We were picking up various groceries for my FIL and he gave us the most esoteric directions to this place - he couldn't remember the name, so we were going off of "second shop down across from Monterey Market, grab the pate from the case in the back right of the store." And let me tell you, that pate was as incredible as you would hope would result from scavenger hunt directions. It's now a necessary stop when we're in the neighborhood. Five stars for the pate alone. read more

If I could give this store less than one star I would. Nothing in their store is dated so my mother ate some rotten cheese and got sick from it. Normally I wouldn't write a review but when I went to complain and ask for a refund they were super rude and dismissive about it. Gave me a refund & kicked me out. I wouldn't recommend buying anything from this store. None of the cheeses are dated so beware. You'll be playing bacteria roulette and might buy a blue cheese not intending to. read more

Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Sweet little treasure trove in a quiet little neighborhood. This small is lined wall to wall with little treasures. There are all sorts of coffee (some roasted on site), a huge selection of cheeses, chocolates and deli items. Many of which I had never seen before. The staff is friendly and they seem like a neighborhood fixture. read more

Just rating the Arlington store- all three cheeses purchased were very past their prime and a possible health hazard. The cheese wrappers are undated. Consume at your peril. I haven't had that problem at the Solano store but that one my have more turnaround. Still, won't shop there again. A pity, since they have a nice selection of delicacies. But moldy cheese? No thanks. read more

HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE he discriminated me and my friends and assumed we weren't going to get boba because we already had food in our hand instead of him talking it out with us he started yelling and escorted us out the store I am truly disappointed and hurt because I know a lot of people that go to the bobo shop and I know that they would not be happy about this experience In all 31 years of my life I have not experienced this harsh environment I would like to believe that this is the first and I hope last time that they have discriminated someone read more

This place is amazing and the owner is very kind and sweet. Oh and delicious boba which is not over sweetened... and amazing top quality knives!!! So many gems. read more

Chocolate lovers!! This place is such a cute gem to find chocolates from all around the world. It's the perfect pls do go go to if you're looking for a gift or you need to add-on that one more thing to your gifts. Each time I come here I want to buy all the chocolates and give it out to friends and family. They have nice looking luxury chocolates bars as well. read more

See all

Lovely old time store with excellent selection of the best gelato i have ever had .. I just wanna shop they all the time .

They are known for their famous cheeses and coffee, Today for the first time, I try their Hot chai tea and I am picky , to my surprise I enjoyed it, read more

I really wanted to like this shop but I bought a 1/4 lb of loose Organic Earl Grey tea and it's got zero flavor and no fragrance. It's obviously too old and it's been reduced to near powder. The flavor is very weak and frankly kinda tastes like dusty sadness. There is no fragrance at all. And I don't have Covid nose, because I bought some at Berkeley Bowl and that's been great. So an entire 1/4 lb of tea is wasted - hope it's better as compost. read more

Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese - It's supposed to be Organic Earl Grey but it has no flavor/aroma. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

My new cheese spot. They have a great selection and a ton of knowledge. They also sell teas and boba. They have cheeses that I normally have a hard time finding and have to go from store to store to get vs just having a one stop shop. They had my favorite cheddar and 3 different kinds of Ossua Iraty. My go to place for sure! read more

Excellent selection of organic and fair trade goods, incl olive oil, teas, coffee, chocolate, crackers and every kind of cheese. Full coffee bar as well. Basically what I subsist on. Please shop at this long standing local business!!! (And boycott all systems of capitalist oppression!) read more

Best place in Berkeley to buy your cheese. The staff and owner are friendly and knowledgeable about their products. They have a good variety of herbal teas. Try their coffee and tea drinks. read more

Love this place for over 10 years!!! Best selection of teas, cheeses, chocolates, and anything you could dream of. Prices are beyond fair considering the quality of the goods they have and in comparison to other stores in berkeley. They have the best quality of imported goods from the finest places you could get them from. The old reviews of service are outdated and the newer staff are kind, willing to help you, and always happy to strike up a quick chat. The store is cute and the staff are helpful at helping you find things. My favorite place here in Berkeley!! read more

My go-to place for cheese, coffee beans, and frozen ravioli. The owner is very knowledgeable and helpful. They also have a good selection of ice cream. read more

Cute shop with a wide selection of cheese, chocolate, jams, etc. the employees were very friendly and the shop was tidy. They even had butter and nut sweets and I LOVE these desserts. read more

They have the BEST teas!! The earl grey lavender is amazing! Not to mention their incredible cheese selection. We stop by here for every grocery run and never regret it. I can't rave enough about this gem of a place! read more

