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San Francisco Coffee Scene Heats Up

Next-gen roasters brew plans to tap premium market

By Paul Stinson, Newser User

Posted May 16, 2008 6:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – Plans for tapping the premium coffee market are percolating in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle reports in an in-depth look at the new generation of roasters. Emphasizing freshness and preparation, next-gen roasters are building Northwest-inspired businesses that offer patrons ground-to-order $8 cups, or $9-$11 pots prepared by a $20,000 halogen-powered siphon from Japan.

"A lot of people say, 'I love this city, but the coffee is kind of over-roasted and the barista techniques aren't up to par,'" says a transplant from Oregon. Inspired by the local and Slow Food movements, some recent entrants specialize in small-batch, uber-fresh, carefully sourced coffee: One company even stops selling beans 48 hours after they're roasted.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Roaster Jeremy Tooker of Four Barrel Coffee is pictured here. Tooker is a part of a new generation of coffee gurus hoping to tap into San Francisco's premium coffee market. ((c) cheesebikini)

A scene from Portland roaster Stumptown is captured here. ((c) cheesebikini)

San Francisco's Blue Bottle Coffee Company, pictured here, won't sell coffee more than 48 hours after its original roast. (Blue Bottle Coffee Company)

Imported from Japan, the halogen-powered siphon bar at San Francisco's Bluebottle Coffee Company is pictured here. Pots run from $9 to $11 for a two-person serving. (© Flickr)

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Stumptown Roasters roasting on a Sunday morning: Javier is roasting Hairbender here. (jbauer)

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San Francisco Coffee Scene Heats Up