If you’re a coffee nerd you’ve got to check this place out. Top-notch, single-origin espresso for $3? Yes, please! Even if you’re not a coffee nerd you’ll love it. Even if you hate coffee and never drink it, the interior decor is worth the time it takes to find parking in Downtown. I haven’t taken any of their classes yet but if they’re as good as the coffee you’ll walk away an expert.

Best coffee in the Bay Area, maybe the best I've ever had in the world. They were long time importers of un-roasted beans for your favorite local roasters and is the site of their test kitchen, which means they know exactly how to treat each bean for maximum goodness. They have the rare combination of being huge coffee nerds but not being all uppity about it.

Best coffee shop in the Bay Area hands down. Extremely high quality beans brewed to perfection. Amazing espresso. Nice vibe in the shop too. Creative specialty drinks.

I will sell the soul of my first born to get an unlimited supply of their coffee. Overall, it's a great place to learn more about the process of coffee-making. You can attend their in person classes or flip over their books while enjoying a cuppa

I happen to think the young Asian males here make my experience quite enjoyable

The absolute best coffee in Oakland, hands down. The light roast drip coffee has that perfect hint of sweet that’s very hard to find in drip coffee. (Also they’re friendly and not snobby like a lot of hip coffee places.) The best. ☕️

Gorgeous spot, gorgeous people who come here to drink coffee :p. The 2 pourovers (natural Tanzania / washed Ethiopia) were delicious in different ways.

If you're looking for an elevated coffee experience look no further! Coffee here is masterfully done, the shop atmosphere and service is top notch. This is a spot to go to for high quality coffee.

Coffee flights are an AMAZING idea idk why other coffee shops don’t do this!

Just moved up from socal, and I can defenitly say this is one of the best coffee shops I've been to. Their staff is incredible knowledgeable and their machines are defenitly a step ahead of my Rancilo silva. Unfortunately they don't sell roasted beans and only act as a distributor selling green beans to local roasters. Defenitly a coffee shop I'll visit often.

So happy! It's coffee heaven, they have a great variety of coffees and brewing methods from a cup of coffee to flights. Collin, my barista, was the kindest, guiding me to pick the best coffee for my style.

Great service and quality of coffee, good venue and seating area - good for 2 people but not more. Also no wifi. Prices are good for the quality

Best coffee in all the Bay Area! When I need a treat, coffee with a flair, something unique, I go here.

Definitely worth a stop! Great coffee :)

The espresso is legit! The Crown is one of the few places in the bay that is actually able to brew a smooth espresso. In most places the espressos make you cringe because they are so sour. The Crown staff knows their work!

The best coffee in this area. The staff is super friendly and always welcoming. Getting my coffee every morning really makes my day!!!

The knowledge, and skill set of these barista is of the highest level. A rare feat in any coffee shop, the coffee is ALWAYS dialed in. You can’t go wrong ordering anything on the menu. If you are a fan of specialty coffee, this is a temple.

One of the best coffeeshops in town. Their selection of beans is always top shelf.

I tried the cold brew flight. The flight included three different servings of their cold brews. I tried a Guatamalian blend, one in cold brew form and another in nitro. I can't remember the name of the third flight, but it had a very mellow blueberry taste. Will be back again

Best espresso I ve had in the Bay Area. I come for the espresso flights and baristas who are happy to share their coffee knowledge. Host Classes/Pop-ups in the back. Fourth Wave...They really care about coffee here and you can taste it....

The Crown is a wonderful space for grabbing a cup of joe. I particularly enjoy the rotating barista specialty drinks, from savory concoctions like "The Swamp" (don't hate it 'til you try it—it includes a tasty fermented carrot!) to coconutty Americanos! The staff has always treated me with the utmost kindness, and I value their warm hospitality, while respecting their busy lives behind the bar—the place is fairly fast-paced at certain hours of the day, and I think they do a great job of attending to customers despite demanding rushes. It's an awesome third space for meeting friends new and old. 10/10

This is the spot for a refined coffee experience. They offer cuppings and an ever-changing rotation of house espresso beans to enhance the experience of tasting. I’ve learned a lot about different fermentation processes and how they affect the flavor profile of espresso. I also love that they offer a $2 batch brew as a way to keep their coffee options on an affordable scale.

Regardless of how much you know about coffee or not you’ll be able to enjoy a very nice quality at the best price. I cannot find a better quality coffee at such a low price. They have spaces for coffee quality test where they toast their own beans and teach about coffee, the people who make they coffee know very well about the ideal process of making each different coffee beans, it’s always perfectly concretated, not too much not too mild, never burnt, just perfect and it always surprise me how it’s cheaper than other places where the quality is not as good and the people who make it are not as experienced. People is very friendly and kind. Thank you for giving everyone the option to experience the experience of a fancy expensive coffe at a price that allows us to enjoy it everyday.

