Alem’s Coffee

I love coming here! Ever since I started working next door, earlier this year, I’ve been grabbing bites to eat here! Very attentive and the owner is so sweet and nice!

Was just randomly in the neighborhood at Wine Mine, and I wasn’t trying to get buzzed, and was lucky enough to stumble on this little place. I didn’t get any food, but the mocha was good for the price and I would do it again.

Went in for a cup of coffee before the DMV line. The woman who helped me was very nice and the coffee was delicious. I hope to come back soon and try something else :)

I love their coffee and authentic breakfast. They are very affordable and I like the ambiance. I highly recommend for some one who wants to try Eritrean food.

This place has become a weekend ritual of ours after the farmers market at the DMV. Definitely ordering the coffee and the Shinan Phool will win you over. The breakfast dish is just the right amount of spice, warmth, and savory. Served with the French rolls it’s a great place to just survey your market purchases, watch some Eritrean television and then head home.

The Shihan Phool is a exquisite vegetarian breakfast along with their superior house coffee is one of my favorite ways to start my day.

Chaperoning a bunch of kids, I had about 5 minutes to get a cup of coffee. Looked around and this was the closest. Was in and out in less than a minute but the coffee was stale and wasn’t even hot.

From time to time I work the Sunday Farmers market across the street in the DMV parking lot. They now have Blue Bottle Coffee, there is no reason to go to Alems.
I wanted to like Alems, and I do like the atmosphere, but my last experience was PATHETIC.
I was the only person in there, not a single person was in there before me and not a single person came in after me but that still didn’t stop the incredibly slow service.
I ordered a medium drip (because the small is a joke) and a double espresso. I took my time paying, then went to the bathroom, then came back and she still hadn’t finished the espresso (the drip was self-​serve) it looked like she was messing up left and right and eventually just gave me one of her mess-​ups to get me out. It didn’t help that she was talking to her co-​worker the entire time who was just sitting there not doing anything productive.
the espresso ended up being almost 8 oz even though I asked for a short-​pull.
Even though Blue Bottle is overrated, I will be going there from now on, even when they have a huge line.

Wonderful hospitality and quick service. Their iced coffee is strong and cheap (only $ 1.50 for a small and I am buzzing from the caffeine as I write this). Great place to pop into after going to the Claremont DMV. Thank you, Alem!

A great little locally owned place with tasty food and strong coffee all served with a sweet smile. This isn’t Starbucks or your favorite hipster hangout so don’t expect burnt coffee (Starbucks) or shitty, dry scones.
Step outside of your comfort zone and try the fava beans served with little warm rolls and a cup of excellent Ethiopian coffee. I’ll definitely be back.

The place is a little run down and definitely not a shop you would want to hang around in, but their coffee (I had a latte) is good and very reasonably priced ($ 2 for a 12 oz. latte).

if no stars was an option. i would definately rate it at zero.
i work near this café so my customers know all about this café.
i find myself going into the café pretty often but todays experience was just horrible.
i found a cockroach in my mocha!
i cant emphasize how disgusting this visit was for me.
many times before this, my customers told me about their experiences but never would have i agreed with them until now.
this is absolutely disgusting.
zero stars for me on this one.

What a great coffee house. I enjoyed the authentic eritrean breakfast ‘ful’ and tea. I highly recommend any one, specially if you are intending to stop by the DMV because it is next to DMV.

Shihan pool is really great! Yummy. Bread is home made and really soft. Went here with my bf to pass time waiting for our number to be called. Its right across DMV.

It seems many of us wander into Alem’s Coffee after our DMV appointments. Toddler and I had coffee ($ 2.25 for large) and a bagel ($ 1.50 for plain, straight from the case because Belle just couldn’t wait) after I renewed my license. We loved the sunlight and the quaint vibe. We will try the fava beans next.

I love this café. Super friendly staff. Nice outdoor seating. and the PHOOL is amazing. (coffee’s great too)

Alem’s Café is one of Oakland’s icons. Alem and Nigisti, the owners of the café, are as generous and wonderful people as you can imagine. They serve a few specialties from Eritrea including the Alem’s special which is my son’s favorite meal, fava beans, fresh diced tomato, onion and mild jalapeño, olive oil, lemon and spices with two toasted bagguettes. They make several other varieties.
My favorite place to go for coffee, an egg sandwich, Alem’s special, or a tuna fish sandwich (my daughter claims Nigisti makes the best tuna fish sandwich ever)!! Come by and enjoy the great food and drinks.

Stopped into this cute and humble café while waiting in line at DMV Claremont. It was The Best cup of coffee I have had in a long time. I can see myself stopping there to get a cup whenever I’m in the area (maybe right before I wait in line for a Bake Sale Betty fried chicken sandwich since they are right around the corner.)

Alem’s Coffee sells other items but it’s so cramped here with just 3 tables, i wouldn’t order anything to sitdown and eat here. from the outside, alem’s looks liks an house.
drink: (m)1.75, house blend
–strong bold taste on the edge of harshness. probably african beans since they sell it for $ 13.00 a pound.
drips:
–across from dmv.
–few coffee places around here.
–expresso available
–cash only

Terrible the coffee was burnt and stale and went through two bottles of juice till
I got one that hadn’t gone bad! Sorry to say the smile from the woman did not make up for the total disorganization either.