World Ground Cafe

Some interesting options for food and drink at this cafe. Chaga chai latte anyone? Good location in busy commercial district on MacArthur. Parking may be a little bit tricky. Overall, the place is a little bit dark, reminds me of a regular pub open during daylight hours 🙂 Good amount of seating with Wi-Fi and power.

Really well flavored espresso! They have a good variety of breakfast and lunch options. Food was quick and hot. Recommend the breakfast panini. Reasonably priced.

Beautiful space with drinks, coffee, food and so much more. Private quieter spaces in the back, wifi provided, perfect for working, meeting with people or a casual date. Space is also politically sound and on point. Highly recommend. And breakfast, too!

That swedish swedish saffron almond bun was amazing. The people that work there were super nice.

I was in and out with only an Americano, but at about 8:30am on a Wednesday morning, this cafe was a nice spot for a quick stop, and there looked to be a fair selection of light bites (sandwiches, etc.) if you are feeling peckish. The coffee was decent, and the service friendly.

I've been here twice this week. The pastries are great and I was able to try some breakfast foods and that was good too. The breakfast panini is very tasty and the bread is delicious and perfectly crisp. I can't speak about the espresso drinks, but the drip coffee is some of the best I've had. Not too acidic and not weak.

Nice hang out spot but the coffee is very bitter

Great food, and awesome both for individual purchase and group take out! We have an on-site catering firm where I work, but for lunch meetings, I'll always swing by here and get sandwiches for our groups (5-20 people). I'm TERRIBLE at remembering to order in advance, and they never flinch. I STRONGLY recommend ordering for groups in advance, because it makes their lives easier, but I am also very thankful for the time I showed up in a panic at 11 am because a lunch meeting for 12 people had been SPRUNG on me, and they whipped something together within a half hour. I still made it on time, and the people at the meeting raved about the sandwiches in the reviews (it was an event for prospective clients, so we got their feedback after the event). I always make sure to share that the food is from a great local place, just up the road, that they can visit on their own!

I stopped by here for a morning decaf latte. It was 16 oz. cup. The coffee shop was busy with lots of guest coming and going. They also have some good looking food options on the menu that o will need to try the next time I stop by. My latte was good, I shall return!

Mismatched furniture, cozy vibe, friendly staff. We popped in for a quick afternoon, pick me up after having lunch at nearby ghost town brewing company. My friend treated me to my very delicious iced Matcha latte and he got a double espresso and Chai latte. Everything was made really well. It was nice to grab a quick drink before hopping on the freeway and beating that afternoon traffic.

A GREAT local coffee shop! Good coffee and a real neighborhood vibe. If you are in the Laurel District of Oakland, get your coffee here! World Ground is open 7:00a to 2:00p / 7 days a week.

really enjoy my regular visits to this excellent coffee establishment. pastries are made in-house and espresso is fresh with correct schaum on the top. Service is friendly and efficient with a Swedish touch from the owner (Uffe Gustafsson) who gives character to the place. very enjoyable...

I have loved this local business for a long time. It is really a lovely atmosphere. I really like how chill it is in here. The music isn't too loud (please god more places need to turn their music down). Loved my mocha! It wasn't too sweet, and they have great prices here. Honestly, this place is excellent for studying or relaxing and having your morning coffee. I recommend it!

Wonderful fresh baked stuff-especially savory cheese n jalepeno, or bacon biscuits. Fruit cheese danish really good. Coffee is solid, strong.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this coffee shop based on my recent experience. Despite spending around $30 for breakfast and coffee for a friend and myself, my visit was marred by an incident that left a sour taste in my mouth. While I was peacefully working on my computer, I observed a panhandling woman approach a customer who had exited the premises. She wasn't being aggressive or impolite. However, to my dismay, the owner of the coffee shop abruptly stormed outside and bellowed, 'No! Don't give her ANYTHING!' This display of rudeness and lack of empathy was deeply troubling. Although I empathize with the challenges businesses face regarding panhandling, the manner in which this interaction was handled was severely lacking. The woman ventured inside to question the owner's actions, only to be met with further hostility and threats of police involvement. Ironically, a sign above the shop's entrance proudly proclaims their dedication to "serving the community." With 26 years of establishment in the area, one would expect a more compassionate response to the impoverished surroundings. It's disheartening that their commitment to the community seems to falter when faced with those in need. Expressing my disappointment to the owner, I informed them of my decision not to return. Their dismissive response further underscored their indifference to constructive feedback. I sincerely hope this review serves as a wake-up call for the establishment to reflect on their actions and reassess how they engage with their community. True community service extends beyond serving paying customers; it encompasses compassion and dignity for all individuals, including those seeking help outside their doors.When a company seeks to serve the community, paying customers aren't the only 'customers'

