1951 Coffee Company

Coffee shop for a good cause in Berkeley. The coffee shop was established to help refugee. Interior is neat and it has written on the wall about the coffeshop. It has plenty of choices of coffee drink and selection of pastries. You ordered from a touch screen kiosk. All the drink and pastries which we ordered were yummy. I love the atmosphere inside. It is quite and feel nice inside. There are parking on the street close to the shop and I also see parking garage.

Not particularly thrilled with this coffee shop. The coffee was a little excessively sweet - not as first taste but after a few sips you realize it starts to hit you. Also didn’t taste the coffee as much as the milk.. and the pastries were not good at all. They were tasteless and rather dry. Also, the location was oddly quiet? Like I know it’s a coffee house but literally libraries are louder.. felt very awkward. Anyways, my experience was not wonderful - and I should add it’s not cheap either (to be expected by still).

Great coffee, made very well. Staff is very nice. There is a lot of seating, including outdoors, so handicap accessibility should not be a problem. Lots of students use this place, so it's pretty quiet.

Friendly service and plenty of seating. Love the mission of the place. There are two issues I had - first, the seats are incredibly uncomfortable, and your bottom will not properly fit in the seat if you are at all overweight (I'm about a size 12 and the seats were too small for me). It's a very specific type of metal chair - if you know, you know. Hate hate hate those chairs. My other issue is that there are zero savory options, which was a bummer, but not a major issue, I suppose.

Good coffee in clean, upscale interior space with cafe style outdoor tables for enjoying a sunny day. Cappuccino and cortado were good though lacking intense aromas, thick crema and strong arabica notes I’ve come to expect from top tier coffee shops. Chocolate croissant was dry - likely a day old pastry given it was Memorial Day. This establishment roasts its own beans which I appreciate. My son previously purchased beans here from which we made good coffee at home, however, did not buy on today’s visit. The draw of this establishment appears to be its financial support of Bay Area refugees and large, quiet inside space which many patrons were enjoying while working on their laptops. There is also a sitting area with soft chairs in a quiet corner. If milder coffee is your preference - my palate prefers strong Italian espresso flavors - 1951 Coffee Company could be a good choice.

Went here with 3 of my friends and ordered hot chocolate, a vanilla latte, and a matcha latte. All three of us enjoyed our drinks. The interior is also very nice. Clean, well decorated, and plenty of outlets for studying. Seating might be slightly hard to come by. Still, it's a great place to spend a rainy day.

This cafe is a great place to study because of its wonderful atmosphere. Drinks are also pretty good, as are pastries. However, what truly makes Cafe 1951 stand out is its incredible employees! They are extremely kind and friendly, making this a great cafe experience. Service is also quick.

I really wanted to like this place. I truly did. Cute name, cool mission. But the drinks? Absolutely tragic. We got an iced chai and an iced matcha, and I genuinely wish we hadn’t. The iced chai tasted like watery cinnamon sadness. Way too much spice, no creaminess, just vibes — and not the good kind. And the iced matcha? I tried to convince myself it was “earthy,” but no. It was just bad. I don’t know what happened in that cup but it wasn’t tea. Please live up to the previous reviews for next time 😔💔🥀.

Great place for studying during the school year! Loved coming to get my 20% off Lavender Latte on Snackpass and supporting a good cause, which is supporting refugees! The drinks are on the sweeter side, got a mouthful of sweetness at certain times making me feel woozy, but it is chilled and very refreshing otherwise!

How do you elevate some of the best coffee in world? Pair it with a barista graduation program for refugees and help a great cause of promoting their well being. They have pour overs, espresso and a nice selection of baked goods to go with them. Went with a few friends and will visit again very soon.

Super cute lil coffee joint Nice staff Chill vibes/music Adorable hot chocolate heart designs on top of a solid cocoa

We had a hard time finding a coffee shop that was open early. We walked and ended up here a little after 8. It was nice and quiet. We were pleasantly surprised by how spacious this place was. The cashier and barista were kind. We sat on the corner and noticed there were plenty of charging spots for your electronics which was a nice touch for students. We ordered the honey oat latte and the masala chai, both of which were fantastic.

The "CEO" (laughable tittle) tends to use very belittling language particularly towards women of color. I find this quite off putting especially coming from such a mid guy. Perhaps he doesn't realize his jokes are really disrespectful and noticeably directed at women. Coffee is meh as well not bad but that great. He also chose to most uncomfortable chairs known to man. Almost as uncomfortable and massive as his ego.

