Last month we told you about the big remodel RITUAL COFFEE ROASTERS was undergoing, and now the nearly 10-year-old coffee shop and roaster has reopened, and has some new changes to show off. Check our previous post for all the details of the new look, but one thing we didn’t mention is Ritual will now offer a 25-cent discount to customers who bring their own mugs and/or use one of Ritual’s new reusable jars (available for a $2 deposit). The jars can be returned the next day for a clean one—you don’t even have to wash it (but don’t tell your mom). Owner Eileen Hassi Rinaldi wants to reduce the number of paper cups by 50 percent in 2014 and move upward from there. Right on. 1026 Valencia St. at 21st St., 415-641-1011.
Farther down Valencia, ~FOUR BARREL COFFEE~ is turning six (!) on Wednesday August 27th and having a fun anniversary party to celebrate. What this means is you can enjoy free coffee from 7am-4pm, and you may want to time your visit for cake at noon (mmm, cake)! There will also be a photo booth, some burgers from 4505 Meats, and music. Four Barrel will be closing at 4pm so they can have their own celebration, so swing on by.
Over in the East Bay, the woman-owned SCARLET CITY COFFEE has opened their first brick-and-mortar café in Emeryville. Owner Jen St. Hilaire opened the shop with business partner Susanna Handow, which is where you’ll be able to score some beautifully pulled shots of their Northern Italian-style espresso while hanging out at the counter (yes, you get to pretend you’re in Italy and stand and quite possibly enjoy some conversation with the barista and people next to you). SFoodie also mentions the modern bar has some fun science-fiction touches (like pinball machines, and expect some readings from sci-fi authors—St. Hilarie is a self-confessed “sci-fi nut”). Trekkie jokes welcome. Open Mon-Fri 7am-3pm and Sat-Sun 8am-3pm. 3960 Adeline St. at 40th St., Emeryville.
A couple of months ago, we told you that MODERN COFFEE was opening a second location in Uptown Oakland, and now we’re here to tell you it’s softly open! The space is still a work in progress, but coffee is being served. It’s about the same size as the original (800 square feet, with around 12 seats), with a quartzite counter and custom speakers. You’ll be able to try a variety of coffees from roasters like Stumptown Coffee from Portland, Counter Culture Coffee from Durham, North Carolina, and Northern California’s De La Paz Coffee (SF), Chromatic Coffee (San Jose), and Verve Coffee Roasters (Santa Cruz), plus teas too. For now, it will be open Mon-Fri 7am-5pm. 1814 Franklin (with the entrance at 381 19th Street, between Franklin and Webster).
A look at the new Modern Coffee. Photo courtesy of Modern Coffee.
