I was craving Vietnamese coffee, and my friend suggested we try Binge, I'm so glad we did because I…read moreloved it! I ordered the egg coffee, and my friend and I also got the popcorn chicken to share. The coffee was so yummy! It had a nice, strong coffee flavor. It was my first time trying egg cream and I enjoyed it. The popcorn chicken was also tasty and it came in a generous portion. I especially liked the sauce that came with it. We placed an online order, so everything was ready as soon as we got there, which was convenient. The store was clean and spacious, and I thought the prices weren't bad! I'm definitely a huge fan of Binge and would love to come back. Makes me wish we had coffee spots like Binge back home!

I was on a matcha crave run, and was at Berkeley with my friends. I remember this location having a…read morefresh taste that wasn't heavy on the amount of sugar. I ordered a banana matcha because I had a flashback to the banana matcha I had while in Japan. I am glad I got one since it tasted familiar, but I did think it was a bit watery in texture and the matcha wasn't as strong. I would still get it again. Service is pretty quick. Ordering was through the kiosk, and it didn't take too long to come out. Also, parking is not easy. It is walkable from campus though.

I want to inject every single item on this menu into my veins and live on that forever and ever. If…read moreyou are visiting downtown Berkeley, you need to stop in. I've visited elaichi twice since in the area already and I plan on going back again. My first visit was on a Monday morning with a friend. I ordered the Banana Chai Einspanner (chai with banana sea salt cold foam) with oat milk and the Aloo Tiki Paratha Roll (potato fritter with cilantro chutney, red onion and garlic yogurt). My friend ordered a hot latte and the Paratha Quiche (tomato, red onion, Serrano and cilantro). We also shared a piece of Pistachio Cake. The Banana Chai Einspanner is simply the best drink I have ever had in my entire life. I am truly not kidding. It is so decadent, smooth, spicy, fresh. This is the best drink to grace this plant. My friend was really happy with her latte as well. I wouldn't say it strikes the "classic chai" chord, as this is incredibly sweet, so if you're looking for that, I would select a more basic option on the menu. It's also worth noting, the Banana Chai is a seasonal option for the summer. As for the food, everything was delicious. The Pistachio Cake was moist and had such great flavor. The crusts on both of our savory dishes were so flaky! I visited again on a Tuesday morning (yes the next day) and ordered the Banana Chai Einspanner once again and the quiche. Both were as delicious as the first time around. And the product isn't it all. The staff at elaichi are incredibly friendly. Even when the shop was busy on the Monday morning, we were taken care of with respect and care. I can tell the staff also have good relationships with those in the community. The atmosphere of elaichi is also lovely. There is plenty of seating inside and outside and a raised countertop for folks who want to work but stand up. This is a must visit!!!

Food - 3 Service - 3…read moreValue - 2 I ordered Matcha Latte with Soy Milk from here a few months ago based on the reviews on Yelp...and I'm not quite sure what the hype is all about. The place is popular as evidenced by the line to order, but I felt it was expensive for what I got and it was only marginally better than a Starbucks matcha latte in my opinion. I would not come back again.

I still owe you KoJa first, then Forest Tea Bar:…read more --- KoJa Kitchen on Telegraph, started as an SF food truck in 2011 and now one of those spots that just quietly holds its spot in the East Bay rotation. The whole concept is the crispy garlic fried rice bun, and it works because they actually execute it. Short Rib KoJa with katsu aioli and sesame vinaigrette is the original and still the right call. Kamikaze fries are loaded and the umami fries with coconut braised pork are even better. Fast, filling, not expensive. Steph Curry's been a regular for years which is either a reason to go or just confirms you were already right. --- Forest Tea Bar on Shattuck, three sisters sourcing stone-milled matcha from a family farm in Uji, Kyoto, and hand-whisking every order. Started as a popup called Three Tea Bowls before finding a permanent spot, and the quality stayed exactly the same. Black sesame matcha latte is the standout, nutty and rich without overwhelming the tea. Uji matcha straight if you want to taste what they're actually working with. Genmaicha latte for something roasted and earthy. Only plant milks, which the quality of the matcha makes irrelevant. Serene room, low tables, cast iron tea pot on the counter, the whole setup slows you down in a good way. Closed Monday through Wednesday, and open limited hours, so plan around it