Wonderful! The best pastries ever! Don't miss the sweet cheese Berry pastry! The person who bakes everything and possibly the owner is really nice and accommodating for special orders. I think his name is Uffa. Whole staff is very nice...lots of places to sit and a back room if you need to have a small meeting with a couple people. Just discovered it. So glad!

Great place to get work done. Opened from 7-2 except Sunday 8-2, which is not noted on their outside sign. Unfortunately pastries are not ready at opening time on Sunday.

Chill spot that has great service and did the job when I needed a pick me up while waiting for lunch plans. Quick and tasty. I will return.

Finally, a coffee house with proper coffee not this annoying light roasted coffee, but a proper strong, black coffee highly recommended

A nice neighborhood spot to grab coffee and yummy pastries. Has that old neighborhood flair. I like to go here and read the paper and get some work done sometimes. It's only open 7 AM to 2 PM so more of a morning spot. Plenty of outlets And decent Wi-Fi.

Spicy Chai latte was great and the prices were very reasonable. The sandwiches were also great and not overpriced.

Came across this cafe by accident but really left an impression on me. Though their interior was limited due to COVID, it reminded of a casual cafe to work or read a book or something. Ive only been there twice but I went twice in the same week which I think is a good sign. Ive tried their cold brew and their Earl Grey-lavender iced tea. What I enjoyed most was that their coffee was flavorful but DID NOT leave that thick residue feeling on your tongue after drinking. Their tea is comparable because the taste was excellent and not over-brewed. The tea came unsweetened but they offer bagged sugars or syrup. They have hand sanitizer available when walking in which is nice. All employees where face masks as well. They do have outdoor seating which is nice if you want to catch some sun rays, its available.

Good day I thought I would never have to do a review for a business. I'm going in this business before but today is my last day to patronize this business customer service was awful I couldn't believe it so rather than have a conversation with your proprietor if you're going to for the first time be careful I would not like to think that it was about color as opposed it was about service,,

Wanted to grab a late morning sandwich and coffee. My drink was forgotten and never charged despite talking about it extensively. Then after a 20 min wait, my sandwich was still not ready. Went to the counter, asked about it. Turns out it HAS been ready for a while. I asked why wasnt my name or order number called. No good explanation was given but instead my "to go" box was handed to me. I mean the meal was literally sitting next to the chef in a box. When I opened my box I realized how I was given the wrong order - a random turkey sandwich instead of what I paid for!!!!!!!! The hostess offered to have it remade but at this point I was going to be late to my appointment and had to leave. The caffe in general has a nice vibe in a neat location, the food is not bad, the coffee is strong but ..... it has a staff who cannot even handle a simple order and makes major mistakes. Come to this place at your own risk - because apparently surprise sandwiches are a thing here, and what you order does not matter. You are given the food the staff thinks you should have.... I guess this can be fun too ..?! I just wasn't ready for it. Might come back when I have 1 hour or more on my hands.

Excellent coffee; no other Laurel cafe opens earlier. For bites, try the breakfast burrito. Has high quality eggs and avocado. Only knock is the salsa is on the bland side, though not everyone liked spice so I get it.

The staff in this store are FANTASTIC ! They all speak English, & Spanish. I'm a daily client. Best of Health, Anthony, The Barber.

Been here a couple times when we visit Oakland- a nice quiet and relaxed local spot with great service, food, and most importantly, coffee!!

