Graffeo Coffee Roasting Co.

Graffeo is the world's finest coffee, and also much more than just coffee. The staff is off the charts knowledgeable about both coffee, as well as their proprietary roasting process. If you want to gain real coffee knowledge there is nothing like time at Graffeo with their team sharing insights and artisan experience. The community they have built is equally amazing. When I had family drop by Graffeo the team offered a full tour of the roasting facilities! For the younger family members the Graffeo experience was a highlight of their San Francisco visit, on par with riding on cable cars. Hats off to the entire Graffeo team, and enthusiastically recommend Graffeo to anyone looking for either the world's finest coffee, or one of the world's finest communities. Having now visited over the holiday season I would add that their Christmas decorations are wonderful. For a moment in time I thought I was on 5th Avenue in New York City. For anyone who enjoys the wonder of the holiday season in San Francisco I recommend walking by this store to enjoy, and of course purchase some coffee for later as well.

Passion in every bean. Just got a bag and sipping a cup of earthy, delicious and strong dark roast as I write this. When I was checking out the roastery the friendly folk there explained their process of roasting the bean evenly throughout without burning them. They're total purists and care so much about coffee. You can taste the quality. Will be ordering more bags

January 2025: Stopped by for coffee beans. Read about this coffee shop a few months ago and was very excited to try the beans. They don't offer coffee to drink. Only beans to go. I got the light roast whole beans to make pour over coffee at home. Beans were excellent! I will be back again for more delicious coffee beans!

I read about Graffeo from my Google feed and was excited to try their coffee beans. I really enjoy coffee and tasting new beans, especially dark roasts. Unfortunately, these beans were seconds away from being charcoal and the small amount of flavor left was flat, sorry Graffeo, not for me.

Just ordered some Coffee from here to be delivered to me (they ship!) and it's by far the best coffee I've had. They really take pride in crafting a perfect roast. The flavors are delicious and I love the story of how Graffeo has been a staple to coffee nerds like myself. Keep it up!

Best coffee bean in the city, likely the country, maybe the galaxy, is from this place. I love their unique, craft approach to roasting. You can really taste the difference in how clean the roasting process is. Ask them about it! They are super friendly and have a great atmosphere. Savor this bean.

Great experience! Super cool to see how they roast the coffee and hear about the process. Great gifts. This is the stuff of coffee lovers dreams!

The best ground coffee I have ever bought. Was recommended by a local, while I was holidaying in SF. Bought some to use while on hols; went back and bought a load more to take home to UK. Sensationally good. Really exceptional. The owner was also interesting to talk to, which was a bonus.

To be honest, i can only post about the quality of their coffee procured via the USPS. And staying honest, their light roast is likely the very best coffee I have ever brewed and consumed in my life. I have traveled and lived in Italy and Spain enough to appreciate quality coffee (and how canned American coffee just cannot compete). Their light roast just destroyed the custom blend I buy at my local South Bay roasting company. The aroma, taste, no hint of any bitterness...just simply the best cup of pour-over coffee in my life. I just ordered 2 more pounds. Yes, it is really that good. Thank you SFGate for an article about Graffeo...which prompted us to order some to try. Now, we're hooked...

It's nice Italian vibe. It's a beautiful coffee shop with amazing surroundings.. The service is good.

If you're looking for some coffee, come here to little Italy, best coffee in town right here! the owner Luciano, very knowledgeable! Ciao

Simply the best coffee roasted and sold by the best people. I hadn't been to Graffeo (or San Francisco) since just before Covid and was glad to learn (and taste) that the beans here remain as perfect as ever (*even if, tragically, I've switched to decaf since my last visit). Don't ever change!

Absolutely amazing!!!!! Some of the best coffee I've ever had! I love it. I'll never buy coffee from any other shop. Service was great! Extremely affordable.

Great spot and friendly people! Couldn't recommend more. Everything I've ordered has been amazing!

This is the best coffee money can buy. I won't change it for the world. When I order over the phone I get very good service and I receive it within two days

Great service and amazing coffee. Bought three pounds for myself and to send to family. Not usually a dark roast fan, but the coffee is so smooth and delicious. Highly recommend.

Owner is friendly and the dark roasted coffee is superb. Yes, I am a coffee snob and would definitely recommend this if you are in the area

A roasting company that's been here for many many many years is a treat to many . The in and out roaster is simple but yet historical. Come say hi to the welcoming staff and purchase a bag to enjoy . Hooray !

