They make their own lavender syrup, and it's really nice--not too sweet at all, just a hint of lavender flavor. They have some other interesting drinks that I'd be curious to ask about and to try. They're still not fully open, they have an outdoor area on the street, sort of like an enclosed patio, and the entrance is closed off and turned into a service window. The chocolate eclair was baked fresh that day, they said, and it was okay, but pretty dense, not crispy and flaky. It was actually better later, after a brief stint in the toaster. The prices are reasonable, I'd say average for the area. read more

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

Both experiences here have been excellent. Just today I strolled in and saw so many great options. This made my decision challenging. I ended up settling for the Kashmiri chai which was green tea with saffron & other spices. The other option was the Masala chai which was a black tea with cinnamon. I found that most places offered Masala chai so I decided to change it up and choose the Kashmiri. The green tea was a nice change. It reminded me of Fruity Pebbles with half the sweetness. I enjoyed it but I don't think I can make it a regular thing. For one, downtown is a hard place to find parking and at $4 a cup, it would need its own separate budget. But the occasional treat is what I enjoy to start my day :) read more

modern coffee - Kashmiri chai :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

TL;DR sleek & modern picture perfect cafe w the perfect latte Modern Coffee definitely lives up to it's name. The design, layout, and decor of the cafe is 100%. The design is perfect, they make good use of the space, and there are a bunch tables strategically placed if you need to sit down and get some work done. This is the perfect cafe for your Instagram aesthetic. I got a latte, it was perfect with subtle floral notes. read more

Lemme tell ya, I've been spending a LOT of time in Oakland Cafes lately (thanks, grad school finals). Modern's Uptown location might just be my favorite so far. I was greeted by a very charming barista who also makes killer coffee. My burnt cinnamon latte (available in the winter time) was delicious and beautiful. Just the right amount of cinnamon flavor. Pricing was pretty standard for Oakland, $4.50. Worth noting you have to pay a little extra for soy or almond milk though. The space is amazing. The shop is sleek and modern with plenty of places to sit and get some work done. There are tables and a counter that could probably work as a standing desk if that's your thing. Walk all the way to the back and out the door and you're in a super cool, very spacious room that makes you feel like you're outside. It has outlets, comfortable seats, natural lighting, and a fireplace. I think I'm in love. Located in walking distance of BART, downtown, and the lake - so really no reason to not come check out this gem. read more

modern coffee - Seasonal burnt cinnamon latte for the winter time - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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A great coffee shop for studying! Has outlets and free WiFi!! I got the burnt cinnamon latte. Wish my drink was hotter, since the temperature of it was only slightly warmer than lukewarm. The flavor was subtle, but could be tasted. Tasted with just the right amount of creaminess and richness! I didn't work in the cafe itself because it felt kind of small and loud, so I worked in the building when you go through the back door of the cafe. There were nice comfy and padded seats with more table space and outlets. read more

modern coffee - 11.20.17 burnt cinnamon latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Only been here once but I like the vibe here. Prices slightly higher than the other coffee shops, but they aren't as big of a franchise as other places. Their mochas are very smooth and flavorful. If they could implement a rewards program / frequent coffee drinkers program, that would be great. As compared to the "starry" chain two blocks away, I like Modern Coffee more. That said, the other place is closer to work and I get rewards / discounts as I purchase more. All good though. I will come back here. read more

modern coffee - My soy mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

My husband and I love this place! One of our staples in Oakland. He ordered the Iced Blackstrap Latte and I got the Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte. I feel like so many coffee shops get matcha lattes wrong - too watery, not milky enough, not enough matcha LOL, but Modern gets it just right!! Interior is beautifully designed - I'm glad to have Modern around. read more

Agree with other one star review. Staff had an attitude issue, rude, sarcastic and not respectful. Go to other cafes in the area on the next block with friendly staff. read more

I drank a perfect cortado here yesterday. The ambiance is great- would be lovely to stay here and read a book or get some work done. Highly recommend. read more

Modern coffee is the best! All the drinks they serve are fantastic. You can not go wrong.

