Coffee shops are a dime a dozen in San Francisco.
Seriously, there are over 300 coffee shops throughout the city – that’s roughly 6 per square mile!
Why are there so many? SF is a world leader in the progressive third wave coffee movement, a movement that aims to produce high-quality coffee as a craft product, such as craft beer or wine.
This is great news for us, as San Franciscans love their coffee. We narrowed down our list to the best, and then the best to bring you this list of coffee shops you must visit before you die.
Alarm Clock Coffee / Coffee Alarm Clock
Réveille Coffee began in 2010 when brothers Thomas and Christopher Newbury began selling coffee from a repurposed delivery truck. Six years and four places later, Réveille served up some of the tastiest coffees and espresso in San Francisco. After moving to Mission Bay just six weeks ago, Cafe Réveille is already generating a ton of buzz on Yelp and on social media. With bright colors combined with modest and artistic decor, Cafe Réveille is a great place to have a coffee, have breakfast / lunch, or spend some time working remotely. (Note: Café Réveille is also open for dinner and drinks every night). All the beans are roasted in-house and their mocha is one of the most popular items on the menu. Réveille Coffee has other locations in Jackson Square, The Castro, and North Beach.
Café Réveille (Mission Bay) – 610 Long Bridge Street, San Francisco, CA
Golden Bear Trading Company
Right down the street from UCSF Parnassus Medical Center is Golden Bear Trading Company. This simple coffee shop sells breakfasts, spirits, and coffee snob-approved beverages. This little cafe is a must for coffee lovers in town and has been featured in Yelp’s 100 Best Places to Eat. Sam, the passionate owner of Golden Bear, has been known to say that if you don’t think his coffee is the best, he will give you another cup for free. Challenge accepted, Sam!
Golden Bear Trading Company – 1401 6th Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Andytown coffee roasters
On quiet Lawton Street in Outer Sunset is Andytown Coffee Roasters, known for its Snowy Plover iced espresso drink. It’s a blend of iced espresso, sparkling water, and brown sugar syrup, topped with a delicious homemade whipped cream that gives Cool Whip a run for its money. This drink is just one reason for the long lines that often go out the door. (That, and the fact that Andytown packs a coffee shop, roaster, and bakery all within its 600-square-foot store!) Added bonus: it’s just a few blocks from Ocean Beach.
Andytown coffee roasters – 3655 Lawton Street, San Francisco, CA
Graffeo coffee roaster company
Founded in 1935, the Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company is one of the oldest artisanal coffee roasters in North America. You’ll find Graffeo just down the street from Washington Square Park, in the heart of North Beach, San Francisco’s famous Italian grotto. Graffeo is not actually a cafe; it’s a toaster. You can only buy their deliciously roasted beans or grounds. Worth it.
Graffeo coffee roaster company – 735 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Dad november
Papa November is a coffee truck permanently on the corner of 15th Street and Kansas in San Francisco’s Design District, across the street from the Design Center and Design Within Reach. While there are no seats, the coffee makes up for it. When serving Stumptown coffee, the truck rotates a selection of beans each week. They also sell homemade baked goods that change daily. What should you order at Papa November? The Claris: cold cream with espresso. Obviously, there are no seats in Papa November’s coffee truck, so grab a cup on the way to the office or to get ready for a day of furniture shopping.
Dad november – 215 15th Street, San Francisco, CA
Ritual coffee roasters
Ritual Coffee Roasters sparked a coffee renaissance in San Francisco after opening in 2005. Based on The Mission, Ritual has expanded to include four locations, including Bayview’s Flora Grubb Gardens and Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. Our favorite is the Hayes Valley outpost at PROXY, a modified shipping container that is positively hipsteriffic. Sip caffeine with your delicious Gibraltar coffee, San Francisco’s version of a Cortado, and head to Chantal Guillon for a sweet pairing.
Ritual coffee at PROXY – 432b Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA
Philz Cafe
No list of San Francisco coffee shops would be complete without Philz Coffee. Scratch that. San Francisco It wouldn’t be complete without Philz! Phil Jaber was the owner of a mini supermarket in The Mission District and wanted to leave a greater legacy for his son, Jacob. In his quest to create the perfect coffee, it took him seven years to come up with his first perfect Tesoro coffee blend. Philz is a San Francisco staple with 14 locations in the city and another 15 in the Bay Area. (Philz has also expanded to Los Angeles, and has his eyes on Washington, DC; we would say he will leave behind a great legacy.) The Mint Mojito Iced Coffee is one of the more popular items, along with the Mocha Tesora, but you really can’t go wrong with anything here.
