Community. It's a complicated thing. And something that doesn't get created by itself. It's a result of people interacting. Increasingly, we're replacing face-to-face human experiences with electronically mediated ones which, while useful, can't take the place of the real thing.

ACTUAL is, first and foremost, a place where these interactions can happen. A comfortable place. A place to meet old friends and new. To talk to neighbors. To discuss events on the block or around the world.

Because we care about our community, we buy from local purveyors. Because we care about other people's communities, we pay attention to how and where things are grown or made.

Because we want to preserve what we've got, we try to minimize waste. We avoid disposables when we can. We love for you linger a moment with your coffee, and if you can't, to bring your own cup. When we pack your order to-go, we use minimal materials, and select them for their recycled content and biodegradability. We try to avoid packaging in our supplies. We make our own sodas because we hate the waste created by bottles and cans (and because they're delicious and fun!).

Because we care about your budget, we also work hard to keep our prices low. We know you appreciate it, especially in these uncertain times.

And because we're from Oakland, and hella love it, we celebrate the weird, crazy, sometimes-frustrating character of our town. We love our local arts and music, and bring them into the Cafe whenever we can. We love partnering with community groups and other local businesses to try to make us all more successful, and retain the things that make this place so special.