I was immediately refreshed after the first sip. The orange blossom flavoring was very subtle and provided just the right amount of sweetness and floral essence to counter the matcha's bitterness. The fizziness made this a perfect drink for a hot day. I've tried Mind Coffee's espresso on a prior visit, and I can now say they succeed in both the coffee and matcha categories.

    I was absolutely stunned when I first walked in. Mind Coffee feels like you're immersing in an art…read moregallery, apple store, forest, and a craft shop all at once. We ordered an Americano, the Earl Gray Matcha Einspanner Latte, and the Sakura Matcha Mindspanner Latte. The presentation was gorgeous, from the cups to the cream. The Sakura Matcha Mindspanner was definitely my favorite all around. The hint of sakura combined with the bold matcha was a very fun flavor experience. I think sadly, in the Earl Gray Matcha Einspanner, the matcha overpowered the earl gray. The flavor was there, but it was extremely subtle (don't get me wrong, I'd definitely get it again). Also, their espresso is unmatched. It really reminded me what a good espresso shot should taste like. The staff here were super friendly right off the bath. Even though there is an ordering kiosk available, they still went out of their way to greet us and let us know that they are there to also take orders and answer questions. I was also a bit bummed that they were sold out of their Orange Blossom Latte. I feel like it would taste like an orange creamsicle. They were very reassuring that it's a regular menu item and that I can hopefully get my hands on one before it sells out for the day next time! I can't wait to see what they come out with next!

    CoRo Coffee Room - espresso con panna

    CoRo Coffee Room

    (241 reviews)

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    We came on a Sunday morning and it was busy, with a line out the door and about a 35 minute wait…read morefrom getting in line to getting our drinks. Parking was easy though, with plenty of street parking nearby. The person at the register was friendly and gave helpful tips and recommendations. While waiting, we spent time watching the co-op roasting facility in the back through the glass windows. That is what really makes this place stand out. There is indoor seating but at 11 am it was completely full! There was some outdoor seating that was open. We tried the rose latte and it was spot on. The rose flavor was subtle and well balanced, not overpowering at all and the coffee was delicious! The only downside was that there were no gluten free pastries available that day, although I have heard they sometimes offer them. Overall, great coffee, a relaxed vibe, and a unique experience that is worth checking out and we will be back!

    My morning at CoRo made me want to spend more time in cafes…read more I ordered a pot of Kyoto Bancha (Temple Pine) sourced from Blue Willow and it was expertly prepared. I didn't have time to get a second infusion of water, but it was offered to me. This place was buzzing on a Monday morning but I was lucky enough to nab a table inside. I didn't use the wifi but judging from the number of laptops around me, it works. Also, if you're looking for outdoor seating, they've got plenty of it.

    Bench - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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