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Brown Owl Coffee
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1131 Taraval St(between 21st Ave & 22nd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94116
Neighbourhood: Parkside
(415) 242-1426
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 8 am - 5 pm
Thu, Sun 8 am - 1 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Andrew S. said: "Almost 4 years later and I still am a satisfied customer! You should be one as well..." read more »
110 reviews for Brown Owl Coffee
Review Highlights
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"vegan donuts and locally made pastries." In 8 reviews -
"Friendly staff and a great tasting coffee." In 6 reviews -
"And they roast their own beans." In 2 reviews
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110 reviews in English
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Review from B K.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2012
I love this place. You can usually find me grabbing my daily capp in the late afternoon. The atmosphere is just awesome, the wood theme brings me back to my days in Tahoe. I love to sit down and have a cup, but most times just grab and go.
The pastries are good, I particularly enjoyed the chicken tartine. But most importantly, THE COFFEE: It's great, and it's consistent. Best cappuccino in the Sunset!
You can even get a damn good almond milk mocha too! -
Review from Rachel F.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the best roasters in the city, no joke. The coffee is bold, full-bodied, with no acidity whatsoever. If you need some milk to mellow it out, go with their mocha or a simple latte. Their baristas (and the owners themselves) really know how to handle their machines, and will serve up some quality noms. Yes, the mocha is five dollars, but you will have spent your money well. I think they might use Guittard?
Looking for an alternative? Try their chai. Iced or hot, the flavors are delicate and sweet, with a great hint of spices (which are all sitting at the bottom of the cup). Completely homemade and totally authentic.
Also, FOODZ! They usually have vegan donuts on hand, which are always a great staple. Other pastries I'd recommend are their berry crumble (ask them to heat it up for you!), coffee cake, and for a savory choice, either their mushroom or vegetable tartines. The mushroom one is especially out of control.
Not to mention, the place is totally adorable. All of the furniture is made out of wood, including two stumps you can use as chairs. It's a pretty small cafe, so probably not the best for a group gathering--but that doesn't mean you shouldn't tell everyone you know about it! The owners and baristas are very friendly, and they really like owls. Don't miss the little one poking out from underneath the bar!
P.S. They do use Square, so cards are okay! -
Review from Aaron I.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2012 3 Check-ins Here
One of the best coffee roasters in San Francisco, where the soul of coffee houses is now a competition of coolness, Brown Owl Coffee is a breath of fresh air, or rather coffee. Not that I don't love love the coolness and environments of Sightglass, 66 Mint Blue Bottle or the new Folsom Coffee Bar locale. But there is something to be said for the originality and pre-coffee house/roaster blow up of the Hayes Blue Bottle locale, Mission Ritual, and the likes.
That's right I said Bestests in City, for sure on the wesside, as we now have Brown Owl, Trouble and Ritual@Cassava, Outer Rich. Not only can you get this quality drip coffee with a capital Q, you won't get the overhyped righteous hipster coffee crowds. What you will get is local business owners, neighborhood feel and an attractively small quaint uniqueness that serves you a distinctly scrumptious cup of java with a smile.
If you like all that wood feel of Four Barrel without the "scene", but in a more living room coziness that's what you will find at Brown Owl, as they may have eight seats, and not one those half pieces of recycled reclaimed wood that fits like a quarter of your arse they call chairs.
Super awesome to go, always parking in Parkside, especially if you need a stop off 19th.Listed in: San Francisco
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Review from Linda T.
3/18/2012
Very cute, organic, local cafe on taraval.
Coffee was alright for me. Pastries were cute and Yums. Had a blueberry vegan donut and fruit bar.
Lots of cool art work and wooden benches, tables. -
Review from Sofia R.
I needed to find a place to study for a few hours and I didn't want to venture too far out. I remember seeing this place a while back and decided to try it out the other day.
The place is as cute as I was anticipating, but it is also a lot smaller than I was expecting. There are about 7ish seats total and 3 tables. I sat on a log like chair with the longer table that had games and various books. It was kind of uncomfortable after a few hours.
They have a small menu for both drinks and for treats. I got myself a cup of virgin silver buds tea and a lemon poppy seed vegan donut much later. They refill your cup tea when you're done with it and they get their donuts are Pepple's donuts! I would have gotten more pastries but I was feeling full.
The guy who was working there at the time was quite nice and friendly. Most of the people who walk in seem to be regulars and are also quite friendly.
Really cool cafe! I'd go back despite limited space. -
Review from ju C.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mocha is good. Had the sea salt brownie which was good too, but kinda small. The chocolate cookie was disappointingly dry. I'd come back for the mocha.
