Equator Coffees — Restaurant in Marin City

Hey friends! This review is about sustainability only. ☺️

By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. While i am delighted to see that you are a B lab member who is working at chipping away at his problem, I was kind of sad to see that most of the folks in here working or meeting with friends are drinking out of single-use to-go cups.

I understand that the to-go cups you provide are technically compostable, but without any real composting infrastructure on site, these will go straight to the landfill or ocean as well. It looks like you just have one trashcan collecting everything, and just because something is “compostable” doesn’t mean it actually gets processed as such.

I wonder if to start, you could better communicate to folks who are staying to have their coffee that they have the reusable option of the mug. Maybe it’s as simple as asking, are you going to be having your coffee here?

I also wonder if you might be able to provide a separate receptacle for the compostable cups. And work with some entity in the county to pick up said composting.

I love that you don’t sell any plastic bottled water, so kudos on that! And if my observations are wrong, then I stand corrected!

But I think as a surf-related, ocean-adjacent, B lab coffee shop, you could interact with customers accordingly to make sure they are aware of—and are normalizing—the for-here, reusable option. Thank you for your consideration, and for the...

Sweet bustling coffee shop with delicious offerings, friendly staff, and a space a tad too small for its popularity. I stepped into a line that looked intimidating - starting at the backdoor - but moving quickly and efficiently.

I overheard the folks in front of me quoted a 15 minute wait for their coffees upon placing their orders, so I treated myself to an almond croissant to enjoy while I waited for my oat milk lavender latte.

As I sat outside, enjoying my croissant in the beauty of the day, I witnessed many people walk in and walk out in a huff - some declaring they were going to Starbucks instead. I hadn't yet finished my pastry by the time my latte was ready, and it was worth the wait. Smooth and velvety, hints of lavender complemented instead of overwhelmed the oat milk concoction, and it wasn't too sweet - something many other big-name shops tend to disappointingly gravitate towards. I sipped on it while people-watching under a cloudless blue sky while I finished my croissant.

This is a place best enjoyed when you have a little time to spend, not if...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. I've had Equator Coffee (and Tea) over the past 4 years at a variety of locations (SFO T2, Arizmendi Bakery, Plow, Bouchon, The French Laundry, etc.) but this is their first stand alone location. It's attached to Proof Lab, a surf shop. The space manages to be cool, trendy, beachy, hipster-y but not pretentious. It also fits in very well in Marin. I love the mix of wood, foliage and surf boards. It's dog friendly, too! They serve pastries from Flour Craft Bakery, including morning buns and "cronut" knockoffs called "Croissant Custard Filled Donuts." I could spend hours here reading a book and watching the traffic/bikers go by. The vibe is just perfect. Plus the service is splendid. I loved my Cold Brew coffee. The barista even asked if I knew how cold brew was made (and its strength.) I liked that! Parking was...