I ordered the Burnt Cinnamon Latte, and it was amazing. I'll definitely be back! The customer service was excellent, I wasn't sure what to order, and the staff was kind and patient even though it was a busy rush. They also offer dairy alternatives, which is a huge plus for vegans. Unfortunately, they didn't have any vegan pastries during my visit, but the great coffee and welcoming service still made it a worthwhile stop. read more

modern coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Hey Y'all!!! I stopped in to this little coffee shop today =) It was super cute, tiny and a little cute vibe I went to get an Ice matcha latte, they didn't have any strawberry cold foam and they told me they usually have a strawberry ice matcha latte, but they didn't have it today. It was a bit disappointing to go to a coffee shop, who serves this item but did not have everything to make this item in stores. But it was ok I guess. Staff was friendly and nice, I did not get names. It seems a lot of local, "regulars" come here. I am an African American woman and did not see anyone diverse come in at all. I did not get the vibe it was a so much diverse place. But hey. My drink was okay, I got straight matcha with some vanillas syrups and another syrup they suggested thats similar to brown syrup, it was ok just wish it was a bit more sweeter but it was good. The place was super clean and aesthetically pleasing. Check them out, I think I would go back. read more

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The coffee ambiance is amazing. That said, my experience with one staff member was not as welcoming as expected. I didn't catch her name, but the interaction could have been more customer-focused. To be honest, the interaction felt quite rude, and there didn't seem to be much consideration for how the comments came across. For me, coffee shops are about more than just the product--they reflect personality, care, and the people behind them. That energy is usually part of what makes a place enjoyable. In this case, one team member noticeably affected the overall atmosphere. I don't live in Oakland but visit frequently, and I know there are many other spots that offer both great coffee and a welcoming experience. read more

modern coffee - Esspresso shots - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Great place to get a latte with great seating and extended seating location in the main building. read more

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I decided to try the vanilla matcha latte, iced, 16oz, whole milk. It was $7 at the time, so a little on the pricier side. I could definitely taste the vanilla but still taste the matcha as well. Interestingly the vanilla plus matcha made it taste almost soy-like to me. Overall I thought it was an interesting drink and pretty good quality. At the time, they were also selling ube, burnt cinnamon latte, lavender latte, and lavender matcha on the seasonal menu. read more

modern coffee - Vanilla matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I got an espresso. It had a good layer of crema and decent body. I tasted dark chocolate bitterness and it wasn't burnt or sour. Solid execution - stronger flavors would have made it even better 3.5/5. read more

modern coffee - Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This is a nice coffee shop in downtown Oakland with a huge quiet seating area in the back. It's ideal for studying and meetings since it's quiet and there are modern bathrooms outside. I ordered the chai tea which had a flowery taste. The staff member was careful to explain the types of chai they had and also to ask what type of milk I wanted. I thought the service was friendly, fast and great, and the place is a really good one for a coffee shop. Very spacious and I would recommend it. read more

modern coffee - Fragrant chai tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I don't know what happened if it's the staff or maybe a change of quality of matcha. I used to love the matcha latte. My go to order is always a vanilla matcha latte with oat milk. But recently it has been tasting horrible. I bought a OVMA (oatmilk vanilla matcha) yesterday and it seemed like the staff member was new but the drink was overly bitter and not balanced, there was no sweetness and no vanilla. Today I purchased the same drink and it was so watery and again I can't taste the vanilla. It's disappointing because this used to be my fav go to place for matcha when I come to work in Oakland. The first time I had it was amazing I don't know why the drink is so terrible now. I have attached photos of proof that I have had it multiple times! read more

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Modern coffee is a cute little spot with an indoor and outdoor area! It has a "modern" ambiance and an industrial feel. The workers are always extremely kind and make delicious coffee! read more

modern coffee - Vanilla Late (hot 12oz) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Very cute inside and very friendly staff and patient explaining all their coffees. I got the vanilla latte and wow it was the best I ever had. It also came with a design on top. Their molasses cookies are to die for and definitely coming back to visit when I'm in that area again. Cannot wait to visit again. read more