Came here to get all the milk chocolate + nuts combinations I could find for someone who is not feeling well. :/ Raxakoul was recommended to me by some great coworkers so I came here with high expectations and a lot of curiosity. I was not disappointed! There are chocolates from all over the world (France, Italy, Venezuela, ...), and local chocolates too (Fresno, Berkeley, SF) and the nice gentleman behind the counter didn't hesitate to help me pick the good ones. It was great to know which ones were the delicious ones and which ones were more like the "Hershey's chocolate" of __(insert country here)__, which was so incredibly helpful because you really can't tell by the label which ones are the tastiest and fit what you're looking for. The only small qualm I have about Raxakoul is that I had to crowd the checkout line for 15 minutes while perusing the chocolate selection because it's probably two feet away from the counter. At first I felt self-conscious about being in the way, but the customers didn't really seem to mind. I guess we all can see how small this store is, so don't expect to have elbow room. I can't wait to come back here and try more selections. I also will recommending Raxakoul to the next person who is itching for some delicious, gourmet chocolate. :) read more

Horrible service!!! I asked for an item i saw in the store two days before. The OWNER was rude and told me he didn't have it and i couldn't have seen it. He swore at me when i challenged him. If you can help it, do not shop in this store. They treat people horribly and don't appreciate good customers. What a complete downer during the Holidays!!! read more

What's so amazing is the understatedness of a small shop that houses so many things that are so high in quality. Loose leaf teas, cheeses, Italian products, Asian things, to name a few. Lately, we've spied their gelato case off in the corner. But the array of chocolate is heady for me. What kept me sane and sustained on a recent long flight home with a stopover that I had not the energy for, was some very wonderful Belgian chocolate with orange bits. Very good. read more

I'm convinced Location is what gives this place steady business...and the solid selection of teas, crackers, olives, cheeses and meats. WISH HOWEVER the owners and staff would provide service as if they cared about the customer. Every time I ask for a recommendation or clarification about one of their specialty items ...especially cheeses, I am disappointed and wish I'd driven the extra ten minutes to The Cheese Board where service is delivered by thoughtful caring individuals who are considerate about the needs of their customers and go out of their way to insure their customers walk away happy. The staff at Raxakoul have lots to improve upon and I wish they really would. Perhaps they need to go on some field trips to Bay Areas best cheese markets and see how it is really done. read more

Cheese please!!!!! Nom nom! What got me hooked was their area of cheese samples. We went H.A.M. eating all the samples. My favorite was the Guoda with coconut. OMG! Like a party in my mouth. We didn't get it because we weren't sure about how long we were going to be out in the east bay and didn't want it to spoil. So sad. But I did pick up some Hungarian Paprika for my pizza sauce recipe. So much cheaper than Ebay. What I have to agree with other Yelpers, is the space is rather small. I already have issues trying to get out of peoples way. But here you just can't avoid that. You are going to be a nuisance. I had to envoke my concert spirit of crowds and make it work. read more

This is a very dangerous place to shop at, and not because it is unsafe or unfit for customers, but solely because you can go broke here real quick, they just have too much good stuff to offer. Cheese is definitely the star of the show here, but not the only headliner; the teas, coffee, and chocolate are also powerful vehicles that drive their business to what it has become; one of the greatest Mom & Pop shops in all of the East Bay. read more

See all

I can't believe I forgot to review this place after my jaunt here with Toni in July. This is a store I have gone to from time to time over many years but seem to forget about it in lieu of the Cheeseboard. We ventured over here one afternoon while I was on a quest to pick up some delicious Primadonna Gouda. This is a fabulous cheese and a great addition to my mac and cheese recipe. Sadly, no one seems to sell it on my side of the tunnel (not TJ's, Whole Foods, Draegers, etc.). This store is jam packed full of all sorts of stuff and very little cheese it seemed but they did have exactly what I was looking for. Additionally, they carry the delicious strawberry jam we fell in love with whilst at high tea in the Empress Hotel in Victoria and once we are out of what we purchased there, I will come back here. Just to add a little note-this is a very cramped store and is not a good place to let small children randomly run around in or they are likely to get scolded by both the management and other customers. read more

It really makes me sad to write this review but solider on we must. I have been shopping here for say 10 to 15 years and it is my go to for all kinds of cheese from bulk jack to cowgirl to..... Earlier this year we purchased a fresh ricotta and when we went to serve it it was spoiled. Not even close spoiled. Last week I brought this up to owner and her reaction was well hostile. She asked if I had a receipt, I did not as I don't typically keep receipts. Then she said if you had a receipt it would show you what cheeses you bought and when. And? This was followed by a I can't taste all of the cheese we sell. All of this in front of other customers which to me was downright shaming. I have spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars in that store over the years and the owner knew me well. If this is the choice she makes on how to treat a long term customer it is not the store I wish to shop at. And if you want to sell cheese that is, shall we say, a bit on the edge in terms of age, you should be liberal with your return policies not tight as a...... Caveat Emptor and keep your receipts if you want to shop there. I am taking my business elsewhere, I want to support stores that treat their clients right. read more

