Sweet Maria’s Coffee Warehouse
1115 21st St, Oakland, CA, 94607
Sweet Maria’s Coffee Warehouse Menu
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Address :
1115 21st St
Oakland, CA, 94607 - Phone (888) 876-5917
- Website https://www.sweetmarias.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Good for Working : No
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Kris W.
I utterly love Sweet Maria's. Not only are they local, so that I can stop by the warehouse and pick up my green beans, they're just lovely people. The care they put into their work, the newsletter they provide detailing what they're up to and what's going on in the coffee world.. it all shows the true passion and joy they have for their craft. To top it off, they're super nice in person. After stopping by several times to pick up orders, they started to recognize me and said "Dude, why do you keep knocking? Just come on in and get your beans." Sweet Marias's is a true gem of the east bay, and west oakland in particular.
(5)Robi P.
Just another shout of love for SMs. If you do a pick up order there's always a "free shelf" of random stuff: coffee, saucers, a voltmeter... I've been there several times to pick up greens and a couple of times to to celebrate their tenth and they put on a cupping class for free. If you're not sure about home roasting they do small batch roasted orders on Mondays, just get your order in on the weekend. And really, check out their website...
(5)Norman C.
First off. . SM's is not a walk in, browse around location. It is a warehouse and do not expect the plastered on grin, "Can I help you" environment. My lady friend in Utah has a tough time getting decent coffee and I armed her with a roaster and I keep her happily supplied with green coffees. Always top quality with any shortcomings most likely blamed on our roasting goofs.
(4)E. M.
Coffee roasting nerds-- this is THE place in the country to get home roasting equipment and an ever-changing selection of green beans. They are mainly a web business and ship all over the country but they are here in our own backyard. Their website is hugely educational and you can pick up at their store in West Oakland. It has limited hours so check first. Oakland has always been a major port for coffee so that's why there's so much coffee business here.
(5)Bob F.
Stay away from these guys! We bought a Fresh Eight Plus bean roaster from them. It didn't work. Now, we are experienced roasters and have another Fresh Eight that works fine. Calls and e-mails to Sweet Maria's went unanswered. This was a big loser.
(1)Jaime G.
This is why the bay area kicks ASS! A variety of green coffee beans from all over the world. They have extensive reviews on all of their beans and the actually answer emails! AWESOME!!!!!
(5)Christine T.
Yes the beans and the website interface is terrific. As a coffee bean geek and foodie with a large appetite for data I assumed the staff would be as eager to answer basic questions or for that matter be appreciative that I made a trip from Santa Cruz to see the space and pick up beans. The good news is the website is well engineered and they ship, takes the unpleasant taste out of an onsite visit.
(3)Kathleen B.
God I love Sweet Maria's. They've got the most amazing assortment of green coffees (and roasted coffees) on the planet. I went to tour their facility, and the people there were super-nice. It's just a warehouse that has the most amazing roasted coffee and green coffee smell. I've had their coffee on quite a few occasions, as someone close to me roasted his own coffee from here.
(4)Samuel K.
Great resource for buying green coffee beans. I just wish they had storefront that I could browse.
(4)Jerry A.
Roast your own coffee at home and you'll never want to buy roasted coffee beans again! And Sweet Marias has everything you need, the equipment, fantastic raw beans, and the information and guidance for you to become your own expert coffee roaster. Tom is very dedicated and his reviews and tales of his coffee travels are very interesting. Roasting your own takes a bit of learning, but it's very rewarding, and people will be amazed when you tell them you roast your own coffee! It's even more gratifying when they tell you that your coffee is fantastic, especially for something like Sweet Maria's excellent Panama (Sep 2006). So, I'm not addicted to caffeine, really!
(5)Tracy A.
My husband bought this as a gift for a coffee aficionado. She loved it. If you want to roast your own, this is the place to get your beans.
(5)Flor D.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS JOINTS! I heart sweet maria's. For 5 seconds...I thought it was my little secret..but I guess not. It's the home roasting vendor! Where else can you get a pound of coffee from El Salvador for 8 or 9 bucks. Wanna know the catch? The beans come nice and green and needing to be roasted! What a great cup of coffee, and I love how any one, even an educated connoisseur, can truly enjoy the experience. Think Barefoot but to go. Great quality...and if your really want an orgasmic experience...try the cup of excellence YUM! More pricey, but splurge, why not? What I super duper like...is that you can buy roasting machines depending on your preference. I love it. I was in the mood for a cup recently, and yeah...it tasted that good. When drinking this kinda coffee, you don't need cream and sugar. Black please, that's how I like it. No bitter aftertaste at all! So good!
(5)Paul S.
In today's day profit driving culture there are not many companies left that are such a pleasure to deal with. Sweet Maria's still knows what customer service means, and how to accomplish it. The transparency of the company is also a fresh breath of air compared to other companies in the same category. The amazing offerings and service of SM, combined with some bad experiences with other similar companies has made me a loyal customer to Sweet Maria... for life.
(5)Bret D.
I have been buying coffee beans from Sweet Maria's for over 5 years. I now have also bought two roasters from them, selling my first one locally to try a different type, both purchases after reading the thorough reviews, watching videos on Sweet Maria's website and elsewhere on the internet. The first roaster came with an option of 8 different coffee types, with the second I opted for two types only. Because of Sweet Maria's, I now have a basic appreciation for coffee from a wide range of countries in at least 5 continents. I have been able to purchase award winning coffee, a whole pound for less money than it would cost for 2-3 coffee drinks at a shop. Sweet Maria's has maybe predictably reinforced my liking for Central and South American coffees; I was best introduced to coffee as a teenager in Brazil. On the other hand, this company also introduced me to high quality coffee from Hawaii which I really like and some of their unknown component espresso blends that are also delicious. My background includes working in a service industry / profession, so Sweet Maria's clear and consistent dedication to quality, education, clarity of message, sincerity of action, demonstrable love of life with enthusiasm for a niche aspect of living, and a sense of contribution to that community of like interested people is extremely refreshing. Last point: the fact that Sweet Maria's provides constant variety of coffee beans, state of the art home roasting information, but also opens access for anyone who has even a minimal amount of money--few dollars even-- to home roasting, is extremely admirable to me. Thanks for adding a really nice aspect to nearly every one of my days Sweet Maria's! BD
(5)berkeley f.