Their coffee is perfect. You must try it.

The Crown deserves the Crown for one of the best coffees

Great spot in Oakland with nice rotating espressos - employees are knowledgeable and nice about sharing flavor notes and recommendations. There’s also a couple other unique drinks they have and some local pastries. Plus dog friendly and some seating outside with umbrellas

Not sure if the other reviewer knows this, but light roasts are meant to be acidic 🙃 The one I had was bright, nicely acidic, and had a clean finish. Coffee is roasted on-site, and a ton of varietals and roasts are available from around the world. This is a COFFEE place.

What an amazing place, so inspiring, every single employee is so kind and willing to share their knowledge about coffee. Can't wait to come back here. 🥰

One of the best coffee places. Great cappuccino, pour overs.

+3

Wow. This is now my new favorite coffee shop. The cappuccino was smooth and well balanced. I had a yummy and elegant hazelnut pastry. The green tile from floor to ceiling behind the coffee bar was stunning. Has a nice amount of seating inside and outside as well. Cool to see they have coffee classes in the back--going to look into that. Highly recommend checking it out.

You can get flights of espresso here! So cool.

Amazing place - we were actually looking for a place to eat but we’re intrigued by this place and stayed for a cup. I had a delicious pour over, wife and daughter had cappuccinos they raved about and my son had an espresso made with Mexican beans. Highly recommended - great value considering the care taken with their product.

HIGH quality espresso… got the classic latte half caff, oat milk. Incredible taste, no bitterness, not too sweet. WOW. 🤩 wish there was more inside seating. 10/10

The best coffee shop in the Bay, right next to the best pastry shop - Firebrand. Mushroom melt, B.L.A.T, and coffee..

Some of the best coffee in Oakland, and very knowledgeable and friendly staff.

One of the best coffee shops in Oakland for sure!

Great place. Had their “Classic” - a brown sugar sweetened espresso and milk over ice. It was delicious. It’s a beautiful space. Might need to sign up for one of their events. They had a cool improv bouquet advertised!

Great coffee place in Oakland. We tried their cold brew and latte and both tasted amazing.

This has become my Sunday ritual. I have still yet to find a better done espresso anywhere else in the world. Their specialty drinks are so creative, beautiful, and tasty too. I feel spoiled having this place so close within walking distance. They also serve Bake Sum pastries (okonomiyaki danish!), and they’re dog friendly too.

Delicious, interesting coffee-forward drinks and pastries. They could better utilize their inside space. For example, there is not a lot of room for a line at the registers so they made people queue up outside. There is only one table inside, there are tables outside, but you have to wait inside because there is no way to hear if your name gets called while you're outside. They are known for their coffee flights.

Everything is nice about this place, the quality of the coffee, the price, the friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness, best bathrooms ever, the architecture, I could go on. I would give it six stars, great Oakland location.

This is not the place to come with a laptop or friends and chill. The table layout should make that obvious before you enter. It is a place to taste coffee. A good thing to get is the Espresso Flight (pictured): for $11, it's a great taste journey. I usually go to cafes to work on stuff, and therefore this is not a place I will be visiting regularly, but I highly recommend it if you are searching for a coffee experience. Great staff, great space, great coffee.

I come here for coffee some mornings. Very welcoming staff and atmosphere. They have multiple espresso options to choose from and will suggest one based on your tastes. I always get the macchiato. It is always deliciously immaculate. They serve it with a little cup of water as well! Top notch coffee place.

Love coffee? Look no further. This place is legit. Sure, you could come here for your routine coffee fix...but to really experience The Crown, you can take one of their classes or come to one of their many events all centered around coffee. Very cool relaxed atmosphere, friendly people, easy to find, and if course excellent tasting coffee. Don't walk, run.

There's good coffee, then there's S-Tier coffee and that's what the Crown has. Coferments, naturals, anaerobic pourovers. Espresso flights. The fewer food items a coffee shop has, the better the coffee is.

Gorgeous interior and what seems to be a beautiful community mission. The baristas dial in the espresso making the flavor profiles exceptional.

Best espresso I've had to date. Far better than I've had at any other speciality coffee shop. The flavors were brought out so well and the crema was smooth and balanced. They are pros here both in skill and knowledge and can tell you all about the coffee as well.

Ever since I discovered this gem, it became an Instant favorite of mine! One of the BEST coffee shop in town, love the friendly vibes, all the staff is knowledgeable about the origins of the beans and the aesthetic is everything! Enjoy coffee for here not to go. Appreciate Nate & Richard for providing awesome customer service.

Very nice coffee, I got the Ethiopian white honey which tastes like a light roast. Beautiful design, good coffee, and nice service. Cappuccino was 6$.

