Reviews & Ratings for Gaylord's Caffe Expresso

05/15/10

Open Late

by Accident Prone , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

I like that Gaylords is open late and attracts a friendly crowd. Also, that have a great selection of drinks. Not only can you get hot chocolate, but you can choose between regular, white, or mexican (no racial profiling intended!)

The drawbacks are that this place is slow to make a cup of coffee or cocoa. If you've ordered two drinks, don't expect them to come out at anywhere near the same time. Waiting on two mexican hot chocolates last night took a long time. One came out in about 10 minutes, the other took several minutes longer.

The baristas would probably be faster if there weren't several non-employees standing between the patrons and the employees making endless small-talk.

Overall, ok if you're looking for a late-night cafe and you're going to sit down. Terrible for to-go items.

• Pros: Open Late, Interesting selection
• Cons: Sloooowww

07/22/08

Go

by DPN at Citysearch

Excellent back atmosphere and people. Drinks are worth it... GO! I also love the two old school video games (Galaga and Ms. Pac Man).

• Pros: Video Games
• Cons: Not enough outlets for laptops

03/14/08

Best people watching; cute baristas

by BruceGiardiniera at Citysearch

The coffee quality here is uneven and certainly not up to Peet's standards.

The staff pays minimal attention to cleanliness and keeping the coffee fresh.hot.

They do have a great variety of beverages not all of which are generally available at coffee sources. Personally I like the Yerba Mate.

It's the only hangout place on Piedmont Ave. open until midnight and also early in the AM, so you can stop by before work OR after an event.

Being the only place to hangout means there's really great people watching, especially groups of attractive women.

While the work ethic may not be strong among the baristas, they tend to be cute and giggle when you pinch them when you have to squeeze by them to get to the rest room in back. One of the few places you won't be threatened with arrest for flirting with the staff, although I've heard that's changing.

06/11/04

Best Mocha!

by cazmir at Citysearch

I have tried them all and I believe the Gaylord's Mocha to be the best! Bring back the coffee bean candy on top!

• Pros: Quality, Price
• Cons: , Crowded, Long wait time

11/12/03

Cozy neighborhood cafe...

by sherrykoyama at Citysearch

...I just live a couple blocks away and should really come here more often. It's cozy, bustling, and has good strong coffee. Certainly has a much better atmosphere than any chain coffee shop!

08/14/03

Abuzz any time of day, this bright cafe energizes its customers with fresh joe, juice and milkshakes.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Neighborhood folks study, philosophize or happily chat at little wooden tables crammed together under lofty ceilings. Once a hotel lobby, the room is colorful with a stained-glass window, big paintings and a blue glow from a strip of neon. Smokers delight in the outdoor seating out front, while hacky-sackers or piggyback riders mill around. The Starbucks across the way simply cannot compare.

The Food
Fresh, buttery cookies and perfectly moist muffins could accent some of the many drinks, like tropical iced tea, freshly squeezed lemonade and Mexican hot chocolate: a creamy blend of milk, bitter chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom. An ice cream shake mixed with fresh OJ may be a little small for the price ($4.35) but it's heavenly just the same. Soup and veggie chili are full of spices but not house-made.

12/07/02

My favorite neighboorhood coffee house.

by eastbaygrrl at Citysearch

Gaylord's has it all: organic coffee, bagels, pastries, light meals, and Double Rainbow ice cream. And while you're waiting for your coffee (it takes longer than the assembly-line Starbucks across the street), you can even play Ms. Pacman! They have this great idea for iced coffees as well: coffee ice cubes. Yum.

This place is not for the faint of heart, however, and this can be a drawback depending on your style. Many who work there seem to be a little too full of goth angst to give you cheerful service. Then again, if you're willing to forgo supporting a local shop to avoid the "Berkeley-tude" (even though this is Oakland), the previously mentioned Starbucks is near at hand.

Give Gaylord's a try--collect their lovingly hand-crafted latte art (they taste good too) and have the peace of mind knowing you're not drinking pesticides with your fantabulous mocha.

• Pros: good organic coffee, reasonable prices, Ms. Pacman!
• Cons: attitude (sometimes), can take a while, can be crowded