At Cypress Self Storage, we are your local, neighborhood self storage facility. Being a community-oriented business, we truly love our local cities of Oakley and Brentwood. Moreover, we have a passion for other local (small) businesses adding unique value to our community. Today, it is our pleasure to review two tea shops and one coffee shop, all newer additions to the tri-delta area.
In the last year, two tea places and a new coffee place have opened in Brentwood. The tea places specialize in Asian-style milk teas, including bubble or "boba", teas that have chewy tapioca balls (also known as bubbles, pearls, or boba). Until these shops opened, one had to travel outside the area to get these tasty alternatives to more standard teas and coffees served in our area. We hope you enjoy our review of TeaZenTea, Etea, and Big House Beans Specialty Coffee Roasters.
TeaZenTea Review
This business was established in 2016, with the location in Brentwood having opened in March 2017. It's become popular for the local high school students, mostly due to its convenient location to Liberty High and the Safeway near downtown Brentwood.
According to the company’s website (www.teazentea.com), the owners had been "looking for a place where they can slowdown, hang out, and enjoy a cup of bubble tea with friends and family", and this is the perfect description for this place. The moment you walk in, you are overwhelmed by the enticing aroma of freshly-made crepes and waffles. The décor is fresh, clean, and pristine, with modern details all the way down to the payment screens. There are plenty of tables for doing work, reading, studying, or socializing, flat-screen TVs, and an Lego wall.
You can order from a large variety of specialty tea with the amount of sugar you desire, and with or without boba. Besides teas, they also offer smoothies, slushies, and ice snow with different flavors.
As far as the food, the waffle served is green with a hint of a coconut flavor. The crepes come with a choice of strawberries and banana, Nutella and banana, cheese or ice cream. There is also other savory food on the menu.
Currently, there is a promotion for 10% off for all military and family members, but if you sign up for text alerts, you can get notified of other specials. TeaZenTea is located at: 1135 2nd St #C, (Across from Safeway) Brentwood, CA 94513. Hours are: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Holiday hours may differ. Phone: (925) 626-5747.
ETea Review
While ETea has a few locations in San Francisco, this tea shop is small enough to have that special hometown, small business feel. The Brentwood location opened last year in the corner shop by In Shape City, previously occupied by a baby/maternity consignment store and a candy/ice cream shop. I have high hopes for this venture at this location.
The atmosphere at ETea is cozy, with comfy chairs and couches throughout the shop, and toys and games, such as Jenga and Connect 4, at the tables for kids (or adults) to play, and even a couple of PlayStations on flatscreen TVs. While kids can play and adults can socialize, the shop is also set up so one can adequately study or work.
Like TeaZenTea, there is a huge variety of milk teas for which you can also order with or without boba, and with the desired amount of sugar, hot teas, fruit teas, and other fruit drinks made with real fruit.
The shop also features several types of bánh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), which are tasty and spicy with a nice crusty bread and fresh vegetables. I tried the honey BBQ pork, which was awesome. There are also funnel cake sticks, Belgian waffles, and other food to go with your drinks.
If you're looking for a discount, eTea offers happy hour Monday through Thursday 11 to-5 during which house milk teas are $2.99 each. ETea is located at 3860 Balfour Rd. (near Yogurt Pizazz), Brentwood, CA 94513. Hours are Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Holiday hours may differ. Phone: (925) 666-8129. Website: www.eteasf.com.
Big House Beans Specialty Coffee and Roasters Review
If tea is not your cup of tea, Big House Beans recently opened its first location in Brentwood, and is quickly becoming a favorite among locals. Like nearby TeaZenTea, it’s near Liberty High in the Safeway shopping center, so you'll see a lot of teenagers, but it's still generally quiet.
The café is called "Big House" because co-founder John Krause served time in San Quentin, and after starting Big House Beans in 2014, holds the belief in giving second chances to people who may have life barriers. In looking at their website, they possess as much passion for hiring, mentoring and teach skills to men and women who need those opportunities as they do for coffee and the brewing process. You really get the idea that it’s much more than a business.
The café itself has a nice cozy atmosphere to hang out with friends, or do work or homework, and enjoy some amazingly high quality coffee. While there's not a sprawling wall menu, there's a nice selection of coffees, lattes, cold brews, kombucha, and teas. You can buy fresh coffee beans on the premise, or order from their website (along with other merchandise) from their website, www.bighousebeans.com.
Food offerings are also small but an excellent offering including pastries and mini Belgian Liège Waffles with pearled sugar and additional toppings, yogurt parfaits, overnight oats, and chia pudding.
While they would love you to visit them in person at their café, Big House Beans also offers excellent illustrated "brewtorials" on the different coffee terminology - Chemex, Kalita Wave, Toddy Cold Brew, Aeropress, and French Press - in case you thought coffee was just beans and hot water.
Big House Beans is located at: 1155 2nd St A (next to Togos and across from Mountain Mike's Pizza), Brentwood, CA 94513. Hours are Monday-Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holiday hours may differ. Phone: (925) 679-7687.
We Love Oakley and Brentwood
We are certainly blessed to call the greater Oakley/Brentwood area our home! With the addition of these local, hometown tea and coffee shops, there is always a place to hang out. At Cypress Self Storage, we know that moving can require quite a bit of energy. Consider giving TeaZenTea, ETea, and Big House Beans a try during your next move! They offer the perfect way to quench your thirst (and hunger), while providing energy!