Philz Cafe – 3101 24th Street, San Francisco, CA
Home
This hip and trendy cafe located just off 19th Avenue and Noriega is known for its communal tables, comfortable atmosphere, and eclectic espresso creations. Popular with students and a hipster crown, the menu is written on giant sheets of paper on the wall. What should you order at home? Without a doubt: the lavender latte. If lavender isn’t your thing (or you’re afraid your coffee will taste like soap, a valid concern, even if it’s Delicious in capital letters), try sea salt caramel and vanilla coconut coffee.
Home – 1222 Noriega Street, San Francisco, CA
The mill
The Mill is the love child of Four Barrel Coffee and Josey Baker Bread in the bustling Divisadero Street corridor between NoPa and Alamo Square. The Mill serves delicious velvety espresso, coffees, artisanal toast and granola (seasonally changing and offers weekly specials) baked by Josey Baker Bread, Neighbor Bakehouse cakes, Anthony’s cookies and Dynamo Donuts. If your taste buds haven’t exploded yet as you dream of the goodness of The Mill, get ready for it: The Mill has Pizza Night every Monday from 6: 00-9: 00pm and Grilled Cheese and Soup Night on Wednesdays. at 6: 00-9: 00PM. Seriously, is this place heaven in SF? Yes that’s how it is. We recommend ordering an espresso drink with a pistachio and blackberry croissant.
The mill – 736 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA
Blue Bottle Coffee
Another original from the Bay Area (Oakland, to be precise), you can never go wrong at Blue Bottle Coffee. With unique locations around the world (recently opened Blue Bottle store in Tokyo), coffee lovers from all over flock to Blue Bottle for delicious artisan drinks, especially their famous iced coffee drinks – New Orleans flavored iced coffee. chicory and creamy Vietnamese iced coffee. Our favorite Blue Bottle outpost is hands down the semi-hidden Linden Alley store in Hayes Valley, which operates out of a garage and is surrounded by graffiti. A perfect stop before or after a day of shopping at Hayes Valley’s many boutiques.
Blue Bottle Coffee – 315 Linden Street, San Francisco, CA
Mist Lifter Coffee
Fog Lifter Cafe is a quaint little cafe located in the heart of Ingleside. Popular with neighborhood residents and SFSU and CCSF students, this unpretentious hangout serves delicious Blue Bottle and Sightglass roasted coffee, as well as smoothies, pastries, scrambled breakfasts, panini sandwiches, and more. This shop specializes in pour over coffee.
Mist Lifter Coffee – 1901 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Coffee company problem
Trouble Coffee Co. is the little coffee shop that could. With its original location in a small shop on the edge of Outer Sunset, Trouble Coffee unleashed the San Francisco artisan toast craze with $ 4.00 cinnamon sugar toast on thick bread. (Hey, the name is just starting to make sense to us, because you’re having trouble with your bread, calorie-wise and possibly financially too.) Founded by Giulietta Carrelli, Trouble has expanded its small coffee shop (and coconut club) reach with two new locations in Bayview and Oakland, along with its toast offerings.
Trouble Coffee Co. and Coconut Club – 4033 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA
Café Saint Frank
This hipster-chic cafe is located at the top of Polk Street in Russian Hill. With high ceilings, abundant natural lighting, clean lines, and a minimalist white and oak interior, Saint Frank will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Copenhagen. As you may have guessed, Saint Frank is named after our beloved city. The menu is small and the coffee is a bit lighter (in true Scandinavian way). Our favorite creation at Saint Frank is the Almond Macadamia Latte.
Café Saint Frank – 2340 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA
Piccino Cafeteria
Piccino is a modern Italian trattoria with a lovely connecting cafe. This small cafe serves Sightless coffee, hot baked muffins, and other homemade pastries that are sure to delight you. Open until 10:00 pm, it’s the perfect after-dinner stop at Dogpatch for a cappuccino. While the cafe has no seating, you can find a bench in the pleasant Woods Yard Park across the street.
Piccino Cafeteria – 807 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA
Coffee bar
Nestled between Mission District and Potrero Hill is Coffee Bar, one of our favorite spots in San Francisco. This cozy but modern café features a two-level shop with sidewalk and patio seating, serving coffee and Mr. Espresso drinks. This unique place offers breakfast and lunch items, including sandwiches, salads, and of course, sweets. Come to this relaxing coffee shop for your Havana Latte – YUM!
Coffee bar – 1890 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA