We don't know what this wave is: the fourth wave? - But the coffee and tea scene in the Bay Area is busy.
There are fair trade beans, tantalizing programs, and yes, even culture and late nights. The past two years have offered the caffeine community new spaces inspired by Korean, Brazilian, Filipino and Yemeni cultures. There's one dedicated to your sanity and another with a vinyl soundtrack.
There's more to come with the highly anticipated opening of Mr. Espresso in Auckland. And you know we'll be lining up for coffee with Oprah's beloved English muffin when the Model Bakery on Walnut Creek opens.
Corner of Brazil, Danville
We imagine that Corner Brazil in downtown Danville is like visiting a typical neighborhood café in São Paulo. Owner Nicholas Guido, which opened in October 2021, offers a full range of food and drink from his native Brazil. There are bowls of whole, organic acai (undiluted, like most Bay Area acai), pao de quejo, homemade cookies, and imported dark roast coffee, Guido says.
Paper parrots hanging from the ceiling. The chairs are upholstered in pink. The shelves are filled with popular delights such as chocolate waffles and yuki patata balha crispy bags. In addition to the full espresso program, Guido offers tropical smoothies, Brazilian coffee, rolled ice cream and delicious pancakes that can be made gluten-free and topped with the famous chicken, corn and soft cheese pizza mix. from Brazil. Don't miss the covered courtyard covered in succulents.
The Cup: Guido's Latte Espresso ($5) is perfectly balanced, even when sipped with ube or doce de leite, the more exotic Brazilian version of dulce de leche. Do you just need Joe? Imported dark Brazilian roasts include Pilau and 3 Hearts ($3-4).
The bite: Don't miss the delicious pastries, including the beef-filled esfera de carne from Café de Casa de San Francisco and Guido Casadinho's Brazilian guava butter cookies that he bakes himself.
Details: Opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. weekends at 370 Hartz Ave. in Danville https://cantinhodobrazil.com.
Cafe Headquarters, Burlingame
Troll dolls, K-pop stars, a pink bedroom? Gurl is the coffee of your dreams! Owner Marisa Ramirez returned from vacation in Korea and was so inspired by the local cafe culture that she opened her cafe last year after spending many hours curating the quirky and eclectic collection. Adjectives used in almost every Yelp review for this place? Cute. Beautiful. beautiful.
Fun and long working hours. While many cafes and tea rooms are only open from early morning until noon, Siete serves in the evening and until late at night. It has become a popular place for K-pop fans to hold photo card swapping events. There's fun and colorful indoor seating, plus a few tables in the pink-walled courtyard (obviously).
The Cup: The Matcha Latte ($5.50) is the best seller here, says Ramirez, and the Coconut Siete Latte ($5.75) is a favorite. The beans come from a precision roaster at the Coffee and Water Lab in San Jose, and the tea comes from Reishi. Don't miss Bubblies ($4.85), a refreshing, caffeine-free mix of sparkling water and fresh fruit punch.
Bite: Salty and crispy croffes, a croissant that turns into waffles, is a must. Opt for regular sugar ($6) or treat yourself to a bowl of s'mores or Nutella and banana ($10 each). Savory entrees include Ava Toast ($10), an avocado made with bacon jam and pickled red onions.
Details: Open 9am-10pm Friday-Saturday and 9am-7pm Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday at 341 Primrose Street, Burlingame; www.instagram.com/cafesiete_
Lizzy Bird Cafe, Alameda
Restaurant Louis Kao is hard to master. His Noodle Theory chain has closed, but he now runs Lou's Chicken Shack in Moraga and, since last fall, this bustling neighborhood hangout. As with other Kaos projects, LazyBird has an Asian touch. Oakland Bike Coffee Beans have been turned into Pandan, Opis, and Samoan (Caramel, Coconut, Chocolate, and Espresso) flavored drinks for sweet-tooth lovers.
The shop is bright and upbeat, with a smiling picture of AstroBoy on the wall and Courtney Love playing on the speakers. Locals of all ages request concoctions that often lean towards flowers - think rose milk and lavender honey. The candy box includes Berkeley's Dream Fluff Donuts and Malasadas, which are so popular they can be pre-ordered. (Flavors change weekly and have recently included Flan Creme and Pink Starburst Chantilly.)
The Cups: Sweet Green Pandan Clover Latte ($5) is a must, and the Yuzu Decaffeinated Smoothie ($5) wakes you up on a hot day.
The Bite: A hearty malada ($5) calls for a coffee dip. And a recent Congee special highlights the gourmet form, with a robust meat and ginger base and creative toppings like kimchi, yau choy and versions of Kalua pork ($9.50) drizzled with chili oil. .