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Review from Clefairy F.
San Francisco, CA
4/15/2012
Favorite coffee place in the city conveniently located down the street from me! Can't beat their americanos and locally baked vegan donuts, not to mention Ariana is the best!
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Review from Amy C.
1/9/2012
I was waiting for the bus and decided to come in for some kind of pastry.
To my surprise, there wasn't a large selection of baked goods. There were a few breakfast burritos, some cherry pie looking pastry, muffins, cookies, and organic doughnuts.
I wanted a fast bite so I asked about the doughnuts. I asked what kind it was and pointed at a pink doughnut. I got a "they're organic" twice. I just wanted to know the flavor... The barista/cashier wasn't helpful and I missed the bus...
The $2.50 organic doughnut wasn't even all that great. What a sad morning ): -
Review from Cecile S.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012
This is a small cafe that has coffee and small selection of pastries and snacks. The decor is definitely unique. Everything is a wood theme. Even the speakers have a wood panel look. And there is a wooden school desk in the middle of the place. However, all the natural unfinished wood gives the place a musty smell. The baristas are very nice and answer an questions you have about the drinks. The place is pretty small so there are only seats for about 6 people. I had to share a table with another patron. So this is definitely a to go place. You can't just sit here with a friend to chat because you'll be taking up space.
The coffee is good but really over priced. The taste and the quantity does not justify the price. I paid more than $4.00 for a regular latte that was no larger than a 12 oz. That is just way to much for an average coffee. They give you a buy 10 get 1 free card but that still does not offset the high prices. I would not come here again. -
Review from Kennelco C.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2011
A lovely place run by lovely people. Wonderful coffees and teas, very nice pastries and gourmet snacks, and they feature House of Bagels bagels, the best in the city.
Beyond that it's a wonderful addition to the Parkside neighborhood, a place to meet and chat with people from around the corner that you'd never met before. Their interest in developing neighborhood community is both commendable and partially an achievement.
It is terrific for Taraval to have such a hip, cute, and delicious place like this.
And my kids love it too.
And I wanted to say something about James' dreamy blue eyes. -
Review from Andrew J.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2012
I'm not much of a coffee connoisseur. All I know is their regular coffee is good and strong and gets me alert for the WHOLE DAY. I've had the vegan donuts several times and they're pretty filling. Very nice people working there. I can always smell the coffee roasting when I'm passing by on the street. Good place.
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Review from Kathy Y.
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
HOOT HOOT! Is that an owl?! If you're not scared of owls, I'd totally recommend this cute little shop decored with owls everywhere. I totally dig the blocks of tree trunks you can sit on while looking out the window when sippin on a cup of coffee.
We got the sumatra blend which was perfect on our Saturday morning stroll around the neighborhood. It was pretty empty when we arrived, so we had our coffees in mugs. My boyfriend decided to get one to-go for the walk back and he was totally psyched about the cups being 100% compostable- from the cup to the lid! I've never seen him so excited. I think I need to take him out more. Haha =P
Be sure to get your stamp card! Buy 10, get 1 free! And of course, the card has an owl on it. -
Review from Daniel M.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2012
This is a pleasant little cafe with good coffee and nice selection of pastries and other sweets. Staff is super friendly, especially the tall darked-hair girl, and the cafe decor is mellow and woodsy. Organic sugar and compostable coffee cups are a plus! It's nice to see a coffeehouses in the Sunset, which can be quite scarce as you proceed west of 19th Ave!
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Review from Christina B.
South San Francisco, CA
2/22/2012 1 photo
This place is lovely! With their cute little campfire log seats and wooden table gives you the feel of nature! The name itself "Brown Owl" defined the setting - brown, most things wooden, and cute mini owls everywhere! The only exception is.. it's in san francisco.. not much of a forest location. The two things i've tried is their lattee and their vegan bread-like snack. Both were delicious, of course. I wish they sold more than just pastries, coffees, or teas. I've actually seen a live open mic performances here before and it's not what you usually see on an usual basis. They're very unique performances and it gets pretty packed here! I have no clue what type of genre, but it's almost like indian base music with a tad mix of funk and pop. It was amazing! I guess the only complaints would be the small venue itself and their seats! I wish they had more "real seats". By means of "real seats", I mean... actual chairs! Even a friend of mine wasn't enjoying his comfortability with his testacles squished in between those tiny gaps on the log. Also, the campfire log seats weren't stable. I always had to rely on my left leg to keep its steadiness before I injure myself. Besides the inconvenience of the seats, it is a nice setting, as said. The employees were, of course, just as lovely as the place. Um, there's nothing more to say, really.
