lemiThe land of the free—for good reason! Home to some of the world’s most famous landscapes, cityscapes, and great escapes
In the Land of Java Giants
San Francisco
Amidst San Francisco’s famous fog, you’ll smell the heavenly aroma of coffee in the air. From its days as the birthplace of J.A. Folger & Co., MJB, and Hills Bros. (three of the USA’s top major java firms), the city’s caffeine scene has expertly ridden the first, second, and third waves of coffee. Today, as the cup of joe is elevated into an art of varied forms (pour-over, cold brew, spice-infused—you name it), we’ve rounded up some of the best coffee joints in The Bay, from an unassuming hole-in-the-wall spot in the Mission District, to a warehouse space in SoMa. It’s time for your daily jolt of caffeine!
Watch Mid-Market’s tech savants, moms on a mid-errands break, and tourists exploring Downtown as you sip on a delightful Scratch Caramel Latte at the Equator Coffees & Teas’ beautiful Warfield Building branch. As the first B-Corporation certified java roaster in San Francisco, you’re guaranteed to have the best sustainably processed espresso blends in each cup. Don’t forget to grab a bag of coffee beans to bring home before you go!
- +1 415 614 9129
986 Market Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- http://www.equatorcoffees.com/pages/downtown-sf-2
Andytown Coffee Roasters (Lawton Street, San Francisco)
1 saveSan Francisco, United States • Recommendation •
A trip to Outer Sunset is worth it just for Andytown Coffee Roasters’ Snowy Plover, which is a cold drink made of two shots of espresso, San Pellegrino sparkling water, brown sugar syrup, and homemade cream. The cafe draws a diverse mix of surfers, neighborhood locals, and hipsters looking for straightforward coffee selections (made with carefully chosen beans that are roasted in-house) and freshly-baked authentic Irish soda breads. On a rare pleasant day, spend an afternoon outside to catch a fantastic view of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
- +1 800 555 1212
3655 Lawton Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://andytownsf.com/
Coffee truly takes the spotlight at Saint Frank in well-to-do Russian Hill. The cafe is quintessentially hipster—we’re talking a space of white tiles, light accent wood, and custom-made bars populated by tattoo-adorned, chambray-wearing, Frye boots-donning 20- to 30-year-olds. Order the coffee tasting flight, and observe the passionate baristas brew single-origin drip java into a latte, espresso, black coffee, and cold brew. For an extra kick of adventure, try the popular Kaffe Tonic, a shot of espresso poured over a glass of tonic and ice.
- +1 415 881 8062
2340 Polk Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://www.saintfrankcoffee.com/
Sightglass Coffee used to serve the SoMa District population with caffeinated beverages on a rickety service cart, using a two-group espresso machine and Chemex pots. They certainly have come a long way, as the company has become synonymous to San Francisco’s independent coffee scene. Their brews are skillfully crafted to perfection, and are considered to be one of the city’s best. A haven for java enthusiasts, its flagship store on 7th Street features a centerpiece roastery, an affogato bar stocked with Portland’s Salt & Straw ice cream, and a community gathering space, making it an ideal location for an immersive coffee experience.
- +1 415 861 1313
270 7th Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://sightglasscoffee.com/
Ritual Coffee Roasters (Mission District, San Francisco)
2 savesSan Francisco, United States • Recommendation •
The chic hodgepodge of Mission District is fueled by the rich, smooth brews of Ritual Coffee Roasters. As soon as you take a seat, join the neighborhood’s set of professionals and students in creating a symphony of hushed collaborative voices and keyboard clicks. Get some work done over a signature cup of V60 pour-over coffee and, during your break, catch the cupping classes and brewing demos to learn how to make your own delicious java.
- +1 415 641 1011
1026 Valencia Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://www.ritualroasters.com/
It’s quite easy to miss this tiny garage-looking corner shop in Mission District, but trust us—you’ll want to drop by for a quick to-go order of roasted Nitro Cold Brew at Linea Caffe. Renowned master roaster Andrew Barnett treats coffee as an art form, as he expertly brews meticulously selected proprietary beans. Every cup of joe here has that naturally sweet, complex, and elegant flavors of java. Seating is limited, so be prepared to stand on the sidewalk with fellow caffeine junkies.
- +1 415 590 3011
3417 18th Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://lineacaffe.com/
Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters (Union Street, San Francisco)
1 saveSan Francisco, United States • Recommendation •
Find out what the “Third Wave Coffee” movement is all about at the Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters, where partners Trish Rothgeb and Nicholas Cho coined the term we all know today. After several successful pop-up stints, the award-winning venture finally has a full-service cafe on the quieter side of Union Street. Here, sustainably-sourced coffee is produced with scientific precision, resulting to incredible pour-overs and espresso drinks.
- +1 415 638 9227
2271 Union Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://www.wreckingballcoffee.com/
The same brand that fuels a large population of the USA’s third wave coffee joints, Four Barrel offers some of the country’s best brews. Enter its white-walled, high-ceilinged home on Valencia Street and enjoy an unplugged afternoon over a nice book and a mug of steaming black coffee. All of the cafe’s beans are ethically-sourced and roasted on a vintage German machine, yielding flavors that are second to none. Trust us, even milk-and-sugar coffee drinkers will love it here!
- +1 415 896 4289
375 Valencia Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://www.fourbarrelcoffee.com/
Right on the Embarcadero across the Ferry Building, local legend Paramo Coffee serves excellent drip coffee to pair with Harvest Moon Cafe’s beloved cookies—which the baristas are able to deliver in five minutes, an incredible feat for a San Franciscan specialty coffee shop. Feel free to stay at the cozy light-bathed cafe for lunch to savor delectable seasonal salads and small plates by rising local chefs.
4 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, California, USA
- http://www.paramocoffeesf.com
Get some serious work done at Coffee Bar, as their Mission District location boasts large indoor and outdoor seating, multiple electrical outlets, and free wifi. Peek into their extensive coffee menu for a delicious brew from Mr. Espresso (Oakland’s only oak wood roaster), and pair it with one of the cafe’s healthy salad or quinoa bowl options. In no time, you’ll be pushing deadlines, hitting targets, and ticking off to-do’s—all you need is a jolt of caffeine!
- +1 415 551 8100
1890 Bryant Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://coffeebarsociety.com/
The buzzing bodies of Market Street converge at Mazarine Coffee for quick meetings, pitches, and productivity sessions over rotating brews from different roasters across the globe. The cafe tends to get packed during busy days and office breaks, but try to snag a seat to engage in a true San Franciscan experience: pair your coffee with fancy, extravagant bread concoctions, like an over-the-top avocado toast made of goat cheese (chèvre), delicate slices of radish, and chives sandwiched between slices of white French Pain de Mie.
- +1 415 398 7700
720 Market Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- https://mazarinecoffee.com/
A North Beach gem since 1956, family-run Caffe Trieste stays true to its original Old Italy meets Bohemia style by churning out cups of Italian brews for patrons to enjoy over live music. As you sip on your latte, embrace the coffee shop’s rich history as a beat journalists’ haven seen through various photographs on the wall. Try to spot a photo of Francis Ford Coppola, who was said to have written much of the screenplay for The Godfather in the very halls of the iconic red-and-green painted cafe.
- +1 415 392 6739
601 Vallejo Street, San Francisco, California, USA
- http://coffee.caffetrieste.com
About United States
