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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Hayes ValleyMon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
"Awesome and friendly staff here serving up great, inexpensive organic coffees that are always fresher than I am in the morning, even though…" read more »
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This place exemplifies "you get what you pay for." Slightly more expensive than the other coffee outlets, but WAY better. This is a usual stop for me and its no wonder there's always a line out front and people do wait patiently ... definitely worth the wait.
There is definitely a grunge factor to this location, so if that makes you feel uncomfortable, you should go to their location in the Ferry building.
It's all good ... drip is excellent, caps and lattes are superb, iced coffee is unrivaled by any other place.
What else is there to say... it's already the most popular coffee place in SF. This is some good coffee I must say. The latte is delish and smooth as can be. Think I will need to ask for the latte hotter next time though.
Only thing that kills it is the line sometimes, but I must admit that it does move quite expediently. This blue bottle also carries some pastries ( a bit on the expensive side ) but if you need that scone or cookie to go with your coffee rest assure that they have it. Heck, they even have a bucket of doggy treats if you so happen to bring your dog along OR ya...
No Doubt...Blue Bottle is my favorite coffee in the town.
No Doubt...the Hayes Valley one is the best among other locations.
Their latte is the best one I have had so far.
I am a latte addict...trust me, I have tried so many cups of latte in this country. My conclusion is: Blue Bottle is the best!
In East Coast, I would recommend you Gimme Coffee, Joe's Art of Coffee, or 9th Espresso Cafe, but here, Blue Bottle is the best!
This coffee is so, so, so very mentionable that it completely makes up for the pretentious baristas. I feel so awkward around them every time and I heard through the grapevine that they really don't like soy drinkers, which I am...so when I order my lattes I always feel a bit off. Such is life though and I will deal with the strange baristas as long as the coffee is as wonderful as ever. Probably the best lattes I have ever had with Phillz as close second.
I never actually hung out at Hayes but we visited a friend and suggested we go and grab a coffee here. It was such a perfect sunny weather and we went to Blue Bottle to get their New Orleans Iced coffee. It was surprisingly good- not too bitter nor was it too sweetened. I drink pretty slow so most of the time my drink gets really water down but even after it sitting in ice my drink still tasted the same- it didn't loose its taste.
We walked over to the park and just sat on the bench enjoying the warm weather in SF- I wish it was like that everyday. A great coffee in hand+great people= perfect day =)
Dear Blue Bottle,
I miss you. Terribly. Probably more than I should.
Maybe one day ((soon?!)) you'll consider opening a little shop up out here in Fremont? Even just a stand at BART or one of the farmer's markets would be nice. Until you do, I guess I'll just have to see Peet's for my fix.
yours,
t mc-t
*BlueBottle Coffee review, take 630*
**clap!**
So, what else can I say that 629 others haven't said?…
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SPOTTED: Yesterday, 12:30pm
Reese Witherspoon & Jake Gyllenhall
Is Blue Bottle officially "over"?
uber hip and uber good coffee!
heard about blue bottle through some friends and lonely planet, they said its the best coffee in SF. soooo i checked it out!
i am not a huuuuge coffee person but i did love the coffee here. came back 2x.
it's cool that BB is a bodega that you need to stand in line for. hayes is awesome, and BB adds to that awesomeness.
also, i felt like i was in a lesbian bar waiting on line! so many!!!! haha. maybe that's just coffee houses tho.
i'd like to add that they are VERY earth concious, and have separate bins for plastic, paper, and composting. wish people in NY gave a fuck about the earth too!
Fragrant, Smooth...yet Bold.
Qualities for the man of my dreams, Joe...as in my morning cup of joe
I stopped by Blue Bottle Coffee on a Friday late afternoon. Who wouldn't stop by when you're so ready to face the weekend music.
I've had to ask where this popular coffee shop was because it was nestled in a cute little alley away from the commercial shops & restaurants at the Hayes Valley area. I felt relaxed after spotting this woodsy, cute stand surrounded with plants (indoor & hanging)
Definitely an on-the-go joint judging from the non-existent seating area
They brew your coffee crystals straight to the cup...I test via the original coffee taste test. No need for a coffee machine unless you buy a mocha, latte or espresso (which I would come back for at the next try)
Results were Great...like I said...fragrant, smooth and bold.
