Cancel

Open app

Search

The Coffee Movement

4.6 (750 reviews)
ModerateCoffee & Tea
Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Coffee Movement Photos

Business Info

THE COFFEE MOVEMENT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

You might also consider

More like The Coffee Movement

Recommended Reviews - The Coffee Movement

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Mocha Cappuccino
Jenny C.

The Movement coffee spots in San Francisco is ranked a "must try" from Trip Advisory, so I decided to check it out. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The Movement Coffee house is located on a small street across from an apartment complex.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There was definitely a crowd outside, which made me think the coffee had to be good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I joined the crowd and stood outside. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space itself is extremely small, so the process is basically waiting outside until y you are beckoned or called to come in, place your order and grab your drink[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's not the most friendly or comfortable setup, especially not a small talk venue.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is limited so their focus is to turn out orders and move you out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The coffee was good and well-made, but personally, I think it's a bit overhyped for the experience. Still worth trying at least once if you're in the area and curious about the local coffee scene.

Sonali K.

We specifically made a point to come back to The Coffee Movement after visiting last year, and that says a lot--it clearly left an impression on us the first time. The service is quick and efficient, even when it's busy, and the coffee is consistently excellent. Everything we've tried has been well-balanced and high quality. The pastries are also a standout--both sweet and savory options are worth getting and pair really well with the coffee. It's the kind of place where you end up ordering more than you planned. Overall, this is one of those coffee spots that sticks with you. We're glad we came back, and it continues to be a favorite stop in San Francisco.

Calli Y.

Found this place close to my hotel so decided to give them a try. I got the seasonal drink and I thought it was good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very small little shop and no inside dining.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They do have a few seating outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I also tried the orange pistachio muffin and I thought it was a nice little muffin. Not overly sugary.

Iced Vanilla Rosemary Latte (~$6)
Aya E.

Ordered: Iced Vanilla Rosemary Latte (~$6): espresso, milk, and seasonal vanilla syrup infused with rosemary and juniper Cortado (~$4) Aya's take: I love when a coffee shop knows what they're doing, and The Coffee Movement is proof of that! First off, the staff is super friendly & warm. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Second, it's a pretty small cafe with a cool aesthetic but definitely meant for a grab & go.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got the Iced Vanilla Rosemary Latte which was terrific. The espresso was bold & balanced, the vanilla rosemary enhanced every sip with flavor, and it was smooth & creamy overall. The Cortado was also well executed. Really well done! This is probably my favorite coffee shop I've had in the Bay so far; highly recommend checking them out!

Enjoying my vanilla rosemary latte
Donovan H.

San Francisco always sees a ton of movement; with the taxis, pedestrians, bike messengers, autonomous vehicles, trolleys, cable cars, and in this case, coffee! This takes me none other to "The Coffee Movement", a very popular community-based coffee shop that actually dates back to 2016. And some might say, how did they get their name? Well, the founders of this place actually began as a mobile cafe in the back of an vintage VW Bus; hence the name "movement". And the rest is history. This is one of two locations in San Francisco; one is in the Richmond District and the one I am reviewing here is in Chinatown. Located directly on Washington St and in between Mason & Powell St's, The Coffee Movement has been serving their local craft-style coffee dating back to 2019. I came here during the morning on Saturday 2/14/2026 at around 9:30am. Just a heads up that if you plan on driving here, I would avoid doing so at all costs as finding a parking spot is virtually non-existent. However, they do have respectable hours of operation being open weekdays from 7am-2pm and weekends from 7am-4pm. As I made my way to the main entrance, I waited in line with roughly 15 customers ahead of me. However, the line moved quickly and as I made my way inside of the business, [[HIGHLIGHT]]I noticed how open, well-lit, and airy the entire atmosphere was.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The employees also had a very chill laid back vibe as the entire environment was super casual.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Menu is also simple with a small variety of coffee, tea, matcha, seasonal, and signature beverages. Finally, they carry a small pastry selection including cookies, muffins, Danishes, and croissants. Since I was saving my appetite for lunch, I only ordered a drink which was their "Vanilla Lavender Latte". I chose whole milk as my base while the drink itself includes seasonal vanilla syrup with honey and lavender. What I really enjoyed is how excellent the customer service was at this place. The young man asked how my day was going which made me feel like a regular customer of this small business. My latte was above average but just not enough for the price I paid. Either way, "The Coffee Movement" is an above average coffeeshop that locals and out-of-towners will enjoy. My rating, four stars.

Dan P.

