A great spot to work, with good lighting, plenty of outlets, and classical music playing. A downside of the classical music is that it's oftentimes too loud and plays a lot of either advertisements or interviews. Can be distracting. The pricing of tea and coffee sometimes changes and I get a little confused because I usually get the same thing. The americano is on the burnt side, but the lattes are fine. I only get soy since i'm lactose intolerant, and it's one of the better lattes i've had in berkeley. Staff is attentive and kind. read more

Nice, casual, and comfortable atmosphere. Soft classical music and relatively quiet cafe. I like the natural lighting here. I suppose the customer service could use some work; I didn't get a very friendly vibe from them, but it was nothing too bothersome. read more

Nice place to work for laptopists. But it's a shame that they decided to close early, all ready at 9pm. We need more night life in Berkeley! And why in winter there is no hitter in the coffee area? Why don't they but one? Don't they care for the health of their customers? read more

Berkeley espresso has been my go to spot since it's the closest coffee shop from my house. But as much as I want to give them a stellar 5-star review for how nice their "morning" employees are to me during my early morning coffee stop, my experience tonight was just plain horrible. I decided to do some work there for a little bit but was feeling really sick and decided to get my coffee to go and leave. The guy at the counter was busy getting orders so I grabbed a to go cup only for him to rudely take it from me some few seconds later without saying a word and replace it with a smaller one. My issue with this is not that he gave me a smaller to go cup instead but that IT WAS EXTREMELY RUDE and embarrassing and low-key racist since a white woman was definitely doing the same thing I was doing at the same time and he never did/said anything to her. I've heard horror stories from my housemate about her experience with Berkeley espresso in the past but never really understood why her aversion to this coffee shop is so extreme she doesn't go there anymore. According to her, she was studying for the bar exam one night and had been in the coffee shop for hours and someone from management shooed her away and accused her of freeloading (Yes, she mentioned they did talk shit to her and she was very offended). Anyway, I really like the vibe at Berkeley espresso but after today, I think I'm gonna have second thoughts about going there. read more

absolutely superb bagels. they are toasted to the perfect golden brown, crunchy and soft all at once. my bagel sandwich was expertly crafted, and positively melted in my mouth. i could not give a higher review to any institution, and, as a jewish person, no better bagel has blessed my life before. read more

Preview: So I come here a lot and actually love to do work out of here. A lot of chairs,outlets, etc. Location: Right on Shattuck so a perfect place for the Berkeley peeps to walk by and take a break. Coffee: So I judge every coffee shop based on their Americano and I have to say it is just aight here. Sometimes it has a bitterness to it that I am not the biggest fan of, BUT its still fine. Because of that, I do not come to Berkeley espresso just to get an Americano, but I come here because it is a great study/work spot. Other factors: GOOD WIFI! GREAT SERVICE! GREAT LOCATION! Other other factors: This place also has alcohol which is mind boggling to me. Cannot comment further because I have not ordered it before but just know that is also an option. read more

It's a cozy place to study and great service ! I hope this place could stay open despite of the pandemic!

iced latte with almond milk: 3/5 okay i can't tell if i just don't like almond milk but they don't have oatmilk and i'm trying not to drink soy the people who work here are nice though and it's cute vibes read more

Not for espresso drinkers. The young man operating the grinder and espresso machine right now has clearly not been given any meaningful training in pulling an espresso shot. He didn't tamp, and I got a cappuccino volume drink that was very sour. Coarse grounds in the bottom of the cup - the filter basket was soup at the end, with no puck. I looked it up and read that it's technically feasible to produce passable espresso without tamping, but this is the first time I've seen someone attempt it in the US, and the result was lousy. Worse, he's obviously blissfully unaware. I didn't complain because I didn't want him to feel bad and I was in a hurry. Any coffee is drinkable with enough half and half. I suspect most people are getting milk-based drinks here. 2 stars for location, ambiance and friendly service. Owner/manager: Please train your espresso machine operators a bit more, when espresso is in the establishment's name. read more

Berkeley Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

After a really crappy, small, luke warm chai latte for $6+ at Cafenation in Bezerkeley, I went to BERKELEY ESPRESSO for the BEST chai latte I've ever had! Tall glass pint, fabulous spicing, an inch of milk froth, and HOT!! For $4.50! Kudos to the tall dark middle aged gentleman who says he makes the best there...he is RIGHT! read more