Forest Tea Bar is owned and operated by three sisters, and I'm convinced at least one of them is a…read moreVirgo! The space feels like a contemporary tea sanctuary....beautifully designed, minimalist, and zen with a sleek black counter, thoughtfully arranged florals, and a gallery-like aesthetic. Soft French chanson playing in the background adds a touch of Parisian charm. Oh! And, they only serve plant-based milks cuz bubble guts.... The attention to detail and the perfectionism is unmatched...and my Virgo self is here for it. OFC, no peaceful sanctuary is complete without that ONE person who missed the memo on social awareness and café etiquette...talking and laughing at sports bar volume like they're watching the Super Bowl. Anyhooo....LOVE their Ginger Matcha Latte (currently $8.25): A layer of housemade, cold-pressed ginger juice is layered with oat milk and topped with vibrant matcha that's hand-whisked to order. The ginger really comes through...bold and zesty with a nice spicy kick that complemented the earthy matcha, while the creamy oat milk balanced out the ginger's sharpness. IF I lived at the apartments above, Forest Tea Bar would be my second home! O T H E R I N F O * Small drink menu: Tea lattes and non-caffeinated sparklers. One size only. Fixed sweetness for most drinks. * Housemade syrups * Plant-based milks: oat milk, almond, pistachio almond, and housemade cashew milk (when available) * Housemade Nerikiri, traditional Japanese sweets made from white bean paste. Flavor changes weekly. * Housemade ice creams (i.e. tofu) but they're never available on the weekends I've visited. * TIP: Skip the weekend lines and order on Snackpass. * Indoor and outdoor seating. Both TT friendly. * Restroom available.

Love Artis Coffee!…read more My wife and I haven't been on Fourth Street Berkeley in a long long time! Thankfully while doing some shopping and after a great meal at Divan Restaurant a few block away we popped into Artis Coffee. Wow! It was after 4 pm but what the hell, I ordered a cappuccino and my wife order a defca cappuccino, several pastries and took in the HUGE space! Our cashier was very friendly and appreciated our humor and debate on whether to have a "decaffeinated" cappuccino or not. I convince my wife to order one and she loved loved loved it! My "hi test" cappuccino was spectacular, smooth and perfect! Honestly, It took me back to Roma where we had aour honeymoon 22 years ago! Bella! If you find yourself on Berkeley's Fourth Street and looking for a perfect roasted coffee make sure to hop into Artis Coffee and I know you will love it too!

Artis Coffee was okay…read more I had an Ube Latte, 12 oz, iced, with matcha and oat milk ($8.50 plus $2 tip) and it was good. Artis opened on December 7, 2013 and is located on the northern end of the Fourth Street Shops (a.k.a. Fourth Street Berkeley). This is a fairly spacious cafe with an industrial/warehouse, minimalist look. During my afternoon visit, it was busy inside and out on the covered patio. Lots of people on their laptops. Artis roasts their own coffee. Service was fine. I got a side eye from the cashier/barista when I asked where the water station was (it was my first time and I was unfamiliar with this place), but they were nice and polite otherwise. The water pressure at the self-serve faucet was too strong and sprayed water everywhere. Good for a coffee fix if you're in the area.

I wish i lived closer because this would be my go to coffee shop! I stopped by around 10:30am on a…read moreSaturday morning and there was ample street parking. There were only a couple of tables occupied (there are 2-3 normal tables with chairs and a couple of floor cushion seats). I can definitely see that during the weekday, it would be packed with college students and parking would also be hard to come by. I ordered the Iced Whipped Honey Cream Latte (with Oat Milk) online. The drink was ready in less than 4 minutes. If you enjoy coffee on the sweeter side with flavored cream tops, this coffee shop is for you. The Honey Cream was sooooo good and perfect amount of cream vs at some other coffee shops there is a very thin layer. Whenever I am in the area, I will be stopping by.

