You’ve heard of a wine trail, but have you ever ventured down a coffee trail? If not, we’re taking the creative liberty and putting them on the map, literally! Between our 50+ roasters across the country, there are so many ways that you can enjoy our different types of coffee IRL.
With so many of these roasters hailing from the Golden State, our first Trade Coffee Trail takes us to Northern California — from the state capital Sacramento, to the booming Bay Area coffee scene, and down the Pacific Coast Highway to the renowned surfing city of Santa Cruz.
Travel Time: 4 hours (pit stops not included!)
Sacramento
Our journey starts in the state capital of Sacramento. Privy to the agricultural communities of the Sacramento Valley, the city has named itself the “Farm to Fork” capital. Naturally, Sacramento’s own Temple Coffee Roasters has adopted a “Farm to Cup” philosophy for its specialty coffee program.
Temple Coffee Roasters
2200 K Street
Sacramento, California 95816
Temple founder Sean Kohmescher has built this coffee roaster brand on good vibes, great service, and exceptionally well-prepared coffee, so you know you are in the best of hands at their K Street shop. Temple's largest, most adventurous location to date features an classic-meets-modern decor in this beautifully restored space built in the late 1880s. Among the many attractions is a full dessert and coffee pairing menu, Kyoto slow-drip coffee, a Curtis Seraphim pour over module, and a custom tap system for Nitrogen-infused coffee and tea beverages. Here, the coffee processing methods are endless. The floor is made of over 500,000 hand-laid pennies with full outdoor patio seating for soaking in the Sacramento sunshine.
- S Street: 2829 S Street, Sacramento, California
- Downtown: 1010 9th Street, Sacramento, California
- Arden Arcade: 2600 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sacramento, California
- Davis: 239 G Street, Davis, California
Marin County
After Sacramento, take a scenic detour through the beautiful North Bay region of Marin County. With its home base in the town of San Rafael, Equator Coffees & Teas has locations in the adjacent towns of Larkspur and Mill Valley.
Equator Coffees & Teas
2 Miller Avenue
Mill Valley, California 94941
Located in the heart of Mill Valley, Equator’s coffee shop promises a laid-back vibe with a fresh menu of made-to-order sweet and savory waffles, salads, and egg sandwiches. Mill Valley’s history runs through this coffee shop, from its rich coffee bean roots to the salvaged railroad ties and bicycle parts used to create the patio furniture. Here, you can enjoy drinking black coffee, sipping on a cappuccino or espresso, or relax with a glass of wine or a pint of beer.
- Larkspur : 240 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, California
- Proof Lab, Tam Junction : 244 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, California
- Downtown San Francisco : 986 Market Street, San Francisco, California
- SOMA: 222 2nd Street, San Francisco, California
- Fort Mason : 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco, California
- Lake Merritt, Oakland: 175 Bay Place, Oakland, California
Oakland & The East Bay
Across the bay from Marin County, the East Bay region beckons with a growing number of roasters and specialty coffee shops. Here you will find several locations of Highwire Coffee and coffee roasting-only premises for AKA Coffee and Coffee Manufactory.
Highwire Coffee
5655 College Avenue
Oakland, California 94618
With its home base in Oakland, this coffee roaster was founded with the belief that quality coffee could be shared in a space where everyone felt welcome; where connecting over coffee was more important than talking about coffee. In 2011 a scrappy, DIY version of Highwire was launched in the Rockridge neighborhood, where it still stands today.
- San Pablo: 2049 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, California
- Coffee Trailer at Flowerland : 1330 Solano Avenue, Albany, California
Red Bay Coffee Roasters
Red Bay Coffee fulfills its mission of bringing “Beautiful Coffee to the People” at its coffee roasting headquarters in Oakland, but the Certified B Corporation doesn’t stop there: it leads the way forward with empowering hiring practices and fostering an inclusive community for everyone to enjoy.
- Headquarters Cafe : 3136 International Boulevard, Oakland, California
- Oakland Public Roastery : 3098 East 10th Street, Oakland, California
- San Francisco Ferry Building : 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, California
- Red Bay Coffee Box : 2327 Broadway, Oakland, California
- Red Bay Coffee Van (Lake Merritt)
San Francisco
Ah, the City by the Bay. Home to Karl, the Painted Ladies, the Golden Gate Bridge, and a growing number of amazing California coffee roasters. Once overshadowed by the heavy-hitting coffee cities of Portland and Seattle, San Francisco is quickly approaching West Coast coffee mecca status.
Sightglass Coffee
270 7th Street
San Francisco, California 94103
Sightglass’s flagship space houses their production roastery, a dynamic open coffee bar, a community gathering space, and the company headquarters all under a single roof. Nestled in San Francisco’s SoMAneighborhood, this small, but mighty factory comes alive with daily activities. From roasters practicing their craft, to baristas handcrafting beverages on the coffee bar, this progressive manufacturing and retail space offers customers a distinct and immersive coffee experience. Last, but certainly not least, The Affogato Bar on the mezzanine level, offers a fun, customizable experience.
- SF MOMA : 151 3rd Street, San Francisco, California
- Divisadero : 301 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, California
- Mission : 3014 20th Street, San Francisco, California
Santa Cruz
Beyond the SF City Limits on the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, you will find beautiful beaches, forests, and small towns along the way, and — at the head of the picturesque Central Coast region — the legendary surfing city Santa Cruz, home of Verve Coffee Roasters.
Verve Coffee Roasters
1540 Pacific Avenue
Santa Cruz, California 95060
With its five beautiful locations in this city of 65,000, you truly can’t go wrong with Verve. If you’re looking to get the full Santa Cruz experience, however, we recommend their spacious Downtown location amid the wonderful shops and restaurants on Pacific Avenue. Here, you will find a large, wooded space with outdoor seating and delectable treats not to be missed!
- 1010 Fair : 1010 Fair Avenue, Santa Cruz, California
- Pacific Avenue : 1540 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, California
- Seabright : 104 Bronson Street, Santa Cruz, California
- 41st Avenue: 816 41st Avenue Santa Cruz, California
— Peter Lacerenza, Social Media Manager
If you are interested in finding other popular coffee roasters in other states, we have the coffee guides for you. And if you’re curious about the best Southern California coffee roasters, Trade is here to help.
