Exploring the Bay Area

Piccino Piccino coffee bar sits in the Dogpatch next to a proper restaurant by the same name, which I have not yet tried. It’s merely a small room with a refrigerator holding sandwiches and cookie dough and a counter in front of their espresso equipment and kitchen, displaying some yummy pastries. It has no seating, but it is always well-staffed, so the service is rather prompt. The menu has a variety of coffee, espresso, and tea beverages; they proudly serve caffeinated and non-caffeinated options, and everything is carefully prepared for quality assurance. For example, they have lattes, including vanilla lattes, mochas, chai tea, and hot chocolate, among others, and everything tastes professionally made. Prices are what you’d expect from a San Francisco coffee shop, and the bitterness of the coffee or tea flavor tends to be mild, and the temperature and the consistency of the milk always hit the spot. All these things make it a great spot for a little pick-me-up. In my opinion, thoug...

Qahwa Time Qahwa Time is the relatively new coffee shop in Berkeley that takes a unique spin on the traditional notion of a coffee shop. While it serves up quality espresso and coffee drinks and a selection of pastries, like many cafes, it takes the idea of a coffee shop to the next level with its beautiful and serene lobby and its delicious, Yemeni-inspired menu. It’s not just your standard coffee stop; it’s a chance to truly experience something that will move you, satiate you, and inspire you with its exotic and impressive flavor and decor. It’s a quiet and relaxing place to work, meet, or simply savor. I like to come here for the lovely mugs of hot coffee, particularly the lattes, which come in an attractive mug, steaming hot with carefully done latte art. My favorites are the Biscoff latte and the salted chocolate latte. There’s something about this Yemeni blend of coffee that is both mild and powerful. And the milk and sweetness balance this subtle strength to create a pleasant d...

All Star Donuts Located near El Cerrito Plaza BART station, All Star Donuts sells fresh doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and other pastries at a good price. It’s an ideal place to charge up for the day because it offers variety, quality, and affordability. It’s clean and neat, yet still informal, serving products that are delicious but simple and giving off that traditional doughnut shop vibe. They have a breakfast sandwich menu on one wall and a coffee/doughnut/pastry menu behind the counter. But beneath the clear case, you can view the main attraction: the nice assortment of freshly baked sweets. The smell  is heavenly, and the display is extremely enticing. The doughnuts and other pastries are lined up neatly like mouthwatering jewelry on display. The variety of these gorgeous, edible items is impressive. They have pretty much every type of round doughnut, including old-fashioned, cake, and self-rising ones, as well as bars and doughnut holes. When it comes to toppings, ...

Cafenated Coffee Located on Vine near the corner with Shattuck, Cafenated Coffee has stripped-down modern appearance and in and outdoor seating. It has its own laid back personality that goes well with the simple modern interior and the peaceful music played on the speakers. The space is a great place to work or meet because it’s peaceful, organized, and there is no rush to finish. Walking by Cafenated Coffee, it appears to be a small shop with a little bit of seating I front, but if you enter, you will find it extends a fair distance back. It even has a large patio behind with a more peaceful seating. I consider it to be a hidden oasis in the middle of Berkeley for studying, meeting, working, or just relaxing. When you enter, you can order and pay a cashier at the counter, or you can use the self-service kiosk. The service is good, and your order will be ready shortly. There is also a takeout option, which for some reason costs 25 cents or so more. This coffee shop features most of th...

Roast and Toast This café is decorated in an exotic emerald green with gold and brown highlights, and the design pays tribute to the Islamic world. The Arabic music playing on the speakers adds to the ambiance.  The chairs are comfortable, and the space offers free Wi-Fi and a television for watching Arabic music videos or sports. It’s a nice place to stay and sit for a while. Roast and Toast offers a variety of coffee beverages, refreshers, bagels, toasts, croissants, sandwiches, as well as ice cream and pastries. You can order and pay at the cashier counter or use the electronic kiosk.  The prices align well with the quality of the coffee shop and its pleasant environment; they are only slightly higher than those of similar coffee shops. I think that the prices were very reasonable.  The caramel macchiato latte had a good amount of strong coffee and just enough sweetness to temper the bitterness. The end result is a milky beverage that is complex and deep.  Overal...

  Bench Cafe Bench Cafe is a simple cafe that serves only coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and pastries in its very small shop. Upon entering, you will see a small spiral staircase leading upstairs and a brightly lit, small room with limited seating. When I came, two baristas were working diligently behind a counter. In the way of coffee, they serve a house drip, an au lait, a cappuccino, a latte, an espresso, a macchiato, and a cortado. In the way of tea, they serve Persian Rose, Persian Black, Berber, Dream, Azul, and iced tea. They also offer specialty beverages, including banana cream ice coffee, banana cream chai, matcha latte, mocha, chai latte, hot chocolate, cold brew, and golden milk latte. There was also an assortment of pastries like cookies, muffins, and scones along the counter.  The prices are not listed on the menu, but they are what you would expect from a coffee shop in this area. I decided I would like to try the banana cream iced coffee because it was an interes...