Coffee at Canteen

[vulber]

So I have a visitor coming in a few weeks, and I was thinking of going to Canteen for brunch, due to all the stellar reviews I've read about the brunch food. However, I'm a little bothered by several fairly negative reviews on Yelp about the quality of the coffee at Canteen, and good coffee is an absolute brunch must for my visitor.

Can anyone speak to the coffee at Canteen?

[Pei]

Not sure if having coffee after/before would make up for the possibility of subpar coffee at Canteen, but right around the corner is Farm:Table, which has some of the best coffee in the city. I'm not sure if it's kosher to bring that into Canteen for brunch, but I wouldn't.

It's been awhile for me but I remember Canteen's coffee being serviceable but not fabulous, but their chai being wonderful. And the brunch has always been top notch.

[salmotrutta79]

I have had the coffee at Canteen...indeed it was rather mediocre, but that was the ONLY mediocre thing about Leary's brunch. Magnificent meal!

[JasmineG]

Hmm, I have no memory of bad coffee at Canteen, and bad coffee usually sticks out to me. They have an espresso machine there, so I've gotten good espresso drinks there before.

[grayelf]

Unless things have changed, Canteen serves coffee from Mr Espresso in Oakland, which has been around since 1978 http://www.mrespresso.com/

My favourite SF coffee so far is the Hayes Valley or Museum blend from Blue Bottle if that helps. I wouldn't put the java at Canteen in that league but I've had the decaf latte and the regular decaf on several occasions and enjoyed them just fine. FWIW so has the SO who is actually pickier about his coffee and generally prefers it stronger than I do.

[vulber]

I think Canteen uses espresso from Mr. Espresso, but coffee from somewhere else. More concerningly, I've read that they brew it weak.

[grayelf]

I dunno if I'd call it weak but it ain't strong :-). I actually prefer a gentler brew first thing though, so I may not be the best bellwether. I've always found the flavour to be good but perhaps best to stick to the espresso-based beverages?

[scarmoza]

Sadly, they use Mr. Espresso for both drip coffee and espresso drinks. From my experience, it's not brewed weak at all. One sip of it will rush you to mask the flavor of those over roasted beans with lots of milk and sugar.

[bbulkow]

A brunch sleeper is the coffee at Slanted Door, which is french-press-at-table Blue Bottle.