I think every cafe lover dreams of a sweet and serene setting to escape to with a hot (or cold) mug of something shnazzy and a scrumptious snack to boot. In this picturesque fantasy, we envision ourselves greeted warmly by a super knowledgable but never stuffy server (who may or may not refer to themselves as a barista, it's up to you) who can whip up whatever you want in a few flicks of the wrist. Depending upon what you plan on doing with your time at this place, you may want a little laughter and muffled conversation in the background or the relaxing (but non-creepy) lull of quiet. You don't need to fantasize, folks! You can make your dream a reality at World Ground. The staff serves up more than just coffee, pastries, delicious paninis and the like: count of them to supply a joke when you're in need of a laugh, a suggestion when you're stuck on a crossword puzzle and a wildly inappropriate and probably inaccurate fact when you need a little bit of trivia in your life. The sweet chai with soymilk used to be my go-to but now that I'm just another slave bowing to the altar of coffee, I've been on a real lusty iced coffee kick. Ooh, baby baby. One thing that I truly adore about World Ground (especially since the school semester has just started and I'm using the place as more of a study hall than a cafeteria) is the bounty of seating and spaciousness between the seats and tables themselves. Whether I plop down in the all-the-way, all-the-way back, the front of the house near the big ol' windows (note to self: do not get distracted by any cuties passing by) or wiggle my tail into one of those barstools so that I can weave in a few sentences with the sweet servers, I am never disappointed and can always find a way to get into the zone with my studies. That's a pretty big deal when you consider the fact that I'm cruisin' in on a Saturday afternoon, which is a very busy time for the place. World Ground is a true gem in my lovely little city--though the real gems are the characters that work there, the characters that come through there, and the character of the place itself. In the words of my childhood idol: "Sweet, sweet fantasy baby!" (If you don't know who sung that... I'll be praying for you.)

This is a great addition to our neighborhood..For over 15 years they have offered breakfast, lunch and treats & drinks including coffee ,teas etc.Most of their food is made on the premises..Despite a recession, a slow down now due to Corona Virus etc. they endure, hire locally and support the community..Thanks Uffe, Martha & Staff !! But note,they are now doing take out, not sit down, due to shelter in place. Below is a picture of Portofino since the cafe reminds us our visits to Italia..

Went here after my niece's recital at the kids dance studio a block or two away -- ordered and paid for chai... turns out they didn't have any spicy or sweet chai, this also meant no pineapple chai smoothies. We ordered chai because they were out of bananas and couldn't make the strawberry banana smoothies we originally wanted. They were also out of tomatoes so I couldn't add them to my breakfast panini. When they do have things in stock, their smoothies are good.

It was all good until the price went up. When your coffee price is nearing the Philz San Francisco Coffee price mark that is not A-Ok. The coffee is Ok but it is not drip but the quality does not match the price. The food used to be better when the price matched the food. It is like they took a look at SF and was like oh we can make everything go up. I mean common man!! I have been coming here for years and if the placed received an additional remodel I could understand the price increase. You had a nice sweet spot but ya had to mess it up! I do have some positive ideas on how to improve the place lets chat.

Great place, good atmosphere, sandwiches are the best. I go there whenever I can. Great customer service. They convert their vegetarian sandwiches into vegan upon request.

There was a decent amount of people there when I went. It definitely seems like people come here to relax or do work. I got a hot matcha latte and I was so disappointed by how watered down it was. It tasted and looked like green water with a hint of matcha. I was confused about how one could mess up matcha but I guess it's possible.

Such a nice environment for a quick breakfast. The chai tea latte was light and refreshing. The breakfast panini was great and good for sharing. Overall a chill place with yummy options.

Love the veggie panini. So good!! Went there after a long hike. A cold brew and a sand-which was perfect.

There are two things that irk me about World Ground Cafe every time I visit: First - "panzinetta" is a completely made up word. It sort of looks like an actual word describing a type of Italian salad (panzanella, aka panmolle). It irks me every time I go in World Grounds and see that embarrassing thing on the chalk board. Second - they are ALWAYS out of Fat Tire, or beer in general. Why is this? Every time I go in - there is NO beer. Overall, it's a pretty typical run-down neighborhood artsy cafe -- mish mosh of shabby furniture and surfaces (floors, tables, etc). The coffee is okay but overall it's not much to yelp about. The service is always friendly but inefficient and slow. I wish it was more comfortable and nicer to hang out than my own livingroom, but alas, it is not. YMMV.

