Trouble Coffee, the beloved Outer Sunset cafe, has closed for good. Customers learned of the closure on June 29th, during the coffee shop’s 15th anniversary BBQ. Owner Giulietta Carrelli shared the news directly with friends and regulars who lamented the loss of this Ocean Beach mainstay.
Ownership of the cafe at 4033 Judah will pass to Laura Seymour, owner of local restaurant DamnFine, and her partner Colin O’Malley, owner of Sunset Cantina. SF Chronicle reports that Seymour and O’Malley plan to reopen the space as DamnFine Coffee, this Saturday morning. “I hold it very near and dear. It’s bittersweet even for me,” Seymour remarked about Trouble’s closure. “We’re excited to honor the legacy but also add our own spin on it.”
Seymour and O’Malley, both longtime Trouble customers, will serve coffee, roasted specially for DamnFine. The duo also plans to serve a version of Trouble’s famous cinnamon toast, alongside pastries from SF based Black Jet Bakery Co.
Trouble Coffee started in 2007 with Carrelli as the owner, barista, builder, and creative force behind the business. Over the next 15 years it would establish itself as one of the most unique cafes in the city. A draw for customers was the chance to spend time with the eccentric and enigmatic Carrelli, who fiercely embraced a DIY ethos and has penned several manifestos that convey her unique perspective on community. In 2014, Carrelli was the subject of a “This American Life” episode where she shared how she created Trouble Coffee and spoke candidly about her diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.
Famous for their coffee, fresh coconuts, and thick cinnamon sugar toast, Trouble is often credited with being the birthplace of the artisanal toast trend. On her decision to put toast on the menu, Carrelli told NPR, “My mom used to make me toast. And so when I was first opening up Trouble, I wanted to feel safe. Toast was that for me. And I also knew it was going to be that for a lot of people. Nobody can be mad at toast. I mean, it’s toast. It’s cinnamon toast. Everybody’s stoked.”
DamnFine Coffee will open Saturday, July 2 and will be open from 7am-5pm daily.
Featured image: @emzybillz via Instagram