In town for a long weekend, I decided to check out this coffee shop for breakfast because another nearby coffee shop had a long wait time. I was so glad I did - There was no wait and plenty of cozy space available. I got a breakfast burrito and a chai latte and both were delicious. I enjoyed the art on the walls and watching some folks nearby working on the community puzzle. I really liked the atmosphere - Would return! read more

Mismatched furniture, cozy vibe, friendly staff. We popped in for a quick afternoon, pick me up after having lunch at nearby ghost town brewing company. My friend treated me to my very delicious iced Matcha latte and he got a double espresso and Chai latte. Everything was made really well. It was nice to grab a quick drink before hopping on the freeway and beating that afternoon traffic. read more

World Ground Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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I stopped by here for a morning decaf latte. It was 16 oz. cup. The coffee shop was busy with lots of guest coming and going. They also have some good looking food options on the menu that o will need to try the next time I stop by. My latte was good, I shall return! read more

Always great food and options. Love supporting local business. Quality food options and it always tastes good. Drinks are perfect !

Ones again Amazing food , excellent costumer service We like this place so much and owner is really nice excellent ambiance and vibe read more

World Ground Cafe - Puzzle station - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Visited for my first time today and I came for the coffee but stayed for the good service and pastries. Was torn between which one to get but the honey glazed biscuit won my favor. Will be back next time for more coffee and the berry bundle pastry. Highly recommend! read more

A GREAT local coffee shop! Good coffee and a real neighborhood vibe. If you are in the Laurel District of Oakland, get your coffee here! World Ground is open 7:00a to 2:00p / 7 days a week. read more

World Ground Cafe - World Ground in the Laurel District of Oakland at 3726 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619 is open 7:00a to 2:00p / 7 days a week - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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really enjoy my regular visits to this excellent coffee establishment. pastries are made in-house and espresso is fresh with correct schaum on the top. Service is friendly and efficient with a Swedish touch from the owner (Uffe Gustafsson) who gives character to the place. very enjoyable... read more

I have loved this local business for a long time. It is really a lovely atmosphere. I really like how chill it is in here. The music isn't too loud (please god more places need to turn their music down). Loved my mocha! It wasn't too sweet, and they have great prices here. Honestly, this place is excellent for studying or relaxing and having your morning coffee. I recommend it! read more

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Wonderful fresh baked stuff-especially savory cheese n jalepeno, or bacon biscuits. Fruit cheese danish really good. Coffee is solid, strong. read more

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this coffee shop based on my recent experience. Despite spending around $30 for breakfast and coffee for a friend and myself, my visit was marred by an incident that left a sour taste in my mouth. While I was peacefully working on my computer, I observed a panhandling woman approach a customer who had exited the premises. She wasn't being aggressive or impolite. However, to my dismay, the owner of the coffee shop abruptly stormed outside and bellowed, 'No! Don't give her ANYTHING!' This display of rudeness and lack of empathy was deeply troubling. Although I empathize with the challenges businesses face regarding panhandling, the manner in which this interaction was handled was severely lacking. The woman ventured inside to question the owner's actions, only to be met with further hostility and threats of police involvement. Ironically, a sign above the shop's entrance proudly proclaims their dedication to "serving the community." With 26 years of establishment in the area, one would expect a more compassionate response to the impoverished surroundings. It's disheartening that their commitment to the community seems to falter when faced with those in need. Expressing my disappointment to the owner, I informed them of my decision not to return. Their dismissive response further underscored their indifference to constructive feedback. I sincerely hope this review serves as a wake-up call for the establishment to reflect on their actions and reassess how they engage with their community. True community service extends beyond serving paying customers; it encompasses compassion and dignity for all individuals, including those seeking help outside their doors.When a company seeks to serve the community, paying customers aren't the only 'customers' read more

Wonderful! The best pastries ever! Don't miss the sweet cheese Berry pastry! The person who bakes everything and possibly the owner is really nice and accommodating for special orders. I think his name is Uffa. Whole staff is very nice...lots of places to sit and a back room if you need to have a small meeting with a couple people. Just discovered it. So glad! read more

Great place to get work done. Opened from 7-2 except Sunday 8-2, which is not noted on their outside sign. Unfortunately pastries are not ready at opening time on Sunday. read more

Chill spot that has great service and did the job when I needed a pick me up while waiting for lunch plans. Quick and tasty. I will return.

Finally, a coffee house with proper coffee not this annoying light roasted coffee, but a proper strong, black coffee highly recommended

A nice neighborhood spot to grab coffee and yummy pastries. Has that old neighborhood flair. I like to go here and read the paper and get some work done sometimes. It's only open 7 AM to 2 PM so more of a morning spot. Plenty of outlets And decent Wi-Fi. read more

Spicy Chai latte was great and the prices were very reasonable. The sandwiches were also great and not overpriced.

