De La Paz Coffee

Excellent French Roast. Picked up from Bi-​Rite for $ 6/​half pound despite having tons of beans at home because it smelled so good. And it fulfilled expectations — deep, rich, smooth, low acid, no bitterness. Like the other posters, I have tried Blue Bottle, Four Barrel, Stumptown, etc. etc. and this particular brand was very, very good.
My family of coffee drinkers — we’re from Seattle and I’ve been drinking French roast since I was a kid (made Vietnamese-​style by my aunt with condensed milk back then) — was impressed.

They now serve baked goodies from The Mill.
Now as the Unilocal designated Duke of DLP,
I expected to be entitled to samplings of said goodies
(a la «Ius primae noctis» (check your Braveheart movie reference on that kids))
but was astoundingly mistaken.
What’s so special about being a Duke of anything Unilocal?
It carries no power,
and people and subjects (by subjects, I mean the workers where I reign as Duke)
refuse to acknowledge me as Dan B. the kind duke of DLP.
sucks.
Getting past the indignation of having my most coveted title ignored,
the coffee cake and cookies from The Mill are fantastic
and are a real nice compliment to the coffee they serve
— so sayeth your Duke of DLP

Everything I could ask for in a coffee shop. Unassuming, friendly, helpful and great coffee. The cappuccino can be a bit of a hit and miss, but when it’s on it’s spot on. Some people complain about no chairs, but that one thing I like about this place. They haven’t forgotten what/​who they are. They are a roaster first. They serve drinks more as a sampler.

Grabbed a latte to go! Pretty much a roasting plant for coffee with a small retail outlet in the front of the space. They sell coffee and espresso drinks but your typical drip coffee and espresso, none of those fancy flavored frappuccino type of beverages. Whole milk only and no artificial sweetener to be found.
They have roasted beans as well for sale.
Great coffee in an unassuming spot on Mission.

Love this place. Near my office and they make a mean cup-​o-​joe. I wish they had half-​and-​half.

The way the words and phrases, «SL500,» «Testarossa,» and, «Aerostar XLR» had hairs tickle the backs of motorheads, the words and phrases, «v60,» «Roasted on site» and «Microlot» turn my tongue into a brown shag carpet of caffeine.
Being on Mission between 6^th & 7^th, the proximity of my infatuation of my work neighborhood keeps me wading in this velvet sea of heroin, urine and, thanks to De La Paz, craft coffee without having to take too much time away from the desk jockeying.
The cold nature of the staff mentioned just over a year ago in some reviews hasn’t been my experience as the coffee bar staff was pleasant and struck up a conversation.
How’s coffee so popular? How’s it come that every dashing twenty something in flannel and/​or flats works at these places? Accessibility. The overhead isn’t too high, like here where their entire business is probably located here, and the entry level for just one person to go from novice to interested hobbyist (me) is roughly four bucks. Some scorn the local industry as being too expensive. Compare the prices to the monoliths and they’re on par with other industry’s Giants-​To-​Little Guys ratios. Four bucks to change your point of view of an entire global industry. Four bucks, maybe some times three, to connect with locals and far flung hard working farmers. Four bucks to drive the luxury sedan of endless quaffability: the De La Paz Colombian Microlot.

This small little coffee shop where they also roast their coffee on Mission was one of the stops when I was going around to coffee places in town. It was not initially on my list but got the recommendation when I was at Sightglass and I was happy I came. When I first saw the premises I was not even sure it was open to the public as I could just see people working in the back but I walked in and there is a small counter where one can order coffee. Did try one of their Ethiopians and it was brewed on order. Great taste, and the flavors really came out as they should.
The options for eating here are not many but they had cinnamon rolls and croissants when we were there and those were good but nothing special. One should come here for the coffee. There is not much space to sit at but one can easily sit in the windows and that was fine for us.
The barista was super-​friendly helping out with further recommendations on places to visit for good coffee both in San Francisco and LA. One of many good coffee experiences this trip.

It all began with a walk down Mission… and ended with a little bit of happiness in a cup thanks to De La Paz. So happy that I made this connection, because otherwise I would be remiss.
It’s sad that I can’t make an espresso like this at home, but there is something about getting your local roast from a bunch of cool people that makes dropping dollars feel a-​okay.
This place is a diamond in the rough, and I’m happy to happy to have found it.

