For twenty-five years, Central Coffee Tea and Spice has been a welcoming space for the eclectic residents of NOPA. In that time, Central Coffee, as it’s known to locals, has become a fixture of the neighborhood and has cultivated a consistent sense of place and reliable community, even as the area around it has evolved and changed.
Ali Gharavi originally discovered the then empty space in 1993 after peeking through a hole in the wall of the next-door laundromat. Two years later, he was able to open the cafe we know today. Throughout its entire tenure, Ali has worked seven days per week welcoming residents, typically employing a small staff of neighbors.
Though it has not been easy, Ali, himself a NOPA resident, has kept the shop open during the COVID-19 pandemic. The skeleton crew has risen to the challenge of social distancing, employing gloves, sanitizer, physical barriers, and more-frequent hand-washing - following the strict protocols set by the SFDPH in order to ensure both they and their patrons stay safe. In doing so, Ali has incurred the additional cost of these measures even as revenue has diminished. Additionally, Ali continues to serve the community he loves by delivering food and coffee to long-time customers who are elderly or otherwise need to stay strictly inside. “They didn’t quit on me back then [when he was getting the cafe started]” and now he is determined to not quit on them either.
If you would like to support Central Coffee Tea and Spice, in addition to stopping by for a take-out coffee or snack, you can:
Buy a gift certificate (or a few) that can be redeemed at a later date.
Order coffee or snacks delivered by Postmates (stay tuned for other platforms)
Call to order whole beans (Ali will send to your address). (415) 922-2008
Central Coffee is located at the corner of Grove and Central and is serving to go items 7am-1pm Mon-Fri and 8-2pm on Saturday and Sunday
