Top 5 Coffee Shops in San Francisco

With a cool foggy climate year round and a passion for foodie thrills--San Francisco takes its coffee more seriously than any other U.S. city.

Now, now. I know what you're going to say. You want to talk about that other West Coast city that begins with an S. It's true Seattle kicked off the coffee craze and gave the world its first Starbucks, but I would argue San Francisco has elevated the brewing arts to the level of masterpiece, with gourmets gallivanting all over the city, tracking down haute beans and hand-crafted lattes.

But not all cafes were created equal. Here are my top five picks for best cafes in San Francisco, ranked in order.

Bluebottle Coffee Company: Like all of the most epicurean of delicacies, a cup of Bluebottle coffee is not easy to come by. The company only has a tiny kiosk in the chic Hayes Valley neighborhood, a Saturday-only kiosk at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, and a pocket-size cafe in the SoMa neighborhood. If you have time, go to the SoMa cafe, where you'll find the most expensive piece of coffee-making equipment in the U.S. Wait in the long line (it's rain or shine, just resign yourself to it) and splurge on a cup of coffee from the Japanese siphon bar. Many say this is the finest cup of coffee you can have in the nation.

Ritual Coffee Roasters: Enjoy your sip with a side of hip. This cafe is situated in the heart of the gritty-and-glamorous Mission neighborhood. Like Bluebottle, they roast their own beans and the emphasis here is on the origin of the beans--which means no blends. Order an expertly made latte, grab a table, and camp out for an hour to observe the local hipsters.

Four Barrel Coffee: This brand-new up-and-comer is giving the competition a run for the money. Four Barrel is also located in the Mission and was founded by one of the original owners of Ritual, just down the street. The draw here is expert brews paired with artisan sweets from Dynamo Donuts. They say you haven't lived until you enjoy a cup of Four Barrel coffee with a spiced-chocolate donut.

Peet's Coffee and Tea: Founded in "the People's Republic of Berkeley" by Alfred Peet, Peet's is a hometown favorite and keeps this tech city buzzing late into the night. Though the coffee is not as refined as any of the offerings above, this mini-chain has a loyal following of "Peetniks" and is the perfect alternative to Starbucks. In fact, the founders of Starbucks were great admirers of Peet's and sought to replicate it. You'll find locations throughout the city, so pop in on a whim and try the dark-roasted, potent brew.

Caffe Trieste: Any list of San Francisco cafes would be remiss if it didn't mention this fixture of the North Beach neighborhood. Once a popular Beat hangout, this Old World-style cafe served Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and other famous thinkers, writers, and artists. Later, another local celebrity, Francis Ford Coppola, would write much of The Godfather in this same spot. Stop in, order up an Italian classic like a cappuccino, and watch the world go by. Remember, it's not about the coffee--it's about tasting history.

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