Java Rama Coffee House

Been replaced in situ by the Danube Café.
If you are having coffee in Alameda and you’re not here: change your ways. The coffee, the ambiance, the mixed crowd, the warm local feeling is not matched at Peet’s or Starfucks down the street. The Rama has original, changing art on the wall, fresh desserts, great people watching.

WHAT!!!
I was just here less than a month ago, enjoying the upgraded feel and sophisticated look, after its previous incarnation of chess playing funky types, other dregs and smelly ones… marveling at the changed layout, the nicer array of pairings with coffee drinks, etc…
came to finally review my visit from December and it’s… what?! How sad… I probably clocked in a hundred hours or more of studying A&P here, cramming for practicals, and staying until they kicked me out, studying late into the night.
Java Rama will always hold a special place for me during that chapter in my life where, today, it hardly seems real… RIP

This place makes me sad. I just moved to Alameda for school and have been looking for my new study spot. The first time I went here, the barista was really cool and let my friends and I bring in food from another restaurant. Of course, we also bought coffee and it was nothing to rave about but decent. However, the third time we came, another barista (blond haired with glasses & mousy looking) gave my friend attitude when she brought in pizza and was standing in line to buy a drink.
I understand their no outside food policy, but she was SUPER rude when she talked to my friend. It’s fine if they want to treat customers like crap but from now on I’ll take my $ 4 and buy coffee from another café. From the looks of it though, Java Rama desperately needs customers. They should also think about their «you must buy something every 3 hours in order to use internet» sign as well. It’s a real turn off.
This is the only café with free wi-​fi that’s open till 10PM though but I’d rather drive out to Berkeley than go to this place again.
The bathroom is also pretty gross… sad face.

Java Rama is the best place in Alameda to bring your laptop to and study/​work/​whatever it is you need to do. I’ve come here countless times when I need to study or just get online without any distractions. I NEVER have to worry about not finding a place to sit, and their Wifi is fast and free. Music played on the overhead speakers is generally pretty quiet so it isn’t overwhelming at all, although I usually just put on my own headphones.
I love their coffee! Not sure what the brand is, but it’s bold and that is all that matters to me :) Yummy lattes, delicious italian sodas, and a huge selection of teas. The only complaint I have is their food selection. I have disliked every pastry I’ve eaten here. Their cake always looks good, but I generally come to a coffee house wanting some sort of muffin or bread, and not a big slice of cake…
I love that I can always find a parking spot pretty near by. For anyone who knows Park St. parking is not the easiest task.
I’d recommend this place to anyone. It’s definitely my favorite place in Alameda to just sit down, have a yummy beverage and get on my laptop.

Fast wifi, creamy rich espresso, music not too load soo you can pop a video on youtube. One of the best coffee houses in Alameda.
I just ordered an espresso, single. She makes it a double (points!). I notice its watery. She blinks, phased, and asked how it should be. I tell her. She looks hurt and offers to make another. But I declined saying «it happens,» and it does. I mention she may want to check the grinder as its probably grinding too coarse.
Just 5 minutes into sending email and another espresso appears beside my laptop. This time its perfect! This place owns me!

Best in Alameda (maybe whole BayArea) if you want a place to Study or use a laptop/​Pad in peace.
The place is mostly quite; good music& free Wi-​Fi; it has 20+ individual tables; & it has great parallel LIGHT to Read/​study.
Families, sane and educated people frequent the place. Lots of them spend a good amount of hours there.
I found that most places like Peet’s or Starbucks have little chair, No reading light; too much in&out (thus noisy).
The Quality of coffee/​food there is good.
The quality of Service is a surprise; the 4 ladies that work there are really nice. To a point customers want to spend time talking to them; seems like the locals friends…
Disclose: I needed to study like a Super Nerd (say 8 – 12 hours a day); and found this was, by far, the best coffee to study. Ending up going there everyday for a few weeks before the test. ***(passed the test :)
Highly recommend.

