Ain't Normal Cafe - Oakland

Amazing cortado and decaf (yes) cappuccino, nice sitting area outside in the sun. This is a destination for coffee connoisseurs as evidenced by our several visits and a young couple in line who traveled from San Francisco to savor the coffee. Rich, deep, dark crema with powerful aromas. The caramelization of the cortado was exceptional and I spent several minutes inhaling the scents like a fine wine before taking the fist sip. Strong roasted bean flavors that lingered deliciously on the plate for a long while after we left and walked to Trader Joe’s for shopping. Purchased roasted beans which smelled heavenly. This is my 2 in the Bay Area and the USA for coffee after CoRo in Berkeley. And it just got closer after my visit of January 7. Wow!

Recently read about their Italian Hoagie in a ‘top sandwich spots’ article and went to check it out. Not a coffee drinker so can’t comment, but the sandwich is possibly one of the best Italian subs I’ve ever had and I highly recommend it! Large enough to split for sure. Worth a lunch spot in and of itself. They also sell a small, curated selection of wines, canned fish, pastries, and more.

The barista was really really rude and it ain't normal to be running out of coffee if it says coffee at 3 pm. Plus to recommend a $13 drink ?

Only come here for a quick pour over of an interesting coffee or tea in the morning the every once in a while restock of beans or tea leaves. They make delicious pour overs and mochas though!I love this place for the large variety of offerings: local small batch unique coffee beans, tea, coffee and matcha wares, drinkware, tinned fish, wine, merch, etc. I love scrolling through this place while I wait. It's literally the coffee shop of my dreams. Other than that, they also have pastries and food items which is awesome.However, the customer service is what brings this place down for me. The baristas seem pretty absent minded and ignorant whenever I talk to them. It almost makes me feel stupid whenever I go inside. They never return any greetings and they'll stare awkwardly instead of saying they'll be with me in a moment or something.If I didn't like this place a lot because of the things they actually have inside it, I'd never come back.

In my top few Bay Area places to get good interesting coffee (not so much a place to hang out).