The wave of coffee just will not quit in this town: a whole slew of new places to get a cup of brew are opening soon. So get ready for the jitters, friends!
According to a tweet, the new BLUE BOTTLE location in Market Square in the Twitter building is open today, Wednesday May 27th. The new kiosk will offer single origin coffee, pour-over, cold brew on tap, and plenty of espresso. In addition to their usual pastry offerings, there will also be seasonal fruit buckles, and some new savory options. Open daily 7am-7pm. 1355 Market St. at 10th St., 510-653-3394.
Speaking of Blue Bottle, the large new downtown location in the 115 Sansome building is getting ready to open on Wednesday June 17th. To recap, this location will offer some light food options in addition to coffee and pastries, like waffles, sandwiches, and oatmeal. We’ll keep you posted. 115 Sansome St. at Bush, 510-653-3394.
Nothing takes the edge off a long day of downtown shopping like coffee with a little kick, and now you can get it at IRON HORSE COFFEE BAR, located inside Romper Room. Sprudge mentioned the Maiden Lane caffeination station back in March, noting that they are serving Ritual Coffee and offer some brightly colored outdoor seating. Now, according to UrbanDaddy, they are also serving spiked coffee, including choices like the Cowboy (bourbon plus coffee) and the Horseshoe (espresso, Baileys, half-and-half, whiskey). Giddy up. 25 Maiden Ln. at Kearny, 415-623-9629.
According to reports on Yelp, there’s a new coffee spot in the Sunset called BLANC CAFE. It’s moved into the former Mellow Mellow space, and initial reports cite friendly service, updated decor, and an extensive tea selection in addition to coffee and espresso beverages. 549 Irving St. at 7th Ave., 415-592-8174.
David Rio, a chai company started in Bernal Heights back in 1996, has now opened a flagship retail store and café in Mid-Market, called CHAI BAR. This is the first storefront for the company, which until now has only been available at local spots like The Grove or Delessio Market. The space is designed as a retail shop, where you can buy their chai blends to take home, and as a chai bar specializing in different chai lattes. Many blends will be available, including their signature Tiger Spice blend, as well as a Maple Moose blend sweetened with maple syrup and a less sweet, spicy version called Cub Chai. The animal names aren’t just about being cute: they make significant donations to animal protection groups both local and international.
There is also an espresso bar serving beans from Emeryville roaster McLaughlin Coffee, and of course lots of options to mix coffee and various chai blends. Fans of nut milks will be happy to hear that many different choices are available, including almond and hazelnut, alongside cow’s milk from Straus Family Creamery. Right now, they are still ramping up operations at the chai bar; look for a chai lab for testing and sampling new flavors in the coming months. They also plan to add boba chai, hot chocolate add-ons, and many other customizable options soon. Current hours are Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, with weekend hours coming by July. 1019 Market St. at 6th St., 415-865-0677.
Blue Bottle Market Square. Photo by Clay McLachlan.
