Cafe 4

I love the dichotomy of this place… conservative Christian church… amazingly progressive café. Thank you Jesus!
Organic fair trade EVERYTHING. Gluten free. All the good stuff.
The staff behind the counter ARE SO NICE! They are kind, cheerful, helpful, make excellent suggestions.
It’s also a great place to bring your laptop for some tea sipping work time.
So happy it exists!

I don’t know why I haven’t written a review much earlier, but I have been coming to Café 4 since last October. It is the best place to be if you are attempting to be productive or just wanting to catch up with a friend.
Their drinks are all amazingly delicious. One of my favorites is the iced mocha, especially because all the iced coffee drinks come with… COFFEE ICE CUBES. They’re the BEST because you drink is not diluted by water. Absolutely genius. It took me a while to figure out why the ice cubes were dark brown XD
The food is always on point. I enjoy their banana bread and cookies. I really wish they had vegetarian sandwiches, but if I’m starved I usually grab a yogurt.
The environment is the BEST! During Christmas they’ll have a huge Christmas tree, which is absolutely darling to look at! They have ample space, so there’s never a day I don’t have a seat. The outlets are dispersed throughout the entire venue. And the ambiance of the entire facility is perfect. Located in a church, it isn’t weird at all.
The baristas are the sweetest and just the customers themselves are really nice. As you can tell I LOVE this place! I wish it was closer to home, but that never stops me from going!
(:

Local coffee shop I go to sometimes and I love it! It’s so spacious and there’s so much room. I’ve sat at many different areas around the café (with power outlets) and never had any issues while I was studying. Something about the atmosphere makes me feel like I get so much done here compared to when I’m at other coffee shops. Things I’ve also noticed from my visits has been that there’s story time for kids at a certain time and live performances here and there.
I’ve only tried an iced coffee and one fruity drink while I was here. I think the drinks are pretty mediocre and there isn’t much selection but I know purchases are for a good cause at the church so I don’t mind. If you’re looking for a good relaxing coffee spot to hang, I highly recommend this place!

Located next to the church it provides a great open space for meeting people or working on your own. It contains different «areas» within one space which is great because each person feels comfortable in different areas… tables, couches, chairs, barstools, etc. Even though busy it still provides a nice calming feel over the area.

Can’t believe it took me over a year to finally visit Café 4 despite living less than a 10 minute walk away!
Just walking in the door, the area is really spacious, well-​laid out and aesthetically pleasing. The barista who took my order was courteous. I asked if the hot coffee was made as pourover and she explained very nicely that the hot coffee is already prepared or can be made as aeropress. I ended up having an iced coffee which came with a free chocolate chip cooke (which was fantastic). The iced coffee was a good size and was made from Verve beans (one of my favorite roasters in the area).
The ambience is exactly how a coffee shop should be; there was soft, café-​like music in the background and just enough ambient noise and chatter without being too loud. I’ll definitely be returning soon!

This Café is located in the lobby of a Church, and they serve Verve Coffee which is Fair Trade coffee, definitely a plus! It’s a small church café, but it is open during the week, the lobby is a beautiful space with plenty of tables, chairs, and couches to relax and get some work done.
Being that it is part of a church, there is ample parking and it is clean. For being such a large open space with very high ceilings, it is not very noisy or loud, which makes it even more enticing to bring your laptop or books and work there. I like the atmosphere, I will be returning.

Follow the signs and you will find Café 4! This café is SO BIG and SPACIOUS. Big comfy chairs. many plugs for your phone or laptop. It’s quiet and I am so happy I found this place. The staff is friendly and their hot chocolate is pretty good. No whip cream so they can give you a cute design in your cup. You get a choice of dark chocolate or regular chocolate which is a plus. Lol recommending this place to ALL STUDENTS IN THE BAY AREA !!!

