MATCHA: my new passion is all things matcha. Went to Equator to get my matcha fix this morning ! It's in a cute container opposite Whole Foods Market and near urban remedy. Order the 16oz with almond milk and pay . Luckily it's a slow day and my latte is ready in less than 5 mins. Great signage and outdoor area for a non Rainy day. They also have lots of pastries .. croissants and ready to buy items like more lattes. They even have a Habibi latte which I can't wait to try. Will Be Back! read more

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FOOD SAFETY CONCERN!! I had been going to the OAKLAND BAY STREET location about 3x times every week for the past 4 years (tipping every single time), BUT I will never go back. I reported this concern to senior mgmt @ Equator Coffees but she ghosted me and as far as I know did not take ANY action as she had promised. Here's what happened: I saw an employee SPIT into my bagel. No joke! Then, when he gave me the bagel he said with a smirk, the "cream cheese is runny today." Instead of dealing with the employee. I contacted senior mgmt to resolve this matter with the intention of not going public and as I mentioned, NOTHING WAS DONE. Be warned, FOOD SAFETY and CUSTOMER SERVICE is of no concern to this company. read more

I've been meaning to stop here whenever I go to Whole Foods so we stopped here during our walk around the lake for a little pick me up. I'm glad we decided to stop here. I ordered the lavender vanilla latte and it was super good. They recommended the specialty coffee for the day and so I thought, sure why not! I forget what it's called but it had a hint of spice. Would make an ideal fall favorite for sure. That's the vibe I got from it. Parking is slim... very. Seating is all outdoor and limited. This space is primarily like a walk up and go type of coffee spot. read more

Equator Coffees - This is where you order - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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Right across from Whole Foods , crafted bevs, worth the waiting about 10 mins when it's not too busy. Communal seating in between this place and Avotasty. Street parking. Coffee is really good ... try the cherry blossom matcha. Pastries are just aight. read more

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Amazing vegan donuts!!! I got the classic donut topped with the Oreo crumble. Yum! Great spot if you're not in a rush to be anywhere. read more

Equator Coffees - Vegan Oreo Classic Donut - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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Went to equator coffeee and ordered a vanilla cold brew and a plain latte. The cold brew was good, tasted more like ice coffee but had yummy hints of blueberry. The latte on the other hand was horrible, the milk tasted burnt. Tasted like I was drinking a campfire, I saw the guy steaming it for approximately 40+ seconds and knew it was too long. It was undrinkable, so disappointed and a waste of money. read more

I usually walk to Whole Foods for lunch and have been passing up Equator Coffee for months. Today I decided to stop by and give it a shot. Upon arrival I decided I didn't want coffee and wanted to venture out and try the Rooibos Chai Tea with a surcharge for Oat Milk. So not something I would order. I sat down a enjoyed the high chair and table with cactus down the center. As I waited I noticed a very high concentration of flys hovering in the air which took my experience down to 4 stars because when the tea arrived it was truly amazing. I will definitely be back to get another cup of their delicious tea. read more

Equator Coffees - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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Ok, this might be the best coffee I've ever had. I tried their blackberry cream cold brew, which consists of sparkling water, espresso, blackberry syrup and house made whip cream. It sounds bizarre but it's so good. Still has a coffee flavor but is light and sweet and refreshing. It's addicting cause I already want another one! read more

Equator Coffees - Blackberry cold brew - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Love this place. It's so cute and charming. The staff are always friendly. Their coffee is perfect!

The storefront is tiny but the menu is extensive! The flavor options for coffee drinks are so good!! Richer flavor options than a lot of cafes. Personally love the habibi with orange blossom, cardamom, and vanilla. Pastries are about average for a place like this! Good but nothing to die for (if one would ever die for a pastry). read more

A really wonderful group of folks work here, and they help make mornings in Oakland better. Great, consistent service with their espresso, an amazing breakfast sandwich and good baked items from local shops are on the menu. This one can get backed up with a lot of online orders, so just be conscious of this if you're visiting during busy commuting hours. read more

