Caffè Strada — Restaurant in Berkeley

A 27-year-old Berkeley institution, Strada is a beautiful place, earning it #8 ranking on a list of U.S. college coffee shops. Lots of outdoor seating (but always busy), open late (with pretty lights), free fast WiFi, and right across the street from campus, it’s a popular spot for studying but also a good place to meet and chat. The service is always friendly and fast, so tip them well (as one Yelper pointed out, and you can also see on Glassdoor, their wages are not the highest). I think their coffee drinks are good (and very reasonably priced – only $1.60 for a straight espresso and $2.40 for a cappuccino), and I always enjoy their apple cloud. Also just tried one of their Muffin Revolution yam muffins (flour-free, made with yams, almonds, cage-free eggs, dates, apples, pecans, coconut oil and other good things) which was also good.

Even though they are not perfect (like the wage issue above – help with that by tipping them!), I’m giving them 4/5 green stars for social and environmental responsibility based on the following. Their coffee is a blend of organic fair trade beans from McLaughlin Coffee in Emeryville. Their chocolate (they have been credited with the invention of the white mocha by the way!) is from Guittard. But one thing that really stands out is their approach to reducing coffee cup/lid waste: their coffee is priced for your own cup (or one of their glasses) and they add 15 cents if you want a disposable cup. They have several signs highlighting this charge and I think it works better than offering a cup discount. I think this a great way to make people think twice about single-use coffee cups – one of the most ridiculous phenomena in our modern society. Americans throw away something like 50 BILLION coffee cups per year; the plastic lids end up in landfill (at best) and something like 12 billion gallons of water (and 20 million trees) is used to make the paper cups which also have a petrochemical-based lining. Strada also have a $5 personal mug for sale and (if you do end up using a disposable) their disposable lids are compostable. They also have clear waste stream separation and everything about their operation is geared to minimize waste. Strada are not perfect by any means, but deserve credit for trying to address the huge disposable cup waste problem in a clever and...

Caffe Strada is one of the premier Berkeley Staples that everyone who visits the city seems to have a captivating experience with, and remembers for decades to come.

I was recently in Berkeley for a few days, and went to Strada almost every day to get a pastry and a drink in the morning before meetings. I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I probably went to Strada more in those days than in my entire undergrad career at Berkeley (I didn't like studying in Cafes, ok?). I will say half of what differentiates Strada is the ambiance itself. There are always people working, reading, studying, etc., but it is usually more in a casual and relaxed manner than you will see in libraries/ cafes on campus. Strada has a variety of seating options, and can suit small groups as well if needed.

The process of food/ drink ordering during the morning rush is also part of the magic of Strada. Usually there are a couple different baristas at the same time, and they knock out your order as fast as physically possible. Don't be surprised if your fancy coffee order is done within 2 minutes of when you've paid for it (faster than Starbucks, I know!). My go-to order for breakfast is their Indiano (Chai Latte) with a blueberry danish. The barista will also gladly make you a Dirty Chai, even though it is not on the menu. The blueberry danish is my favorite, but I've also had the Ham & Cheese croissant, which is excellent, and the apple turnover, which was OK.

Regardless of if you're a full time Berkeley resident or if you're just passing through, you need to do yourself a favor and experience Strada. Take an hour out of your day to spend with a coffee on the corner of College and Bancroft; sitting back and seeing Berkeley from that perspective is an experience I think everyone should see...

Hey friends! This review is about sustainability only.

I so appreciate your attention to detail when it comes to how folks here can use reusable mugs, and also limit their impact on the environment via plastic pollution.

The real silverware, the real glassware, the real mugs, the real spoon for the bowl of sugar, and the recycled napkins are an excellent touch!

That said, I was a bit disheartened to see how many people were enjoying their coffee to stay, but in to go cups. I understand that these to go cups might be compostable. But a quick glance into the recycling and trash bins shows that there is no delineation between the two. I wonder if there are ways that the barista can work clearly articulate the for-here option, by asking if people are staying to work or meet a friend.

I was also a bit disheartened to see the sale of plastic bottled water here. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. And over 95% of the plastic that we try to recycle does not actually get recycled. But rather ends up in landfills, oceans, or burned in incinerators.

By now, there are tons of options for at least better water. Maybe aluminum canned?

Thank you for considering my feedback. All in all, I was impressed by your Sustainable offerings. Just would love to see some better communication to folks dining in, who would be able to skip the trash made entirely. Thanks again! Lovely...