The coffee is bad, the service is typically grungy (but in an endearing college student kind of way), the shop is dirty (and sometimes smells like a shoe), and it's always crowded. So why two stars, instead of one?
Well, two reasons, the location and the people. The location makes it the frequent stop for smokers reading beat gen lit. The people here are hilarious. I love to get a cup of coffee, which I don't drink, and just people-watch for an hour. Because honestly, if you want good coffee, then why are you in oakland?