Stopped by while I was in town visiting a friend and enjoyed it. The space was very interesting,…read moreloved that they had Japanese style seating where you are seating on the floor with a cushion. Although the space is unique, it is very compact and limited in seating. They have some outdoor seating and a few normal seating inside. Loved how my coffee tasted! I got the iced Mindspänner with oat milk. The flavor was overall great, the barista made it how I liked it. Not too strong and not too milky. They were fairly quick in making the coffee. They have a screen that shows which order is ready and in progress. But waiting for it in a small area made me feel a little claustrophobic.

Beautiful cafe shop!…read more Coffee was super good! I've gone to bu ch of spots so I'm super pleased with the service, the place being so clean and friendly. Highly recommend to visit.

Coffee: Latte and drip coffee were solid. Coffee is on the non-acidic side…read more Service: cold, not even a hello. Eeek... They open at 8:30am. We got there at 8:28am and told "we're not open yet"... so we waited, and they did not take our order until 8:36am. Not hello, no smile. Meh. Ambiance: it's a small, cozy place, so we sat outside. Strawberry Creek is nice. Overall: coffee was great, but I'd not return bc the service was not friendly. Advice to the business: a smile and hello to a long way especially for something as social as coffee. There are so many other places to try.

Amazing, and I wish we had one of these shops back home in San Diego. I love the vast selection of…read moredrinks, including a seasonal menu with inspiration drawn from Palestine. We tried several of the specialty lattes and were into them all. Particularly memorable to me was the Jaffa Orange latte. I had to order a pourover here and loved the experience. The barista was very precise in brewing and explained a bit about the coffee before serving it to me in an elegant glass. I got the pink bourbon from Palestina, Colombia that had notes of pink lemonade and rhubarb. It was well brewed and tasty but my sense is that the beans for pourover could be roasted lighter to get more of the fruit flavor out. I was really looking for a juicier pourover and feel like they have the right bean and the right brewers, just need to roast the coffee a little differently. It's a bit nitpicky though, because honestly, it was the best pourover "experience" I've had in the Bay Area, by far. I think this is also one of the most beautiful coffee shops I've visited. The art is very thoughtful, and the shop is clean and organized. It feels cozy. I can't wait to come back here.

Lovely, brightly-lit, and cozy cafe. Beautiful murals throughout the store. Decent amount of…read moreseating and the baristas were all really friendly and patient. The menu is pretty extensive, and everything sounded so delicious. We settled on the "Blackberries in Napa" summer mocktail, which they were able to make with oat milk (although whipped cream was still made with regular). It was the perfect cold beverage for a hot day in Berkeley. Right mix of bitterness from the espresso, creaminess from the blackberry whip, sweetness (and the slightest pinch of earthiness) from the blackberry-sumac jam at the bottom, and refreshing from the mint leaf at the top. The dried black mulberries were a nice touch also. Would love to come back and try everything else and support this Palestinian-owned business more often!

Beautiful, spacious cafe in Berkeley! The decor and ambiance is very beautiful, with bright and…read morewelcoming lighting. Easily accessible by public transportation, and is a short walk from Ashby BART. I love Middle Eastern Desserts, so when I was invited to a casual gathering here, I was delighted to check out Milyar's offerings. It was verrrryyyyy slowwwwww. I think we all waited 20 minutes-ish as they rolled out our orders. Because I'm a sucker for desserts, here's what I tried: Pistachio milk cake: suuuuper moist Chicken mustan: warm and savory with shredded chicken on the inside Knafeh cheesecake: Cheesecake Factory could never! Knafeh has grown on me since I first tried it, and I enjoyed this in cheesecake form. Pistachio Baklava: a classic! This was nice and big, like a small pie slice, and was soooo good. They also gave our gathering a Dubai chocolate milk cake and two baklavas for free.

