Mokka

This place is such a cute café and has such a nice selection of sandwiches and coffee. I have to say my favorite is the pastrami sandwich, there is something about the toasted panini bread with the meat and cheese layered inside. I do wish they gave more of a side salad but other than that this place is fantastic and a great place to go either with friends or to have some alone time.

Beats Starbucks if you have to hang out at the local hospital. I spent several afternoons here this month when a family member was sick at Alta Bates. Relaxed, good table space, nice place to get away from the hospital hub. Turkey cranberry sandwich is perfect. Overpriced but still better than going across the street to «Whole Pay Check» and buying from their deli.

Wow. Excellent café. Wife and I are staying at alta bates hospital (twins on the way), and wished I had discovered this café sooner. Do not go to Starbucks up the street. Go here. Cappuccino is perfect. The food is fantastic. I got the strawberry waffle. The people are real. From queer dude to sweet older couple (I think they are the owners), all the folks are here friendly and working hard.

A decent café that serves a good mocha and overpriced food. I came for breakfast and got a banana waffle, poached eggs, and tried the signature «mokka.»
The mokka was okay, they described it as being super rich but I wish there was a little more chocolate flavor. A lot of the chocolate powder separated from the latte quickly and it wasn’t the best mocha I’ve ever had. The waffle was good but it took a while to come out, for the price I wish there was more topping.
The study environment here is also just okay, not a lot of space and not very many outlets from what I recall. More of a place to chat over coffee than sit for a while.

Sad truth be known. Starbucks is better than you. Not because of any other reason than the fact they are faster, more friendly and have actual better food, regardless if it is a pre made type. Mokka has attitude and the people who work here are not really that mellow. The food is overpriced, again slow and with some attitude. Won’t be coming back even though it’s right next to my work. Starbucks has you killed in every way.

I usually visit Mokka for their made-​to-​order sandwiches. I appreciate the friendliness of the staff as well. However, the same girl who took my order and other customer’s orders also made my sandwich with her unwashed hands. Frankly, I do not want someone who just handled money to put their hands all over my sandwich. Besides this, I would still recommend Mokka for brunch/​lunch if you are in the area.

There are no outlets! I came to study here and realized I could not stay for long because there are just no outlets — beware students looking to study for a long time.
Atmosphere was cute, but just not a place for me.

This is a lovely café in Elmwood.
I live 20 minutes away and drive across town to not only get a coffee but to buy beans to take home. The menu changes but the crew are always well informed. I like the fact they now recognize me and will suggest which beans I should purchase.
I love the family run vibe, service with a smile, the conversations of the true regulars. It is also nice when the regulars ask the crew, how are you? missed you yesterday?
I ALSO LIKE HAVING COFFEE IN A REAL CUP.

First, let me say I’m very impressed.
Second, a couple small criticisms just to get them out of the way. They have nothing to do with the quality of the food or service.
There don’t seem to be any outlets. I’m not sure that’s a fair criticism, as it seems like they’re specifically trying to discourage the all-​day-​come-​and-​work crowd from taking up all their tables, which I kind of understand. They also apparently disconnect the wi-​fi during peak lunch hours. When the wi-​fi is connected, it’s a bit intermittent/​unreliable. I don’t know if that’s a fair criticism. It feels a little like picking on them for not being something they aren’t trying to be. But, it’s something I might look for in a coffee shop, so it feels right to tell others, if you’re looking for a place to study all day, keep looking.
Okay, enough of that. Now the praise. The coffee is great. The service is fantastic. There was a mistake with my coffee… the barista made it weaker than usual by accident. But they discovered the mistake before I had even tasted it. They let me keep the first cup, and made me a second, better one at no charge (and it is genuinely excellent). I had the second cup in my hand before the first one had even stopped steaming. Great job guys.
I also had some french toast (with strawberries, lemon juice, and almond slivers) that was beautiful, and tasted great. It didn’t come with eggs or anything, but for $ 5, I still feel like I got a pretty great deal. It was delicious.
It’s my first time here, so I’ve never tried anything else on their menu, but I CAN say that their options seem creative and delicious, and I will be back to try lots of these things. There also appear to be a fair few vegetarian options, which is nice. Nothing is explicitly labeled as vegan, but it seems likely there are a few things that are, or could be adapted.
In short, don’t come here to study, but definitely come here for breakfast and a great cup of coffee.

I have to come back here! So we stopped in this morning with the intent of getting coffee, but quickly changed our minds when we saw their chai lattes are brewed right there with real tea (not made from a concentrate). We were actually excited when the cashier warned us it would take 5 minutes to get our drinks so it can steep properly! The employees here are really friendly and helpful, and the café atmosphere is very inviting. We both got a roobios chai tea latte, which I thought was perfect as is. My BF wished he had added some sugar to his, but I thought the milk gave it enough sweetness. Can’t wait to give the espresso drinks a try!