Café 4 is one of the best coffee shops in the Bay! This is not only the place to study by yourself or with friends, but also a special area where people can relax, meditate, and contemplate about life. Lol
Its high ceilings, huge windows, comfy couches, friendly employees, and spaciousness makes for a welcoming feeling right when you enter the door. The natural lighting makes you feel refreshed even if you’re studying for an exam. The music playlist is soothing to the soul as well. :P Not gonna lie, there have been times when I’ve been stressed out, but I just look out the windows, close my eyes, take a deep breath, and just know everything’s going to be okay (something like a «Chicken Soup for the Soul» vibe! Haha). People come here for Bible studies, study groups, to journal, to read a good book, study individually, crochet with friends, to escape, etc. it’s WONDERFULLY AWESOME!
Not to mention, everything on their menu is TOP NOTCH GREATNESS! From their iced lattes to their Affogatos… you can’t go wrong! Their iced latte drinks have ice that consist of what I believe are coffee beans. BRILLIANT! Their chai latte is pretty good as well, especially cool looking with their presentation. I once ordered the Affogato: two shots of espresso over locally handmade vanilla ice cream (they have different flavors), and it was the perfect TREAT YO SELF during exam season. ;) These drinks are usually around $ 4.50, and regular coffee is less than that with free refills! I’ve also tried their strawberry chai pudding ($ 3), which was tasty and refreshing! Something great and healthy. Bottom line, check out this spot yourself. It’s truly a gem.

I found this place on Unilocal and I’m glad I did. This place is kind of hidden and if you don’t know it’s here then you’ll never see it. Once my girl parked the car and started walking up I felt like this place is not your average coffee shop. Once inside you start to feel small with all the big windows and the super high ceiling. They have tons of tables and chairs to sit and relax or study. Everything is spaced out, you don’t feel crammed in next to everyone like at a Starbucks. They have free WiFi and lots of outlets to plug into. The views from this place are very relaxing. Up above the freeway and the hustle and bustle on the hill things just feel more calm. We both ordered an americano as I usually do at a coffee shop. The guys behind the counter were very friendly and full of smiles. Once our drinks were ready we grabbed them and found a table to sit at. I started to look around the place and noticed that the décor was minimal but suitable. Lots of college students studying in groups and enjoying themselves. The noise level wasn’t too bad and the background music was just that, background music. As far as my americano went, very delicious. I felt very relaxed while I sat there and looked out the window and drank my coffee. The vibe here is unlike any other coffee shop I’ve tried. This is a must try, wether you are coming here to study or to just relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Date/​Time: Sun, 4÷4÷2016, 2pm
Food: Affogato
This place is the epitome of a hidden gem. It is a place of zen for students. It has coffee, it has affogato, it has an awesome events calendar, it has plenty of tables for parties of all sizes, and it has a large space that doesn’t echo. To top it off, it has a private lot with free parking!

Note to self: this place get packed during weekends.
I have been here twice so far and both times are very pleasant.
I only order regular coffee and it was good quality coffee. I did had 2 of their pastries: chocolate muffin and Pecan pie. They were both delicious. I really like the chocolate muffin, very moist and not super heavy. Will get it again. They carry gluten free pastries as well. It’s good to know.
Ambiance: very roomy, could fit more tables in the lobby and accommodate more people. It’s very relaxing there. On Sunday evening, there will be live band playing music. So be prepared.
Service: very nice and friendly. Good recommendation on the chocolate muffin and now I am hook Hahahahaa
Will continue coming here to study or just hang out. It’s very relaxing there. Maybe when school finally over I would come here and just relax and read my books.

