Coffee. Is there any drink that is better? Rich and roasted, hot and delicious, coffee is one of the most enjoyable drinks around.
A drink of Ethiopian origins, coffee has become an American staple, and can be found in many incarnations in coffee shops across the nation: you’ll find the dark, thick and spicy Turkish coffee to the standard yet delicious Italian-style espresso, to the sweeter, blended drinks such as Frappuccinos. To pay homage to this simple yet satisfying drink, check out these hot spots in San Francisco that are serving up some of the best brewed beans around.
A staple of San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, Caffe Trieste has been serving locals since 1956. Founded by Giovanni Giotta, now known as “The Espresso Pioneer,” a feisty Italian man who immigrated to San Francisco from the small fishing town of Rovigno, Caffe Trieste fuses Old World techniques with a chic West Coast sensibility, providing customers with an experience that brings them back time after time. One step into Caffe Trieste and you’re hit with a palpable sense of history, as it served as a meeting place for Beat movement writers such as Jack Kerouac, Alan Watts and Allen Ginsberg. In another claim to fame, Francis Ford Coppola wrote most of The Godfather in Caffe Trieste. But the coffee is the real standout here. Sip on a cappuccino and let the history seep in.
Where: 601 Vallejo St., San Francisco, CA 94133
Located in the hip yet gritty Mission neighborhood, Ritual Coffee Roasters offers patrons a great cup of Joe with some of the best people watching in the city. The folks at Ritual roast their own beans and place heavy emphasis on the origin of said beans, meaning no funky, sub-par blends. What you’re getting at Ritual is a quality, conscious cup of coffee, in a posh and trendy atmosphere. Order up a perfectly crafted latte, or try a taste of the pure, unadulterated espresso, and rub elbows with some of the city’s most unique characters.
Where: 1026 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110
Founded by one of the original owners of Ritual Coffee Roasters, Four Barrel Coffee is also located in the glamorous Mission neighborhood, and is in fact just down the street from Ritual. The same thinking goes into each cup of Four Barrel coffee: ethical sourcing, high quality green coffee, highly trained roasters and the pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee. What sets Four Barrel apart is a selection of artisan sweets from Dynamo Donuts, a local San Francisco bakery that uses organic, sustainable and local ingredients whenever possible. Grab a cup of drip coffee and enjoy a unique donut flavor such as Saffron Chocolate, Candied Orange Blossom or Molasses Guinness Pear.
Where: 375 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94103
No list of San Francisco coffee shops would be complete without mentioning Peet’s. A hometown favorite, Peet’s was founded in 1966 by Alfred Peet in Berkeley. The chain has grown to nearly 200 retail locations within the United States, with most being located in California, although there are locations in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Illinois and Massachusetts. A good alternative to Starbucks, Peet’s is famous for their dark-roasted brew.
Where: Multiple locations throughout San Francisco
Photo credit: Shutterstock / allensima