Sightglass Coffee Bar & Roastery in SOMA San Francisco. Wholesale & Retail coffee.

I had to list this one or I'd be crucified by the SF coffee-nazis...(ok, it is a damn fine cup of coffee - micro-roasting anyone?)

"dude, stop staring over your laptop and try talking to her instead." Oh yeah, the coffee ain't bad, either.

24th St. at Folsom. Their speciality is custom blends from all over the world. Pretty strong coffee compared to other coffee houses. Skip the Espresso and go for their drips with cream and sugar.

The best ocean view - ever. (Yup, it's a restaurant and hotel, too).

Los Osos Cafe, Los Gatos

Nestled in the South Bay's most scenic (and wealthy) enclave, enjoy great coffee with the hummer-driving, 90210, 'mean girls' set. Just like Lugano or Como, except without the Russian mafia...

Great Sunday brunch, everyone tries really hard to be more low-key than their neighbor (even though secretly they're all Noe Valley multimillionaires), and people are embarrassed if they're not seen reading at least 'The Economist'. The largely lesbian waitstaff are largely friendly. And there's a really cool park right across the street.

You are a Coupa snob, or a "Europeen" who only hangs out at del Doge (you know who you are...); but you (yes you!) are missing out on the best coffee in Shalo Alto - Cafe Epi! Each cup is individually pressed, and the ambient/lounge music almost convinces you that you have parachuted into Milan in Spring...

Great coffee, awesome people-watching, hot waitresses, over-priced food, live music, bookstore next door. What more could you want?

A hidden gem. Sunny garden, integrated bookstore, extremely polite (though muscular and impressively tattooed) waitstaff, and affordable and tasty food. (Lacks wi-fi, however). Also, you are supporting a great cause.

You can't leave this place without getting at least one set of digits - need I say more?

Does this place have the best coffee? Nope. Great desserts? Not really. Friendly service? Not so much. There is only one reason for putting this on the top 5 list - water views plus a refreshing breeze whipping off the garbage tip (err...golf course). Oh ya, and the free google wifi (thanks google, now stop snooping on what I'm typing right this minute!)