Elaichi

E Lee

Pretty loud and crowded when we went. We waited about 10 minutes and a table did open up. There were a lot of 2 top seats. My friend enjoyed their tumeric latte. I had a whole milk chai which was warm and flavorful. I was surprised by the milk skin with my initial sip but got used to it.

Ali

Ordered a hot choco and chai latte! Decent hot choco. Nice art on top! Nice atmosphere. Bunch of students with laptops as usual. I like the chill music they have on.

Isabella Vavra

Elaichi is my favorite coffee shop, which is hard won in an area with so many good ones. The flavors are amazing, the workers have always been kind and helpful, and the seating areas are so cozy. Definitely recommend the chai and the pistachio loaf cake.

Yusuf Ashfaq

Flew in from Portland to check out this place and it was certainly worth it. Nestled in the heart of Berkeley you’ll find Elaichi co which is a south Asian inspired coffee shop. Walking in you’re immediately surrounded by the traditional desi ambience which I love. The attention to detail and decor is very cool. The service is fantastic with workers who are available to answer any and all questions. I went for the Karak chai and pistachio cake which were amazing. The chai was served in a clay cup which I wish I could have taken home with me. Pricing feels slightly on the higher end but it may be relative to the area. They also have a prayer room in the back which is sincerely appreciated. Overall, I love this place and will certainly return!

Jawed Khan

Elaichi Co. is an absolute gem! Run by a sweet and passionate young couple, this café offers a cozy, welcoming vibe that makes you feel right at home. Their love for authentic Indo-Pak chai shines through in every cup—whether you try their kadak chai, oat chai, ginger chai, kawa tea(rishi chai), or one and only turmeric latte each sip is pure comfort. But it’s not just about the tea! Their menu also features delicious snacks and desserts that pair perfectly with their drinks. The paratha quiche chai combo, eliachi bun, and chocolate chip jaggery cookie just melt in your mouth are must-tries. You can tell everything is made with care and traditional flavors. Chai is not the only drinks they have. And for the coffee and gourmet coffee lover, you all covered as well What really stands out is the warmth of the owners—they’re friendly, attentive, and happy to share their culture through food. Whether you’re craving a nostalgic chai experience or just a cozy spot to relax and have your favorite chai, coffee or just a snack with your friends or family. A pure bliss!

Mehrnoosh Kh

Amazing coffee shop with cool and friendly staff. They have some special flavors of Chai and coffee.

Madelyn Clair

Very cozy modern inside Outside patio might be a cover refuge on a hot day, but as you can see from photo… def not welcome Confer optionally served in REAL cups… not paper… Ordered my signature drink Decaf Americano with splash of milk They had 1%! Yay Also have whole, 1/2 & 1/2, oat, almond Food review: disappointing. ALL pastries butter. No vegan option. Not one think made with oil. Drink review of my specific signature drink: better than Sasha… not as good as espresso Roma cafe. (Hopkins) I would come back. Super cozy inside and the variety of other drinks on the menu seemed intriguing. A few afterthought The bathroom IS wheelchair access accessible… And Ashley quite beautiful. Even though the hallway to the bathroom is beautiful… See photos attached. This place definitely has the aesthetic down. To that end… Their chairs are adorable and wildly uncomfortable… See photos attached. I personally like sitting on hard benches, but for others this might be a problem Oh yes… One final final thing…. There IS a compost bin here. ALL customers had ceramic plates and cups… But it was thoughtful of them to have a compost bin for food

Hassaan

The attention to detail that was placed in creating this cafe is remarkable. From the music, the prayer room, liquid trash disposal, neatly labeled cabinets, and on and on. When someone places this much attention to the smallest of things, good things are bound to happen. Their chai is always consistent, day after day, it takes wonderful. It’s balanced, not too sweet, not too bitter, just right.

Aarthi Anbalagan

Had the best breakfast today morning! Tea, coffee, elaichi bun and pistachio cake. Heavenly! Ambience was amazing! Must try if you’re in Berkeley area.

Reena Patel

First time visiting this place so went for their classic oat chai. It was smooth and lightly spiced. Very good, definitely would try one of their specialty drinks next time

S D

A truly amazing cafe in downtown Berkeley. Takes a minute to breathe it all in, but once you do you realize the deep attention to detail.. the various syrups derive from common spices used in Indian chai, the menu keeps chai at the top before coffee which is bold and awesome! The pastries and items being sold all have origins in South Asia. It’s remarkable and unique! Highly recommend My only advice - more outlets :). And would be nice to designate a space to stand for to go drinks. And kiosk ordering will move the line faster :). Appreciate the service and amazing chai ☕️☕️🔥

As a chai-snob, this is the Best chai I’ve ever had! It is now a must stop for me every time I visit Berkeley. The cafe has such a cozy, relaxing atmosphere, and the staff is incredibly friendly. It’s the perfect place to grab a hot, steaming chai and just enjoy the vibes. 10/10

This is real chai. The only time I’ve ever tasted chai like this was when my Sikh friends from the UK made it and shared their recipe with me. This is not your pre-made chai mix from a typical coffee shop. This is AUTHENTIC CHAI. Didn’t know I could taste chai like this at a cafe. Wow. Love love love.