I'd love to go here again, maybe and hopefully they could replace the seats with comfortable, non-testacle squishing, stable seats. :) -
Review from Cat A.
10/20/2011
My mother took me here in an effort to show me that San Franciscans can make and drink coffee like Seattlites. I beg to differ.
While the place is adorable with their cool wooden tables and stumps for stools, their pastries were mediocre and their coffee was nothing to scream hallelujah to.
As people mentioned earlier, there is NO wireless in this coffee shop, which baffles me- how the hell do you have a coffee shop without wireless? A coffee shop without wireless is like...a bed without a mattress, a waiting room without magazines, a bong without weed a.... well.. you get my point. Of course, you can go old-school, and bring along your favorite read, but lets face it-- coffee shops go hand in hand with wireless internet. Period.
The ultimate reason as to why I gave this place 1 star was because when I asked the nice lady behind the counter for the wireless password, she said there was no wireless... yet 15 minutes later, another man asked for the "password", and she then proceeded to scribble down some words onto a post-it note and give it to him.
Wait... WHAT?
That better be the password to log into his computer... Cause you just got busted. Never again. Peace out, brown owl! -
Review from Carly B.
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm so glad that I looked this place up for lattes and breakfast on our drive out of San Francisco.
Very unassuming and relatively easy to park near since it's not in the main SF hubbub. The baristas (maybe owners) were very nice and even recommended some spots in Napa which we were on our way to.
The espresso beverages (I had an iced latte) were spot on and there were some great (and hearty) options. I went for a poblano breakfast burrito which was good and cheesy.
I loved the cute owl decor that adorned this place. This coffee shop embodied everything I find great about the numerous coffee places that speckle the city of San Francisco: down to earth, friendly baristas, cozy atmosphere, and above all, a very delicious and drinkable cup of joe. -
Review from Espana S.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Damned good coffee.
Also, vegan donuts, little savory pasties, great staff and a wonderful sense of being part of the neighborhood (in a neighborhood that could use a bit more community spirit).
Did I mention how good the coffee is? -
Review from Angela W.
HOOOOOOOO'S THERE???? ..... BROWN OWL, THATS WHO!!!
Things to HOOT over!!:
*coffee roasted in-house!! booyah.
*in go green compostable cups!! dbbl booyah.
*yummy looking pastries to nomnomnom over: swts: Pepples vegan doughnuts, lemon bars savories: tartines and breakfast burritos
*friendly staff: hi!
*samples of chocolate cake
*ipad register
*succulents at the table
*air plant in the bathroom. Yes, it's a tiny place but they have a bathroom!!
*tree trunk seats- eeeshhh!!! I hope I don't get a splinter on my butt!!!
*wood grain tables
*cool reading material/magazines- Nylon, 7x7, Sunset
*missed connections at the owl board- find your soul mate/stalker!
*buy 10 get 1 free frequent buyer card plus new tagtile app for iphones no need for cards!
*free wifi
*free neighborhood parking-don't park at the meters but just around the corner at the residential spots.
*look out the window and you'll spot a owl peeking at you!! Why hello there!!
Hipster coffee spot in the Sunset without the hipsters and too cool for school attitude?? Ahhhh..refreshment indeed. Now, where are these free cookies I hear about??Listed in: can't live without you..
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Review from Sheenie L.
San Francisco, CA
9/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Didn't try their coffee but it smelled wonderful.
I tried their Chocolate Almond Bread for breakfast. It was super tasty and probably a better dessert choice than breakfast, but for $2.50 it was worth it.
Their fridge was fully stocked with organic milks and half and half.
The place is small but friendly and relaxed looking. Will def try again. -
Review from Alex H.
San Francisco, CA
2/12/2012
This place is right up the block from me. It's a tiny place with tons of character. The coffee is really unique and arguably some of the best I've had. The vegan doughnuts and cookies are really great and the 4 employees I've met are really nice. I take all my friends here.
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Review from Anna K.
San Francisco, CA
I've been here almost everyday to get coffee ..going on 2 weeks now. Ariana, the owner, is super cheerful and pleasant. The coffee is delicious, and I recommend the black bean breakfast burritos too. They get bagels from House of Bagels delivered daily, and their pastries are amazing. The pumpkin bread? YUM!
"Ows, owls, owls - no surface left owl free ... Why is Mrs. McNeil obsessed with owls? What do they represent to her? What dark secret lurks inside them? What need do they satisfy in her?" - D. Coupland -
Review from Hannah M.