Cute little neighborhood coffee shop. The owners are always there, they are very efficient and friendly. I’ve been here for breakfast and lunch and have been pleased with mostly everything that I’ve ordered. They have a solid café menu that offers cold sandwiches, salads, and panini. The coffee is pretty good, their iced teas are tasty. Far enough from campus to avoid crowds. Great for a nice quiet lunch or writing session. Pets aren’t allowed inside.
Pros
super nice staff
plenty of metered parking
decent cup of joe
great tea

Best strawberry waffle in East Bay. Light and fluffy and at a great price! Been going here for 9 years almost every Sunday. Susie & Mike and the staff are very friendly. Most of the Sunday crowd are regulars.

Mokka is my favorite neighborhood coffee shop and I’ve been coming here regularly for 3 years. The coffee is amazing and the people who run it are very nice. I crave their cappuccinos all the time. Seriously, if I ever move away I will be so sad.
Their food is good too! My favorites are the Apple Pecan Salad + Turkey Margarita Panini. The soup of the day is good too.
I know they freaked out with Starbucks opened, but I will forever choose Mokka over the WF Coffee Cart + Starbucks. Seriously the quality of their coffee is exceptional.
Stray Observations:
— Cash /​Card Policy is strange. It used to be a $ 10 minimum for a card and now it appears it’s lower. I could be wrong.
— «The Mokka Card» is a way to get around the credit card minimums and you can load it with $. Feels a bit complicated… I’m paying $ 3.50 for a (albeit amazing) cappuccino…
— Can be slow during lunch hours. I will often call in my order.
— Buy 10 drinks get 1 free! Amazing and appreciated. Feels like my birthday every time.
— Love their yearly pumpkin carving competition.
— They seem to have friendly longterm employees. This is appreciated!

One of the best black tea chai lattes I’ve had by far! I was first introduced to chai lattes at an event (most likely a Unilocal event) and it instantly became one of my favorite hot drinks because of it having less caffeine and comprising of the best of both worlds! I rather enjoyed Mokka’s chai tea latte (a customer favorite, by the way). It was light and airy. The tea was flavorful, but not sweet. I feel like there was also the perfect amount of chai. As far as drinks are concerned, this place has it down. I’ve had the mokka (espresso&steamed milk with mocha syrup) during a prior visit and it was delicious! I would highly recommend [almost] always choosing an item with the store’s name in it. I would just remember to bring cash (minimum purchase is $ 10 for card). So, if you’re in the mood for coffee or tea, Mokka is definitely on the top of my list for local favorites.
As for study spot, however, it is not. This is why: 1 outlet in the entire place, limited seating (ideal for groups of 4 or fewer), packed tightly next to nearby tables, early closing time & internet is somewhat reliable. I think the mini café discourages people from taking up spots from other customers, which is why I would recommend coming fully charged if you’re relying on your laptop or tablet to get your work done. This is understandable because they get busy around the lunch hour when I find most students are posting up on a table engrossed in a textbook or lecture slides. I’ve been here only a couple of times, but I’m starting to sense a trend. Regardless, I still like coming here for a few hours for group study and it’s really not a bad place for discussion as most people are having conversations anyway.
I still give Mokka two thumbs up for its contemporary space and decent coffee & tea.

Stumbled on Mokka because I was with a bud going to the urgent car couple stores down.
It’s Sunday, need some caffeine & pastries. I was happy to have someone ordering in front of me as I was not yet sure what I wanted. I was having trouble deciding between the matcha latte, ultimate mokka, and the caramel mokkiato. I decided on the caramel.
They have two sizes-​12 or 16. Btw, it’s only fifty cents more for the larger one. So popes for that. The drink was done quickly. Awesome plus! I got my pastry right after I paid. While waiting I took a bite of the almond chocolate chip croissant. OMG it is to die for! The pasty is crispy and caramelized on the outside. The inside was so delectable!!! It was light and fluffy and almost French toast like! I don’t think I’m describing it accurately lol. I just know is good!
The caramel mokkiato came out beautiful! I love the way it looked! They definitely didn’t overdo the caramel. The drink given that it has caramel was not overly sweet! Another plus. It looks like they also have food options here. I’ll have to try that another day!
Verdict-​I will come back to try the other drinks, pastries and food!

We both had pour overs (different beans!). Pour overs were quite good, but good coffee abounds in this area.
What’s average in Berkeley would probably be a solid 4 stars elsewhere.

