Espresso Roma

Max Shepherd

The chicken bagel is a work of art, the breakfast burritos are amazing, the coffee is excellent, amazing venue, versatile seating, excellent service with nice employees.

Dean Moses

I've been hanging out at Espresso Roma on sunny weekend days for the entire 21 years I've lived in Berkeley. For years it was with my young kids, who appreciated the space to run around without molesting other guests, and now with my 50-something pickleball buddies after matches. Gathering some friends for a drink around a shabby table under the dappled sunlight filtering through the spreading vine canopy is just the most pleasant way to spend an hour or two in the afternoon. The food, unfortunately, is pretty tragically poor. Giant bready sandwiches, somewhat stale-tasting pastas. Confine yourself to drinks, and enjoy your friends and the ambiance.

Damien S.

Only been here once, but was nice. Tasty ham pesto panini for $12, which came with a surprise side, a good green salad -- no iceberg lettuce! They also offer a generous cup of soft-serve ice cream for $2.

I have no words to describe the beauty of this salmon omelette! I was shocked by the price of it as well, honestly low for how much food and how good it was! I am very pleased! Ambience was quite nice.

My favorite East Bay cafes for working during lockdown - #2, Roma on Hopkins I’m almost reluctant to share this recommendation for fear that it’ll become too crowded. But for now, at least, it’s no problem to find a seat either in the sun or in the shade. It’s one of my favorite places to work during lockdown because you can sit underneath the vines and the dappled sunlight and listen to the birds sing as you work. Most people don’t notice the café’s previous incarnation, but if you look at the structure you can figure out that it used to be a gas station! It’s such a pretty place to sit, and it’s situated in such a pretty neighborhood, that to be honest, the quality of its coffee beans is not so important. I’m pretty happy with their Americanos, bagels, and apple turnovers – they’ll tide me over while I work and wait for a quiet time to pop across to Monterey Market to buy my veggies for the week. As far as I know, today is the main barista’s last day – I think her name is Yoly. She has always been kind and fun to talk to – we’ll miss you Yoly and good luck with your new café at the Richmond marina (which I think will be called Yoly’s café)! Lockdown Stats: • Seating: tons of seating in a beautiful setting. Both shade and sun are available. • Bathroom: technically closed during lockdown, but you may be allowed in if you smile and ask nicely! • Hours: It closes at 2:30 pm but you can hang out there for as long as you like afterwards. • Weather: the location is sunny and sheltered and the trees and vines provide shade, if needed. • Budget: Prices are fairly reasonable, depending on what you get ;) I’m also giving the Roma 3/5 “green stars” for social and environmental impact, based on this: • Longstanding community gathering spot with a welcoming vibe. • Almost all of their food is made on site or baked in advance by Espresso Roma Corp (based in Emeryville). • Waste minimization is just OK – could do better during lockdown – I’m avoiding their sandwiches as they come in a big plastic clamshell container. • Transparency is a main weakness – Espresso Roma Corp. doesn’t provide any information on sourcing of coffee and ingredients. • Just to emphasize that last point, Sandy Boyd (owner of Espresso Roma Corp.) has opened many restaurants and cafes in the East Bay over the years – including the Roma cafes, The Station burger joint near the Claremont hotel, and Nichi Ramen on Bancroft at Telegraph. As a prominent Berkeley business owner (and Cal graduate) it would be nice if he provided more information on Roma Espresso Corp’s social responsibility. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, please check out the Green Stars Project.