Home roasting is the real deal. The great thing about Sweet Maria's is that A) it's owned and operated by true believers, yet B) it's open to everyone, from the novice to the coffee disciple to the most eccentric bean freak. And they're NICE. Seriously, how rare is that? If you drill down deep enough, it's pretty intimidating to break into an esoteric hobby like coffee roasting. The roasting community is full of pretty chill, down to earth people, but it can seem like the majority of alt.coffee or home-barista.com postings are so elitist it's scary. However - these guys are a shining exception. They answer emails! They're encouraging! They do their best to help you love roasting as much as they do. Always a huge variety of superb coffees backed up by the confidence that they've scrutinized & roasted & tasted all of them personally. They try to work with individual farmers and growers to raise the quality of life at the source. Tom travels all over the world to work with growers personally (bet he's got a really cool, banged-up passport!). They're legit. Heat Gun / Dog Bowl forever, thanks to Sweet Maria's. ( homeroaster.com/heatgun.… )
(5)Marco M.
If coffee roasting was a religion, then Sweet Maria's would be my house of worship and Tom would be my spiritual leader. I am definitely spoiled by the fact that the Bay Area has the greatest concentration of Third wave coffee shops in the country and by having Sweet Maria's locally to fuel that passion is really a true blessing. You can purchase just about anything coffee brewing/roasting related and have it either shipped to you or ready for will call pick up. Need 10lbs of green coffee beans? Call Sweet Maria's. The staff here is hella nice and very passionate about what they do. These guys are another perfect example why I love living in the Bay Area.
(5)Travis S.
I lived in Columbus, OH for several years in a dive apartment complex across the street from Sweet Maria's. It wasn't until after they moved to the bay that I became interested in roasting, and then learned who they were. Somewhat of an opportunity lost, but I am glad I found them just the same. This company is very thorough at what the do, and will not disappoint. There is a reason that nearly every home roasting site on the net points you in there direction at some point. I am a popcorn roaster, so I am probably considered "low class" in terms of roasters, but with using their online instruction and guidance I have produced some very nice roasts. One of these days I will upgrade to more formal home roasting equipment, but I am really getting a lot of bang for the buck right now.
(5)Armand L.
How sweet you are Maria!!!! Since going to Sweet Maria's 3 years ago and buying a coffee roaster and assorted coffee from all over the world we do not drink canned coffee anymore (at least when we are at home). Sometimes there is a lack of supply from certain areas such as recently Puerto Rico, but there is still enough selection to keep you caffeined high. We always pick up our beans at the store in Oakland and love the friendly, and potentially scary dogs and the friendly service of the staff. Why anyone would drink Starbucks coffee after doing your own roasting and brewing is beyond my comprehension. The only problem I have experienced is sometimes I go a little past Full City Plus and the smoke detectors at our house start screaming. Luckily we have no neighbors closeby so I just put ear plugs in and ignore the alarm.
(5)Ed r.
Roasting coffee is so easy. I do it on a pan on my outdoor grill and consistently get good to very good results. When I can roast the way I want and get world class beans from a local supplier I am hooked. Sweet Maria's travels the world to find the best farmers using the best techniques. This is why some of the local craft roasters are getting their beans from Sweet Maria's commercial side of the business.
(5)Momoko S.
Just two blocks from where I work. Bought some coffee maker supplies. Very organized with inventories, promptly found what I was looking for.
(5)Patrick C.
I am pretty sure that destiny played a role in landing me 4.6 mi from the best place in the states for buying, coaching, encouraging, and simply making life easier for the home coffee roaster. I have now spent close to $1,500 for beans, supplies, and equipment and countless hours studying their amazing wiki-like online encyclopedia. Soooo impressive! If they held classes on home roasting I would attend like it was my job. They are masters and still modest when coaching and answering any rookie roasting question. My hat's off to Sweet Maria's. You earned my business before I ever spent a dollar.
(5)Luke G.
Seriously great resource for coffee roasting. Great prices, and a great website. I just received my second order of beans and a roaster! What a fun hobby!
(5)Athens r.
"...Youre so hot. I think im addicted 2 u.. Dark and mysterious, i dont care. I dont know what you do or how you do it but just keep doing it... i like how you make me want for more and I know if i take you home, youll do a nice job of keeping me awake,.. I consume you and wonder how good u'd be with whip cream. Youre my favorite mistake. As Im tryin to be clean and good. I know youll keep me tossin and turnin tonight for tomorrow ill yearn to try your different flavors. For a time i thought I had my own little secret, but then I guess its not-- alot of ppl reviewed you already..." Im going back for this. And today my Ethiopian green coffee was just perfect. Thanks to my friends discovery.
(5)Mary Kay S.
Sweet Maria's -- aaahh, coffee goodness! This place has totally enabled our coffee geekness. Years ago a friend of ours bought us a coffee roaster. We laughed smugly, thinking "geez, that is so over the top." Today we would simply die if you took away our roaster, burr grinder, Gaggia Classic espresso machine, and Sweet Maria's amazing green coffee beans. Tom and Maria taught us all about what good coffee is, and how to coax the best flavor from those tiny little berries. They've taught us about quality roasting, grinding, and brewing equipment, and assured us that the roaster we received as a gift is top-notch. They regretfully informed us that the roaster is no longer in production, so we know to baby it and treat it like fine china. Every other month we order 10 pounds of green coffee beans. Five pounds of Espresso Monkey blend, and five pounds of Liquid Amber Espresso. We used to be adventurous and try new and different beans, but these blends are just so good, we kept going back. Now we don't even bother with anything else. Mmmmm, coffee.....
(5)Andrew D.
