This cafe is just a few blocks away from my workplace so I am a regular here. Not only do they have good coffee and espresso drinks (I always get the mocha or cappuccino), they have various sandwiches and desserts. I especially like their meatball sandwich - they call it a panini but it seems too thick to be one as the meatballs are huge. For all the sandwiches they put the lettuce, pickles, and peppers on the side so you can opt to add them yourself. The only dessert I've tried was the cheesecake but it was a REALLY GOOD cheesecake, one of the best I've had. Staff are really friendly too. read more

$5.25 Lg Americano: dark roast, rich but too bitter. $4 Chocolate croissant: I think this is from a Mexican bakery. It's good but not my style. read more

I have been ordering food via the website to pick up at least 5 times in the past week or two. Every time has been the same; go in, make sure my name is on the bag in the pickup area and go. As I was grabbing my bag, one of the workers told me I need to show him an order confirmation and started going on about how it's his job to make sure I'm not taking off with food. I'm fine with showing confirmation however the way he came off was extremely accusatory. I when I told him that all I had was a text from DoorDash saying my order is ready and he let me go... read more

My mechanic is up the street a couple blocks so I'll pop in here for coffee and work on stuff while car is being worked on. It's a nice cafe with a complete assortment of coffee drinks, breakfast and lunch dishes as well as wine and beer. Quite a few tables along perimeter by windows and in the center. Mostly local frequent flyers as far as I can tell. People with computers out, cell phones at the ready or an occasional book. Nice place to chill most of the time, but, I may get beat up for this but here it goes. It's in Berkeley. Don't get me wrong back in the day I loved Berkely growing up just a mere 30 miles up the 80 West. I was here all the time. That was then, and now is now. Most citizens seem to work overtime on being strange, rude, and lack any sense of decorum or decency. When here I try to sit somewhere far away from any other tables. Doesn't always work out that way. Today a older lady sat next to me and was trying to relive her disco days by singing and dancing to the Bee Gees and the like. And trying to do the Hustle while seated on a long bench shared by others. Not sure who put this sound track on. There are always a few other types that play well with others but unfortunatly the other types make the biggest impression and it's not positive. This particular individual was doing work related to UC Berkeley between lyrics, dancing, eating her scone and drinking her latte. Still a nice place but only here because my mechanic, Wise Automotive, is up the street. See his review on Yelp. If it was close to where I live, and not in Berkeley, I would prolly hang here more frequently. Living in Berkeley in todays world is not an option. read more

My favorite almost daily neighborhood spot. They know all of their regulars orders and treat us with kindness! They also have delicious pastries. Good vibes all around! read more

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Great coffee, rich and nutty. Pastries and cooked food. Friendly staff and importantly open at 7am. Highly recommend.

This review is solely based on my experience getting coffee and a bagel. 3.8 stars if I could. The line to order and the order process was a little chaotic. In their defense, it was pretty swamped. I ordered a chai latte and a plain bagel with cream cheese. I was saddened to see the "barista" pouring directly out of a store bought chai bottle. Being charged $7 for boxed chai is a little steep. The bagel was really good though! A nice balance of toasted surface and cream cheese. They brought everything to my table which was very nice considering how busy it was. Would I come back? Yes, I'd give it another try. Would I recommend it to a friend? Not yet read more

A very sweet spot to hang out and get some work done. I only ordered a pot of tea so I can't speak for the food, but the service and space was lovely! Pros: - plenty of seating - good ambiance - wifi - can be cheap ($4 tea) read more

Love eating here. The food is very very well done. Plenty parking in the shared parking lot in the back (but ... watch for meter maids who will ticket expired meters quickly) Lots of people lounge and eat and grab coffee. It's a good spot for a casual meet up. A neighborhood favorite. I had the procutto caprese. Neatly made with a vinegerette side salad. They do serve breakfast at all times. The expresso machine they have makes nice strong drinks. Not some watered down bs. Will come back. read more

Caffe Chiave - Interior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love this place. Their mocha is my favorite with the fresh whipped cream. The workers are friendly and hard working and their customer service is great! read more

Service is great, food is good and ambiance is friendly and comfortable. I would recommend this place for the best mochas and a good lunch.

