Four Barrel Coffee on Valencia @ 15th St. is slated to open on Monday. That's great news for the coffee-poor stretch of the Mission. However, lots of folks in the neighborhood have developed a special fondness for Four Barrel's erstwhile coffee cart located in the back alley behind the new cafe (described by one Yelper as being in "a dead end rape alley" which is actually pretty acccurate.)



Location aside, the spot has developed quite a following, and every morning people line up in the alley for the coffee. And it's good coffee- good and very strong.



In anticipation of the opening, today is the last day to enjoy Four Barrel's loading dock incarnation, and I think ironically many folks would prefer to just keep it as it is, since it's just about the coffee and nothing else. No scene. I mean, I guess you could argue that the scene is that there is no scene, so that's kind of a scene, but... that's all getting a little too meta for me. The sign is written in pencil on plywood, for goodness' sake.



Conversely, I expect that the "real" Four Barrel will be all about the scene... I mean, it's from the Ritual Roasters people, so it will probably open on the first day with a built-in scene. Tragically hip Mac owners, guys with ironic mustaches, and chicks with long bangs rejoice! As of Monday you'll have another place to go, which must be exciting.



All kidding aside, I have actually come to really appreciate the tragically hip people who hang out at Ritual and who will now hang out at Four Barrel, because I can just live in their neighborhood and go to places they go. By association it makes me feel a little bit hip, but without having to do all the work of constantly brushing my bangs out of my face or dating mustachioed men.

I love this town.