Equator Estate Coffees |
Coffee Roaster |
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Fair Trade-sensitive North Bay roaster run by two women who sell only specialty blends. Celebrity chef, Thomas Keller (of French Laundry fame) swears by the stuff and claims it as his favorite. But then restaurant chefs recommending coffee have unfortunately been like evangelists recommending science books. This is the thing that doesn't add up about Equator Estates. High cuisine restaurateurs fawn over them, and yet, IMO, their coffee quality is nothing special. Their name also never comes up as 'relevant' among the specialty coffee industry experts. They seem to have done their best work convincing those who know little about coffee in general.
As a result, some of the most overpriced and underachieving espresso in SF is served by fine dining establishments that use Equator Estate beans. After 19 examples in the city, we have to suggest that Equator Estate coffee is a prime indicator of when to skip the espresso at any given restaurant. The poor espresso quality that is so prevalent with restaurants that use their beans reflects, at a minimum, a lack of coffee savvy at these restaurants and (unlike the proactive likes of Blue Bottle or Mr. Espresso) the complete dismissal of training or consulting for the production of their espresso. This leaves one with the impression that Equator is all sales force and no support/quality control. Having Equator beans on their own at home, they are of better quality than many of the cafés that serve them would suggest. So the gap obviously lies in the coffee preparation and delivery. Equator seems to do little if anything to see that their clients prepare their product properly. |
| Name | Address | Neighborhood | City | Espresso Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ad Hoc | 6476 Washington St. | Yountville | 4.20 | |
| Alexandria Café | 785 Market St. | SOMA | San Francisco | 4.00 |
| Americano Restaurant & Bar | 8 Mission St. | Embarcadero | San Francisco | 4.90 |
| Arizmendi Bakery | 1331 9th Ave. | Inner Sunset | San Francisco | 6.30 |
| Arizmendi Bakery & Pizzeria | 4301 San Pablo Ave. | Emeryville | 6.00 | |
| Boulange de Cole Valley | 1000 Cole St. | Cole Valley | San Francisco | 7.70 |
| Boulange de Polk | 2310 Polk St. | Russian Hill | San Francisco | 4.70 |
| Brioche Bakery | 210 Columbus Ave. | North Beach | San Francisco | 7.00 |
| Cafe Lo Cubano | 3401 California St. | Laurel Heights | San Francisco | 7.40 |
| Caffè Sapore | 790 Lombard St. | North Beach | San Francisco | 7.50 |
| Citizen Cake | 2125 Fillmore St. | Fillmore | San Francisco | 6.80 |
| Citizen Cake Kiosk | 508 4th St. | South Beach | San Francisco | 6.70 |
| Cortez Restaurant & Bar | 550 Geary Blvd. | Union Square | San Francisco | 2.40 |
| Crissy Field Warming Hut Bookstore and Café | 983 Marine Dr., Presidio Building 983, Presidio | Presidio Heights | San Francisco | 7.50 |
| French Laundry | 6440 Washington St. | Yountville | 6.10 | |
| Gallery Café Live | 587 Post St. | Union Square | San Francisco | 4.00 |
| Gialina | 2842 Diamond St. | Glen Park | San Francisco | 5.80 |
| Jardinière | 300 Grove St. | Civic Center | San Francisco | 5.30 |
| La Boulange | 543 Columbus Ave. | North Beach | San Francisco | 6.70 |
| La Boulange at Fillmore | 2043 Fillmore St. | Fillmore | San Francisco | 4.40 |
| La Boulange de Market | 685 Market St. | SOMA | San Francisco | 6.90 |
| Lettüs Café Organic | 3352 Steiner St. | Marina | San Francisco | 6.90 |
| Massimo's Coffee House | 2057 Novato Blvd. | Novato | 7.00 | |
| Millennium | 580 Geary Blvd. | Union Square | San Francisco | 5.60 |
| Moonside Bakery and Cafe | 604 Main St., #A | Half Moon Bay | 7.90 | |
| Morimoto Napa | 601 Main St. | Napa | 6.80 | |
| Napa Farms Market | SFO, Terminal 2, before Gate 50 | SFO | San Francisco | 6.70 |
| On The Go Espresso | 120 Howard St. | Embarcadero | San Francisco | 6.80 |
| Orson | 508 4th St. | SOMA | San Francisco | 3.90 |
| Puccini & Pinetti | 129 Ellis St. | Union Square | San Francisco | 7.10 |
| Redd | 6480 Washington St. | Yountville | 8.40 | |
| Rigolo | 3465 California St. | Laurel Heights | San Francisco | 4.40 |
| Sabores del Sur | 100 Alemany Blvd. | Bernal Heights | San Francisco | 4.70 |
| Sellers Markets | 388 Market St. | Financial District | San Francisco | 5.40 |
| Sellers Markets | 595 Market St. | SOMA | San Francisco | 5.40 |
| Sellers Markets | 721 Market St. | SOMA | San Francisco | 5.20 |
| Sohberts | 144 King St. | China Basin | San Francisco | 7.40 |
| Soluna Café and Lounge | 272 McAllister St. | Civic Center | San Francisco | 5.60 |
| Sunflower Caffé Wine & Espresso Bar | 421 1st St. W | Sonoma | 6.00 | |
| Titanic Cafe | 817 Sutter St. | Nob Hill | San Francisco | 4.20 |