I was friends with the original owner of this place, Bob Johnson, and used to come here quite often when he first opened way back when. I did his business cards, menus, etc. and got paid in coffee, which was fine with me! I haven't been here in years, but today I dropped my bike off at the Missing Link for a tuneup and, with an hour to kill, came here to have a coffee and pass the time. The coffee is excellent--best double cap I've had in a long time. The pastries look great, but that's all I can tell you about them because I nobly resisted ordering any of them. The folks behind the counter are friendly and efficient, the atmosphere is pleasant, and there is indoor and outdoor seating. As another Yelper mentioned, you need to keep a close eye on your belongings, but that's not a knock on this place, just a sad fact of life. I'm sorry I'm not in this area of Berkeley more often, but when I am, I'll be happy to come back here. read more

Don't come here for the coffee or conversing. Their brews are nothing special. The ubiquitous laptoppers will shoot you dirty looks for breaking the peace with words or a laugh. It's like a library. I sneezed and got scowls. Then I had to again and stifled it *atieuuuuu* all genteel-like, and hoped my brain didn't hemorrhage from the pressure. But for turning pages or clicking keys, you'll be good with the company of the upper ranks of college folk situated at the little round tables juggling their computers, textbooks and disarray of papers. You may even catch a gaze spacing out, fixed aimlessly when searching for the right phrase. Here it's polite to avert your eyes and focus on your sandwich. They've got really simple ones (pick your filling and bread), but in fairness they're cheap, fresh and pretty tasty. There's this unspoken understanding that when sitting at the perimeter tables, everyone faces in towards the cafe. I refuse to sit with my back to the broad windows and let passersby peep at my screen, top secret yelping going on! I've got to hunch over while I'm typing this though or else the staff here will see that I think they're a little creepy. Shhhh. read more

Long story short: not a bad spot to hang out for an hour... or 2... or 4. Coffee was just ok Long story long: Question: What do you do when you have 4+ hours to kill until dinner yet your phone battery is dying and you have no laptop? Answer. You go to a place like Berkeley Espresso. Explantation: It was about 3 or 3:30 in the afternoon when I was walking about Berkeley. I had more or less completed seeing what I wanted to see, and while I had one or two more stops I could've grabbed a bite to eat at, I wanted to save my appetite for Chez Panisse. Yes, I probably could have gotten away with some ice cream or a slice of pizza, but this is Chez Panisse we're talking about here. So again, without a laptop and my battery running on empty, I figured the best place I could charge my phone and use the WIFI was a coffee shop. Starbucks never has enough outlets, so I actually came to Peet's right before this seeking an outlet, but all of them were being used up as well. I started walking towards North Berkeley and Chez Panisse, and I came across this place. I noticed from outside that they had a couple of extension cords set up, multiplying the number of outlets they had available, so I pulled out my phone and checked their WIFI network. Even with some that have no network key, for whatever reason, my iPhone still has trouble connecting. Yeah, I know... strange. And yes, I had my wall charger with me because being out for a majority of the day, I knew I would probably need it at some point. Yes, I'm smart like that. The vibe here was really chill. Of course, any coffee shop that isn't Starbucks, Coffee Bean, or even Peet's will almost always have a chill vibe. Of course I didn't want to just walk in and prop myself down just to use an outlet and WIFI, so I ordered an iced latte, even though I literally just had Peet's about 15 minutes prior. I propped myself at a table RIGHT NEXT to an outlet, which worked out because the iPhone wall charger isn't that long. A couple minutes later, my drink was ready and I went to go get it. I returned to my table and took a sip. It was ok. I mean, I guess for whatever reason, I have found that iced lattes just aren't as good as hot lattes. As to why that is, I'm just not really sure. But yeah, it just seemed ok. So yes, this is where I was from about 3:30 to about 7:30, when I finally decided to head over to Chez Panisse. What did I do in those 4 hours? Surf the web, play a couple of games, tweeted, surfed the web, surf the web, people watch, surf the web. Did I mention I surfed the web? The only thing missing was a couch or a cot... I totally could've taken a nap. Not that I needed a nap, but hey, with 4 hours, might as well, right? In the 4 hours I was there, I probably should have gotten another drink or whatever, but hey, who's complaining? They apparently served some food, because one guy that eventually came in that sat next to me had ordered a sandwich, in which one of the pieces of his bread feel on the floor, yet he took his time to pick it up, brush it off, and eat it. Dude, I totally would've gone 3 second rule on that ish. I suppose if I'm ever in Berkeley again and need a place to charge my phone and/or laptop with totally free and open WIFI, I'll keep this place in mind. read more

