Blue Bottle Coffee

I was very surprised to see that Blue Bottle is next to my new work place. I’m originally from LA and they recently opened Blue Bottle back home, so I decided I wanted to first try it in the city where it originated. The barista was very sweet enough to let me sample two of their best sellers. And on top of that, their Phil Collins playlist just set the mood perfectly.

Stopped by Blue Bottle for the first time (surprising, right?) on my way to the Asian Art Museum, and was amazed. The location is next to Twitter HQ, and has a clean, contemporary look and feel. On the shelves are Blue Bottle merch, and a few chemexes are also on sale. It’s a reasonably sized location for one downtown, and the baristas are super sweet and friendly. There isn’t any seating in the actual building, but there are a few benches outside.
The menu is moderately priced, and is comprised of mainly espresso/​coffee drinks, with a few pastry options. I opted for the mocha ($ 5 without tax) and was immediately impressed by the smooth blend of chocolate and coffee. You can definitely tell that the chocolate syrup is of higher quality, and the famous Blue Bottle coffee perfectly mixed with it makes the price so much more worth it. I can really see where the hype comes from now!
Also, note that the place still has a bit of a line at 4:00 pm :)

This Blue Bottle is close to where I was working this past week. More importantly, it was not too busy unlike the one at Mint Plaza.
There’s a bit of sticker shock involved in paying $ 4 for an 8oz cappuccino. Other than that, the quality is superb.
I tried both the Hayes and the Opa and prefer the Hayes. But honestly you can’t go wrong with either.
Very friendly staff and nice touch on the cappuccino designs.

Their coffee is good, of course, but nothing amazing in the coffee mecca that is San Francisco. Not many options for pastries if you’re coming in to grab breakfast on the go and definitely no space to sit down and enjoy.
Really lacks a coffee shop vibe/​warmth and the lines are always long and tedious.

Woohoo, as good as it gets is correct when describing this brand. One of the best lattes I have ever had made right here. Located in the market building kinda towards the back this popular sf spot delivers. The latte was so smooth here that At the unfortunate end of the cup my tongue was begging for more, now that I am thinking maybe I should have gotten a larger size but If my memory serves me right there is only one size offered. This little corner location is busy and not equipped with table and chairs to sit and enjoy your coffee so expect to pick up and go, which fits this busy tech corner where the tech company workers flock to get there caffeine fix before running back to work. I did see a court yard on one side of the building so there maybe seats out there. Blue bottle staff was friendly and took there time when making that cup of perfection so expect to wait a bit .if your ordering ice coffee however u might be out of the door quicker. Coffees were about 4 – 5 dollars and menus was simple with just enough choices. No fancy frapacinos here just straight delicious coffee.
Look for that distinctive blue bottle sign and get a great coffee to go but expect to wait a bit.

Love Blue Bottle coffee! So glad this one is a block from my SF office.

Cup of blue bottle=bliss
I’ve tried mostly everything and all of it is perfection so you can’t go wrong in choosing any of them.
Love this location since it’s so close to work. You can pay with credit card. Coffee is $ 4 – 5 but it’s worth it. Service is friendly and coffee is always made perfectly. At this location, I once got a free cup of coffee as someone else didn’t pick up their order.
I prefer this over Starbucks and even philz sometimes. Partly because I can enjoy a cup of blue bottle coffee black.

When visiting San Francisco I always try to get my coffee at Blue Bottle and this is a newer location, but just as great as the rest.
It can get pretty full, but the line moves quickly and the staff is really on top of their game.
Simple menu, I go with the mocha latte every time, best item here.
The mix of the rich dark chocolate with the coffee is everything, you really taste the quality, not too sweet, just perfect really.
Wish they had larger sizes though, I got an iced for later and it was just as good.
Excellent chain worth checking out!

This place does not mess around with their coffee. Try their almond milk latte, they have mastered froth in a near unfrothable beverage. Major kudos well-​deserved.

Yes, this coffee is as good as it gets. AND the staff is awesome. Billy was eager to educate, clearly loves his job and knows what he is doing. He was ready to help us understand what makes Blue Bottle special. He was attentive to each individual who walked in the door and made sure everyone had great coffee and a great experience.
I order the pour over coffee. It was perfect, nothing added, and nothing was needed. just simply, a great cup of coffee.
Oh, and the ginger cookie was perfect!

