Red Bay Coffee — Restaurant in Berkeley

Skip this place and head to Sweet Adeline (it’s been there for years), one block to the South, or El Tiny, one block east, or Raza Cafe, two blocks north - you’ll be happier with the choices and the friendlier attitude. This spot is new, and the owner hasn’t caught on to the local vibe of acceptance and kindness: I got a hot chocolate here yesterday. I asked for no added sugar and the kind Asian guy working there didn’t add sugar syrup. It was delicious. I went back there this morning. A kind black woman took my order. A blonde barista dude overheard and loudly and angrily said “I have to add syrup, I can’t make it without sugar.” Everyone looked up and stared. I said “oh they made it for me yesterday without sugar, and it was delicious,” to which he responded “he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s not supposed to make it without sugar.” Uh ok dude. Way to angrily turn away a customer and embarrass them for asking for no sugar. All the best to you! Are you working for the sugar lobby? I’m joking, but Jeez. I’m giving you a one star to help you get a little perspective - because it sounded like you...

So, first, I am super happy Red Bay took over the old Alchemy (RIP!) space, welcome to the neighborhood! The staff are super nice, the space is nice, all that is great. The problem right now is the coffee is pretty mediocre, and I’m just hoping it improves. I’m specifically talking about the cappuccinos (with cow milk), haven’t tried anything else, but they a) don’t have any kind consistent third wave microfoam and the temperature is all over the place, often too hot, and b) there is a weird sour taste half the time, as if they aren’t using a separate milk steamer for oat milk, or something, I dunno. I’ll keep going back and trying them, but they’re currently a long way from a perfect third wave cap like you’d get at Ain’t Normal, or the old Alchemy when pulled by Charles or Jasmine. Hopefully time and more training and more careful cleaning will make this my new...

Love this spot! I come here about twice a week. The ambiance is perfect for work or relaxation, and the staff is warm and welcoming. However, management is really letting this spot down -- chronic understaffing/poor training of new staff leads to occasional errors with drinks, and the most disappointing is the random closures (been here when there was a random 11am closure, a 1pm early closure and a day where they were straight up just closed cause lack of staff). Management needs to get it together. Hire more staff. Create more incentives for staff/whatever else is necessary to keep this black-owned/community-centered coffee spot in the...