I have had a number, a variety, of emotional experiences here. I don't know why this would be a place where that has happened, but there it is. Without divulging personal details, let me just describe how it goes down when one enters this cafe. From the corner of Shattuck and Hearst, one enters the glass double doors of Berkeley Espresso. One receives many looks from sudden upturned heads which were previously deep in thought or deep in porno-distraction via the prevalent laptops propped on almost each and every table. Blue squares of light projected to all corners of this green rectangular cafe. One does not know where to stand to order a cup of coffee. Oh! One sees. One walks to the back of the line by the glass pastry case, as one continues being watched by aggro grad students and frustrated writers of the Berkeley persuasion. One feels prickling on the back of one's neck. One hopes to make one's order and then escape down to a table to enjoy caffeine fix as soon as one is able. One finally gets coffee, cream, finds one table in the far corner near the stinky bathroom, and sits quietly. One gets up to pick up The Onion or a local stinky newspaper. One's purse drops to the floor in the shuffle. A lady at a nearby table shoots one a menacing look. The student across from the newspaper shelf huffs in your direction. One grabs The Onion and returns to original seat. One finds The Onion hilarious. Especially the business about having coffee with President Bush. So hilarious, one must laugh out loud! One did not! One did! Did not! Did! Leers from round the green rectangle. One gets the picture. One quietly stands up, grabs one's purse and heads toward the glass doors. The coffee was not too bad, but the company made it taste like 'shhhhhhhhh!'. Not my favorite cup of coffee in Berzerkeley. read more

This is an excellent coffee place in berkeley Actually, it's THE coffee place in berkeley. Parking? Well there's some on the street and a tiny surface lot out back. May I recommend you walk here, 'cause that's what you are going to be doing. If you find a spot within three-four blocks snag it 'cause that's as close as you are likely to get. Welcome to the bay area. Regardless this place has some awesomeness going for it. For starters the coffee type items-latte's, cappucinos, espresso and the just plain old cup of joe are dang near perfect. The pastries are divine and they have your typical breakfast stuff. The breakfast items are pretty great, oh and they have beer and wine,(which might be a great happy hour or later option)but for me really the focus is on the coffee, which is awesome. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and I found the decor to be perfect. I was lured in by neon lights at dusk and managed to snag an extremely comfy plushy chair right by the front. Typically they have the usual two spot table/chair combo with some plushy chairs and larger tables. Pricing is slightly higher then the area standard of five bucks or so for coffee and a sweet. That latte ran me over four dollars (for a large) by itself, so a coffee and sweet would be 6-8 dollars depending on what you go for. Five stars for the comfy plushy chairs, neon lights, and excellent latte's. read more

This is a great place for a quick bite and good coffee. Coffee is good and staff is friendly. Less expensive than the chain coffee houses and better tasting. read more

Great place to get some work done, generous serving size for coffee and decent food options. WiFi is a problem though and can get a bit noisy read more

Barista Nazi: No WiFi for You! Last night I popped into Berkeley Espresso to check my email on the way home. I don't live near Berkeley Espresso so I was drawn there (out of a whole row of cafes) purely because of their free wifi sign. Like a good cafe citizen, I decided to order a latte first. There was only one person in line, but for some reason it took the barista over 15 minutes to make their coffee. I could have been half-way home by the time I ordered my latte! I finally got the latter, and I settled down at a table near. I fired up the ol' T/X and clicked my shortcut to Yahoo...and then WHAM! The connection totally disappeared! I turned around to see the barista staring at me. I went to the counter to ask about the WiFi and mentioned that there was a sign on the door promising free WiFi. The barista said he was getting ready to close. Actually, closing was a good 20 minutes away (I stayed to finish my latte). That jerk actually looked over at me, saw I was trying to check my email, and TURNED IT OFF! I can't believe the cafe owners let that barista get his jollies like that. As mentioned above, the only reason I chose that cafe was for the WiFi. I wish I'd known that the barista was on crack before I ordered my latter. There's a cafe a block away that has free WiFi, too. read more

I ordered a bagel with cream cheese by Uber Eats and paid small order fee for the simple breakfast. When the order arrived, there were two thin slices of poor bagels in the bag. Cream cheese was absent. Called to the Berkeley Espresso and the ppl there told me to place another order (and pay another small order fee + delivery fee) at their place and they bring the cup of cream cheese to me. Alternatively I stop by their place and get the cream cheese (then why I ordered delivery at very beginning?!) I got nothing to comment this place.. read more

save for "berkeley expresso" on the 'panes, thought this was a starbux. interiors looked mostly occupied with wi-fiers. menu: pastries, made to order sammies)(5), expressos, orgainic teas, etc. pour: organic ethiopian/indonesian coffee(m 2.20) in thermo -slight harshness, mostly smooth. -slightly better than average, cheaper than name chains. coffee drips: -nice place to camp, not a great place to grab a brew. read more

