There has been much anticipation in the Upper Haight as locals await the opening of the new Ritual Coffee Roasters location at 1300 Haight St. On Tuesday, April 26th, the wait will finally be over as Ritual Coffee will officially open for business.
Located on the corner of Haight & Central, and kitty-corner to Buena Vista Park, the former Lucky Cleaners & Laundry has undergone a nine-month renovation. When asked why she chose the Upper Haight location for a new Ritual Coffee storefront, the company's first new brick-and-mortar cafe since 2011, owner Eileen Rinaldi expressed excitement about being part of the Haight community. "This spot reminds me of our spot on Valencia when we first opened 11 years ago. It was a quiet block." With its tall windows and views of Buena Vista Park and the area's Victorian homes, Rinaldi continued, "this spot is where I would want to have coffee in the morning."
In talking about its design, Rinaldi commented that they "chose the aesthetic based on the neighborhood." "The space was designed by Architect Lizzie Wallack, of Envelope A + D and built out by Bradford Construction. [The cafe look and feel] was inspired by European cafes of the 1930s and '40s and vintage San Francisco," said Rinaldi in a press release for the opening.
“We wanted to create a feeling of extension from the cafe outwards into the community as well as allowing the community and park to visually enter the space. While simple materials and soft colors were chosen, their geometries and applications challenge the common palette” said Wallack. "The cafe features a custom Synesso Hydra MVP espresso machine, artwork by Maggie Johnson, mirrors that evoke a Viennese café, and custom tilework," Rinaldi continues in the press release.
While the space will offer only indoor seating when it debuts next week, Rinaldi let us know that they are actively working on a permit for outdoor seating. There's no solid timeline yet, though.
The menu will be similar to Ritual Coffee's other locations and will feature pour over coffee, batch brew, espresso drinks, cold brew, and pastries from a variety of local bakers.
Coinciding with the opening of the new location, Ritual Coffee has also introduced a rebrand. The company's typeface has taken on a somewhat softer appearance, and while they're keeping their red and white color scheme, they are moving away from the familiar black packaging. The company's website has also undergone a revamp, but the cup and star logo are here to stay.
Previous typeface. Image: Wiki
New typeface for Ritual. Photo: Amanda Gonzalez/Hoodline
Started in 2005, Ritual Coffee has its own roastery in SoMa and boasts nearly 100 percent direct trade coffees. They also sell their roasts wholesale to other cafes in the city. Now up to 70 employees, including baristas, the company is steadily growing. However, they're looking to add even more staff and are actively hiring for their Haight location.
Will you check out the new spot next week? If you do, let us know what you think.