Café 4 is one of my favorite coffee shops. It’s a hidden gem for sure. This hidden gem is run by the neighborhood church.
Vibe: The vibe is amazing, it’s a quiet place, a lot of seats to study, chill with friends or even just to relax. Most people are here to study during the weekdays, but during weekends, it gets pretty loud because they have services and people like to chat afterwards.
Parking: A lot of free parkings, especially during weekdays. Weekends are totally different story, as I mentioned it’s a church, so you have to time it right in order to get a parking spot.
Service: All the workers are amazing. They are super nice and love what they do. When you are done with your cup of coffee, please put it back in the tray though. As a barista, myself, it’s really annoying and especially these place is huge, so be respectful and clean up after yourself.
Price: I think it is reasonable because again it’s a church, most of the funding goes to the church and regular drip coffee is refillable. It’s definitely cheaper than the city prices for sure. Expect to spend at least $ 5 and up.
Overall: I giving this lovely café 5 stars because I love the coffee beans they use. Verve is from Santa Cruz, CA, it’s roasted locally and has amazing taste to it. The vibe is amazing, love how they set up the place. I’m definitely coming back to study and get my cup of joe.
Thanks Café 4 for an amazing experience.

This café is a hidden gem.
It’s bit of a drive from where I live and I’m rarely ever in Castro Valley, but Café 4 is definitely worth it to come here for their drinks and to get some work done. It’s a peaceful and serene place to be at, I never want to leave. The café is located in a church. Sounds strange? No not really. This people who work in this church and café are nothing but friendly and welcoming people. Trust me, you won’t regret coming to this café. I got to know some of the baristas and the owner, Kathleen is a sweetheart. I’ve been coming to Café 4 for a good 3 years now and each experience is quite pleasant. The church is very lovely and there’s just so much space and tables available inside of the church and outside that you’re bound to find a table, even if it does get busy at times.
Some of the drinks I’ve tried are their chai latte, mocha, cappuccino, iced latte, iced mocha, and peach & passion fruit spritzer. Each drink is made with love! The baristas are just so kind. In fact, they are the reason I decided to get a gain some experience working as a barista!
Note: the bathroom is in the back on both sides. When you come in, left: men’s, right: women’s. They’re also closed on Saturdays.

Being here is a wonderful experience. If you want an open expanse to enjoy a coffee or a delicious and natural fruity spritzer (yeah!!), this is it!
It’s located in a church, which is fine with me. Why does that mean anything? Because the service is kind, gentle and they are there to help. I appreciate service that actually is just that, service! You can always tip them if they make you happy: D
I’ve had most of their pastries and sandwiches as well which pretty much sums up what they offer. The pastries are good. They have a gluten free option when I’ve been there. The sandwiches are standard. They usually offer turkey, chicken, or pastrami. Bread is wheat or ciabatta. I prefer the ciabatta. The texture and density of the wheat is too much but I digress. Someone makes them and delivers them daily around 11am if your needing something savory.
If you want a quieter yet pleasant location while enjoying a snack or drink, come on down!

This café is located inside Three crosses church, this place is huge!
The furniture is super comfortable, and they have high top tables, big tables, small tables, everything, even outdoor seating.
The café itself has really great options drink wise.
I ordered a Chai Tea latte, not too sweet, tasted really fresh, and spicy like chai should be.
They also have pastries, but I’m not a big fan of sweets.
With each cup they do a design with the foam, or spices. SO cute!
The staff was very friendly, and the café condiment area was really clean, and organized, unlike some other cafes.
They also sell some cups/​accessories which I didn’t have a chance to look at but I probably will next time!
They aren’t open late, as they close at 7 pm but great for studying all day, or hanging with some friends.
My only recommendation would be maybe to have some savory snacks, like packaged chips, almonds, sandwiches or something small to bite on that isn’t a pastry. Other than that, awesome place!

