Linea Caffe, A Mission Espresso-Waffle-Salad Spot

Linea Caffe
3417 18th St., Mission
Web: lineacaffe.com
Status: Opened today

Want a perfectly pulled espresso? A fancy waffle? A freshly mixed salad? You'll find all three at deceptively tiny Linea Caffe, which just opened around the corner from Duc Loi supermarket in the Mission. The project is a collaboration between coffee impresario Andrew Barnett, the founder of Ecco Caffe, and Mission food legend Anthony Myint, who's the brains behind Mission Street Food, Mission Chinese Food, and Commonwealth. Barnett was a regular at Mission Chinese Food, and the two decided to team up; they originally were hoping to use the old Mission Burger space inside Duc Loi, but when the store turned them down, they snagged the tiny spot next door instead.

On the espresso side, Barnett has equipped the space with a La Marzocco Linea machine, along with Clover Stornetta milk and Calafia almond milk. The dream team pulling the shots include retail manager Rita Kaminsky (Portland's Albina Press), baristas Tom Baker (Ma'velous, Jane) and Hector Coronado (Stumptown), and roaster Ant Walach (Sightglass' former lead trainer). Barnett has judged many coffee competitions, and plans on roasting micro-batches sourced from Brazil, El Salvador, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Coffee fans can also buy the whole beans, which are roasted over at Highwire in Emeryville, for home use. Elevation Tea, a new brand making its first foray into SF, is the tea purveyor.

On the food side, Myint is using the space as a "culinary incubator" for two concepts, Lt. Waffle and GreenSalads.org. Lt. Waffle features Belgian waffles both sweet and savory, with toppings like gianduja, coconut jam, and macadamia nuts, or fines herbes and goat cheese. GreenSalads.org, the healthier option, features four (soon to be five) salads with interesting toppings, from kale salad with guacamole vinaigrette to romaine with salted radishes and Japanese ranch. Emma Sullivan (Mission Bowling Club, Bar Tartine) will be helping Myint in the kitchen, and $1 from every salad will go to 350.org, an organization that fights climate change. Here are the menus, snapped from inside (click to blow up):

Lt. Waffle:

GreenSalads.org:

Linea, GreenSalads, and Lt. Waffle are all open daily from 8 am-3 pm.

· The World's First Look Inside Linea Caffe [Sprudge]
· What to Expect at Linea Caffe [SFoodie]
· Anthony Myint Feeds New Ideas to Linea Caffe [~ ESF ~]

[Photos: Rose Garrett]