His name is Joe. That’s right, cup of Joe.
I’ve recently begun a love affair with coffee. If you’re a caffeine aficionado, you’ll understand my newfound passion. Not only is coffee a tasty escape, it’s a pick-me-up. I’m not a coffee snob. I like a donut shop coffee every now and then. I also recently invested in a Keurig Platinum Coffee Maker, so I can have coffee on-the-go to get me through almost any zombie-like state. It proves magic in the wee hours of the night when I have a late night blog idea and it becomes absolutely necessary early mornings when I am embarking on my adventure that is a new day. When I am not toting my to-go cup with Keurig-produced coffee in hand (because we all know it isn’t the best quality), I can be found making a quick morning stop to Starbucks. It’s on every street corner, making it every San Francisco worker’s quick resource. But truth be told, I’m not too big a fan on taste when it comes to Starbucks, Peet’s or Tully’s. So where does one go when they want to enjoy a “good” cup of coffee, especially with someone special?
The bay area is filled with wonderful little coffee shops, which make for quaint dating spots for you and a +1. We’ve all got our ritual spots, but read on as I share some of my bay area coffee shop faves.
Spotlight on Philz Coffee
Philz has a devoted cult-like following, and I’m one of those followers. If you’re with a date in San Francisco (the original Philz is in the Mission District), Palo Alto, San Jose or Berkeley, stop by and try a cup of one of their twenty handmade coffees. Philz knows a thing or two about the art of drip coffee. If you’re not in the area, you can have their coffee shipped to you (how convenient)! When I want a refreshing beverage, the Mint Mojito Iced Coffee really hits the spot and the Mocha Tesora will put any chain coffee store mocha to shame. If you’re a coffee noob and want to get something sweet and safe, try Philtered Soul. Boy is it good. The baristas will make your coffee individually, one cup at a time. They’ll ask you how sweet you want your drink to ensure the perfect amount of cream and sweetener is in there, just the way you like it, and they’ll have you take a sip before you commit, to make sure it’s to your liking. Philz Coffee doesn’t have that air of arrogance that some high end/designer coffee shops exude. Its décor isn’t the most romantic compared to other coffee shops and cafes, but the ambience is friendly, relaxed, and very local—the perfect casual spot to go to when you’re in the beginning stages of getting to know someone or already comfortable with someone you’ve been seeing on the regular. Because of their unique blends, convenient bay area locations, and customized service, Philz is number one in my book.
Here are more lovely SF coffee spots that never cease to amaze:
Café Trieste
Blue Bottle Coffee
Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company
Ritual Coffee Roasters
Four Barrel Coffee
I know you’ve all got local java joints you frequent, whether by yourself or with a date. Let’s hear who your favorite bay area coffee shop contenders are!