Wonderful pour over coffee in a great air conditioned cafe. They clearly know their coffee and espresso. There is an outside parklet as well that's got a few places to sit. Others have said there is not a lot of space here, but we found space on a Sunday afternoon. Maybe it gets busier in the morning? Starter bakery items were here, and I love their stuff, but the item we had was not as fresh as I'd hope unfortunately. Otherwise a great place, and we'll be back.

I absolutely love this place! The atmosphere is fantastic—cozy and inviting—though seating is quite limited, especially in the mornings when it gets busy. They have a special Tasting Room that offers stellar coffee service, with diverse counter heights perfect for drinks and light bites. The space also features an impressive 8-tap system and a mobile modular coffee bar called “Naaga,” crafted by Oakland artist Chambers Art & Design. The aroma of fresh coffee here is incredible. Today, I ordered a 4oz espresso with milk made from the Kenya Kii Peaberry Washed beans, as well as a menu item called Leila by Alisha Rajan. The Leila is mischievous and magical—a sparkling iced Americano with fig and ginger syrup, topped with ume plum coconut whipped cream and garnished with candied ginger. It’s like Leila, the black cat, inviting you to play along. The Leila uses Tanzanian beans and, although the portions are small and prices on the higher side, the quality is absolutely worth it. The coffee is fragrant and intensely flavorful. If you enjoy fruity coffee blends, Leila is a must-try. The staff explain the coffees in a way that’s easy to understand and really enhances the experience. I’ll definitely be coming back—just wish there were more seats! Parking is street-side with a coin meter, so plan accordingly.

Incredible coffee, amazing space. Our pourovers were fantastic, can’t wait to come back

Outdoor seating: yes Indoor seating: no Friendly staff: yes Pet friendly: yes, they have a dog water bowl outside Disability friendly: I think the door may be difficult to open if you have a hard time using your hands as it is a bit on the heavier side. I’m sure the staff would definitely help open the door for anyone though. The outdoor space seems as though it would have space for someone in a wheelchair. What I got: 2 oat milk lattes with the Sulawesi Bolokan Natural coffee. The flavor was delicious, it did not have a bitter taste at all. Space: super cool wall of hexagonal green tiles. They have a huge area where they do a lot of the tastings of their beans which is cool.

A lovely cafe in Uptown. I ordered the hot brewed flight and enjoyed the 3 different cups. My favorite was a Colombian anaerobic processed coffee. The interior is a nice place to sit and enjoy your drink, and the pastries are tasty as well. Highly recommended for coffee enthusiasts looking for a specialty shop, or for anyone wanting to enjoy a good cup of coffee.

Been walking around this coffee shop for over 2 years but just today decided to enter and will for sure come back! Their kombucha and Leia was deliciously

From coffee to kombucha and coffee courses, it’s great. Staff is so welcoming and knowledgable. Seeing the staff devoted to their craft makes a difference in the experience. Coffee is roasted well, brewed and kombucha top notch. The courses are high quality and interactive. Recommend!

The best coffee roasters in town period. Great service and attentiveness by Colin, Meri and Joe. The only down side is the type of people who come here, they are the entitled, the privileged, the annoying and clueless trust babies in bodies of adults, the dog lovers who are disabled inside and need for you to move to the side and pet their dog, or hear their long story monólogue of self absorbed soulless beings who would pay for expensive coffee, but would leave their thrash behind for you to pick it up. The rude and classless who won't greet, but bark orders because that's all they know. Back to the coffee, they have an amazing great selection rotating sometimes in a weekly basis, and sometimes in a month. My favorites are the Kenyan and Ethiopian beans on a latte, and I also recommend taking their espresso flight. This is what Oakland needed, unfortunately you just have to ignore the crowd in order ro get the crown. 😉

Some of the BEST tasting coffee I’ve had in the Bay Area. You can taste the complex fruit and deep cocoa notes of their espresso. Would highly recommend trying many of their drinks on the menu. It’s no surprise there’s always a crowd at this cafe.

David Gard

Wonderful pour over coffee in a great air conditioned cafe. They clearly know their coffee and espresso. There is an outside parklet as well that's got a few places to sit. Others have said there is not a lot of space here, but we found space on a Sunday afternoon. Maybe it gets busier in the morning? Starter bakery items were here, and I love their stuff, but the item we had was not as fresh as I'd hope unfortunately. Otherwise a great place, and we'll be back.

