Exploring San Francisco: Sightglass Coffee

I can’t believe I have less than a month left here in San Francisco. The last year has absolutely flown by and I’m definitely going to miss it here. It’s been challenging in many ways (especially the fact that I was not able to work while living here) but it’s also been incredibly fun and exciting. Although I won’t be living here for much longer I still wanted to share a few of the cool places I’ve discovered. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up visiting San Francisco one of these days!

Sightglass is a coffee shop in SoMa (SOuth of MArket) and I’ve heard a lot about it. They actually roast their own coffee beans in house which you can see when you walk in! They source their beans from a few small farmers with which they have a close relationship. Pretty neat eh?

Many of my husbands coworkers had recommended it so we finally stopped in a few months ago. Here’s the weird part – neither of us drink coffee. So what do two non-coffee drinkers order at one of the best coffee houses in the city?

The first time we went we both got cider, and let me tell you – it was delicious. They sell it bottled and chilled but if you request it they will steam it up for you and it’s simply scrumptious. I stopped by again recently and decided to try an actual coffee beverage. I have started to drink the occasional vanilla latte lately and I’m starting to develop a slight taste for coffee. Slight.

I went for the “sweetest” drink on the menu, the Vanilla Iced Cold Brew. They sweeten it with vanilla paste and agave and add a splash of milk (almond or whole milk).

While I’m sure the coffee aficionados would have loved this drink it was still quite bitter to me. On the plus side I got a crazy caffeine buzz afterward!

It’s hard to walk past this place and not want to go inside. Even if you aren’t a coffee drinker, the architecture of this cafe is stunning. It’s totally open concept and has a beautiful industrial vibe with wood and metal accents everywhere. It’s hipster central, don’t get me wrong – but it doesn’t diminish the fact that I would still love to sit and read a book there all afternoon.

They sell their own packaged coffee as well as top of the line accessories (Turkish coffee anyone?) to get that perfect cup even when you’re home.

This urban cafe feels like it would fit right in on Queen Street West in Toronto. Their emphasis on simple but high-quality coffee make this place a must-see if you find yourself in San Francisco!