Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company

Quality? 5 stars.
Taste? 5 stars.
Concept? 5 stars.
The best coffee in NB for decades. These guys supplied Mario’s their coffee & espresso back when I worked there, & I loved the days when I was sent to do the pick up because the regular person was late or sick. Yes, it was like a treat to come here.
There’s so much elegance in simplicity, & Graffeo keeps it simple. Light, dark, half & half, or decaf.
That’s it.
No drinks, no seats. Buy your beans, & see you next time. Like Liguria bakery a few blocks away, it’s straightforward & uncluttered. I really like that.
It was often said that the best espresso in NB was Illy & Graffeo.
But, there isn’t an Illy boutique in NB.
5 stars.

In the 1970s, I used to stop by the long gone Coffee, Tea or … at Ward Warehouse in Honolulu and sip Graffeo coffee while studying Japanese language texts before class. By the 1980s, I was buying it by the pound to brew at home. Then, in 1990, I moved to the DC area and spent years trying to find ANYTHING that tasted as good. No joy. Then the Internet came to work and it’s one of the first things I looked up, after real estate in the south of France. I started ordering by phone. Now you can order on-​line, too. But, whenever I’m on the west coast, I make a trip to San Francisco just stock up on the Dark Roast. It freezes well, although fresh is always the best. Still, Graffeo frozen beans beat all the other swill out there, no matter how fresh. You name it, I’ve tried it, *$$, Coffee Bean, Eight O’Clock, highly rated by Consumer Reports, Stumptown, Gevalia, Donut House, Peet’s, Dunkin, Porto Rico, Kona, Blue Mountain, Caribou, Café du Monde, all the supermarket brands, and nothing is as good. This last trip, November 2015, the price was $ 17.50/lb. Pricey, but worth it. BTW, this is a coffee store, not a coffee «shop.» Coffee is not brewed and served here. You can buy whole beans or have them ground to your specs.

I have been drinking Graffeo’s Coffee since 1972. It has been consistently the best coffee I have ever brewed. I started grinding my own for a Chemex pour over cuppa, have used it for my Pavone expresso machine, moved on to a work day cup of coffee in my Mr. Coffee, and now am using the Aero-​Press for an individual cup, and a French Press for a couple of cups, all the while using the most perfect coffee – Graffeo’s dark roast. it is always a deep dark chocolaty roast and it is never, never bitter. They have mastered the art of roasting, and I will for ever be a Graffeo faithful.

I got turned on to Graffeo around ’86. Café Flore at Market and Noe used them back then and I was a big Flore fan. I started to buy it direct from the store in North Beach around that same time. I am fortunate to have an office in Jackson Square so I walk up to Graffeo about once every couple of months to get bags of coffee from them.
Their roasted coffee beans makes great espresso and American coffee. And you have to stick your nose in a bag of just roasted beans. You will see why this is the best coffee in San Francisco, if not the world.

It’s ok, a little disappointed, especially in view of the price, I prefer Pete’s coffee beans for my taste. Have to use quit a bit to get a medium rich flavor.

I’m usually of the Stumptown/​Sightglass/​Ritual variety and lately I’ve grown to prefer Graffeo’s beans for my at home coffee. It’s about $ 18 for a full pound. None of that $ 18 for a tiny 12oz bag crap that the third wave roasters pull.
All of the guys that work here are super friendly, and it feels like I’ve stepped back in time the minute I walk through the door. I love supporting this family run SF institution. Get the ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ blend of light and dark roast beans!

Owner is super friendly and attentive, and the shop is charming. Goes without saying, but superb, freshly roasted coffee too! Definitely will be back!

Great Ground Coffee to take home.

Wanted to try their coffee over Peets coffee which I usually buy. Picked up a pound each of dark and light roast today just after the store opened. Was told the coffee was the last batch roasted the previous day.
Made a 16oz mug of the dark roast in a French Press.
Outstanding coffee! Dark Roast has a very strong after taste (which I like).
Will try the Light Roast later which I know will be good (with maybe a different effect).
They offer only 4 coffee products:
* Dark Roast
* Light Roast
* ½ Dark ½ Light
* Decaffeinated (Swiss Water process)
They have locations in San Francisco and San Rafael. They formerly had a location in Beverly Hills (I’m sure the celebrities down there didn’t like that happening).
If the New York Times on the opposite coast gives a grand review of this coffee, you know this coffee has to be tried.
They perform roastings Monday thru Friday. The stores are open on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.
Still have that taste in my mouth a half hour after finishing my cup…

This old roaster is often left out of the conversation about local coffee, which is criminal.
Their coffee is consistently delicious.
The ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ dark/​light blend is a coffee I daydream about. This coffee breaks a strict rule that modern 3^rd wave roasters would never consider — combining different roast levels. But the results are so amazing, it’s a rule I’m happy to break. (Caffe Vita’s Queen City blend does this also) The result is such a full, rich, satisfying cup, that I’m not concerned with tasting the essence of a specific farm or elevation.
Great as french press or pour over.
It would be more fair to compare Graffeo’s coffee to the likes of Starbucks or Peets — as it is similarly dark. It is far superior. This is the real thing. Highly recommended for coffee drinkers who prefer a more traditional coffee.

