Highwire Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Albany

Can you imagine having a personal coffee bar in your back yard? Tucked between, say, your roses and your ornamental grass, or parked between your potted tomatoes and the edge of your tiny deck? Well that's what this is like, and more. This Highwire is a cute bug of a trailer, up in the front corner of an adorable nursery, and like very Highwire, the espresso is bang-on perfect. Be warned: As one of the best cups of coffee around, the seating can quickly fill up, especially on weekends, and the seating nearest the trailer can sometimes feel a bit claustrophobic if there's a line. I have only two complaints. First, there's no sparkling water served with the espresso here. It's a very minor thing, considering how few American coffee bars offer this Italian detail, but its something I miss from the Market Hall location. Second, they close at 4, which to my mind is precisely when I want an espresso, so there's been many times when I forgot to drop by because the day got away from me. Still, when it's a typically nice Bay Area afternoon, and I'm on Solano, where better is there to sit and sip some coffee than here,...

Best espresso of any of the highwire locations I have been too. It is a darker roast than I like, but they have a great recipe so it doesn't get sour or bitter. My only complaint, not enough seats, then again it is in a plant store, not a standalone shop, which leads to some amusing scenarios with entitled people like the scene I saw. So don't wonder far from the stand even if there is a line.

An upper middle class woman took a drink, sipped from it AND THEN ASKED "is this the oat latte for Sarah?" They called out the name of the drink and the person who it was for, CAPPUCCINO FOR JOYCE. Who takes a sip from a drink and then ask if it is yours. They did not apologize, making excuses, and saying oops is not an apology. This after having taken a sip from it. I would have charged her for it if I worked in that stand. But the baristas there are super nice and friendly, even answering my questions about their espresso...

This is the Highwire location to visit for consistently excellent coffee! Nestled within the Flowerland Nursery which offers the opportunity to stroll through plants, flowers, and an artisanal gift shop, friendly baristas poured exceptional quality cappuccinos, cortados, and Americanos at each of our 3 visits. Pro tip: try to get one of the small tables set into the foliage for enjoying your beverages. Patrons - many appear to be regulars - are friendly and engaged in fun conversation while waiting in line. We purchased beans at each of our visits and have greatly enjoyed them at home. Solano Avenue is a delightful location, cleaner than Oakland or Berkeley with better weather and many restaurants to enjoy. This establishment deserves your business as a premier Bay Area destination for fine coffee with Zen-like garden which earns it 5 stars...