Beautiful cafe! Power outlets throughout the cafe. Delicious food and drinks. All drinks can be…read moredecaf! The barista was very nice. They changed shifts at 7? The guy working was super nice on a Sunday evening. Perfect place to study or get some work done. The best part is they open late until 10 or midnight sometimes.

Service and baristas on bar were…read more Good coffee selection and always bringing in fresh flavors.

This place had a pretty long line out the door around 2:30 on a Sunday. Apparently this is normal…read morewhich I found wild. I will admit that the coffee was pretty good. Worth waiting in that line? For me personally, no, but it was a well made latte and quite smooth. Was it the best latte I have ever had? No but it was a good one and I think it would be easier to discern the true quality with a straight espresso shot or even a cappuccino. I like my lattes to have a little more character from the beans but well made. My favorite thing about it was actually the temperature. It wasn't crazy hot so you could actually enjoy it instantly. Some may want it hotter but for me it was ideal. They do have seasonal drinks including a pumpkin spice latte for fall and solid selection of non coffee drinks. The almond croissant I had (not baked by them I don't think) was good but a bit too crispy and over baked . I think I have been spoilt by the very excellent croissants of San Francisco and have yet to find an amazing one in the East Bay but it was clearly made with good butter and lots of almonds. Plenty of seating although every inside table was taken by people; some outside tables were open. They also have a solid selection of local beans for sale. Overall, a solid shop but don't come if you're in a hurry.

This place is fairly nondescript in the side alley or accessible from the front through a…read moreclothing/gift store? That, however, shouldn't detract from the personalized experience you'd likely receive with how small the coffee bar is. If you're expecting something more permanent this coffee shop is more like a temporary coffee cart that has roots in the back corner of this gift shop On the whole this place despite the hidden location has folks very much eager to bring specialty coffee to anybody interested. They have a large selection of relatively high end coffee in the likes of Geisha from Panama and Ethiopian coffees. Additionally, they're the only place I've ever seen across the US that is showcasing any coffee grown in China which is nice to see as that allows more exploration into how the terroir affects the taste of coffee For my first time here I came with a small group of coffee enthusiasts so we tried a selection of their Alo Main Station (notes of Sweet Orange, Bergamont, and Peach Oolong Tea), Finca Santa Maria (notes of Cherry, Mango, and Berry Jam), and Lerida Loma Washed (notes of White Floral, Mandarin Orange, and Longan) Each cup was uniquely different from each other but arguably the most enjoyed was their cheapest option in the Alo Main Station at $9. Each cup seemed completely different and may seem pretentious to say but they did have sweeter notes that you'd be very unlikely to taste from your well known coffee chains. This place definitely caters to the coffee enthusiasts in a way where even my group wasn't quite near the level of but it had a great atmosphere, nice outdoor seating, and staff who were very passionate about their craft If anything, I would probably come back as they do elevate coffee for those who are unaware of coffee coming from China but that coffee doesn't need to taste bitter, burnt, or chocolatey. The cups here were more like tasting a mellowed fruit juice but it just happens to be coffee. That said, unless you are eager to try specialty coffee this place may seem overpriced as their pour overs are between $9 - $25 which heavily differs from most other coffee shops. Having Masterpiece provide a glimpse of the specialty coffee scene within the Bay Area is still a welcome blessing as it has a similar vibe to specialty coffee shops you'd experience in Asia

I'm old fashion and typically love a classic latte or black coffee but decided to be adventurous…read moreand try the Kuro. Since my husband was doing an iced Shiro, I went with a hot version of the Kuro. We both got whole milk rather than oat milk. While I loved both options the Kuro was definitely my favorite and did not disappoint. There's some seating options outside to enjoy your coffee and tons of vintage items to browse through inside while you wait for your coffee.