I love anywhere with free internet, and now that I've been studying and not socializing, I've learned to appreciate how quiet Berkeley Espresso is. While not for everyone who enjoys studying at cafes, the patrons at Berkeley Espresso are very respectful of personal space, minimizing distractions, and silence. Compared to most Berkeley cafes of a similar caliber, the coffee isn't bad and the pastries are better than most. I'd give them four stars if they took credit cards and closed at 12 instead of 11. read more

If we want a mocha and in the area, we always stop here. They make a strong, bold and rich mocha that beats Starbucks or Peets. Though we always have it to go, they do have a lot of tables there and a nice crowd is in there utilizing the free wi-fi. read more

Amazing service, great prices!!! This place feels like home away from home; the bagels are definitely a must try when you're in the downtown area. read more

This place smells like sewage. From the moment you walk in the door, you're immediately hit with the stench of god-knows-what. The only reason people come here (imo) is because other coffee shops on shattuck might not have free wifi or tables. That's why I came here. I ordered tea (they carry republic of tea brand in a variety of flavors) because it's pretty hard to mess up hot water. Even then, the water was pretty lukewarm...and everybody knows water needs to be boiling hot for tea to brew properly. Did I mention it smells like sewage in here? That, or horrible BO, or a dirty rag that hasn't been cleaned in a while... that rotting water smell pervades the room. they really need to open the door or something to get rid of the stench. read more

Not my favorite, especially with so many other good places around. The coffee is passable (please get Splenda!), as are the baked goods. Free Wifi, which always makes me happy. As for the cold vibe that others have mentioned, I don't really go to coffee places to make friends, so I'm indifferent. Have to agree that the tables are way too small . (Editorial comment: As usual, I have had to pay my $36 toll to Berkeley for failing to run out within the stinkin' 2 hour limit on parking. I'm kind of over Berkeley. To those who say I should take public transportation, I don't live near a BART/bus stop and Berkeley would be one of the closest, so please go easy on my apparent lack of concern for the environment ...). read more

Having worked in Berkeley for over 3 years i have been to many of the coffee shops, this was not the first one i tried but it was the first one that was recommend to me.. well either the people(yes more than one) hate me and hey that's a possibility or they have don't know a good cup of coffee if it hits them in the kisser.. i think the latter is probably the truth. I had many a burnt Espresso and Americano here but No more !! also i don't care for the customers (students and Berkeley types) and they don't cater for Vegans so 2* is best i can give them. read more

Ordered a double espresso. Was served a cappuccino cup 3/4 full of thin dark liquid with no crema. Sorry, no passing grade. Music, WIFI, environmental aspects of this business cannot make up for the fact that this business has not even made an attempt to learn the basics. I'm sorry if this seems negative to the fans of the business (and there seem to be many.) I want to offer something constructive to the business owner: if you care about what you do, start here: http://espressovivace.com/index.php/books-and-videos/ You CAN transform your business into a coffee shop. You are sitting atop an awesome opportunity. read more

This is my go-to spot to go work when I don't want to be stuck at home--and a lot of students, other work-from-homers, and retirees agree. I go primarily to be around other people, but their bagged tea selection is nice as well. I've never had a problem getting a spot or outlet; free wifi is reliable. Recently there's been some construction right outside the windows that always open--literally jack hammering cement. That really made things unpleasant. Wheelchair accessibility notes: There's a low-grade ramp up to the flat entrance. Seating is primarily 2-top tables with one community table--all at normal height and with movable chairs. Bathroom is single-person and big enough to fit a wheelchair. Street parking only. read more

It's that time of year, the cafes are crowded with students, myself included, all vying for outlets and a quiet space. Berkeley Espresso has a nice atmosphere, good coffee and great music to study by. My only negative comment is in regards to the outlets, they are super overloaded and I was a bit nervous plugging in my old laptop. But definitely will be back in the coming weeks to study. read more

I've logged an embarrassing number of hours here, and I'll say that you can get a good lunch for $5.00, bagel, salad, or small salad and sandwich. But their coffee is "ok" not amazing, and somewhat expensive for what it really is, although I'm not a coffee expert. Their toilet is horrific. But they have fast/free Internet and a lot of good workspace. A good place to work, but I'm very burnt out by it. read more