Yune Leou-On

Very nice coffee, I got the Ethiopian white honey which tastes like a light roast. Beautiful design, good coffee, and nice service. Cappuccino was 6$.

ahkwai Lert

I absolutely love this place! The atmosphere is fantastic—cozy and inviting—though seating is quite limited, especially in the mornings when it gets busy. They have a special Tasting Room that offers stellar coffee service, with diverse counter heights perfect for drinks and light bites. The space also features an impressive 8-tap system and a mobile modular coffee bar called “Naaga,” crafted by Oakland artist Chambers Art & Design. The aroma of fresh coffee here is incredible. Today, I ordered a 4oz espresso with milk made from the Kenya Kii Peaberry Washed beans, as well as a menu item called Leila by Alisha Rajan. The Leila is mischievous and magical—a sparkling iced Americano with fig and ginger syrup, topped with ume plum coconut whipped cream and garnished with candied ginger. It’s like Leila, the black cat, inviting you to play along. The Leila uses Tanzanian beans and, although the portions are small and prices on the higher side, the quality is absolutely worth it. The coffee is fragrant and intensely flavorful. If you enjoy fruity coffee blends, Leila is a must-try. The staff explain the coffees in a way that’s easy to understand and really enhances the experience. I’ll definitely be coming back—just wish there were more seats! Parking is street-side with a coin meter, so plan accordingly.

Alma Andrade

From coffee to kombucha and coffee courses, it’s great. Staff is so welcoming and knowledgable. Seeing the staff devoted to their craft makes a difference in the experience. Coffee is roasted well, brewed and kombucha top notch. The courses are high quality and interactive. Recommend!

Flora Zambakari

Outdoor seating: yes Indoor seating: no Friendly staff: yes Pet friendly: yes, they have a dog water bowl outside Disability friendly: I think the door may be difficult to open if you have a hard time using your hands as it is a bit on the heavier side. I’m sure the staff would definitely help open the door for anyone though. The outdoor space seems as though it would have space for someone in a wheelchair. What I got: 2 oat milk lattes with the Sulawesi Bolokan Natural coffee. The flavor was delicious, it did not have a bitter taste at all. Space: super cool wall of hexagonal green tiles. They have a huge area where they do a lot of the tastings of their beans which is cool.

Kevin Boese

A lovely cafe in Uptown. I ordered the hot brewed flight and enjoyed the 3 different cups. My favorite was a Colombian anaerobic processed coffee. The interior is a nice place to sit and enjoy your drink, and the pastries are tasty as well. Highly recommended for coffee enthusiasts looking for a specialty shop, or for anyone wanting to enjoy a good cup of coffee.

Jess Liu

Great coffee place in Oakland. We tried their cold brew and latte and both tasted amazing.

Keka Grant

The best coffee roasters in town period. Great service and attentiveness by Colin, Meri and Joe. The only down side is the type of people who come here, they are the entitled, the privileged, the annoying and clueless trust babies in bodies of adults, the dog lovers who are disabled inside and need for you to move to the side and pet their dog, or hear their long story monólogue of self absorbed soulless beings who would pay for expensive coffee, but would leave their thrash behind for you to pick it up. The rude and classless who won't greet, but bark orders because that's all they know. Back to the coffee, they have an amazing great selection rotating sometimes in a weekly basis, and sometimes in a month. My favorites are the Kenyan and Ethiopian beans on a latte, and I also recommend taking their espresso flight. This is what Oakland needed, unfortunately you just have to ignore the crowd in order ro get the crown. 😉

Vicky Vuong

Some of the BEST tasting coffee I’ve had in the Bay Area. You can taste the complex fruit and deep cocoa notes of their espresso. Would highly recommend trying many of their drinks on the menu. It’s no surprise there’s always a crowd at this cafe.

Nefnef999

Great place. Had their “Classic” - a brown sugar sweetened espresso and milk over ice. It was delicious. It’s a beautiful space. Might need to sign up for one of their events. They had a cool improv bouquet advertised!

Alexander Boulgakov

This is not the place to come with a laptop or friends and chill. The table layout should make that obvious before you enter. It is a place to taste coffee. A good thing to get is the Espresso Flight (pictured): for $11, it's a great taste journey. I usually go to cafes to work on stuff, and therefore this is not a place I will be visiting regularly, but I highly recommend it if you are searching for a coffee experience. Great staff, great space, great coffee.

Eric Garcia

This has become my Sunday ritual. I have still yet to find a better done espresso anywhere else in the world. Their specialty drinks are so creative, beautiful, and tasty too. I feel spoiled having this place so close within walking distance. They also serve Bake Sum pastries (okonomiyaki danish!), and they’re dog friendly too.

Never not had a genuinely impressive cup of coffee here. Good pastries as well. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly without being customer-service-fake.

The Ethiopia Gedeo White Honey is the best espresso I’ve ever had. Stopped me in my tracks. Cool atmosphere, chill baristas.

The Crown is one of the best coffee spots in the bay. The baristas are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and they’re so good at their craft. I’m here several times a week and it’s always a joy.

Danielle Zaghian

The Crown is one of the best coffee spots in the bay. The baristas are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and they’re so good at their craft. I’m here several times a week and it’s always a joy.

Nicholas Franklin

The Ethiopia Gedeo White Honey is the best espresso I’ve ever had. Stopped me in my tracks. Cool atmosphere, chill baristas.

