Top 5 Coffee Bars in San Francisco

By Marisa Ceballos, Sales Manager

A cup of coffee is not just a cup of coffee in world-renowned cities like San Francisco, where locals take it seriously. After all, coffee is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Brewing a good cup of Joe is always a crowd pleaser, but creating an overall good coffee experience is a challenge few have come to master.

Our team at Key Events is frequently asked what our favorite coffee joints are in San Francisco. These 5 coffee spots always help remind me why this common beverage is such a hot commodity, literally:

1 Coffee Bar, in the heart of the Financial District, delivers an experience beginning with the coffee itself made from an extraordinary roaster Mr. Espresso, a Bay Area institution since the 1970s. Their open and modern looking space reminds me that whenever I crave a no frills cup of coffee with an ideal backdrop, this is the place.

2 Philz Coffee, in SOMA, brews “cups of love.” The concept is to create a cup of coffee to your specific liking. You can request strong, medium or light with cream, soy or milk. And if you don’t like your creation, I’ve heard they will remake it until you’re completely satisfied. Try an iced Turkish, topped off with a fresh mint leaf.

3 TCHO Chocolate, on the Embarcadero, is obsessed with chocolate and it shows. Imagine their obsession with texture, flavor and the quality of chocolate added to a cup of Blue Bottle coffee. It is, in fact, the best mocha I’ve ever had.

4 Four Barrel Coffee, on Valencia in the Mission District, is the best place to enjoy a responsibly sourced cup of coffee, while partaking in another favorite activity: people watching. In one of the most culturally diverse areas of the city, the show is not to be missed.

5 Stanza, on Haight Street, formerly known as Coco-Luxe, shows us that a coffee bar and wine bar can harmoniously exist under one roof. What a fabulous idea. In my mind, they can’t seem to go wrong here.

And let’s not forget the local crowd favorite: Blue Bottle Coffee. I highly recommended it before the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market as the best place to get hand-pressed, fresh drip coffee. When I say fresh, I mean they brew each cup on demand. It’s worth the 20+ minute wait, I assure you.