HI NRG
Coffee shop · Inner Richmond ·
Specialty coffee, vinyl DJs, and unique drinks like Cafe de Olla
Specialty coffee, vinyl DJs, and unique drinks like Cafe de Olla
"In just over a year, the cooler-than-thou duo Luis Gonzalez and Nathan Kruse have turned this coffee-first cafe into one of San Francisco’s few genuine FOMO vibes, a see-and-be-seen morning hang with DJ sets and innovative coffee drinks. Cool Coffee People will recognize the roaster lineup—Ethiopian beans from Dak on filter, French roaster Tanat on pourover—and the rotating signatures are worth the wait: the riff on cafe de olla is mellow and delicate, and the espresso with coconut water is a smart combo that highlights lots of body. Pastries come from Vinegary Personality, a one-woman operation; sometimes it’s cardamom buns, sometimes slices of crumble cake, and they’re always worth an order. Walking up, you’re as likely to spot twenty-somethings in camo who’ve never held a gun as a serious watercolor painter by the door; the line moves quicker than you’d think, music is as front-and-center as the coffee, and you’ll probably find a seat—just don’t count on weekends. Insider tip: don’t try to drive (parking is tough), expect a long line unless it’s a weekday, and if you like what you see, come back for one of the pop-up’s coffee tastings advertised on their Substack." - Paolo Bicchieri
"Cyclists, espresso nerds, and aspiring DJs (and the occasional combo of all three) come to Hi Nrg to mainline caffeine. But even if you’re none of those things, the coffee shop inside of High Treason is a good place to drink cafe de olla after getting your fill of organic squash from the farmers market. While you’re there, play our favorite game: “How many people can you spot in head-to-toe Pas Normal?”" - patrick wong, julia chen 1
"There’s not really anywhere better to drink a Hong Kong-inspired latte than beside a fat throng of stylish young people while a thumping DJ set cavorts through the Saturday morning air. If there is, Hi NRG would have something to say about that. It’s the pop up from Luis Gonzalez and Nathan Kruse, both of whom cut their teeth at the Coffee Movement. The inventive drinks are matched by high-tech gear and infectious warmth from the two owners." - Paolo Bicchieri
"Hi Nrg is a coffee pop-up that operates out of the vinyl-happy High Treason wine bar in the Richmond, serving pour-over, espresso drinks, and excellent cafe de olla to the usual Clement Street wanderers. Naturally, they also serve wine and beer, and host the occasional live DJ set—ideal for a coffee date to impress someone with cooler music taste than you." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"Hi Nrg is a coffee pop-up that turns High Treason in the Richmond into a daytime hangout spot. With the Hi Nrg folks behind the counter from Wednesday to Sunday, the wine bar becomes a cafe filled with a rotating cast of cyclists, coffee nerds, and aspiring DJs who flock there for pour-over, espresso, and excellent cafe de olla. Stay a while and listen to the records on rotation or the occasional live DJ set before the wine-drinkers reclaim their turf. photo credit: Patricia Chang" - Julia Chen