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Very friendly service, great vibe, and tasty coffee! I had the Blackstrap Latte (apparently it's a type of molasses), and it was quite good. My husband had the macchiato and enjoyed it as well. Solid choice for a coffee shop! read more

modern coffee - Blackstrap [molasses] latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I've been to both modern coffee locations, and it's consistently great every time. The matcha is amazing--nutty, smooth, and earthy. I love the burnt cinnamon house syrup--super subtle, not too sweet, and reminds me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk. I've tried a handful of their lattes, and all of them have been worth it. The espresso is bold yet balanced--rich without being overpowering. Service is always so sweet and conversational. Happy to be a regular : ) read more

modern coffee - Oat burnt cinnamon matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Such kind, patient baristas who can really make yummy matcha and iced coffee!! Also the best value around for a large matcha!

Love their chai's and all of the tea options here! Always good seating, clean, and friendly service. One of my fav cafes in downtown. read more

modern coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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The short woman with glasses had terrible customer service. I went to throw away my straw wrapper and saw what looked like a covered trash can. No one said anything while I stood there looking around, so I lifted the lid and tossed my trash. Then she came over with an attitude telling me there's a "reason" the plate was there and I "should have known" better. How was I supposed to know? It looked exactly like a trash bin and there was no sign. If it's not for trash, put up a sign or say something before someone uses it. Don't talk down to customers after the fact. Super condescending and unprofessional. read more

modern coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I've visited Modern Coffee only a couple of times, but have been blown away by their ability to craft excellent tasting coffee and tea beverages. I ordered the masala chai and their burnt cinnamon latte, and both were full flavored and so delicious. The baristas know just how to make the perfect cup of coffee or tea! I love the ambiance here; just enough lighting and seating, and the interior is extremely clean. I will most definitely be back for more! read more

modern coffee - Beautiful latte art on their burnt cinnamon latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I got a vanilla matcha, pretty tasty. Cafe opens up into an atrium which was a bright and quiet place to work, super perfect for what I needed. The wifi worked well (I didn't realize, but was still here after they closed and the wifi was working) and bathrooms were clean. read more

People of color beware! This is not a welcoming place for us. Asked the barista to sit in the property, and then was harnessed by the security guard Natalie Chandler the entire time. read more

Modern coffee has been on my list for at least a year now... and I'm so glad I tried it out! I ordered a (califa barista blend) oat milk cortado for myself and an iced coffee for my partner. The iced coffee was fruity and the roast on the cortado was slightly bitter with notes of dark chocolate and cherries. I also picked up a ham and cheese croissant that I was pleasantly surprised by! It had a very unique (at least a first for me!) whole seed mustard, yummy (probably Gruyère) cheese, a thick slice of ham -- mind you, I usually prefer thin slices, but this one was reminiscent of a Christmas ham slice! -- and something I don't take for granted: delicious, soft layers. They have some interesting seasonal syrups (this time I think it was something like burnt cinnamon) and next time I'll try the Kashmiri chai (apparently made of gunpowder tea??). It's in downtown Oakland so if you're short on time, give yourself plenty of buffer time for parking and the potentially long wait as it was fairly busy just before 9AM on a Thursday. read more

Very nice coffee shop. Great alternative to the Starbucks with no indoor seating. However, vagrant camped out inside the coffee shop without purchasing anything, talking up a whole table. read more

great place to study/work with ample outlets and wifi. beautiful atrium behind the shop provides more seating space and welcoming ambiance. they serve delicious coffee to fuel your productivity, the burnt cinnamon latte being my drink of choice. they also serve baked goods but i was too late to grab one. overall, wonderful business and owner who was gracious and accommodating. you won't regret stopping by ! read more

Really enjoyed the coffee, place is nice. The female staffer that seemed like owner or manager was really aggressive when mopping the floor - I was actively trying to move out of her way and she barked "move that way or that way, not back - you're in my path." Felt like I'm a customer that spent $7.50 including tip on a coffee, sat for 1.5 hours doing work, was quiet and polite to staff (the rest of who were nice and helpful) but somehow I'm a problem? I hope she has a better day! read more

