RED BAY COFFEE HEADQUARTERS, OAKLAND
Open since spring inside a former 1920s bank, owner Keba Konte’s sprawling 11,000-square-foot cafe and events space is located at one of the busiest intersections in the Fruitvale district, not far from Red Bay’s roastery. But, inside the bright, three-story building, it is a quiet, plant-filled retreat for java-minded laptop workers.
“Beautiful Coffee to the People,” the Black-owned and Oakland-based company’s mantra, is scrawled everywhere, from the black-and-white espresso machine to the top of the building, above the marble columns crested with gold lion heads. Copies of Barista magazine cover small wooden tables peppered around the ground floor, along with modern black chairs and a long white bar where regulars enjoy single-origin pour overs and Africanos, Red Bay’s version of a macchiato made with two ounces of Slow Burn (Indonesian and Guatemalan) espresso with a dollop of milk.
Espresso drinks run the gamut from a cappuccino ($3.75) to a Saigon latte made with sweetened condensed milk ($4.75-$5.25). Tea lattes include chai, matcha and turmeric ($3.50-$4.75). And don’t forget the nibbles: Red Bay features Afro-Cuban bites from The Pleasure Principle Dining Events, based in Oakland, as well as a small selection of baked goods.
THECUP» The iced charcoal latte ($5.25), made with charcoal, vanilla and milk, is one of Red Bay’s buzziest summer drinks. For a bite, try a flaky vegan Caribbean patty served warm with a yogurt sauce for dipping.
DETAILS » Open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily at 3136 International Blvd., Oakland; www.redbaycoffee.com.