You’re trudging to class after spending nearly the entire night studying for a diabolical midterm. Feeling like a zombified version of yourself, you scrounge around your pockets to find a mere four dollars and 99 cents. But don’t fear — you may need the caffeine, but you don’t need generational wealth to afford these cups of coffee.
Yali’s Qualcomm Café
If you’re running late to your next class on the Northside, you can depend on Yali’s Qualcomm Café. Its coffee options are incredibly affordable and convenient. Most of the time, simply upgrading your americano into a latte could make your order five dollars more expensive. Yali’s has you covered with a large latte for $4.75. If you would like your coffee to have a refreshing splash of milk, but you don’t want to take out an extra bank loan, Yali’s has your back.
1951 Coffee Company
A hot brewed coffee from this storied cafe is just $3.25, perfect for any caffeine enthusiast who wants to relive their Unit 3 glory days. It is just plain coffee, without the bells and whistles of your favorite Starbucks vanilla oat latte with three pumps of lavender syrup and cold foam. But we’re not talking luxury with our options listed here: We’re craving efficiency and the relentless, jittery, never-ending loop of a crippling caffeine addiction. Adjusted for inflation, this shop’s offering could have probably been just a nickel and a handshake in the year 1951. Take notes, 1951 Coffee Company: Let’s revert back to that era. Just for the coffee prices, though.
Top Dog
Finally, our oddball choice: Miraculously, Top Dog serves coffee. Who knew? It’s more than just your favorite hot dog joint. A sizzling hot black coffee at Top Dog will run you just $1.50. For Berkeley prices, that is completely unprecedented. They offer cream and sugar, but you’ll have to pour them yourself. Because those Top Dog chefs are busy tending to the belligerent crowds of frank fans, this will be a far more DIY approach than Yali’s or 1951. This is Top Dog after all, where it’s surprising that you’re not beckoned to grill your own hot dog order. For this list, they might be the top underdogs.
So, you scrounge around your pockets and feel confident that you can afford some caffeine. After a tiring, caffeine-powered walk, you take your seat with eye bags heavier than a bag of bricks, expending more energy than your ChatGPT account did to craft your study guide. But you pull it off and ace your midterm. Now, march through the bustling Berkeley streets with a head held high, and go buy yourself a $20 sweet treat with the money you saved on coffee!