I ordered an iced latte! Good. Definitely stronger, which is what I wanted! Also tried the banana loaf! It was delishhhhhh! Overall service was great. Very friendly. The shop looked very esthetically pleasing. Ambience seemed relaxing, very pleasant. read more

modern coffee - Banana bread and iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Cool little spot. I guess I beat everyone in as there was only one person in there. The ladies working were super attentive, friendly, welcoming. Being half awake it's nice to be greeted in a happy way. I ordered an ice latte which was made right on. It was a lovely way to get the very long day kicked off. read more

I have been on a long term work assignment in the area and have tried a few independent coffee shops around that area. I am a total coffee snub and Starbucks is junk coffee and I prefer to support small business. I stopped here after having been very dissatisfied with other places in that area. Fantastic, I am now a regular until my work assignment ends. Their coffee is perfection, I am particularly in love with the Burnt Cinnamon latte. OMG! Who came up with this delicacy? I can't get enough. I also have had some of their teas and again, a total home run. Love this place and the staff is very friendly they get your drink out quickly. read more

Delicious coffee! End of review. Kidding! The coffee is truly delicious here and I've had the pleasure of trying several different options. The Vanilla Latte, the Lavendar Latte, the Burnt Cinnamon Latte but my favorite is actually the Blackstrap Iced Coffee. All of the house-made syrups are so much better than the regular stuff, plus they always serve it with a smile. Add to that the fact that they are a truly genuine business that cares about the rights of all individuals, and you really feel the love oozing out of Modern Coffee! read more

The burnt cinnamon coffee I had was so delicious. Ordering was so easy. I had so much help as a first timer to learn all the items and it was a ery quick turnaround. By the time I ordered, there was a line almost out the door. I felt like I had just stumbled on this great gem, but the line told me the secret was out! I am looking forward to trying more of their menu staples as well as the season drinks. read more

modern coffee - Seasonal Burnt Cinnamon Latte w/Oatmilk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I've started goin here somewhat frequently, about once a month somtimes a little bit more and I am always sooo happy with my drink :*) I'm a barista myself and have gotten pretty tired of basic espresso drinks, but this place has some really yummy flavored lattes and chais that aren't overly sweet or gimmicky. Modern Coffee and Hidden Cafe are probably my favorite cafes for drink flavor and quality! The staff are always the same 2 people working -at least when I go- who are both pretty straightforward and friendly :*) read more

Walking distance from my office and 19th street BART- this quaint coffee shop can be found within a big office building, if you don't want to walk around and enter from 18th (?). Currently they close at 1 PM but since I come in pretty early and often have early morning meetings, it doesn't affect me much. The staff are pretty nice. Sometimes there is a long line and since theres only 2-3 workers, it can occasionally take a bit but they work pretty fast. I usually just get a vanilla latte. What I like about them is that the coffees never too strong or acidic. And with some vanilla lattes, it can be too sweet but Modern Coffee's just right. I only wish they do those stamp cards since I come here pretty often. Pretty sure I'd be on my 3rd stamp card by now, at least. read more

I absolutely love this location! The view outside is enjoyable on a nice sunny day. The coffee tastes amazing and was made perfectly! The customer service was the best! The baristas were so warm and accommodating. I would move to Oakland just for this coffee shop! read more

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PARKING Limited street parking and some parking garages nearby. They are very close to the 19th Street Bart Station and the AC Transit bus stop DRINKS I came for the matcha and love it! I've also had their chai which is quite nice. I see some regulars come for their daily coffee orders so I feel like you can't go wrong here I particularly like the iced matcha latte with oat milk. There are also seasonal flavors which absolutely brightens my day! SERVICE Friendly, helpful, and very efficient. I've liked everyone I've ever encountered here. They're so nice. AMBIANCE I love the decor and vibe here. You can definitely sit and sip or work there. There's a back area you can go too. You will have to show your vaccination card and there's an hour time limit for sitting inside as of May 2022. There's also an area out front with high top chairs you can sit at. Be sure to go before 1pm because they close then. I definitely recommend going! read more

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Delicious coffee. No idea why people in Oakland are buying the big brands when we have places like this.

