Caffeine Dreams: Haute 5 Coffee Houses in San Francisco

Coffee is my favorite hobby (read: addiction) and if you’re anything like me, then you can’t even begin to think about functioning without one (or three) cups of coffee. Cream. No sugar, thanks. Though there just happens to be a Starbucks on every corner in this city and in every corner of this planet, you don’t always have to settle for a Venti, over roasted Pike’s Place. Let this week’s Haute 5 Coffee Shops be your guide to a quality caffeine fix. With so many new artisan coffees and the shops that serve them on the rise, set your eyes on an extraordinary cup of Joe in a place with free Wi-Fi (not to mention delicious delectables), that will take your breath away. I don’t know about you, but I like my coffee extra haute.

Philz Coffee

With four locations in San Francisco, Philz isn’t just a caffeine fix; it’s a caffeine institution. The original location in the Mission is a fan favorite. With brightly colored walls, free Wi-Fi and concoctions like the Mint Mojito Iced Coffee, you’re sure to be entertained and buzzed all day. Extreme caffeine and custom blending of beans create a rich flavor making this cup of coffee unique. Philz calls each cup a cup of love. I call it a cup of liquid lighting. Hold on tight.  It’s a wild ride.

Philz Coffee is located at 3101 24^th St.,  415.875.9370

Java Beach

Do you like your morning coffee with a side of beer and the sound of surf? If so, then head to Ocean Beach for a Sunday fun day filled with glorious caffeine, sun and suds in the salty sea air at Java Beach. Delicious coffee (not to mention beer on tap), free Wi-Fi, extreme pastries and sizeable sub sandwiches make Java Beach a great all-day coffee hang. Come for breakfast, stay for lunch and then drink your dinner.  Once you get settled into one of their comfy couches you could never dream of leaving.

Java Beach is located at 1396 La Playa St.,  415.665.5282

Ritual Coffee Roasters

Sometimes it’s hard to pay $4.00 for a latte, yet somehow, Ritual Coffee Roasters makes it easy. Easy enough that when I’m in the neighborhood I will visit numerous times throughout the course of a day just to get one more sip of excellence. Chic, uncomplicated coffee at it’s finest; Ritual raises the bar in caffeine artistry. They roast single origin beans to perfection in-house, create delicious and simple drinks that addict, and stock a bakery case with mouth-watering morsels. Bring your laptop, a solid supply of cash and stay awhile; you’re going to want more than one.  You’ve been warned.

Ritual Coffee Roasters is located at 1026 Valencia St.,  415.641-1024

Blue Bottle Coffee Co.

Blue Bottle Coffee Co. takes a straightforward approach to getting you the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had. They use organic, pesticide-free, shade-grown beans and make coffee for people who actually like the taste of coffee without sugar-free vanilla syrup or caramel and chocolate jimmies. With freshly roasted beans (less than 48 hours from roaster to cup), a stark lab-like setting, and a simple menu with items like toast with butter and jam or poached eggs, the Mint location has become a favorite for those wanting carefully crafted coffee, a light bite and a different, albeit caffeinated, perspective.

Blue Bottle Coffee Co. is located at 66 Mint St.,  415.495.3394

Four Barrel Coffee House

This fledgling coffee house is bringing a coffee renaissance about.  It’s just that good.  Nuanced, rich and layered with flavor, a cup of coffee and a long catch-up with your closest confidante at Four Barrel will remind you exactly what’s worth savoring.  Four Barrel occupies a large space in the Mission that gets crowded, but thanks to some crafty feng shui never feels claustrophobic. They don’t do tea and they don’t do Wi-Fi. Bring a book or a friend, enjoy your coffee and remember that sometimes it’s the simple pleasures in life that are the hautest.

Four Barrel is located at 375 Valencia St.,  415.252.0800