Berkeley: Cafenated Coffee House; restaurant review

80 North

Cafenated Coffee House 

2085 Vine St./Shattuck Ave., Gourmet Ghetto, (510) 989-9662.  23 M-W 7am-6pm, Thur-F 7am-7pm, Sat-Sun 8am-7pm. 

cappucino and almond croissant at Cafenated Coffee House
 in Berkeley, California

As would be expected from the name, this spot offers coffee and tea drinks galore, including seasonal and less common specialties such as Swedish iced coffee and Vietnamese egg coffee.  Sometimes there is a surprise available, such as a salted caramel cappuccino.  Mornings see an assortment of delicious pastries on display.  The almond croissant and breakfast bun are particularly divine.  A few sandwiches are also on offer, and on weekends brunch items are available. 

pastry counter at Cafenated Coffee House in Berkeley, California 

wall menu at Cafenated Coffee House in Berkeley, California 

Seating at colorful little French-style tables for two are available on the sidewalk in front, while a large, greenhouse-style back patio provides way more seating options amid a lush planting of flowers that are at their blooming prime in spring.  
Sometimes the sweet smell of jasmine can almost knock you over.  Inside, seating is available at a high window-facing table overlooking the sidewalk as well in some overstuffed chairs around coffee tables.  This spot is popular with students, who do often take over the tables, so couples and chatterers might find themselves in the vast minority. 

back patio at Cafenated Coffee House in Berkeley, California

sidewalk seating at Cafenated Coffee House in Berkeley, California

Cafenated started as an online-only business, selling single-origin coffee beans sourced from female farmers in Central America, South America, and Africa.  The beans are roasted at Berkeley’s CoRo Coffee Roastery.

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images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Salesforce Park; things to do

San Francisco

Salesforce Park  

Stretches along Mission Street from Beal Street to Second Street, crossing Frist and Fremont Streets. 
gondola entrance:  425 Mission St./Fremont St.
elevator entrances:  several are found along Mission St. 
Free.  No pets. 

Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

          Salesforce Park is adjacent to Salesforce Tower--the tallest building in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River.  Financially sponsored and operated by Salesforce, it is the city’s only public park with a commercial sponsor.  The park is situated 4 stories above the sidewalk of the Salesforce Transbay Transit Center, where buses bring passengers into San Francisco from the East Bay.  The center is easily recognized by its undulating exterior cover of perforated white metal that allows in sunlight.

Visitors can reach the elevated park via a free gondola that provides transportation up only, or via elevators and escalators spaced along Mission Street. 

gondola lifts visitors to Salesforce Park
in San Francisco, California

Salesforce Park is 4 blocks long and covers 5.4 acres.  Basically a botanical garden, this urban oasis holds 16,000 plants and 600 trees, and it has plenty of inviting expansive green lawns.  Plants are blooming year round and include water-tolerant California natives as well as many exotics and some mature trees.  This oval park is set amid towering downtown buildings, some of which are close enough that it seems like you could reach out and touch them.  And whimsy is alive here, too.  Waterjets in a 1,000-foot-long serpentine “Bus Fountain” at the park’s northern edge dance to the movement and speed of buses arriving in the transit center below. 

lovely plants in Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

                

The best way to see the park is to stroll the loop around the perimeter, stopping here and there to admire flowers or perhaps enjoy a refreshment break.  Plenty of benches and chairs are provided, and a kids’ play area holds a Recess Cart equipped with enticing books, games, and crayons available to borrow.  A nearby Library Cart provides books for anyone to enjoy while visiting.  Events in the park’s amphitheater include Zumba on Wednesdays, live music on Thursdays, and yoga on Fridays. 

Recess Cart at Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

Food and drink are available at several cafes: 

●Barebottle Salesforce Park  

Crafted from two converted shipping containers, this outdoor cafe offers a menu featuring housemade Argentinian empanadas served with a tasty chimichurri sauce composed of finely chopped parsley, oregano, minced garlic, vegetable oil, and red wine vinegar.  Craft beer, tasting flights, and a non-alcoholic kola made in-house are among the drinks available to imbibe in the surrounding outdoor beer garden. 