A package of Ethiopian Sidama Deri Kochoha just arrived at my door from Sweet Maria's, my favorite source for green (unroasted) coffee. I quickly roasted a small batch, and am already enjoying a cup. This coffee is awesome! Sweet Maria's specializes in sourcing high quality coffee from all over the world. If you've never roasted before, Sweet Maria's stocks equipment and books on the subject. For my own roasts, I use a Poppery - a "hot air" popcorn popper - the one with the on/off rocker switch (easily found on ebay) to quickly prepare green coffee to my preferred roast level. I find Sweet Maria's pricing very reasonable, and I love the way they describe and score the coffee they sell. On the surface, their most expensive coffee seems a bit pricey at around $20 lb. However, since a pound probably makes nine or ten quarts of coffee, this means you can enjoy one of the world's finest coffees for less than really cheap wine. Of course, I strongly recommend going with the coffee! And I heartily recommend Sweet Maria's.
(5)George S.
I have been ordering from SM for over 10 years now. It pays to really read the cupping reviews - Tom is the real deal. I roast my own espresso and brewed coffee with a Gene Cafe and as anyone who has gotten the home-roasting bug knows, there is simply nothing to compare. Side benefits include an apartment that smells great and great $$ savings.
(5)Jason R.
Their care in selecting and reviewing the green coffee they carry is perfect for beginners and dabblers like me. Start here. They not only carry coffee but also host a ton of information on-line, actively participate in their coffee mailing list, and generally try to form a community around good coffee from tree to cup. If you're nearby, you can pick up during limited hours. Saves on shipping and lets you meet (quickly; they're really busy) some great people. The prices seem good, and the quality is superb. I've only had their pre-roasted coffee once (at their 10th anniversary party), but it was excellent. And yes, I'm drinking coffee from their beans as I write this. An Ethiopian Golocha. Wonderfully rich on the City/Full City border. I nailed this one...
(5)Emily K.
If I could give a one-time six star review, it would go to Sweet Maria's. I mail order beans every few weeks and it's always exciting to see what they will throw in the next sampler. I have learned what I really like (super bright Africans, fruity and floral Centrals) and I've gotten some surprises, like an Indian coffee that has a slight flavor of green tea. They are a model of exceptional customer service. They provide tons of info on the web, good prices on bulk shipping, answer questions promptly, and seem genuinely excited about bringing you green coffee. I can't think of any other business I frequent that is so happy to share their information and enthusiasm with the customer. When I roast a new coffee, I always check Tom's notes, and after months of developing an eye and an ear for roasting, I get pretty good results with a $5 popcorn popper. I will never put milk in my coffee again!
(5)pat q.
I have been roasting all of my own coffees for almost 20 years. Discovered SM back when they began in midwest. Have ordered from no one else in years. Tom has incredible knowledge and taste buds and is an absolute fanatic in only stocking superior beans. His staff and entire operation has always been absolutely 1st rate. This is from someone that has probably placed in excess of 60 orders for hundreds of coffees over the years ps. his online library is truly the encyclopedia of home roasting.
(5)Brian N.
These folks helped get me started in home roasting. I'm strictly low tech (popcorn poppers and HDGB) but the beans, the reviews, the education, the tech items for sale, just the online atmosphere... is simply fantastic.
(5)Lindley E.
Tom does his homework - you couldn't ask for a better friend in the coffee biz. He's crazy coffee obsessed and does everything he can to get the best beans in the world (cup of excellence winners etc) and make them available by the pound to enthusiastic/obsessive/insane home coffee roasters. Sweet Maria's carries a complete line of everything that a proper home roasting obsessive/enthusiast should need/want/own. There are roasters, both micro and slightly larger, along with honest, comprehensive reviews. The information is detailed and useful -- you'll find yourself going back to the site again and again for information and tips. The best in the country, hands down.
(5)Chris A.
I'm not sure how to review Sweet Maria's except to say that this is Mecca for those that homeroast coffee. I've been a regular customer with Thompson and Maria for probably six years now. I've always had nearly next day service with some of the most incredible ultra-premium coffees I've ever experienced. Thompson Owen also does something that you won't see anywhere else. He painstakingly analyzes every coffee he stocks, giving rare insight into the nuances of the coffee. His enthusiasm for coffee is inspiring. The coffee community can't wait for him to settle down and write us the definitive coffee book for coffee geeks. If you have an interest in coffee or coffee roasting make sure you swing by their website for the ultimate primer on the subject!
(5)Jeanne F.
If you roast your own coffee beans, shop at Sweet Maria's and only at Sweet Maria's. Their espresso beans are the best anywhere!
(5)Ross J.
Coffee for people who REALLY care about good coffee. Best value for estate coffees with careful attention to roasting. You have to wait for what they roast each week, but product is the highest quality you are likely to find, and for the price unbeatable. Gonna try the subscription next! Excellent selection of coffee paraphenalia, with solid product reviews. Tailored to the home coffee roaster, but lots of education here for others too, and who knows, I may roast at home soon
(5)mnypny b.
What an amazing company! Sweet Maria's website offers an extensive and changing selection of green beans, lots of gear, and a TON of useful information. We started doing business with them a couple of years before we moved to the area, and the deliveries were prompt and never disappointed. Now that we are nearby, it seems like we order and it's here the next day. If you are into roasting, you'll wonder why you ever bothered with any other company. More stars should be available for this one!
(5)michael c.
I suppose one has to be a bit of a coffee geek to roast their own beans. Having said that, I highly recommend it to anyone even slightly interested in coffee. It doesn't take much equipment or skill and the results are nothing short of amazing. This review is about Sweet Maria's and not homeroasting and is the most well deserved five star review I've ever written. Tom and Maria have done so much for the homeroasting community. And to say that they care about coffee beans and the farmers who grow them would be the understatement of the year. Their website is loaded with plenty of information about the process of growing and roasting and is a great time killer. Plus they take great care in stocking only the best beans from the best sources. I can't imagine ever using anyone else for coffee roasting supplies. If I had a business to run, I would run it like this - with dedication, knowledge, and pride.
(5)Eric B.
I've been ordering beans from them for awhile, and every time I'm *amazed* how fast they arrive. A friend gave me a roaster from Sweet Maria's as a gift, and I'm totally hooked. The website also has great information for coffee roasting.
(5)David A.
