Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Coffee Movement

    4.6 (742 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

    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, I noticed how open, well-lit, and airy the entire atmosphere was. The employees also had a very chill laid back vibe as the entire environment was super casual. 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. 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!!

    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. Bonus points for the cable cars rolling by out front. Makes for genuinely epic photos while you sip.

    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. There is no inside seating/eating, but skinn parklet in front did the job for us. There were even two newspaper to catch up on the news if you so please. Love when the cable cars goes by. 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.

    Flight of drip coffee
    Suraj R.

    The derive was good, I ordered a flight of 3 different coffees, all drip, each one of them tasted different and the notes were distinct for each coffee. The service is fast and the barista is patient with the order. Would highly recommend for coffee lovers, The queue may look longer but it moves fast.

    Coffee sign out front
    Wendy G.

    Cute but crowded. The line doesn't take too long and there are some spots for sitting or standing and sharing your drinks with your friends right out front. However, people tend to park at these spots for quite a while, so don't count on finding a place for yourself. The staff is friendly and ordering is relatively simple. There are several staff members available to help you and they are very efficient as it is a very small space. The coffee itself is amazingly, smooth and delicious. Our group tried some seasonal favorites, including a cocoa cappuccino, mocha latte, and some standard like a regular latte and a cappuccino. This is a great San Francisco treat!

    Mike B.

    Simple menu to the point great service great coffee. I wish they had more locations unfortunately I believe they have one other location in town. It's usually either way, but worth the diversion.

    cocoa cappuccino
    Esther C.

    Love the coffee at The Coffee Movement, consistently great quality. The baristas are super friendly and make the experience even better.

    Edison H.

    Didn't see the OG staff members this time around. Wondering if they're at their newest location to help get it started? I'm glad my favorite drink is still part of the seasonal offering. I did noticed the coffee cream soda changed a little bit. They used to offer a healthy amount of that coconut cream topping and a large piece of that orange zest. Flavorwise.. it's the same as the memories and that's the important part. Didn't set up my phone in time to get a good shot of the cable car passing by so don't judge the pics.

    Orange Cream Latte - basically just milk, look at that color...

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 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

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike B.
    0
    93
    208

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 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

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    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.… Read more

    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

    Kopiku Coffee - Pandan Matcha (Oat Milk)

    Kopiku Coffee

    4.7(505 reviews)
    0.9 miMarina/Cow Hollow
    $$

    I was SO SO excited to try Kopiku since it's been on my list for so long!! I visited on a Saturday…read moreand luckily the rush came in right behind my friend and I. I'm a lover of pandan and had SO much trouble choosing a drink because of it lol. I ended up ordering the kopi klepon and it was amazing! The drink was super creamy and earthy, and I loved how vibrant the pandan flavor was. Oftentimes when I get pandan drinks the flavor is way too light, but this had the perfect amount. It also had a bit of palm sugar in it, which added just the right level of sweetness. Definitely lived up to the hype!

    Been wanting to come here for the longest time since Indonesian coffee sounded so unique! Luckily…read moreno line on a Saturday morning but people slowly started coming in by 9:30. A couple tables along the side but overall not too big inside. Couldn't decide what to get but I loved that their menu included visuals for the components of each drink. Price is slightly on the higher end but I guess you can't get Indonesian coffee anywhere else in SF. Ended up with a macchiato and cappuccino to try. Staff was friendly and I appreciate that they were informative about the macchiato being different than how Starbucks does it. Our drinks were freshly made and ready in 5 mins. Size of the macchiato was definitely a lot smaller than I realized but the coffee was nice and bold. Both drinks allowed us to appreciate the pure coffee bean taste without being too bitter. Looking forward to coming back and trying the popular kopi pandan!

    Photos
    Kopiku Coffee - Kopi Pandan

    Kopi Pandan

    Kopiku Coffee - Kaya toast

    Kaya toast

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

    See all

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

    The Coffee Movement - coffee - Updated May 2026

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