I was referred here by the guy working my car down the street. What a nice hole in the wall experience. Yeah, it’s definitely got that hipster vibe, but it’s not like you can’t strike up a conversation with the barista (baristo for dudes?) while you’re there.
The population of the city has a case of chronic bitch face, men and women, but that’s a discussion for another time.
De La Paz used to just be a wholesale roaster place, and only recently opened their doors to walk in caffeine junkies. Hence no tables, no chair, no other comfy stuff, but apparently that’s to come with time.
I usually HAVE to put creamer in my coffee, but the Ethiopian roast that I got was perfect as-​is. The perfect companion to waiting for my car to be ready.

I hate waiting for a MUNI bus in the morning. Sometimes I wish I lived on the peninsula just to get the plush SamTrans treatment. On a wet Friday earlier in February, I was running like an old Asian woman to catch a bus, and the driver ignored me from the rear-​view mirror. He was probably laughing at me as I was panting heavily and realizing I had to wait ten minutes for the next one if my iCommuteSF app is to be believed. As I was fantasizing the Chinese water torture of that MUNI bus driver, I noticed a little signboard advertising a «coffee bar» open from 8 to 1 next to AQ. Ah, it’s De La Paz coffee. Nice… but probably too soon for me to drop by.
Since I had time to spare, I stepped into the «coffee bar» to see a cavernous place in the middle of a major renovation (see photo). There was an espresso machine and a very sad-​looking girl who looked like she just got up. It took me a few seconds to see that there was a little menu off to the side from which I was supposed to order — two different drip coffees, a shot of designer espresso, and a cappuccino (see photo). I ordered the $ 3 Cappuccino which was indeed quite smooth with a slightly bitter finish. She wasn’t a talker, so I just stood there peering out the window in case the bus came early. What was I thinking? It’s MUNI. I would have had time for a mani-​pedi.
COFFEE — 3 stars… a strong, smooth brew with a touch of unwelcome bitterness
AMBIANCE — 2.5 stars… under construction
SERVICE — 2.5 stars… sad girl but she delivered the goods
TOTAL — 3 stars… nice alternative to Sightglass down 7^th

I love their coffee, but while I’m a glutton for some forms of puNishment, I can only take so much cold hipster staring while waiting on that slow, comfortable drip.
Would it hurt so much to smile when a regular, non-​flanneled customer is buying your $ 4 dollar cup of coffee? I’m sorry your Red Wing boots cost so much, but I’m just trying to wake up, just like you, bro.
Here’s my current consumer-​friendly index for single drip coffee spots, 1 being the closest to an actual positive human interaction:
1) Ritual in Hayes (maybe it’s the great outdoors and being near Smitten)
2) Sightglass (here, it’s just the other patrons that stare at you)
3) Blue Bottle (Mint Plaza, not Linden, and oh yeah their SFMOMA one is a treasure)
4) De La Paz (admittedly, they are barely open, so might just be shell-​shocked)
5) Four Barrel (they have that parklet out front manned by hipsters, almost like an outpost)

FLIES? No chairs? I’m sorry, the staff seemed very cool and their coffee might be the greatest, but when I walked in and found people standing amongst a mini swarm of flies that seemed to go undetected by the staff except when they landed on the variety of 3 exposed pastries, I did a 180. I’m guessing their friends are Unilocaling them. Sorry guys, the coffee may be great but the atmosphere…
Couldn’t even try the coffee. Clean it up.

I made a few flybys of this place, only to find Thanks to a tip from a helpful barista from Mercury Café, I discovered that they’re currently only open on Friday mornings. I might be wrong, so… we’ll see. In any case, I hope they open regularly soon. It’s tasty, and the baristas seem to be really chill.
And hipster. Duh.
But aren’t hipster-​sightings in halfway-​decent coffee shops pretty much the norm in SF, now? (Tattoos on the calves, mes amis… Tres cool.)
The coffee itself was excellent, and I enjoyed a cup (and small, glass coffee pot filled with the extra coffee) while sitting in what will one day no longer be a papered-​up window. Like many other hipster watering holes, this place has its own bean roaster in the back. Nice.