Right now I'm sipping my favorite coffee which I lightly roasted yesterday from Ethiopian Yirga Cheffe green coffee beans, one of dozens of offerings available from Sweet Maria's. This particular coffee is moderately bright, highly aromatic, and smells like lemon blossoms. It has a sweet honey-citrus taste when lightly roasted which is quite unlike, and to my taste much better, than the dark bitter-sweet coffees you get from the major coffee chains. This coffee is also much fresher than pre-roasted coffee you get in stores which typically has lost much of its aroma and flavor because it was roasted days, frequently more than a week, before you bought it. A co-worker got me interested in home coffee roasting and Sweet Maria's a few years ago. I bought some green coffee beans from them (for about half the price of store-bought roasted beans), threw them in a hot-air popcorn maker I already had, and I've been hooked on really fresh coffee roasted the way I like it ever since. What makes Sweet Maria's special and so successful is Maria's husband Tom who travels around the world picking the best coffee beans. He individually reviews and rates each offering as they become available. They also sell home coffee roasters, coffee makers, coffee grinders, espresso machines, and related items. Their web site reviews this equipment and has a nice library of roasting and brewing information and advice. Their primary business is internet sales although it is possible to pick up items at their warehouse. Over the years I've purchased not only hundreds of pounds of green coffee beans from Sweet Marias but two coffee roasters, an industrial-strength coffee grinder, a coffee drip brewer, a vacuum pot and French press, and a variety of other odds and ends. Their service has generally been top-notch and reasonably fast. There has been only one fairly minor incident which I thought could have been handled better. A couple days after I bought a new $500 coffee grinder from them, I was very carefully cleaning the plastic spout and it broke. I didn't think I did anything wrong or used excessive force. I contacted them and they offered to order another spout for me for $18 plus shipping. I decided to glue the one I had back together. That was several years ago and it has been fine since. However, I believe they should have either swapped the grinder for another one or sent me the part for free. Overall, however, I'm very pleased with Sweet Marias and highly recommend them both for home coffee roasting and coffee equipment. And if you somehow stumbled onto this Yelp review without knowing about home coffee roasting, go to the sweetmarias.com library, spend a few minutes reading about it, order a pound of green coffee beans or one of their sample packs and give it a try.
(4)Charles G.
I need to bust out the pom-poms here: Sweet Maria's is responsible for helping me hone my home roasting skills, and I just cannot say enough good things about them-- their website is a virtual university of coffee, they have everything a home roaster could want or need, their service is fantastic, and they promote small growers. In nearly three years of steady patronage I've never had an even remotely negative experience with them. I wish more businesses operated with the kind of integrity and dedication to their product that Sweet Maria's does. Bra-bygod-vo!
(5)John B.
the best, most accurate descriptions of the coffee they supply AND a great information resource for roasting and brewing methods
(5)Scott J.
I just love this company! When I started home roasting coffee over 5 years ago, I ran across Tom and Maria's site, and I've been a devoted customer ever since. I've yet to be tempted to do business elsewhere, after my first order with them. Tom is the coffee guy: he cups and reviews every coffee they sell, giving you a history of the coffee as well as letting you know what it will taste like and how to roast it to get certain flavors. He also has tip sheets on how to tweak/use any coffee equipment they sell (they have a great selection) for the best effect. Tom is an actual professional cupper (coffee evaluator), traveling to coffee auctions in many countries, just so he can get the best beans for Sweet Maria's customers. His recommendations have always been great, and his commentary both informative and amusing. Maria, the wife and business partner of Tom, is the wonderful woman you will talk to for the business end of things. She is the most amazingly conscientious business person I've ever met, making every effort to ensure that you have a good shopping experience with them. Together, they're a Dynamic Duo for coffee geeks and home roasters! To be honest, I don't know if I'd continue home roasting coffee if they closed their doors. They made everything so easy compared to the other companies I tried before them, and I always knew what I was getting thanks to Tom's detailed descriptions and roasting notes. No one else was offering such a great service for home roaster back in 2002, and I doubt that you'll still find better quality, price, selection or service elsewhere. Heck, they even sell roasted coffee now, for those who aren't really interested in getting into roasting their own coffee. Check them out: sweetmarias.com If you like really good coffee, and have a bit of that foodie impulse to try and do it yourself, Sweet Maria's is your connection!
(5)K C.
I cannot write enough about this amazing supplier of coffee knowledge and product!!! It is a "go-to" site for green coffee beans and information about coffee and roasting. Thanks to Tom and crew for offering an outstanding website and attention to detail with the art of roasting.
(5)Ping P.
The best! I just started home roasting - their online tutorials and in person Q & A - the best! You want to have the freshest, customized coffee? Visit here. I am lucky enough to live within 10 minutes drive of here - wow... talk about winning the lottery! But even if you don't - they ship!
(5)w b.
I've been ordering from SM's every couple months for over 2 years. Hands down the best place to order your green beans and equipment if you are a home roaster. Great year round selection of beans, good profiles and cup reviews, and extremely high quality. Can't say enough about their service and quality of products and reviews. The user forum is also a huge benefit for starting out and looking for advice and help. A really great community.
(5)K L.
Great place, great beans, helpful staff. I don't know what to say about the 1 or 2 negative reviews except they obviously are clueless and should stick to visiting coffee shops. These are consistently some of the best beans you'll find anywhere if you are getting into home roasting. I use a Behmor 1600 drum roaster, about $200, and it is one of the easiest to use roasters out there. perfect for roasting up those fine Sweet Marias green beans! Net result is I get to enjoy $16/lb coffee for only $6lb. :D
(5)Bruce K.
I still love Sweet Maria's and I'm hooked on the Rwandan coffee. My Behmor 1600 roaster has produced about 250 roasts and is still going strong!
(5)Ashley L.
Wonderful source of coffee beans, roasting and brewing equipment, and advice. We bought our roaster through them about a year ago, after using their web site to read up on all of the different roasting options. Since then we've enjoyed trying out all of the different varieties of beans that they offer. Their prices are extremely reasonable. On a whim, we even stopped by their warehouse in Oakland, and were impressed at how friendly and knowledgeable everyone was. They clearly care a lot about both the quality of the coffee they sell, and the growers who supply it. Happy to have them in the Bay Area.
(5)Erwin B.