Iced mocha - drink was smooth but coffee/chocolate flavor was very weak, thought drink was watered down Rosemary vanilla latte (seasonal) - was a bit afraid it'll like turkey but rosemary was very subtle, requested for additional sweetener and I thought this didn't do much to the drink, again tasted watered down Came at 11AM and there was a line outside but it moved really quick. Staff friendly and drinks came out super quick. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's a restroom but no inside/outdoor seatings, only a couple of standing tables outside that's gives a great view of cable cars!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Coffee beans and merch
Chantel M.

This coffee shop is tucked away in Nob Hill but it's definitely worth stopping by!! The baristas are just 10/10 in making our drinks! I had a pour over from Black and White Colombia beans and my dad got the cocoa cappuccino. Both were smooth, flavorful, and well-prepared! The notes of my pour over were watermelon and bubblegum and I literally was able to taste those notes. My dad also really enjoyed his cocoa cappuccino as we were walking around the neighborhood. Definitely will be back again to try other pour overs and drinks!!

Matt V.

The best cappuccino I've had in SF. Incredibly smooth with zero bitterness or harsh acidity. Super fragrant and well balanced. They use Straus barista milk, which micro-foams beautifully and adds a natural sweetness that really shines. The beans they use are excellent and clearly high quality. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Bonus points for the cable cars rolling by out front. Makes for genuinely epic photos while you sip.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

vanilla rosemary latte and regular latte
Julie M.

Incredible service!! The baristas were super friendly and making casual convo, but still very speedy with quality latte art. They accidentally made one of our lattes with regular milk instead of oat milk, but they didn't hesitate to remake both drinks, not just that one! The latte suited my personal taste--not sour or bitter and pretty mild. I got the vanilla rosemary latte, which frankly I could barely taste the rosemary and even less so the vanilla, but still a delicious latte. I'd probably get a regular latte or cappuccino next time and just focus on appreciating the quality of the coffee itself. I heard that there's usually a line during the day, but maybe because it's holiday season, there was barely a wait at ~2pm on Saturday. Lucky us!

Magda G.

Visited The Coffee Movement yesterday. It's a very small spot with no indoor seating or restroom--just an outdoor standing area and a small bench. I ordered an Americano which is roasted at Saint Frank Coffee as their house blend, and it was incredibly smooth and delicious. They offer oat milk only as non dairy option. The only downside was that I wish the coffee had been a bit hotter. That said, the staff were absolutely wonderful--so kind and welcoming. If I'm ever in the area again, I'd definitely stop by. CC accepted

Cocoa capp
Megan J.

Don't go to the Coffee Movement looking for a vente frap. Do go if you're after quality coffee. I've been visiting for flavorful, well made cappuccinos since I lived up the hill in 2018, and tCM + Saint Frank are the only two things I miss about living in the area. Service is your typical small coffee shop in a big city -- they get to know/chat up their regulars, but otherwise minimal interaction. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is no inside seating/eating, but skinn parklet in front did the job for us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There were even two newspaper to catch up on the news if you so please.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Love when the cable cars goes by.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you have a coffee lover coming from out of town, definitely worth a stop! (Don drive, talk to cable car or walk up from Chinatown muni station.)

Interior magazine display
Johnathan B.

I've finally tried The Coffee Movement after hearing good things from friends, and I'm so glad I did. They have fantastic coffee and really good, minimalist vibes. I tried their cocoa cappuccino, and my husband tried their quick filter. Both coffees were great examples of their brew. The quick filter had fruity notes without being too tart, and the espresso in the cappuccino had caramel-y notes that paired well with the milk. (Unfortunately, I forgot to ask which beans they used for both.) Plus, the dusting of cocoa powder on the cappuccino was a nice twist. It added a pleasantly bitter flavor note that enhanced the rest of the drink. Even with the small cafe space and a long line, the staff were friendly and welcoming. They were also pretty efficient, since we only waited about 10 min from when we got into the line to when we ordered, and only a couple minutes thereafter for our drinks.

Honey lavender latte , matcha
Ashley D.

i got a honey vanilla matcha and it tasted perfect! good balance between the matcha and flavoring. my bf enjoyed his coffee as well. the store is only a grab n go type of place, but service was super quick! parking was fairly easy to find. very limited menu but everything looks yummy n good quality.

Coffee sign out front

See all

Review Insights

1 month ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 days ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 2
Photo of Nick S.
23
1713
6464

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 44
Thanks 10
Love this 34
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 9
Thanks 2
Love this 6
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

11 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

28 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Amrita N.
14
50
67

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 4
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 19

The Coffee Movement Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Coffee Movement

Do they serve pour over coffee?

They do not however their filter is incredible. Probably the best filter I ever had. Coffee Movement's filter is better than most places pour over. Try the tasting flight

Does The Coffee Movement sell beans?