Graffeo Coffee is like the Nirvana of coffee spots--totally iconic and consistently on point. I grab their beans by the pound(s) because they're always fresh-roasted and so good they make you question why you ever settled for less. The staff? Super friendly. The vibe? Classic SF. Their coffee is so good it might even replace your morning "me time"--because why flick the bean when you can grind it? 5/5 stars, no contest.

What is happening? Good morning when you do coffee for a long time you do it well. Luciano has been here since 1957. These guys are the original. Pete the original blue bottle. I am Stuff. Come here if you want. Incredible freshly roasted on the premises, coffee beans. JYW highly recommend there is none better.

Old coffee maker that has been around since 1935. They only sell beans and will grind the coffee for you. It's $23 a pound and it's very good. I bought a pound of dark roast . It's an independent coffee maker go support them sometime if you can.

I have been a decaf coffee drinker for about a year and Graffeo is my favorite bean of all the SF beans *and I have tried them all). I also love that this is such an historic SF business (since 1935!!) All they are missing is a gorgeous bistro where they can also serve you a coffee drink when you pick up your bag of beans, but you can't always have everything. Graffeo is very much part of the MAGIC that is San Francisco.

This SF institution is a must if you like good coffee to buy to take home.They do not serve coffee to drink..They have dark ,light,& decaf roast.It is 23.00$ a lb.You must buy at least a 1/2 lb.This is the coffee that you get at all the fine restaurants in North Beach and other spots.The owner is supper nice.Support your local businesses .Give it a shot you won't be disappointed

This is the best coffee, freshly roasted, ground to your specificity, friendly customer service. And if not local, they ship!

I've been buying Graffeo and having it shipped for 20+ years. I joke my friends visit me from near and far for my coffee which is partially true. Thanks to Graffeo. Always fresh my delivery person says the days she has my coffee on board she hates leaving it her truck is so fragrant. I've never been to the store I have it shipped as I'm 7 hours away. Honestly don't know how'd I get my morning started without my Graffeo! Super sweet to chat with on the phone when I call my order in! They feel like family 3/4 regular beans mixed with 1/4 decaf Love my Graffeo!!

The best coffee! And the nicest people. We've been drinking it every morning for 35 years. Just moved back into the city and get to buy it from their shop on Columbus. Try it and you'll see what I'm talking about!

BEST coffee ever. Love my Graffeo. Can't believe it took me so long to find them. But now I am spoiled for fresh roasted beans. Can never go back!

A friend gave me a pound of cofffee as a gift a few years ago, and I have been hooked ever since. I love this coffee, do mail order as needed and have actually even given a pound or two away to friends as well. This is the best coffee I have ever experienced, and I am a true coffee lover. Its super rich and always the perfect aftertaste...I order the dark roast beans (mostly)..they are gorgeous and shiny in the bag, and grind perfectly. I look forward to every purchase!!!

Since late 80's have been a fan of Graffeo's... have given this coffee as gifts and are fans since I lived in Marin County, Los Angeles(with sister Tina) and our attorney Dennis(gotta keep him awake and on the ball) and now my home in Camarillo. Each day my sister and I are together, our mornings wouldn't start without a toast to Mr. Graffeo("king of coffee)

This is a review of the customer service. It was my first time there and did not realize they only sell beans. I walked in and the gentleman behind the counter was chatting with what seemed to be a friend (and probably customer because they had a bag). I didn't want to interrupt so I waited patiently. The gentleman behind the counter noticed me and asked how he could help me. He apparently saw that I was confused and looking to order a cup of coffee (I'm sure this happens a lot) and abruptly said, "We don't do that here. Just beans. Thanks for stopping by. Have a nice day." That whole interaction took less than 10 seconds. And proceeded to chat with the other person there. It felt rude and blunt, and I immediately left. I was actually interested in buying some beans to take home and give as a gift to family. But he was quick to end the interaction with me. He didn't even ask me if I was interested in buying beans! I was so turned off that I just left. He made me feel stupid, silly and out of place.

Best blend of coffees I have found. I prefer the light roast. Incredible cup of coffee. It's the only brand I purchase. Nicely packaged and shipped.

This place is an oddity - the beans are very high quality, and it's clear that this roaster knows what they're doing, and is very good at roasting. However, they seem to mostly produce Italian roast coffee, which is an *extremely* dark roast coffee, even darker than French roast, which is already an extremely dark roast. Here's a description of what coffee brewed from an Italian roast tastes like: "Coffee brewed from Italian roasted beans will have very little of the natural characteristics inherent in the green bean, especially acidic notes. Flavors will range from bittersweet tones to burned or charred tastes." I'm not sure why they decided to push "never bitter" as their tagline, when it's literally a defining characteristic of the main roast they choose to produce. So if you're looking for an extreme dark roast, or specifically an Italian roast, this is probably about the best you're going to find in the world. However, if you're looking for a general coffee roaster, or you're not a fan of extremely dark roasted coffee, you're probably going to be out of luck here.

