Contraband Coffee Bar

Coffee and tea options are A1. They somehow combine high quality coffee, chai options and fun flavors to please all who come in. We ordered the safe Rosemary latte (one hot and one iced, hot is the way to go) a spiced mocha and a hot chocolate for the kiddo.
We came late in the afternoon so the baked goods were slim pickings, but we enjoyed what we got. We had the poppyseed, Gruyère and ham bun and the spinach and feta empanada, both warmed.
Parking can be tough, and outside seating is limited, but that being said it definitely is worth the inconvenience. I cannot wait to come back to try other seasonal coffee offerings as well as one of their chai’s.

Tried the separator based on all the Unilocal reviews. Not terrible, but underwhelming for a small $ 5 cup of coffee.

Best coffee I’ve ever had. All the reviews decrying bad service are obviously used to, and expecting, Starbucks type employees, who are forced to cheerfully welcome all who step inside.
The vibe here is very toned down, relaxed, and perfect for working or just having a relaxing drink.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting one or two of the mini waffle bites with your drink. They have a tiny sugar crystal baked inside and are absolute perfection.

Ehh… Maybe their working 36 hrs straight or they just hate what their doing with their lives but definitely not a place I’ll frequent. Sorry guys, it’s depressing.
Had their Kyoto cold brew. It was ok. Their $ 4 oatmeal cookie wasn’t fresh…
Rather disappointed with my coffee break.

I’m not sure what it is about this place I dislike like more! It’s either the smug barista or the cappuccino that just isn’t very good. I’ve given it two tries, but I won’t be back. There is great coffee to be had in San Francisco and this just isn’t it.

I keep going back to this beauty of a place — I’m addicted to their cappuccinos because they’re so good. Best iced coffee I have ever had — never been a big fan of iced coffee, but they are making a fan outta me. You gotta try it!

In my visit to SF this was my go to coffee shop when I needed an escape/​to get some work done. Great quality coffee, unique specialty drinks, yummy snacks, and wonderful work space.

The chubby guy with glasses was an asshole. He ignored me as I was waiting to order so he could finish nonchalantly mopping– he didnt even greet me. No big deal though.
When he finally approached me to take my order, I asked if he’s gonna wash his hands. He blew the question off and, with an elevated temper, asked «What do you want man (!)?»
I said thank you and left.
I don’t know if this was a case of discrimination, or if he was just unhappy with his life. Either way, his representation of himself and the café has inspired a deep hate in me. With all the problems in the world, what’s so bad that we can’t be nice? How would you like to drink coffee made with hands that prepared a mop bucket?

TL;DR — 5 stars for the drinks and wifi, minus stars for the better-​than-​thou service.
It was a rough morning and I needed a large latte (normally I’d get just a regular latte; quad shots ain’t no joke!)
I’m prepared for the wait, and they finally call my name and I go up to grab my drink. There was about an inch of space from the top of my drink to the top of the cup. I hesitate because I know baristas know their stuff… but… I ordered a large latte for a reason (gimme those 16 –not 12– sweet ounces of milk-​y espresso goodness!)
I ask the barista if I could just get a bit more steamed milk. She looks at me like I asked her to quote the theory of relativity or something. Finally, she rolls her eyes and starts steaming milk. Her coworker looks over and she sighs and says, «uh… she wants more steamed milk.» Then kinda gives me this dirty look. They proceed to both hipster roll their eyes (probably because I’m still in my pjs) and she grabs the drink out of my hands and intentionally fills the cup over the brim and throws the drink down. Thanks.
Honestly…

I really like the simple décor and clean space they have going on here. Went in to do some work, and had an enjoyable experience.
I got the Pirates chai and Unilocalers were not wrong, this drink is pretty killer (I’ll definitely be back for it again!). The mix of chai and matcha was perfect and super tasty.
My only complaint is the the wifi took quite a while to pull up the agreement page so I was waiting at least 20 min to get internet. But hey, what’s so bad about going to a coffee shop just to enjoy it and your company! I feel like a brat complaining about the wifi, especially since everything else was lovely!
Happy to have found this little spot (with ample seating and a delicious array of coffees and tea). Definitely recommend it to the picky coffee drinkers of SF!

Found this great coffee shop while working from SF last week. Apparently working WiFi is a rare find in SF, but this spot pulled through with free and quick internet access.
Baristas could be a bit friendlier and wecloming, but otherwise It’s a nice sunny space with long shared hightop tables perfect for doing work. On a Monday morning, most people were working from the café and posted up with their computers. They were playing some great lowkey tunes perfect for focusing, and coffee was strong and good. The prices here are sorely high, but this could be a standard in SF. I got a coffee and yogurt for $ 9. They also have some bar space facing the baristas, but they don’t allow laptops/​electronics in this area.

I came here with a friend on Sunday at noon. This place is really quite cramped. When they say it is a coffee «bar,» they really mean that. Space here is very limited, so it is very much a grab and go coffee shop! Moreover, it isn’t very clean. People aren’t too great at cleaning up after themselves here.
In terms of the coffee, my friend ordered the El Salvador and was very satisfied with his coffee. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to come back here, since I’m a much bigger fan of coffee shops with seating areas and good ambience.