Details: Daily 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 930 Central Ave., Alameda; www.lazybirdcoffee.com
I'm Craft, San Jose
Well-versed in the art of coffee and the cafeteria, chef and entrepreneur Michael Shih chose an elegant setting for his shared Java ethos of "cultivating kinship with the communities around us." AM Craft is located in one of the city's most popular cafes and teahouses, between the University of San Jose campus and the Naglee Park neighborhood. Colleges and locals are quickly flocking to their niche, says AM's marketing manager, aptly named Ashley Chai.
AM likes to broaden the horizons of coffee lovers. So instead of buying beans from just one roaster, Hsieh and his team celebrate and build three roasters each month: one in California, one national and one international. Recent trios have included Santa Barbara's Dune Coffee Roasters, Raleigh's, North Carolina's Black & White Roasters and Berlin's The Barn. Next April, Sacramento Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters, Sey Coffee from New York and La Cabra from Aarhus, Denmark.
Sip: do you want to try the Universal Collection? The Drip Flight ($5) contains four ounces of single-origin coffee from each of the three roasters. The Red Eye Flight ($6) is a single-origin bean served as an espresso, cortado, and blackhead. If you're looking for something a little sweeter, the Toasted Marshmallow Latte ($5) is popular.
Snack: Freshly baked croissants, sticky rolls and other pastries ($4-6) delivered daily by Mountain View Midwife and Baker in Mountain View; We guarantee a pineapple danish with coconut chips. These Chocolate Orange Brownie Chip Cookies ($3.50) and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chips ($4) are all homemade.
The details: Open six days a week, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Tuesdays), at 481 San Carlos Boulevard, San Jose (no signs yet, but coming soon); https://am-craft.mailchimsites.com.
Dell's Coffee, Oakland
Delah is perhaps the most exciting thing going on at East Bay Coffee right now. The new Oakland Café, the second from partners Omar Al-Khamiri, Omar Al-Jahmi and Majid Al-Jahmi after debuting in San Francisco in 2022, is a dive into Yemeni coffee culture, from mountain beans to pots decorated with cardamom. Inject drinks into a tempting baking program.
Yemen was the first country to export coffee commercially through the port of Moka, and Della is attached to this heritage. The beans are lightly roasted on site in the traditional Yemeni style and appear in lattes, mochas and specialties like ginger-cinnamon infused chabani. Inside, the walls are covered with hand-painted gilt portraits of traditional coffee growers and ancient Yemeni Musnad calligraphy. Even the candy boxes are like works of art, filled with an incredible array of Turkish delights and milk candies.
The Glass: We loved the Delah Rose Latte ($7.23), which features homemade rose syrup and is sprinkled with crushed rose petals. On warm days, opt for the Dubai Refresher ($7.23), a refreshing blend of lemon, lime, mint and sparkling water.
Bite: The pistachio baklava ($7.23) and milk pancakes ($6.45/each) deserve your attention. Covered in cream and dipped in saffron, pistachio or rose flavored milk, the brick-sized slices practically melt in your mouth. For a savory option, Bee Bites ($5.46) is a simple bagel filled with cream cheese and served warm with honey.
Details: Open Monday through Thursday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 10 p.m. and Saturday 11 p.m. at 420 W. Grand Ave. in Oakland. Coming soon to 1807 Euclid Ave., Berkley. https://delahcoffee.com
Coffee Cellar, Menlo Park
Rub shoulders with Springline entrepreneurs and residents when you stop for a cup of tea at La Cantina, a business started by chef and restaurateur Greg Kuzia-Carmel. This ambitious mixed-use development is built on El Camino Real near Caltrain station. The cellar bar was the first place to add food and drink, followed by a cellar wine store. Locals and folks at the Canopy coworking space here will enjoy this architecturally delightful boutique with its warm woods, high ceilings, window views from the counters, and, surprise… a vinyl soundtrack.
Organic beans are sourced from Sightglass of San Francisco - Owls Howl Espresso, Hunky Dory Decaf, Toketee Drip, Blueboon Cold Brew - and are made with single-origin beans from Honduras and Guatemala.
Sip : With a caffeine-fueled business clientele, cappuccinos, espressos, and drip coffees are popular here, but matcha lattes and chai lattes are also favorites, and there's a secret to tea. The highest quality spices come from Kalustyan's, a staple of the New York spice trade
Bouchée: Discover the “restockings” prepared by Kuzia-Carmel’s kitchen teams in its restaurant and canteen near Camber. The ever-changing lineup can include a "hot pocket" of pesto and portobello mushrooms ($13) one day and a grilled cheese ($11) the next. There's also a great selection of croissants, muffins and cereals ($2.75-$6) at The Midwife & the Baker.