I spent a few hours sitting and sipping in their beautiful new parklet on a sunny weekday morning and had a wonderful experience. I had to be in the area for a work commitment and ended up doing some work there and am happy to report that their wifi worked really well even outside! I felt safe there too, especially since there was a constant flow of people stopping by their takeout window to place orders. Note that as of mid-April they aren't doing indoor seating, but their outdoor seating set up if really fantastic. Perfect to chill solo or with a friend! Service was really friendly and efficient. They were so great that they even let me use their shared building restroom that's currently closed to the public. It was a dire situation for me so I was incredibly grateful. I ordered their Masala Chai Latte with almond milk and it was delicious. Definitely recommend supporting this great women-owned business! read more

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The adorable signage made me go in. That, plus the intrigue of a "Burnt Cinnamon Latte." The person behind the counter was very sweet and answered my questions about "blackstrap" (it's molasses) and the difference between the 2 available chais (one's made with green tea), and then made my Burnt Cinnamon Latte absolutely perfect. It's pretty sweet, but not in a sickly sort of way, and the cinnamon flavor is so nice and comforting. I'm excited to come back and try more seasonal stuff ASAP. read more

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Cute spot near my work on 19th St. where many stop in to acquire their Phoenix downs, potions, and pick-me-ups (ode to RPGs), aka caffeine laced beverages. I'm relatively sensitive to caffeine, (if I have half a cup I'm awake for a while) but I usually get my usual chai latte if I feel like I need an extra boost to get me through a really rough day. I've tried both the matcha (green tea) and masala (black tea) chai and although they are both good, I lean slightly toward the masala because I love the cardamom, ginger, cinnamon spicy flavors. There are also pastries sold and I have enjoyed a scone or two. Staff is very nice and down to earth. Will most likely be back since I pass by it every day! read more

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The short haired lady said the house made syrups are all very sweet which is an understatement. The lavender coffee was hardly sweet, more of a slight sweet floral after taste. The lavender matcha was hardly sweetened as well. I do not recommend this spot for how nice it was. The lady was a bit rude too when i just asked what was the staple coffee there. There is much better coffee in oakland or you can just go to "Timeless Coffee" in Berkeley for a MUCH better experience. The modern theme is the only signature thing here. read more

modern coffee - BLAND lavender matcha and BLAND lavender coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I was looking for a spot to do some work, and modern coffee was perfect! There is free WiFi, lots of outlets and seating, and it wasn't too crowded when I was there on a Friday afternoon. I was able to sit when I wanted to and stand when I wanted. I ordered an iced matcha latte with oat milk, and it was delicious! I think they also sell firebrand cookies. Yum. Going out the back door leads to a nice open (indoor) area with great lighting and more seating with outlets. The staff here are nice and talented--someone was harmonizing with the music that was playing. I'll definitely be coming here again to get work done. read more

modern coffee - Ice matcha latte with oat milk. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Stopped in here the other morning and got an almond latte and banana bread. The latte was good, the banana bread was better - ha! The banana bread was pretty solid and hit the spot and held me over for til lunch! Would definitely stop in here if I was on that side of the lake. read more

I decided to give Modern Coffee another try, and although I really want to like this place, their drinks don't really meet the mark for me. I needed a caffeine kick to get through the day and decided to get an Iced Mocha ($5) with less ice. I saw they had 2 sizes but I wasn't even asked which size I wanted. I'm not sure if the iced drinks only come in one size. Nonetheless, my drink was prepared pretty quickly and I was on my way. I could barely taste the mocha. It tasted like a regular latte. It tasted pretty mediocre. For $5, I guess I just expected a bit more mocha flavor or better taste, in general. It was just okay. It gave me the caffeine boost I needed but as far as flavor, it didn't really hit the spot. Modern Coffee has let me down not only in taste but also in their prices. Although I'm open to exploring their other drinks, this would not be my go-to coffee spot. read more

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Dam good iced latte and the guy who took my order was VERY sweet, I was shocked, apologies if I didn't reciprocate, next time I will.