I was writing the review for a different Country Cheese, and then I realized there is one called Country Cheese in Berkeley and another one called Country Cheese Coffee Market also in Berkeley. I can see people writing the reviews for the wrong place. Anyhow, I have to do some errands in this side and whenever I get the chance I like to drop by this little amazing shop. The shop is really small but you will be surprised the large selections that they carry from cheeses, cured meat, tea, and chocolates.. I can spend a long time in here checking the stuffs but this time I ended up on the chocolate section. The aisles are really narrow so I was so close to the shelves, my eyes were going right.. left.. up .. down.. 360 degree to make sure that I wasn't going to miss anything. Great selection on chocolates brands, one of my favorites one is Vosges "Mo's Dark Chocolate Bacon" I spent a good amount of time only checking the Vosges chocolate * Mo's Dark Chocolate Bacon * Goji chocolate bar * Matcha chocolate bar * Barcelona chocolate bar and many more.. I can't remember all of them The cheese selection is also just great. Definitely great shop with great selection. read more

I have been buying coffee here for years, like maybe 20 years, since before the wonderful "new" owners. Of course, I liked the grumpy ,old owners too. But let's cut to the chase: coffee. Have been buying their French roast for about $8-9 per pound for years and I love it. I like it better than Peet's. This is my daily grind and a good deal in these days of coffee prices in the $12-14 per pound range. Also excellent selection of chocolate bars from all over and in every price range. I like the "Salty dog" bars by BT McElrath which are out of this world. I have also bought ginger, chai, bacon and many other types of chocolate here for myself and for gifts. Final word: cheap bulk Melita coffee filters. Another bargain. read more

Not impressed. I stopped in while waiting for my pie from heaven (er, Gioia) and perused around a bit. Unfortunately, two people bumped in to me. The store is packed too densely. It felt hazardous and, now that I think about it, I should've asked if they had to put the store back together after this mornings 4.2 'quake. Then again, it's so tight that things probably didn't shift a bit. There are more teas (and tea accessories!) than I've ever seen-- didn't see nearly as much coffee/accessories so the latter part of the store's name is a little misleading. I ended up buying some candied almonds. (I was hungry, see above, and they looked okay.) They weren't very good-- clearly had been on the shelf for awhile even though they had the homemade look. The total was only $4 and I tried to pay with a credit card. They informed me they have a minimum. Since it's a little Mom&Pop kind of place and I actually HAD cash on me (a rarity) I didn't give 'em any lip. However, I just watched some TV special segment last weekend on how it's illegal in California for stores to have minimums on credit card purchases. They had a large selection of chocolate, too, but if the nuts are any indication, there's not a quick enough turn-over for it to be "fresh". I probably won't be back. I am not a tea connossieur and if I needed cheese I'd go to Cheeseboard and chocolate to ScharffenBerger. read more

This store is similar to those great New York stores you accidentally run into; two feet wide and stacked from the floor to the ceiling. I feel very blessed this store exists. I walk in and walk out with a set of items to try a smile on my face. I work hard and I don't have a lot of time to drive here and there to find something. The owner is very funny and works hard. What I like about the store is that you also get in and out fast. That means quite a bit because I'm working and standing in line is a drag. This store is packed with unusual and hard to find items. Special honey's, jams, crackers. Today I bought probiotic ginger chews, truffle honey (its beyond delicious), bee pollen and high-end porcuito. I have given up cheese for the moment but they have so many different types. You need to look closely because there are so many different items. There is a section for vegans; vegan cheese and savory foods. When I was at the cash registered I looked up and saw a hibiscus and lychee tea by the bulk. It was ten feet up behind the cash register. The owner roasts his own coffee and it's very very good. They also have every type of chocolate bar possible as well as tea in a can as in republic of teas never-ending ideas; now they have a beauty tea that enhances collagen. It's a Berkeley foodie experience; ever changing. For instance, I found spray greek olive oil. I have never seen that anywhere and when it disappeared I told the owner I really liked it and it was in the next week. It's New York all the way a neighborhood store that caters to the offbeat in a non-pretentious way. read more

This shop has been around for decades. When I started my love affair with Hopkins Street, the shop was owned by a very grumpy man who could or would not answered any regarding the cheeses, and then, as now there was a very large selection. And , unlike the Cheeseboard, no tasting. You also had to know about the selection of teas and coffee. I always felt I was a non-member of an exclusive club. Happily, the present owner, will help with questions, etc. Unhappily, her assistants, who change often, Are not as savvy. For items in the Chocolate selection, and it is huge, all one has to do is read the wrappers, and pretend you are buying for presents, or your health. Speaking of presents, there is a tasteful selection of tea and coffee crockery. read more

