I will visit San Francisco in May ...

[majid]

Blue Bottle is so fanatical about freshness, they throw away unsole beans at the end of the day so they can guarantee the coffee you drink was roasted the same day. There's a Blue Bottle in Mint Plaza with some amazing percolators, and one in SFMoMa on the top floor with modern-art themed desserts. Ritual is their great rival. Philz will make you tate your coffee first, and you only pay for it if you like it.

 

[thompsonks]

"And as you're coming from Italy, it's hard to get a good coffee, you'll have to resort to a Starbucks or something."

I hereby flame you for total/utter/insidious nonsense. Try anyplace but Starbucks. The Italian coffee roasters and espresso bars of North Beach have carried on their noble tradition. My favorite is Mario's on Columbus, which serves Graffeo coffee. or the Trieste or Roma. And lots of locals prefer subtler blends than Italian roast, for example Blue Bottle, which you can try upstairs at SFMOMA (with pastries that are works of art) or at the Ferry Building; or one of the multitude of small neighborhood roasting companies/coffee shops. SF more than rivals Seattle as America's caffeine capital.