I’ve been a fan of Blue Bottle for a few years, being introduced to them via a previous boyfriend. My first experience was their Hayes Valley kiosk where I think the ‘charm’ of finding this random coffee shop tucked down an alley was more memorable than the actual coffee.
Several coffee-​drinking years later, San Francisco continues to astound me with how many coffee shops we can fit into the 7×7. We are a coffee-​addicted people. And while I’ve tried many different brands, beans etc., Blue Bottle will always hold a special place in my heart, and this location in the «Twitter building» seemed like my weekend secret. If you’ve been to Blue Bottle before, you know that waiting in line is almost always a given. I was shocked when I didn’t find one here on a late Saturday morning.
I’m sure weekdays are hellishly busy, but for my visit, I walked right up to order. Imagine that! While I’ve tried every espresso/​milk concoction, lately I’ve been sticking to the classic coffee + milk combo. I’m a fan of Blue Bottle’s New Orleans style iced coffee, but this chilly December visit called for a hot, pour-​over drip. Topped off with almond milk, it was fresh and delightful. I waited longer for the pour-​over to finish than I did waiting to order. I also have to say that the baristas did not have a level of pretentiousness, something I’ve observed at other ‘artisnal’ coffee shops. I don’t live close enough to make this a regular routine, but is you’re in Mid-​Market, then it’s worth stumbling upon this spot!

Coffee selection is around $ 5 (Mocha, Latte, etc). I think it’s a lot smoother, and much less acidic than Starbucks.
I tried the pumpkin tea cake, and that was very nice. It was slightly sweet and had a great flavor. Only bad thing was I was a little disappointed that my friend’s slice was a little thicker, lol.

I have always hated Starbucks and their burnt coffee. Oh man did this place do coffee coniesours a service. Tucked away in bustling downtown, this pace always has a line but is so worth the wait.
Nice bold aromas and wonderful acid balance.
Thank you guys for bringing GOOD coffee back!

This could be the littlest Blue Bottle, the little Blue Bottle that could. Unless you count the original Linden Alley kiosk. But maybe they should call the smaller shops Little Blue Bottle or maybe Blue Vial since some customers probably need prescription medication for their addiction to their coffee. I like their Lattes, but I’m a relatively unfaithful customer since I am more in a four-​way with Philz and Four Barrel also in the mix as well. I was happy to hear that Blue Bottle was opening in the Market on Market. Actually it’s in the walkway plaza at Twitter headquarters that separates the market from the fully exposed Fitness SF club.
Yes, just think of it, while you sip your Macchiato on the cold concrete, you can witness a zumba class at full throttle with a lot of women (and a few men) in color-​coordinated Lululemon yoga outfits (photo:
). Or just close your eyes like I did as I sipped my $ 4 Latte prepared in the same immaculate way I am used to with the other shops (photo:
). Baked goods are available if that’s your pleasure. I just wish the shop was open at least an hour past 7PM to accommodate non-​Twitterheads like me who have to take into account the horrors of public transportation to get here.
COFFEE — 4 stars… still Blue Bottle, still smooth stuff
AMBIANCE — 3.5 stars… expect a lot of Lululemon outfits in your purview
SERVICE — 4 stars… kindly and willing to make a latte a little past 7PM
TOTAL — 4 stars… welcome to Blue Vial

In my work building.
Blue bottle consistently delivers flavorful delicious coffee with great service.
Cappuccino is amazing and so are the iced lattes.

Love Blue Bottle. Such quality in a cup. They take so much pride in all of the ingredients they use. The beans are always fresh, and have so much delicious flavor. And the milk they use is of highest quality — for example, the almond milk they use (New Tree) is a high quality almond milk with no binders, no added crap — i.e., use within however many days or toss (not to mention that a small bottle of that stuff goes for something like $ 14 or more).
I tried the cold brew this last time I stopped in, and holy cow, so delicious. Give it a try on a warm, sunny day — you won’t be disappointed.
I particularly like this location. At this point, not busy and full of tourists. That may change though with all the new things going up in the Twitter building… but for now, this is a solid stop that is approved for locals :)

Latte from Blue Bottle Coffee decorated with Latte Art is culinary creativity. I craved for a pastry and a coffee while walking by. This is when I decided to make a stop here.
Snickerdoodle and a cup of Latte makes a perfect combo for quick grub. Friendly staff, good coffee, delicious pastries, good service and clean spacious facility. Overall, positive first experience here so I’ll definitely be back.

