Drink This Coffee NOW. A directive from your Trimethyldioxypurist.
There are times when we of modest writing ability are in bliss, for we find a subject that seems to write itself.
Additionally, there are times when a Trimethyldioxypurist is in bliss, mostly having to do with, ya know, coffee.
Welcome to a caffeine enthusiast's perfect storm. Welcome to Blue Bottle Coffee Co.
Blue Bottle, whose roasting facility is in Oakland, is pretty well known in the Bay Area already, due to its presence at area farmers' markets and the like. The company has finally opened a permanent, 7-days-a-week structure in ultra-swank Hayes Valley, at 315 Linden, between Gough and Octavia. Linden's more like an alley than a street; there ain't nothing else around there. The structure is not a "shop," per se, rather, it's a kiosk, operating out of the back of an architectural firm's woodshop.
Only in the Bay Area.
Basically, it's just a stand. A couple of old wooden chairs sit awkwardly on the sidewalk; more useful is a long, high table against the wall, perfect to rest your java on while you talk, sip, or watch the magic of the Bay Area's finest beans being turned into our preferred form for consumption.
In any case, Sunday was the grand opening of the kiosk. While James Freeman, the roaster and "coffee guru," had left a bit before our arrival, Jan, Jamie, and particularly Steve from Blue Bottle were kind enough to serve as fodder for the SFist. Not that they had to be cajoled into it, though; one of the strongly appealing things about Blue Bottle is that it's staffed by folks who are happy to stand around and shoot the shit about coffee.
Jan described the kiosk as an excellent format for which to serve coffee -- "Italian style, just slam it and go," were her exact words -- and the neighborhood may prove to be the right venue for such a venture. The heavy foot traffic of boutique shoppers over on Hayes Street, combined with the interspersed offices and other businesses (not to mention the built-in clientele of the architectural firm that houses them) could contribute to the kiosk's viability. First and foremost, of course, is the product itself.
And the coffee is so. damned. good.
The menu lays out a few options, sure, but any espresso drink you want is yours just by asking. Americano? No problem. Want that cappuccino "dry"? No worries. Don't know what that means (as your Trimethyldioxypurist did not)? Steve'll let you know. There are a multitude of blends for you to try at the kiosk or to take home; one or more may fit your particular needs better than another (for example, the "Giant Steps" is recommended for a typical filter drip, while the C8-H10-N4-O2-ist's treasured stovetop espresso maker is better served by the Roman Espresso). The packs of beans are fresh-roasted and (about the only thing in common with Anheuser-Busch) include a "born on" date, stamped on the package.
It's coffee for people with definite preferences -- you may not like them all. They are distinctive. They have individual flavor. They each have a different sort of balance -- even our limited palette could detect a sweet-ish quality of what we tried, versus the sort of acrid qualities in more conventional coffees. And the buzz is strong -- not only do the beans pack a good punch, but every shot of espresso is actually created using a method by which it's more like a double-shot.
Quality does not come cheap. The individual drinks are in line with what you'd expect; about $3 for most espresso drinks; a touch less for drip. The 8-oz. packages of beans are a little pricey at $6.50 -- well worth it, but not if your goal is "more = better." This coffee needs to be prepared, poured, and savored properly to get the money's worth. A few snackie/cookie things are available; peanut butter or walnut shortbread are two for a buck; a "Parisian macaroon" is a buck seventy-five.
For more pics of the kiosk, not to mention some fun writing, step-by-step pics of an espresso being made, and links to other cool coffee lovers' sites, check out Steve's blog, The Blue Bottle Clown College.
Blue Bottle has secured a few wholesale contracts, and its coffee is available at Frog Hollow Farms in the Ferry Plaza, as well as Pizzetta 211, at 23rd and California in the Richmond district.
Redundant Conclusion
Okay -- it's just a little stand at the backside of some building. Blue Bottle's Hayes Valley kiosk is not the best place to read a book, study, or find respite from bad weather. It is, however, a great place to grab and go, a great place to chat with folks that are really, really into coffee, and -- most importantly -- a place to purchase bar none the finest coffee in the Bay Area.
Think this schmuck is wrong? Point him in the right direction.