Authentic Ethiopian Coffee Roasted in SoMa
On your way into the office, you may pass a small corner of SoMa where the morning feels more intentional. That’s Sextant Coffee Roasters, the only Ethiopian-owned specialty roastery in San Francisco.
Bright, independent, and rooted in founder Kinani Ahmed’s heritage, Sextant begins with a simple truth: its owner was born in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. That origin story is not symbolic—it is personal.
Growing up in Addis Ababa, Ahmed was immersed in Ethiopia’s ceremonial coffee culture. In his family’s home, coffee was roasted in small pans, ground by hand, and brewed in multiple rounds as part of a daily ritual that brought people together. That early experience shaped his belief that coffee is not just something you drink, but something you gather around.
After moving to San Francisco for college, Ahmed spent more than a decade managing cafes across the city. In 2014, recognizing that no Ethiopian-owned roastery existed in a region known for specialty coffee, he opened Sextant in SoMa. The name references the navigational instrument once used at sea—a quiet nod to the journey from origin to cup.
From the beginning, sourcing was direct and relationship-driven. Sextant works closely with farmers in Ethiopia—many of whom are extended family or lifelong friends, as well as growers in Kenya, Colombia, and other coffee-producing regions. These partnerships honor coffee’s origins while supporting the communities behind each harvest.
The roasting style reflects that same intention. Rather than chasing trends, Sextant caramelizes natural sugars within each roast to create a signature, subtly sweet profile. The result is balanced and nuanced, allowing the character of each origin to come forward.
Today, Sextant has grown to three locations across San Francisco:
1415 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
539 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
201 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Each space carries the same commitment to craft and cultural authenticity, while the original SoMa roastery remains central to its identity.
Sextant represents something essential about the neighborhood. SoMa has long been industrial and inventive. Today, that foundation supports independent makers building businesses with intention and perspective.
Here, heritage meets forward motion.
Here, what’s emerging becomes what’s established.
Sextant Coffee Roasters is more than a morning stop. It is part of SoMa’s ongoing story—rooted in origin, shaped by craft, and evolving alongside the neighborhood it calls home.