Average coffee place. Came here on a Sunday morning because every other brunch place had ridiculous lines already.
Ordered the smoked ham morning bun which was quite delicious– crunchy on the outside with poppy and sesame seeds and soft on the inside with ham baked inside.
Ordered an iced mocha which was not good– tasted like artificial chocolate melted into some water with 4 espresso shots. Thankfully, there was a free latte at the bar (guess no one picked it up) which was better. Coffee here is SUPER strong (if that’s what you like).

Food: Didn’t get to try any, but the couple next to me was RAVING about the donuts
Drinks: Had an iced chai tea latte ($ 4) which was poured from concentrate, however it was pretty tasty.
Atmosphere: This is a great place to go if you’re looking for a coffee shop to get some work done. They’ve got free Wi-​Fi and lots of seating (there’s a large table in the middle that seats about 10 people all around if you’re having a group meeting). My favorite part about the coffee shop though is the fact that the front window panes let in so much natural light, that on a nice day the room is just flooded with sunlight and it almost feels like you’re outside.

I’ve never really been blown away by the coffee here. Other Unilocalers say it’s on par with Blue Bottle, but I don’t see it. A Blue Bottle cappuccino has a strong and distinct espresso flavor. The cappuccino I had here was more dull and the espresso just didn’t have that flair to it. There was also half an inch of room at the top, which kind of sucks when the cup is already a modest 8oz. They seem to know the procedures to make coffee drinks well and have some pretty trendy selections, so maybe they just need better espresso. But overall, since prices are on par with Blue Bottle’s but the drinks are inferior in quality, I’d say it’s not really worth the money.
As for the space itself, it’s a good café for people watching. It’s also a good place to study or do laptop work, with high table seating, big windows, lots of sunlight, and free wi-​fi! If you’re looking for a place to camp out with your laptop, I’d say this is a good choice.

Cute coffee shop in Nob Hill. I’ve stopped by twice, once for a (very strong) latte and empanada to-​go, and the second time for an iced chai latte and empanada to get some work done.
I’m not a big coffee connoisseur but the coffee here didn’t blow my mind. The chai was also very spicy and gingery (I’m not the biggest fan of ginger) so I wasn’t a huge fan. It’s also a little pricey for not a huge portion.
The empanadas are tasty, although my 2^nd one came out still a little cold in the middle from not being heated up enough. Not an ideal place to do work as even though there’s free wi-​fi, the power outlets are very sparse and the music is of the loud and headbanging variety, which is not the most conducive to focusing and getting stuff done.

Summary: coffee is good but not outstanding, though I liked the pour over better than the espresso drink I ordered. Overall I would return if I was in the area and in need of coffee, but definitely not worth going out of the way for. Skip the treats here and just get coffee.
Pros:
1. Pour over was exactly as described (read: I actually tasted the flavors in the description) and definitely the highlight
2. Lots of seating, free wifi
3. Coffee and espresso were smooth and well prepared
Cons:
1. I ordered a «dark white», which was supposedly a flat white mixed with dark chocolate, a «really intense mocha». In reality it was a flat white with a bunch of dark chocolate stuck at the bottom. Could have been mixed better.
2. We ordered waffles with our drinks. After about ten minutes of waiting it turned out they had forgotten to take them out and had burned them so they made new ones. The new waffles tasted undercooked and were not very good.
3. It’s sometimes difficult to tell what drink is being made because they sometimes don’t call out what’s on the bar (also the drink is written in very small letters on the very top of the cup. Hmmmm)

One man show in the morning which means you can’t come here if you’re in a rush. The Pirates Spicy Green Chai was full of spices with a slight creaminess. It’s definitely more chai than matcha but I like the combo. The Cortado was sort of like a cappuccino – good, full flavor. They have pastries from other local establishments. It’s also a good place to chill and look out the window.

On more than a few occasions, I’ve slithered in here incognito: sunglasses, no make up, just a hoodie and my active wear ready to tackle my core40 class.
But I was missing something.
Caffeine.
BOOM.
Iced Americano, almond milk, classic syrup. With slightly creamy, full on bold coffee flavor that knocked my socks off. (Don’t take my word for it, TRY IT!)
I’ve had their chai latte on a few occasions. I usually prefer a spicier version and the Pirates Green tea chai lacks the spicy kick to it that was advertised on the menu. So a note to you chai purists: stick to the sweet version instead.
The liegl waffle is a delicious carb indulgence, but if you really want to go all out, grab the maple bacon donut from Dynamo.
I don’t feel guilty. I go work it off at core40 afterwards.

I was looking for a coffee shop near home and finally found a place that I may go to every time I am back in the city.
+ Coffee
So far, I’ve tried their Mocha and Latté. Good and smooth, nothing out of the ordinary. Can’t go wrong, really. They also have a wide variety of different coffee beans you should probably try.
+ Ambiance & Service
I really like the simple and calm atmosphere of the place. It’s the place to go to sit outside on the sidewalk, read a book while sipping a cup of joe. I don’t think a good coffee shop has to be super modern or crowded and this is why Contraband is one of my favorites. I’m a fan of their very simplistic and lively vibe.
Oh and Free Wi-​Fi if you need it!