Top Espresso Bar in San Francisco
Ritual Coffee Roasters
1026 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
Time for a Ritual early evening brew ha haRitual Coffee Roasters in the Mission District was the site for my first ever coffee cupping class. I vividly remember the Nicaragua episode of Bizarre Foods, where Andrew Zimmern slurped & spat his way through various coffee, noting the distinctive notes of each brew. I now had the chance to see how loud a slurp I could make, distinguishing from various single origin coffee. All the while, enjoying a high octane caffeine boost to power me on for the night.Sho was our barista, and he led us through the cupping process. Starting with South American coffee, and onward to Ethiopian grinds, Sho had us sniff the dry grinds, to envision the flavor notes in our head.Then, after brewing for a certain amount of minutes, Sho had our group sniff the brewed grinds, to see if the flavor notes we experienced before still applied or were altered in any way.Afterwards, came the highlight of any coffee cupping - tasting! Sho demonstrated the artisan way of tasting. By using a spoon & slowly lowering it into the brew, we slurped the coffee as loud and fast as possible, which we spat out. Tasting this way sprays the coffee onto the tastebuds, allowing for maximum savoring. In my opinion, the South American coffee had more sweet/floral profiles, whereas the Ethiopian coffee had bold/more assertive flavors. What was on the unhygienic side, was we used a communal cup to wash our spoons before each sipping. All I can say is, I was glad I was the second one & not further down the line.Upon our coffee cupping class coming to completion, we all had our choice of drink from Ritual Coffee Roasters. Wanting some cold with a kick, I went with Rituals nitro cold brew-Cold, slightly acidic, caffeine-laden, the nitro cold brew hit the spot. For the uninitiated, nitro cold brew coffee is akin to coffee beer. Frothy, slightly bubbly & having a stoutness to it, the drink is made the day before to remove most of the acidity. By cold brewing, the nitro cold brew contains more caffeine than traditional drip coffee. Refreshing as can be!Service was great. Sho was quite professional during the class, communicating in unpretentious terms about coffee and the brewing process. Our drinks came out in a timely manner and we even received free can cozys.A fair amount of seating inside, with 2 communal tables (in front & in back). A few tables for those alone or with someone. Most available seating is al fresco, via wooden tables overlooking Valencia St. Metered street parking is hard to come by, so try to visit during off hours when possible.While Im not a ritual coffee enthusiast, I do enjoy the brew at Ritual Coffee Roasters. All the coffee beans at Ritual are roasted in San Francisco, keeping things local. Drinks are made one cup at a time, and customers can see the attention & care that goes into the products offered here. I had an educational & entertaining time, participating in my first coffee cupping, and Sho was as great a teacher as any during the process. There are many café options in the city of San Francisco, and it would behoove you to make Ritual Coffee Roasters one of them.Highly recommend!NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM
Ocean Beach Cafe
734 La Playa St, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States
I drove all the way from Chico, almost 3 and a half hours, to check this place out, and Id do it again in a heartbeat. Ocean Beach Cafe is a great little spot, serving up breakfast and lunch. Super tasty sandwiches, wraps, burritos, and salads, with a quick serve deli counter as well.The reason I made the drive down, and where Ocean Beach Cafe really shines above anything else out there, is the non-alcoholic beverage selection. If youre not drinking, cutting down on your alcohol consumption, or even just have a remote curiosity about the multitude of NA beers, wines, and spirits that have recently started hitting the market, this is a must visit.The selection is curated by Josh, a longtime hospitality and beverage industry veteran, so you know everything is going to be good. Everything on the shelves is the best of whats available right now. On top of the selection, youve got the knowledgeable and experienced staff available to help you out, answer questions, and guide you.A regular breakfast or lunch visit will be great, but I cant recommend the SOBAR tasting highly enough. Its available on the weekends between 3 and 5, and you can reserve a spot on their Instagram page (click the Book Now button). For $25, Joshua will spend an hour with you opening beers, wines, and spirits, making cocktails, and guiding you through the incredible new market of non-alcoholic beverages. Its the equivalent of a wine tasting with an incredibly knowledgeable and personable host, but afterwards you can drive home without worries.If you live near SF, this is a no-brainer. If youre a little further away and interested in non-alcoholic beverages, its worth the pilgrimage.
