Scarlet City Espresso Bar, A Sci-Fi Coffee Shop

Scarlet City Espresso Bar
3960 Adeline St., Emeryville
Phone: (510) 836-3920
Web: scarletcityroasting.com
Status: Open

Once known to San Franciscans mainly for IKEA and Pixar, Emeryville is riding the tide of the East Bay's culinary boom with projects like the revamp of Emeryville Public Market, a new Off the Grid and more spots, like Bacano Bakery , on the way. Now, the neighborhood has another new addition in the form of Scarlet City, an espresso bar from Jen St. Hilaire, whose Scarlet City Coffee Roasting has been supplying beans to East Bay outlets like the now-shuttered Barkada since 2009.

Now, she's teamed up with business partner Susanna Handow to debut her own spot on Adeline. In keeping with the pair's love of Star Trek, the new spot has a retro sci-fi bent, with a red spiral countertop, transparent stool tops, industrial grey finishes and, in a rarity for a coffee shop, Demolition Man and Star Trek: The Next Generation pinball machines.

St. Hilaire's roasts also follow a sci-fi theme, with her much-loved Warp Drive joined by blends like Light Speed, DoublePlusGood, The Time Lord and more. With over 17 years in the coffee industry, including stints at Seattle's Espresso Vivace and Santa Rosa's Ecco Caffe, she's developed a focus on a Northern Italian style of roasting for added depth and complexity, as well as an organic and sustainable business philosophy.

The new spot also is also aimed at cultivating an Italian-style atmosphere, favoring conviviality and conversation over laptops. A beer and wine license and science-fiction readings are in the works. For now, Scarlet City offers pastries and tea in addition to its full complement of espresso drinks, and hours are 7am-3pm on weekdays, 8am-3pm on weekends.

· Beam In to Scarlet City [SF Weekly]
· E'Ville Original "Scarlet City Espresso" on Adeline [E'Ville Eye]