Third Wheel Coffee

Before Third Wheel Coffee ever served its first latte, Tom and Vida were just two baristas working side by side at Noe Café, unaware they had grown up only a few blocks from each other in San Francisco. Years later, that chance connection would become the foundation of one of the city’s most beloved neighborhood coffee businesses.

Third Wheel officially launched on April 20, 2020, as an electric coffee tricycle. The custom-built cart, powered by a car battery and funded entirely by the pair’s life savings, was designed to pop up at private events and street corners across the city. It cost about as much as a car, a bold bet on a dream they were determined to turn into reality.

But San Francisco had other plans. The city’s steep hills made pedaling a fully loaded trike nearly impossible, and navigating permits proved just as challenging. Rather than give up, Tom and Vida reimagined the business.

Their turning point came in early 2022, when Ryan Chinchilla, owner of Lucinda’s Deli, invited them to set up inside his shop on weekends. That summer, they built the coffee counter customers know today, transforming a corner of Lucinda’s into a warm, welcoming gathering spot.

The early days were slow; many days brought just 10 orders. But neighbors began telling neighbors.

Regulars brought friends. The smell of espresso drifted onto the sidewalk. Growth built steadily over time, expanding from weekend-only to serving the neighborhood seven days a week.

What began as a battery-powered tricycle has grown into one of the neighborhood’s busiest coffee counters, powered by a tight-knit team of seven. Weekend mornings spill onto the sidewalk. It’s the kind of place where you come for a latte and stay for a conversation.

Tom and Vida are deeply grateful to Ryan and the entire Lucinda’s team. Third Wheel wouldn’t exist without their support. But sharing close quarters has its limits, and both businesses are excited for the opportunity to grow in ways that allow them to better serve customers while continuing to collaborate as neighbors.

Now, the next chapter is brewing.

Third Wheel is opening its first official storefront at 991 Oak Street, just a block from Lucinda’s. After years operating in tight quarters, Tom and Vida have signed an eight-year lease, a clear message to the neighborhood: they’re here to stay.

The expansion reflects their steady, intentional approach to growth. “We really love being owner-operators and having high attention to detail, we always want to be in there ourselves serving our customers” they said.

Their philosophy: grow the brand, not the business.

That level of care shows up in every detail of the new space. Instead of laptop-friendly individual tables, they’re installing long benches designed to spark connection, inspired by the spontaneous connections they watched unfold in Lucinda’s doorway. There are plenty of cafés to work from. Third Wheel is building something different, a place where neighbors meet and community is as essential as the coffee itself.

In the meantime, they’re celebrating locally: their popular vanilla pine latte, a nod to this issue’s tree theme, will stick around for another month. Stop by the cart at Lucinda’s to grab one and taste the coffee that’s fueling the neighborhood buzz!

When the doors open on Oak Street in mid-April, don’t just pass by. Step inside, take a seat, and be part of the next chapter.