Glory be, this place is magnificent.
It’s a true gem and I am shocked (and relieved) that there aren’t lines out the door, though this place is large enough to more than accommodate that size of a crowd.
Café 4 is a legit, third wave, Verve Coffee and house made almond milk-​serving café housed in the very spacious lobby of a church. I’m just assuming but I think the employees are members of said church. The nicest freaking baristas you will ever meet serving this kind of coffee. Usually, it’s slung at you by someone with a stone face.
As it is a church, the ceilings are high and there are large windows and glass doors to let in lots of natural light. Just visually stunning and absolutely perfect to serve as anyone’s office for a day.
Keep in mind, they’re closed on Saturdays and booming on Sundays.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!
I cannot believe that I didn’t know this place existed until now. One of my girlfriends found out from this other lady that she knows that this place was here. What a total gem.
I opted to get the iced latte, since it was suppa hot that day we went. I typically get my ice lattes with light ice because I do not like a watered down drink! The nice girl at the registered told me they use coffee ice cubes!!! So I told her the ice cubes would be fine. I also got my latte with their homemade sweetener and homemade almond milk!!! Can you tell I love this place yet? Haha. The drinks come in tall mason jars.
First taste — YUM. I liked that they don’t go heavy on the sweetener!!! What a plus. It was only lightly sweet, which is what I like. The almond milk in it was delicious. You know what topped it all off? Those 2×2×2 inch coffee ice cubes. I want to come here everyday. Too bad I live like 25 minutes away lol. I want to try some of the other drinks they have. I saw a lot of other people get the juice?
My friend and I stayed here for a couple hours. As did most of the other patrons. There were many students studying and what not. There are plenty of outlets for yo electronics, so go nuts.

Wow, I can’t believe I’ve never reviewed you
Because this has got to be the best café I’ve been to
I love everything about you, your ambiance, space, and # of seats
You can house, football teams, companies, and all forms of geeks
You have tables galore
You can’t ask for more
You have Ikea furniture that is nice to sit on
I want to stay here from morning until dawn
OK, so I’m sitting here at Café 4 and I must say that this is my FAVORITE Café. It’s amazing, it’s clean, spacious, so many seats, high ceilings, and even great coffee! (go figure!). Their iced coffee comes with an ice cube that is actually made from coffee so your coffee won’t be diluted! So don’t you be deluded, come HERE… actually, I don’t want this place to be crowded so don’t come here… :)

I’m a big fan of Café 4.
I kept seeing it pop up on Unilocal when I was looking for cafes, so I gave it a try. At the time of writing this review, i’ve probably bought around 20 – 30 lattes from there. My wallet is empty, but I’m still satisfied.
The soy lattes are yummy. You get the coffee flavor, and the milkyness of a latte. The cherry on top is the coffee ice cubes! It shows that they have thought this through. The dilution from water cubes lessens the coffee flavor. They throw in two every drink, and it’s more than enough to keep it cool and flavorful all throughout the beverage. I’ve had their Arnold Palmer, Iced Coffee, and Soy Lattes (iced and hot). Everything is above average, and certainly worth the price. They charge very little compared to the amount of content you get, in my opinion.
If you go to a competitor like Blue Bottle in Oakland, they give you about 60% of what you’d get for the same price at Café 4.
One big bonus is that this place is huge! There’s a ton of study space. People are there to be productive, and if they’re there to chat, it’s at a respectable volume level. Plenty of outlets. Plenty of sunlight! Wifi is superb. The facility, coupled with great coffee, qualifies this place to be 5-​star-​worthy. This place also has clean restrooms. «Amen!,» says the bathroom germophobe.
If you need a study spot and love good caffeine, this place is for you.

Um since when did Castro Valley have such a nice coffee shop?!
Living in a college town, I was blessed with many coffee shops I could go to and get work done, but I was worried coming back home that I wouldn’t be able to find something like that. Boy was I wrong. Who knew such a nice place like this existed?
This place is so nice. It’s huge and has a lot of space — which is always a problem with tiny coffee shops. It’s so spacious here, lots of natural lighting, and a nice view of the freeway. I got an iced coffee and they put it in this HUGE mason jar. It was iced coffee with an ice cube made of coffee! Don’t see that often.
Okay but I don’t know if it’s because this café is connected to a church, but their wifi blocks certain websites. I couldn’t access the website I used to create my porfolio which defeated the purpose of coming here to do work. There were also some points the music got too loud — even with my headphones on.