It’s important to find your go-to coffee shop, and plenty of San Francisco locals say that’s just what Four Barrel Coffee is for them. This California-based coffee house located near 16th and Mission serves up fair-trade coffee and espresso that’s been locally roasted in small batches, and has a reputation for brewing up some of the area’s best cups of joe. 

Regulars note that this place is so popular it’s often full of coffee-sipping customers. That’s a true compliment to the baristas’ brewing and the shop’s atmosphere, especially in an age of grab-and-go take-out coffee. Four Barrel also offers a series of unique coffee education classes, where you can learn the techniques that characterize "third wave" artisanal coffee preparation. If you’re interested in improving your own coffee game, check the website for a schedule of upcoming classes.