Nothing crazy here but when your choices are Java Rama or the big coffee chains across the street, I prefer to land here for the afternoon.
Pretty decent lattes, tasty pastries and plenty of tables near power outlets to plug your laptop in to suck up the free wifi. Enjoy!

Java Rama holds a special place in my heart… It was there for me when my internet at home was M.I.A. for almost a week?! Ugh. Thanks Java Rama for being there when I needed you most. :)
I really like Java Rama. And it’s not just cause they have FREE wireless internet there. :) Their drinks are good. One of my favorites is their Iced Tropical Green Tea. Delicious! Oh and if they have their Poppy Seed Sliced Cake available, try it. So Yum.
The place does get crowded at times so be aware of that if you’re trying to snag a comfy place/​corner to study/​read/​relax.

I like going there when I have an open afternoon.
It’s relaxing and simple. Very cozy.
the staff is nice and helpful but stays out of your way,
which makes it a great place to go and hide for a while, when
the world is spinning too fast.
great coffee and pastries. free wifi.
go check it out!

So…
I’ve recently discovered their amazing.
CHAI TEA!
I’ve been afraid to try it because Philz in the Mission has been my longstanding favorite… BUT… Java Ramas is just as good!!!’
«I’ll take a medium chai latte, please.» Mmmmm.
Yea, Kai likes Chai.
Have to mention the dry-​erase board in the bathroom they put in recently for people to write their little quirky messages on… Some funny/​interesting stuff there & I’ve never seen this anywhere else (I love it!).
I also gotta give some love out to the manager there who is super awesome & hard working, attentive, and friendly!
I love a this place *6*… nay… a *10*! And it keeps growing.
Stay gold, Java Rama.
Stay gold.

Java Rama used to be my Office-​O-​Rama, but then I realized what I liked in a coffee house, shop, café, etc.
The place has no natural light, and it gets really stuffy! The employees are great, besides a few stuck up ones. The coffee is good, but the tables are super shaky.
I do not go there as often as I did over the summer, I like the place, but prefer others over this Java Rama.
The last time I went in there the employee was eating a burrito from across the street, right in front of the «No outside food» sign. I swear I heard her yell at people before about eating outside food in there. Wack.
I also was given super attitude by the same employee about not purchasing anything and using the free wi-​fi. How was I supposed to purchase something when she was holding a 10 minute conversation with her friend at the register while I was in line? So I sat down and waited until she was done, then she had the nerve to tell me that I had to purchase something to hang. Wow.
I try not to let those times ruin my experience, because I do like the place. But minus a few «too cool» employees, open the doors and windows, and the place could be awesome!

I really want to like Java Rama. I really do.
I’ve been coming here since I moved to Alameda over five years ago. Ever since Coffee for Thought closed (sob), they’ve been the only indie coffee house in Alameda open late. Late-​night coffee houses are an essential part of any town.
So, tonight, I decided to visit, get some coffee, and work away until they closed. I arrived at 9pm (an hour before closing), wandered up to the bar, and asked for a medium coffee.
And was told that they didn’t have any more coffee.
Excuse me?
Well, they had a little bit charring the bottom of the 60s-​era coffee maker, but they weren’t going to make any more.
After politely declining their offer of a small coffee of unknown vintage at a medium coffee price, I walked down the street to Peets, where they were perfectly happy to sell me a fresh cup of coffee.
I desperately want to support local, independent businesses, but when I feel that I’ve suddenly been trapped in a Cheese-​Shop Sketch, I have to wonder if they are even trying.

