Fans of Sightglass Coffee have been flocking to the new Mission location since its February opening, but few may know of the design partnership behind the buzz.The Sightglass guys first teamed up with Boor Bridges Architecture at their original 7th Street location—a lofty, masculine space with rugged custom elements, from lighting to hardware. The 20th Street location—a welcome addition along the culinary corridor created by Trick Dog, Salumeria, Central Kitchen, and Atlas Café—while significantly smaller, is similarly packed with intricate and thoughtful details, from a brass pastry case resembling a jewelry box to the redwood sapling chevron ceiling, with the “distilled simplicity of the cabin of a sailboat,” says Anand Sheth of BBA. It’s an intention clearly evidenced in teak bar fronts, banquette, and shelves and brass hardware.
The Mission spot reads more cozy old-world café than coffee factory, with a mosaic "coffee" entry and original windows; but in addition to thoughtful design, the two locations share the role of roastery along with esspresso and pour-over coffee bar, presenting a challenge in itself to fit all of its functions into a tidy space. BBA tackled the issue with built-in niches for merch and a banquette that wraps around the perimeter of the space, offering ample spots during peak hours. Coffees are roasted on a handsome vintage 1969 Probat (a smaller version of the one at 7th Street), with a selection of blends exclusive to this location, along with pastries from local bakeries. And in case you needed more reason to camp out, a parklet is in the works. // 3014 20th Street (Mission) sightglasscoffee.com
