CoRo Coffee Roastery — Restaurant in Berkeley

Updated 3/13/25 - Another stellar cappuccino and cortado with more fine beans to take home. The service is excellent and they bring the beverages and food to your table so no need to stand waiting. Morning sun basks tables outside for a superb waking experience. Go. Now.

Updated 4/14/24 - CoRo still rules the roost (roast??)! Interestingly when recently visiting Oahu coffee houses we ran into a CoRo super fan. Consistency never wavers here.

Best latte and cappuccino in the Bay Area hands down! Baristas are virtuosos in the art of preparing the grounds for espresso machine like nothing I’ve observed before. Same with steaming the milk and decorating the pour which is elevated to an art form. Cream is rich, brown with a crystallization unrivaled by other cafes. The cups used for on site service are colorful ceramics crafted in Sweden that add to experience. Person standing next to me in line traveled 30 minutes for his fix and beans to go, while my wife and I drive 35 mins for our cups. Note - we drive Bolt EUV powered by solar panels on the roof of our home. Decor is industrial roastery-chic (I’m coining the term here folks) and exceedingly clean. Great place to study or read a book inside or at tables on street with low/no traffic. Super clean bathrooms. Only Ten Belles in Paris - see my review - is on par with CoRo. And CoRo has a broader selection of beans to go. You may wait a few minutes in line, yes, but art can...

I can't believe I haven't written a review of this place yet. I've been going for years and it never fails to disappoint. One of the best places to get a coffee, with a great space to boot. Kind of tucked away in a neighborhood/industrial area so you may not find it unless you just had lunch at Vik's (CoRo is the best stop post-Vik's lunch). It is a great place to catch up, take a coffee class, read a book, etc. Also was one of the first coffee shops I saw that asked folks to use they/them for servers so defs queer friendly. And the cups are adorable.

Edit: Now I get why I hadn't "reviewed" this before - they're listed twice on Maps once as the front of the house and once as the roastery and I had reviewed the...

Granted, not everyone needs to drink their coffee where they roast it, CoRo does a great job making customers feel at home.

The staff is cordial and approachable - a rare trait in high end coffee shops - warmly welcoming everyone.

The ambiance is surprisingly cozy, with cushioned benches and stools overlooking the beautiful process behind your cup.

EDIT 11/16: I wasn't aware that the prices included gratuity and that tipping was not allowed: the prices reflect what you would pay at other great coffee shops while rewarding their amazing staff, who truly deserve it. They have a short list of breakfast foods so don't expect too much.

Overall, a good experience despite their...