Many dogs were also drawn to the coffee aromas. Photo: Shawna Chen/Axios
Q Specialty Coffee near Laurel Heights has been making a splash ever since it opened last year, and it's not hard to see why.
I stopped by on a recent sunny afternoon and the place was packed. After one sip of my drink, it all made sense.
Catch up quick: The mastermind behind the shop is Cyrus Shen, who also owns Toast'N Egg in the Inner Sunset.
Green coffee beans are roasted in-house — a process you can actually watch (and smell) in real-time.
They also offer slices of Lady M's famous mille crêpes. It's a bit of a splurge at $12.95, but the matcha is forever my favorite.
Even though it's a coffee shop at heart, the café went viral online for its "cloud topper," a light, velvety foam that adds a creamy texture when poured over drinks.
Try the Hojicha Velvet Cloud ($7.95) — a rich and earthy latte topped with hojicha cream that adds a touch of sweetness.
If you go: Hours vary, open daily at 3490 California St.