Alem’s coffee shop is located in the Temescal district in Oakland.

The shop began as just a dream of Mr. Alem Negash and his wife Nigisity Eyasu who moved here from Eritrea almost thirty years ago.

At Alem’s Coffee, the Negashes are passionate about serving strong coffee and feeding their visitors Amazing home style East African dishes as if they were serving their own children and family in their own house. Since 1999, Alem’s coffee has been bringing the community together through friendly service and tasty East African dishes such as Shahan Ful, a healthy vegetarian stew-like dish made of fava beans, olive oil, chopped tomato, green peppers, chili pepper, cumin, lemon juice, spices, and feta cheese served with bread rolls. Other popular dishes include a spicy Meat Stew (Tisby/Tsebhi Sga) served with Injera bread, Spicy Vegetarian Bread Salad (Fata), Boiled Potato Sandwich (Umbotito), Eritrean flat bread soaked in a sauce made with bereber (Kicha Fit Fit), and an Eritrean Egg Scramble (Enkuho Frittata).