Modern Coffee (two locations in downtown/uptown Oakland) has been a favorite of mine ever since I moved to Oakland four years ago and worked downtown. I just wish either of the locations would have longer opening hours! The service in both locations is always friendly and personable, and the small businesses in the area seem to do small things to support each other which is so wonderful to see. I noticed a couple of months ago when I was at this location, a worker from Berma Bear down the street dropped off some food for them, just as a kind gesture :) I enjoy sitting at one of their very clean and tiny tables against the wall and getting some work done while also people watching and having one of their great drinks. Their mochas and lattes are always a pleasure! read more

This place is definitely my to-go place for a vanilla latte. It's just perfect and delicious and this place has completely changed my vanilla latte standards. The coffee shop is quite "modern" and has a couple barstool seats as well as a few tables for customers to chat or do work. They've added some food to their menu as well and now offer some small pastries and bagels. I definitely give them 5 stars for their coffee but the service here is why I am docking a star. They've been inconsistent with charging me for my drinks: $4.25 or $5.50 when the drink is actually $4.75. They also often do not greet the customers and are just talking amongst themselves rather than giving good service. Yes, the service can be friendly when they aren't ignoring you, but often they make no effort to really welcome you or send you off with a nice "thank you!" or "have a great day!" read more

modern coffee - This place has the best vanilla lattes hot or iced! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

A great little coffee shop that serves quality beans. And reasonable prices to boot. $2.50 for a large drip is fine by me in the Bay Area. Coffee is smooth, pastries are fresh, and workers are friendly. Sometimes the line reaches the door, which is a testament to their popularity. I really dont get how people get so excited over Starbucks when there is one of them at nearly every block in every corner of the globe. Try something new people! I digress. This place is great. Come by. If I had to knock anything, I wish they had a bigger selection of morning treats. read more

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

I love the way this place is designed for sipping and chatting. I love the stairs at the entrance. The cold drink fridge right under the pastry display is pretty Boss. There is a smaller, more detailed version of their coffee menu close to the register. The place itself has a lot of detailed wood work and metal that make for a really sophisticated look. Condiment station and H20 station well kept, clean and stocked. The Barista behind the counter gently greeted me and let me know to take my time choosing my beverage. I decided on a clever Ethiopian Single Origin, also offered as a Chemex to share. I would love to come back and chat with a friend over a deliciously brewed Chemex. Anywho back to my current order. I decided I better have a pastry and really do this right. So I opted for the lone apple cinnamon scone. The coffee was said to take about 5 mins to brew. Not a problem. I grabbed a glass of water, a seat by the window and dove into the book I'm reading. After a bit my drink was called and from the moment I took the first sip, it was love. I couldn't put that mug down. The coffee was so juicy, with citrus fruit dancing on my palette. I could tell great care was taken in brewing my cup. My scone however was okay nothing to fuss about but it was good enough along side my delicious cup of Ethiopia. I really enjoyed my experience here. It was truly a great shop to start my morning. I'll be back with a friend. read more

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They now have online order ahead! http://moderncoffeeoakland.com/ Limited supply of baked goods you can get upon arrival. Masala chai is delicious. read more

Plain and simple with my black coffee for the contemporary cafe! A small space to linger on laptops or chat. I prefer bigger place for my work gear and one can easily overhear noise or conversations. A good spot to hop in and out for coffee. read more

Very modern-just like it says in the name- coffee shop attached to a corporate building in downtown Oakland. Parking is street only, but there's some surface lots not too far away including the one across the street that I've never figured out how to use. Only a couple of blocks away from the 19th street bart though so that's nice. This is kind of an unusual space. Upon entry you are funneled up a ramp and some stairs to the order counter. There is a couple of uncomfortable metal stools and a few two spot table chair thingys. The flow of the space funnels you out to an interior office lobby which has some cushion lined benches and a glassed in fireplace, located directly across from the building security station, all well lit by a skylight. This is a nice spot but I have the distinct impression it belongs to the office building (it isn't accessible from the street) and not the coffee shop. So unless you go to the office nook this place isn't any too comfortable to hang out in. They've a full range of coffee products (including delicious chai), and a very welcome quality of pastries. You won't have any too wide of choice for sweets, but what they do have is top notch. The croissants are perfect. The baristas have some mad skills. The specialty coffees on deck here are superb. This is an excellent spot for an espresso, latte, or a cappuccino . I'd say the latte's mocha's and whatnot are a far better choice then the pour overs simply because the quality of the coffee here is so high. If you've never had a latte etc. this would be a good spot to experiment at. I didn't like the pricing up until I went to the Starbucks down the road. so it may seem expensive-four dollars on up for anything really(so eight dollars ish for a coffee and pastry)-it's a couple of bucks cheaper then the standard starbuck model for slightly better product. read more

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

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The staff at modern coffee catered our large event and did a fantastic job. Despite receiving late notice, they provided enough coffee for over 200 people. They were extremely nice and super speedy. Plus, the coffee was hot and delicious. Thanks modern! read more