Despite an extensive food menu, absolutely nothing vegan. Really? C'mon guys. Women at counter were definitely distracted and didn't communicate my order clearly. No almond milk despite it being on the menu. "Extra hot" soy mocha, as expected, wasn't all that hot. Worse, there was a nasty aftertaste. Really pretty gross, and definitely don't want to repeat. The place is nice enough, but honestly, not really that great. Only redeeming feature is that they are open early.

Walked in, stood at the register for a full two minutes while both employees totally ignored me despite knowing I was standing there. No 'hi', nothing. The guy employee walked past me standing at the register to a different part of the cafe without acknowledging my existence. Finally asked if I could order. Girl turns round and says 'huh?'. I said again 'can I order?' She replies with a 'what the fuck' tone: 'yeah... we're busy'. I have to admit I got super riled by the shitty attitude and said 'fuck it then' and walked out to the tune of a sarcastic 'have a nice day' from the dude working there. Yeah dude, blow me. I worked as a barista and in cafes/restaurants for years. Literally all that was needed was a 'be with you in a minute' or a 'hi'. That is REALLY not difficult. It's the bare minimum. I've been here multiple times and always had blah service at best but this was outright rude, so I'm not going back.

This review is for their freshly baked pastries in-house!! They're so good!! I tried an almond date scone and a bacon pepperjack biscuit, and they were both so great: buttery, well-balanced, really hits the spot. And they bake them fresh every morning and by early afternoon, most things are sold out :)

This is one of my first stops whenever I am in Oakland. The coffee is strong and unpretentious. The people are friendly and the food is always fresh and tasty. While the furniture isn't fancy, it's comfortable and it's always a place I feel like I can stay for a while. There are plenty of tables but it still feels cozy in a neighborhoody sort of way. Every time I come they are fast and friendly and laugh at my bad jokes about my desperate need for "the largest strongest coffee in all the land". It is a decidedly different experience than Starbucks and Pete's and the like (no shade is that's your thing). For me, that's what local flavor is all about.

Somehow not the most inviting place to visit not sure why exactly (ex. decor, lighting, customer service etc.) Service personnel did not seem to be very organized or present. Coffee tasted a bit burnt.

I wanna like this place. It's close to where I live, I can walk there and it's the perfect answer to the over-gentrified Sequoia hipster diner across the street. I enjoy their sandwiches and yogurt parfait. Coffee is unfortunately not good and the place is super dusty. Come on management! Let's make this place rock. It just needs a little extra love (and better coffee making skills).

THE STRONGEST COFFEE IN TOWN! I've lived in oakland for over 20 years and this place has a coffee called the "RED EYE" that will keep you blissfully productive all day. If you're like me and you work out of different coffee shops, this is a great place to get work done. WiFi is great, ample seats and power outlets and the place has really great sandwiches, salads, bagels and pastries in case your stomach starts growling. I highly recommend this place for the reasons above. Not to mention two of THE BEST Mexican restaurants in oakland are walking distance. (Frodo's and El Farrolito).

This place continues to decline and it breaks my heart. The most important thing at a coffee house is........ wait for it......... the coffee! Today I asked what kinds of coffee they were brewing and the cashier replied: "decaf and regular". That is the answer I would expect at a McDonald's, not a coffee house! So I said "Ok, well what kind of coffee is the "regular?" she said "I think it's dark but I don't know." I proceeded to ask "where do you guys get your coffee from?" (I was really hoping she would say something involving the words fair trade, local, or organic..... but alas, none of those) Her reply: "I have no idea." I nodded and thought to my self.... How is that possible? Isn't coffee supposed to be their thing here? Also, they were out of mugs/glasses and were serving all customers in paper and plastic cups. Unacceptable for two reasons: 1) Coffee just tastes better from a mug; everyone knows that. 2) It' s not environmentally friendly to create so much waste. So just to recap: the employees do not know anything about coffee, including type of brew, how it tastes, or where their coffee is coming from. This is the only "coffee house" I've ever been to that gives you the choice of "regular or decaf". I have that choice at home. You guys need to step your game up or you are going to lose loyal customers. And the "regular coffee" was a weak dark roast. Good points: Really good food. Unlimited free wifi. Free parking in the neighborhood. Watching this place is like watching a ship sinking in the distance. Not much you can do. I really really want this place to succeed and start to care about coffee again. I love it here. I just don't love the fact I make better coffee at home and have more coffee choices there too. That's not how a coffee house should be.

