I was tipped off about Spro Coffee Lab by the baristas at Devout Coffee, visiting Spro’s Mission Dolores/Castro coffee shop the following day. In typical Coffee Spot fashion, this was Spro’s second location, its first being a trailer in San Francisco’s Mission Bay/SOMA neighbourhood. Fortunately, this is close to Caltrain’s San Francisco terminus on 4^th and King Street, my gateway for my various day trips to the city, so the very next day, I headed for the original Spro.

Spro is part of Spark Social SF, a large outdoor food truck park, beer & sangria garden and event space. Impressively, given that it’s literally a trailer, serving from a window at one end, the menu is identical to Spro’s Mission Dolores/Castro coffee shop. The coffee’s from Black & White Coffee Roasters, its Classic espresso and decaf on espresso, joined by a blend and two single-origins on pour-over through the V60, along with mocktails and other drinks. There’s also the full range of salads, open-face toasts, soup and sandwiches, plus the dedicated pastries and desserts menu.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

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Located at the eastern end of Spark Social SF, Spro’s Mission Bay/SOMA trailer is just one of a number outlets that serve a bewildering variety of food and drink between them. Spark is sandwiched between a soccer field (west) and a mini-golf course (east), all part of a narrow green corridor connecting the bay to the southern end of Mission Creek Channel.

Approaching from the bay, Spro is at the front of the park, just to the right of a large red, double-decker bus, the trailer done out in an even more striking red. Drinks are written on the side of the trailer, supplemented by three A-board menus below that, while you order at a small window to the left. This is quite high up, so a small footstool is provided (I’m 6’2” and found it useful). When ready, your food/drink will be brought to the window or you can collect it from the back of the trailer, which is just to the left. There’s a small collection of tables here with sauces, etc. It’s also where you collect online orders.

You’re free to take your order away (disposable cups, crockery and cutlery only, so don’t forget to bring your own) or sit anywhere in Spark, which has a wide selection of seating, including under canvas in the beer & sangria garden in the middle. Staying in the vicinity, there’s plenty of seating to the left of Spro, arrayed around the bus, including an Astro-turfed terrace in front of the bus. There are at least 10 two-person fold-up tables and chairs (most arranged in pairs) in front of the terrace, while at the front of the bus, facing the trailer, is a bench seat with a pair of two-person tables, the perfect place to sit if you want some shade.

Having tried one of the open-faced toasts when I was at the Mission Dolores/Castro coffee shop the day before, I decided to have a sandwich this time, choosing the Veggie Tales. This arrived wrapped in paper, consisting of a large ciabatta roll completely over-stuffed with avocado, cheddar, egg salad, tomatoes, onions and greens, with an amazing smoked guava rum dressing. It was ridiculously messy to eat, but incredibly tasty, easily one of the best things I’ve eaten this year.

For coffee, I went with a pour-over, having had an espresso the day before. I picked the Gogogu, a naturally-processed heirloom varietal from Ethiopia, which I had in my  Frank Green Ceramic cup. This was a lovely, sweet, fruity coffee which only improved as it cooled.

Liked this? Then don’t forget to check out the Coffee Spot Guide to San Francisco for more great Coffee Spots.

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