Something has changed with their beans or roasting. Tastes weak/watered down, not as dark full or bold anymore. Doesn't bloom. Maybe it isn't fresh.

Been a customer for at least 40 years and have never had anything better. I've tried the new breed of roasters and processes and they all fall flat. You can make a strong cup with no bitterness or aftertaste and get a kick start. If you visit and talk to Luciano you'll no more about coffee in two minutes than most people learn in a lifetime.

Coffee the way coffee should be! I am coffee snub, OK? I heat up my coffee mug before I pour coffee in it! I toss the coffee out if it is too weak or if it has a less than desired aftertaste, I do NOT put anything but whole milk or cream in my coffee! You see what I mean? I just drew an ugly picture of me as a coffee drinker, didn't I? That maybe true, but I drink no more than two or three cups of coffee each day and I want it to be damned right, specially the very first one in the morning. Graffeo roasts their beans just right! I love their dark roast. It is good for drip coffee and it is good for espresso machines. They roast their beans right there, so when you walk in the heavenly smell of coffee hits you like an angel's wing! By 1/2 lb of their whole bean, take it home, grind enough for one serving*, make your coffee right away, and try it! *Never, ever grind your beans and let them sit there for days. Coffee absorb smells like sponge. You do not want your coffee to smell like the salmon you had last night, do you?!

Hopped in to the store on a casual walk around the neighborhood. Bought a half pound bag of their dark roast and it was so delicious, I cannot wait to go back and buy my next month's supply!

This is it...the best of the best and classic San Francisco. Graffeo was one of the earliest artisan roasters ... a gorgeous store, a top quality product and a very cool man behind it all (and at the counter). Going to Graffeo is like going to church, only better. I love everything about this place...it's lack of snootiness, it's lack of pretension and stupid young hipsters who think they know coffee, the marble counter tops and the beans stored in garbage cans on wheels. This is what North Beach and San Francisco are about. When I was young, I was intimidated by this place. Now I miss it. (Darn you, Covid) I just ordered their coffee online. ALSO Graffeo will grind your beans. This is the real deal, humans!

The sell coffee beans only . No coffee. Great tasting. They sell their coffee to the restaurants in San Francisco.

Long before I'd heard of Blue Bottle, Ritual, Stumptown, Starsucks (no, not a typo) or even Peets, Graffeo was a part of my life, Growing up, the wonderful smell of their coffee roasting would waft down Columbus Ave. I never had the chance to enjoy their coffee growing up (my family had Hills Brothers then Yuban as the coffee of choice way back when) but I always loved the smell. In this day and age, when I get a chance to go into North Beach, I pick up the Dark Italian. The richness of the flavor with a full body makes for a perfect cup. And its not acidic like some coffee out there! One of my sisters also loves their coffee so I try to pick up some for her when I can. When she gets some of their coffee, she's in Heaven! Its not cheap and its not overpriced. Its oh-so-worth it. When it comes to coffee, quality definitely should come before quantity.

Stopped her with a friend who's husband will ONLY drink this coffe - so I'm trying some now too - thought I'm not a coffee snob.... Small unassuming place - just 2 kinds of coffee. Luciano was the man behind the counter and I assume the owner too. He was adorable and fun. Check it out!

My absolute favourite coffee roast in the world. The staff is very knowledgeable about their coffee because they roast it right there! Ask them about any coffee questions you may have. They're soo good that's the surrounding restaurants in the area serve their coffee!

I have been buying coffee here for over 50 years and have never been disappointed. I no longer live in SF, but that's not an issue. I order online and my letter carrier shows up with a fresh package of whole beans. She says it makes her truck smell wonderful. Their coffee is consistent and has a wonderful flavor. They do not burn their beans like some companies do and that makes for a better latte, or whatever you're making. Highly recommend them.

They roast some of my favorite coffee beans. Whenever I am in town, I always stop in and buy a pound of the dark roast. They only sell coffee beans here and you can get light dark or mixed.

I got half LB deep roasted last Saturday, it's so damn good!! Will be back absolutely!!

Years ago, when I first moved to the Bay, we had our first dinner at the beloved Original Joes in North Beach; after dinner we ordered coffee and dessert. The coffee was so wonderful I had to ask where it came from and I learned it was from Graffeo - just a couple of blocks away. From time to time, I treat myself to a pound of this glorious beverage. Original Joes serves the dark roast and that is what I choose. I'm not normally a dark roast fan but Graffeo is an absolute treat for me. Best coffee in the city!