Haus Coffee
3086 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ESTABLISHMENT. It was cute the first few times I stopped by but its overhyped and there are better coffee shops good for laptop work in the Mission neighborhood like Rise & Grind, Four Barrel, Sightglass Coffee, Verve, and Craftsman & Wolves. I will never come back here after the recent experience I had.Barely any laptop outlets, bad wifi, mediocre coffee. On top of that bad customer service. Read below for more:The barista and the owner chastised me for settling in with my laptop for less than FIVE minutes, making it clear that I needed to make an order (which obviously I planned to do after settling in). As a working professional, no one likes to be accosted like this in front of others and for workers to make the bold assumption that you did not plan to order something in that very limited time frame is outright idiotic. I totally understand if 10-15 minutes passed - you have every right as a business owner to ask the customer if they need help making an order. They were so accusatory toward me, in a disgusting way and embarrassed me.I addressed the fact that I felt uncomfortable & unwelcome in a private chat and that if there are business rules, they should be clearly stated (ie., post a sign that says order MUST be placed within 5 minutes) - because I took it as discriminatory and outright bias that they hand picked me when I literally just arrived. They argued back and forth with me - very righteously. I found it incredibly unprofessional to argue with a customer and not take accountability in how their approach triggered a reaction and contributed to an unwelcome environment. They should learn from this and learn to address customer concerns in a warm, curious and apologetic tone to ensure the customer is taken care of and would be repeat business.For me they have failed and Im not sure how many other people have experienced this but why risk dealing with rude, ungrateful owners when theres a plethora of other options a stones throw away?
Cafe Suspiro
1246 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
This place has delicious coffee. There is barely any sitting room unless its a nice day. On a nice day, you can sit in front on the patio. I have only really had their lattes.Everything in the cafe is scooter-themed, which is pretty interesting to look at while youre standing around waiting for your coffee.The first few times I went, they werent too busy and I enjoyed small talk with the barista. The last time I went was packed and busy and the woman behind the counter was making a lot of mistakes and pretty flustered, but it seemed like she might be new. The service was kind of slow which may have been on account of that or may be because they were super busy.Anyways, the crucial thing is that their coffee is pretty delicious and a nice alternative to the super make-you-cringe hipsterdom of Sightglass down the street.
Farleys Coffeehouse
1315 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States
Whenever I go to a coffee place for the first time, I like to feel like I belong there. The fine and applied arts on the walls, the paints chosen for the walls and the architecture.Farleys has some steep hills getting to it, but it is worth it in views of the city and the quality of the coffee.Tara at the counter didnt have an Indonesian to pourover for me, but the Brazilian she recommended as a substitute wasnt too acid and had a deeper apricot and honey flavor to it and was delicious.I couldnt see the pour but I gave her dazzling smile an earful of adjectives as the place touts itself to be a writers hangout and she laughed with me and the time was quality for as long as the crowd quickly forming line for coffee cut short.I hope to talk to her more about brewing things at another time I visit.I asked her the question What does third wave coffee house mean?She responded by pointing out it was the subject for discussion later.They only have two people on at a time, so the line can take some time but it is worth the wait. My cup was cleaner and more refined a pourover than I have gotten at the two Starbucks I have reviewed previously.Next time, we will take in Verve coffee of the famous Santa Cruz clan extraction.The LC
Cafe de Casa
3985 17th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States
San Francisco has its great Brazilian rodizio-type churrascarias, all-you-can-eat steakhouses like Espetus and Fogo de Chão. But what never seems to last in this city are more typical Brazilian restaurants. We fondly remember places that lasted a while, like Canto do Brasil and Minas, and others that were evanescent, like the late, lamented Brazilian Restaurant Brewing on 17th Street west of Mission.Café de Casa is a different type of Brazilian eatery. If you have ever visited Rio de Janeiro, you will recall the lanchonetes, essentially snack bars, that seem to exist on every corner of Zona Sul beach communities, like Copacabana and Ipanema. These places are good for a quick stop to enjoy a vitamina (milkshake), acaí na tigela, a sandwich, or some other typical Brazilian snack like coxinha (a deep-fried croquette), kibe (a Lebanese-Brazilian specialty), and pão de queijo (cheese bread). Lanchonetes, though, are not the restaurants you go to for a full lunch or dinner.Café de Casa has limited hours, from 8 AM to 7 PM, except on Sundays when it closes at 5 PM. During our visit here, they had only one printed menu for the entire restaurant, along with a large menu wallboard. You must order your food at the counter and pay immediately and one of the cooks in the back part of the restaurant brings the order to your table. Time from ordering to serving was reasonably quick. Although Café de Casa has a plethora of waitstaff, this restaurant is set up so that there is minimal interaction with the waiters. My friends and I speak Portuguese and we could not tell you whether the waitstaff is from Brazil, the U.S., or somewhere else.While Café de Casa does offer a few entrees, for example, I had Escondidinho de Camarão, shrimp served in a ramekin and baked in a rich cheese sauce, which seemed authentic, along with a small salad and rice, your expectations should be more along the lines of a lanchonete, rather than a sit-down restaurant. That said, Café de Casa does offer limited indoor and outdoor seating, although much of their business seems geared toward takeout and delivery, a skill finely honed by many eateries during the pandemic.My two supper companions selected items like you would in one of those corner snack bars in Copacabana and were generally satisfied. However, the pão de queijo one of my friends ordered was disappointing. While they do not serve caipirinhas, the Brazilian national cocktail, or even imported Brazilian beers, like Bohemia, they do offer tropical juices, canned guaraná, and espresso beverages. I ordered a café mocha, and it was good.
