A report by Dana Massey-Todd. On the heels of a pop-up at Public Bikes in South Park comes a new coffee spot on Polk Street, SAINT FRANK. The owner is Kevin Bohlin, a former Ritual barista, whose aim is to make clear the origins of his coffee. Each day they’ll be pulling shots of two different espressos, giving real coffee aficionados a chance to try different farms’ beans side by side. Right now they’ve got “Little Brother” espresso from Honduras, and “Las Manos,” another Honduran option. Pour-over selections will change regularly. The beans are roasted by Ritual, in collaboration with Saint Frank and under their label, and are also available by the pound to take home. They’ve also got pastries from Marla Bakery, Le Marais, and Mr. Holmes, and a yogurt and granola parfait for munching.
The space is airy and modern, with machines custom-designed by John Ermacoff to sit lower in the counter, keeping the espresso bar more open at eye level. The goal of this design is to minimize the barrier between the barista and customer, and it gives the space a very modern feel. The soaring ceilings and multiple skylights don’t hurt, either. Behind the white hex-tiled counter is blond wood paneling; the tables are also made of blond wood. In front, a counter along the window makes for excellent Polk Street people watching. Hours are 7am-3pm this week, but will expand to 7am-7pm daily starting Monday October 28th. 2430 Polk St. at Union, no phone (yet).
The counter at Saint Frank. Photo: Dana Massey-Todd. © tablehopper.com.