Barebottle cafe at Salesforce Park
in San Francisco, California 

●Andytown Coffee Roasters    

181 Fremont, 7th fl.  This coffeehouse operates in an adjacent building reached via a short skybridge.  Stop in for coffees, teas, and snacks. 

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video and images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Triple Coffee; things to do

San Francisco

Triple Coffee virtual coffee tasting 

Recently I enjoyed participating in a virtual coffee tasting.  A group I belong to arranged spaces for about 20 people.  We then signed up for the event individually, and during the week before the tasting packets of three different coffees arrived in the mail.

On the day of the event, we each gathered together the items requested by our tasting host, Tim Melano, owner of Triple Coffee.  These items for coffee cupping include things everyone has in their kitchen--cups, measuring spoons, etc.

set-up for virtual tasting of Triple Coffee

Tim leads the group through an experience that is both informative and fun.  During our virtual tasting, it was interesting to discover that terroir affects the taste of coffee just like it does with wine.  That might explain why I was able to pick a favorite--The Divine Espresso--from the three samples I tried (the other two--Pacamara Natural and Japanese Exclusive--were also very good).  Sometimes Tim includes a surprise guest, which in our case was coffee farmer Benjamin Paz direct from Honduras!  

Zoom screen showing participants in a virtual tasting of Triple Coffee

Do note that if you are caffeine-sensitive, like I am, you should monitor your caffeine intake in advance of the event.  By the end of my tasting, which occurred mid-morning, I was so buzzed that I was just about jumping out of my skin for the rest of the day and into the night!

Tim's high-end specialty coffee company goes beyond fair trade by importing roasted coffee directly from the best farmer micro-producers in Honduras, which gives them the highest possible price for their coffee.  He says, "I truly believe in direct-trade, direct-relationships, and selling only coffee from places I have physically visited."  He sells the boutique coffees from his office located in San Francisco's Marina District.  Currently, there is no physical spot where Triple Coffee can be tasted, but sometimes pop-up tastings are held at Fort Mason or on the Marina Green.  

pop-up tasting of Triple Coffee on San Francisco's Marina Green

pop-up tasting of Triple Coffee on San Francisco's Marina Green

If you're interested in participating in a virtual tasting, I suggest you gather together a group of friends, or perhaps suggest to your employer that they host employees to a tasting.  But if that fails, you can also just sign up and be part of a random group of tasters.  The per-person fee is $20.  

2020 pandemic update:  A virtual coffee tasting is perfect to experience with a group from the safety of your home.  

More coffee tasting:

in Hawaii

in Bali

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first two images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers; last two images courtesy of Triple Coffee 

Berkeley: Zazzi Foods; restaurant review

80 North

Zazzi Foods  

1398 University Ave./Acton St., southwest Berkeley, (510) 526-7664.  M-F 8am-5pm, Sat 9-4, Sun 10-4. 

interior of Zazzi Foods in Berkeley, California

Spacious, comfortable, and often not crowded, the Zazzi Foods coffeehouse serves up some delicious, healthy, and beautiful breakfast bowls composed of Greek yogurt and Cafe Fanny granola--the acai bowl features mixed berries, while the cacao bowl features cacao nibs and blackberries.  Pastries include morning buns and croissants.  Avocado and other toasts (think butternut squash with bourbon jam; curry-roasted cauliflower; ricotta and fresh berries) segue into lunch and a menu of sandwiches prepared with Acme breads.  Drinks include the expected as well as hot caramel milk, a lychee black tea latte, and several kombuchas.  Soft-serve ice cream is available, and you can pick up packaged Cafe Fanny granola to go.  The restive ambience includes plenty of natural light, green plants, and smooth jazz.  Though some people come here to work, it is quite pleasant just to gaze out the windows or people-watch.