Peets Coffee
773 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States
Racist white security at peets tells only colored people to leave the business and Im a peets rewards guy but not anymore ....peets was ok til the hired security now its no good anymore. I guess ill be going back to 711 and get me coffee til hes fired....... lots of people will know how racist that security guard isThanks to both of the managers they are on my side and support me awesome. That security guard with the tats all over his arm (he has white skin)yeah thats why Im making this bad review other than that. The other security guard he is black and isnt like tat jack
Starbucks
2727 Mariposa St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
Very bad customer service! I don't recommend anyone to come to this store.I was at this store twice and both of this time I left the store really disappointed.first time: girl was taking my order and when I asked her repeat what she said she sighed heavily, rolled her eyes and her tone was like I was annoying her asking same question thousand times.second time: I placed order online and came to the store to pick it up. I ordered 2 drinks and 2 hot breakfasts. one of the breakfasts' bags was opened in both sides that is why my food fell down to the floor. I asked barista to change it and she didn't even look at me and didn't apologize, she just took my order and went back. and second food order was wrong. I ordered “Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg white sandwich”, but I got “Turkey, Provolone & Pesto on ciabatta”. coffee cups were really dirty.I don't understand why people work there if they don't like what they do.I like Starbucks but store at this place the worst one and I will never be there again.
Cantata Coffee Company
1708 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States
My parents came to visit me from Colombia and I took them to enjoy a coffee in this place and the owner treated us very badly. My parents sat in the chairs outside and began to eat what we had brought from another place while I bought the coffees and the owner yelled at them and treated them rudely. Obviously he realized that they did not speak English and he kept insisting, when I realized it I explained to the man that I was buying the coffees and that they were coming with me, without caring he told me that we could not eat anything or sit there even having bought him coffee in that place. BAD ATTENTION. BAD EXPERIENCE RUDE AND RACIST OWNERS.My parents came to visit me from Colombia and I took them to have coffee at this place and the owner treated us very badly. My parents sat on the chairs outside and started eating what we had brought from somewhere else while I bought the coffees and the owner yelled at them and treated them rudely. Obviously he realized that they did not speak English and continued to insist. When I realized this, I explained to the man that I was buying the coffees and that they were coming with me. Without caring, he told me that we couldnt eat anything or sit there, even though we had bought him coffee in that place. BAD ATTENTION. BAD EXPERIENCE RUDE AND RACIST OWNERS.
Starbucks
2165 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States
This Starbucks is filthy. To make matters worse, the manager, Reginald, argued with me about my croissant. I have never, at any cafe, had someone warm up a pastry for me without asking first. When I saw that he was warming up the croissants, I told the other barista to tell him I didnt request it. I saw the second barista tell Reginald this, and he acknowledged the second barista but continued to warm up the croissants and then put them in bags and give them to me. I told him, These are the warmed up ones. Do you not have more croissants, because I had the barista tell you I wanted them room temperature, and they are for someone else. He said, No, you didnt tell me that. Next time be sure to say so. I was surprised, and I said, I saw you acknowledge the other barista tell you I did not want them warmed up. He said, No, you didnt tell me, and I did ask you but you didnt respond. Ill get you two others, but you are required to tell me. He continued to be antagonistic. I said, First of all, you didnt ask me, and if you did and I didnt answer, I dont understand why you didnt repeat the question instead of going ahead and doing it. He said, No, you didnt answer my question. Next time you have to tell me.Then when I asked for the manager, he nodded and said, Im the manager. So... as if it were a challenge. I then asked for the regional managers information, and he said, I dont know. I dont know what a regional manager is.Then I told him, You know what? This is not the way I want to start my day. (It wasnt early, but I was making a point about the effects of being spoken to like this) He said, Yeah, well, its early for us, too.Excuse me? I said. Its twenty minutes to eleven a.m., and this is a cafe.Also, I *did* tell him (when he took my order) that wed be having the pastries and coffee there, so please use ceramic cups and plates instead of bags. Uh-huh, whats your name? he said, poised to write it on a paper cup. Then he got four separate bags to place our pastries into.The wastebaskets were overflowing, and there were spills all over the sugar, cream, and utensils bar.