James K

My favorite East Bay cafes for working during lockdown - #2, Roma on Hopkins I’m almost reluctant to share this recommendation for fear that it’ll become too crowded. But for now, at least, it’s no problem to find a seat either in the sun or in the shade. It’s one of my favorite places to work during lockdown because you can sit underneath the vines and the dappled sunlight and listen to the birds sing as you work. Most people don’t notice the café’s previous incarnation, but if you look at the structure you can figure out that it used to be a gas station! It’s such a pretty place to sit, and it’s situated in such a pretty neighborhood, that to be honest, the quality of its coffee beans is not so important. I’m pretty happy with their Americanos, bagels, and apple turnovers – they’ll tide me over while I work and wait for a quiet time to pop across to Monterey Market to buy my veggies for the week. As far as I know, today is the main barista’s last day – I think her name is Yoly. She has always been kind and fun to talk to – we’ll miss you Yoly and good luck with your new café at the Richmond marina (which I think will be called Yoly’s café)! Lockdown Stats: • Seating: tons of seating in a beautiful setting. Both shade and sun are available. • Bathroom: technically closed during lockdown, but you may be allowed in if you smile and ask nicely! • Hours: It closes at 2:30 pm but you can hang out there for as long as you like afterwards. • Weather: the location is sunny and sheltered and the trees and vines provide shade, if needed. • Budget: Prices are fairly reasonable, depending on what you get ;) I’m also giving the Roma 3/5 “green stars” for social and environmental impact, based on this: • Longstanding community gathering spot with a welcoming vibe. • Almost all of their food is made on site or baked in advance by Espresso Roma Corp (based in Emeryville). • Waste minimization is just OK – could do better during lockdown – I’m avoiding their sandwiches as they come in a big plastic clamshell container. • Transparency is a main weakness – Espresso Roma Corp. doesn’t provide any information on sourcing of coffee and ingredients. • Just to emphasize that last point, Sandy Boyd (owner of Espresso Roma Corp.) has opened many restaurants and cafes in the East Bay over the years – including the Roma cafes, The Station burger joint near the Claremont hotel, and Nichi Ramen on Bancroft at Telegraph. As a prominent Berkeley business owner (and Cal graduate) it would be nice if he provided more information on Roma Espresso Corp’s social responsibility. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, please check out the Green Stars Project.

My cappuccino was very good. The seating here is mainly outside, and during a Berkeley "summer" (overcast skies), it was chilly to sit outside. Perhaps heat lamps are in order?

Despite the mediocre reviews, I rather enjoyed this place. The ambiance is good and there's plenty of seating. I did find the coffee and food to be low quality, but it's also cheaper than competing craft coffee shops, so I think there's a value statement to be made here. If you're looking for 'ok' coffee at a more reasonable price, this is a good bet.

Nate W

Despite the mediocre reviews, I rather enjoyed this place. The ambiance is good and there's plenty of seating. I did find the coffee and food to be low quality, but it's also cheaper than competing craft coffee shops, so I think there's a value statement to be made here. If you're looking for 'ok' coffee at a more reasonable price, this is a good bet.

Barbara Powell

My cappuccino was very good. The seating here is mainly outside, and during a Berkeley "summer" (overcast skies), it was chilly to sit outside. Perhaps heat lamps are in order?

Great outdoor seating under mature tree cover. Lovely staff, mostly. Food ok. Coffee is terrible. Indoors seating and atmosphere is iffy. Avoid Friday lunchtime. Taken over by lovely hoards of school kids. They need all the space. Or you can sit and watch with hearing aid turned down. There's lots of older people groups other times: cyclists, gossipers, soccer players and an irritating musical couple. Can't figure out if dogs are allowed outside or not. There's lots of "no-dog" signs and lots of dogs. Don't bother asking the staff, they don't know either. Best part is hopping over to Monterey Market afterwards. Oh, and careful walking around the African crafts on the sidewalk. Got shouted at when my dog got too close.

The location and ambience is pretty nice. The staff are also friendly enough, but I've been there a couple times now and the food really isn't amazing. I ordered a cold brew and they gave me a warm americano with ice in it. It tasted like water. I also asked them about the quality of their wifi outside. They assured me it was fine, but both my friend and I could barely use it because it was so slow.

Daniel Spivak

The location and ambience is pretty nice. The staff are also friendly enough, but I've been there a couple times now and the food really isn't amazing. I ordered a cold brew and they gave me a warm americano with ice in it. It tasted like water. I also asked them about the quality of their wifi outside. They assured me it was fine, but both my friend and I could barely use it because it was so slow.

Nabil Alhadithy

Great outdoor seating under mature tree cover. Lovely staff, mostly. Food ok. Coffee is terrible. Indoors seating and atmosphere is iffy. Avoid Friday lunchtime. Taken over by lovely hoards of school kids. They need all the space. Or you can sit and watch with hearing aid turned down. There's lots of older people groups other times: cyclists, gossipers, soccer players and an irritating musical couple. Can't figure out if dogs are allowed outside or not. There's lots of "no-dog" signs and lots of dogs. Don't bother asking the staff, they don't know either. Best part is hopping over to Monterey Market afterwards. Oh, and careful walking around the African crafts on the sidewalk. Got shouted at when my dog got too close.

