Tertulia Coffee

Hello from Tertulia Coffee & Gallery! 

Drinks: None other than a vanilla latte with oat milk, I mean who would I be if I didn't have this everyday? I wouldn't be Ayah, and that's a fact. It's hard to believe that such a basic coffee drink could ever be messed up, but believe me when I say it definitely can. This was a quality latte, though. Coffee strong yet delicately sweet, just how I like it. 

Space: Let me just say three words: top tier aesthetics. This is one of the nicest coffee shops I've been to. It was colorful and full of life while also embodying the simple and modern aesthetic. Not only is Tertulia a coffee shop, but an art gallery as well. While most coffee shops embody an artistic vision, Tertualia doesn't just simply display small pieces of art as a form of decoration, but it encompasses an entire art gallery of its own. The goal of this idea, as stated by the owners, stems from the longing to support Chican@ and Latin@ artists all over the Bay Area. After all, the definition of "Tertulia" is: "a social gathering with literary or artistic overtones, especially in Iberia or Latin America." How often can you get the luxury of sipping on your coffee while simultaneously exploring an array of beautiful and powerful art pieces? 

Vibes: The image preview I displayed for this blog post doesn't carry on without meaning. The "no signal" statements stays true to the space. One of the biggest coffee shops in Oakland, and NO wifi! 2019, say what? Despite the fact that I came here with the intention of doing work on my laptop and was a bit bummed to learn that they didn't have wifi, I appreciated it more the longer I sat. Everyone was quietly conversing, journaling, or reading and I loved that. In a time where everyone is so robotically work-driven or just simply can't put their phone down, it's nice to unpack your thoughts in a creative and inspiring environment, being forced not to do work is a blessing.

Location: 1951 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

I went to this gem in September 2019. Sadly, when you go to their site now, it says launching soon and google says it is permanently closed. I'm not sure what the story is, but I hope they're able to relaunch ASAP as I can't wait to go back again one day - hopefully soon. The vibes were honestly everything. Such a great place to catch up with a friend, dig into a book, journal or just sit with your thoughts. Highly recommend if you're ever in Oakland and they relaunch (Tertulia if you're reading this, please relaunch)!

Till next time,

Ayah