Coffee competition is fierce in the East Bay, with numerous nationally recognized roasters and a plethora of cafes. Berkeley routinely ranks among the U.S. cities with the most coffee shops per capita, and other Bay Area cities aren’t far behind.
Nosh readers cast their votes prior to Thanksgiving, and the results of the 2025 Nosh Awards are in. Visit Nosh every day from now until Dec. 12 to see a new award announced each day. Congratulations to all the winners!
Among this crowded field, Nosh voters chose Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar in Oakland’s Jewel Box neighborhood as the best coffee shop in the East Bay.
Predictably, it starts with the coffee. Owner and founder Jen Apodaca has been roasting beans since 2005 and launched the Mother Tongue brand in 2019. Apodaca is a certified Q-Grader, which requires passing a rigorous exam testing one’s coffee tasting abilities, and is the former chair of the Coffee Roasters Guild of America. Apodaca also was the 2019 US Cup Tasters Champion, and won second place in the 2022 Roasters Championship. Mother Tongue also has made a commitment to pay higher than standard prices to the coffee growers it partners with, and Apodaca launched the #shestheroaster campaign to support women in the coffee industry.
The coffee roasting experience and mission-driven ethos are all infused in Mother Tongue’s flagship, and lone, cafe that opened in April 2023.
Voters applauded the core product: “Great coffee!”; “The best coffee!”; “The cold brew!”
The cafe’s welcoming atmosphere and space also were called out. The cafe has a spacious outdoor patio, and both bar and table seating inside.
Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar offers a full drink menu, including Bloody Mary’s and espresso martinis, and serves Colonial Donuts and pastries from The French Spot. Credit: Tovin Lapan/East Bay Nosh
“Mother Tongue is a great establishment. The drinks (and after dark beverages) are consistently delicious, the staff is always friendly and accommodating and the ambiance is unmatched,” commented Lyndsie of Oakland.
To go with the cold brews, lattes and pour overs, Mother Tongues sells Colonial Donuts and pastries from The French Spot in addition to a menu of small plates like cheese plates and toasts.
“Everyone who works at Mother Tongue seems extremely kind. They have an adorable patio, and a yummy toast,” commented Jenee of Oakland.
308 41st St. (between Broadway and Emerald Street), Oakland; mothertongue.coffee
Open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The cafe also has a full bar, and some Nosh Award voters applauded the alcoholic drinks, including the Blood Mary and espresso martini as equally worthy of praise.
“One of the best decks for a coffee or cocktail in North Oakland, and one of my favorite local roasters for a bag to take home,” wrote Jack of Oakland.
The Caffe by Mr. Espresso, Cole Coffee, CoRo Coffee, Jaffa Coffee Roasters, and Roaming Bean were also finalists for Best Coffee Shop in the 2025 Nosh Awards.
Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar is in the Jewel Box neighborhood of Oakland. Credit: Tovin Lapan/East Bay Nosh
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