San Francisco
The area around Front Street and Sansome Street is filled with coffee cafes that postively buzz in the morning. In addition to Blue Bottle and Phiz, described below, there is a Peet’s, a Starbucks, and a very now Cafe X street kiosk--where the barista is a robot.
Coffee Central: hot coffeehouses in the Financial District
The area around Front Street and Sansome Street is filled with coffee cafes that postively buzz in the morning. In addition to Blue Bottle and Phiz, described below, there is a Peet’s, a Starbucks, and a very now Cafe X street kiosk--where the barista is a robot.
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| exterior of Peet's coffeehouse in San Francisco's Financial District |
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| robot barista at Cafe X stand in San Francisco's Financial District |
●Blue Bottle Coffee
115 Sansome St./Bush St., (510) 653-3394. M-F 6am-6:30pm, Sat-Sun 7am-5pm.
Begun in Oakland in the early 2000s, this super-popular, now-a-chain of coffee shops seems to be everywhere. This branch of Blue Bottle Coffee is situated inside an architecturally interesting old building. The vibrant space has high ceilings and the decor is bright and contemporary with lots of white marble. The line forms in the dark and gorgeous lobby. A posted menu allows you time to contemplate your choice of caffeinated fuel. I wanted something cold so chose a New Orleans chicory-enhanced iced coffee and was not sorry. At the counter, a selection of pastries and cookies await. My choice was a caramel cookie, and my companion opted for a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pound cake. Crispy housemade waffles are also an option. All are presented tucked in a coffee filter. Our barista was a delight. He looked me right in the eye and answered my many questions with a smile. I found a seat at a counter looking out over Bush Street and settled in to sip my refreshing brew and watch the passing scene. This is an A+ experience. However, I do need to report that though I flew through a day packed with activity and fell asleep exhausted, I did wake up in the middle of the night for a few sleepless hours. I blame the caffeine. Thank goodness I didn’t have a double shot! So be careful if you are caffeine-sensitive as I am. However, I would happily do it all over again.
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| exterior of Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
Begun in Oakland in the early 2000s, this super-popular, now-a-chain of coffee shops seems to be everywhere. This branch of Blue Bottle Coffee is situated inside an architecturally interesting old building. The vibrant space has high ceilings and the decor is bright and contemporary with lots of white marble. The line forms in the dark and gorgeous lobby. A posted menu allows you time to contemplate your choice of caffeinated fuel. I wanted something cold so chose a New Orleans chicory-enhanced iced coffee and was not sorry. At the counter, a selection of pastries and cookies await. My choice was a caramel cookie, and my companion opted for a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pound cake. Crispy housemade waffles are also an option. All are presented tucked in a coffee filter. Our barista was a delight. He looked me right in the eye and answered my many questions with a smile. I found a seat at a counter looking out over Bush Street and settled in to sip my refreshing brew and watch the passing scene. This is an A+ experience. However, I do need to report that though I flew through a day packed with activity and fell asleep exhausted, I did wake up in the middle of the night for a few sleepless hours. I blame the caffeine. Thank goodness I didn’t have a double shot! So be careful if you are caffeine-sensitive as I am. However, I would happily do it all over again.
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| lobby line at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
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| menu at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
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| pastry selection at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
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| interior of Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
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| coffee-making class at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
●Philz Coffee
1 Front St #100, (415) 568-2535. M-F 5:30am-7pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm.
Another popular local coffee brand, Philz Coffee originated in San Francisco. Philz offers dark and medium roasts as well as iced coffee--try the iced Mocha Tesora, which has a perfect balance of chocolate and coffee, or my favorite--an iced mint mojito--brewed individually just for you, after you order. I’ve also heard good things about the Istanbul Treat tea--a smooth, delicate blend of spices, cream, and honey. This spacious Philz branch is set back from the street and has comfortable inside seating as well as an expansive patio with umbrella-sheltered tables. The line here is usually long in the morning, but does move right along. You also have the option of using an app to pre-order, so you can just walk right in and pick up your coffee. Food options include avocado toast, pastries, and more.
More things to do in San Francisco's Financial District.
More restaurants in San Francisco.
Way more things to do in San Francisco.
More ideas for exploring Northern California.
images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
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| line at Philz Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
Another popular local coffee brand, Philz Coffee originated in San Francisco. Philz offers dark and medium roasts as well as iced coffee--try the iced Mocha Tesora, which has a perfect balance of chocolate and coffee, or my favorite--an iced mint mojito--brewed individually just for you, after you order. I’ve also heard good things about the Istanbul Treat tea--a smooth, delicate blend of spices, cream, and honey. This spacious Philz branch is set back from the street and has comfortable inside seating as well as an expansive patio with umbrella-sheltered tables. The line here is usually long in the morning, but does move right along. You also have the option of using an app to pre-order, so you can just walk right in and pick up your coffee. Food options include avocado toast, pastries, and more.
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| counter at Philz Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
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| pastries at Philz Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
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| interior at Philz Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District |
More things to do in San Francisco's Financial District.
More restaurants in San Francisco.
Way more things to do in San Francisco.
More ideas for exploring Northern California.
images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Nice! My daughter lives in Livermore so I do visit San Francisco at least once a year. I will go to CafeX!!!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! We love testing various coffee shops and San Francisco looks like a great destination for this activity. I'm betting it must be very interesting to have your drink made by a robot.
ReplyDeleteWe love coffee, and discovering new places for a nice Latte or Cappuccino. San Francisco looks like a wonderful place for a nice cuppa in a groovy cafe!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a coffee drinker but I love tea and I'd love one of those croissants at the Blue Bottle Coffee shop. I'm also fascinated with the robotic coffee machine.
ReplyDeleteI remember a national law conference I attended in Seattle in 1992. They had to hand out a glossary of coffee terms to the attendees. Within 3 years, Starbucks was even in Philly....and the rest is history. In our travels, coffee culture now seems to be a constant in every city we visit---most recently in Athens and now in Sofia, Bulgaria. I'd love to try an iced coffee with chicory--I certainly enjoy the coffee at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans---or is it because it comes with beignets?
ReplyDeleteI love coffee but not a fan of Starbucks. Great to have these great places to try next time I'm there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great selection of coffee chops.I love visiting the independent ones when traveling. Usually filled with locals, they give you a real sense of place. And of course great baked goods only adds to the experience. YUM!
ReplyDelete