Very rude customer service . They talk about people in Spanish and there rude. I don't like the customer service skills read more

Caffe Chiave - Very rude customer service - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Old place. First time here. the tables are really old, it looks messy, but looks like it's a local favorite because it gets busy. I didn't think customer service was anything out of the ordinary. They take your order, you sit, they call your number or they bring you your food. The guy who took my order didn't greet or smile. I had no idea there was a specific way to order. It wasn't until I looked at the ground after I sat down, did I see the arrows. Food was ok. I ordered a bagel with lox, Turkey & bacon panini and a traditional breakfast. Thought the cafe & food was ok. read more

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Great place to have a coffee or meal and get some work done. Open until 8PM, so a perfect spot for waiting out the traffic if you commute east on I-80 in the afternoon. P read more

My favorite coffee shop to visit when I'm here from out of town. I walk here every chance I get and the staff is always so patient and friendly. Mind you, the coffee is always delicious!!! read more

Visited Berkeley and stumbled to this Cafe by accident. Needless to say all the crew were hospitable and friendly ! Love the ambience , it was 7am on 10/13. The food was delicious . I was trying to make it to Acme bakery since I heard it was amazing . As I ordered my bacon, eggs , breakfast potatoes and sourdough toast , I see the Acme bread truck pulling over to deliver fresh baked goods . I was thrilled and I was able to taste that delicious bread . We also had a cafe latte and a sesame bage with cream cheese, avocado, tomato, and cucumber. All was delicious ! Thank you muchachos for a great experience ! read more

Great ambiance and ample seating + parking in the back. I came here to do some work and didn't struggle to find an outlet. They have outdoor seating too. Service wasn't the best, and the items are overpriced. I got the hibiscus orange agua fresca and biscotti which tasted pretty standard. I'd like to come back and try some coffee, salad, or frittata. From first try this cafe wouldn't be my pick if I were on Piedmont again. read more

My husband and I have been coming for nearly two years, the food is excellent, but there's an employee that's as a barista and cashier who has never had an smile or a warmth greeting for us and it always seems he chooses who to smile and hold a small conversation, in other words he needs to be customer service retrained so he can understand all customers should be treated nicely because after all we had been leaving tips regardless of his poor attitude read more

Cute little hipster Cafe on the main drag. Great place for a meet up or to do some remote computer work. Got a panini which was super tasty and served with a big ol' welcoming smile. If you are in the area - worth the stop, but it's a little difficult to find parking. read more

Just ok in my book... the most convenient location but lacks a good vibe for me. I would grab a coffee to go but not make plans with a friend to talk and catch up there. read more

They are now open till 8pm some Days of the week so is perfect for dinner and or studying. Francisco and Diego took good care of me. Love the jazz too read more

Caffe Chiave - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Horrible and zero honesty! Sad I just needed a coffee but couldn't even finish my coffee Tasted old . Save your money read more

Well the coffee smell and live jazz drew us in. The last time I was here, 25 years ago with my dear mama. She had a friend... more of an acquaintance, who happened to be singing here with a live band. Well ok, she was no Billie, Etta or Ella, but considering the cost it was palatable. I get unfriendly staff comments... dudes behind the counter seemed like they were more interested in starting a poker game and the occasional patron blew up the opportunity. But strong ass coffee and sweet deserts after a solid meal down the block, was in order.. When the band took a break, we were entertained by your friendly neighborhood spider man... electrified droaning on with an electric guitar. I'm certain he knew nothing about how to play but in his enlightened state, I don't think he gave a rip. The band is chowing down while I write this. I sure hope they start soon. The combination didgeridoo and bagpipes sound coming from spidy has my senses tingling... and not in a good way. But hey we support live music of all sorts especially the free variety. read more

Caffe Chiave - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My sister needed coffee while waiting for a brunch reservation nearby and they couldn't do it, so we decided to scoot over to Caffe Chiave to get her a latte and me some OJ. Former Café Trieste - now Caffe Chiave, still makes beautiful lattes and squeezes their own orange juice. Both very great eye opening drinks. read more

Caffe Chiave - Fresh squeezed - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It's eh.. and overpriced. I go here out of necessity and not really bcz it's good or bad enjoyable. Highly overpriced for the portions and their menu is extremely limited. read more

This Italian institution is a great place for an early coffee (they open at 7am!). Nice coffees and pastries selection + a few breakfast items as well. The food wasn't very appealing but tasted ok. 4 stars + 1 star as the staff was kind :-) read more

Caffe Chiave - Outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Need to be brought back to life? This caffe is everything! When in Berkeley it's my go to space. I have tried a few of their lattes, espressos the Africana never disappoints. Treat yourself and thank me later. Enjoy! read more

Caffe Chiave - Africana - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

These guys are FANTASTIC!!! I watched them crank out 40+ drinks for our production crew and they did it with a smile!!! The place is nice and clean, and it felt like returning to my own local place. I will absolutely be back! read more

Sorry no pics! But this place moves fast and has everything that's good. I ate my avocado toast n fries way to fast. You'll like it and the people are nice read more