I’m no caffeine junkie, so I don’t come for the coffee! However, because there’s a «purchase required» (which I can dig, because they are in business to make money, ya know!) I’ve had the hot and cold Chai Latte and Mexican Cocoa which were each fantastic! Others, who have accompanied me, have raved about the Smoothies!
Anyway, I was looking for a place open late; with wi-​fi, where I could come and work on my «millionaire status» projects! Aside from having a tough time finding parking, this place is great! I absolutely love it! Loads of space for working, comfy sofa’s if that’s your jive and they even have public computers to use while you wait!
Depending on the evening you come, it can be pretty noisy (game night seems to be on Tuesday’s) and crowded (which may be a good thing for the owners). Most times the folks behind the counter are pleasant, so I give it 5 stars. Yay for Java Rama!

Java Rama offers an excellent and reliable cup of joe! The folks who work there know how to make a killer breve as well as good mochas and chai drinks. Also of note is their large selection of loose leaf and bagged teas — very nice when coffee just won’t do.
Their pastries are delicious, as are their cakes and quiche. The owner really cares about providing a nice, neighborhood coffee shop and it shows. I highly recommend it!

I hate businesses that try to squeeze every buck from you. Seriously? A minimum purchase amount in order to use the wifi? Charge for power? Walking around every 10 minutes to make sure you have a warm cup of something or else you are asked to leave???
Would have received a lower rating, but I want to support the independent coffee house, so add a star for not being a chain.

Get your Berkeley coffeeshop feel in the environs of cleaner and calmer Alameda!
Good coffee, they play classical (so you can actually, like, read a book or study), the counter folk are friendly, and has a good number of outlets. Good, solid café.
Never had the food here except for the sesame bagel and cream cheese (my standard cheapy café meal), which is pretty sizeable.
Open late (by Alameda standards) too: 11pm.

Pretty cool coffee house and definitely has more atmosphere than the overrated and overcommercialized Starbucks. Free Wi-​fi is the best thing about it and the joint has a bohemian feel to it like your in New York or something. My only complaint is that parking is a pain since it is located on Park St. in Alameda, which can get very busy.
Just had to add that there is some guy with down syndrome who is a regular here. He roams around the place and schmoozes with everyone and asks lots of questions. Some folks seem scared of him and some just ignore him. He is usually OK, but there was one time he got mad at me for buying a piece of carrot cake because he said it was hard and yucky. But it turned out to be one of the moistest and delicious carrot cakes I’ve ever eaten.

I used to come here a lot in my Alameda days. It sure beat going to Starbucks and even Peet’s. I didn’t like Starbucks just because it was Starbucks, and Peet’s had horrible layout.
Java Rama has that Berkeley feel on the inside without feeling like Berkeley once you step outside. It’s a bit trendy but still feels somehwat hippie, and last I remember, there was that faint scent of herb that you know someone has been having but it just seems to be everywhere.
This place has free wi-​fi as well, so you get all the crazies that come out here. It’s in a really busy area of town so you can people watch as well. Make sure you have power or are willing to pay for it. Wi-​fi is free but power is not.

On my far left is a blind date. Probably E-​harmony, they look too old for Match. She’s drinking water, I dont think she is too impressed. Directly next to me is a young lady who clearly does not want to be doing her homework because every 3 pages she reads she hums and has, comments out loud and then watches an episode of the office. To my right a man in glasses is typing what appears to be porn about a man with a butt on a door knob and black leather boots. Man, you just can’t make this kind of stuff up.
If it were not for the hot chocolate that tastes like Nestles Quick it might push 4 stars. It’s no Julies Coffe and Tea, but the wi fi is free and it’s open until 11pm.

BLECH!
Java Rama is their name, but coffee is NOT their game! Not a fan of the coffee here, I don’t think the people behind the bar actually know how to make good coffee.
The place smells, there’s ALWAYS flies around, it’s too dark to read, and the seats are uncomfortable.
They do have wifi, but it really irks me that businesses have to put a «minimum» on what you buy in order to use their wifi. If you have to post things like that, then obviously your product sucks and people only go there for the wifi. If I go there 5 days a week to study and spend $ 3.00, that’s more business than the person that goes once a week and spends $ 7.
Oh, and the workers always seem like they’re high — slow, unresponsive and unattentive.