colorful breakfast bowls at Zazzi Foods in Berkeley, California

Cafe Fanny granola shelf at Zazzi Foods in Berkeley, California

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images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Berkeley: Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters (CLOSED); restaurant review

80 North

Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters  

CLOSED  1600 Shattuck Ave., Gourmet Ghetto, (415) 638-9227.  M-F 7am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-8pm.

outside seating at Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters in Berkeley, California

Sporting a very simple menu of coffee choices, this new kid on the block makes it easy to order.  Cream is kept chilled in a glass milk bottle and is brought out as requested.  A pastry case holds an array of options from Starter commercial bakery in Emeryville.  I chose a delicious almond croissant to go with my basic house coffee.  Seating options include outside by the sidewalk--which is particularly pleasant when the sun is shining--but if you’re here to work or surf, the spacious and serene upstairs is quieter and furnished with a long library-style work table, a couch and two comfy armchairs, and several cafe tables.  A dramatic mural spray-painted on the upstairs back wall by Korean artist Chris Chanyang Shim celebrates multiple cultures.

order counter at Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters in Berkeley, California

drink menu at Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters in Berkeley, California

pastry case at Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters in Berkeley, California

upstairs at Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters in Berkeley, California

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Devil’s Teeth Baking Co.; restaurant review

San Francisco

Devil’s Teeth Baking Co.  

3876 Noriega St./45th Ave., Outer Sunset, (415) 683-5533.  Daily 7am-4pm.

parklet in front of Devil’s Teeth Baking Co. in San Francisco, California

Three diagonal parking spaces were converted to make the award-winning parklet here, which is particularly popular on sunny days but also used on the often-foggy days out this way when diners are dressed appropriately.  Minimal inside seating in this Devil’s Teeth Baking Co. bakery/coffeehouse is also available, and a pocket shelf holds a few books for borrowing.  Patrons order at the counter, where it is possible to view kitchen activity.  Housemade goodies include cinnamon rolls, a breakfast sandwich prepared with a fluffy biscuit, a really good donut muffin, and a giant chocolate chip cookie studded with chocolate chunks.  An assortment of coffees and lunch sandwiches are also available.

order counter at Devil’s Teeth Baking Co. in San Francisco, California

shortbread shark cookie at Devil’s Teeth Baking Co. in San Francisco, California

interior seating at Devil’s Teeth Baking Co. in San Francisco, California

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Coffee Central: hot coffeehouses in the Financial District; restaurant reviews

San Francisco

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.

exterior of Peet's coffeehouse in San Francisco's Financial District

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.

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.

lobby line at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District

menu at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District

pastry selection at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District

interior of Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District

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.

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.

counter at Philz Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District

pastries at Philz Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District

interior at Philz Coffee in San Francisco's Financial District

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Berkeley: 1951 Coffee; restaurant review

80 North

1951 Coffee  

2410 Channing Way/Dana St., 1 blk. from Telegraph Ave.

counter at 1951 Coffee in Berkeley, California

Named in reference to the 1951 United Nations guidelines protecting refugees, this non-profit coffeehouse attracts students with communal tables and a quiet, work-friendly atmosphere.  The menu at 1951 Coffee consists of the expected espresso drinks and pastries.  I selected a frothy heart-topped latte and a classic, chewy mochi muffin, while my companion opted for an Americano and an almond croissant.  Additional noteworthy menu items include chai latte, a Kouign-Amann pastry (this scrumptious confection hails from the northwest Brittany region of France, and its name is formed from the Breton language words for “butter” and “cake”), and a pretzel bun filled with cheese.  The refugee baristas take special training classes and are being given the opportunity to earn a living, and both the staff and clientele spout an array of global accents.  The decor features atmospheric black walls, one of which is brightened with graphics and images that explain the refugee resettlement process.  The cafe is sponsored by the adjacent First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, and the cafe owners previously worked with the International Rescue Committee to help resettle refugees.  Coming here gives you the opportunity to enjoy a good cup of coffee while also helping make successful refugee resettlement possible.
          A branch operates in the ASUC Student Union at 2495 Bancroft Way.

