Lane-e Kefa Coffee

I’ve always believed as of 2 days ago that ANYONE can have an opinion if they really try… Now it’s not that easy-​people don’t want you to and you lose your «cool» & your «relaxed» factors and probably won’t end up going anywhere, but I’m trying this out.
bad coffee!

I’m not a huge fan of the Laney College campus, but, during long gaps this is my go-​to spot and it’s only half a block away. Coffee is quick and food is delicious.
Upon entering, the atmosphere is immediately welcoming. The people who work here are the type of people who make you feel like they’ve known you for years.
I ordered the veggie sando and a small cup of coffee. First of all, that coffee SMACKS you in the face. It is bold, strong, and full of flavor — just how I like it. They also sell their own coffee beans in case you become a huge fan like I am. Second of all, vegetarian sandwiches can often be very disappointing at cafes — but this one was absolutely amazing. The sandwich contained super fresh/​amazing quality cucumbers, avocado, tomato, lettuce, cheese, and PESTO. Not to mention the ciabatta roll which was crunchy yet soft and just the right thickness… *droolz/​dies/​goes2heaven* I believe this was a $ 7 sandwich, however the size is quite satisfying and I saved the second half for dinner. O:-)
Aside from this, table space is adequate for studying and the benches are comfortable enough. Space is limited but even if it’s full, I’d rather purchase coffee here than at the Laney cafeteria.
It’s a nice environment and I highly recommend it.

This place is awesome. The staff are down to earth and friendly, and the sandwiches are big and filling, (love the egg salad with bacon), and the prices are affordable!

Awesome place!
Got a few drinks, a bagel, a sandwich and everything was impeccable!
Great service and best of all free wifi.
Perfect stop right outside the Lake Merritt BART station!

Love this place, the people that work here are super nice and friendly and the food is amazing fresh, and affordable. I always come here in between my classes and this is the greatest place I’ve been to so far. I just love it!
P. S. Don’t forget to get you coffee stamp card after about 9 stamps your next coffee is free.

I found this place while waiting to get picked up from Bart great place to have a coffee chill and get work done also the girl at the front is really nice and recommended me at the best breakfast sandwich and coffee if I’m ever in this area again I’ll make a point to stop by!

Great coffee, great business. Their breakfast sandwiches are great, but because they make them fresh it takes some time.
Great environment — very quiet! Good for studying or small groups.
Also be aware that they have a $ 2 card minimum.

The Turkey and pesto was awsome! What really put the cherry on top was the bread and pesto which wasn’t on the heavy side. I will definitely be back.

Probably the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had! The guy who cooks there puts time and effort into making it perfect! Great quaint little spot perfect!!!

This place is great. I like the idea of supporting local businesses.
This is a high quality coffee shop. The owner is a sincere, and friendly guy, and it seems like he does most of the work by himself. The food is made fresh with pretty good ingredients. The breakfast sandwiches can be a bit heavy for breakfast (I usually finish only half on my daily BART commute), but the lunch sandwiches are perfect.
I’d recommend the Lane-​e breakfast sandwich, or the chicken pesto sandwich for lunch.
Of, course I’d also highly recommend the coffee. I usually get an Iced Mocha with 4 shots.
The coffee is made fresh and the espresso is tasty. You don’t have to cover up the taste of coffee with milk or sugar like other places. It seems like they import their own coffee from East Africa and brand it themselves.
I give it four stars only because it’s a bit slow and the line can grow long. Lane-​e Kefa is understaffed but I continue to support them with the hopes that they hire more workers and increase efficiency.

When I hitch a ride from my mom to the BART station to get to work, I’m really glad this place exists! It’s a chill little little coffee shop with chill music and really friendly workers! I would usually get a cup of coffee/​tea and a bagel and just sit for 20 minutes while I pass time before heading off to work in the city.
The atmosphere is relaxing, it’s actually really calm for a coffee shop, I’d be expecting hella people coming in and out, especially in the early morning around 7−8am. At first I was surprised to only see one barista/​cashier and one chef in the back, but for this place it really works, since they don’t get like, stampedes of people In the morning.
I appreciate how they showcase local artists’ work on their walls :) This place is reasonably priced but there is not much pizzazz other than being a relaxing and friendly coffee shop, conveniently located by a BART station. But either way, I like them and their service and would recommend anyone to stop by

I give this place 0 stars if I couId. The owner and worker were so rude !! I went there one morning waiting outside to get some coffee. The sign says Opens at 7am but it was already 7:06am, so I yelled inside «are u guys opening soon»? Then the white girl who was working was very rude, i heard her talking crap to the owner about me because I asked if they were open. The owner came to the door and was very rude to me as well. Never go to this over priced place. Terrible area it’s in as well .0 Stars !!

Uhm. Yes.
These breakfast sandwiches are amazing. Having this little gem waiting for me every morning pre BART is perfection.
Everything is made to order, so if you’re in a rush and getting a breakfast sandwich call ahead.
That is all.

Just started working in the area, and found this on Unilocal as one of the only breakfast cafes near the Lake Merritt Bart station. Literally across the street.
Not a coffee-​drinker, but I do love me a breakfast sandwich. That said, their egg, ham, and jack was VERY, VERY good. Lots of egg and meat in between the English muffin. It was cooked to order so it was warm, fresh, and tasted like it came from someone’s mom’s kitchen.
I think it’s very smart of them to NOT use scrambled egg, as scrambled egg obviously falls out of the sandwich and makes me look like an idiot while I’m trying to eat it at my desk. It was kind of like, an over hard cooked egg folded up. And shoot, there was probably 2 up in there.
Will definitely return when I don’t have time for breakfast in the morning!

I had to do a «pass class» across the street but the food at their cafeteria was horrible so i came across the street to this place.
There was no way i was gonna eat that cafeteria food 2 days in a row. This sandwich and coffee spot was nice it looked clean the staff was really nice and my sandwich was hella good!
I got a chicken and pesto sandwich on a ciabatta bread. The bread was so good it was warm the outside of the bread was crispy the inside of the bread was Chewy just so good! The pesto was delicious.
I liked it very much if i lived near by i would be here more often they had a nice selection of sandwiches i wish i would of had their coffee. Ehh maybe next time. I would definably be back when i come back out this way again.

Super quick review: Walking distance from Laney campus. They offer all the good goods a café would offer; coffee, espresso, teas, juices, smoothies, sandwiches, bagels, croissants, pizza by the slice (?), etc. When I placed my order for my morning cup of joe, she was quick and I was out the door in a jiffy.
I’ve noticed the servers/​workers looked a little unkept and I have seen one working wear the same outfit for 3 days straight. That’s up to you seeking a review to decide if that bothers you or not.
The prices are expensive in my opinion but I am also a cheap ass so with that said their prices are relative to Laney’s prices — Shop local?
I’d go again.

Get here early if your Barting into the city. The line can get long quick, but they’re fast. One of the only places around Lake Merritt to get a good cup before you head off to work.

Nice little place across the street from the Lake Merritt BART Station Parking Lot.
The coffee tastes good. I drink my coffee black, the taste has grown on me over the years and can tell a good cup of coffee from a bad.
The interior is clean and even though there’s music, I’ve had meetings there.
I’ve had some of their food like a sausage breakfast sandwich. They pride themselves in using fresh ingredients and making to order (e.g. they make fresh guacamole from scratch, and they sell $ 3 slices of pizza that are made to order).
Since I work in that area now I like it’s a great option for a chill coffee spot that isn’t one of the main chains. I only wish it was open longer than 2pm because there are certainly times when I’m looking for late afternoon boost.

When I started to commute through this area I soon realized that there are not many good coffee places within a few blocks ratio. As a coffee lover, I almost had a heartbreak on dismay. As soon as I step into Lane-​e Kefa, I smell the exotic smell of Ethiopian roast blend in the air and my ears marveled with the upbeat sound of a soothing yet intriguing Brazilian jazzy drum-​and-​bassy tunes.
The prices of the espresso based drinks are over the same drinks compared to Peet’s or Starbucks. But for some reason I love to patronize this place.
They also have some limited selection of pastries and some made to order breakfast items. It takes a while for them to make it so don’t order them if you are in morning rush. But they are pretty darn good!
I also really like the wall art they have there, which are rotated frequently exposing local artists and photographers.
Great business!

Kefa has been around but I just walked in on this jem, probably because I was desperate for coffee and Starbucks wasnt around. It’s surprised modern and simple on the inside, with bench long tables and smaller tables for everybody to enjoy their drinks and food, conversation and even study time! It’s so clean inside and cozy, considering the lesser part of Oakland that it’s located and tucked into.
They offer a variety of teas, coffees, mochas and expresso and juice. They have drip coffee and can/​bottles. The prices for drinks are your average, 2 $ for a large cup and it’s delicious. They offer muffins, bagels, and cookies in their display case. Also, there’s a variety of breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches between 5 – 9 dollars each. The condiments bar is very clean, very organized. They even have a drain to pour the extra coffee down, talk about efficiency. And they do recycling, so friendly to the environment!
They offer free wifi, with indoor and out door seating. Opened for breakfast and lunch.
I really enjoy this place, and it’s a perfect little café to study for school. Close by to Laney as Bart. They let a lot of natural light in, so even better for your eyes. Something about caring for the environment and benefiting the customers, I really appreciate.