Ugh. Wanted coffee at the end of Laurel Street Music Day. Arrived just before 6. They were supposed to be open but informed us that espresso drinks were not available. Chai tea, iced coffee were available. Iced coffee was the worst I have EVER had. Tasted like they poured the dregs and added water. Terrible bitter taste - and my preferred drink is straight espresso. We paid $12 plus for three drinks. Heard the barista offer the next patron free coffee saying it was "strong/bitter". Ended up tossing coffee. Should not have been sold. Bathroom serviceable but dirty.

Super friendly service and reasonable pricing. I love the iced oat milk lattes & the breakfast panini with pesto was delicious.

The cool vibe in gentrified Laurel District of Oaktown...within seconds of crosssing the threshold, I felt like I was in a Portland cafe in NoPo, Hawthorne, or Clinton district. This is a wonderful place to chillax, study, write a letter, surf the web (free wifi), chat with a friend, play chess--even prepare a brief! Reggae and latin tunes fill the large-ish cafe that actually has two separate rooms, one filled with natural light, one with a more morose, darker (and quieter) vibe. Definitely different from the more sterile affluence of Emeryville and Albany. There are great cushions for the back, and high bistro tables too...armchairs for kicking back... Peerless coffee is just ok--it at least had some flavor to it. Came here for a trip to the Food Mill and stopping by here as I write to soak up the latest SF and EB Weekly. People-watching can be fabulishous too. They do serve food too, and it's v inexpensive...but from the two entrees I spied, one sorta gets what he pays for here...all atmosphere. Remember: not all parts of Oakland are equal (i.e. Piedmont, Crestmont, Skyline) . Have a great, sunny day!

Years ago I would hang out here in the afternoons, on the way back from grad school in Hayward, and before the tots got out of preschool. Did many papers and homework, had their sandwiches and salads, and it was always comfy and I loved the vibe. Yesterday stopped in again with the laptop...hadn't seen the wine bar addition! Totally cool! Got my coffee, then stood at the sugar bar looking around when a lovely customer asked "are you looking for the raw sugar?" Why yes I am! "It's right here - in this large container." Holy crapoly....raw sugar mecca! I am so tired of ripping open little packets because then everyone knows what a sugar fiend I am..... As usual, the coffee was terrific, the people (those working and those customering) are sublime, and I love the fact you can get good food. Since one of the tiny tots has grown old enough for trombone lessons near here, I'll be back on Saturday mornings like a regular! WiFi fast: 6 1/2 min video upload = 30 min

If you are looking for a place to study or get some work done, and you are OCD like I am, this is not the place for you. This place is more on the dirtier side, and it's relatively loud with a lot of extra curricular activities in the background. If you are not like me, this place is totally cool. It is very spacious, has outlets, and of course, Wi-Fi. It's a low-key type of place, so the line is never really long, so that's a huge perk. Not the typical hipster type of coffeehouses, but they definitely make fantastic beverages. If I were to rate this place based strictly on the COFFEE, I would give it a solid 5-stars! I love their iced vanilla latte, and their ICED WHITE MOCHA. The latter tastes much better, in my opinion. I love that the barista will ask you to try it before you walk away to ensure that the drink is perfect for you. With that said, cheers to some damn good coffee, and amazing service!!