If I were a hand-wringing writer for the New York Times style section, this place would depress me: America's youth! All looking at their MacBooks and not at each other. Technology! These times we live in... But I am not. And I like this place a lot. You can order a tea, log on to the internet for free, and do hours of work while New World Symphony and other well selected tunes play you on. No one bothers you. There's plenty of plugs around. I'm actually not sure how this place makes money because you can really just order one drink and stay all day, and that's what most people I saw today did. The ambience is nice. Two potted trees with twinkle lights. Wooden tables. Comfortable chairs. Inoffensive art hangs on richly painted walls. Good people watching out of the window. A great place to do work in peace. read more

Love Berkeley Espresso! I often come here to get some work done or for a sandwich between classes. The atmosphere is relaxed, the staff is friendly, they have a rich, bold black coffee. Free, reliable wifi with no time limits and plenty of plugs is what keeps me here. This place is definitely my favorite coffee shop in Berkeley! Yum yum. read more

I found myself downtown in Berkeley Espresso yet again (this time in the evening) so I wanted to write another review. The place was pleasantly packed with people chatting or on their laptops at 8pm. This is warm place for a quiet chat with friends or a date. As far as I know, it's the only cafe/wine bar that's open so late. They have a fantastic happy hour, where you can get a free appetizer with 2 glasses of wine or beer (the best deal in town). I got a glass of sav blanc and shared the cheese plate with my friend. It was some simple but delicious brie, crackers, nuts and cranberries. They also had some delicious looking desserts that I did not indulge in. Prices for wine or beer are quiet reasonable. If this place was in my neighborhood, I would hang out there most nights. read more

I should've come in here a long time ago! Unlimited free wifi, cheap drinks, and plenty of seating = perfect place to study :) There were so many open tables when I came in, and there's plenty of outlets! I know this is always an issue when I go to other places with my laptop, but it's not a problem here. The staff are very courteous and prompt as well, and the coffee is pretty good! I just got an iced coffee with milk, for less than $2.50. They also have baked goods and free water, if you're not a fan of coffee. The wifi can get a little spotty though, since it's not password protected and everyone is connected to it. However, I've been here for over 3 hours now, and it hasn't caused any issues for me or my work! read more

Berkeley espresso would be an ordinary little caffeine fueling station for the working class except for these neat facts: - cash only - you can practice your spanish on the barista - my female friend ordered a latte and the barista made a flower out of chocolate powder on the foam (no doubt I was puzzled by this unequal treatment) I would stay away from just a regular coffee; I find it a bit burnt. read more

This place has the best cappuccino! All these other people probably don't like coffee the way it is supposed to made. They must be to used to the tragic Starbuck's blend of milk/milk/water/water/maybecoffee. As good as Peet's! And that doesn't come easy... read more

Berkeley Espresso is a total gem in the rough. The fair trade organic cofee is delicious, espresso drinks are on point, and the staff is the sweetest. Observations/tips -the latte art is a sweet touch -seating is usually plentiful and it's the kind of coffee shop where folks actually talk to each other vs. people in their own worlds zoned out and studying -Their egg bagels are a fine breakfast I'm grateful for this neighborhood coffee shop and can't believe it took me so long to try it out! read more

It gets the job done, but the food/coffee is nothing special. The outlets look like they might electrocute you if you dear to use them. The power strip is coming from the ceiling! The tables are small and always dirty and the bathroom (do not use). However, it does open until 11pm (unless I need to pull a late night, I think I would pass). read more

Coffee here is sub-par; I'd rather walk an extra 2-3 blocks up Shattuck and go to Philz instead. Studying space is also limited, as it always seems crowded and there aren't too many outlets. However, the desserts are surprisingly delicious. The triple chocolate mousse, zucchini bread, turtle cheesecake muffin, and pretty much everything else in their small display is inexpensive and really tasty. I'd come here for a quick late-night sweet fix, but probably take it to-go. read more

The good: Beautiful cafe, great location, free wifi with tons of outlets (as others have pointed out). The bad: Service. I've just about given up on tipping here, as I'm tired of the attitude I get every time I'm at the counter. It's less arrogance and more just-don't-give-a-damn. I'm editing to mention that the only people who seem to get good service are cute twenty-something girls. I've stopped tipping here for the most part. Why do I come back? It's the masochist in me. Go if you've got a deadline to meet or if it's raining and you want to watch the windows steam up. Otherwise, try one of the many other great cafes in Berkeley. read more