I've been ordering Graffeo coffee for over a year now and it's the best coffee I've ever had. There is no other coffee that could replace it. I always order the dark roast and I highly recommend it if you love coffee. If you have nottried it yet than you haven't had good coffee!

Graffeo's claim that it is simply the best is no lie. I have been drinking their coffee since 1978. It has been delicious and consistent the entire time. Luciano and his lovely staff provide cheerful and efficient service to all who come through the door. Mail order is available, too. I can't really say enough except that I'd rather give ten stars.

The best coffee in town. After 28 years, still loving it. Try the dark roasted, you will go crazy just the aroma from grinding the bean.

Quality? 5 stars. Taste? 5 stars. Concept? 5 stars. The best coffee in NB for decades. These guys supplied Mario's their coffee & espresso back when I worked there, & I loved the days when I was sent to do the pick up because the regular person was late or sick. Yes, it was like a treat to come here. There's so much elegance in simplicity, & Graffeo keeps it simple. Light, dark, half & half, or decaf. That's it. No drinks, no seats. Buy your beans, & see you next time. Like Liguria bakery a few blocks away, it's straightforward & uncluttered. I really like that. It was often said that the best espresso in NB was Illy & Graffeo. But, there isn't an Illy boutique in NB. 5 stars.

A week ago, I was exploring the city by night and walked by Graffeo's storefront and told myself I would go back there the next day. From the outside everything looks so clean and simple there's a long store counter, a scale, and a roasting machine in the display window. The next day I was privileged enough to be back in the same area. The owner greeted me with a smile and states that the dark roast is his favorite. I got half a pound ground and half whole bean as a gift. The coffee smells and tastes so good I would love to come back here for special occasions whenever I'm back in town.

I ordered there fresh roasted coffee beans, they mail them the same day they roast them. Amazing coffee!!

Graffeo has been around since 1935, is the old and wise rooster of artisan coffee. In many ways they still do it better than other "neighbourhood" caffeine kids who sometimes show more hat than cattle. Unfortunately, I don't get to the City often enough to repeat my previous and regular Graffeo habit when I used to live here. But it is a real treat when I do return to North Beach. I prefer the Dark Roast like I love Gayle: rich, full, and never bitter!

Excellent coffee beans and friendly service provided in the midst of the COVID crisis. They are available for in-store purchases as well as delivery, albeit with modified hours.

This old roaster is often left out of the conversation about local coffee, which is criminal. Their coffee is consistently delicious. The 50/50 dark/light blend is a coffee I daydream about. This coffee breaks a strict rule that modern 3rd wave roasters would never consider - combining different roast levels. But the results are so amazing, it's a rule I'm happy to break. (Caffe Vita's Queen City blend does this also) The result is such a full, rich, satisfying cup, that I'm not concerned with tasting the essence of a specific farm or elevation. Great as french press or pour over. It would be more fair to compare Graffeo's coffee to the likes of Starbucks or Peets - as it is similarly dark. It is far superior. This is the real thing. Highly recommended for coffee drinkers who prefer a more traditional coffee.

I don't get the hype. They only offer 2 varieties: medium and dark from one region. Why would you pay $20/lb for a dark roast? Actually coffee appreciators should avoid this place. Walk a couple stores down and go.to Beacon where they serve Andytown.

When I was a wee lad (skip if you've heard me this say this before), I would walk past this place and breathe in DEEPLY to enjoy the coffee aroma. Of course, I wasn't a coffee-drinker then but I love italian and spanish coffee now, and when I pass by these days I get great memories of my time in both countries, mixed with my childhood. I recently walked in for the very first time to buy coffee for a friend who lives on coffee, and I don't regret it at all. I weaned her slowly off Starbrucks, doing the same with Peek's, and hoping she will visit me soon to sample true spanish coffee as I do, with milk and not water. Inside, you'll be asked which brand desired, then if you want whole beans or ground, then if ground, what will you use it with, and what type of filter will be used. wow. The coffee you purchase is in a plain brown paper bag, stamped with the type, and closed with thick plastic tape. Meet for coffee? This place only sells one thing: coffee. For it to be here for so many years and still active in sales must be a statement of its quality and flavor.

Why 3 stars? Because I didn't get the hype. --- --- --- Seems like a cool enough place, but I was looking for legendary. Has anyone seen him? This was a long time coming, as I'd wanted to try Graffeo for many years. It definitely wasn't bad, but it wasn't anywhere near as good as Blue Bottle. Maybe very expert roasters will disagree with me (which is totally fine) but I felt underwhelmed and was left asking, "why the hype?"