You'll often find me here with my laptop in the morning, taking advantage of the free WiFi as I plot and plan my destiny to rule the world with an iron fist. I find the cafe's name "World Ground" to be a fateful sign my nefarious machinations toward "World Domination" will be wildly successful. The minions here ... sorry, getting ahead of myself ... the "staff" here are friendly, wonderful folks who like to smile and laugh (I may give them Delaware or Wyoming when I become their God King). The coffee is good, their lattes tasty, and their espresso is wonderfully energetic for those mornings when getting out of bed to take over the world just seems like too much work. I really enjoy the breakfast burritos and paninis which are masterfully crafted by Chef Ana (I usually have her add avocado to mine, super-food for the super-evil-genius ... the little things matter). There's also a fair selection of bagels, danishes, cakes, and cookies; including a small selection for those glutin-free future minions with peculiar dietary restrictions (personally, I always ask for extra glutin, I find it nurtures my inner evil). There's a backroom area where groups can hold meetings (I plan to utilize this space in the future for my "Hire a Lackey" job fair ... its so hard to find good lackeys around here, everyone's always so nice, liberal, and "accepting" in the Bay Area; disgusting). If you're local and need a meeting place, this is a great location and the minions - oops - "staff" will efficiently cater platters of food and carafes of coffee to keep you focused on your task at hand. So if you silly minions habitually frequent evil conglomerate corporations like Starbucks or Peets (Warning: I plan to destroy them first, I hate competition in my scheming for World Domination), then I encourage you to break that chronic condition of poor judgment and try this wonderful neighborhood cafe instead. Highly recommended!

Lately, Arizmendi's coffee has been inconsistent so we've been hitting up World Ground for our morning Joe fix. Their coffee is plenty smooth and they have nice areas to lounge or get some work done. I also noticed they do a $2.50 happy hour pint. Nice.

Been here twice. First time great just got a iced mocha. Was great. Today I ordered a breakfast bagel and double mocha warm no whip. I got whip on my no whip double mocha which is just annoying, and they microwaved or "steamed" the egg in the bfast sandwhich which was totally gross and flavorless. They should just get a griddle and fry the egg up that way for ppl who don't enjoy puffy air filled flavorless egg. No salt no pep, was just a no. Never again with the bfast sandwhich or any egg product.

Nice and relaxed local neighborhood coffee shop to grab a quick breakfast or coffee, hangout with a friend, or to work at for the afternoon. Really appreciate the friendly staff and vibe, nice open layout/lighting, and solid lox/bagels. Note they also have pretty solid pastries, lunch options, and beer! Only complaint is I wish they used more mugs instead of disposable cups...

Nice vibe inside. I'm writing about the food , however. Usually the word "burrito" invokes at least one Mexican trait in what you've ordered. World Ground's version of a breakfast burrito contains exactly two ingredients : eggs and cheese. The Pace salsa is served on the side. I know, I know: there's no such thing as a breakfast burrito in Mexico. But I think we here in the states, for the most part, have invented a nice Tex Mex version. Usually they contain a seasoning like oregano, maybe some cilantro or pico de gallo, definitely potatoes. All of the above are missing in this cafe's burrito. 5-star rating if all you need are coffee and a bagel.

I live nearby, and every time I go to World Ground I find myself realizing that the convenience is just not worth the experience of going there. Lattes are totally hit or miss depending on the barista. The breakfast paninis and burritos are good, but I've stopped eating them because they leave me feeling sick. My chief complaint is the person who I assume is the manager-- a blonde woman who has been there for at least a few years. Every time I've gone to World Ground, I've seen her be rude to staff and I've experienced her being rude to me and/or other customers. She is always complaining, and loudly criticizes staff in front of everyone. Other problems are: the lights don't work and it gets very dark in there at night-- too dark to read or do any work, tables are always sticky and covered in crumbs, they're always out of beer, drink orders are often forgotten about, and the internet is incredibly unreliable. The two saving graces are the cashiers who are generally nice and welcoming, and the bagels which are good and come with generous amounts of cream cheese.

When I'm working with clients in or near the Laurel district, World Ground is a consistent go-to for quickly-prepared and delicious food so I was thrilled to find that they've not only added a few outdoor tables but that they're also offering Black Lives Matters signs in exchange for donations. Way to go, World Ground! You've just given me one reason to stop in when I'm next in the area. Thank you for keeping it real!

This is my new favorite cafe hangout in the East Bay. I live near Lake Merritt, and am perfectly happy to drive a couple miles out of my way for the sake of being virtually guaranteed easy parking and a table to myself in a clean, spacious, and comfortable environment with fast free WiFi and decent (though not quite great) coffee. I've yet to eat here, since I can't resist the temptation to walk a block to Phnom Penh House, but the salads and sandwiches look good. The reason I'm not giving it five stars is that it isn't open late, it can get a little warm on a hot day, and it's espresso (especially the decaf) isn't as smooth as I like it.