Genuinely great coffee, but why is a coffee shop opening at 9AM? You’re a coffee shop. People want coffee *before work.* which is why every other coffee shop is open by 7. Just weird.

Its good. They have gesha coffee. I had the pourover and it was smooth and beautiful just by itself without cream or sugar. The baristas really care about the coffee and they are not uptight snobs about it. loved it.

Delicious & refreshing pomegranate-tarragon-rosemary shrub at this small cafe, which is more of a storefront for their coffee trainings.

UPDATE: Owner read my earlier review & issued full refund with apology, which was really above & beyond. I appreciate that a lot. Thanks! *** The space is beautiful, that's for sure, and the coffee is good. But no a recent visit (my second), I ordered a cold brew & a (tiny) muffin, and it came to $10. $5 for a smaller-than-normal muffin? OK, well what are you gonna do? Because there was some hullabaloo in the space, I wasn't paying full attention when I manually typed in the $1.00 tip... so I ended up adding a $10 tip to a $10 order. I wondered about getting a partial refund, knowing it was an inconvenience, but figuring I'd ask them anyway... I replied to the emailed receipt later than day, and got no response. Then I opted to click on the thumbs up/down on the email, and left a private "review" for them - no response. Then I sent an email, still no response. Hey, if you decide it's my problem & I shouldn't get a refund, so be it - you can reply & let me know that... but to ignore three separate communications is just rude.

Great vibe-y spot for coffee! Really like the choice of green hexagonal tiles for the interior walls. Got a cold brew and it was great, it had what seemed like a tight hint of citrus which I really enjoyed.

I go to places like this primarily for the product, and in that regard they are 🎯 Ordered the espresso flight and 2/3 were lovely (esp the gesha) but wasn’t a fan of the decaf (imo all decaf tastes off). Service was ehh but I get it. People aren’t always feeling 100% and as long as they have excellent product, I’m willing to overlook it. If anything I left feeling like I need to up my coffee game. I’ve spent way too much money on brewing equipment without really knowing where my coffee comes from and how it’s processed. Might consider taking a class from them in the future. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up with Roest 🤑

Solid coffee menu. Service showed real indifference if you ordered or not! "A next!temperament."

We recently visited a charming coffee house in Oakland, known for its specialty in pour-over coffee. When we arrived in the morning, the place wasn't too busy, and we were pleased to find plenty of comfortable seating areas. The coffee shop offers a variety of coffee beans sourced from different parts of the world, and they even have their own coffee roasting and tasting room. This was the first coffee shop I've ever visited with a coffee brewing lab, which was quite impressive. We ordered a filtered pour-over (Colombia Edwin Norena), a latte, and an iced coffee, along with two pastries. The pastries were delicious, and the coffees were flavorful, although not overly strong. The pour-over coffee, in particular, stood out for its lack of bitterness. I also noticed another customer ordering an espresso flight, which was presented beautifully. I look forward to trying that next time.

It’s a really nice cafe for coffee connoisseurs and enthusiasts in Oakland! They offer a variety of beans and pour over flights. The latte is good and is more on the light roast side (which seems to be their preference here). They also host classes. The inside is really nice but the seating is a bit difficult for coworking. They do have tables outside and an outdoor area!

The Crown opened its door on Broadway Auto Row in 2019 when I was still in nursing school. I’ve frequented this place over the last 6 years and have a better sense of what The Crown is and what it isn’t. Keep in mind that I know very little about coffee, I just love drinking it. The Crown is more than just a coffee shop. It is a hub for coffee professionals or coffee enthusiasts who want to learn more about green coffee sourcing, roasting methods, cupping, and more. But The Crown also open up its space to intersect and connect different communities: your local music band, florist, and artists. It’s also a beautiful space for people (like me) to visit and enjoy a cup of coffee. Whether or not you fit into any of those categories, The Crown offers its visitors a unique opportunity to try coffee beans with traditional and experimental processing methods from all over the world. So they usually offer 2 different types of espresso, pour over, and batched brew. Some visitors have complained about the complicated menu, but it’s really meant to encourage people to strike up a conversation with the barista and ask questions about the interesting coffee bean that they’ve sourced! I don’t think The Crown is trying to be this snobby exclusive place for coffee connoisseurs. One of the barista who used to work there said that they would make observations and note down customers feedback on their rotating menu to understand whether a new processing method would do well in the bigger coffee market. Sometimes the flavor of the coffee can be very experimental, and that’s kind of the point. What’s really cool is the barista gets the chance to create their own drinks that get featured on the menu for a few weeks. I love that the company provides their staff space to test their skills and creativity. I want to address a few bad reviews about their customer service experience: I’ve visited coffee shops from all over the world, and I would say The Crown is not the kind of place where you can expect the barista to welcome you with a chirpy voice every time you walk into their shop. The service industry is tough, and we can’t expect the barista to be welcoming and happy-go-lucky all the time. Their location is in a slightly rough part of Oakland. They deal with random crisis throughout the week that customers are not always aware of: e.g. mental health crisis from an unhoused person, robbery, car chasing, etc. What I do know is that they are kind. I have seen on many occasions when the staff welcome in, make free coffee, and have conversations with their unhoused neighbors; the barista are not chatty, but when you strike a conversation with them, they are attentive and take interest in your questions. If you are looking for a coffee shop with barista who enthusiastically make small talks with you, this place is not it. Kindness doesn’t have to be loud or performative. TLDR: The Crown is a very special place. I love that it’s located in Oakland, which is also a very special and vibrant place despite the crime. It’s a place for coffee professionals, coffee enthusiasts, and just anyone who loves coffee. It’s not perfect, but it’s not trying to be. The staff are humans, they have good days and bad days but they show up and try their best. If you are looking for a coffee shop that has delicious and sometimes experimental coffee; this is the place. The bonus is you’ll also learn a thing or two about coffee when you visit!