"Once you roast you dont go bACK!" Couple years ago i use to go to Wholefoods (since they display their roast dates) or Peets coffee shop to buy some coffee, until i got I a Fresh Roaster SR500. Roasting quality coffee beans(i.e. primarily Ethiopian and sometimes Kenyan) is such a unique experience since you have the power to dictate what roast level suits you. The detail description(s) and selection in coffee beans are pretty comprehensive and their honesty is above par. I have no qualms or issues with Sweet Marias, they do take the time to test and taste all their coffee before selling it to consumers. What made me trust this company even more is Toms' vlogs ( youtube.com/user/sweetma… ) and facebook updates on his recent coffee farm visits. He shows the good and bad behind coffee farming and always presents an unbiased attitude when visiting or testing a new coffee crop. For almost 1.5-yrs, Sweet Marias has been my green coffee e-store by default and they are quiet responsive if you have any issue with your purchase. Shipping is quick and customer rep (i.e. emailing) is second to none. If you enjoy the following: drinking black coffee, espresso, and roast your beans give Sweet Marias ( sweetmarias.com ) a shot (pun intended--like an espresso shot hAHHAH..ha.....). On a unrelated note, THROW AWAY THOSE KEURIGS people and try the real thing!!!!!! Sometimes you have to slow down, like roast, get a notepad out or book as you roast, time it, weigh it, get a temperature right, store 24-48hourse(degassing), grind, and enjoy! Yeah you are right thats, a lot of da$! steps but everything takes time like farming, food, degree, and love (well thats debatable).
(5)Christie B.
I have only used Sweet Maria's for their mail order services, so this review is about that aspect only. Big thumbs up. A colleague tipped me off to Sweet Maria's a few years ago, and I can never go back to store bought roasted beans again. No way, no how. Sweet Maria's offers a huge selection of green coffee beans from all around the world. I really have to take my hat off to them for their exceptional selection, fine descriptions, and speedy shipping. I usually order enough to stock up for the year, since green beans will keep fairly well for at least 2 years if kept in a cool, dry place. I have to restrain myself from getting one of everything, since Sweet Maria's offers so many different beans from so many places. The descriptions on their website are instrumental in helping me narrow my selection, and I greatly appreciate how detailed these are. Now I know what types of flavors I go for, so it makes the selection process all the more easy. In addition, their shipping is speedy, the beans are packed beautifully, and they include a nice newsletter in the shipment. I highly recommend ordering from them. There's nothing better than home roasted coffee!
(5)Ryan A.
This place is awesome. I can't wait to get my beans roasted. I decided to pick up my coffee instead of delivery. They had so much to choose from. I ended up getting Columbian, Costa Rican, and Mexican coffee. What's great is that they help you learn the art of roasting in case you're a newbie like me. Looking forward to doing this again when the coffee runs out.
(5)Laurie H.
When I first decided to venture into roasting my own coffee beans, the first place my google search took me was to Sweet Maria's page - not to buy beans, but because they've amassed a nice library of information and links on how to do it. From there I was able to frankenstein together a stir crazy popcorn popper bottom with a turbo convection oven top and I've never looked back. When I finally got it all worked out, THEN I ordered beans. I love that I can go online, place my order before 8 or 9am, then by 11am I get an email stating that my beans are ready for pickup. Yes, I'm lucky enough to live in Oakland and be able to pick up. Oh yeah, I do hella love Oakland. They always have an ethiopian dry process bean for me (always on the hunt for blueberry notes....not easy to find) and mexican, central american or south american for hubby. Even teen daughter gets in on the act and chooses beans. Love them, love their newsletter, love their resource section on the website. Yay Sweet Maria's!
(5)Yan L.
This place is incredible. The prices are amazing and the quality of the beans here is truly awesome. I cannot say enough good things. Get yourself a starter kit and start roasting your beans, and you'll wonder why you ever bought precooked coffee. Seriously, it's 4 times the price and lasts 1/10 as long!
(5)Daniel L.
I have never been to the warehouse but I have been ordering online from them for the last 4 years. Great selection of green coffee beans and coffee roasting equipment. Plus the site has all sorts of information about roasting. You can tell that the company really cares about all things coffee and I appreciate that they keep their prices reasonable. Hands down the best place I have found to get into home roasting.
(5)Shagie R.
I have used SM in the past, they were good. I needed a new roaster so I new SM would be helpful, so I ordered my 600$ machine from them. They were sure helpful leading up to me buying the machine. When I had a problem, they would not contact me back. I contacted again, and finally filled out a return merchandise form. They then emailed me but not to help, they sent me to the importer. The importer took care of the problem. Another issue has happened to the same part, the importer is helping again, but again, SM did nothing to help. I even told them that I did not want anything free, just some help. No help whatsoever. If you need green beans I would recommend you order from this site, burmancoffee.com . Because SM only wants your money, not to service customers.
(1)Mark T.
Excellent online selection of green beans with plenty of information to help you choose between so many origins and varieties. I rarely go anywhere else these days for green beans. Liquid amber blend and Santa Lucia yellow bourbon (SO) are my favorites right now.
(5)Kirk B.
I've ordered three roasters and green coffee from Sweet Maria's over seven years. Product is shipped quickly and there has never been anything wrong with the orders, the green coffee, or the roasters.
(5)Martin C.
Disclaimer-my review is based on an experience some time ago, but I had no Yelp account then. After reading a review that outlined an experience almost identical to mine, I felt I ought to share my experience. I WAS a regular customer. I spent hundreds of dollars ordering green beans, which were all of good to better quality..until I received a pound of Rwandan in a sampler. Having never tried Rwandan, I roasted about a 3rd of it as recommended. It was horrid-undrinkable. So I roasted another 3rd darker-still horrid. The final 3rd was roasted lighter than recommended. Yep, still horrid. So...I emailed Sweet Maria's and was told "no one else has complained, are you sure you roasted it correctly?" I replied with the above information. I was then questioned about where I stored my beans. I indicated I stored them under optimal conditions, as suggested. I was then questioned about what I stored my beans in. I replied "In the bags I bought from you". That was it, not another response. Let me help you out, whoever runs Sweet Maria's customer service dept. (if you have one). The correct response is "I'm sorry to hear that, let me send you a pound of something else". You do not question the intelligence of the customer, especially not once, but three times! Particularly when it's a customer who is spending several hundred dollars a year with you. That's what I have always done in many years in the hospitality industry, including 7 years in the specialty coffee industry, long before anyone at Sweet Maria's was in it.