Yep! They had some beans set up for sell! Onyx and Saint Frank brands. They also offer it on the website for online purchase!

Is the dairy there organic (e.g. milks, half & half, cream)?

Yes - clover organic whole milk and organic almond/cashew milk as a non dairy option.

Do you have any chai tea to make a dirty chai with?

Hi there, sorry but we don’t currently carry chai tea - but we do have a variety of teas from our friends at Song here in the city - some traditional teas like red, green, and oolong as well as a botanical called soba made with cacao and buckwheat.

Do they have Oatly brand oat milk?

Hi there, we don’t currently carry oat milk. But we do have an awesome non dairy option in our house made Almond Cashew - it’s got less sugar then regular milk and the cashew adds a creamy texture.

Whose beans/roast are you using?

Hi there! Great question - we’re a multi roaster cafe currently serving Saint Frank Coffee, Madcap Coffee, Heart Coffee and 49th Parallel Roasters.… 

Is there seating?

Hi there - Thank you for your question, we have some seating out front, as well as a few standing bars inside.

Can you make decaf drinks?

Yes! All drinks are available decaf

View All 10 Questions

You might also consider

Cafe de Casa

Cafe de Casa

4.5
(722 reviews)
1.0 mi
$$
Family-owned & operated
Speaks Spanish

Cafe de Casa is such a hidden gem by the wharf! We've walked by a handful of times but popped in on…read morethe 4th before watching fireworks. The interior is really spacious - there are a variety of table sizes that can easily accommodate one person or a large party. Despite them having a steady flow of people we barely had to wait to place our order & everything came out very promptly. We tried two of their specialty coffee / matchas - the Dubai chocolate latte & matcha verde w amarelo which were both great. We decided to stay for the World Cup game & got a couple bites & Brahma beers that we really enjoyed.

DO NOT PAY FOR DELIVERY…read more We paid extra to have our order delivered to our hotel and used the restaurant's order-ahead option. We scheduled the delivery for 9:20 a.m., but by 8:40 a.m. the app showed it had already been delivered. The problem? There was no food at our hotel room. I tried contacting the delivery driver by text, but never received a response. It was incredibly frustrating, especially after leaving a generous tip. We later found out the driver had left the food at the hotel but never told the front desk which room it was for, even though they had all of the delivery information. As a result, our food just sat there until we eventually had to go down and get it ourselves. In the end, I paid for a delivery service that I never actually received. Instead of enjoying the convenience we paid for, we had to track down our own order. Based on this experience, I would not recommend paying for delivery. If you're ordering from this restaurant, save your money and pick it up yourself. I paid for a service, but I did not receive what I paid for. Then to make it worse the breakfast sandwich was just OK. Nothing to write home to mom about. To say the least we will not be ordering her again and would not recommend this restaurant.

Photos
Love the window logo decal.
Love the window logo decal.
Cafe de Casa
Entrance

See all

Entrance
Saint Frank Coffee

Saint Frank Coffee

4.3
(1.1k reviews)
0.7 mi
$$

All around pleasant experience in terms of both the service and coffee. I had the flight and…read morethought it was overall good. They explained that the flight includes an espresso shot, espresso shot with milk, hot coffee, and iced coffee. I hadn't had a straight espresso shot before, so this wasn't for me personally just because it was so overpowering. I enjoyed the other three though. Like the majority of SF, parking is difficult to locate. I was dropped off nearby the location. There is indoor and outdoor seating; I was able to grab an empty spot late in the morning on a weekend, but I don't think seating is always readily available. It's not a huge space.

First time here for coffee! It's quite a popular shop and you see many sitting inside or waiting in…read moreline. Luckily we didn't have to wait a long line. It seems like there's also an upstairs but did not get the chance to check it out. I got an iced latte with their almond macadamia milk, and they're also so nice to do complimentary cold brew! So we got an extra drink for free. Trying the iced latte, it was pretty disappointing lol. I thought it would be similar to like a Hawaiian style latte with macadamia milk, but it was a lot lighter than I thought. It was definitely very nutty, but it also just tasted like water down latte. Honestly not much going on with the drink, but it does taste lighter in general. Crazy have to pay $1.50 more to add on this milk. Overall, its alright. I do like the natural lighting coming into the shop, but nothing too special.