I’m from out of town and was drawn in with the unique drinks that The Crown offers. Today I got the Leila, while I am not a coffee enthusiasts, I know specialty items are mean to set shops apart from one another. This drink was however was very strange almost sour. It’s tastes like a mix between juice and coffee. The coconut foam on top sounds good but it doesn’t quite mix into the drink. The only part I found enjoyable was the ginger candy that was speared in.

The Crown is an amazing facility and cafe, the design and look of this coffee mecca are amazing and well hidden from view (from the street). More than just a cafe The Crown is a coffee supplier and coffee tech hub. The offer training and numerous resources for the local and national coffee industry. I decided that for my first visit I would go straight up with an espresso shot... My sense was that this should be THE place to experience the creme de la creme of espresso in it's most raw form and enjoy the pure essence of coffee... Unfortunately, I ended up being served (after about 10 minutes) the most bitter espresso I have ever had in my coffee drinking lifetime (40+ yrs). I felt like I needed to say something and I am glad I did. After letting the staff know what I was experiencing, they did not question me or try and create excuses but instead engaged me in a discussion about various aspects of preparation and brewing, as well as, offered me a re-do of the shot. The replacement shot was very, very good and much closer to my original expectations. I ended up having a great discussion with the barrista about coffee, wine and other tasting notes and flavor profiles... I also ended taking away a pound of one of their green bean varietals, which I am very much looking forward to roasting at home... I am also looking to return visits when I am in the vicinity...!

Dharma M

We recently visited a charming coffee house in Oakland, known for its specialty in pour-over coffee. When we arrived in the morning, the place wasn't too busy, and we were pleased to find plenty of comfortable seating areas. The coffee shop offers a variety of coffee beans sourced from different parts of the world, and they even have their own coffee roasting and tasting room. This was the first coffee shop I've ever visited with a coffee brewing lab, which was quite impressive. We ordered a filtered pour-over (Colombia Edwin Norena), a latte, and an iced coffee, along with two pastries. The pastries were delicious, and the coffees were flavorful, although not overly strong. The pour-over coffee, in particular, stood out for its lack of bitterness. I also noticed another customer ordering an espresso flight, which was presented beautifully. I look forward to trying that next time.

Cai

It’s a really nice cafe for coffee connoisseurs and enthusiasts in Oakland! They offer a variety of beans and pour over flights. The latte is good and is more on the light roast side (which seems to be their preference here). They also host classes. The inside is really nice but the seating is a bit difficult for coworking. They do have tables outside and an outdoor area!

Felicia Nguyen

I’m from out of town and was drawn in with the unique drinks that The Crown offers. Today I got the Leila, while I am not a coffee enthusiasts, I know specialty items are mean to set shops apart from one another. This drink was however was very strange almost sour. It’s tastes like a mix between juice and coffee. The coconut foam on top sounds good but it doesn’t quite mix into the drink. The only part I found enjoyable was the ginger candy that was speared in.

