Cole Coffee Café

I went in for coffee and left with the daily special because it sounded so good. I'm very satisfied with my impulse buy (it was a sandwich by the way).
The staff was friendly and patient while I decided what to get from the menu (everything sounded so good), and the cafe was clean and bright.

My house blend latte was magnificent. Nice street seating available with views of leisurely people.

I like the layout and feel is nice. A lovely spot to meet with someone to talk whether for a date or business. It's fairly quite and clean. It reminds me of cafés in Europe. The food is better than what you would get in a typical American coffee shop. But the coffee ... European sizes, American prices and bitter. They really need to clean their machine or get some fresh beans. Not a fan!

Support a locally owned coffeeshop!

Not sure about the remodel. I sort of miss the cozy interior of old. They left the outside seating, which is nice, and the coffee still tastes the same, very good. I prefer the glass pint glasses for large coffees, rather than the unwieldy ceramic mugs. A minor critique

Update 5/8/2018: They served my coffee in a glass pint glass. All I had to do is ask. Adjusted to 5 stars.

Lastly, I recommend the poached eggs and toast. Delicious!

Coffee is amazing!!!!
Service is something else, too. Even when the line is long, it advances so super fast, but even if I had waited.
It is soooo worth it.

Why have I not had Cole Coffee before?!?

I've been walking past this place for years, but either when they are closed or I am already late for work.

Finally made the journey to College ave on a leisurely Saturday morning, and decided to grab a bag to brew at home. Best decision ever!

The dark roast beans make for am incredibly smooth and easy drinking coffee. That plus their extra sturdy coffee mug (see pic) make me feel like I'm stooled up in an old school diner rather than back at my kitchen table for the thousandth time this year

Will definitely be working Cole Coffee into my regular rotation!

Guatemalan Nuevo Bulaj Organic Fair Trade Whole bean coffee

Shaina S.
Newport Beach, CA
886910
5/6/2022Updated review
Went during the pandemic and was so nice to still have their great coffee, service and food during those times, even though the inside was closed , was happy !

12/17/2018Previous review
The granola with yogurt and fruit is SO GOOD!!!!!!! And their toast. I love their food options. I say 4 stars instead of 5 because all 3 times I went the coffee was Luke-warm :-( and they aren't able to heat it up. It gets quite crowded and hard to navigate the crowd if you want to sit and chill for a bit. Not thaaaat much seating to kind of camp-out, and it does get cold with the door opening. I'd go back when it isn't busy, when it's warmer, and probably not for the coffee. I'd hit up Philz across the street since their coffee is usually really hot

Read more

Michael S.Elite 2022
Oakland, CA
1121943
7/2/2021
Best coffee in California. Years ago and before the larger cafe space was opened, I worked a swing and graveyard shift in the trucking business. I'd fill my Thermos at the coffee shop or brew my own with Cole ( then Royal) Coffee. Good and rich on cold Oakland harbor nights. Don't be fooled by chains. This is great November Juliet ( it's a Marine Corps term for coffee). !

Jonathan B.Elite 2022
Walnut Creek, CA
370176622
7/24/2020
First time! The chocolate chip banana bread was good. Sort of the hipster version of Philz.

Mark P.
San Rafael, CA
01
1/3/2022
Good coffee.

But ordered gift card from them on 12/29 and as of 1/3 it still hasn't shipped.
Birthday is on 1/8 and it still may not be received by the 7th though I live in a neighboring county.
Great for coffee, but not on top of even small deliveries apparently.

Leah V.
Oakland, CA
29124270
10/22/2020
3 photos
Cute coffee shop right on College Avenue in Rockridge. The main coffee shop is closed during COVID, but you can order from a window right around the corner. The line is clearly marked with spots 6 feet apart to encourage social distancing.

I ordered an ice chai latte and chocolate chip banana bread. The chai had great flavor and wasn't overly spiced. The banana bread

Very comfortable seating area, modest size. Great coffee(Americano was just right). They also sell bagels from nearby boichik, so you don't have to wait on line there if you aren't looking for bulk bagels.

What a lovely way to start the day. Stumbled upon this great spot and the proprietor could not have been more lovely. Grabbed a coffee and a bagel to go but not without having a lovely conversation. We need more of this in our world – a place where we can connect with humanity and respect. Keep up the great work!!

Cole coffee has some of the best beans around and I'd be lost without them. They have mail order available and I always take it with me when I travel abroad. Please choose to support this high quality service providing long standing small business by bringing your support here over the 3-4 chain coffee shops within one block of this place that have moved in over the past few years!

One really cannot speak highly enough of cool coffee, it is more than a coffee it is a way of life, and for generations of locals it has been the local hang where people come out to see and be seen, and visit with friends especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings and sometimes hundreds of locals will hang out Milling around and having friendly conversations with one another. Recent crackdowns on homeless, or rather recent backgrounds caused by homeless, have resulted in the removal of the benches that were across the street in front of the produce market which made things so much nicer where you can sit in the shade, but, that's life. This is some of the strongest, best food, most curated coffee in Northern California and the man himself, Cole, bought this business from Royal coffee back in the day, and has maintained an absolutely rabbit and loyal following ever since, the likes of which include me.