Pittsburgh is one of the best cities in America for coffee lovers. Pittsburgh is consistently listed in the top 10 best cities for coffee in America and is one of the leading cities in most coffee shops per capita. In Oakland alone, there are several options to choose from, spread throughout the neighborhood. I will be reviewing and ranking coffee shops around Oakland in attempts to find the best location for the perfect morning brew. To maintain consistency, I ordered an iced vanilla latte from each destination.
I will note — an important aspect of a coffee shop is the environment of the cafe itself. The atmosphere of a coffee shop can heavily impact your experience. So, while the taste of the coffee will be my leading criterion for the ranking, I will be considering the environment of the coffee shop in my assessment as well.
In fifth and last place is Redhawk Coffee Roasters, located on Meyran Avenue. I must say, Redhawk’s atmosphere is exactly what you look for in a local cafe. It is small but creates a warm, homey feel with its furniture, plants and cozy window seat. The staff is very welcoming and made the cafe a place I wanted to stay at. As for the coffee, I was slightly underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong — the coffee was fine, but it wasn’t great. While my initial sips of the coffee were good, I quickly found that it was more bitter than I would have liked. As I continued drinking, the latte seemed to become more pungent and I struggled to taste the vanilla that had been added. If my ratings were based on atmosphere alone, Redhawk’s would be in a much higher position, but the bitterness and lack of vanilla in the coffee force this cafe into my last place spot.
Coming in fourth place is La Prima Espresso Co, located on Fifth Avenue. The atmosphere of La Prima differs from Redhawk, as it goes for a simple, modern vibe. This location is, again, small, but it felt less warm and more sterile than a typical cafe. That being said, it was still a cute location, and I did feel like I could enjoy my time there. As for the latte, I immediately enjoyed this version more than Redhawk’s. The creaminess and vanilla flavor shone through, and it had a very smooth texture that was not too bitter. The slightly acidic flavor of the coffee itself was not my favorite, but it still wasn’t bad. I will note that La Prima is an Italian-style cafe, and therefore their coffee had a specific robust, slightly tangy taste, which I think is what threw me off.
Next on the list, in third place, is Saxbys, located on the ground floor of the Cathedral of Learning as well as in Hillman Library and the Big Ideas Center. Saxbys is not a traditional coffee shop, considering it is located in an academic building and is “100% student-run.” While there are some seats in the area, the overall location does not give the warm, comforting environment I want in a cafe. However, I really enjoyed my coffee from Saxbys — a lot more than the other locations on this list so far. It immediately tasted sweet and buttery, and it had a rich coffee flavor. This was the first coffee in which I was excited to go back for another sip. Although as I continued drinking, the latte started to become too syrupy as the vanilla slightly overwhelmed the drink. Still, the sweet coffee was one of my favorites. While I do recognize that Saxbys does not have a traditional cafe space, I am judging locations primarily on their coffee, and for that reason, Saxbys sits at third.
In second place, I have Tazza D’oro, located on Lytton Avenue behind the Oaklander Hotel. Upon walking into Tazza D’oro, it felt similar to La Prima. The cafe felt cute and modern, but was definitely smaller than the rest of the coffee shops I had been to, although there was outdoor seating for the warmer seasons. It was simply designed, and the staff was welcoming — overall nice, but nothing outstanding. Looking at the coffee, I was immediately impressed by the flavor. The coffee was smooth and mellow — the way I enjoy my lattes. I could clearly taste the vanilla syrup, and it created a perfect level of sweetness in the coffee. However, I felt the coffee quickly tasted slightly watered down. Tazza D’oro created the perfect blend of flavors in my coffee, and in return, earned the runner-up spot on my list.
For my final coffee shop, coming in first place is Divvy Coffee and Buns, located on Forbes Avenue. Divvy’s latte had a bright, enticing flavor, while still not being too strong. The vanilla was subtle at first but quickly became more prominent as I continued drinking. The smooth and creamy consistency combined with the sweet vanilla flavoring made this one of the better coffees. I believe the coffee was equally as good as Tazza D’oro. What gives Divvy a leg up into first place is its environment. The moment I stepped through the door at Divvy, I didn’t want to leave. The store was spacious and had several places to sit, from tables to couches. The design was enchanting, with a floral wall and cute coffee-themed signage. The staff was immediately welcoming towards me, and I felt the warm and cozy sensation I hadn’t felt since Redhawk. With both the atmosphere and coffee in consideration, Divvy was hands down my favorite location.
In all honesty, there was not a coffee on this list that I did not enjoy. While some were better than others, each boasted its own distinct flavor and environment that made the experience at each shop enjoyable. Regardless of my ranking, each of these cafes showcases the Pittsburgh community’s appreciation for local coffee shops and contributes to Pittsburgh’s national rankings.