Blue Bottle Coffee is unlike Starbucks or other chain coffee shops because there's not too much media surrounding this coffee joint. Only in yelp did I hear about this place and their coffee is as strong but not similar to Pete's coffee which I find stronger & occasionally frequent when there's a need to read the bible & translate in Latin in one sitting
Blue Bottle did the job on Friday afternoon.
I normally starting bouncing off the wall if I have too much coffee but Blue Bottle happens to be the only place that really soothes my nerves. Although the coffee there is among the strongest I have had, it is definitely the smoothest.
If you're in SF, go try out the latte. I have tried other coffees such as Ritual Coffee, Amici's, etc. Blue Bottle is in a different league.
Good Coffee. Too Many yuppies
I would never claim to have a very particular palette when it comes to coffee as my relationship is primarily with caffeine. I have been known to add whipped cream to my coffee and tablespoons of sugar ... so you can take this review with a grain of salt.
However, even I can taste the awesomeness that is Blue Bottle.
My lord. The New Orleans roast or whatever I got, makes me daydream about this quaint little alleyway. Best coffee in town?
So nice to have a fresh new alternative to other chains. I love San Francisco!
Damn it, Blue Bottle! Just when I think I have kicked my java habit, there you are, so small, so unassuming, so......PERFECT IN EVERY WAY, and, I must have you. Seriously, I really AM a bonafide tea drinker. And not those pansy grandma herbal teas, either. Dark, rich, Russian, etc. But, this coffee warms every fiber of my being, my essence, and, turns the darkness into light.
This joe kicks tiny little tea leaf ass.
Well done.
Pretty good. Delicious coffee: some of the best I've had in the city. Beautiful location; Linden street is amazing, and watching the line clear out for traffic is amusing.
But not really worth the wait for grab-n-go when there are so many other excellent cafes in this city.
Blue Bottle Coffee is by far the best coffee I have ever had. I have such an appreciation for their drip coffee, cappuccinos, and whole bean blends that I felt the need to write a poem.
"An Ode to Blue Bottle: A Haiku"
Luscious coffee drips
Blue bottle- fragrant, smooth, bold
Brings me happiness
Overall, a fantastic establishment, with great service and a marvelous product. Even my mother, who lives in LA, has a Blue Bottle addiction and orders the whole bean blends online.
From the moment I discovered it in Hayes Valley (my old 'hood), I fell in LOVE with this coffee. Yes, the lines are absurdly long any day of the week, trust me it's worth the wait. Their coffee is velvety, never bitter, and is great all on its own (no cream or sugar needed). I get their coffee now via mail because I now live in San Diego, but there is a great feeling when you get to the front of the line on a cold San Francisco morning and take your first sip of the coffee to make you love the place you live. Blue Bottle and San Francisco, I miss you.
I'm open minded when it comes to just about anything, and I do enjoy a good cup of coffee, but the level of pretentiousness pouring out of this place leaves a bad taste in your mouth. OVERRATEDDDDDD!!!!! Hipster D-bags.
A better Hayes Valley coffee joint? Cafe Corbas.
First warning, this place is difficult to find and if you have a nav like I do, you will find that your nav will take you in circles so you have to trust your instincts on this one.
It's on a little side street between two major streets and this street is only one way. There is limited parking on this street so you will have to test your luck when you go. This is the kiosk location so warning #2 is there are no places to sit and you can pretty much only get it to go.
Third warning ... parking police! They are VERY adamant about making sure you are following parking rules to the T. If you are over by 30 seconds they're already there to give you a ticket for your $3.00/hour expired meter. Other than that this place is worth the visit and the wait.
I really actually enjoyed ritual coffee roasters better in Napa but this place is a very close second.
For all the hype I've heard about Blue Bottle coffee, I don't really get it. Maybe people just love hipster girls making stupid little hearts on your lattes, but in reality, the coffee was pretty average.
The menu board does say that they use double shots of espresso in all their drinks, but the latte I had wasn't strong at all. It also wasn't very hot -not "cold," mind you, but not "hot" by any means - which could have something to do with it not being "zomg delicious."
