Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco is the Morris brothers' SoMa roastery, running a Probat UG-22 on the rooftop, with a tasting bar and a long single-origin list.
Tip: Saturday cuppings at 11:00 are open to the public; sign up online the week before.
Address: 270 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco is one of the third-wave originals, with the bright Valencia Street flagship and a tight, recipe-driven single-origin filter.
Tip: The Ritual cortado is the regular order; the Hayes Valley kiosk has the fastest line on a weekend.
Sources from: Colombia, Ethiopia, Burundi, Costa Rica
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Subscription, Whole bean retail
Saint Frank Coffee in San Francisco is Kevin Bohlin's Russian Hill roaster, known for a direct-trade Central American programme and a precise classical cortado.
Tip: Ask about the producer relationships; the staff travels to farm visits every year and remembers details.
Sources from: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Ethiopia
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Andytown Coffee Roasters in San Francisco is Lauren Crabbe and Michael McCrory's Outer Sunset roastery, with the cult Snowy Plover drink and a small bakery counter.
Tip: The 43rd Avenue original is the best pour; the soda water for the Snowy Plover is house-carbonated.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Burundi
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Linea Caffe in San Francisco is Andrew Barnett's Mission and Fillmore espresso bar, with a Probat in Healdsburg, a short pull and a strict 5-second espresso style.
Tip: Ask for the macchiato; the texture-and-volume ratio is the kitchen's signature pour.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, Brazil
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco is the Valencia Street roastery with a long Probat showroom in the back, a no-wifi policy out front and a tight single-origin list.
Tip: Saturday cuppings are walk-in friendly at 11:00; ask the bar staff for the day's lot rotation.
Sources from: Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Brazil
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
