Soul Blends Coffee Roasters

Jalil Gurbanov 4 months ago

I ordered an espresso here and wanted to leave some feedback. I was surprised to see the barista using a Normcore push tamper by pressing down into the portafilter multiple times while twisting it, instead of doing one proper tamp. There was also a distributor tool next to the station that wasn’t used. The extraction took about 39 seconds (I’ll attach a photo of the double espresso). The shot was clearly over-extracted — it smelled burnt and tasted very hollow and dry. I’m giving three stars because I don’t want to judge the entire coffee shop based on a single experience. I’m just a coffee enthusiast, not trying to complain. However, when customers pay for espresso, we hope the preparation follows basic espresso standards. Please consider improving barista training so they better understand espresso preparation. I share this only as constructive feedback so both customers and staff can have a better experience. Thank you.

Amy Hunter 4 months ago

This place is a gem! First time visiting, the coffee and food was spectacular. I ordered a dirty rose chai and the avocado toast. This location is dog friendly which made it the perfect stop after hiking. Also loved the special touch of having a valentines themed photo area. Will be back 💕

Richard Squailia 4 months ago

Truly a soul blend with spiritual, engaged awareness and openness. A high point of my visit to the bay area. African coffee from Ethiopia was the medium roast blend and my machiato was crisp and tangy as a good representation of the region. Drip Ethiopian/Tanzanian dark roast blend was the best cup in town after visiting 6cafes. Several conversations with owner and customers topped off the experience.

Chris Manitsoudis 8 months ago

Amazing coffee shop! They have great coffee, pastries, toasts, and wraps. They have outdoor seating as well as indoor seating. It’s also dog-friendly. It’s overall such a vibe here. I’ll be coming back routinely for my coffee.

Gregory Collins a year ago

Visiting Soul Blends Coffee Roasters in West Oakland was an awesome experience. It’s the only spot in the area offering both quality coffee and hot food, tucked into a cozy corner location with seating available both indoors and out. The interior is rich with cultural character, making it a vibrant and welcoming space. The coffee is solid—flavorful and constantly rotating, which keeps things interesting. They also sell their own bagged coffee and offer a mouthwatering breakfast menu (even though I didn’t eat this time, everything looked delicious). What really sets Soul Blends apart are the owners. They’re genuinely some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet—passionate, welcoming, and still active in the local scene with pop-ups. Whether you're a dedicated coffee lover or just looking to support a standout local business, Soul Blends is worth the visit. Let’s keep gems like this thriving in Oakland.