San Francisco, CA
10/21/2011
cute coffee shop! I thought by the pictures that it wouldn't be a good place to just sit and study, but I boy was I wrong. It definitely is a great place to enjoy a good book and a good cup of coffee.
I came here the other day to sit and chat with a friend, they have great service, awesome decorations there's owls all over and it's very rustic. I would definitely recommend it. It was a hot day when I went and so I got an iced coffee it was really good as well. cheers. -
Review from Laura K.
San Francisco, CA
9/12/2011
The service is friendly and careful (in fact, the barrista took one look at my macchiato, dumped it and remade it without skipping a beat). The coffee is wonderful, which is a RARE treat for Outer Sunset/Parkside (aside from Trouble, of course).
Love the local art & thematically appropriate repurposed wood counter and tree stump seating.
The proximity to the L-Taraval line (stop is directly across the street) is perfect.
BUT why, OH why, aren't you open earlier? And the 7:30am posted time is a soft open, apparently... sad for those of us on a commute time crunch. But I'll be back anyway. Because it's that good. -
Review from Alyssa G.
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'd passed by Brown Owl many times (it's right in front of a muni stop) but never gone in because the outside is a little... unremarkable. But I went in today and was so impressed!
My cappuccino was perrrrrfect and I got a bagel to go as well, and also tried an espresso-flavored macaroon-- SO good!
The woman helping me was extra nice and friendly, and she made great latte art. The decor is really homey, little owls everywhere. Classy place, will return on my next free morning! -
Review from Chanti B.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I left Brown Owl about 3 minutes ago, and I couldn't wait to get to my computer to write a review, so here goes my first iPhone powered opinion.
Awesome place.
I'm pretty sure I was helped by the owners , and they were both super friendly. Ruined by the Starbucks model of never having enough flavor, I was aghast when I discovered I couldn't order a vanilla latte. But I was not disappointed.
Simple ingredients and subtle flavors make Brown Owl my new favorite coffee in the Sunset.
Oh! And they roast their own beans! -
Review from Ashley S.
5/4/2011
I couldn't be happier that there is a decent coffee shop on Taraval! The coffee is absolutely delicious, and made to order. No bottom of the barrel stuff here! The baked goods are displayed lovingly, along with different owl themed trinkets and happy stuffed cupcakes and ice cream cones.
The owners, Arianna and James are lovely people - so go buy your morning (and afternoon) cup here!Listed in: Good Stuff on Taraval
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Review from Esther H.
San Diego, CA
8/8/2011
Relatively small cafe with 5 or so tables. Cute wood furniture and owl decor. Quiet environment with light music, perfect for studying or reading.
Quality coffee & service. They have a simple coffee menu, and sell a few pastries. Prices are decent (Coffee for $2.75, Latte for $3.75).
I ordered a latte, and halfway through finishing, the barista came by and told me that he was going to make me a new drink because he didn't like how he made the one I received. I'm no coffee expert, nor can I taste the difference between good and excellent coffee, but he insisted on making another cup. What a nice guy! That's quality service.
I enjoyed my visit here, and will be back again if ever in the city! -
Review from Joseph N.
4/9/2011
In a neighborhood filled with mediocre eateries and a lack of interesting businesses, Brown Owl is a godsend. They have great coffee, amazing service, good food and a comfortable space that miraculously never gets too crowded.
I've had both drip and french press coffees here, I like the french press better but they're both delicious. It's a bit pricy compared to Starbucks or your average Asian coffee shop but they're using high-quality organic beans and they brew in small batches or individual cups.
With the exception of Irish scones (which are quite tasty) I don't think they make any of their food here but they have good stuff for sale. The organic vegan donuts, which I didn't expect to like, are a go-to morning item for me now. The breakfast burritos and bagels are both made by local companies that sell to a bunch of coffee shops and similar eateries, and they are delicious.
On top of having solid products, Brown Owl is a place you just enjoy coming to. It can be easy to miss, the "We roast good coffee sign" was how I first found it. The unusual wood/owl decor is pretty cool, and while the space is small and only seats up to 10-12 max, they made very good use of it and I find it to be quite comfortable. The people who own/run the place are super friendly and professional.
I suppose the only downside is that because the staff are so friendly, people always want to have conversations with them, and I want to tell those people to shut up until my coffee/food is served. But I think that's a good problem for them to have.
Oh, and they accept credit cards (via iPad / Square) with no minimum charge, which is fucking AWESOME. Try finding that in the Mission or Nob Hill. -
Review from Diana P.