(1)J T.
Sweet Maria's is an amazing resource for all things coffee. Seldom do I buy beans there, but I've bought a few things from them that would probably fall under the "coffee accoutrements" category - a burr grinder, drip cone, commuter mug, filters, etc. It seems that the Sweet Maria's folks write very detailed notes and reviews of all the products they sell, so you can make a highly informed choice about what you buy. Ordering from their website is super easy, and if you live/work nearby, you can avoid shipping fees and pick up directly from their warehouse. Nice.
(5)Elaine L.
I ordered an 8lb sampler from Sweet Maria's and was shopping for a popcorn machine when I realized they sold a nice package deal. I called and also emailed to see if they could add the machine before my order went out right after New Years. They emailed back that they would and made a note. Unfortunately the memo was missed and I received my beans and heard nothing of the machine. I inquired after a week of receiving the beans and they said it was their mistake and promised arrival by early next week. I said that was fine. Late next week I call and email again. Apparently the popcorn machine was sent but I had not received it. UPS investigation and another week and it is confirmed the package was lost by UPS. Sweet Maria's ships me my machine, plus another 8 lbs! Maria, that's pretty sweet! I was disappointed it took so long, but everyone was just so nice you can't be mad and it all started with an incomplete order on my part. The coffee is great. I like to diy a long funnel using small hole chicken wire. Allows more air flow, allowing more time for 1st and 2nd crack. No smoke flavor like in my first batch. Airflow is very important for both the smell and taste. Fun!
(5)Kirk H.
I don't care if its a taxicab with a driver who loves driving or a hot dog cart with a person who grew up eating hot dogs at the ball park - when somebody loves something and shares it with you - its a true gift. And this is Sweet Maria's. Total lack of pretense, patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly generous with knowledge - Sweet Maria's is the door to the Rabbit Hole known as Roasting Coffee. Here you get all you need to know and then as much as you can handle. Roasting does not need to be an erudite activity. Anybody can do it and the rewards are financial as well as obvious in the cup. After reading all you can and picking a roasting method, the wonderful news is that this is the best possible place for beans. What luck? Reasonable prices but more importantly, safe well researched choices. Sweet Maria's descriptions are dead-on and invaluable in allowing a neophyte to know what to look for in the results. Okay, so apparently I like this place...
(5)Bill K.
Kirk H. review of 6/27/2013 sez it SO WELL! Also, Tom & Co. have recently been shipping their quality beans to their own decaffeinating processors with MAJOR success in my home roasting. I say this because I roast for my wife who has been a lifelong regular coffee drinker. Health constraints have caused her to move to decaf. With help from the SM forums, I'm dialing-it-in on the roasts of their decaf beans. "The best coffee I have drank, so far!", she sez and I'll take it.
(5)Jamie B.
I love sweet maria's as do many others. They are the gateway to learning about home roasting. I have an enormous amount of appreciation for Thompson and crew because of how much knowledge they freely share. Their ability to source great coffee and explain how it is great within certain contexts is useful to me. I've had exchanges with their customer service and it's always been delightful. I gladly point others towards SM to start their home roasting journey.
(5)Sabrina R.
Sweet Maria's Coffee has excellent international coffee choices at a fair price and the service is fantastic. Since I live 1.5 hours from Oakland, I usually get my green coffee beans delivered. They make sure to ship your order as soon as possible; my parcel arrived in two days and I ordered the coffee over the weekend. I also had complications when ordering (definitely my fault) and the problems with my order were cleared Monday morning, right when the store opened. Sweet Maria's definitely takes care of their customers. All of the coffee they sell is great, but my absolute favorite one is the Ethiopian blend--I highly recommend it.
(5)Sherri C.
I love buying my green coffee beans from Sweet Maria's. The quality is always above awesome and the prices are more than reasonable. Their employees are always helpful and friendly, and as busy as they always are, will go out of their way to answer any questions you may have. And the really nice thing is that when I place an order, I don't have far to go for pickup, as I live less than 400 feet away, around the corner.
(5)Stephanie H.
Home roasting, I am. Beans, they have. I've taken it upon myself to start home roasting my own coffee--one for economic purposes. I've purchased waaay too many cups of coffee for waaay more than what I should be paying for said cup of coffee. Two-why waste my money on a cup of joe that I can't fully say I know how it was prepared nor packaged OR where it came from? So I let my curiosity get the best of me and googled home roasting. Whadya know, Sweet Maria's was at the top of the list. I checked out their reviews and read their blog, did some miscellaneous research for other roasting resources. Sweet Maria's was the way to go. I ordered a 4lb sampler bag which gives you 4 types of coffee beans to try out. I chose to pick them up cause I wanted to check out their home in W Oakland. (It really just gave me an excuse to visit the town which has a special place in my heart.) Hello cool warehouse setting! Metal stable doors with a bell welcomes roasters as you can hear clinking and clanging of people at work inside. You walk in and there's something covered up (old skool truck or car?) and coffee bean sacks piled high on top of each other. I saw a rack straight ahead that said pick up orders and headed that way. Brown bags with last names were lined up neatly on each shelf. I saw mine and snabbed it, while gawking at the shady shapes all around me--machinery, coffee bean sacks...people hanging out and chatting about coffee. Super cazsh. Oh and don't kid yourself--you don't buy already made coffee here. My experience home roasting has been nothing but a waiting game so far. I like that, because my first time around was not so pleasant as I roasted way beyond the roasting time I should have. Trial and error is my middle name that past week and today's cup was actually not bad. To end: 5 reasons you should try Sweet Maria's for your home roasting adventures: 1. Easy purchasing and pickup/delivery 2. Very easy to follow instructions on how to hone roast (complete with vids) on their website. 3. If you own an old skool popcorn popper (which I did have at home) you can start right away. Otherwise you can score on online for cheap cheap. 4. The beans are legit: they come from different countries, all having kosher relationships with Sweet Maria. 5. You slowly start becoming a bit snotty when it comes to coffee flavors and brewing. You use words like "city" or "full city" or phrases like "roasting potential". Hey, for a grammar person, this was a plus in my book. Happy home roasting ya'll.
(5)P C.