Barefoot Coffee in Cupertino is hands-down the best coffee I've ever had, but to be quite honest, the whole bean Starbucks I get at Costco and make at home with my $50 espresso maker was better than the Blue Bottle latte I had today.
3 Stars
Started the day over here.....even though I usually don't drink coffee, I had a long day ahead of me and needed the energy.
The alley/street this spot is in is real cool.....murals spray painted or paintbrushed on some of the walls......people hanging out sitting on the sidewalk drinking their coffee and enjoying the day....and a great overall vibe.
The shop looked like a converted garage, and was just a walk-up that you order your drink from and either take it w/ you, or like I said, sit down on the sidewalk and enjoy it...
I ended up ordering the New Orleans Iced Coffee ($3.50) after the girls in front of me in line explained that it was like liquid crack and doesn't make you jittery. my girl ordered a mocha.
Staff was cool and friendly like they usually are at independent coffee shops....and they even had comp. doggie treats (and NO I didn't try any).
The Iced coffee I ordered was pretty strong. It tasted ok, but I'm not a coffee drinker, so I prefer my coffee to taste more like hot chocolate...so i probably wouldn't order it again (it did wake me up though!).
The Mocha was very rich, chocolaty, and good.....they even did some art (I'll post a picture soon).....That I could have again as it didn't really taste too much like coffee.
We ended up hanging out on the sidewalk for a little while...to get the whole experience....then walked down the street to a little park for a while w/ our drinks.
I really do recommend this place....not just for the drinks, but for the overall experience.
Blue Bottle has good coffee, probably one of the better selections in the Bay Area, but I've had better.
Regular black coffee - it's good, smooth, nice and bold flavors. However, it's a bit foo foo for my taste.
Mocha - tasty, but a little too fluffy. I can do without the heart shaped foam designs, just give me a good cup of mocha. I felt like the proportion of milk, espresso and chocolate was off. For the one time I had a mocha, there was too much milk in my cup.
I roll out of bed and stare into my eyes.
"Unngh," says the voice in my head, my lips are dry sponges.
This sandpaper face needs a mythic revival.
My boots kick the pavement and I curse the fog.
Signs appear, a garage opens, and I smell the bean,
The grinder's song my anti-coma.
A haze lifts, the aromas bring me closer to clarity.
The barista asks my head where the rest of my body is?
Still in bed. I've been sent on ahead.
He has my medicine - a single-drip IV to my brain.
It goes down, down, down, pouring into my soul.
The gremlins behind my eyelids pry them wider.
Liquid gold, I shudder and sigh at its perfection.
Fresh, bold, rich, warm and life-giving,
Each cup is unique, mine and mine alone.
Coffee? Yes, that is my mood,
But only Blue Bottle pours nectar of the Gods.
Caffeine, my beloved siren, don't ever not be there.
I feel an addiction coming on...
I bought a bag and they kindly ground the beans for me. I drove home in my car (10 minute drive) and a week later I can still smell the deliciousness of the coffee. I need to get MORE! MORE! MORE!
Such a solid place and a hidden gem that I wish I could take this listing of Yelp.
And it is as good as it gets. I finally got my BF to go with me this weekend. We went on this cool Sunday am. I have been to the Mint location, and i prefer the alley. We did not have to wait in line for hrs for a drip coffee. All said, maybe 10 Min's. They by far have the best coffee in town. I dig and support the blue bottle.
Blue Bottle coffee is hugely successful, they have lines down the alley constantly, and people will wait for half an hour to get a latte - and they have accomplished all this success even though they don't always give the customer everything they want. How is this possible? Because they actually care deeply about the quality of their product more than they care about honoring every silly request made by every customer who walks up. For this, they often get accused of being snobs, and I think this is just sad. What a shame that anyone who is not willing to compromise quality to please the masses is seen as arrogant. You can't both admit that the coffee is good and then fault them for doing the things that make it good, people. What to know about Blue Bottle before you go:
1) Yes, the wait can be long. Don't come here if you are in a hurry. There are plenty of other coffee places that can give you quick. Blue Bottle gives you delicious.
2) They don't have flavors or silly ice cream drinks masquerading as coffee.
3) They will not grind your coffee. If you don't have a coffee grinder and are not wiling to spend $15 on one, take it to the grocery store and grind it there. These guys are serious about freshness. They don't sell coffee beans more than 2 days after it was roasted.