AMAZING! I love everything I’ve had here: karak chai, elaichi bun, pistachio cake, paratha roll. Lately the white choco pistachio latte has had me in a chokehold and I’m happy to submit. 😂 I actually disagree with a previous review that their drinks are overpriced. We as consumers also have a responsibility to lift up small businesses that we want to stay in business. This is a family business that has thoughtfully curated a flavorful menu of drinks and pastries, and at the same time well-represented their community. I think it’s a fair trade off that we pay a little more given they are investing in sustainable and ethical practices like farm-to-cup. Plus it’s not even overpriced. SB is overpriced. Lol! But anyway, this place is amazing and I will be a forever customer and will tell all my friends to be customers!

If you’re looking for some authentic, delicious chai, look no further. Elaichi delivers on flavor. I tried their hot chocolate today, and that was really tasty too. I’m vegan, and they happily use oat milk upon request. I wish they had vegan pastries or breads available. Maybe one day.

Elachi has one of the best authentic karak chais according to Karachi, Pakistani preferences. The tea is a balance of evaporated milk, tea, and cardamom. There are other spicy chais and rotating beverages which are also nice. I especially like their pistachio pound cake. The cafe is a bit overrun by Cal students. It's hard to find a seat most of the time. Just FYI. Parking is rough here. I've gotten a couple of ridiculous tickets (bumper in the yellow zone and parked 2 min over time). So beware.

We came for the cardomom buns yesterday morning. They were the best we’ve ever had… and this is an international contest! We’ve been back 3 times since then. The chaos are smooth and well spiced. The coffee is perfectly brewed. The lunch fare is fresh and tasty. The staff is wonderfully welcoming and eager to provide advice or just a kind word.we won’t come to Berkeley without stopping by!

Amy Leventhal

If you’re looking for some authentic, delicious chai, look no further. Elaichi delivers on flavor. I tried their hot chocolate today, and that was really tasty too. I’m vegan, and they happily use oat milk upon request. I wish they had vegan pastries or breads available. Maybe one day.

Ruby Pokras

I never write reviews but, this cafe is one of the most intentional and kind spaces in the berkeley area! They make all of their chai, syrups, and pastries in the cafe. Their chai is purposefully sourced and their Matcha in particular is actually my favorite matcha period. I get a rose matcha usually (MATCHAFUL is the company they source from). I also really love the Elaichi buns, they’re so fluffy and are always such a hit. Their pastries are really innovative and I truly recommend trying whatever they have that is seasonal. The date cashew cookie tastes like a sticky toffee pudding and I really miss their carrot cake muffin from the fall. Thank you for having such a warm and welcoming space Elaichi!!

Samia Husain

Elachi has one of the best authentic karak chais according to Karachi, Pakistani preferences. The tea is a balance of evaporated milk, tea, and cardamom. There are other spicy chais and rotating beverages which are also nice. I especially like their pistachio pound cake. The cafe is a bit overrun by Cal students. It's hard to find a seat most of the time. Just FYI. Parking is rough here. I've gotten a couple of ridiculous tickets (bumper in the yellow zone and parked 2 min over time). So beware.

Traunza Adams

Oat chai is always good, especially in the beautiful earthenware mugs that feel just right in your hands (you do have to request these). However I received a 5% off coupon yesterday which the cashier would not let me use, said it was online only. However the coupon said “In store or online” so I think I should have been able to use it. Disappointing and kind of false advertising, no? UPDATE: The owner reached out to me to apologize about the coupon and offer to make it right. I appreciate this!

Good chai and quiche and slightly frantic vibe (4/5 Green Stars) I’ve been meaning to try Elaichi Co for some time now, thinking it might eventually become a regular spot. I had the karak rose chai with oat milk ($7.25 for 8 oz. drink, including +$1 for oat milk and +$1 for rose syrup) and the paratha quiche ($6). The drink was weirdly only lukewarm – this doesn’t bother me too much but I know others are stickers for their hot drinks being hot. I would get it again but the larger 12 oz. size, which costs only $0.75 more. The quiche was nicely made with good pastry and had interesting flavors (a little spicy!) The atmosphere in the place didn’t win me over for a couple of reasons. The staff seemed a bit frantic and created a nervous energy, and the bass on the music was way too much. The music itself was good, but the bass was just annoying. The Wi-Fi cuts off after 90 minutes with a gentle message to move on and free up space for other customers. I’m also giving Elaichi Co 4/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, based on the following: • As far as I can see, the whole menu is vegetarian. Not sure how much of it is vegan – maybe the new aloo tikki paratha roll if you get it without the side of yogurt? This would definitely be my next order! • A $1 charge for plant-based milk! That just makes me mad, nudging people back towards traditional dairy. Thanks to a campaign from Paul McCartney, Peet’s recently dropped its charge for plant-based milks. Please do the same, Elaichi Co! • They are pretty good about giving detail on ingredient sourcing. For example there’s Dandelion chocolate in the cookie, TCHO chocolate in the hot chocolate, organic matcha in the matcha latte and organic black tea in the karak chai. • Here’s more on their main product, the karak chai: Organic loose-leaf CTC Assam black tea from Chota Tingrai Farm in India and single-origin cardamom from Chemparathy Estate in India • Nice cups are provided for having your chai in-house.

This place smells like Cardamom heaven even before entering. It is a really nice Tea and Coffee place with some snack options. I really liked Salted Jaggery Latte with cardamom bun. Sitting area is ok, and mostly occupied with students. They offer free wifi and therefore it is hard to find a spot. Service was great!

James K

Good chai and quiche and slightly frantic vibe (4/5 Green Stars) I’ve been meaning to try Elaichi Co for some time now, thinking it might eventually become a regular spot. I had the karak rose chai with oat milk ($7.25 for 8 oz. drink, including +$1 for oat milk and +$1 for rose syrup) and the paratha quiche ($6). The drink was weirdly only lukewarm – this doesn’t bother me too much but I know others are stickers for their hot drinks being hot. I would get it again but the larger 12 oz. size, which costs only $0.75 more. The quiche was nicely made with good pastry and had interesting flavors (a little spicy!) The atmosphere in the place didn’t win me over for a couple of reasons. The staff seemed a bit frantic and created a nervous energy, and the bass on the music was way too much. The music itself was good, but the bass was just annoying. The Wi-Fi cuts off after 90 minutes with a gentle message to move on and free up space for other customers. I’m also giving Elaichi Co 4/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, based on the following: • As far as I can see, the whole menu is vegetarian. Not sure how much of it is vegan – maybe the new aloo tikki paratha roll if you get it without the side of yogurt? This would definitely be my next order! • A $1 charge for plant-based milk! That just makes me mad, nudging people back towards traditional dairy. Thanks to a campaign from Paul McCartney, Peet’s recently dropped its charge for plant-based milks. Please do the same, Elaichi Co! • They are pretty good about giving detail on ingredient sourcing. For example there’s Dandelion chocolate in the cookie, TCHO chocolate in the hot chocolate, organic matcha in the matcha latte and organic black tea in the karak chai. • Here’s more on their main product, the karak chai: Organic loose-leaf CTC Assam black tea from Chota Tingrai Farm in India and single-origin cardamom from Chemparathy Estate in India • Nice cups are provided for having your chai in-house.

Nikita

This place smells like Cardamom heaven even before entering. It is a really nice Tea and Coffee place with some snack options. I really liked Salted Jaggery Latte with cardamom bun. Sitting area is ok, and mostly occupied with students. They offer free wifi and therefore it is hard to find a spot. Service was great!

Loved their Kashmiri pink chai and the regular chai. It was so good and the chai smell instantly makes everything feel good. Tried some of their snacks too and it was amazing as well. Since food is always ready there is no waiting time. Only issue is the parking - it’s really hard to find any parking. There is a paid parking garage right opposite to this place.

I haven’t even had the chai yet but the line on a Sunday at 5pm was very long. Also too many students doing homework. I understand you are in berkeley and you live by the students but having them take space doing homework with their laptops while paying customers are standing and while you are trying to be a trendy cafe may be a bad idea. You may want to limit the time they visit on certain popular times. Ps I got the chai and I am going to stick to my rating. It’s quite milky and not sweet enough and also seems that it could have used more stirring.

George V

I haven’t even had the chai yet but the line on a Sunday at 5pm was very long. Also too many students doing homework. I understand you are in berkeley and you live by the students but having them take space doing homework with their laptops while paying customers are standing and while you are trying to be a trendy cafe may be a bad idea. You may want to limit the time they visit on certain popular times. Ps I got the chai and I am going to stick to my rating. It’s quite milky and not sweet enough and also seems that it could have used more stirring.

TLDR: muted flavor from the chai, $6.25 for 8oz is very overpriced We came and ordered a cardamom bun and two drinks. The masala chai was not spicy at all admins had very muted flavors. The iced Karak chai surprisingly had a stronger tea flavor but no other flavors stood out, just a strong tea flavor. Also paying over $6 for an 8oz pour just feels too much. I did enjoy the outdoor seating area

Wilson Tsang

TLDR: muted flavor from the chai, $6.25 for 8oz is very overpriced We came and ordered a cardamom bun and two drinks. The masala chai was not spicy at all admins had very muted flavors. The iced Karak chai surprisingly had a stronger tea flavor but no other flavors stood out, just a strong tea flavor. Also paying over $6 for an 8oz pour just feels too much. I did enjoy the outdoor seating area