Time: 2:22pm/60°F cloudy
Purpose: A neighbor of mines works at Twitter posted a post-​it on my door. Ask me to check it out. I reply with big deal, BB is just a coffee place nothing new anything else? We can joke around like that as we have respect for one another.
Ambiance: Small walk-​in spot a little bigger than your usual mall kiosk located off 10^th/​Stevenson street. This location is also home to Twitter HQ. Place has two entrances most widely use would be the garage like roll up gate. Rest of the place stand alone open air fridge, shelf with DIY/​novelties, utensil organizer station. There’s no seating strictly a grab n’ go set up. You can sit outside public commons enough space to place your cuppa joe. For colder days theres a open fireplace however, depending on the time gates may or may not be close after hours.
Staff: Looking at 3 – 4 workers half guys/​girls friendly swift and efficient. Well trained as they can chat with you while doing up to four pour overs at a time. When ask about «Three Africans», answer back on a timely manner. Never seen a cringed or got upset about anything if, there was they sure hide it from public pretty good.
Cleanliness: Grade A, impeccably clean well kept. Tri-​color trash separator label and not overflowing. Since its a to-​go place no mess within the inside may be outside.
Eats/​Drinks: Three Africans pour over $ 3 and granola square $ 2. The coffee was dark roast rich, full body with fruity aftertaste. Drink it black then decided to add milk and see if theres a difference. No difference at all same taste with or without milk. Open the granola square and dunk it like donut. Had to act fast as bar started separating quickly thus, dropping chunks to bottom of cup.
Main Features: Pour overs
Products/​Services: Drip, espresso, French press, milk art, hot chocolate, moka pot, tea, San Benedetto water, lemonade, single origin, cold brew, chemex, aero press, brewing, cookies, pastry/​danish, novelties/​merchandise, gift/​subscription. Find them on Twitter, FB, Instagram.
Punch Lines: Parking (hard), no seating, no bike rack nearby, high energy, always buzzing, devotees, warm, well-​prepared, zippy service, lively atmosphere, hip crowd, truly addictive, worth the wait, interesting takes, tucked away in Twitter building, kept its standards, satisfactory, young professionals, engaging, innovative.
Tradeoffs: No seating forcing some to cover up their BB cup with napkins just to sit inside The Market area coffee area.
Final Thoughts: Ever since the approval $ 25 million funding they seem to be more corporate then ever before. Now they’re even in Japan as most recent headline news. To me its just coffee no matter how you look at it. Coffee is coffee as one roaster told me. Its just a matter of who roast them. People will pay for a good cuppa joe, but how many are loyal followers that really knows their stuff? I’m not talking about seeing at your work pantry prompting you to buy also. Do you really know your coffee?

If I had one complaint about the Blue Bottle experience,
it would be that there is a wait often associated with it.
Mind you, it’s usually a very manageable wait but sometimes it can border on the absurd.
Their newest location on Market does not have that issue (albeit temporary until the masses discover its existence). And moreover, their cozy confines and sleek design makes me believe this Blue Bottle is built to deliver drinks quicker (or I could be totally wrong).
Regardless, their short capp is as awesome as ever: a balanced blend of espresso bite and soft creamy milk.
And there’s nothing like that first comforting taste.
If I did have one possible concern,
it would be how this location would fare when there is a sudden rush of people.
My other concern is that when zombies take over, it’ll make finding a decent short capp next to impossible,
but I guess that would be a very minor point in a world mired by the living dead.

You know how Blade has all the strengths of a vampire and none of the weaknesses? This new location is the Daywalker of Blue Bottle Coffee: great drinks, very little waiting.
On more than one visit my wait time for a cappuccino was about 3 minutes. That won’t last but it’s unlikely to get worse than the long waits you’ll endure at say, the Mint Plaza location. The only way I scored a 3 minute capp at MP was by using the now retired but still beloved Square Order app. Oh, Square … alack and alas.
It’s pretty spare inside the Market Square Blue Bottle. No seating, no siphon bar, no food menu, no public cuppings. I still can’t seem to say that with a straight face. None of the extras offered by the other locations. But that’s what will keep tourists from flocking here and getting between you and your fix.
There’s a decent courtyard where you can hang out with your drink though. I recommend eating your double chocolate cookie slowly in front of the window where SF Fitness classes are held across the courtyard.
Consistent with other BBC locations, the employees here are friendly and pleasant. As always, the espresso drinks provide just the right balance of bitter, rich, and kick-​in-​the-​pants. Good latte art is a nice bonus too although I’ve yet to have a swan poured for me here.