Ordered a Habibi Latte and Breakfast Sandwich (without prosciutto) and they were both SO delicious. Next time I'll probably order a larger coffee size. Pricey but forgivable considering the quality and its location. There's limited seating but people come and go quickly. If you're here during a busy time such as on weekend mornings, expect a wait with a line. The trash cans were overflowing and some of the items on the coffee cart area such as the napkins were a bit low on stock, but I appreciate the employees for doing their best during the morning rush hours. Overall I had a good experience here and would definitely come back. read more

Box style with seating that has a cover. Really good sunlight and wifi can be connected to Whole Foods right across. Lots of seasonal drinks and espresso tastes great! The outdoor area is perfect for chatting or even working with the perfect amount of sunlight. Staff were all really friendly. I ordered an iced macchiato but they only had iced lattes so they made sure to make it less milky for me upon my request (to mimic more of a macchiato). Parking all on the streets. read more

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Cute, conveniently located right next to Lake Merritt, this is the perfect place to grab a coffee before taking your dog out for a walk around the lake. Not a ton of parking in the area- just street parking. I was able to park right out front of it when I arrived at opening. read more

Got their limited time Habibi latte and the breakfast sandwich. Both were really good! read more

Equator Coffees - Habibi Latte - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

I am a coffee snob and I love their coffee. They have a variety of yummy specialty drinks too. I also love their staff. The location is cute. Love saying hi to all the doggos in the mornings. read more

Take my money! Honestly, I sometimes wish I never discovered their Shakearto. In one week, I visited Equator at least three times which hit my wallet and jitters with full force. The 8 oz. classic Shakearto really shakes you awake or more accurately punches you in the face. It consists of a double shot espresso of your choice (single-origin is $0.50 extra), heavy cream, and brown sugar. All shaken to perfection. Another fan favorite of mine is the glorious $8 breakfast sando. A veggie frittata, smeared with light spicy mayo, and topped with avocado in between pumpkin flax seed sourdough. Ughhh so good. You can add prosciutto for an extra $2. It can get really busy here. Parking is limited and hard to come by. For pick-up, I'd order ahead on DoorDash. I'm hoping to keep this place as a weekend treat or when I need a pick-me-up during a stressful day at work. read more

Equator Coffees - Breakfast sando with prosciutto and classic Shakearto - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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Very nice coffee drinks and beans in a cute hipster spot. Be prepared for a bit of a line.

Great food and amazing coffee. I had sandwiches there. They are also dog friendly which is great on a weekend when you want your pup to join the fun. read more

Start your Friday right with a latte to end the workweek on a productive note! A friend and I stopped by for a quick drink before getting to work. Equator Coffees is a short walk away from Lake Merritt and is entirely outdoors, which I thought was pretty cool! I ordered a 16oz Scratch Caramel Ice Latte ($5.25). It was just the right amount of sweetness but could have used a little more caramel personally. Otherwise, it was a solid drink and definitely got me through the day! The ambiance here is super casual. It's definitely a nice place to come to to get work done while enjoying some natural sunlight and air. I'd recommend checking this place out if you haven't yet! read more

Equator Coffees - 16oz Scratch Caramel Ice Latte ($5.25). - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Great coffee, poor system for processing orders. Walk-ins take longer than an online orders, even if the cafe is empty. They need to figure out a better solution to maintain returning customers. Also, their app is crap! It literally never works for me, and customer support never responded, shitty IT I suppose. read more

Good place for coffee and a quick bite. We both got caramel lattes and their chocolate and black forest ham croissants. The lattes were sweet but didn't taste like artificial caramel which is always a concern of mine when I order that flavor. I appreciated that. Their croissants were fluffy but had that crunch when you bite into them. They have a few tables for you to sit down and enjoy your coffee. Their staff is friendly and service is quick. read more

Stopped by here one morning and ordered a iced vanilla latte. Cute little coffee shop, friendly staff and yummy latte! There's also a nice seating area with lots of succulents. read more

This is a cute small coffee shop with house-made syrups! I'm always on the search for some house-made syrups cause they make the coffee taste amazing! I tried their vanilla latte - it was yum! The foam was soft and the right amount of tiny bubbles. The service was super fast and the staff was super friendly! There isn't much of a seating area but the coffee is well worth the wait! It happens to be super close to the lake, so it's a great place to grab coffee and go for a quick walk! read more

