Every once in a while, I'd come across shops or gadgets so well designed that it hurts too much not to share. Sightglass, a coffee bar & roastery, located south of Mission. and I don't even drink coffee.
270 7th st, San Francisco. [Google Map.]
The seemingly dull black building here houses one of the most elegant and classy coffee shops I've seen. Though, I'm not a coffee person, I've had my share of coffee shops -- it's an ideal quick afternoon work space. This one isn't the case, however, it lacks the crucial elements for a temporary office -- no outlets nor wi-fi.
Nonetheless, it's a terrific place to have a cup of house roasted coffee and catchups with peeps.
Breaking down into 3 main categories -- The Coffee, the identity, and the interior.
Seems fair judging from the aesthetics of the shop. Certainly more expensive than your neighborhood Peet's. Yelp gave it "$$" (out of 5.)
For the avid latte art fans out there, this may be one of the shops you should swing by.
As for the taste, I'm no expert, but here's what people are saying:
"The macchiato is very delicious here, I love the rich dark and nutty notes the coffee's aroma produces," "I recommend asking for it 'extra hot' is a good idea," " I had an excellent hand-crafted latte while there ("the BEST latte!", as proclaimed by the awesome barista who prepared my drink)."
The coffee certainly brought a smile to her face.
The Identity:
Designed by Boon and ETC.
"Sightglass. A new identity for San Francisco–based artisanal coffee roasters, the mark was inspired by the actual sightglass window on the proprietors’ vintage Probat roaster. Boon created a full branding program—stationery, business forms, collateral, packaging, signage and website. (Identity/packaging were a collaboration with Kyle Blue (from ETC.)"
Shades of egg shell/beige. Organic feel to the overall packaging. Nothing too saturated. Very American. Aside from the logo mark, the rest of the type face seems like Gotham Round, (Correct me if you know the actual font) which is one of my favorites of all time. The squarish type face can be associated with retro-esque vibe.
The inside: It's what caught really caught my eye when I passed by the place. Matter of fact, these pictures were taken during my second visit (yet, I DONT DRINK COFFEE.) Design's powerful. In this case, the interior design.
Brilliant work done by Boor Bridges Architecture, the same folks that designed for four barrel coffee and dropbox(they decided their latest studio!)
A combination of wood and metal.
"Sightglass is a living monument to coffee and collaborative craftsmanship. It spans over 7,500 square feet of airy industrial space in San Francisco’s SOMA, and incorporates a café as well as a production coffee roaster. Both functions are woven together in the space to support a concept of transparency that was critical to the owner’s vision for their venture. The organization of the space puts the guest smack in the middle of the coffee production sequence and makes the gorgeous Probat roaster a primary center piece.
The subtle yet satisfying detailing and use of materials throughout the project is the result of designing for a truly collaborative and explorative construction process. A collection of talented craftsmen contributed to the one-of-a-kind features of the space, from recreating the Japanese art of Shou-sugi-ban for a decorative burnt wood siding treatment to piecing together over 38 reclaimed steel joist hangers for a custom light fixture."
Indeed, it's all abou the details.
A good looking shop is picky about its metal and wood:
custom made light fixtures.
If I were to have a studio, this would be it:
Beautiful pit-stop.
'til next inspiration,
-Benson|| Twitter || Facebook || 365. || Shop of Imagination ||