Charge Explainer
§ 01 · DESCRIPTOR

What is SQ *BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE OAKLAND CA on your bank statement?

Here's what this charge most likely is, grounded in our prefix dictionary and what the descriptor itself contains.

High confidence

This appears to be a purchase at a Blue Bottle Coffee location in Oakland, CA, processed through Square.

Most likely: Blue Bottle Coffee
a specialty coffee shop · Oakland, CA
Processed by: Square
Square is a widely used payment processor for small and independent businesses. When you see 'SQ *' on a statement, Square handled the transaction on behalf of the actual seller — in this case, Blue Bottle Coffee.
Category
Food & Drink

Doesn't look right? Things you could check:

  • Check your email for a receiptBlue Bottle Coffee often sends digital receipts via Square if you provided an email at the time of purchase.
  • Recall a recent visitBlue Bottle Coffee has several locations in Oakland, CA — thinking back to a recent coffee run may help confirm this charge.
  • Look up Blue Bottle Coffee locationsBlue Bottle Coffee's website lists all of its café locations, which could help you identify which specific store this was.
WHAT THE DESCRIPTOR TELLS US

Square processes card payments for small and independent businesses. The name after SQ* is the actual seller — often a cafe, salon, food truck, or market vendor — not Square itself. After the SQ* prefix the descriptor reads “BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE” — that leftover text is the most likely seller. It also carries a location — OAKLAND CA — which usually marks where the purchase happened.

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RELATED DESCRIPTORS
  • SQ *BLOOM NAIL SALON

    This appears to be a payment to a nail salon called Bloom Nail Salon, processed through Square.

  • SQ *GREEN EARTH FARMERS MKT

    This appears to be a purchase at a farmers market or market vendor called Green Earth Farmers Market, processed through Square.

  • SQ *PARK PLACE BARBER OAKLAND CA

    This appears to be a payment to Park Place Barber, a barbershop in Oakland, CA, processed through Square.

  • SQ *PHILZ COFFEE

    This appears to be a purchase at Philz Coffee, a well-known specialty coffee chain, processed through Square.

The SQ* prefix has its own page: What does SQ* mean on a statement?