As a cal student, I've always seen this on Dwight driving around from grocery runs or other activities. I've finally tried it today! COVID precautions 12/10/20: no indoor seating, glass shield. What I would nitpick is that the lids are off to the side and I'm not sure how sanitary it is if people just grab them. I usually am a black coffee person, but decided to try a cappuccino with almond milk and an extra shot of espresso (which is 3). I think it's a pretty decent size 16 oz for $5.74 after all my customizations and tax. I really loved the foam - that's always something hard to get right especially with almond milk. The foam was very smooth and frothy like regular milk. I usually run into cafes where almond milk cappuccinos end up being more bubbly than foamy so I loved that here! Could definitely see myself coming here again! read more

Caffe Chiave - Cappuccino with almond milk and extra shot of espresso ($5.74) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great neighborhood hangout. I like that it's open later now as we it's a nice place to meet friends after work

So this was one of the satellite Caffe Trieste outlets no longer called Trieste due to an ugly family feud that required renaming this location as well as the one on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland (review: http://bit.ly/2KciIQA). They're both called rather generically "Caffe on (Name Your Location)". It seems a shame that they lost their vintage North Beach branding but apparently not their menu. It also didn't appear to bother the locals who converge on this casual space for extended periods on the weekends. I came here on a Saturday morning but didn't want to carb up on one of their bagel sandwiches. Instead I asked if they were making their $10.95 Chef's Citrus Salad before lunch and they obliged. It just seemed like a refreshing mouthful from the chalkboard description and it was. It was a plate of baby spinach leaves mixed with walnuts, beets, and goat cheese, topped with fresh clementine orange slices, and doused with a citrus vinaigrette (photo: http://bit.ly/2I583KI). Deliciously healthy. To wash it down, I nursed a smooth $3 cup of the House Coffee that just hit the spot between bites of the salad (photo: http://bit.ly/2KRpg8n). So the Trieste legacy continues if not by name, then by the somewhat terse service. FOOD / COFFEE - 4 stars...refreshing citrus salad almost overshadows the good coffee AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...lots of tables but crowds up fast SERVICE - 2.5 stars...efficient though kinda brusque TOTAL - 4 stars...Trieste no more but still a draw read more

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This cafe always has some of the best vibes around. The place is in no hurry and you feel relaxed when you walk-in. If you are in a hurry, don't go here! This isn't that type of cafe. If you want quality beverages, pastries, and hot food then this is the place for you. This cafe is on the corner of San Pablo Ave. near many shops, restaurants, and pretty accessible. Parking can get a little intense with it only being street parking. Usually you'll get lucky or have to walk a little bit to get there. The walk there is quite nice with all of the places you can stop by and Berkeley weather. I love their lattes and pastries! They have many options for dietary restrictions as well. They tend to have some baked goods that are vegan and gluten free too. The breakfast is served all day! Alllllll day my friends! So if you've got that itch for some breakfast you don't have to worry when you come here. One of my favorite cafes in Berkeley! read more

Caffe Chiave - Breakfast sandwich on a croissant (normally on English muffin) with ham, egg, and cheese. So yummy! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Caffe Chiave is always busy. limited seatng. sign says line forms to the right. it's easily said than done. need to wait till line thins to get to the right. offerings: expresso, artisan cake slices, pastries, sandwiches, etc. brew: med. coffee (3.25) black -besides being very drinkable, it had a slightly bitter taste. italiano? not a problem as i just overlooked it. drinks: -metered street parking. read more

Do not order the hash unless you'd like microwaved potato wedges instead of fried potatoes. Yuck.

While dinning at the Italian restaurant two doors down, we stopped by here on our way back to the car. They had a live band playing and the place was packed. Our drinks were great, but our cheesecake was freaking outstanding! Wow, I wish this place was within walking distance of my house! This is a cool local coffee shop that the community should support. Beware however, the band of older gentlemen that were playing that night were very pushy with the tips, which was very off-putting. read more

Caffe Chiave - Good coffee, amazing cheesecake! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The employees here are super friendly and the coffee is perfect. Way better then any Dennys or Ihop and no wait time! read more

Caffe Chiave - Cafe Mocha w/ whip. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Fast, great service. Fair prices. Excellent coffee. Good atmosphere. A regular treat!

I'm so happy I discovered this little cafe! The service is so warm and welcoming it honestly made my day. They are extremely kind to all their customers. I also loved the presentation of my sandwich and had one of the best iced lattes I have had in a minute. The inside of the cafe itself is also incredibly cute too. read more

Food is bad and incredibly overpriced. When I asked for an addition to my order "mayo on my sandwich. The cashier yelled the addition to the cook from across the room. The sandwich given to me with no mayo and over toasted. Sandwich was dry and not fresh. The restaurant itself feels unsafe. The three workers stand behind the counter cracking jokes and uncomfortably staring at costumers. read more