Photos
View from back of the shop.
View from back of the shop.
Yuzu macadamia cookie and orange cream latte
Yuzu macadamia cookie and orange cream latte
Black Sesame Kouign-Amann

See all

Black Sesame Kouign-Amann
Kopi Kita Coffee

Kopi Kita Coffee

4.7
(530 reviews)
0.9 mi
$$

cute indonesian cafe that seems to be consistently popular - recently renamed from kopiku. they…read moreserve mostly coffee in the form of flavored lattes, cold brew based drinks, and also classic espresso and coffee beverages. they also have matcha versions of their coffee drinks. they seem to focus on highlighting indonesian culture & coffee (as you'd expect), which sets them apart from other coffee in sf. the interior is decently sized with some seating and a bit of table space, although i wouldn't say it's an ideal spot to get work done. the workers were super friendly and efficient and we got our drinks pretty quickly! i tried the iced pandan latte but i asked for it with oat milk & half sweet. this really exceeded my expectations as the pandan flavor was super strong and mixed in well, the espresso was strong, and the ratio was pretty good. it was definitely on the sweet side, so taking it down to half sweet was absolutely necessary for me. also, i think it comes as a 20 or 22oz drink instead of 16, which is a bit more than the average iced latte. this could be a plus in terms of value or a minus if you don't want such a big drink (like me). overall, i really enjoyed the coffee and the ambiance at this place. you can't go wrong with the classic pandan latte, but be aware that it's on the sweet side and that the serving sizes can be larger. hopefully i'll be back to try their other drinks soon!

I need to visit again, but I really enjoyed my first visit!…read more This is an Indonesian Specialty Coffee shop and they have a variety of Kopi drinks to choose from and they also have pastries. The space is cozy and I love the overall vibe. I got the Pandan Kopi, which was delicious and refreshing, the flavors complimented each other! Overall, it's a great spot to try Indonesian coffee and pastries, so definitely check them out if you're interested.

Photos
Pandan Matcha (Oat Milk)
Pandan Matcha (Oat Milk)
Kaya toast
Kaya toast
Masala Chai, Pea Earl Grey Tea, and a slice of Spekkoek.

See all

Masala Chai, Pea Earl Grey Tea, and a slice of Spekkoek.
Delah Coffee

Delah Coffee

4.5
(135 reviews)
0.5 mi
$$

I apologize in advance for not taking more pictures of our drinks and both Sweet n Savory snackies…read more Last weekend we booked a room right across the street from this place and said we would give it a go. Day one was outstanding. We each had our coffee. I ordered a Spanish latte and my lover had the date cinnamon latte. Both were wonderful. He also had Turkish coffee because we were just starting our day. I'm not about that life lol so I was good with my latte. Day two we splurged a little more and had Bee bites, a potato turnover, and a beef turnover. We also had the same lattes because why the heck not? Day three was a sad day when we had to leave home, but not without stopping and grabbing a bunch of snacks to go. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was more eager to get the food and drink in my mouth than to pop my phone out and waste time. Sorry, not sorry.

Pretty decent cafe in the area. I think the coffee was pretty good but my boyfriend doesn't really…read morelike it. He says there some sort of spice in it that he doesn't really like. Maybe it's cinnamon? I didn't really mind it though but I do know what he's talking about. There is an extra taste that you don't get at a different coffee place. I got the rose cake and it was alright. The rose flavor came through and it was a bit artificial (?) or maybe I just didn't really like the texture of a milk cake? Wasn't really my thing.

Photos
Pistachio latte
Pistachio latte
Delah Coffee
Inside

See all

Inside
The Buena Vista

The Buena Vista

4.1
(3.5k reviews)
1.0 mi
$$

Walked in on the early evening of 05/22/26 to be snapped at by the waitress handling the tables…read morenear the entrance so thought we would either leave or be in for a bad evening. WRONG We managed to find a table for the 6 of us, including a disabled member, in the back. The waitress and the gentleman assisting her could not have been nicer!! The drinks and food came quickly and was amazingly delicious ( although reviews said it would be)!!! The gentleman employee was especially attentive to assisting the disabled member of our group, even helping her stand and get around. Could not be happier except for not living closer to frequent Buena Vista more often. (PS... had items from gift shop shipped and they were packaged so very well and arrived cross- country within one week) Great experience

One of those iconic San Francisco spots that's absolutely worth visiting. From the moment we walked…read morein, the staff was fantastic from the hostess to the bartenders, everyone was friendly, welcoming, and made us feel right at home. The atmosphere is open, lively, and inviting. We loved the large communal tables where you can share space with other groups and even strike up conversations with new people. It's a fun, social experience that adds to the charm. Of course, the Irish coffees lived up to the hype. The food was decent. The location couldn't be better either, sitting right across the street from the cable car turnaround and the beautiful Aquatic Park, making it a perfect stop while exploring the city.

Photos
The Buena Vista
The Buena Vista
Summer of love 2017 at the Buena Vista

See all

Summer of love 2017 at the Buena Vista

The Coffee Movement - coffee - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...