Espresso News and Reviews – TheShot.coffeeratings.com

At CoffeeRatings.com, we believe that what the end consumer experiences is what matters most, regardless of who is behind the results. But often the story about coffee becomes more of a story about people. Rodger’s Coffee & Tea is a good example of this — where knowing a little of the back story helps provide [...]

For the past few months, we have exchanged notes and e-mails about a number of coffee places and events in the area with fellow SF coffee blogger, Christian G, of Man Seeking Coffee fame. (We’ve added the “G” here in an attempt to give him some rap-star-like mystique.) More recently, we collectively had the idea [...]

With little fanfare, last week Four Barrel Coffee finally graduated out of the ranks of the Malaysian street food experience and opened up its formal café space. So this week we paid a visit to check out the new digs — and update our espresso review. (See: our previous Four Barrel Coffee Trip Report.) Last [...]

This casual café run by Mission locals lives across the street from the slightly newer, and trendier, Sugarlump. That detail alone contributes to an unusual social “halo” surrounding this café — one that forgives the many sins it commits against good coffee. To be honest, the espresso here is quite dreadful. But this place is [...]

Right off BART’s Plasticuffs Station (Mission & 16th Sts.), across of Cafe Los Olvidados, this has never been an attractive part of the city — though mostly because of who might accost you on the sidewalk. (I’ve long called it Plasticuffs Station because of the frequency of finding perps face down on the plaza in [...]

This second outlet of the locally owned and operated café chain opened with the 2007 New Year. It’s spacious, clean, and (like the original at 3rd & 20th Sts. in Dogpatch) has a Starbucks-like modern design. One of the things I really like about this stretch of 24th St. is that it has the cultural [...]

This bakery/café runs as a collective between the San Mateo County coast’s Pie Ranch, Glen Park‘s Destination Baking Company, and the Mission‘s Mission High School. If that doesn’t sound a little confusing, just try finding the place by its address. Its 2901 Mission St. address will direct you to the corner of Mission & 25th [...]

Opening in Nov. 2006, this space is aptly named “Coffee Lounge”. It has dark brown walls, spot lighting, large gallery art, lounge-like music, and it attracts more of an upscale, edgy crowd for the neighborhood. A mix of unique seating options spread throughout the long space. They serve some croissants and bakery items, but it’s [...]

Some of the enjoyment I get adding new cafés to CoffeeRatings.com is in finding completely obscure places that make surprisingly decent (though never great) espresso. Last Saturday night I was visiting some friends for an event over at the ArtSF community center near the sketchier cross section of 16th and Capp Streets in the Mission. [...]

Quiet, semi-private coffee house with many plants and stained tables indoors. Sky-blue ceiling adds to the tropical theme. Minimal outdoor seating (no tables). They occasionally offer a free chair massage. Café Que Tal formerly used Mr. Espresso beans, then switched to Vigal, and more recently they switched back again. They pull shots from a two-group [...]