Coding With a Buzz: The Best Coffee Shops in Silicon Valley

Coders are popping up like digital daisies in Silicon Valley, where coffee is fertilizer for more than a few all-night hackathons. If you're looking for a spot to wake up and get some work done, pack your laptop for these South Bay coffee shops.

Barefoot Coffee

While the crew here actually does wear shoes (at least to work), Barefoot Coffee's transparency with regard to their sourcing and roasting practices leaves little to the imagination: The company's green beans are grown in fertile, sustainable soil in Africa and Latina America; are hand-picked to avoid the aid of gasoline-chugging machinery; and are roasted in small batches to ensure as little waste as possible. Barefoot Coffee also operates on Direct Trade principles, sourcing directly from micro-farms and paying workers on average 25 percent more than Fair Trade prices. True coffee geeks can learn more (and get 20 percent off beans) at one of Barefoot's upcoming roasting classes. But no need to get your hands dirty to enjoy the drip coffee or cold brew of your choice. Order up and settle in on the patio at Barefoot's cozy cafe in Campbell. // 1819 S Bascom Ave. (Campbell), barefootcoffee.com

Blue Bottle Coffee

Talk about a startup success story: What began as a humble third-wave coffee roaster 15 years ago, with just a small kiosk on the then-deserted stretch of Linden Street in Hayes Valley, Blue Bottle has grown into a successful network of cafes across the Bay Area. This year, BBC bubbled up in the Valley with a new location (and one of the most picturesque patios) at the mixed-use workspace HanaHaus. We love the all-white-everything vibe of the outside seating area, but if the glare on your laptop won't do, grab a chair at one of the long tables inside HanaHaus with outlets as far as the eye can see. // 56 University Ave (Palo Alto), bluebottlecoffee.com

Philz Coffee

A true Bay Area original, Philz has a genuine cult following that lines up daily, no matter the location, for its selection of cheekily named roasts, from Code 33 with its nuances of summer apples and tree nuts to New Manhattan's hints of ground cinnamon and dark chocolate. Whether you hit the grab-and-go spot at Facebook HQ or claim a table beneath the mural on the patio on Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, we recommend taking your joe the "Philz way"—medium-sweet, light on the cream. // 3191 Middlefield Rd. (Palo Alto); 1601 Willow Rd. (Facebook, East Palo Alto), philzcoffee.com

Red Rock Coffee

Red Rock Coffee makes our list for the owners' awesome support of their local community—the business regularly gives back to area schools and sports teams, and the shop also hosts a Saturday morning knitting club, monthly entrepreneur breakfasts, and story time for kids. Acts of caffeinated generosity, meanwhile, are made up of aromatic, single-sourced Four Barrel Coffee offerings, including the unapologetically whole-boded Lovo. Close your laptop, take a breather, and enjoy the second-floor view of Castro Street. // 201 Castro St. (Mountain View), redrockcoffee.org

Bellano Coffee + B2

Family-owned Bellano is a staple in the Silicon Valley caffeine scene, serving up great coffee and house-baked treats in Santa Clara since 2006. These days, the Bellano group has expanded its business to include Kickstart, its own branded boutique coffee roastery, and B2, a second location in San Jose's San Pedro Square Market. Top off your drink of choice with homemade almond milk and true vanilla-bean syrup. You'll be glad you indulged in an artfully foamed vanilla latte before opening up your inbox. // Bellano, 3985 Stevens Creek Blvd (Santa Clara);B2, 170 W. St. John St., (San Jose);bellanocoffee.com