Such a shame… I actually liked Mokka. BUT not anymore. Why? Their up charges are ridiculous.
In one transaction I was informed:
$ 0.75 extra for split espresso (half-​caffeinated)?
$ 0.50 for whip cream.
$ 0.50 Credit/​Debit charge if you spend less than $ 5 (despite my bill being $ 4.36) (And most 12oz drinks are $ 4).
How ridiculous is that? I just wanted a drink! I’m surprised they don’t charge extra for non-​fat milk.
Sorry Mokka, I hate being nickled and dimed. Especially for coffee! Simple features like that are free at other coffee shops. I’m chopping up my Mokka card & going elsewhere.
Lasting memory:
So stingy.

I stopped in Mokka looking for a good place to read and get a late lunch. Mokka succeeded on both counts!
I got the turkey torta, which exceeded my expectations. The combination of turkey, chipotle mayo, and guacamole was so flavorful, and the focaccia was on point. It was also pretty quiet and not crowded at all but that might be due to the fact I went on a Sunday.
Note: there is a bathroom, but it’s down the block a bit from the café. You have to get a key from the front to get access, but it turned out to not be too much of a hassle.

**aside if you’re looking for a café to study at: They shut off wifi between 11 and 230, tables are small, no outlets, and it gets pretty chatty – the people next to us were playing a loud game of cards, oh dear lord. So, do NOT come here to study. Also, bathrooms are half a block away…
There’s 3 people working behind the counter, but I had to wait a bit to place my order. I’m patient, but the length of time I waited seemed excessive. I never had to wait as long at places with one person behind the counter.
Food wise:
I got the powdered waffle, but maple syrup will cost you an additional $ 1.00. Seriously, they charge extra for that?! Mine was almost on the burnt side, so wasn’t impressed.
I also ordered the basil Parmesan toast. Apparently you can get a half order, but I was told after the fact. The menu didn’t indicate that you could order a half, and the cashier didn’t mention it to me. Being a student, I could’ve saved a little bit of money, you know, for laundry and stuff. Little upset by that. Also $ 5 minimum for credit cards or they charge extra (ugh).
The toast was pretty dry; wish they had a spread, olive oil, balsamic, anything to moisten it up.
I asked the cashier for a to go box, and after she said okay she started making a coffee drink… I had to ask someone else to get me a box, which takes like a second to get.
Their paninis looked good through, so I maaaayy come back to try it. After I graduate.

Mokka is a posh, trendy café, leaning on towards upper end as a place that might belong in Palo Alto or well-​off areas of SF (no offense to Berkeley). There aren’t many other good cafes in the area, so it was my go-​to when I worked here. With its godsend early hours opening at 6:30am on weekdays, it was the perfect place to be productive before work and stop by for a convenient yet indulgent lunch.
The ambiance is quite chill, good for socializing and alright for studying when it’s not crowded before lunchtime. Despite the fact it’s not all too spacious, they manage to pull off an open airy feeling along with an extensive open «kitchen». Seeing the baristas making the unique menu items, rather than the standard, unchanging hubbub of Starbucks, enhances the vibe of the local coffee shop.
It’s not for coffee camping though, because it can get chatty and you have to use the bathroom remotely. (I wouldn’t put it past myself to leave all my stuff and walk offsite) The tables are fairly close together, so if you get stuck next to a long and loud conversation you might find yourself unconsciously giving passive-​aggressive side glances and loud keyboard clacking. Also, the wifi is horribly restricted: not only does it not work on my laptop, but it also apparently has a time restriction and they block it off during lunch hour.
Is the Mokka better than any old mocha? I don’t know because it’s been a bit beyond my willingness to pay, and any mocha not using Tcho chocolate is likely inferior to this gold (err brown??) standard. I do like their GREEN TEA SOY LATTE (~$ 3.50) which is generous in matcha and gives you a pleasantly gentle caffeine jolt.
The food is a little bit pricey for café food, but it’s decent quality and craft. I first tried the PEAR BRIE PANINI (~$ 7) and it was quite unique, but could have used more pear because it was very bready and not very filling. I love how the paninis come with side salads; it’s fairly fresh and complements the panini nicely.
For breakfast I like the BELGIAN WAFFLE WITH POWDERED SUGAR (~$ 3). I doubt the powdered sugar actually makes a difference to the taste, but I would recommend it because there is no extra cost and it makes a bomb Instagram. I don’t know what the lemon is for, but it also looks cute in photos. (What has become of me, reviewing food in how photogenic it looks rather than tastes…) It’s also huge; I’ve had tiny Belgian waffles that I devour and find myself still hungry, but the ones at Mokka are thick, crispy, and wholly dessert-​status satisfying.
I don’t know why everyone so adamantly complains about service. All the baristas have appeared quite genuinely friendly despite my suspicious Unilocal-​derived preconceptions.
Conclusion: Definitely not your FSM i.e. the paradigm of study cafes, but great café to kill time and grab food in the area (also you get amazing pictures of Belgian waffles and latte art)