Kings Road Cafe

About the Business

Specialties

A neighborhood cafe, Kings Road Cafe offers breakfast all day, lunch and dinner, along with our notably exceptional coffee. Nearly a decade of recipe development went into our blend before it was established in 1990. It truly possesses a smooth, rich, full body with very distinctive flavors, without the typical bitterness of darker roasts. At Kings Road Coffee, you will find unprecedented satisfaction in every cup of coffee we brew. If you're looking to dine in a casual and comfortable spot with satisfying entrees and excellent coffee, then Kings Road Cafe is just what you're looking for. Our restaurant offers fresh and homemade dishes and a sophisticated beer-centric wine bar featuring 10 local craft beers on tap. Our creative dishes, experienced baristas, and inviting neighborhood cafe are a few things that keep our customers coming back for more.

History

Established in 1990.

Having grown up in San Francisco, Lawrence Casperson had the great fortune of being introduced to espresso, cappuccino, and lattes as a teenager in the 1960s. The Italian neighborhood, known as North Beach, had the best cafes in the city. In those days, there were two families roasting small batches in retail storefronts. The Graffeo family, who opened for business in 1935, would have a significant influence on Lawrence's future coffee. Years later in 1981, Lawrence met a "gourmet" coffee roaster who supplied the coffee to the restaurant where he was working. His visits to his warehouse marked the beginning of his roasting education. He was completely fascinated with the roast spectrum, single origin cupping, and the blending of varietals. Lawrence spent several years developing what is now his signature blend. When Lawrence opened Kings Road Cafe in 1990, he rented a storefront next door to the cafe, fired up his Probat L12, and began roasting Kings Road Coffee.

Meet the Business Owner

Business owner information

Lawrence C.

Business Owner

Lawrence Casperson grew up in San Francisco and began working in restaurants as a teenager. Over the years, he met some extraordinary people with exceptional talent who would have a dramatic influence on the cafe and his career. After some considerable time spent working in the city's finest hotels and restaurants, The Mark Hopkins, The Clift, Le Castel, and L'Etoile, he went to work for "The Unsinkable" Sam DuVall. He was involved with the opening of five different restaurants over the course of eight years as a manager both in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He was living in LA when it was time to go out on his own.Lawrence remembers vividly saying that he wanted to create the quintessential neighborhood cafe, and for more than twenty years, Kings Road Cafe has been an integral and vibrant part of the neighborhood, nurturing a sense of community on so many levels. For Lawrence Casperson, it truly is a labor of love everyday.