What A Grind

ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!! I took a sip and a bug was in my mouth and so I spit it out and when I told the worker, he starting blaming me! Screaming and cussing at me very inappropriately and told me, «GET THE F*** OUT OF THE SHOP. TAKE YOUR F***ING MONEY AND GET THE F*** OUT» so at this point I told the guy to calm down and talk to me because I have no reasons to put bugs in my coffee!!! He grabbed a chair and swung at me. I had to dodge the chair and so I quickly took a picture of the bug I spit out and left. I am absolutely in shock. I threw up multiple times and couldn’t eat breakfast until 3:00 pm. I will post a picture If that is possible. I hope they get shut down. Never go here. Disgusting service and BUGS IN THE COFFEE. WHAT THE HELL.

I, like many other Unilocalers had a bad run in with the woman who runs this shop.
I went every day last week, paid cash, and the gentleman was very nice. I tipped, a dollar (on a small coffee, nearly doubling the price of the drink) most days. I had decided this could actually be my regular morning coffee when I didn’t get to make a pot at home.
On Friday I went in, and was out of cash but read the sign that clearly states that credit card purchases under $ 5 would be charged a $.50 fee. Fine. When I tried to use my card the woman yelled at me, belittled me and repeatedly said «you really just don’t have $ 2?!?»
Unsure what to do I started counting out change. I guess I missed a dime in my rush and she started yelling at me again… I explained to her that I had thought I had counted correctly and I wasn’t trying to rip her off. She continued to exclaim «if you don’t have the money to pay for things you shouldn’t come»
I’m sorry– but if you don’t want to take someone’s debit card, which is where they have their money stored, then you don’t get to tell people where they can and can’t be shopping. Money is money. If you don’t want to take cards then be a cash only establishment. Don’t belittle people for living in the 21^st century.

This place charges for WiFi which I think is unfair. This is an example of how I feel nickled and dimed when I come here. I think a better neighborhood option would be to go to «Cup of Joe» which is just right around the corner at Sutter and Leavenworth.

What this place lacks in ambience, it more than makes up for in service and quality. Sam’s grilled chicken sandwich on french roll was warm and tasty, and his coffee fresh and hot. Sometimes it’s nice when a place doesn’t waste it’s money on décor and instead just consistently gets on base. Best for dropping in and out for grab and go goodies. Not sure about hanging about to listen to the traffic outside though. If this place served beer ‘n’ wine, and a bit of an interior decorator’s touch… I’d be in all the time.

Just ok slightly edible breakfast bagel with bacon, egg, & cheese. Coffee was decent not fabulously good. Better go to other coffee shops. Also no air conditioning in the hot summer heat in the high 70s.

Definitely not satisfied. My ice tea was over sweetened, the sign outside for Internet access was misleading and the lady at the register did not let me use the restroom a second time because she said it costs money even after a bought my drink. Never going back again

In a city that is frequently buying out mom and pop owned places I try and support the «old» San Francisco as much as possible. My boyfriend and I have been going here basically every single day for the past 11 months. We live right next door so it’s convenient and a great place to relax. I always order a triple white chocolate mocha. Yes I am from Seattle so a triple is necessary. The lady from behind the counter is so sweet! One of the kindest women I’ve ever met. She knows mine and my boyfriends orders by heart. And everything in her shop is delicious! Seriously if you have a sweet tooth or if you are «just not a coffee drinker» then her mochas are for you! They are sweet but not too sweet and the beans are great quality. I’m moving soon and although I will NOT miss my building I will miss my favorite coffee shop and will make an effort to visit when I come in the city.

I live around the corner and often end up standing in front of this coffee shop while I wait for the 2 or 3 inbound. A couple of days ago, my boyfriend and I were a few blocks up waiting for the bus when he suggested we should walk down to What A Grind to get something to drink and wait there instead. I had never been in, and he hadn’t been for years.
When we got here, I immediately plopped down out front while my boyfriend went in. Another customer got to the counter ahead of him, so he went down into the indoor seating area and started browsing the stack of miscellaneous books and magazines they have sitting there. He spotted a copy of Thomas Hardy’s «Far From the Maddening Crowd,» so he knocked on the window to show me, and I went in.
When I went in, the other customer was on his way out. My boyfriend went back up to the counter and I went over to browse the stack of miscellany. And I mean *miscellany*. A very hodge-​podge pile of old magazines and books. It looked like any «take a book, leave a book» pile you’d find in any coffee shop, except far less inviting. When I stood back up after poking around, I noticed my boyfriend had gone outside, so I followed him back out and sat down, thinking he had bought some coffee.
Apparently, the woman behind the counter told him «tell your wife not to steal my books.» Wow, excuse me? First of all, this did not look like a valuable book collection carefully curated by the swarthy woman behind the counter. This looked like what it was – a collection of forgotten books and magazines, intentionally or inadvertently donated by customers past. Secondly, what the hell? I was literally in the middle of adding the place to my list of book drop sites, because it looked like a «take a book, leave a book» shelf. Apparently, it is not.
In very short order, the purported bibliophile came out to inform me that seats were for paying customers, only. I immediately got up and walked over to the curb and told her, «We might have bought something if you didn’t accuse me of stealing your books.»
«That’s not what I said!» she said, as she got way up in my personal space. «I said my books are only for paying customers!» My boyfriend said to her, «this used to be a really nice coffee shop.» Then we watched her from the curb as she folded up every single outdoor folding chair and leaned them all against the wall. The entire coffee shop was empty, including all of the outdoor seats.
I wish I could say there was something we did that put her on the defensive. The only thing we did was not immediately throw money at her as soon as we walked in. I get it, this is the Tenderloin. If you’re not on the defensive, the wrong kinds of people could get too comfortable hanging out around your business. But this is ridiculous. You don’t get this kind of treatment anywhere else.