For years this has been a favorite of mine. You know it has to be good when they can have store fronts in SF and Beverly Hills selling only beans!

I’m fully convinced Graffeo sells magic beans. It’s a pretty simple setup… they roast the beans and sell them immediately. The pound of the dark roast I got was «just roasted» and still warm when they put them in my bag. After going home a few hours later and pulling a shot of espresso, it made me feel like an all star barista with the way my cappuccino and iced lattes tasted.
I’ll reassess after I’m through with my pound, but at this point, it’d be tough to go back to the major blue bottle and sightglass coffee.

I go there for coffee once every few months.
Why,
It’s local.
The price is 16 per lb
Freshly roasted.
The customer service, the guy is always cheerful and will chat you up.
Why I don’t go there more often
It’s light or dark roast only.
No idea where the beans come from.
I order a lot of coffee from Maui using mail.
So, it’s a great place to try, I usually rotate coffee roasters so I get new tastes.
So give it a try and support the locals.

As a recent college grad, who has discovered the joys of the peninsula commute and stop-​and-​go traffic, Graffeo’s coffee is what’s been getting me through my morning drive.
Graffeo’s motivates me to wake up a little extra earlier so that I have time to make a pot of coffee for my morning commute. And then paired with cream, the hotness, that smooth rich taste, you know that everything is all right in the world.
Graffeo’s has spoiled me to the point that returning back to my Starbucks and Peets’ college days is unthinkable. Almost like committing blasphemy!
Call me converted.
PS — Graffeo sells coffee beans, so for those that want a quality cup of coffee, you’re going to need some sort of coffee maker and a grinder.

Solid coffee with good service. I mean, seriously, how many places in this town can figure out how to make a decent moccachattalatte without getting all flagrantly «hula-​hoops are the best thing since sliced bread» about it? Not many, am I right. Only things is I wish it was a little more like Starbucks and a little bit less like Lemony Snicket, if you know what I mean.
Folks, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll get on the cable care and head right over thar!

We took a break from shopping in the Mill Valley, California the other day to have a leisurely lunch at Piazza D’Angelo Italian Restaurant. The food is really very good there, and if you’re in the area, I suggest you give them a try — but that’s another post.
This is really about the coffee that I finished up my meal with.
Normally, I am a huge fan of Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend for my drip brewed morning coffee at home, and then when pressing the DeLonghi Magnifica into service — long about three in the afternoon — I’ll sip some wonderful Illy. One sugar. And, either a biscotti or a madeleine. Never both. Savored, dipped and nibbled.
This is what being civilized is all about. it’s not so much about stopping to smell the roses, as it is slowing down to appreciate the luxurious liquor that a fine roasted coffee bean can provide. It’s heady. Sirupy. Sensual. Yes, Illy is rather expensive, I suppose — especially since I love the Illy Brazilian MonoArabica. But really, a single? Occasionally a double? Certainly such a small cuppa love deserves putting the very best beans forward. No?
I digress.
I have found a new love. Full-​bodied. Not bitter. Bold yet silky smooth. Like a velvet glove being drawn lightly down one’s spine. By candlelight. Motioning the waiter over, I had to know what this magical elixer was.
Huh? Graffeo? Never heard of it.
That’s embarrassing, since I’m not exactly new to San Francisco. But Graffeo has been right there in North Beach since 1935 — roasting amazing dark, rich blends of Costa Rican, Guatamalan and New Guinea beans. Zagat knew about them, as did Wine Spectator! Sheesh. They positively swoon over Graffeo — gushing things like «best coffee around», «Number 1 Coffee», «best beans on the planet», and something about it being served at the Oscars.
This Graffeo outfit seems to be what companies like Peet’s used to be about: Family. Passion. Quality. Don’t get me wrong. I still drink Peet’s, but the family finally sold out to a larger company from Europe, and we’ll see what happens as the thing evolves.
It didn’t take me long to check them out online — and get ordering. And, that’s when I noticed something very interesting — that differentiates Graffeo from all the rest. They don’t ‘do’ flavors. And they don’t ‘do’ every variation and version under the sun — trying to capture every taste and palate out there in the usual coffee marketing strategy. They keep it simple — and very high quality.
Graffeo does dark, light and Swiss Water Process decaf. Period. They’ll combine some half dark/​decaf, half light/​decaf — and a ¾ dark or light over the decaf.
That’s as far as they’re going, thank you very much. Eight premium choices. If you need more, go get the floorsweep from that Seattle outfit. Come to think of it, I’m burnt out on the surplus of often mediocre choices that companies offer nowadays. Dozens of choices do not necessarily equate to quality.

