There is a Peet’s Coffee in Dwinelle Hall. Actually, it’s now closed, but it was there. Despite being a sophomore and a tour guide, I only discovered this month that there was once a Peet's tucked away inside Dwinelle. This discovery prompted a question: what else am I missing? I quickly fell down a rabbit hole of the different hidden coffee spots on campus and evolved into a full-blown research project—complete with a detailed spreadsheet documenting every campus coffee option: Milk options, syrup varieties, drink types, price points, operating hours, outlet access, etc. I had to start a comprehensive Berkeley coffee documentation project and decided I would become the unofficial coffee cartographer of UC Berkeley.
The Classics
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Peet’s Coffee in Golden Bear Cafe (GBC): GBC serves as a central caffeine hub for south campus dwellers. The Peet's has quality espresso drinks and more consistent preparation, though at slightly higher prices.
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Press Café: at Moffitt Library's entrance has become increasingly popular since Free Speech Movement Cafe temporarily closed for Moffitt's reconstruction. Press has the fastest service time on campus during non-peak hours, making it ideal for quick coffee runs between classes. FSM loyalists will need to wait until Moffitt's renovation completes for their favorite study spot to return, unfortunately.
Notable cafes to visit that I have not yet had the pleasure of compiling:
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Edmonds Cafe in I-House (weekly latte sales on Wednesdays), Café Zeb at Kroeber Hall, Goldie’s in MLK Student Union, V&A Café in Etcheverry Hall, Cafe Think in Chou Hall (they have lavender syrup…)
My spreadsheet project's most exciting aspect was documenting Berkeley's hidden coffee havens:
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Yali's Qualcomm Café in Sutardja Dai Hall remains surprisingly unknown to non-engineering students. The location, toward north-side, makes them less trafficked, but they have unprecedented latte prices. 4.50. For a large triple shot latte. I frequent Yali’s more than any other location on my list to say the least.
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Kiklo Cafe in Stanley Hall a newer cafe on campus features a recently renovated space with abundant natural light. They open earliest among campus coffee shops, a remarkable 7:30 AM.
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The Coffee Lab in Hildebrand Hall lived up to its chemistry-building location by offering the most experimental seasonal drinks.
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There is another cafe inside Gilman hall, but alas I simply could not find the name of it. I have yet to visit it so it is somewhat elusive, but if you can get it, I’ll give you access to my grimoire of cafes.
The Ghosts of Berkeley Coffee Past
My investigation also documented the "coffee ghosts" of Berkeley—former locations that have closed:
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Yali's at VLSB (Valley Life Sciences Building). A tiny window right across from VLSB 2040, used to sell coffee but alas is now covered with glass and features a “closed” sign. At least you can stare at it while you fill up your water!
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Finally, Dwinelle Hall Peet's. Dwinelle truly is a maze, I wish I could convey the pure shock I felt upon learning there was a Peet's just out of reach.
Just Beyond Campus Borders
Venture just a few blocks from campus, and Berkeley's coffee scene expands dramatically:
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Cafe Strada on Bancroft Way functions as a campus extension. Their expansive outdoor patio has saved countless group projects. They have 12 varieties of syrups I’m pretty sure, and a plethora of food options and snacks.
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1951 Coffee Company on Channing Way not only serves exceptional coffee but also operates as a non-profit training and employing refugees. Delicious drip coffee too, crazily enough.
Comparing my spreadsheet figures revealed fascinating cost patterns:
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Campus locations average $0.50-$0.75 less per comparable drink than off-campus alternatives
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Milk alternative upcharges vary dramatically, from $0.50 to $1.25
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Kiklo cafe provides the best study-time-to-cost ratio, with the longest average time students can occupy space per dollar spent
Finding Your Coffee Home
What I've learned through my coffee documentation project is that Berkeley offers a diverse caffeine landscape for every preference. The methodical tracking revealed that my perfect study spot is in fact: Yali's. They offer the ideal combination of affordability, seating availability, and quality.
The spreadsheet became more than just data; it mapped my Berkeley experience through coffee cups and study sessions. Each entry represents not just prices and options but memories of late-night study groups, breakthrough paper ideas, and conversations with friends.
For new students overwhelmed by options, I recommend starting your own coffee exploration project. There's something deeply satisfying about finding your perfect campus coffee spot—that place where the barista eventually learns your order and the ambient noise hits just right for productivity.
Berkeley's coffee culture, both on campus and along its perimeter, offers a microcosm of the university itself: diverse, sometimes hidden in plain sight, and rewarding those willing to explore beyond the obvious choices.