Hat Rac Espresso Bar

Nice place to sit down and enjoy some art with your coffee. Very friendly staff and a nice quiet place to read and enjoy your coffee.

Super friendly people serving some lovely iced coffee, which they will happily show you the entire brewing method. I felt very welcomed to the store. I can only speak to the iced coffee, which is flavorful without a hint of acidity.

Time: 12:18pm
Purpose: Discover it just walking by to print shop nearby.
Ambiance: A really great modern feel with structures made by hand at least that’s what I was told by the barista. Very unique kind is place not shabby the style is exactly how they wanted it built. Great place to end the work week and if they have a special night gathering its usually art work involves. Real burlap sacks are drape over entrance area which gives it this real gourmet coffee feel.
Staff: Two ladies working the front area as one was passing out flyers for $ 1 off espressos. When ask they gave me a run down of what the place is about invited me in to look around. I said I need to visit the print shop first but will be back to check it out in person.
Cleanliness: It’s a clean place there wasn’t much left over debris from previous customers. I mean was wowing myself when I saw the coffee beans already scale off along with brown paper filters and pour over stand forgot the name box has Japanese words. They have some for sale small or larger versions. Now anytime when you see set up like that they mean business. It’s so clean if you were to tell me you’ve just open yesterday I would take like that without asking.
Eats: Got me a drip $ 2 instead as my day was half over didn’t want to get all wired up later. You know what it’s a good blend not acidy or bitter don’t know if other beans are mixed in but it can compete with the like of other yuppy coffees not to name you know what they’re. As I check into here another offer of the same that was given to me $ 1 off espresso. I put paper version back on ledge as I would feel bad getting it and not using it (save another tree) with mobile at least I know it will always be on me.
Products: Coffee, pastries (very limited) on pedestal cake stand, art galleries, Wi-​Fi, stevia sugar packets, biscottis.
Expectations: A great place to get away for a brief break without being bother by people who knows you. No cash on hand no worries they’ve a ATM inside for a small fee but hey it sure beats walking to your bank if it’s not nearby right? I think they hold art shows here not sure but ask if you’re into arts. Try seating in front window and discover the 6ft wooden slathe table made by hand along with their lighting structures.
Final Thoughts: I’m really glad I found another place with coffee offerings as I’m always looking for a good brew. Come here if you’re in area or need to grab a cup of Joe its relatively faster here not too much people 3 – 4 at most but the baristas get through quickly. This place may not open on weekends judging from the looks it’s main clients are corporate nearby office type. So when you see a sign with a blue/​white logo of a hat don’t ignore it stop and look inside there’s a mood for everyone.

Best coffee in the neighborhood. I work just around the corner and stumbled by the Hat Rac not long after they opened. Always on the lookout for better coffee, I decided to give them a try. These guys are the best! If you want great coffee, this is the place to get it. The espresso especially is fantastic. (They also have tea and yerba mate and cookies, and are an art gallery, but it’s a limited menu with a focus on quality).

The way coffee should be made.

This place is pretty expensive given that a $ 2.40 tea comes in one size (small) with only three options of tea. That said, the interior is gorgeous as the space is shared with an art studio. It seems like a good place to come sip on yuppie coffee and tea with a pal or to study (strategically placed plugs!).

On mornings when I’m not being lazy and I decide to walk to work, I reward myself by spending my bus fare on 84% of a cup of drip coffee from here. It’s a great cup of coffee.
But it’s not just the coffee– Emily is really awesome and chatting with her is a great way to start my mornings. If I just wanted good, kinda pricey coffee, I would go to Aroma since it’s closer to my work. There is cool art in here and I’ve never had to wait in much of a line.

Everything about Hat Rac is perfect! From Emily the barista to the delicious coffee! Thanks guys and I know its a little late but WELCOME to the neighborhood. It’s also great because it’s one less Starbucks I have to look at.

I was recommended by my boss to try their iced Americano and my coworker who came down with me had a cappuccino. She raved about it and it looked fantastic (as pictured)!
I totally loooooooved my iced Americano! I’ve also been on the hunt for a drink that keeps me up throughout the day and this definitely helped. I don’t think it’s overpriced at all; they’re quality drinks made with love. AND you get a discount if you work near by (which I do). Woo!
I’m definitely looking forward to you guys getting some pastries available, too! :D
My new place to get espresso…
The art in there is awesome as well! Very cool vibe and the chairs are comfy and complement the place nicely…
As you can tel, I’m a fan. :) Totally recommend.

I doubt this place will last. Open a few months now and still no tables or chairs. Just a couch shoved in the corner. Espresso was handed to me dribbling all down the side of the cup and with no saucer or spoon. It was fairly sour (likely due to underextraction) so I needed to add sugar which meant I had to hunch over the condiments bar holding the hot overflowing cup and stir sugar in with a wooden stick. Bush league.
I then asked if I could use the restroom and was told a long story about how they have an employee restroom and that no, I couldn’t use it (supposedly because its shared with the nearby office building). For context, the place was completely empty and I in no way look like a derelict. When asked if they sell pastries they said they had talked to a baker but had nothing yet. They’ve been open a few months but look like they literally opened yesterday.
Way overpriced too. More than any other coffee shops and I have no idea why.
Two stars as the cashier was reasonably friendly, otherwise it would have been one star.

My new fav coffee in the area! I am a regular there because I enjoy the atmosphere of the art gallery as well as the coffee selection. The mocha is my favorite because It’s just the right mix of chocolate and espresso. Its not the super sugar filled mocha that cafes normally sell. It’s simply good chocolate and great espresso. Emily the barista does the milk just right with latte art too. I enjoy the drip, the Americano, mocha, and yerba mate tea! 5 stars for excellent customer service and quality products.

I noticed this on my way to work and figured I had to give it a try. So a couple of weeks ago, I stopped by on my way to work and grabbed a mocha. I was really surprised that a mocha here cost $ 5. I think that’s the most I’ve ever paid for one, but oh well. I wanted to give it a try. At first, my mocha was too hot to drink so I had to wait a bit to drink it. Then when I finally got to try it, it was way too sweet! I ended up only having half of it because it was far too sweet. I may come here again to try something else, but it definitely won’t be a mocha! Also, the lady that helped me was really friendly, which would also make me consider coming back here.

Interesting new hipster/​snob coffee shop in downtown Oakland. A nice change from the usual choices.
The drip coffee is fairly good, albeit on the pricey side. The space is interesting — it’s definitely still coming together (no tables and chairs that I can remember, just artistic renditions of meat on the walls).
They claim to use «local spring water.» In finer print, the it is revealed that the water is from Santa Cruz (and not from Lake Merritt). Both a relief and a bummer.