San Leandro, CA
It took me awhile to find this place. It was definitely worth looking for tho. The place is small but its has a nice neighborhood feel to it. The Latte that I ordered was delicious!! It also came out so pretty with a leaf. I took the picture but my phone somehow didn't save it =( But I'll definitely be back so I can always take another one.
If your around the Sunset area and is looking for a nice small place to hang out and have a cup of coffee, you should definitely try this place out. They also have organic Vegan Donuts!! -
Review from diane h.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!! You can't ask for more...Wonderful coffee, wonderful staff,
wonderul and cozy atmosphere,Ariana is so pleasant and heart warming. I never want to leave this place when I'm there. I have brought friends there and they all loved it. The pastries are so fresh and of course you'll want to eat them all. If you love coffee...you have to try this wonderful place. -
Review from Kathleen L.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2011
I'm not a coffee expert so I am not sure how helpful my review will be, but I am a new comer to the city and found this place on Yelp. I thought the latte was delicious. I was worried when they didn't have any extra flavoring, but it didn't need any. Quite yummy. The ambiance wasn't quite what I was hoping, it felt a little like a donut shop/ dry cleaners but they did have nice decor and seating.
One thing I really like was that everyone who came in chatted up the barista as if they were old friends. That is the sign of great customer service and a great product right there. -
Review from Jessica J.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2011
I have come to Brown Owl 3 times now and each time they outdo themselves. The decor is adorable, the staff is friendly, and the food is delish! (Try the black bean burrito!!) But most importantly they make a GREAT cup of coffee! I am an Americano connoisseur and they make the best. Hands down the best Americano I have ever had.
Thanks Brown Owl you have rocked my java world. -
Review from Jane K.
11/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Whooo loves brown owl? I do! That's whooo! So happy I now have a coffee alternative in the neighborhood. Bonus points for the compostable cups and their support of local bakers. I was especially excited about the vegan donuts and the baklava. Make sure to get their stamp card because I guarantee you will be coming back.
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Review from corri i.
San Francisco, CA
4/4/2011
Awesome spot that I stumbled upon while waiting for my car to be maintained at Sunset Service.
Irish Scone with chocolate chips (warmed) was such the comfort food I needed! Love the ambience: woodsy, organic, cozy, and comfortable. Service = excelente! Cool owl. Definitely going back one day. -
Review from Apryl S.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2011
I've only been here three times, but I really like this place.
The vibe is cool and friendly, with people coming in and chatting with the baristas as if they are good friends. I've only had regular coffee but it tastes very smooth and delicious! The decor is cool too :)
The only thing that was a bit of a bummer is the fact that a regular coffee is so expensive. -
Review from Michelle C.
Belmont, CA
2/7/2011
First off I'm won over with the owl theme, have a soft spot for owls. Second, everything used is eco friendly here, bonus. Third, I love the wood decor. Very soothing and beautiful. In the window look for the light brite box that says, "coffee."
I can't drink much caffeine products because it agitates my anxiety. So I can get decaf here! Hoot! This shop makes some amazing chai tea. I purchased some of the loose leaf tea. Let me just say, wow, I love my chamomile tea. They have a stamp program buy like 10 and get one free. Sweet.
Owners are a young hip couple. The female grew up in this area, so she's giving back to her community. Such a great story. : ) -
Review from Lou S.
3/16/2011
A cute and comfortable little hole in the wall, Brown Owl is your best bet for good coffee on Taraval. Real tea too, without the tapioca pearls. How rare is that in this neighborhood?
Though I wasn't blown away by the coffee itself but, I recognize that Brown Owl is using quality coffee and will make your drink for you in a real cup. The nice woman behind the counter even warmed up my scone for me, a really nice touch. -
Review from Nathan L.
Palo Alto, CA
12/19/2011
The staff was kind. The atmosphere was quirky and fun. But the espresso was sour from over-extraction, crema-less, and probably half the volume of what a proper shot should be (it looked like a miniature puddle within an already diminutive espresso cup). They had a limited pastry selection for a Sunday morning, but the one that I tried was not bad.
I love finding and supporting local cafes such as this one. A little disappointed with my visit but am willing to give it another try next time I am in the area. -
Review from Robert K.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2011
Stopped here this morning on my way down 19th.
The coffee is top notch, these guys also own Hearth Coffee Roasters and are doing it right, small batch roasting on site (I think). The ambiance is also nice, and the cupcake pillows are an awesome touch.
It's on my way to work so that's helpful as well. Support the locals, kids. -
Review from laura j.
San Francisco, CA
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious caramel-y cappucino
vegan donuts and locally made pastries
Cute owls and logs motif
right at a muni stop
Yay!!!