After checking out of our hotel I needed some coffee to start my day so I pop open my Unilocal app to locate some places nearby. As I walked up to this place I was a little wary. It felt like a mom and pops shop that was trying to be hip but didn’t quite hit the mark. I was scared the coffee wouldn’t be up to par so I opted for a white chocolate mocha to satisfy my sweet tooth. Wow was I surprised. It wasn’t quite what I’d expect a white mocha to be, but whatever it was it was delicious! One of the best I’ve ever had. To top it off, the woman working there was very nice. If I’m ever in the area I’d definitely come back and next time I’ll make sure to try their coffee.

Worst customer service and the most cancerous coffee with grounds in it. First, she refused a 5 dollar bill because she said it wasn’t up to par for her cashier till. Then she said she doesn’t give WiFi password to anyone that doesn’t buy more than 5 dollars of nasty coffee/​shitty pastries and food she serves.

Ordered a bagel and coffee and the bagel was cold and coffee was not hot. And the guy was kinda rude.

The coffee here is great and the atmosphere is quiet and calming. Great for just hanging out and getting your coffee on. Sign up for MOGL so you can get cash back on your purchase!

I love this place, convenient to work and home. They remember me and my order – each time with a smile and friendly greeting. What more could you ask for from your neighborhood coffee shop?! Go in, grab a coffee watch some people and enjoy the day!

So this is just a regular coffee shop, but the décor is nice for being straight in the tenderloin. The couch is pretty sketchy, but prissy people complain. They make great coffee, food is good and fresh. They do have a restroom for customers, and wifi. What else can you ask for? This isn’t a Starbucks so don’t expect the same. Complain somewhere else.

Interested in a coffee café/​deli in place of the regular coffee haunt? What A Grind at Post and Hyde Streets can fulfill your preferences for morning to early evening comestibles.
Be welcomed into this coffee establishment by Sam, Fatin, and other pleasant greeting employees. What A Grind’s menu is filled with sandwich variations, some ethnic foods, a complete range of teas, and of course a range of lattes, espressos, and their favorite coffee bean.
Seating is available inside, and most of these are arranged for 2 – 4 persons per table. A couch changes the seating décor by imposing its linear magnificence on the whole customer seating arrangement. There’s optional outside seating, and on a bright but cool day, the sunshine keeps customers warm.
What A Grind also has a deli and offers cold drinks that you might choose from a side cooler. The deli foods are daily fresh and homemade. There is a range of ethnic foods, bagels, and pastries. Cream cheeses are available for bagels.
What A Grind will satisfy your coffee-​sensing tastes but also your fathomable hunger – for a moderate price on single items.
See
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This place is awsome for being like one of the ONLY coffee shops to accept EBT as I am on CalFresh at the moment.
Coffee is nice and strong and good price. This place has a middle eastern/​nob hill feel to it which is quite nice and is round the corner from the Ariana café and has better seating outdoor/​indoor when you want to visit with someone and have a private conversation over a cup of coffee.

I’ve been here a handful of times. The first time I came, I was waiting to meet the building manager of my soon-​to-​be apartment. I ordered a mocha– and I don’t ever order coffee. I’ve worked at a coffeeshop and from what I seen, most do it the same; a couple pumps of mocha, throw an espresso shot on top, and fill it with milk. Uh-​uh, not this guy. He steams the mocha and milk together, squirts another pump in the cup, adds the shot, mixes it back and forth by moving it from the milk steamer cup to my cup a few times (all without making a mess), and then adds whip cream. But the way he mixed it made it so so delicious. Love a place that takes pride in their work.
Today I came in and ordered a sandwich. Way better than any coffeshop sandwich I’ve ever had.
Peter H said it best– it’s a dying breed. I’ve lived in this area for two months now and I already love the people way more than I cared for any of the people in lower haight/​hayes valley/​alamo square. I walk past this place everyday a couple times a day with my dog and the regulars are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They’re not yuppies, they’re normal people. People not bound to their iphones, or laptops, but rather to good conversation of other regulars and their newspapers.

Family run business. Friendly service and decent prices. Neighborhood place with indoor and outdoor seating. Décor is stuck in the 70’s and is homely. Huge croissants! Subpar bagels. Self-​service office station.

This place embodies a dying breed of eating establishments in San Francisco — the cozy, ill-​maintained coffee shop that serves marginal or older communities. Issues of Ebony and Essence litter the coffee table in the lounging room and an Egyptian bust gleams from the easternmost wall. A periodic table of the desserts and an empty, but working, refrigerator in the very room that I wait for my scalding 200º F bagel to cool off. I am perplexed.
There is no driftwood on these walls, and I don’t know if anyone knows where the coffee was grown or if it’s fairly traded. But there’s more interesting conversation here than among the iOS developers at Phil’z, and there is WiFi here, which farm: table across the street lacks.
It’s good at what it has, which is the standard egg and cheese bagel, and a decent and strong espresso. A well-​humored staff.

I was in search of a coffee shop this morning and after checking my handy Unilocal app, I decided to stop in here. Here’s the breakdown:
4 Stars: The Coffee. I had a latte that was delicious. I really enjoyed whatever roast they used. Great bagel at a great price.
3 Stars: The Man. Sam (I heard people call him by name the entire time I was there) was nice and quick to smile.
2 Stars: The Spot. The shop was pretty run down and the whole place was a bit unkempt.
A solid 3-​stars for «What A Grind». If they would revamp the sitting area, it could easily be 4 stars.
**NOTE**
$ 5 minimum on Credit Cards!