The Details: Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Canopy Workspace located at 1300 El Camino Real, Suite 100, Menlo Park. Find parking on nearby Garwood Road or El Camino. www.canteen.studio/cafe
Bober Tea & Coffee, Walnut Creek, Sunnyvale and other locations
Before you roll your eyes like a cup of fried boba, know this: the Bober is no ordinary boba necklace. Il marchio di bubble tea di Singapore fonde i sapori di Taiwan, Cina e Giappone in una selezione concentratea (leggi: non tutti i tè alla frutta conosciuti dall'uomo) di bevande ghiacciate artigianali a base di tè sfuso, frutta vera e queso fatto in Home. Popper's cream cheese filling is sweeter than the mostly savory variety.
What we loved most about our visit to the Walnut Creek store, which opened in 2022 and fueled Bobber's rapid expansion in the Bay Area, wasn't the flashy pink interior or the size called "champagne bottle". It was customer service. Our young hostess guided us through the accessible menu, which features eight real fruit green teas, including several seasonal options; A range of dairy teas for those on the brown sugar trend and espresso-based latte macchiato for those craving hot milk. He also told us how obsessed the staff was.
Sip: These drinks include Chizu Strawberry Green Tea ($6.60), which features real chunks of ripe, juicy strawberries that provide the perfect contrast to the rich, sweet chizu and boba that's still warm and chewy. Get the seasonal version of Mango while you can. Vegetarians: Don't miss the dairy-free milk collection, which features flavors of winter melon and hazelnut.
Details: Daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1153 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. Also in Martinez, Pleasanton, Sunnyvale and San Ramon. early in San Carlos, Campbell, Palo Alto and Alameda; www.boberteusa.com
Mind Coffee, Berkeley
The first thing that strikes you when you walk into Mind Coffee's barren driveway is the silence. It's busy, but they're very connected to computers and headphones, and so quiet you can hear the chirping of their hives. You instinctively lower your voice to match the mood, even though you're definitely not in a public library.
Turns out that store next to UC Berkeley is a healthy concept, too. Its owner experienced a tragic event in his life that inspired him to open a mental health business in February. A shelf displays titles such as the Dalai Lama's 'Healing Wrath' and greeting cards that say 'Your feelings still apply'. Comfortable furniture invites you to kneel or sit on gray egg sacks on the floor. The architecture firm, which designed the dimly lit, white-clad space with its veil resembling hanging paper clouds, describes it as "a backdrop for memories, a quiet yet powerful presence that invites to comfort and reflection".
The Cup: What's better than green tea for mental health? There's plenty on the menu — they even serve coffee — including an earthy Hojicha Latte from Japan ($5.55) made with charcoal-roasted leaves in a ceramic pot. The Frozen Dirty Matcha Latte with Housemade Cream ($6.50) has the addictive goodness of a milkshake, and two espressos that passed the tests are a boon for the college crowd.
The Bite: A mini box of pretzels with high-calorie treats like Salty Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies ($3.95) and Rich Chocolate or Hazelnut Butterquine Ammanne ($5.49).
Details: Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends at 1816 Euclid Ave. at Berkley. www.themindcoffee.com.
Charlie May Cafe and Tea Room, Auckland
With its airy interior, wooden beams and elevated location in the sunny hills, Charlie May exudes a tropical vibe. That's good, knowing that the two sisters who own the place, Analisa and Ariana Cruz, appreciate coffee flavors inspired by their Filipino and Chamorro (Guam and Mariana Islands) heritage, such as the chocolate champorado and the famous pudding latte dessert. with cinnamon.
The store sources the beans from Bellwether coffeehouses in Nicaragua and Peru and roasts them in a zero-emission electric machine. (Eventually, the islands will be underwater first.) For health reasons, the sisters took a stand against brown sugar in the coffee industry; Here you get agave syrup, sticky coconut sugar, and a calorie-free sweetener made from monk fruit. However, the venue is not sugar-free: occasional cookie decorating classes and other foodie events support its mission to foster community gatherings.
The Cup: The Cruz family transformed their family's breakfast and dessert recipes into different "sauces" to flavor their coffee. Champorado, a Filipino chocolate, is made into a chocolate sauce that mixes well in a bitter, high-octane cold brew ($7). Even better is the Latte Latte ($5.75) with a cinnamon-vanilla sauce, full of caramel and hints of velvety coconut.
The Bite: Charlie May's offers the standard arsenal of baked goods, plus frequent weekend food specials (check the cafe's Facebook page for details). Recent offerings include wake breakfast platters and Hawaiian snacks and meals like musubi, baked California rolls and fried chicken moshiko.
Details: Open 7am-1pm Tuesday-Thursday and 3pm-Friday, 8am-3pm weekends at 11200G Golf Links Road Auckland; charliemaycoffee.com.
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