I love dark, hecka roasted coffee. Here’s the problem with it, though– it’s easy to fuck up. The marketing of Peets and Starbucks and etc. have created a legion of people who think that gross burned-​to-​shit is what «real» coffee is «supposed» to taste like.
For what a high-​end dark, oily roast is «supposed» to taste like, I would refer you instead to Graffeo. You should also get a press pot and get your beans ground coarse to do this right.
Living within walking distance of this location is what basically turned me into a coffee snob. It’s not that I give a shit about the hipster image, I never want to «talk coffee» with anybody, that is the most boring shit on earth. It’s that once you’ve had high-​quality you just can’t go back to the crap.
For you if: you want a simple, dark, rich, high-​quality coffee at a reasonable price per pound
Not for you if: you’re one of these hipsters trying to turn coffee into bullshit «wine tasting culture» and want «varietals» and «peat notes» and all that nonsense.
Oh yeah, you can’t actually get a cup of coffee at this location, they just sell beans. For a cup I think Café Greco and the little ice cream shop right nearby both serve it … there’s a small handful of places in the FiDi that do too but I forget the names offhand.

Love love love this place. I’ve only ever gotten the dark roast whole beans for my daily coffee fix and I’ve never looked back.
Just wish it was open on Sundays when I realize I’m running low but that’s what I get for living in North Beach.

Why 3 stars? Because I didn’t get the hype.
— — —
Seems like a cool enough place, but I was looking for legendary. Has anyone seen him?
This was a long time coming, as I’d wanted to try Graffeo for many years. It definitely wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anywhere near as good as Blue Bottle. Maybe very expert roasters will disagree with me (which is totally fine) but I felt underwhelmed and was left asking, «why the hype?»

Americans live with the illusion of choice. The idea that 12 types of coffee is better than 2 seems inherently to make sense. Why have only one model of car when you can have 30? How about 8 salad dressing choices (you’ll pick ranch in the end, anyway) or a build-​your-​own taco station with more types of salsa and fixings than there are people in the restaurant?
The effect of having too many choices is that we often have none at all, really. It’s a paradox. But that makes it no the less true. Put me in front of a shelf of 60 shampoos, and my mind will turn to mush, I’ll revert back to age 6, and I’ll become suddenly vulnerable to TV advertising … silky radiance! A full head of hair! You’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression. Because you’re worth it … worth what, exactly? A $ 7.99 12 oz. bottle of foamy suds?
(Pause, as I get down from my soap box).
So, Graffeo, huh? Why trek all the way here for only 3 basic choices*: light, dark, or ⁵⁰⁄₅₀? Isn’t there a Peets or Starbucks nearby where you can get your beans cheaper and in prettier packages? Why not head down to the Ferry Building and get a sexy-​looking 8 oz. bag of Blue Bottle beans and flirt** with the super-​chic baristas who will give you an impromtu «coffee consultation» to find just the right beans for your lifestyle after you’ve waited in a line 20 people deep? Why North Beach, why this place, which does not actually serve coffee and has a ½ pound minimum purchase? What if you want Sidamo beans or single-​origin, shade-​grown, fairly-​traded, hand-​picked, lightly caressed, and individually-​washed beans from a 200-​year old Coast Rican bird-​friendly plantation high in the mountains?
Because. Just because.
Light, dark, 50/​50, whatever. It’s all good here. They’ve got caf class and they’ve got caf style. The secret is in the beans, the heat, and the knowhow that takes a generation or more to master. Scruffy-​haired fly-​by-​night back alley roasters with college degrees can’t match that, no matter how slick their under the radar screen advertising is.
Try Graffeo once, and then you’ll know. It won’t be a one-​time deal. Once you do Graffeo, you’re in it for life.
How’s THAT for a choice, ya’ll?
(*) Technically, they offer decaffeinated beans, too. But that would be like getting your crack with 50% less cocaine. And that’s just wrong.
(**) For the record, I have never done this, by the way. Ever.