Linea Caffe
Summary
Visited: 01/19/2024, Friday 1:30 pm, Mission location
Good for: quick pick-me-up, learning about coffee from the staff
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I’ll be recommending this spot to those who truly appreciate coffee, and foresee being a regular here myself for their top-notch espresso and milk-based drinks
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the in-house drinks may seem pricey compared to other local coffee shops, but the quality is a cut above and you get what you pay for
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if that’s not enough, you can be proud that your money is going towards a Certified B Corporation that is actively working to improve their sustainability and environmental impact
Locations
Mission
3418 17th Street
Linea is close to all the action on Mission Street and Valencia without being caught in the chaos of either street (6 minute walk from 16th Street BART, 10 minute walk from Dolores park), making it a very easy stop as you’re exploring the Mission
Portrero Hill (Roastery)
1125 Mariposa Street
Linea from the corner of 18th Street / San Carlos Street
Linea's standing bar and benches on San Carlos Street
Linea's entrance on 18th Street
Linea's order counter and to-go coffee shelf
First Impressions
before even stepping in you’ll notice you’re not expected to linger - it’s a small, get in, order, get out kind of establishment
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however, they will still serve coffee in ceramic mugs (which is a must for properly savoring your coffee) to be enjoyed either on the benches just outside or the makeshift window sill-turned-standing bar (which I love - standing bars at cafes have a way of encouraging me to be present and enjoy the coffee)
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I was happy with the customer service; the baristas were very friendly and asked if I had any questions when they saw me perusing the coffee options (since the location wasn’t busy at the time, they happily entertained my numerous questions)
Bonus Points
Linea roasts their own coffee at their Potrero location (see below about their coffee sourcing + roasting philosophy)
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Linea uses dairy milk from Straus Family Creamery, a local Bay Area company that produces organic dairy products from cows in Western Marin and Sonoma counties (also used by nearby Garden Creamery, one of my favorite ice cream places ever); oat milk was also available
Other Comments
coffee sourcing + roasting philosophy
all of Linea’s coffee is certified organic and roasted at their Portrero location, and they claim to partner with environmentally friendly producers and importers
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they’re also a Certified B Corporation (recognized for their high social and environmental performance and transparency)
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equipment
Mazzer Kold S grinder, La Marzocco KB90 espresso machine
espresso & milk-based drink
I ordered 1 and 1 (double shot split into a single espresso and a single macchiato, charged $5.75 as a double macchiato)
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pulled from their Linea Reserve Espresso beans
pour over
Linea does not serve pour overs
Ratings
get something else
does the job
enjoyable
worth coming back for
espresso
texture
thicker syrupy body (which I much prefer over flat and watery espresso)
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taste
hint of fruity sweetness to balance out the acidity, with a mild and enjoyable level of bitterness that made this shot very smooth and sippable
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appearance
since this was split out from a double shot, I can’t critique the crema amount (or lack thereof)
macchiato
texture
the milk was frothed beautifully, the microfoam texture was properly captured and enjoyable throughout
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taste
the milk cut the acidity of the espresso perfectly without overpowering the coffee itself, and presented its own sweetness that shows the barista did not burn the milk (all too common in supposedly reputable cafes)
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appearance
to produce this kind of art in a cup this small demonstrates that the milk was both frothed correctly and poured extremely skillfully
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other comment
I have no doubt their other milk-based drinks will be equally impressive
pour over
coffee
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method
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aroma
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texture
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taste
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other comment
freshness
what I saw on the shelf was roasted 3 days prior, although they sell bags that are about ~10 days past their roast date at half price (which I bought)
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according to their website, Linea roasts their coffee every Tuesday & Thursday (available to order online with free shipping for orders above $50)
pricing
the beans are generally on the more expensive end compared to other local specialty roasters (average at Linea is about $2.5/oz for single origin, $2.8/oz for espresso, and $2.2/oz for blends)
bag style
comes with the one way valve but no means to re-seal, so you can expect coffee to stay fresh prior to opening (but you’ll need to tape it sealed yourself or store in a proper container)
Linea's selection of coffee beans to take home
Ratings
get something else
does the job
enjoyable
worth coming back for
"Heyvis Sagastume"
single origin from Honduras
roast level
not specified
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price
typically $26 for 10 oz ($2.6/oz), but this bag was purchased at half price
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brew process
Chemex (6-cup)
Fellow Ode Gen 2 w/ stock burrs @ 9.0 grind setting
195°F brew temperature
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result
the coffee came out clean with the pleasant caramel flavors and syrupy body I hope for in South American coffee, but yielded the mildest bitter aftertaste that I couldn’t tune out with just the brew temperature and grind level (suggesting this may be just darker than medium roast)
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verdict
this was a darker roast than I typically enjoy, but I’ve been impressed enough with Linea Caffe to believe I can find other beans that I’d brew regularly (especially with more guidance from the baristas)