Over the last three or four years, I’ve been to San Francisco many many times.  One thing I’ve definitely noticed is a strong independent coffee shop culture.  Every few blocks, tucked in an alley or around some corner is some cool independent coffee shop where the locals gather to hang with friends or suck down some free wifi on their Mac Books, always while sipping a highly caffeinated beverage.

In my journeys to San Francisco, there are three coffee shops that have become my favorites.  I’m sure there are more that I’ve yet to discover (If you have recommendations, put them in the comments.)  but there definitely three that I’ve especially grown to love.

Blue Bottle Coffee Co. – 66 Mint Street (corner of Jessie)

http://bluebottlecoffee.net/

When my friends from San Fran heard that I was into coffee, they were all like, “you have to try Blue Bottle.” When you go to this cafe that’s South of Market, your first impression is that you’ve just entered a science lab.  Behind the counter, you’ll see tons of different glass doodads that are used to make different coffee drinks.

At Blue Bottle, you’re struck by the equipment, the attitude of the staff, and the beans that they roast, the extent that they just really have a profound respect for the product that they’re making, coffee.  They don’t want to give you some overly washed out sugary coffee drink, which there is a time and a place for.  They really want  you to be able to taste the coffee.   The end result is pretty amazing.   When I went with my bro-in-law, it was funny how blown away he was by the latte they made him.  My reactions were equal and am now a regular there every time that I’m in town.

Unlike other coffee shops, you don’t see people sitting at Blue Bottle with laptops and parking for hours.  This is  a place that you go to see people or be seen.

Epicenter Cafe – 764 Harrison St.

http://www.epicentercafe.com/Epicenter_Cafe/Home.html

This became my preferred place when I wanted a really good cup of coffee and check e-mail.  (Man, I love free wifi.)  Thanks to my buddy Thomas, I got hooked on their espresso drink The Cubano.  I’m not really sure how it’s different but it was good and after two of them, oh man I was wired.  Ha.

This place is a bit of a more full fledged cafe.  They serve breakfast, lunch, and even some alcoholic beverages.   It was very chill.  There is more room here so you don’t feel crowded, like you would at Blue Bottle.

Sightglass Coffee Bar & Roastery – 270 Seventh Street @ Folsom

http://sightglasscoffee.com/

For the time being, this is more of a coffee stand than a coffee shop.   They’re currently amidst construction of the cafe and the roastery so right now they’ve got a coffee stand that’s open in what looks like a garage of the building.

Regardless, the coffee was phenomenal.  There isn’t a whole lot of room to chill.  This is more if you’re looking to get a quick hit on your coffee break at work.

One of the highlights of going here was getting to pay with the mobile payment system Square.

(Photo by Darwin Bell)