Came across this cafe by accident but really left an impression on me. Though their interior was limited due to COVID, it reminded of a casual cafe to work or read a book or something. Ive only been there twice but I went twice in the same week which I think is a good sign. Ive tried their cold brew and their Earl Grey-lavender iced tea. What I enjoyed most was that their coffee was flavorful but DID NOT leave that thick residue feeling on your tongue after drinking. Their tea is comparable because the taste was excellent and not over-brewed. The tea came unsweetened but they offer bagged sugars or syrup. They have hand sanitizer available when walking in which is nice. All employees where face masks as well. They do have outdoor seating which is nice if you want to catch some sun rays, its available. read more

World Ground Cafe - Photo taken on 7/9/2020 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Wanted to grab a late morning sandwich and coffee. My drink was forgotten and never charged despite talking about it extensively. Then after a 20 min wait, my sandwich was still not ready. Went to the counter, asked about it. Turns out it HAS been ready for a while. I asked why wasnt my name or order number called. No good explanation was given but instead my "to go" box was handed to me. I mean the meal was literally sitting next to the chef in a box. When I opened my box I realized how I was given the wrong order - a random turkey sandwich instead of what I paid for!!!!!!!! The hostess offered to have it remade but at this point I was going to be late to my appointment and had to leave. The caffe in general has a nice vibe in a neat location, the food is not bad, the coffee is strong but ..... it has a staff who cannot even handle a simple order and makes major mistakes. Come to this place at your own risk - because apparently surprise sandwiches are a thing here, and what you order does not matter. You are given the food the staff thinks you should have.... I guess this can be fun too ..?! I just wasn't ready for it. Might come back when I have 1 hour or more on my hands. read more

Good day I thought I would never have to do a review for a business. I'm going in this business before but today is my last day to patronize this business customer service was awful I couldn't believe it so rather than have a conversation with your proprietor if you're going to for the first time be careful I would not like to think that it was about color as opposed it was about service,, read more

Excellent coffee; no other Laurel cafe opens earlier. For bites, try the breakfast burrito. Has high quality eggs and avocado. Only knock is the salsa is on the bland side, though not everyone liked spice so I get it. read more

I think every cafe lover dreams of a sweet and serene setting to escape to with a hot (or cold) mug of something shnazzy and a scrumptious snack to boot. In this picturesque fantasy, we envision ourselves greeted warmly by a super knowledgable but never stuffy server (who may or may not refer to themselves as a barista, it's up to you) who can whip up whatever you want in a few flicks of the wrist. Depending upon what you plan on doing with your time at this place, you may want a little laughter and muffled conversation in the background or the relaxing (but non-creepy) lull of quiet. You don't need to fantasize, folks! You can make your dream a reality at World Ground. The staff serves up more than just coffee, pastries, delicious paninis and the like: count of them to supply a joke when you're in need of a laugh, a suggestion when you're stuck on a crossword puzzle and a wildly inappropriate and probably inaccurate fact when you need a little bit of trivia in your life. The sweet chai with soymilk used to be my go-to but now that I'm just another slave bowing to the altar of coffee, I've been on a real lusty iced coffee kick. Ooh, baby baby. One thing that I truly adore about World Ground (especially since the school semester has just started and I'm using the place as more of a study hall than a cafeteria) is the bounty of seating and spaciousness between the seats and tables themselves. Whether I plop down in the all-the-way, all-the-way back, the front of the house near the big ol' windows (note to self: do not get distracted by any cuties passing by) or wiggle my tail into one of those barstools so that I can weave in a few sentences with the sweet servers, I am never disappointed and can always find a way to get into the zone with my studies. That's a pretty big deal when you consider the fact that I'm cruisin' in on a Saturday afternoon, which is a very busy time for the place. World Ground is a true gem in my lovely little city--though the real gems are the characters that work there, the characters that come through there, and the character of the place itself. In the words of my childhood idol: "Sweet, sweet fantasy baby!" (If you don't know who sung that... I'll be praying for you.) read more

World Ground Cafe - Bevvies - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Been here a couple times when we visit Oakland- a nice quiet and relaxed local spot with great service, food, and most importantly, coffee!!

The staff in this store are FANTASTIC ! They all speak English, & Spanish. I'm a daily client. Best of Health, Anthony, The Barber.

This is a great addition to our neighborhood..For over 15 years they have offered breakfast, lunch and treats & drinks including coffee ,teas etc.Most of their food is made on the premises..Despite a recession, a slow down now due to Corona Virus etc. they endure, hire locally and support the community..Thanks Uffe, Martha & Staff !! But note,they are now doing take out, not sit down, due to shelter in place. Below is a picture of Portofino since the cafe reminds us our visits to Italia.. read more

World Ground Cafe - colorful buildings and boats in the water - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Went here after my niece's recital at the kids dance studio a block or two away -- ordered and paid for chai... turns out they didn't have any spicy or sweet chai, this also meant no pineapple chai smoothies. We ordered chai because they were out of bananas and couldn't make the strawberry banana smoothies we originally wanted. They were also out of tomatoes so I couldn't add them to my breakfast panini. When they do have things in stock, their smoothies are good. read more

It was all good until the price went up. When your coffee price is nearing the Philz San Francisco Coffee price mark that is not A-Ok. The coffee is Ok but it is not drip but the quality does not match the price. The food used to be better when the price matched the food. It is like they took a look at SF and was like oh we can make everything go up. I mean common man!! I have been coming here for years and if the placed received an additional remodel I could understand the price increase. You had a nice sweet spot but ya had to mess it up! I do have some positive ideas on how to improve the place lets chat. read more

Such a nice environment for a quick breakfast. The chai tea latte was light and refreshing. The breakfast panini was great and good for sharing. Overall a chill place with yummy options. read more

World Ground Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Great place, good atmosphere, sandwiches are the best. I go there whenever I can. Great customer service. They convert their vegetarian sandwiches into vegan upon request. read more

There was a decent amount of people there when I went. It definitely seems like people come here to relax or do work. I got a hot matcha latte and I was so disappointed by how watered down it was. It tasted and looked like green water with a hint of matcha. I was confused about how one could mess up matcha but I guess it's possible. read more

There are two things that irk me about World Ground Cafe every time I visit: First - "panzinetta" is a completely made up word. It sort of looks like an actual word describing a type of Italian salad (panzanella, aka panmolle). It irks me every time I go in World Grounds and see that embarrassing thing on the chalk board. Second - they are ALWAYS out of Fat Tire, or beer in general. Why is this? Every time I go in - there is NO beer. Overall, it's a pretty typical run-down neighborhood artsy cafe -- mish mosh of shabby furniture and surfaces (floors, tables, etc). The coffee is okay but overall it's not much to yelp about. The service is always friendly but inefficient and slow. I wish it was more comfortable and nicer to hang out than my own livingroom, but alas, it is not. YMMV. read more

Despite an extensive food menu, absolutely nothing vegan. Really? C'mon guys. Women at counter were definitely distracted and didn't communicate my order clearly. No almond milk despite it being on the menu. "Extra hot" soy mocha, as expected, wasn't all that hot. Worse, there was a nasty aftertaste. Really pretty gross, and definitely don't want to repeat. The place is nice enough, but honestly, not really that great. Only redeeming feature is that they are open early. read more

Walked in, stood at the register for a full two minutes while both employees totally ignored me despite knowing I was standing there. No 'hi', nothing. The guy employee walked past me standing at the register to a different part of the cafe without acknowledging my existence. Finally asked if I could order. Girl turns round and says 'huh?'. I said again 'can I order?' She replies with a 'what the fuck' tone: 'yeah... we're busy'. I have to admit I got super riled by the shitty attitude and said 'fuck it then' and walked out to the tune of a sarcastic 'have a nice day' from the dude working there. Yeah dude, blow me. I worked as a barista and in cafes/restaurants for years. Literally all that was needed was a 'be with you in a minute' or a 'hi'. That is REALLY not difficult. It's the bare minimum. I've been here multiple times and always had blah service at best but this was outright rude, so I'm not going back. read more

This place continues to decline and it breaks my heart. The most important thing at a coffee house is........ wait for it......... the coffee! Today I asked what kinds of coffee they were brewing and the cashier replied: "decaf and regular". That is the answer I would expect at a McDonald's, not a coffee house! So I said "Ok, well what kind of coffee is the "regular?" she said "I think it's dark but I don't know." I proceeded to ask "where do you guys get your coffee from?" (I was really hoping she would say something involving the words fair trade, local, or organic..... but alas, none of those) Her reply: "I have no idea." I nodded and thought to my self.... How is that possible? Isn't coffee supposed to be their thing here? Also, they were out of mugs/glasses and were serving all customers in paper and plastic cups. Unacceptable for two reasons: 1) Coffee just tastes better from a mug; everyone knows that. 2) It' s not environmentally friendly to create so much waste. So just to recap: the employees do not know anything about coffee, including type of brew, how it tastes, or where their coffee is coming from. This is the only "coffee house" I've ever been to that gives you the choice of "regular or decaf". I have that choice at home. You guys need to step your game up or you are going to lose loyal customers. And the "regular coffee" was a weak dark roast. Good points: Really good food. Unlimited free wifi. Free parking in the neighborhood. Watching this place is like watching a ship sinking in the distance. Not much you can do. I really really want this place to succeed and start to care about coffee again. I love it here. I just don't love the fact I make better coffee at home and have more coffee choices there too. That's not how a coffee house should be. read more

Love the veggie panini. So good!! Went there after a long hike. A cold brew and a sand-which was perfect.

