Coffee (Un)Barred
RE-ASSESSMENT: Been back a few times since initial visit. Will not try the Clover again but lattés are good, really good. Clover machine in shop as of 5/8/09. Still don't have nut warnings on all baked goods but did note walnuts in banana walnut bread, so it's a (small) start. Wi-Fi rocks. Plenty of power outlets if you're using a laptop. Nice but limited outdoor seating. No shade in outdoor seating so working on a laptop outside is probably not practical.
Mackie needed caffeine. I needed Wi-Fi. And, I was curious.
What kind of coffee needs a $10,000 machine to make it?
I’d noticed Coffee Bar a few times when driving through the Mission. After reading that they possessed a Clover coffeemaker, I decided it would be our destination.
My first surprise was to learn that the Clover is truly a coffeemaker, not an espresso machine. Call me ignorant. I was.
Although I really wanted a latté, I stayed true to my task, ordering a $3.00 cup of Clover-made coffee. Coffee Bar gives you a selection of beans from which they’ll craft the precious brew. I asked for the richest.
Frankly, it was just coffee. I can already feel the flames thrown by coffee snobs out there in cyberspace but I’ll take my Starbucks latte any day.
For a place such as Coffee Bar, I don’t see how such a pricy machine makes any kind of economic sense. I heard a bunch of drinks being called during our visit but only one other Clover. Everything else came from the espresso machine. Felt to me like their Clover is an expensive, underutilized asset.
Mackie went for a latté, which she liked. She also selected a chocolate chip cookie, which turned out to be a bit of a problem.
Mackie didn’t look too carefully before she bit into her cookie. As she chewed, she detected nuts.
What kind of nuts? Pecans are A-OK. Walnuts are an allergic reaction waiting to happen.
I walked back to the counter to inquire, noting that the sign advertising the cookies made no mention of them containing nuts. The counter person had no clue what kind of nuts were used. At least he graciously exchanged the offending cookie, minus one bite, for a Madeleine.
People, this is totally unacceptable!!! There are many people in the world with nut allergies. Some, like Mackie, suffer serious discomfort when they eat the wrong kind of nut. Others die. How can you not note the use of nuts in the foods you sell??? And how can you not train your staff regarding what kind of nuts are used as ingredients??? Grossly, grossly irresponsible!!!
The episode is a good example of the power and limits of the blogsphere for restaurateurs.
The blogsphere got us to try Coffee Bar. Once. Our experience there will prevent us from going back.
Coffee Bar
1890 Bryant Street
corner of Mariposa Street and Florida Street (although the address is Bryant, the entrance is at Mariposa and Florida)
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-551-8100
Map
Web site
Food inspection score: 92
Symbol of Excellence: No
You should go back to see if they at least put up a sign.
When I lived overseas I had to drink instant coffee (nothing else available), so now any decent coffee tastes mighty fine to me. I try to patronize the smaller coffee shops not because I think the coffee is so much better but just to be supportive of locally owned businesses. I don't really understand coffee snobbery either.
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Well, I still love the Clover coffee...
But it's hardly something I would drink every morning, since it's so bloody strong and, well, $3.00 a pop. And about two and a half miles out of my way. For coffee conniseurs,however, it is an excellent thing. And Coffee Bar is one of the few places you can try it without having to walk into a Starbucks.
It's kind of like wine-- I would go out of my way to sample a bottle of 1929 La Tâche, but I wouldn't want to drink it every day-- it's too special and, of course, too expensive.
I typically go to my neighborhood joint across the street-- not because the coffee is super fantastic. Frankly, I could make a (slightly) better cup more economically for myself at home, but I like the idea of having these people around, of saying good morning to my neighbors, catching up on local gossip, etc.
Sorry to hear about the nuts.
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