The Coffee Movement — Restaurant in San Francisco

Difficult to find parking (Balboa Street), finally found some on this rainy morning. Walked inside (door was wide open, like an open business would be) and was told, "sorry we don't open until 7am, we are still setting up!") So I started to walk back out but then looked at my phone and discovered that the time was precisely 6.59am! Seriously? Very bad customer service in my opinion. One staff member was actually just standing and waiting at the register and was ready to go and the other staff (who was the one who decided that less than one minute before they open was too soon to help a customer and seemed happy to let them walk back out) was fussing with stuff, didn't seem like anything vital or that would prevent them from taking an order. I worked in the service industry for many years and a more polite response could have been, "we are moments away from being able to help you, please take a seat and we will be right with you" or something like that. I actually had to tell them that I would just wait until they were ready and I watched my phone until it changed to 7am (which was about half a minute) and then went to the register to order. The lady who served me was very nice but the whole experience put a bad taste in my mouth (so did the coffee, it's not even worth it), I should have left when they said they weren't ready but I stayed because I found it so ridiculous to have to wait less than a minute before they could take my order! Maybe some old school customer service training would be help.

In response to owners comment after I posted this review, which I am unable to respond personally to, I have never done a google review for a business before. I felt strongly that I had a bad experience and I think anyone with an ounce of sense would realize how ridiculous it is to have your door open for business, allow customers to walk in and then turn a customer away and tell them you are not ready. Why open your door? Reality is that it was less than one minute from 7am! Those are the facts, like it or not! It is bad...

I chose this coffee shop based on reviews and recommendations, but my experience was so-so. The line was outside and moved very slowly — but when you go inside, you understand why. The coffee shop isn’t small at all, but the layout is strange: there’s little space inside for people, and it’s unclear whether you should get a to-go order or expect to sit — there simply are no seats. The line seems longer than the coffee shop can hold, and it gives the impression that there are more employees than available tables. Yet service is still pretty slow: a regular coffee shop with one barista handles orders faster than these four people making my coffee. Because of this, there’s no “wow” effect — just an ordinary drink and the inability to sit and relax.

In the end, the story of my visit boiled down to this: this coffee shop is the perfect place for those who are willing to stand in line, don’t mind cramped spaces and a large staff, and value the “busy” atmosphere over speed. For me, it was just another stop on the list where getting a hot drink takes more nerves than pleasure. I recommend that management buy tickets for the staff to travel to European cafes to gain experience and discover new flavors.

P.S. When I shared my honest feedback, the owner’s response was a dismissive “please stop. your European cafe escapades await you.” In other words: they’re too clueless to fix the chaos and too arrogant to care. Don’t expect any improvements here—this coffee shop would rather mock customers than actually...

If the motto is “Good times, better coffee,” Coffee Movement Richmond is halfway there, and thankfully, it’s the half that matters most. The coffee is excellent. Seriously. Pour-overs that make you reconsider your life choices, most of the time. The fit-out is clean, modern, and quietly confident, just like the espresso. If you’re here for conversation or small-town hospitality, you might be disappointed. But if you’re here to caffeinate and get on with your day, you’ve found your place.

Price point is solid. I usually pop in for a split shot to share with my partner and finish with a pour over. I pay for the single estate coffee, because why would you not.

Let’s be real: the service doesn’t quite hit warm-and-fuzzy, but then again, you don’t go to a tattoo artist for a cuddle, and you don’t come here for chit-chat. You come for seriously well-made coffee, and in that department, they overdeliver. Whether you’re grabbing a quick takeaway or lingering to people-watch in the Richmond flow, Coffee Movement delivers on its promise, maybe not the “good times,” but definitely the “better coffee.”

Most chumps order milky coffees... perhaps the baristas want to serve people that love coffee. Open...