4) There are no chairs or tables or wifi. They don't have a lot of pastries. This is not a cafe, it is a coffee stand. If you want to sit and hang out, go somewhere else.
5) You should try the ginger scones. They are pricey, but worth it.
Great coffee! What can I say? Every hipster and their mother knows about this place. The baristas can be snotty but they do their job well. The perennial long line prevents me from getting coffee there everyday, but I put up with the line when I want a treat.
What a cool little place- bigger than an ordinary kiosk, smaller than a shop, cozily tucked away on a small street in Hayes Valley.
The coffee there is delicious. I had New Orleans iced coffee. Their coffee is cheaper than some other places, and much better. It is strong, and doesn't in any way have a bitter aftertaste the way some coffees do. In fact, I think their coffee tastes perfect!
There was absolutely no queue today, so I walked up, was immediately served, and peaced out.
Hands down the BEST coffee I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. A no frills coffee joint with the freshest coffee you get. I'm craving a latte as I type!
A 5 star rating for this place is well deserved. My gf brought me here and this is a place that cares about coffee. There was a long line which is normal from what i hear. The line does go fast. The brew each cup of coffee!!!!!!! Amazing. This is how coffee should taste. Not watered down or not like a giant wooden stir spoon. This by far is the Best coffee I have had in the entire bay area. I will be coming back very often.
I just wanted to write a quick review for the folks working here. I live in the neighborhood but have never stopped by because I tend to drink tea instead of coffee. However, my girlfriend requested I go buy a few bags of beans for her relatives as presents. I swing down there and they're very nice about giving me cards explaining how different drinks are made and which beans they sell. When I made my decision the total came out to $22.00. Having never been here I didn't realize they didn't take cards. I pulled out the $21.00 in my wallet and told them that I was a little short and needed to run to an ATM. Both baristas started saying 'no no it's cool, don't worry about it!' So they spotted me the extra buck and I was on my way.
Although it's a small gesture, I'm still a big fan of good customer service. So 5 stars for being nice guys.
OK I'll be short & to the point:
Pros:
Amazing coffee
They don't charge extra for soy milk
Coffee is strong
The have New Orleans style coffee
Affordable
Cons:
No parking
No whipped cream for mochas
Very limited selection
On hot days they run out of the New Orleans style coffee
Usually long lines
No seating
One of the best coffee's I've ever had. Well, I've actually been getting lattes from here, but you can actually taste the coffee - unlike some chains where all you taste is milk and syrup. I also like the fact that the coffee is not too bitter and I can get away with just 2 sugars, as opposed to pouring an entire glass container into the cup until it's slush and then it still tastes bitter. I've been passing by the blue sign on Gough for a good number of years and then one day decided to take a detour and come in. The space is interesting, but the coffee is better in only some of the places in Europe. The problem for me is that location is too much out of the way for easy access. So, I can't go there on regular basis, so I am back to the usual suspects.
#28 on the Big Eat SF list
I don't remember seeing the Gibraltar on the menu but still asked for it since I knew it existed. It's very pretty. But VERY bitter (coffee lovers swear by this place. the people who used to live in my apt miss the beans and I'll buy them bags now and then.... too bad i'm not a coffee lover!).....Someone else saw me get it and by looks alone also asked what that was and if he could get it too!
note about finding this place: I tried a few times unsuccessfully when I first moved since I didn't pay attention to hours of operation. When closed, it's impossible to find; it looks like another metal garage door, no labels! I thought I was going insane...When open, there's a board on the corner of Gough & Linden, and from either side of the street you'll see a line (and possibly a few dogs =)
Blue Bottle Coffee Co: "**********"
A perfect ten.
best latte in the city. I love this place. Affogato is amazing too. They use humphry slocombe secret breakfast ice cream, topped with a shot of espresso. yum yum YUM!
I don't even like coffee but the stuff was pretty legit.
Some of the best coffee that I have ever had outside of Central America. The coffee is absolutely delicious and the staff is extremely knowledgable and really know their stuff.
I really like the venue with the really high ceilings and big windows. Don't forget to try the food, cause the grub here is really good as well, particularly the sandwiches and cookies!
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