Equator Coffees - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

The only times I've visited this coffee stop was as a reward for going to the dentist (who is nearby on Pill Hill.) Ambience - While the seating is outdoor, there are large heaters up top to provide some comfort. The location itself shields guests from the wind. - The tables are comfortable benches with ample room between chairs. I would say this is a great spot to read or catch up with a friend. Coffee - Their espresso is likely made with the Tigerwalk Espresso blend which is on the medium side. I was first introduced via the mocha latte and have since enjoyed making my own lattes using these beans at home. - I enjoy the 10 oz. size for their small - it's neither too big nor too small. It's just enough to leave you wanting for a bit more... In a good way Seasonal Flavors - Pumpkin Spice (Nov. 2022) - I did not love this flavour which may be a moot point now that that season's flavour is over. But either way, I found it to taste like the mellow spices in the mix. While the drink was mellow in sweetness by design, I couldn't bring myself to finish. - Maple Walnut (Jan 2023) - THIS IS AMAZING. I am so glad the barista talked me into giving it a try. Like he said, it has a mellow sweetness and had a tiny bit of welcome bitterness. The combination of flavors had a hint of maple without the syrup after taste. If you want a smooth and delicious switch-up of your usual latte, espresso, mocha... routine, then I recommend this latte flavour. Service - The baristas here are so chatty and friendly. It really makes me feel welcome every time I visit. Although, maybe it's just the stark contrast to the discomfort of a dental visit... just kidding (my dentist is great, too!) read more

Delicious drinks and food; the breakfast sandwich here is one of a kind! Friendly staff, too. I would have given them 5 stars but they don't allow you to order on the Equator app which can be pretty inconvenient for working folks on the go like me. read more

Equator Coffees - I haven't been able to order online for many months now. Bummer, bruh. - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

What a gem! Equator has been a favorite of mine for a long time. This is my new Sunday morning stop. I'm so happy they opened up this location. It is quaint and aesthetics are on point. The menu is quite elaborate and fitting for all lifestyle choices. I have tried the 'oat milk' latte as I am always curious to try the non-dairy options and it is very tasty! Who would've thought? They also have a couple gluten-free pastries as well. dairy-free friends: they offer cashew and oat milk as an alternative. The oat milk is gluten-free and they use the 'Oatly' brand. read more

Can we say yummmm! My almond latte was perfect! And being pooch friendly (free doggie treat and a water bowl), my pup enjoyed it too. Service was friendly and pleasant. Space was pretty clean, except for the crumbs under the table. My pup did his community service and help clean those up though. read more

Equator Coffees - Serious pup learning cafe manners. - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

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I just moved into the Harrison/Oakland Ave neighborhood, and this is the closest coffee shop to my house. I've been going here since I moved to Oakland in August 2021, and love how accessible it is to me now that I'm much closer! This place is super consistent, always make my order well, and I love that they rotate their single-origin espresso often so i can try something different sometimes! The baristas are kind and friendly, and the app is so easy and convenient. My go-to drink is an iced vanilla latte with oatmilk, however, I do sometimes treat myself and get it made breve instead, or I've had the classic shakerato, the habibi latte, etc. All delicious! The creaminess/velvet texture of steamed milk in a hot latte here is so impressive-- truly there have been some days that have wowed me! I don't usually prefer hot lattes but if I get one, it's usually here over any other coffee shop in Oakland. read more

Super expensive & I wasn't impressed by their coffee. I tried several different "highly rated/ recommended beans", (light, medium & dark) & finally decided that these folks need to relearn how to roast coffee beans. Not impressed to the slightest. To add, my wife tried their matcha latte and said it was like they squeezed the liquid from a green marker to add flavor. This place is all hype, no taste. read more

The blueberry cake donut I got was AMAZING. I don't even really like donuts, usually. It had the right amount of sweetness and such a unique berry flavor, I was so impressed. The cappuccino was good too and I liked sitting in front of the little succulents on the counter. read more

