Equator Coffees — Restaurant in Sausalito

I'm a semi-regular at Equator (1-2x/month). My 2 stars is specific for 2 things.

The staff doesn't know what's in the baked goods and there aren't ingredients listed. This morning, I asked what the "good morning muffin" was made out of and the cashier said "Oooo. I don't know. Seeds?" So I asked what kind of flour and he said, "I have no idea." So I said, "You all work here. I don't know. Is there someone else who knows?" And the answer was "No, no one knows." As someone who pays attention to ingredients, and for those people out there who have let's say, an allergy to tree nuts, having either the ingredients listed or someone who knows what's in the food who is working at the establishment, seems kind of business 101 to me.

I order matcha lattes wherever I go and in this age where about 50-70% of the US population is blood sugar dysregulated (depending on what stat you read), I try not to add sweetener to my food and drinks. The matcha latte at Equator was way too sweet. They don't ask you when you order, what level of sweetness you want. It was morning and I didn't think to ask, because I'm there for some caffeine to wake up. When I picked up the drink and tried it, I almost keeled over from the sweetness. When I said something, I was notified that I need to ask for it to not include sugar. From my experience at different cafes around the country, quality service and a well trained staff prompts the customer, whether it's for size of drink, what kind of milk you want in your drink; or sweetness level. Please train your staff to ask.

Otherwise, I generally enjoy my experience at Equator and find it to be a good cafe, with a decent menu, and a nice atmosphere. I'd add a basic salad to the menu with an "add your protein" option and perhaps a second soup option in...

Paper Cup Mafia 🥤🥷🪙🥤🤫

TLDR: if you're sitting down, order your beverage "for here: in a cup"☕ otherwise you are paying 25 cents to litter.💰 🚮

Let me explain.

I specified I wanted my coffee in a ceramic cup, and noticed the register showed a -25 cent discount...So what?🤨

As I observed that day... everyone without exception, was served a paper cup by default!🧐

Customers "eating in" would enjoy their food on a plate and sip their coffee out of a paper cup. 🥤🤤

Every single one of you 🥴 had to pay for that little cup and I assure you, they are not paying 25 cents/cup in bulk. 10 cents is more like it, so they keep 15 cents as profit off you!! 🤑(suckers)

So while you're enjoying your inferior tasting coffee because they decided "washing dishes isn't fun" or whatever, you're essentially polluting and paying twice for it.💰🚮 (good job👍)

This is not unique to Equator Coffee, look around you. I don't mean to single out Equator, I think their coffee is excellent😘.. this is more of an industry wide issue, and I simply NEVER go to Peets or Starbucks.. who undoubtedly set the trend.

Doesn't matter where you go to chill ☕ ask for it in a cup. Enjoy your ...

TLDR: If only there had been more than half a cup of anything drinkable between whipped cream & so much ice. I also had to walk, as someone disabled, quite a distance & down steps to get my coffee – after being ignored.

When I treat myself to an overpriced coffee, I expect an entirely drinkable drink. Iced coffee with cream shouldn't include cream that's the consistency of a whip, other than as a topping, this was a third of the drink. I did forget to request less ice, no doubt due to having the person I'm ordering from walk away while I was ordering & never return.

Once I'd paid, no one said a word & I had to work to grab someone to ask next steps since their pickup station is in another building. Tis disconcerting that I (& my cane ) then had to walk a long aisle with a good (well, bad 😏) number of steps to pick up my pretty but disappointing coffee. Bonus tho', the service at the pickup station...