Came here a little past 3PM and this establishment got busy! The location is very modern and well lit. With the noise level and operating hours, this isn't the ideal place to study (which is what I came to do). There is a seating area/community space in the back but it fills up quickly - thus leaving minimal access to outlets, seating, or workspace. Must make a purchase to gain access to WiFi (we asked lol). So the "free WiFi" tag on its Yelp profile is kind of a lie. Also, they update their access code periodically - the ones mentioned in reviews are no longer working. Drinks taste how you expected them to. The coffee and latte were good. Nothing spectacular. May come back to try other menu options/lattes. read more

This is my all time favorite coffee shop in Oakland! Coffee is excellent! Vibe is trendy and chill. Beverage/food: if you like fancy coffee, you'll like Modern Coffee! Sooo good! Strong flavor! I prefer the vanilla latte. The barista makes pretty designs to the coffee. I appreciate beauty whenever the opportunity presents itself, even in my coffee. I've had iced tea here and it's the typical iced tea so I would wast my money and buy it here when I can make it cheaply at home. Price: it's on the high side but eh, you're in downtown Oakland the coffee is just so darn good it's worth the extra dollar. Service: everyone is super friendly. I stared at the baked goods and asked the cashier to name every mouth watering goodness and she laughed! She said my expression of awe was the same when she named each baked item. Looks so good. Location: there's a trendy sitting area outside the coffee shop in the building it's connected to. Lots of chairs, some tables and a fireplace. It's a good place to meet friends or have an informal meeting. Overall, I highly recommend! Excellent coffee and coffee shop to hang out! read more

modern coffee - All the yummy baked goods one desires! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Cool coffee shop with nice study space! Came here to do some work on my laptop over a mocha and was pretty satisfied with the experience. There are ample stool seats if you want to chat or work, as well as some tables around the side of the cafe. I don't really know who owns the table areas in the open-ish area behind the coffee shop, but they also seem great and comfortable for studying. Drinks are $1-2 pricier than the usual Starbucks, which I didn't mind if I was camping out using wifi for 2 hours. One thing to note as a warning, there are like 3 Modern Coffees in the downtown Oaklandish area within a 1-2 mile radius. My friend tried to meet me and accidentally went to one 10 blocks away from me. Definitely check which one you're in or distinguish if you plan to meet someone! read more

Regular stop for us when we lived in Oakland for a good almond milk latte. They are good at making it frothy without burning it. And it was also not too bitter and not too sweet (some places use sweetened milk- blah). There is some seating if you want to hang out for a bit and a few spots that if you snag you could do some work. It's part of an office building so if you walk out the back door there is a nice fireplace with a bunch more seating in this indoor courtyard-type thing. Pretty cozy actually. Friendly staff and quick service. read more

Absolutely love this place! Got the Kashmiri chai and blueberry scone. Both have made my morning! Seating area available in the back in a very open space but I prefer the front where I can enjoy the views of the amazing mural! See photo! read more

modern coffee - Kashmiri chai + blueberry scone. Both 10/10 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I love Modern Coffee! And if I'm going to be grabbing MC, chances are, it's the one at 19th. It's quieter here. I'm hesitant to announce this, but there's more seating and not as busy...but DON'T COME HERE IT'S MINE! I absolutely love MC espresso. It's just so delicious, so smooth, so rich. It makes affogatos taste luxurious. My go-to is usually a soy latte or a pot of tea if I know I'll be working a while. read more

modern coffee - Affogato! The espresso is so rich and caramel-y. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I like coming here, has a good vibe. Steam milk is done proper right amount of heat peanut butter cookies is the best.. love it Over all a good place can be a bit pricey. Staff is super cool and friendly I am a big chai person.. masala/ginger/cardamom/black cardamom. Dont like: the Kashmiri Chai had it. It was tastey but it doesn't qualify for Kashmiri Chai.. Kashmiri Chai is supposed to be pink, has roses in it. (Posted the pic) What I had was Badam Drink (almond drink) get that at indian stores, only difference here it was served hot. Exact same taste. Will I order Kashmiri Chai.. maybe not since it is Badam Drink. Will I come again? Yes peanut butter cookies are great read more

modern coffee - Kashmiri Chai aka Badam Drink aka Almond Drink - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Coming from a current LA resident this spot has everything I need: strong wifi, tasty tea, phenomenal pastries AND PARKING. Granted they don't have their own lot but there is street parking ($2 an hour) and a lot across the street that is $15 all day. I'm not mad at those prices - also, as I write this I realize I might be slightly traumatized from LA - whatevs. Any-who! Great customer service. Clean + well designed space. None obtrusive music. Downtown Oakland in the heart of it all. Also, l'impératrice came on while I was listening to l'impératrice - this makes me happy. read more

modern coffee - Morning coffee+ working remote. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Had their cafe au lait Love coming here before I start on my workday. The baristas are awesome. Very friendly ! Great small place to do some work/study with such good coffee. 08/17: they finished their renovation and built this huge glass front window. I really like the open and natural light of the shop. read more