The cool vibe in gentrified Laurel District of Oaktown...within seconds of crosssing the threshold, I felt like I was in a Portland cafe in NoPo, Hawthorne, or Clinton district. This is a wonderful place to chillax, study, write a letter, surf the web (free wifi), chat with a friend, play chess--even prepare a brief! Reggae and latin tunes fill the large-ish cafe that actually has two separate rooms, one filled with natural light, one with a more morose, darker (and quieter) vibe. Definitely different from the more sterile affluence of Emeryville and Albany. There are great cushions for the back, and high bistro tables too...armchairs for kicking back... Peerless coffee is just ok--it at least had some flavor to it. Came here for a trip to the Food Mill and stopping by here as I write to soak up the latest SF and EB Weekly. People-watching can be fabulishous too. They do serve food too, and it's v inexpensive...but from the two entrees I spied, one sorta gets what he pays for here...all atmosphere. Remember: not all parts of Oakland are equal (i.e. Piedmont, Crestmont, Skyline) . Have a great, sunny day! read more

Years ago I would hang out here in the afternoons, on the way back from grad school in Hayward, and before the tots got out of preschool. Did many papers and homework, had their sandwiches and salads, and it was always comfy and I loved the vibe. Yesterday stopped in again with the laptop...hadn't seen the wine bar addition! Totally cool! Got my coffee, then stood at the sugar bar looking around when a lovely customer asked "are you looking for the raw sugar?" Why yes I am! "It's right here - in this large container." Holy crapoly....raw sugar mecca! I am so tired of ripping open little packets because then everyone knows what a sugar fiend I am..... As usual, the coffee was terrific, the people (those working and those customering) are sublime, and I love the fact you can get good food. Since one of the tiny tots has grown old enough for trombone lessons near here, I'll be back on Saturday mornings like a regular! WiFi fast: 6 1/2 min video upload = 30 min read more

You'll often find me here with my laptop in the morning, taking advantage of the free WiFi as I plot and plan my destiny to rule the world with an iron fist. I find the cafe's name "World Ground" to be a fateful sign my nefarious machinations toward "World Domination" will be wildly successful. The minions here ... sorry, getting ahead of myself ... the "staff" here are friendly, wonderful folks who like to smile and laugh (I may give them Delaware or Wyoming when I become their God King). The coffee is good, their lattes tasty, and their espresso is wonderfully energetic for those mornings when getting out of bed to take over the world just seems like too much work. I really enjoy the breakfast burritos and paninis which are masterfully crafted by Chef Ana (I usually have her add avocado to mine, super-food for the super-evil-genius ... the little things matter). There's also a fair selection of bagels, danishes, cakes, and cookies; including a small selection for those glutin-free future minions with peculiar dietary restrictions (personally, I always ask for extra glutin, I find it nurtures my inner evil). There's a backroom area where groups can hold meetings (I plan to utilize this space in the future for my "Hire a Lackey" job fair ... its so hard to find good lackeys around here, everyone's always so nice, liberal, and "accepting" in the Bay Area; disgusting). If you're local and need a meeting place, this is a great location and the minions - oops - "staff" will efficiently cater platters of food and carafes of coffee to keep you focused on your task at hand. So if you silly minions habitually frequent evil conglomerate corporations like Starbucks or Peets (Warning: I plan to destroy them first, I hate competition in my scheming for World Domination), then I encourage you to break that chronic condition of poor judgment and try this wonderful neighborhood cafe instead. Highly recommended! read more

World Ground Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This review is for their freshly baked pastries in-house!! They're so good!! I tried an almond date scone and a bacon pepperjack biscuit, and they were both so great: buttery, well-balanced, really hits the spot. And they bake them fresh every morning and by early afternoon, most things are sold out :) read more

This is one of my first stops whenever I am in Oakland. The coffee is strong and unpretentious. The people are friendly and the food is always fresh and tasty. While the furniture isn't fancy, it's comfortable and it's always a place I feel like I can stay for a while. There are plenty of tables but it still feels cozy in a neighborhoody sort of way. Every time I come they are fast and friendly and laugh at my bad jokes about my desperate need for "the largest strongest coffee in all the land". It is a decidedly different experience than Starbucks and Pete's and the like (no shade is that's your thing). For me, that's what local flavor is all about. read more