Whether you’re a Bay Area local looking to try a new pour over, or a tourist visiting SF for a weekend trip, these are five coffee shops you won’t want to miss, plus insider tips on how to do coffee shops during COVID.
Have a safe and smart coffee shop experience
Coffee shop or not, it pretty much goes without saying now that anytime you go out in public for the foreseeable future, it’s best to wear a mask and wash your hands both before leaving and as soon as you get home. Keep sanitizer in your car or purse for a quick clean in between stops as well.
Before you go, check the company’s website or social media to make sure you have accurate details. Many stores have made changes to their hours and locations, and are updating them as city restrictions around COVID change. Do a quick check to see which locations are open and what the current hours of operation are.
Also, most coffee shops have set up online ordering so you can place your order in advance and then pick up your drink as soon as you get there. I recommend utilizing the online system whenever possible. It helps minimize the number of people in the store and will limit your exposure to others as well since you won’t need to stand in line to order or wait around while your drink is being made.
If you do go into the store to order, be mindful that the shop will likely have rearranged things in order to make the in-shop experience COVID safe. There may be different entrance and exits points, and new ordering windows may have been erected. Please be mindful of how they are conducting flow of traffic within the shop and be respectful of the protocols they’ve set up to help customers practice safe social distancing (markers on the ground while waiting in line) and limiting exposure for baristas and other staff (boundaries or shields in place).
1. Saint Frank Coffee
Saint Frank Coffee, eponymously named for the city where it was founded, is a craft coffee shop with elegance and a true connection to its people and producers. Passionate about closing economic, social, and cultural gaps between coffee producers and coffee consumers, Saint Frank sources and serves excellent products that do justice to the people who labored to create it.
They’ve been offering 30% off online orders of beans so you can still make great morning coffee while working from home during quarantine. Use their code STAYWELL on 12oz or 5lb bags of beans.
What to get: Coffee flight - get a taste of all their novel, creative, and seasonal offerings.
Website: saintfrankcoffee.com
Instagram: @saintfrankcoffee
Locations:
1081 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
2340 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
1018 Almsa Street.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
1 Hacker Way
Menlo Park, CA 94025
2. Andytown Coffee Roasters
This Outer Sunset coffee roaster is inventive and modern, but with a neighborly vibe. They believe in creating good jobs and using their economic impact for good. They offer house-made pastries and drink recipes you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
During the pandemic, they’ve been promoting Coffee For Heroes - encouraging people to submit online orders of coffee and pastries to be delivered to healthcare professionals in the Bay Area.
What to get: The Snowy Plover - it’s essentially their signature drink made from their own espresso roast, Pellegrino, brown sugar syrup, and topped with the best homemade whipped cream you've ever had. Also any of their house-made pastries - I love the cornmeal muffins.
(photo courtesy of Andytown)
Website: andytownsf.com
Instagram: @andytownsf
Locations:
3655 Lawton St.
San Francisco, CA 94122
3629 Taraval St.
San Francisco, CA 94116
3016 Taraval St.
San Francisco, CA 94116
181 Fremont St. 7th floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
3. Verve Coffee Roasters
Across numerous location, Verve roasts craft coffee daily and educates customers on where it comes from and how to brew it well, even from home. They’re original, thoughtful, and the brand emulates California vibes.
What to get: Nitro flash brew (deemed “NOT cold brew” - their flash brew is made from single-origin beans hot brewed and then flash chilled) it’s about as pretentious as coffee gets but its silky smooth and freaking delicious. If you want to splurge try the mocha: it’s a work of art and the sweetness is well-balanced. Their breakfast sandwich on a brioche bun is also insane and perfect on a chill weekend morning.
Website: vervecoffee.com
Instagram: @vervecoffee
Locations:
4. Four Barrel Coffee
This independent, locally-owned brand sources all of their own coffee which they also roast in-house. They are small but mighty, and pride themselves on taking good care of their employees and producers.
What to get: A single origin pour over, complete with specific pour over station where a barista in a hipster apron and fancy mustache will make you a personal cup of perfection.
Website: fourbarrelcoffee.com
Instagram: @fourbarrelcoffee
Locations:
375 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
736 Divisadero St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
2 Burrows St.
San Francisco, CA 94134
5. Voyager Craft Coffee
With humble beginnings as a coffee cart, and now with three store locations, this South Bay roaster is fun and inventive, with some of the friendliest staff I’ve encountered in coffee shop culture.
What to get: They’re mostly known for their espresso and milk based signature drinks that use unique ingredients like house-made bourbon reduction, cherry blossom water, cayenne, and red rouge cocoa. Also the avocado toast and brie toast are amazing on freshly baked bread.
Website: voyagercraftcoffeeorders.com
Instagram: @voyagercraftcoffee
Locations:
3985 Stevens Creek Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95051
2221 The Alameda
Santa Clara, CA 95050
San Pedro Square
87 N. San Pedro St
San Jose, CA 95110
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