Very nice 👌

yassine “ESL for All” ouassif

Very nice 👌

Out of bagels even though they comprise about 90% of the breakfast menu, pretty cranky customer service didn't point out or offer alternatives, coffee is not "third wave" and tastes pretty burnt. Outdoor seating is nice but the interior is honestly kinda dark, disorganized, and creepy looking. Great location so I would love to see the cafe step up it's game.

The quality of the coffee and chai latte was very disappointing. The chai latte was made with a powder mix that was overly sweet, making it taste more like a sugary beverage than a proper chai. The coffee lacked depth and freshness as well. On top of that, the customer service was unfriendly and seemed quite cranky, which added to the unpleasant experience. However, the outdoor seating area was quite beautiful and provided a peaceful atmosphere, which was the only redeeming aspect of the visit.

Ati

The quality of the coffee and chai latte was very disappointing. The chai latte was made with a powder mix that was overly sweet, making it taste more like a sugary beverage than a proper chai. The coffee lacked depth and freshness as well. On top of that, the customer service was unfriendly and seemed quite cranky, which added to the unpleasant experience. However, the outdoor seating area was quite beautiful and provided a peaceful atmosphere, which was the only redeeming aspect of the visit.

Stephanie Gwinn

Out of bagels even though they comprise about 90% of the breakfast menu, pretty cranky customer service didn't point out or offer alternatives, coffee is not "third wave" and tastes pretty burnt. Outdoor seating is nice but the interior is honestly kinda dark, disorganized, and creepy looking. Great location so I would love to see the cafe step up it's game.

Saw video of staff asualting 1st amendment auditors.. I would not recommend dining here if they have unstable staff working there.

Food is bad, atmosphere is unkempt, and service is horrible. If staff don’t like what you are doing, they will assault you by pouring water on you to make you leave. You can find video of this online.

Not sure if I have seen a business with less pride in a neighborhood. Trees and weeds are overgrown and unkempt. Graffiti all over outside. Pretty sad and gross.

What happened to this place? I used to come here growing up and was always amazing. Now visiting as an adult, I feel bad for the community. I came to order a juice, but they didn't have the ingredients. So I ordered a panini instead. three orders after me, they now all of a sudden have juice. I'm offered to order one, but I'm now waiting for a panini. A ham and cheese sandwhich comes out. Not the panini I ordered. This was supposed to be a quick juice and now I'm just frustrated. Wait 20 minutes and my panini doesn't come out. Turns out they were not remaking it. 5 minutes later they hand me two pieces of cold bread with some ham and cheese on top. Definitely not a panini. The manager tells me this how they serve it. Abysmal. Really unfortunate.

I got a latte, it tasted awful and was made with no care. After I could not drink it, I asked to have a tea replacing the full cup latte but I was told I need to pay for the tea. I see no interest in providing value and service in this place.

Max van Wageningen

What happened to this place? I used to come here growing up and was always amazing. Now visiting as an adult, I feel bad for the community. I came to order a juice, but they didn't have the ingredients. So I ordered a panini instead. three orders after me, they now all of a sudden have juice. I'm offered to order one, but I'm now waiting for a panini. A ham and cheese sandwhich comes out. Not the panini I ordered. This was supposed to be a quick juice and now I'm just frustrated. Wait 20 minutes and my panini doesn't come out. Turns out they were not remaking it. 5 minutes later they hand me two pieces of cold bread with some ham and cheese on top. Definitely not a panini. The manager tells me this how they serve it. Abysmal. Really unfortunate.

Mehrdad Khatami

I got a latte, it tasted awful and was made with no care. After I could not drink it, I asked to have a tea replacing the full cup latte but I was told I need to pay for the tea. I see no interest in providing value and service in this place.

Steve Bowman

Saw video of staff asualting 1st amendment auditors.. I would not recommend dining here if they have unstable staff working there.

John Stoville

Food is bad, atmosphere is unkempt, and service is horrible. If staff don’t like what you are doing, they will assault you by pouring water on you to make you leave. You can find video of this online.

Mr Wash

Not sure if I have seen a business with less pride in a neighborhood. Trees and weeds are overgrown and unkempt. Graffiti all over outside. Pretty sad and gross.