I LOVE 1951! As a college student I would come here all the time. 2 years later, I continue to visit 1951 whenever I come to the Berkeley area. There is a variety of coffee options from the honey oat latte, cappuccino, rose lemonade, or the seasonal offers. The Cocomac and sparkling strawberry lychee lemonade are all fantastic. There are multiple options for coffee around Berkeley, but the service and quality of 1951 coffee in unmatched. If you have to make a coffee choice, I recommend taking a visit. If you are in the mood for a pastry: note that 1951 does offer goods that they get from Third Culture bakery. Third culture bakery is also a delight so I do recommend buying one of their pastries if you take a visit as third culture is a little further.

I love coffee but what I love more is a good cause. We were in the area and needed some coffee as we are staying away from the chain companies. I ran in without knowing what I was supporting. This coffee shop is a non profit that hires refugees and asylum seekers. Why wouldn't I support that! So glad I walked in here. Coffee was great and service was even better. The coffee shop was busy and there's was a lot of people (most likely students) on their laptops. The shop is small but with plenty of seating. While I don't live in the area, I will make it a point to come back when I can.

I've only tried 2 variations of their matcha latte, one with lavender foam and the other chocolate foam. The lavender foam has to be the best I've ver had. It complements the matcha so so well without overtaking it. The chocolate foam wasn't bad either but an overpowers the matcha flavor.The inside is a cute well lit place that is perfect for studying, if you can find a seat because it can get busy. Their morning bun is also one of the best I've had at a coffee shop(make sure to ask to get it heated). The pastries are unique and fresh. I also tried the red velvet mochi muffin which oddly tastes like playdo. Overall a great place to get your morning drink and pastry

YUM YUM THE HONEY LAVENDER LATTE IS A GOD SEND!! Please get it. I'm on the search for the best honey lavender latte out there.

One of my favorite spots in Berkeley to study and get some matcha! I love their mission, and it makes me feel a little less bad coming here to drop $6 on a drink LOL. Great tasting matcha lattes, and you have the option to add a variety of flavors of foam! I've also tried their rose lemonade, and I enjoyed the rose flavor, but the matcha lattes are definitely still my go to. They have seating and wifi inside; it can get a bit crowded at times but I've never really had any issues finding a seat.

Mikko's Tier List Reviews~ Food - 8/10 great coffee!! Price - great price! Ambience/Atmosphere - 9/10, really nice place to study! Wait time - NA, could be hard to find a seat if ur sitting in person and planning to study Individual Dish Ratings - Honey Lavender: my favorite Honey Oat Latte: favorite warm drink Matcha Latte: I think it's ok tbh, mind coffee's is better iirc Matcha strawberry latte: Pretty interesting! Tier Verdict - S out of SS

Love the mission of this cafe. Randomly found this place while looking for a quick coffee before work cause our coffee machine broke. Tried their honey oat latte and it was very nutty and delicious. Not overly sweet.

I had a honey lavender latte, and it was amazing. Whenever I see a business supporting a great cause, I'm going to support them. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in town and grab a coffee

Such a wonderful shop with a great story! In town for work and stumbled across this gem. Went twice and enjoy both times equally. Drinks and service were both fantastic

My favorite drink is a Mocha it's perfect not too sweet. Also recommend the mochi donuts! Staff is very nice and it's always busy due to students working but it's not a problem for me!

If you want a perfect latte every single time you order, good music, WiFi and a place to plug in and study/ work.... This is the spot! I was in town for work and stumbled across this coffee shop. Came one day, perfect latte was devoured within 5 mins. Returned the next day and ordered two lattes within a 20 min time span. It's that good. Love the cause of the coffee shop as well.

A really nice shop in a great location. The person I was with noted it seems to be operated by refugees. That was great to hear. All the same, the women who helped us were kind and the coffee was delicious. It tasted fresh and of much higher quality than more expensive cups I've had. Will try and return for sure.

I came here on a weekday and the place was pretty packed, but they have a nice outdoor area to sit. I ordered an iced latte and added additional caramel syrup. The cup was fairly small and the total was more expensive than I thought. The drink wasn't as good as I expected.