Okay this is for the real serious coffee drinker , are you the true coffee lover? Well this is the place for you. Great special coffee and machines to make coffee, top of the line. Went here on a special trip after my girlfriend let me know about this special place away from San Francisco.
(5)Dan G.
Lightly roasting (iRoast2) and brewing (siphon) Sweet Marias for over 10 years. I like that they have many different bean offerings, within a single country (not common). Then for each offering SM provides a detailed description of the region, the farm, and the bean. SM scores all green coffee beans across 10 characteristics, and represents the scores graphically. Over time, this allowed me to discover what I like best in a coffee. It also makes it easy to find/order beans I am certain to enjoy (for me, brightness 9 or up, sweetness 9 or up, overall score 90 or higher). Why buy from anyone else?
(5)David S.
After getting a nice Super-Automatic espresso machine, earlier this year, my curiosity for all things related to creating great espresso has bloomed. Thus, I came across the SM website. So, I only recently got into roasting my own coffee because I found out that it was the only real way to ensure the quality and freshness of the beans. Freshness means not only great taste, but great health benefits. People actually get sick from the old rancid coffees that they are buying at the grocery store. Additionally, green beans are very economical, and last much longer on the shelf than roasted beans. The SM website is a great place for all things coffee. These days, I roast about 2 pounds of beans a week. It so nice to have SM near by, where I can stop in, buy anything, available, and know that it will be a great cup. Of course, it helps to take the time to practice the art of roasting. My roasting equipment is simple. In the backyard, a 25 dollar large single gas range from the flea market. A 15" skillet, with a fan near by to direct the smoke away when the beans are almost there. A bamboo spatula. I can roast 1 pound at a time. Its a great way to connect to your food. And, now that I have a lever espresso maker (Ponte Vecchio Lusso), with SM near by, I live in espresso paradise! Ahaaa... :-)
(5)Kevin D.
I roasted some beans from here and they were AMAZING.
(5)Chris Y.
"Now you've got a friend in the coffee business." That's what it feels like to be a Sweet Marias customer. Tom travels the world selecting only the finest coffee beans and the best part is Tom teaches us what he knows about coffee. I came to home coffee roasting from home brewing beer in the late 90s. I stopped brewing beer because there is plenty of quality beer available, but I still roast coffee. Over the last 10+ years I have purchased two roasters and countless pounds of green beans from Sweet Marias. I'm in Indiana, so when Sweet Marias moved from Columbus, OH my shipping cost and time went up a bunch. I looked for alternative coffee suppliers, but nothing else compares. How many places have you been buying from exclusively for over 10 years? It's that good.
(5)David T.
A tale of two coffees. I like to drink coffee. I have too many machines, and I try too many coffees, but it tastes great and keeps me rolling. Over the weekend I had two very different experiences. The first was at Starbucks, which I hardly ever go into, as I like Peets. But there I was, and I ordered a latte, which was really not great. So I asked for a replacement, which I do like once in ten years, max. I asked for a cup of coffee, not a latte, so I wouldn't waste time and energy. Usually I just toss it, and move on, but I wanted a coffee before a long drive. And, behold, I was not hassled, not lectured, not frowned upon, just given a new a drink, and....drumroll.....a coupon for another drink. Holy Mocca, batperson! So regardless of how you feel about the big borg box, that is class. Next up, some coffee beans ordered from Sweet Marias. These were undrinkable. Something seriously off. So, I thought, OK, I'll just send them a note, in case they have a problem, they might like to know about it. I figured, this is just a fluke, they should know about it. Didn't ask for a refund, didn't ask for a replacement. Just a note. And guess what, they wrote me back to tell me it was my fault. I didn't understand chemistry (ummm except for my degree....) my milk must have expired (gosh, how could I have missed that, especially since I opened a new one just in case). No thank you for telling us, just a scoop of rude and topping of BTW you are ignorant of chemistry. Verdict: distinct lack of class (plus the undrinkable coffee).
(1)Tom R.
I can't speak for their coffee but I can for their manager's bad attitude. I drove 45 minutes to buy coffee, asked them about a specific type of coffee I was looking for, the manager tells me that a) that is "bullshit" and b) they are closed so get out. Her rudeness was so baffling I barely knew what to say. Not sure what her deal was but I refuse to give anyone with that bad of an attitude any of my money. Just go to Blue Bottle.
(2)Shy C.
Love it. Honestly, Sweet Maria's has educated me on a great green bean. I buy the beans and roast them. YUM! What a great cup of coffee. Cupping, Drum roasting, Full City, Light Roast, Full City + Full Roast. I am a fan! What a treat! Thanks Sweet Maria's.
(4)Alex W.
They have such a fantastic selection of beans! And such great roasting equipment as well, plus they are very informative. I love how detailed they are with the beans they sell, they have cupping scores, ideal roast levels, history of the beans (to an extent), notes and so much more. Not only all that but it's a great way to make people stop liking awful coffee like Starbucks. I made my friend really jealous when i showed her my beans and the SM site. This is because she got me quite angry when she said that Starbucks had good coffee. Now she doesn't think so anymore =)
(5)Mary P.
Tired of going to the local coffee "it" place only to leave with a burnt cup of brew, lighter in the wallet, and bitterness in your heart? This is not that kind of coffee place. Sweet Maria is exactly what it name implies, sweet. Enter through an carved metal gate into a massive warehouse to be greeted by friendly staff and well behaved dogs. They have a green coffee list that reads like a well prepared wine menu but they also have a batches of roasted coffee ready for instant home brewing. They take time to explain the roasting process because they know that once you try to roast on your own you will be hooked. Once you learn how to roast, which you can do in a pop corn popper, all other coffee will pale in comparison. And roasting your own coffee is cheaper than buying roasted coffee.
(4)Melissa C.