Anh La

The Crown opened its door on Broadway Auto Row in 2019 when I was still in nursing school. I’ve frequented this place over the last 6 years and have a better sense of what The Crown is and what it isn’t. Keep in mind that I know very little about coffee, I just love drinking it. The Crown is more than just a coffee shop. It is a hub for coffee professionals or coffee enthusiasts who want to learn more about green coffee sourcing, roasting methods, cupping, and more. But The Crown also open up its space to intersect and connect different communities: your local music band, florist, and artists. It’s also a beautiful space for people (like me) to visit and enjoy a cup of coffee. Whether or not you fit into any of those categories, The Crown offers its visitors a unique opportunity to try coffee beans with traditional and experimental processing methods from all over the world. So they usually offer 2 different types of espresso, pour over, and batched brew. Some visitors have complained about the complicated menu, but it’s really meant to encourage people to strike up a conversation with the barista and ask questions about the interesting coffee bean that they’ve sourced! I don’t think The Crown is trying to be this snobby exclusive place for coffee connoisseurs. One of the barista who used to work there said that they would make observations and note down customers feedback on their rotating menu to understand whether a new processing method would do well in the bigger coffee market. Sometimes the flavor of the coffee can be very experimental, and that’s kind of the point. What’s really cool is the barista gets the chance to create their own drinks that get featured on the menu for a few weeks. I love that the company provides their staff space to test their skills and creativity. I want to address a few bad reviews about their customer service experience: I’ve visited coffee shops from all over the world, and I would say The Crown is not the kind of place where you can expect the barista to welcome you with a chirpy voice every time you walk into their shop. The service industry is tough, and we can’t expect the barista to be welcoming and happy-go-lucky all the time. Their location is in a slightly rough part of Oakland. They deal with random crisis throughout the week that customers are not always aware of: e.g. mental health crisis from an unhoused person, robbery, car chasing, etc. What I do know is that they are kind. I have seen on many occasions when the staff welcome in, make free coffee, and have conversations with their unhoused neighbors; the barista are not chatty, but when you strike a conversation with them, they are attentive and take interest in your questions. If you are looking for a coffee shop with barista who enthusiastically make small talks with you, this place is not it. Kindness doesn’t have to be loud or performative. TLDR: The Crown is a very special place. I love that it’s located in Oakland, which is also a very special and vibrant place despite the crime. It’s a place for coffee professionals, coffee enthusiasts, and just anyone who loves coffee. It’s not perfect, but it’s not trying to be. The staff are humans, they have good days and bad days but they show up and try their best. If you are looking for a coffee shop that has delicious and sometimes experimental coffee; this is the place. The bonus is you’ll also learn a thing or two about coffee when you visit!

Mike Nolan

The Crown is an amazing facility and cafe, the design and look of this coffee mecca are amazing and well hidden from view (from the street). More than just a cafe The Crown is a coffee supplier and coffee tech hub. The offer training and numerous resources for the local and national coffee industry. I decided that for my first visit I would go straight up with an espresso shot... My sense was that this should be THE place to experience the creme de la creme of espresso in it's most raw form and enjoy the pure essence of coffee... Unfortunately, I ended up being served (after about 10 minutes) the most bitter espresso I have ever had in my coffee drinking lifetime (40+ yrs). I felt like I needed to say something and I am glad I did. After letting the staff know what I was experiencing, they did not question me or try and create excuses but instead engaged me in a discussion about various aspects of preparation and brewing, as well as, offered me a re-do of the shot. The replacement shot was very, very good and much closer to my original expectations. I ended up having a great discussion with the barrista about coffee, wine and other tasting notes and flavor profiles... I also ended taking away a pound of one of their green bean varietals, which I am very much looking forward to roasting at home... I am also looking to return visits when I am in the vicinity...!

Great service, but the coffee is sour. Not a good place if you like dark roast. Wish they had Oatly instead of Califia oat milk.

Interesting concept - choosing the beans for espresso drinks and milk. Their price level definitely doesn't match the quality. As of January 2022 the place is effectively closed - taking orders through a hole in plexiglass and making you sit in the street. With all these precautions they still ask patrons to wear a mask while ordering outside 🤷 Half and half latte tasted of sour milk. The almond milk latte was okay.

Great coffee but they only have 1 table inside despite lots of empty space to reorganize and put multiple tables. I didn't quite get their interior arrangement. I ended up sitting outside (winter time) which wasn't a pleasant experience. Probably not going back...

Coffee is phenomenal here, delicious and dialed in. Cheap drip coffee is provided for higher accessibility and new S.O options consistently appear. However, what is with the logo? I was extremely insulted walking in and seeing a huge poster of Ganesha holding a coffee cup and tasting spoon…a western rendition and destruction of a deity that really hurt me to see. I read the reasoning for this choice of mascot that is underneath the poster, but that did not make it any better. Still very insulted that it is white run and all of the employees were Caucasian yet my deity—an old, historic, spiritual, and powerful one is used to represent a not Hindu company / service / community / product. I found this very distasteful and disturbing. If you have to leave a sign out explaining your choice of appropriation, why even choose it in the first place? Very disappointed because the coffee and people who work here are awesome but cmon man that is really hurtful and is insulting to see. It’s not okay

Good coffee. Terrible service. The young Asian male barista that served me was anything but welcoming. Left me feeling ambivalent about this place.