This is a nice little shop selling lots and lots of cheese, lots and lots of coffee/teas, and various chocolates from around the world. Whether if you're looking for a different type of coffee like Hawaiian, Jamaican, or Peruvian; They'll most likely have it. They have a wide selection of cheeses as well. The pics speak for themselves. Cheeses from the usual places like Holland, Italy, U.S. of course, and France. We bought a fromage triple cream that they even let us sample. As far as teas, they had white teas, black teas, red teas, and Oolong. Some rare, some local, and a lot from China. The staff there seemed nice, helpful and polite. If I was local, I'd be back, but I'm not. read more

Lots, lots and lots of chocolate yes, but if it ain't stored right, it'll go bad. Very disappointing. Topped, however, by the single worst "latte" I've ever had in my life! How one can mess up *one* cup in so many ways is beyond my understanding. Oh yes, I asked about what kind of tea a certain difficultly marked but very attractive looking tea was, and they answered "coffee" which it was clearly not. read more

In Kensington I bought cheese that turned bad (moldy on the outside) in 2 days. I scraped the cheese off and ate it. It was good. I went back today and was treated rudely by an older woman clerk. First she begrudgingly showed me where a product was. After I paid her and thanked her she didn't answer. I think she was angry that I didn't leave her a tip. read more

This small market sells tea, coffee, spices, cheese and other miscellaneous items (e.g., jam, tea pots and strainers). I come here periodically for cheese; it's without question the best cheese store within 100 yards of the Monterey Market. I find them to be a good source of popular cheeses like reggiano parmesan and fresh mozzarella. When I buy a cheese that doesn't move fast, it often has picked up a refrigerator-case taste. I suspect that I've tried their coffee but have repressed the experience. I've never bought any tea from these people. In my view, this establishment is nowhere in the class of its neighbors like Gioia Pizza, the Monterey Fish Market, Magnani Poultry and the Monterey Market. I support it because it's a small independent market run by a hardworking couple. read more

The owners of this place really don't care about caring for their products and their customers. I walked into the store and said Hello to three of the staff. In all three instances, they looked away rudely from me. (By the way, I don't look like a monster or a criminal.) I really did not expect such crappy customer service from a mom-and-pop store in Berkeley. I also think that the current owner is not the original owner. Furthermore, their cheese and salumi suck. The cheese is all pre-packaged in plastic wraps--in other words, it tastes like plastic. The owner perhaps does not understand that different types of cheese have to be stored in different conditions. Also, their salumi has some wierd smell and taste to it. I threw it away after having the first few bites. So, don't bother wasting your time and hard-earned money at this joint. Just go to the Cheese Board, which is within walking distance. read more

This is a neat little store with a great tea selection - both prepackaged and bulk. They carry PG Tips and Mighty Leaf tea here! They also sell tea accoutrement, including Beehouse tea pots, and cookies/biscuits, jam, etc... As others have mentioned, they have a very lovely chocolate selection (Vosges, anyone?) and a lot of nice looking cheese. read more

Update: wonderful coffee at excellent prices. A pound of Yemen goes for $8.95 only. A good 3 to 5 bucks below many other places. Can't say enough about the high quality of their beans plus the "nice-price" makes their coffee "righteous" indeed. 1) Great selection of teas from around the world. Wonderful quality. 2) However, the real reason I visit this place is for their incredible fresh coffee beans. Went with the Organic-Fair Trade-Sumatran and it's the real deal. Smell and taste are first rate. Now that's a cup of cofee. Plenty of selections of cheese, fruit spreads and maga-chocolates too. It is cramped quarters so lots of "excuse me" passing by other customers. Alright I must confess: another reason I stroll in is because co-owner Shirley is the best! Neighborhood feel to the max. One of my favorite stores. read more

I love this little store. We regularly buy a handful of cheeses and olives from this store and are always greeted with a smile. They carry a large array of imported gourmet foods at reasonable prices. It is unusual to find a place that carries truffle butter without having a single drop of pretentiousness. The woman who is there all the time (I believe she is the owner) seems to know every product that is packed densely onto their shelves. Ask her for some advice about choosing the right cheese for adding an accent to a pizza or salad, and she will give you a great recommendation. As far as other comments about having minimums for credit cards, being a small business owner, I realize it is tough to keep a business open when on a four dollar sale, you have to pay the credit card company a $.30 transaction fee. As a consumer I appreciate the convenience of using a credit card, but all of us should be aware of the consequences of paying banks unnecessary fees. Use cash whenever possible, especially for small purchases. read more

Awesome spot and very helpful! They have a great variety of cheese and even cheese curds for those of us who are poutine lovers. Staff is helpful and knowledgable. Will definitely return. read more

Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese - Cheese curds! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

We've been going here probably about once or twice a week for 8 years. Great establishment with greatest local owners. Quality and selection is what you want when you have particular tastes. They're here to meet those needs. Aren't we so spoiled in Berkeley? read more