A faithful matcha spot Drinks: the iced Matcha with oat milk and light honey is my absolute favorite when in Berkeley. The matcha has a sweet earthy nutty taste and perfectly fine grained that easily mixes. No bitterness / acidity or clumping. For an espresso drink full of gaiety, the iced Honey Oat Latte is an exceptional choice. Reminds me of my childhood days when eating a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. The standard cappuccino with almond milk for neutral palettes is a fair choice too. Extra points for always having almond milk, oat milk and soy milk because other local shops tend to run out so for my non-dairy drinkers Pastry: first time trying one of the bakery items due to their small selection. Vietnamese Coffee gf donut was soft, dense and had a faint coffee taste. Wished for stronger coffee kick Service: always gracious and humble baristas. Never a wait because they are quick and efficient Environment: clean, good lighting, and high top or regular table seating. It is close proximity to UC Berk campus, which adds a plus for convenience Overall: A dependable and golden spot for matcha or coffee when in the area! A cardinal point to highlight includes 1951 is a non-profit that promotes the well-being of the refugee community through coffee making / employment. I assure you, your drink will taste even better knowing their mission

Coffee options were great! They suggested a honey lavender latte and it was amazing! So many people hanging out, working, and enjoying their tea & coffee There's an additional charge for take away cups even when the seating in the shop is full. Also, the self-ordering kiosk allowed you to place the order, but the card reader didn't work. So you still need to order through the barista.

1951 has been my go to spot for matcha these past few months. They use high quality matcha, and the latte overall is the perfect amount of sweetness, milkiness, and frothiness. My boyfriend usually gets their Mocha Latte and he is a big fan. This shop is a few blocks away from campus so it's often difficult to find a spot to sit down. I would recommend getting your drinks to-go, although they do charge .25 extra for to-go.

Ambiance: my favorite coffee shop in Berkeley. There's an inside portion but also cute outdoors patio if it's too crowded indoors. There are also outlets and wifi. Also love the mission of training+hiring refugees. I always have a great time here. Food: love the lavender honey latte and also the mochi donuts they get from Third Culture bakery. The drinks are also gigantic so you can really sit there and sip for a whole day.

I'm not a big coffee drinker, check that, I don't drink coffee at all, but I came here to pick up some Yelp swag and decided to make a purchase, you know, support local businesses and all that stuff. Since I don't drink coffee, I do drink tea, so I went with that. I came here during Covid, so there was only walk up service. Seems to be a rather popular place, I can see why it gets such good reviews!!

Good coffee, great cause! Supporting this coffee shop's mission is a joy--hang out, enjoy the menu items, and read about 1951 and all the it does to help refugees.

I have a soft spot in my heart for 1951 Coffee Shop. I love what they do for community and everything that they stand for. I was so bummed when they closed down the Rockridge location, but I'm glad that this location on Telegraph is still going strong. Their mission to employ refugees has always been so admirable to me. And, the service is always top notch. As some may know, I'm not really big on coffee. However, I'll ride or die for chai tea. 1951 makes some of the best chai tea in the game honestly. It's those spices and all of that flavor. Never overly sugared but still has a nice mild sweetness. It's the perfect blend of a sweet and spicy chai, and they ALWAYS serve it piping hawt. That burn your tongue kinda hot, and I'm so here for it. Love when it's nice and hot like that. They also carry the most amazing pastries, most of them being from local bakeries around the area. For my mochi lovers, they always keep a nice selection of mochi treats from Third Culture Bakery here. Their croissants and muffins are bomb AF! Since it's located right in the heart of downtown Berkeley, parking can be tough when UC Berkeley is in session. But luckily, I've always been able to find a spot on the street (there's also a parking garage right across from their shop). Always love supporting a local business who also supports the community. Cheers to 1951! I hope they stay around for a long time.

Sooooo good. Great service, quick and easy. Good coffee and good vibes. Indoors is clean and the environment is excellent. Would recommend the Iced Honey Lavender Latte it was 10/10

deeeeeeeeeelish oat lavender matcha latte. not too sweet, not too grassy, comforting when the berkeley weather is making me uncomfortably chilly, no complaints there. you can order either at the machine or with a barista. lots of options! in a little obscure part of the street near telegraph, secluded but in a nice way! plenty of seating for anything and everything! working, reading, catching up, day dreaming, etc. cleaaaan one person bathroom that's code-only entry. overall tasty drinks, great environment, no frills coffee stop.

the best coffee eva. for reals. omg and the best matcha ever. how is it so good??? how????? i don't understand what they're doing to make it this majestic way. the honey lavender latte and matcha latte are insane. insanity i say. my fav of the two drinks i have had in a whilst. and coff goes towards a good cause! that makes me so happy.

A unique coffee place place that has a good cause of supporting immigrants and refugees. The people are very nice and the coffee and teas are amazing. They have a unique array of homemade syrups that taste very natural. I really like the lavender syrup with matcha iced latte, it has a really robust flavor and is well balanced. The ambiance is really nice and hip, and there are plenty of power outlets for those who want to study/work there. For students running late to class but need an urgent yet delicious caffeine boost, you can order of snack pass. They're also really good about keeping homeless people out who often frequent Peets and cause so many problem

If you want good lattes in Berkeley, 1951 is always reliable! I'm always satisfied with my go-to order of iced honey lavender latte! Whenever friends are visiting I always come here to get a latte and sit outside when it's nice out:) seating is definitely limited inside though!