pastry selection at 1951 Coffee in Berkeley, California

interior at 1951 Coffee in Berkeley, California

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Berkeley: Caffe Chiave; restaurant review

80 North

Caffe Chiave  

2500 San Pablo Ave./Dwight Way, Poet’s Corner.

Located on a retail strip known as the Left Bank in a neighborhood known as  Poet’s Corner (because the streets named for poets include Bonar, Browning, Byron, Chaucer, Cowper, Edwards, and Poe), the Caffe Chiave coffeehouse was once a branch of San Francisco’s famous North Beach Caffe Trieste.  A family feud brought on the name change.

interior of Caffe Chiave in Berkeley, California

cafe au lait and cherry pastry at Caffe Chiave in Berkeley, California

Frou frou coffees are the drink of choice, and the cappuccino is top rated, but beer and wine are also available.  Though it doesn’t have a restaurant kitchen, a microwave can heat up the delicious pastries (the cherry one is sooo good), pizzettas, and panini.  Breakfast is available all day and  includes an assortment of bagel sandwiches and avocado toast.  Lunch brings on sandwiches and pastas.  Live music is sometimes scheduled.





After, stroll the block of shops that include Good Vibrations (sex paraphernalia) and Lhasa Karnak Herb Company (an atmospheric old-style spice and herb shop).

exterior of Lhasa Karnak Herb Company in Berkeley, California

interior of Lhasa Karnak Herb Company in Berkeley, California

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Berkeley: Way Station Brew; restaurant review

80 North

Way Station Brew  

2120 Dwight Way/Shattuck Ave., (510) 982-1905.  M-F 6:45am-7pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 9am-7pm.

exterior of Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

Though low-key Way Station Brew is relatively new, it did take over from a previously established coffeehouse.  The space is deep, the light is low, the ceiling is high with an exposed-pipes industrial feel, and the atmosphere is chill.  Several interesting art pieces hang on the natural brick walls, and the gorgeous cast iron drum coffee-roasting machine can be viewed in the back.  Seating is in a large double-sided communal booth, at stools facing out the front widow, and on a banquette fronted with small round cafe tables.  Additionally, a beer garden patio in the back is of interest on warmer days and is equipped with umbrellas and heat lamps and is dog friendly, too.

interior of Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

communal booth at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

ornate coffee-roasting machine at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

patio beer garden at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

Breakfast hours are mellow.  Diners step up to the counter to order their coffees--I enjoyed a cafe au lait served in a mug, as opposed to the more common tall glass or French bowl.  For iced coffee, try the Kyoto-style cold drip made in a fancy slow-drip brewer with a ceramic filter.  I hear they also make a good matcha latte.

coffee menu at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

Among the standout menu items--it includes sandwiches, salads, and bowls--is a long-cultured creamy housemade yogurt that is delicious, light, and fluffy, and served either alone with local honey, or additionally topped with seasonal fruit and Metropolis granola.  Exceptional housemade scones come in a variety of flavors.  My favorite is pecan-pear, but blueberry, cinnamon-sugar, and cranberry are also usually available.  They are made using a slight variation of the former Lindgren’s Cafe’s original recipe.  Pastries from Firebrand Artisan Breads bakery are also usually available, but the day I visited they came in late.  Also exceptional are Whipped Ricotta on Sourdough toast (with blackberry jam, organic honey, and toasted almonds); a Veggie Bowl (warm roasted cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, Romanesco, zucchini, and squash with a mint-tarragon tahini dressing); a slow-cooked beef brisket sandwich served on sourdough bread and topped with roasted tomatoes, Jack cheese, cabbage, and housemade Thousand Island-caper dressing; juicy organic chicken--in a sandwich, as a side, or on a salad.  Additionally, a variety of egg items, toast with toppings, soups, and grilled cheese sandwiches are available.  Most items on the menu are organic, and gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are available.  Six beers are on tap, several wines are offered by the glass, and mimosas are available on weekends.

housemade yogurt and scone at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

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images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers