10/07/08

what a bunch of hype!

by JonathanThomas

ok, for anyone looking to have a digital-cafe romance, you've found the right spot. i mean, it's hard not to feel sexay in this place. but, if you want good coffee GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! i have tried a couple different things at this place to try and be fair but at the end of the day a good old cup o' joe is all i need. even dispite all the fancy bruhaha, they just can't make it taste good. it's sour and boring.

• Pros: cool place
• Cons: bad coffee

07/04/08

Place may be hot; Coffee is not

by aashna28

Upon reading the raving reviews in Citysearch, I drove to Ritual. The staff was friendly and helpful. However, the cappuccino and latte (for me and my friend) came out luke warm. When I mentioned this to the staff, they gave me another one (not free, mind you). But the second one was no better. I gave up and left.

My advise: please make sure that you insist and re-insist to get HOT coffee if that makes or breaks your experience. To some of us, the temperature of the beverage is critical - shouldn't it be?

• Pros: good tasting coffee, helpful staff
• Cons: temperature of coffee cold

Known for having the best beans and baristas in the city, Ritual is also a Mecca for fixie-bike-riding, laptop-toting hipsters.

by Joanna Currier

In Short
The focus here is on fresh, organic and fair-trade coffee, with a short, superior menu of rich classics such as creamy espresso, cappuccino and cafe au lait. Carefully selected beans are French roasted and pressed for each labor-intensive cup. The giant, angular space has high ceilings, many small (and some communal) tables, thoughtful local art, and a short bar. A varied selection of pastries includes many fine vegan options.

12/28/07

Ruined me for other coffee shops

by bananacakes

Coffees and Espresso amazing. The things that impress me the most are: huge selection of pastries are always fresh, baristas are truly passionate and knowledgeable about coffee, quality always of the utmost importance, roasting occurs right before your very eyes and they'll even explain the process to you. You can actually get a coffee education here! A discriminating bunch; for customers who truly appreciate coffee or for people who just like the scene. They are also socially responsible in every way you'd want a business to be.

• Pros: everything they sell and interesting people
• Cons: crowded

12/11/07

Ritual is for annoying hipsters.

by utastelikebbq

People say hipsters aren't religious. Perhaps they have never seen Ritual Coffee on a Sunday morning. It's like hipster temple. And the mission hipsters who come here to pray never miss a Sunday. They come out in their Sunday best- hoodies, skinny jeans, and stinky hair. The coffee is good, but if I want to see this kind of religious devotion, I will go to real church.

• Pros: coffee
• Cons: hipsters

06/07/07

laptops not welcome

by jmayer666

Ritual Roasters recently paid an electrician to disconnect all the customer-serving electrical outlets. They apparently are too good for the business of people who want to sit down in their store with a laptop for an hour. A very disappointing change in what had previously been a wonderful coffee shop...

• Pros: great coffee
• Cons: they've disconnected all their customer's electrical outlets.

11/13/06

nice but crowded

by d33ds23

it was a nic eplace to study, but there are a LOT of people there, so it might take you some time to find a seat. also, on the weekends there's no outlets so i avoid it then.

09/18/06

Best cup of java in town

by a1dergirl_sf

What a tasty cup of java. While the Gibralter is much talked about, I found it way too strong and bitter for my taste buds. But the espresso drinks are delish, definitely worth waiting in the line streaming out of the door.

• Pros: Awesome coffee, good people watching
• Cons: Parking, lines, waiting

08/25/06

best unique cup o' joe

by erikabernabei

rich and tasty - not for the weak of heart. not for starbucks fans either. owned by great folks too.

05/16/06

I hate this place -- and it hates me

by suzy_funston

The space inside is gorgeous -- all soaring ceilings, comfy couches and tables nicely spaced to give you plenty of leg room and privacy. The coffee's all organic and fair trade, the baked goods are divine and service is always top-notch. So why do I hate this place? I'll tell you why. Because I can never, ever get an effing seat in here. And on the rare occasion I'm able to get my butt in a chair before hovering vultures snatch it away from me, I get the hairy eyeball from other people who want my coveted seat. Yes, this place is fabulous. But it's annoying how everyone knows this and flocks here, thus denying me my latte and comfortable seat.

• Pros: Great coffee, Fab baked goods, Gorgeous space
• Cons: No seats!!!!!!