2nd Wave Coffee & Social — Restaurant in Berlin

Manager or owner accosted an employee while I was there*

I came to this café to get some remote work done. The vibe was relaxed, great playlist. Their bagels are excellent. It had all the makings of a spot I’d want to return to. But my experience took an unexpected turn. I had settled into a quiet corner in the back, mostly hidden from view, when someone entered the café and approached the counter. At first, they didn’t see me, as they began to verbally accost one of the baristas. They saw me and flagged slightly, but did not stop. Over the course of about 15 minutes, their presence shifted from mildly disruptive to openly hostile. They were harassing one of the baristas, a young woman working the counter, in a way that became increasingly uncomfortable to witness. To her credit, she held her ground with striking calm and clarity. She stated clear boundaries, responded without escalating, and didn’t allow herself to be intimidated—despite how unrelenting the other person became. What made the situation even more unsettling was the way this person (who I strongly suspect was the owner or a manager, based on their familiarity and eventual use of the espresso machine) began to invade the barista’s personal space, using the equipment in a way that felt less like assistance and more like assertion of control. This uncomfortable dynamic unfolded over a surprisingly long stretch of time. I considered stepping in, especially as the tension escalated, but I hesitated at first—partly unsure if this was perhaps the barista’s mother, given their emotional familiarity. But as more patrons came in and clearly noticed the discomfort too, it became obvious this was not a personal family spat, it was a professional situation being played out publicly, and poorly. Despite this unfortunate and unsettling incident, the café itself was, in many ways, wonderful: welcoming atmosphere, solid Wi-Fi, great coffee, and again—those bagels really are worth mentioning twice. Still, it’s hard to fully enjoy a space where staff are made to feel unsafe or disrespected, especially in front of customers. I sincerely hope this was an isolated incident, and that the young woman working that day knows her professionalism did not...

Wow! What a find! I was travelling through Berlin and stopped in for breakfast. When you walk in, you are hit with this amazing beachy vibe with very unique art and furnishings that you can tell were very carefully curated. It just put a huge smile on my face. The staff couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful. I had a beautiful (and delicious) cup of Matcha with the most delicious bagel I've ever had outside of the NY area. You could tell that this place has lots of repeat customers by the interactions with the staff. The music was bumpin' and I loved grooving along while I took in this awesome atmosphere as I ate my breakfast. I love following their socials because they are always coming up with delicious looking new concoctions and posting fun videos and photos. They are also dog friendly which is a HUGE plus! I cannot wait to go back next time I'm...

Really, really wanted to like this place. Alas, our experience was pretty disappointing. We purchased 2 coffees and 2 pastries for over $20. While waiting for the coffee, I choked on the biscuit which was very dry. We asked for a cup of water, which they refused to give without charging us, because they were out of small paper cups, despite this conversation happening next to the water fountain and mountains of stacked cups on the counter. We were so dumbfounded, we didn’t know what to say. Luckily the coffee was ready shortly after. Needless to say, we will not be back with such bad customer service. I was literally choking on your dry biscuit and you wanted me to go through a transaction? It is just petty to charge for a water cup someone who just spent over $20 in your business. Do you also charge...