Thanks to a new location in Burlingame, Equator Coffee now has cafes serving just about every corner of the Bay. In the city, the SoMa shop remains closed but you can still get your fix of seasonal single origin pour overs and espresso drinks at the Fort Mason outpost or the newly opened Round House cafe. No matter where you snag a drink you can feel good supporting a woman-owned, LGBTQ-founded business. 

On a typical San Francisco afternoon, one steps out of the briny wind and into a seafaring refuge at Goody Cafe. No, the space is not nautical themed, but Fort Mason brings to bear the fact that San Francisco is a port city. Plus, any sailor would be lucky for $2 coffee and $3 cold brew. The food, including a rotating panini special, is not to be dismissed, either.

The North Beach location of Caffe Trieste has been around for more than 50 years, serving Italian-style espresso to the masses. It's host to a crowd of neighborhood regulars, who prior to the pandemic could be found discussing, art, poetry, music, and more on the sidewalk outside. Just up the street Caffe Trieste has also opened a retail store for beans and more.

Wrecking Ball’s Nick Cho and Trish Rothgeb are known for their well-balanced espresso drinks and precise, technologically advanced pour overs. The Berkeley location closed on February 20, so the Cow Hollow location will have to be as great as two coffee shops.

You’ll have to cross the Bay to check out Red Bay’s sweet new headquarters but if you’re just looking for a bag of medium roast, single-origin from Brazil or a Vietnamese cold brew, then you can head to this location at the Ferry Building. Steel yourself for long lines during the Saturday morning farmers market. 

The birthday cake latte is classic Home at this point. But, to one San Francisco resident Eater SF spoke to, the business’ three shops really are senses of home for her and other Asian Americans in her community. Owner Annie Cheng has felt that same sense of community throughout the pandemic, especially as her Chinatown struggled and, eventually, recovered.

Owner Aidan Compton reached out to Eater SF to let readers know of his family’s new Fillmore Street coffee shop. He and his father, San Francisco born-and-raised each, own the business and feature coffee from Brooklyn-based roaster Variety Coffee, owned by their relative Gavin Compton. Also, Eric Rachmany of Rebelution appears to be a fan of the new shop — which has to account for something — and the cold brew is a highlight.

Powered by a trio of trans activists, Fluid Cooperative Cafe resides inside La Cocina Municipal Marketplace and uses Queer Wave Coffee beans. The buzzy little counter is the first thing to greet you when you walk inside and your menu options range from iced cafe de olla to a creamy latte made with Okinawa black sugar.

Both locations of Rise & Grind (785 8th Avenue in the Inner Richmond and 2598 Folsom Street in the Mission) are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, and at 9 a.m. on the weekends, with a full menu of coffee drinks, as well as a cafe menu of toasts and sandwiches.

Sextant founder Kinani Ahmed works directly with Ethiopian, Kenyan, and Colombian growers, making for high-end but affordable beans to-go. In this chunk of the city, Sextant is alone in offering its terrific coffees and delicious pastries from Firebrand Artisan Breads.

Yo También Cantina stocks Grand Coffee, also on this list, helping owners Isabella Bertorelli and Kenzie Benesh make Hugo Street a coffee haven during the pandemic. Bertorelli used to work at the Wooly Pig, the café that was in the same location just a few years ago, and the couple’s cafe holds the same great reverence for their neighbors and fans. The parklet, both gorgeous and accessible, is the perfect place to enjoy the signature Oatly Lavender Cold Brew for $5 with a breakfast cookie any Saturday morning.

Abanico Coffee Roasters brought its specialty coffee drinks and freshly roasted beans to the Mission earlier this year. Owner Ana Valle is originally from El Salvador, where she grew up sipping cafecito with her grandmother. Now she’s sweetening cafe con leche with condensed milk and dusting iced cafe de olla with cinnamon in this bright, airy space. 

More than 11 years on its journey, Grand Coffee is opening a second location a block away from their mini cafe on Mission Street. The shop also serves their coffee at the Grove at Yerba Buena. And, in honor of co-owner Nabeel Silmi’s Palestinian heritage, proceeds from the newest coffee La Llave go to the Middle East Children’s Alliance. 

Finding this Cortland Avenue shop is almost like walking into a colorful room rather than a business and feels something like paying off your debt to Animal Crossing’s Tom Nook: as though something so rare and joyous could never happen, and, with great relief, it finally does. JoEllen Depakakibo’s charming Pinhole offers David Rio chai and Blue Willow Tea from Berkeley.

Java Beach’s locations at 1396 La Playa Street and 2650 Sloat Boulevard both serve Lady Falcon’s 1990s-throwback coffee, and its sandwiches and salads are solid lunch contenders, too. The whole menu is available for takeout and online ordering is available as well, with the option to grab your drink via a walk up window at the La Playa outpost.

Frustrated by the lack of upscale coffee spots in the Bayview, Tallio’s owner Olton Rensch opened his business in a former Third Street barber shop after years of selling beans at farmers markets and online. On the menu you’ll find everything from basic espresso drinks to a golden turmeric latte.

Opened in June 2021 by Dee and their cat Boots, this Bayview shop has gained a loyal fanbase for items like the Hella Black toast on San Francisco bakery Rize Up’s bread and the housemade orange marmalade. Plus, it bears repeating, that the co-owner is a cat.

Lea Sabado and Andre Higgenbotham opened this Excelsior neighborhood shop’s doors in 2019 and already had a healthy following of motorcycle fans who were excited to see a Black and Brown-owned business in a very white coffee scene. Recently, the team is fundraising through tee-shirt sales for KeepOurClinics, a nonprofit that supports independent abortion clinics.

Mission Blue’s excellent coffee drinks are made with Saint Frank beans (with tea from UK cult brand TeaPigs), and its lavender latte sends folks to its Visitacion Valley door. It’s also got a gift shop that specializes in goods from local artists and makers, including jewelry, ceramics, and paper products.