Gorgeous place to study, and lovely workers. Their message and mission are clearly important to everyone there, and I loved examining all of the explanations for the coffee shop decorating the walls. Matcha was great, and served in a cute cup. Pastries were great as well!

Staff is incredibly kind with our first time at this location. Ordered a honey lavender iced tea and espresso. Keep in mind their espressos come with sparkling water. We were so confused when the sparkling water was poured out for us. But the staff was incredibly patient and kind

For some reason, the name made me imagine I will have time-traveled back to 1951 anytime I visit here haha. It has a sleek, modern interior (not that different from game/bar rooms nowadays) with nice lively staff heading this place. I got myself a matcha mochi donut (on the small side but very good and highly matcha-flavored) and honey lavender latte (not too sweet, just enough lavender to let me know it's in there). Quite a chill place to kill some time or savor your daily dose of coffee.

Grabbed a quick iced mocha latte during a stroll in the area- it did not disappoint. The drink was perfect, super clean indoors, and it's a quiet space to study/work in. To add, it's a non-profit business supporting the refugee community.. how awesome!! Happy to support a business with a great cause.

Great staff, good drinks, delicious pastries. Big fan of the almond croissant. Nice place to study when it's not crowded. Attaches to the church campus so I'm glad I can go to the plaza and chill if too crowded.

*****Customer Experience During the Covid-19 Pandemic***** Coffee for a good cause. 1951 Coffee Company is a non-profit organization that provides job training and support for refugees and asylees through its Barista Training Program. I had heard of them through a couple friends, and finally got a chance to try it on 12/15/2020. There was no line when I walked up shortly before 9 am. The entrance was blocked off by a table. The only notable COVID-19 safety measure was a bottle of hand sanitizer on the table. I was assisted by a timid but friendly young man. I asked him a couple basic questions just so he could get some practice and he was able to answer them without delay or hesitation. I got a chocolate croissant and an iced latte. With a small tip, the total was $10. The chocolate croissant was tasty. The croissant was flaky and good quality chocolate was used. The strong taste of the iced latte gave me a nice caffeine jolt. $10 may not be a lot, but knowing it went to a good cause certainly made me feel good. I will definitely return. BONUS MATERIAL: - Street and garage parking. - Cash and major credit cards accepted.

I don't know what's wrong with the cashier (a pretty Indiana girl). She looks pretty but her attitude is bad! Because I'm just a traveling person? I guess she usually gives unnecessary glares to customers! Such a mean girl!

Great dirty chai and for an excellent cause. Love this place. People are friendly and the setting is inviting.

That was the most rancid iced matcha i had ever tasted. Maybe it was an off day but it tasted so grotesque. Waste of 7$

1951 coffee company is a huge supporter of refugees by employing & training them. Nice friendly staff. Coffee: Priced competitively to other coffee places in the area (maybe even slightly more expensive, but for a good cause). I ordered their large hot vanilla latte and I was pleasantly surprised by its moderately sweet, delicious nutty taste! I usually go to Artis coffee for my vanilla latte fix, but I guess I don't need to anymore. Will definitely come back to support! Outdoor set-up: 3 tables set up outside next to a somewhat quiet street. Located right across Unit 3, an undergraduate dorm. Wi-fi is available.

Love the mission behind this cafe. Got a latte and was very happy with my drink! I've been looking for a local, mission-driven cafe in the area to work, unwind, and enjoy a latte. And I've finally found it! Free wi-fi, clean bathroom, educational materials, lovely staff.

"Good People, Good Coffee, Good Cause!" It's always a pleasure to support a business that helps refugees. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to try to assimilate in a brand new country. I understand that the profits of this business go towards helping that community. Bravo, bravo! I visited this business on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It wasn't too tough to find a parking spot, but I bet on busy days it's harder. Of course, during the covid-19 crisis, they are having to modify their business. You order at one outside window, and pick up at a different window just a few feet away. This all worked well. On a cool morning, I just wanted a simple coffee. Reasonably priced, quickly delivered. Thanks to management for agreeing to hand out the Yelp goody bags. We appreciate your support. Let's all support our local businesses. Although I love this business, I don't love the location. After ordering my coffee, a nearby deranged person begin shouting profanities. Naturally, that is not the fault of this business. And it really wasn't that bad--I'm pretty sure I've heard all the words before. I prayed for this poor soul afterwards.