I just moved to the neighborhood so I'm trying out all the coffee spots in the area, and Equator is my first stop. I got the 16oz autumn spice latte which was great because it was nice and seasonal but not too sweet like a lot of chain coffee places make their lattes. I'm also an avid at home coffee maker and the employee was able to recommend a roast for me based on what flavors I usually like. Really enjoyed it, but boy oh boy those prices are no joke! read more

Equator Coffees - Autumn spice latte and coffee beans - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

The iced matcha latte is on the sweeter side and you can see flecks of vanilla bean in your drink, which I like. At around 11:30 on a Saturday they had plenty of bakery items left (chocolate chip cookie which I think was from the nearby firebrand bakery was yum) For the matcha latte there was only one size option but it was pretty big compared to other coffee shops so I think it was worth the money Next time I'd like to try the breakfast sandwich read more

Love this coffee shop! We ordered the Habibi Latte (hot) and it was so yummy!!! Parking is a little difficult but other than that the location is small and cute and has a nice seating area. Totally recommend ! read more

This is my new favorite place to get an iced latte. I know it sounds like a simple, basic drink but you'd be surprised how mediocre other lattes could be until you've had a good one. I love how roasted the coffee was and how strong it tasted even with whole milk. My friend got a cold brew and it was very smooth and slightly acidic, like most cold brews are. I personally like espresso drinks more so I thought the cold brew was a decent drink, but I will be craving the iced latte. The coffee shop is located right across from Whole Foods and there is street parking all along the side. The drinks did come out a little slow but it was very worth the wait. I waited around 10 min for my drink with 2-3 people in front of me. There are some cute sitting/standing desks but people stay there to sip their coffee which makes it hard to social distance and wait for the drinks since there isn't a lot of room. The cups they give have lids with a huge opening so you don't have to use a straw. Super happy to have found this place and I look forward to coming back! read more

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Wanted a cappuccino but was told I'd have to wait 15-25 min I got a cold brew instead with oat milk and honey. Sold cold brew and wasn't charged extra for oat milk or honey read more

Check that they serve a full cup of coffee!!! I ordered two mochas for me and my bf. I got home and took them out of the tray but they felt light. I opened them and they were only filled up about 2/3. I want my full cup of coffee! The mocha is good so I'm very disappointed. Hopefully this was a fluke but still unacceptable. read more

Equator Coffees - Mochas that are only 2/3 full - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

I've come here on two dates. The coffee has been great. The dates have been... well, I'm giving up on dating for a little while. I can take a hint from the universe and these dates were... hints (which is a more spiritual way to say 'red flags', for those of you not in the dating hellscape). It's not the best spot for a date but it is one of the better spots around the lake to get coffee. It's all outside and the Equator itself is just an old storage compartment but it's cute and sometimes they have quiche or chia pudding. I've tried neither but for some reason still felt it was mention-worthy. The people who work here are friendly and know their stuff. Which is great considering you're getting a cup of coffee that will cost between $5 and $15 dollars (you read that right, it's some special shit apparently). I've gotten their iced matcha drinks in summer. The drink is great but due to them having normal cup sizes (12oz & 16oz) you don't get a ton of actual beverage with your ice. Most of the time I get cafe au lait with non-dairy milk and it's always just right and usually the employee who hands the cup to me through the storage container slot gives me a compliment and I don't know if thats their standard customer policy but I always appreciate it, even if it may be disingenuous. read more

Equator Coffees - 16oz cafe au lait - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

Stopped by for a quick coffee and was not disappointed. Located across from the Oakland Whole Foods, Equator coffee is a nice place to go when the weather is just right. They have a nice selection of beverages to choose from and yes, they also carry tea. The seating is outdoor so that's something to be prepared for. I believe I saw a heat lamp above the seats but it wasn't on for me to be confident. I opted for their Medium blend coffee and will say it was SMOOTH. There's Xfinity WiFi available if you're looking for free WiFi. They may also have their own network but that worked just fine for me. Only taking off a star because there's no outlets if you are trying to work here. But otherwise great place with fantastic staff. read more

Equator Coffees - Seating area and office for a couple of hours. - Cafes Near Me - Oakland, California

A nice little spot with a spacious, comfortable, shaded outdoor seating area. It's a good place to spend time on a nice day. Drinks are good too read more