Coffee was sour even their cheap oatmeal couldn't cover it up. Besides that, brown haired register person had so much attitude because I didn't have a mask although I gladly took one once offered. Not sure why and the attitude continued when I asked about the beans. Word of advice, you're coffee isn't good to warrant that type of attitude. read more

This is a great place for a great coffee in Downtown Oakland, but only if you actually work in downtown or otherwise there for a reason. The location is on a busy street downtown (though Oakland isn't crazy busy) and parking might be impossible in front, so you'll have to weigh that if you aren't already in downtown for a reason. The other drawback is that there isn't much seating to sit and enjoy coffee and work or chat, but there is a fair amount and there is some additional space in the shared lobby further inside. Now to the good stuff: the coffee is excellent. They have the occasional seasonal sweets and some interesting combinations of chai, espresso and other items on the seasonal menu. Unfortunate I don't work in downtown Oakland anymore and regret not hitting this place up more often when I did. read more

Best coffee house in Oakland. My friend and I get our cappuccinos here at least three afternoons a week. Cool little spot to sit and really enjoy your drink. The owners are so nice, and are an active part of the day-to-day operation. They use the best beans and the baristas know what their doing! Walk past any Starbucks and try your next cup a joe here, you won't be disappointed. read more

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

Fantastic Uptown Oakland Gem Modern is a great place to meet if you are in the area. The baristas are friendly, the shop is cute and I really enjoyed my pot of genmaicha tea. This cafe is adjacent to the spacious and well-appointed lobby of a large office building. Grab your joe and meet by the fireplace and enjoy the ambiance. Check it out. read more

Came here to work in between meetings with clients and was exactly what I needed. They had a good house special tea (forgot the name), great wifi strength, and most of all it wasn't super loud so I could focus on my work. Would come back here again! read more

The space inside this coffee shop is beautiful. There is also seating in the middle that it shares with other businesses, so there should be plenty of seating if you come here. Bathrooms are also very clean. I had a masala chai with soy milk and it was very good. I have a very high standard for chai now, as I do not drink coffee, and they lived up to my expectations! Delicious. My gf got a flat white which she also said was very good. It was a bit dark for her taste, but overall good flavor. One thing to note is that parking is pretty impossible! We ended up being lucky and finding a spot just a few blocks away. read more

I got the lavender latte, but it wasn't strong enough for me, more milky than I would usually get it and didn't really taste too much like lavender. But the atmosphere was really cool, very hipster. Service was fast. read more

Modern Coffee's brew didn't wow me but the service/attitude was manifico! just a few pastries on the shelf and other cold drinks in the 'frig,. unsacale drinkery with just a few tables. nice ambience drink: 12 oz (2) -coffee too herbal tasting for me, otherwise fine. 3.5 stars read more

Best coffee in The Bay Area. Highly recommend that everyone stop in and give them a try. You will not regret it!

Modern Coffee is the best thing to happen to Uptown in a while! Their coffee is bluebottle quality, the pastries are amazing and varied, and they use Clove milk / cream. I go here for ice coffee all the time, but their lattes are also quite awesome. The atmosphere is nice too. A good place to work out of for a bit or meet up for a quick chat with a coworker. read more

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I go to the 13th street Modern often and think they are great...I should write a review about them. I am not a fan of this particular location though. I've been here a handful of times and every time I tell myself that I will not come back. The people behind the counter are not welcoming or friendly. Once I had to wait to order because the two people who worked there were gossiping about a friend. I could bypass all this as typical hipster barista attitude if they had some skills. I've yet to enjoy a cappuccino or a gibraltar here. They BURN the espresso. Today, I couldn't even finish my drink because it was disgusting. Normally, I would have asked for a redo (mistakes happen), but given how unfriendly they were, I left. I think the owners, who by the way are super friendly and nice, could benefit from spending more time in this location. read more

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

I have been here quite a few times and always enjoy my iced vanilla latte. It's a bit pricey for the size, but the atmosphere is perfect for a meet-up. Looking around, that's what most people are there for so it is a bit loud. I have used it as a workspace - unfortunately, the wifi doesn't always seem to function correctly so that could make it a bit difficult if you need the internet. read more

Damn good coffee. And hot too! Working in the area, you are encountered with tons of coffee shop options, and Modern's coffee is among the most consistently well brewed. If you're in the mood for something sweet,try the burnt cinnamon latte. read more