I've been here twice now and don't really see the appeal with their drinks. I might just be ordering the wrong things but both times they've just not been very good. The first time I got the iced latte, which was pretty standard but extremely milky which I personally don't prefer. The second time I got an iced matcha latte after hearing many good reviews about it, but this was probably even worse than the latte. It was really bland and there were clumps of the matcha powder on the bottom as well which were annoying to drink. The overall vibe of the place is really nice though, and the staff is also super friendly. I'd come back to study, but not sure about the drinks.

A cute coffee shop! I tried their Chai special (i think it was Apple and Chai maybe?) and thought it was delish. I've been meaning to come over the years (during my time at Berkeley) and glad that despite graduating, I still found myself on campus and able to give it a go. Come give it a try and give those bobas a break lol.

Stopped by here to get some warm decaf tea for this rainy day. Of the two decaf options, went with the mint tea :). By looking inside, you can tell this coffee shop is a fun place to go to do homework, catch up with friends, hang out, etc. (pre-shelter in place). They have a lot of merchandise (apparel, coffee beans, etc.) for sale on top of their drinks and pastries. Pro-tip: There isn't a ton of parking in the area, unless you're lucky to snag a spot right across the street. But since this coffee shop is nestled right next to a church, it's better to go during hours that are not as popular for churches. It's a nice walk, so definitely don't be afraid to park a bit away!

I've had a LOT of lattes in my life so it takes a truly fantastic drink to stand out to me. The coffee I had at 1951 was one of those drinks. I savored every delicious sip of my caramel almond milk latte this morning. The cafe was a great work environment, service was quick and friendly, and of course the mission of the place is commendable as well. If I lived in the area I just know I'd be here all the time!

Love the general vibe of the place and the overall mission. If I was still in school definitely a place I would go to study. Plenty of table space and generally quiet background music. Drinks: latte with regular milk. Pricey. Everything in Berkeley is so not counting it against them but it was $5.25 for a large latte. First sip and the main flavor I got was a bitter burnt taste. And later it became more of a watered down milk flavor. It seems like scrolling through the reviews that maybe I should have picked something else but it's my comparison drink. Pastries: ordered a chocolate croissant and an almond one. Got a plain butter one and a chocolate. Okay maybe my bad for not paying attention to what they put in the warmer and in the bag before leaving. Chocolate one was decent. I would put it in the middle of quality and taste. The plain butter one was lacking. It was flakey on the outside but the middle parts were pretty chewy. Overall. Having a hard time finding a reason to come back other than the mission of the place. Which is awesome don't get me wrong. Maybe if I'm in the area again I'll try soemthing different but I dont think at this point I'll be actively seeking it out.

What a great coffee place tucked away near the UC campus. Parking nearby was plentiful on a weekday morning, almost unheard of in normal times, and this place is very accessible and easy to find, plus they have good signage. Tucked under an arcade I was relieved to find you don't need to enter the store as they have it blocked at the entry door with a makeshift counter..one for ordering and another close by for pickup. And if weather is bad it is sheltered but still open air. There were only a couple of other people there, everyone- staff and patrons- were masked and all the proper health precautions were used, including sanitizer on the counter and easily accessible Service was friendly and cordial and I ordered two muffins from the one I saw in their display at the counter (pictuded). They had a menu on the counter, easily read, and no need to pick it up or touch it. Looking beyond the counter the cleanliness inside looked very clean and orderly. Muffins are a tad small for the price, but made up in the quality of the product. I'd gladly return and try more. Oh. and there is a handy tip can on the counter too... best to use it when pleased with the product and service. This is definitely a place to try out.

I got the iced honey lavender latte which was alright. I didn't taste the lavender at all which was pretty disappointing. It was syrupy overall and didn't taste super fresh. Service was pretty bad and unorganized since they didn't have labels on the drinks to correspond to whoever ordered it. They simply asked customers what they ordered and there were a lot of miscommunication and confusions since people sometimes ordered several items and didn't know their exact order. Other stores print out the name and order then tape it onto the drink - this is much easier for both the customer and the staff to keep track of peoples drink orders. Otherwise, the ambience is nice and it's a good place to study.

Loved the masala chai, it had that good balance of chai, spices and milk. I loved taking small sips of the drink while enjoying an outdoor experience along Channing street. I wished they had more pastries today, but maybe the weekend is slower so they didn't have too much options. Or maybe I missed the morning rush, that's why I didn't see other options beyond the croissant and a danish. I love the ambiance inside and outside. When you walk in, the lighting is warm and welcoming. The cacti were a nice touch to the pick up counter.