Hello. My name is Melissa and I am a completely unrepentant coffee addict. I grew up on Peets, and then moved into the local craft roasters a la Bluebottle and Ritual. Good stuff, but very few cups ever really sent me over the edge into true bliss. Finally, thanks to a homeroasting class offered by The Institute For Urban Homesteading, I'm ready for the big leagues: roasting my own beans *exactly* the way I like them and Tom and his crew at Sweet Maria's have made this a glorious reality. Thus far, i gotta go with Sumatra Onan Ganjang at a Full City+ This is the kind of coffee that stops you in your tracks and makes you utter completely innappropriate noises in public, Plus, my house smells frakkin' *amazing*. All you need is a Popcorn popper, a flat bottom colander and a good fan, and Sweet Maria's will walk you through the entire process. You might smoke yourself out the first couple of times, but once you get the hang of it, get ready to shiver with mouthgasms of caffeinated bliss. And the extra added bonus? $7.00 a lb for top quality beans that would cost me 3 times as much if I bought them already roasted.
(5)Peter C.
I've unfortunately never been to their spot in Oakland, but get their superior product in the mail all the time to roast up (the coffee of course). Their quality is the best coffee in the world, and they have close relationships directly with the growers, resulting in higher, fair prices for coffee that is grown with foremost care. I especially love the African coffees, Kenya in particular because I like the high-toned acidity, really sweet fruit and elegant but structured mouthful. To me this is analogous to fine Bordeaux. Sweet_m also gets a great and diverse selection of central/south american beans which are nice. In summary, totally awesome.
(5)Nick B.
A friend had mentioned Sweet Maria's as a place to get some fantastic beans as well as some home roasting accessories. I was in town for the day and made sure to include them on my to-do list. To start with it is a very nice place. The staff was super friendly (sorry I forgot you name - I am horrible with names!). Beans beans beans! Such a great selection! I was pretty much lost and totally relied on the knowledge they have in picking out a few different blends. I ended up with the Liquid Amber Espresso and Moka Kadir Blend. From there it was on to home roasting stuff. It was a bit mind boggling but patience is a virtue at Sweet Maria's. I will definitely be back for more from this great shop! I think my addiction has just become a bit stronger.
(5)Bill A.
THE PLACE FOR COFFEE!!! America, you get what you ask for. How did we end up with a Starbucks on every corner instead of a Sweet Maria's? If I knew half of what these people know about coffee then I would really know something. Let's just start with the detailed instructions and information designed to help you make the most informed decision. I rarely find that kind of know-how anymore. Okay, so the cupping notes are phenomenal! When I order beans from them I have a very good idea what they will taste like before I push the checkout button. I wish I had found them before I bought my espresso maker. It is decent but if I had gotten it from SM I would have been a lot happier. Well next time I will get it from them;? live and learn. They are awesome even when I have to contact them in a crabby mood because my very fragile and very beloved brewer is broken. The world needs more people and companies like Sweet Maria's.
(5)Tim W.
Nirvana. The holy land. Coffee paradise. Okay. Hold on. You're not actually buying coffee drinks here. This is for those fanatical coffee geeks for whom boutique barristas are so, well, 2009. We'll take the reins of control over our own coffee, thank you very much. Home roasting one's own coffee beans is at once charmingly simple and an art from unto itself. If you want real control and choice in your coffee, roast your own beans. But where do you buy unroasted (green) coffee beans? How would I know what kinds of beans to buy? What kind of apparatus does it require to roast my own beans? How? When? Why? How much? All of these questions and more are found in the copious notes and instructions found on SM's website. The site is a cornucopia of self-roasting instruction, tips, reference material, tutorials and more. SM will teach you how to roast your own beans, select the best of the best, render your own brew that outstrips anything the overpriced boutiques serve in your own kitchen. And let's be honest, some of us still end up getting an espresso at Peet's or wherever when we're away from home. Well, your experience with SM and Tom's cupping notes (he's an international recognized coffee cupper (judge)) provide you a little insight to begin critically assessing that cup of joe that fetching server just plunked in front of you. I've been home-roasting for about 5 years now. I've bought greens from coffee cooperatives, other vendors, all sorts of places. Sweet Maria's green coffee beans are the only ones I really trust to provide consistently stellar results in the roaster. Do you take your coffee seriously? Cream and milk a dilution that never enters your cup? Espresso an art form for you? Take the leap and become a Sweet Maria's customer. 'Nuff said.
(5)Ric O.
These guys do a great job and a great service to the coffee community. They stand behind their products and provide training as needed. Hope their success does not take away from their ways!
(5)Eric G.
I've been home roasting for years, and a lot of what I've learned along the way has been thanks to Sweet Maria's. Seriously, these guys are THE BEST. Their website is a little wonky, but the info there is the best you'll find. They're more interested in selling you exactly what you want than just making a sale, and it really shows. I know this probably sounds like some BS review because I'm gushing about how much I love Sweet Maria's, but I'm big on experimenting with food and coffee is one of my primary interests. Go to their website and read up on roasting, place an order, maybe you'll get hooked too.
(5)Mick F.
There are caffeine addicitons, and then there is mine. I will drink ANYTHING to satiate the addiciton. But, it doesnt mean i LIKE it. Matter of fact, its rare that i will like ANYONE's coffee at all. I like my own coffee. Mostly for the reason that i control everything about it. I roast my own raw beans. I discovered Sweet Maria's when i was living in Rhode Island (about 2000). At the time, they were an operation in Emeryville, now they have moved to Oakland. They offer an INSANE selection of green raw beans from all over the world, and AMAZING prices for you to roast in your home roaster. Being poor at the time, I started off with a popcorn popper. Im Macguyvery that way. I graduated up to a bigger, better, and began selling my coffee once i knew how to control the flavors of certain beans. I had spreadsheets, with temps and times, and how long to let them rest, and how many chaffing stages to let them go through. Did you know if the beans are shiny after theyre done, it isnt good, because that means the oils have been roasted out of the inside, which will imbalance the acidity levels. Like cats, some beans are more delicate than others, wheras some are like dogs and love whatever you throw at them. My friends drank MingBean and it created monsters. More, Mick! More MORE goddamn it i want MOOOORE. It got to a point where i was supplying a weekly stash to a restaurant for about a buck an ounce. Thats right. People would GLADLY give me $16 for a pound of coffee. At one point, i even entertained the stupid idea of opening a buisness, but then i remembered...no. It would be fun anymore. Sweet Maria's has been the SOLE supplier of my green beans. The really good news is, they only sell fair trade coffee, unless you like the added nuance of peasant blood to your coffee, then its bad news.
(5)