As the much-anticipated weather commences to warm up the city, San Francisco is already well-equipped with an array of phenomenal cafes to provide some thirst-quenching solace from the sunny urban heat. Here are all the best buzzingly refreshing and flavorful iced coffees and cold brews from the most creative and artisanal shops around the 7x7.
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1 Ferry Building, 7 / Website
Starting off with a familiar regional staple, Blue Bottle's New Orleans-style Iced Coffee is a uniquely invigorating variation with its addition of roasted chicory and cane sugar for a deep richness that's not overly sweet. While there are plenty of shops around the city, we recommend the booth inside the curated Ferry Building, so you can enjoy refreshing sips out on the sun-bathed docks while looking out onto the serene Bay waters.
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451 9th St / Website
Telescope Coffee is POC women-owned business founded in 2021 by two childhood best friends also both born and raised in San Francisco. Located in SOMA, their cute and Instagrammable shop features creatively ingenious flavors like their Marshall Farm's Honeycomb, Rose, and even blue Butterfly Pea Coconut Milk Lattes! Enjoy them over ice while strolling around the Design District.
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468 Castro St/ Website
This list of iced caffeinated delights wouldn’t be complete without the featuring of the robust and classic Vietnamese Iced Coffee, or cà phê đá. Our selection comes out of the diverse Castro District at Tanglad. Enjoy their strong and sweet refreshment while touring around the historic and vibrantly illuminated street.
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270 7th St./ Website
Sightglass Coffee also in SOMA closer to Civic Center is the perfect scenic mezzanine to cool both your caffeine and sweet tooth cravings. Their carefully balanced and creamy affogatos with fresh espresso and locally sourced artisanal ice cream are their refreshing standout must-order here.
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3629 Taraval St. / Website
Andytown Coffee Roasters is our beachside recommendation out by the luminous Outer Sunset. To cool off from the sunbaked sands, try their “Snowy Plover.” Sharing the name of a bird resembling a pillowy white cloud, this clever concoction also fits the light feel and fluffy aesthetics with sparkling water, a double shot of espresso, and a generous topping of airy homemade whipped cream.
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720 Market St / Website
Mazarine on Market is a cool oasis amid the bustling heat of the financial district. You can feel rejuvenated knowing that their Nitro Cold Brew on tap not only has the most velvety smooth lightness, but also that all their global single-origin beans are consciously sourced. For an even more adventurous iced delight in FiDi, pair one of their delicious toasts with their “Raf,” which is espresso with the perfect amounts of half-and-half and cinnamon.
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2340 Polk St. / Website
The “Kaffe Tonic” is the refreshing treat to indulge and cool your taste buds with at this Russian Hill staple. This New York Times notorious beverage highlights their bright single-origin espresso with Fever Tree Tonic and Kold Draft Ice.
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500 Marina Blvd / Website
Rounding out this stellar list is another eponymous Bay namesake- Philz. Aside from their large variety of drip coffees in unique combinations of notes, the Iced Mint Mojito is as essential as coffee itself in this city. Out of all the ones here, we are recommending the Philz Truck out in the Marina. Spot the thirst-quenching vehicle out on the Marina Green while relaxing by the North Beach’s picturesque seaside, or follow their Twitter to stay up to date on their next stop.
Hopefully you can beat the heat and get a delightful buzz going next time the sun shines through Karl the Fog wherever you are in the city!
Photography by: Caglar Araz/Unsplash
