Duh.... 1. You most likeley were checking out toursity areas. The starbucks will have mostly toursit (I imagine, union sq. metreon area). 2. True hackers don't like starbucks. They prefer local shops, that have better coffee, and free wi-fi.

The closest starbucks near my home, is open 24hrs, and at midnight is hard to find open seating (lots of students with their laptops, and books). It is so refreshing when at the midle of the night there are so many people around doing stuff. I moved in here from the Boston area (Cambridge), where at midnight everything was closed, and everybody was home.

And I see quite often people doing coding in their laptops. Actually, I am going to my favorite coffe place (cafe Cubano), and do some coding there (they have free wi-fi also).

You just have to go away form the touristy areas.