The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room

We recently visited a charming coffee house in Oakland, known for its specialty in pour-over coffee. When we arrived in the morning, the place wasn't too busy, and we were pleased to find plenty of comfortable seating areas. The coffee shop offers a variety of coffee beans sourced from different parts of the world, and they even have their own coffee roasting and tasting room. This was the first coffee shop I've ever visited with a coffee brewing lab, which was quite impressive. We ordered a filtered pour-over (Colombia Edwin Norena), a latte, and an iced coffee, along with two pastries. The pastries were delicious, and the coffees were flavorful, although not overly strong. The pour-over coffee, in particular, stood out for its lack of bitterness. I also noticed another customer ordering an espresso flight, which was presented beautifully. I look forward to trying that next time.

Very nice coffee, I got the Ethiopian white honey which tastes like a light roast. Beautiful design, good coffee, and nice service. Cappuccino was 6$.

It’s a really nice cafe for coffee connoisseurs and enthusiasts in Oakland! They offer a variety of beans and pour over flights. The latte is good and is more on the light roast side (which seems to be their preference here). They also host classes. The inside is really nice but the seating is a bit difficult for coworking. They do have tables outside and an outdoor area!

Wonderful pour over coffee in a great air conditioned cafe. They clearly know their coffee and espresso. There is an outside parklet as well that's got a few places to sit. Others have said there is not a lot of space here, but we found space on a Sunday afternoon. Maybe it gets busier in the morning? Starter bakery items were here, and I love their stuff, but the item we had was not as fresh as I'd hope unfortunately. Otherwise a great place, and we'll be back.

I absolutely love this place! The atmosphere is fantastic—cozy and inviting—though seating is quite limited, especially in the mornings when it gets busy. They have a special Tasting Room that offers stellar coffee service, with diverse counter heights perfect for drinks and light bites. The space also features an impressive 8-tap system and a mobile modular coffee bar called “Naaga,” crafted by Oakland artist Chambers Art & Design. The aroma of fresh coffee here is incredible. Today, I ordered a 4oz espresso with milk made from the Kenya Kii Peaberry Washed beans, as well as a menu item called Leila by Alisha Rajan. The Leila is mischievous and magical—a sparkling iced Americano with fig and ginger syrup, topped with ume plum coconut whipped cream and garnished with candied ginger. It’s like Leila, the black cat, inviting you to play along. The Leila uses Tanzanian beans and, although the portions are small and prices on the higher side, the quality is absolutely worth it. The coffee is fragrant and intensely flavorful. If you enjoy fruity coffee blends, Leila is a must-try. The staff explain the coffees in a way that’s easy to understand and really enhances the experience. I’ll definitely be coming back—just wish there were more seats! Parking is street-side with a coin meter, so plan accordingly.