If you ever find yourself in need of a caffeine jolt and free wi-fi after a meeting at UC Berkeley, this is the place to go. It’s perennially packed with students, and who can blame them? Caffe Strada is affordable and fast, with a ton of outdoor seating surrounded by greenery and heat lamps.

It’s immediately clear upon walking into 1951 Coffee Company that it’s a very unique coffee shop, with educational charts lining the walls. It’s actually a nonprofit that provides job training and employment to refugees and asylees, while also aiming to raise awareness of refugee issues in the greater community; baristas have gone on to work at notable Bay Area coffee companies. Regardless of social mission, though, 1951 makes a good cup of coffee.

House-roasted coffee, a full food menu, beer on draft, wine, and Firebrand pastries are just some of the attractions at Way Station Brew. There’s also the lovely brick walls, plush booth seating, and one of the best secret back patios in Berkeley.

Sure, when you’re looking for a place to work from, wi-fi is the major draw, but coffee fans will appreciate the excellent offerings at Ain’t Normal Cafe — wi-fi aside. The food is also a draw in its own right; San Francisco Chronicle associate food critic Cesar Hernandez praised the shop’s menu, writing that its “simple, punched-up dishes ... routinely impress.”

Calling Kinfolx a mere cafe ignores everything this Telegraph Avenue business brings to the area. They have food and coffee, yes, but Kinfolx also hosts community events, including pop-ups and talks with authors and educators, and has a gallery in the back. But if you’re looking for a workplace away from home during the day, Kinfolx has plenty of seating to accommodate patrons and convenient outlets to plug laptops and chargers into.

Hasta Muerte made national headlines for its policy to not serve police officers in the name of keeping its East Oakland space safe for people of color. Politics imbue the entire cafe, from the small bookstore in the back to the activist artwork on the walls. Smoothies and empanadas round out the caffeinated offerings.

On a busy corner of Fruitvale sits the headquarters of Red Bay Coffee, Oakland’s Black-owned coffee company with a social justice ethos. The space is open, airy, and industrial, with lots of places to sit and work. On weekends, it often transforms into a lively community events space. Go for unique offerings like the charcoal or candied yam lattes.