I just started drinking De La Paz this year, but it has quickly become my favorite SF coffee roaster and one of my favorite roasters around.
Their current Spring seasonal Espresso, Perfume V, is delicious. A combination of Washed Kochere Ethiopia and a Natural Brazil, as an espresso I’ve found it to have a floral rose aroma and beginning, a sweet caramel middle, and a juicy citrus finish. Easily the most interesting and unique espresso that I have had in a while.
I’m glad to see that they are building out a new café/​roastery — it should be a great addition to the SF coffee scene.

I don’t drink coffee regularly, but work in the restaurant industry and have therefore gone out of my way to try many varieties in an attempt to learn to appreciate it. Of the many excellent coffee roasters in SF, De La Paz has consistently impressed with taste, texture, variety and all-​around quality. Afraid to say that I may actually become a converted coffee/​espresso drinker after enjoying a meticulously crafted cappuccino a few week ago at De La Paz.
On top of the extremely high quality of product, De La Paz has incredibly friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff that clearly love what they do and are passionate about making the perfect coffee drink for you. Unlike some of the baristas at Blue Bottle, Four Barrel, etc, there is zero hipster pretension at De La Paz – just great coffee and enthusiastic, helpful people.
Go there now!

The EAGLE has landed.
Now that we live in the foggy city, coffee has usurped tea for the Sunday morning ritual. And as a result, we’ve sampled of home bean varietal from all the «biggies”– Blue bottle, Four Barrel, Cole Coffee in Oakland (this is the dark horse friends, that’s a remarkable viennese roast), Ritual and Philz. But tell ya what, the day in, day out blend we choose to french press ourselves into the day? De La Paz Ethiopian. its kinda makes ya wanna run barefoot no matter the clime.

Hands down the BEST coffee in the city. In the world, perhaps…
Figured out that these guys exist and were responsible for supplying great coffee beans to cafes across the city, saw the fantastic reviews here, and found some beans from them at BiRite. Easily the best french press I’ve ever made at home. Called up Jason and ran over to their roastery to get more beans– these guys are the real deal, amazingly friendly and they sell amazing coffee beans for a ridiculously good price. I am totally in love with De La Paz :-)
Edit Oct 2011: They are now in SOMA, I believe 4^th and MIssion— bigger space, but more commercial– kind of sad, I loved it when they were a smaller operation. And the new packaging is not as cool. But still probably the best beans in town. And Jason still rocks. :)

Hands down my favorite coffee in the city. I stumbled upon it grabbing random dinner ingredients from Bi-​Rite and now no other coffee matches it.
I crave the mission blend when I run out.
I’m attempting to convince my roommates to sign up for bi-​weekly bike coffee delivery… because nothing is better than your favorite things being delivered to you by bicycle.
Seriously, great coffee.

I’m pretty stubborn when it comes to coffee, once I find the right one, I stick to it. I love coffee and have tried them all. I was a Peet’s girl for a few years back in the 90’s, I grew up in the area and I loved Peet’s. Then I loved Royal Coffee, which is now Cole coffee. Blue bottle came and went but I wasn’t crazy about it. I went to Phil’z not impressed. I drank Ritual also not impressed. too bitter. yuck!
De la Paz has appeared out of no where and I’m really liking it. Whether, I brew at home or at drink it at Trouble or Stable. Its tasty, strong and so delicious.

Prologue: Ran out of coffee beans two weekends ago. Didn’t want to buy a new bag before I went on my week-​long trip. Got back Friday evening… no coffee beans, coffee Saturday morning… Sunday morning still no coffee… friend wanted to go to the Divisadero «Farmer’s Market». I said sure…
Story: Show up at the «Farmer’s Market». Tasted a strawberry, tried some olives… the habanero-​stuffed olive very likely burned a whole in my empty stomach. Friend pointed behind one of the stands at a ‘storefront’ and said, «Hey look, there coffee beans.» To which I replied, «No, they sell potting soil.»
Well, they sold both.
The dudes of De La Paz had set up shop in front of the gardening store with a few bags of coffee (I think they were making fresh cups as well).
I picked up a bag of Guatemalan beans.
Monday morning: hot cup of coffee in a travel mug made from freshly ground Guatamalan beans (roasted 2 days earlier) in my Aero Press.
Vic had a pleasant drive to work.
The inappropriate google chatting on my bb while on the 101 probably had something to do with it as well… but that’s a story that should never be told.