Good coffees that I could experience. High quality and lot of variety. If you want to explore different coffees, strongly recommend. However, if you want to stay a bit and read a book for some time, this is not the place. Very uncomfortable music selection that sounds like trying to make someone leave soon. Anyways, mixed opinion about the place

Good coffee, cute decor but pretty bad service. Stood at the counter for a good min as the barista (who was facing me) finished chatting with another guy without even so much giving me a nod. And then the coffee took 10min to come. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Two stars because the coffee tastes pretty good. Only one table, which is communal. Uncomfortable stools, no proper chairs. No Wi-Fi. Didn't call out when my order was up, so it just sat there getting cold. Very difficult to find parking. Gotta wait for my friends to arrive, so might try a pastry - there are three too close from. I won't come again.

No wifi! My husband said his cappuccino was disappointing. I also was disappointed by the cold brew flights. The only one that was good was the nitro cold brew.

I've been to this coffee shop about twenty times and I really wanted to love it but every time I go there, somethings off. The atmosphere and especially the staff have this air of not seeming to even care whether I am there or not, the tall tiled walls and vacuous concrete floors and small concrete table feel almost as cold as the baristas' responses to my inquiries about their featured beans or how the roast is on the drip coffee. Nearly every interaction with these people makes me feel like they just want me to go away as soon as possible, Impenetrable to humor, wit, or concern of any kind. No matter how good the coffee is (and it is often damn good) I always leave feeling somehow off. Some days the coffee is some of the best I've had and others I feed the second half to the succulents in the parklet out front because my stomach just cannot take the bland acidity. Either way the royal attitudes at the crown are not worth the gamble of its sometimes amazing coffee.

There is much better coffee in Oakland. Places that feel a bit more welcoming too. They used to have egg sandwiches out front and those were great though.

Ecuador pour over tastes good. Light roast batch brew however is overly acidic and lacks other aromas besides the strong acidic flavor. To be honest it’s not a place I feel like staying, as they only have one table with 4-6 stools and the atmosphere created by the staffs feels unwelcoming and not very friendly. Given their attitude, I don't think it's worth visiting.

Grace Lee

Ecuador pour over tastes good. Light roast batch brew however is overly acidic and lacks other aromas besides the strong acidic flavor. To be honest it’s not a place I feel like staying, as they only have one table with 4-6 stools and the atmosphere created by the staffs feels unwelcoming and not very friendly. Given their attitude, I don't think it's worth visiting.

Spacious, designer, charming place. Service and attitude is unwelcoming. Some of the staff work mechanically, one time one of the staff almost throw (slide) the pastry, felt disrespectful. Bakery food is generic, you find in all other shops.

No coffee is worth the treatment. Sorry guys, love the brews but the vibes are WAY off in there. I was a regular until today, but one of the barista yelled across the room at one of the patrons, "thank you for being the ONLY person to wear a mask! NO ONE else seems to have the courtesy". They then continued to have a loud conversation about how people who are maskless don't care about other people. There are no signs about masks, no suggestion anywhere that masks are necessary or even suggested, nothing. Only about 20 people in this fairly large coffee shop, spread out, far from the counter, waiting for their coffee, being castigated by a barista. To be clear, this is one event in a long line of unpleasantness with this staff. If they want people to wear masks, they should ask instead of attempting to publicly humiliate a crowd of people who pay a premium for their coffee. I won't be going back.

Update. I love the response. I've never had that kind of experience before. I have a blog about coffeeshops. So I've been around. You seem to miss that the starting point was the staff having zero problem making me wait for a while because they were catching up... That is quite different than serving clients! You're service industry I believe. So are you in business to make money or talk to friends? A little "let me help this customer and I'll get back to you" would have been a sign of respect. I would have even gone for "I'll be right with you". We would not be talking right now ... You know, I learned something from this episode (and thanks for that), have you? BTW, peace comes with respect ... _____________________________________________________________ Wow. The worst experience ever at a coffeeshop. First of all, the barista chitchat with regular clients for a while, and they haven't even ordered. Totally ignoring me waiting. I made a comment about it and of course became immediately the bad guy with the attitude. I asked if I could have a direct pour for the espresso. And of course they have a protocol (they know what their are doing for sure). Must be a generation thing. To me, it's rude to let someone wait in line for a while because you're catching with friends. And the kid behind the counter thought I was the one rude because I expressed my surprise the ''friends'' had not even ordered yet. I guess making sure that what you're doing doesn't affect others is a thing of the past 🤔 Oh they were regulars he said. I see: you're a regular, you're well treated, you're new, you're unimportant and they don't give a shit about you! Lovely place with a lovely attitude.

I’d like to give this place 5 stars. The coffee is great and the indoor interior beautiful, despite all the good they have to offer: the attitude of the staff is somewhere between rude and aloof. It reminds me of being in Berlin, where bars and restaurants don't really appear to care whether you are there or not. That's the feeling you get here as if they would prefer that you just stay at home and leave them alone. I might go back, but only if I'm in the same FU frame of mind that the staff seems to have.

Rude and disrespectful. Inconsiderate customers park in neighbor’s clearly labeled loading zone, making it unsafe for parents to drop off and pickup pets.