What's the Buzz is surveying coffee shops around Richmond, which includes independent roasters and cafes staking a claim on a corner and making their case one cup at a time. The rule is simple: order what our staff normally drinks, document our findings to help you, the readers, decide whether it's worth the trip — this week's stop: Roma Caffe at 401 S Garrard Blvd, Point Richmond.
Grandview Independent · GrandEATS
What's the Buzz
Reviewing coffee shops around Richmond, CA
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stops visited
Point Richmond has a lot to offer, from restaurants to arts and amazing local history. It is also home to a small cafe that serves a stellar cup of coffee and an internal battery recharge that can't be beat. Last week, the Grandview team, looking for a little liquid energy, visited Roma Caffe in picturesque Point Richmond and was not disappointed.
Serving local favorite Peet's Coffee menu items and a nice selection of good tea, the family-run Point Richmond coffee spot offers the aforementioned caffeinated essentials along with bagels, salads, omelets, delectable panini sandwiches, and even a breakfast burrito.
This little cafe has an impressive menu and a couple of big-screen televisions to gaze at while awaiting your order. Long-time patrons praise the cafe's assortment of "always fresh" pastries, and reviews on Yelp indicate the cafe is a solid choice to just grab a cup or for impromptu gatherings on the patio.
Roma Caffe's Italian-inspired interior decor mixed with vintage pieces makes for a friendly, inviting experience. Photos/ Alexander Hemmila
The first thing noticed when you enter is the welcoming interior, which blends nostalgia with an artsy Italian vibe. There is a smattering of indoor seating and more outside for those willing to brave the breeze that blows through this part of Richmond.
A cheerful barista appears to take your order, then quickly goes to work. We ordered a doppio espresso con panna, a cafe mocha, and a strawberry tea shaker. Blender noises commence as berries are puréed, then are melded with green tea and ice in a hand-held shaker. This is an artful process, carefully crafted before it was handed over to our excited and thirsty Grandview staffer.
The tea shaker was reportedly flavorful and very sweet. Our staffer found it to be similar to drinking jam — "but in an unexpected and very good way." The mocha was as expected; no complaints were expressed, and the espresso con panna was the perfect blend of Italian coffee flavors filtered through a generous dollop of whipped cream that held up right down to the very last sip. "Heaven in a cup" was the rating from this veteran coffee connoisseur. Bonus points to the barista who neither winced at our order nor substituted milk foam for the whipped cream in this not-very-complex, yet often misinterpreted beverage.
The cafe is across from Washington Elementary and down the street from Richmond's famous Plunge, with ample parking for your car or bicycle — it is also near the bike path and is a favorite of local cyclists who frequently stop by, sometimes in large numbers. You can also order online for a quick pickup.
Roma Caffe has something for you, and it might be a little bit of heaven in a cup, or maybe just a good excuse to take that much-deserved break. Either way, you will likely visit again.
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