11 of the Best Coffee Shops in Boston, MA
In a bustling and historic city like Boston, you just know that there are going to be some great places to grab a coffee, especially on those cooler days. Nothing beats the aroma of freshly brewed coffee when you step into the door of one of these places. Whether you’re on your way to work and need that caffeine fix, or you’re just looking to relax and enjoy the vibes of a coffee shop, Boston has you covered with a plethora of exceptional spots. So grab your favorite thermos, and get ready as we embark upon a delightfully caffeinated journey through some of the best coffee shops Boston has to offer.
1369 Coffee House
1369 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-1369
1369 Coffee House has been serving up the Cambridge community with delightful coffee for over 30 years. The first location opened up in 1993 on 1369 Cambridge Street, and they’ve never looked back. 1369 has won multiple Best Coffeehouse awards. Not just in Cambridge but in Boston overall. Here you can find some of the very best coffees and teas around. They also have some great house specialties like their Homemade Chai or their Hot Cider. You can also indulge in the likes of Vietnamese Coffee and Mexican Hot Chocolate too!
3 Little Figs
278 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 623-3447
This is the place that finds the perfect blend between a bakery and a coffee house. 3 Little Figs is well known for its tasty baked treats. From scones to muffins to bread and house specialties like spinach pie, 3 Little Figs is hard to beat. The coffee itself is sourced from Tandem Coffee in Portland, Maine. It’s one of the region’s best roasters, and you can tell with every cup. 3 Little Figs also features an ever-changing list of guest roasters from around the country, so there is always something new to try as well. Oh, they also don’t have any wifi and discourage computers. They want this to be a place where you can come and disconnect and relax, all while enjoying a fresh cup of coffee and a delicious baked treat.
Broadsheet Coffee Roasters
100 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 945-2867
Broadsheet Coffee Roasters has quickly established itself as one of Boston’s finest coffee shops and roasteries. Opened in 2017, this spot offers an intriguing selection of single-origin, sweet, and complex coffees every day. Broadsheet roasts their own coffee twice a week and is constantly experimenting with different methods to find the perfect balance of sweetness. Broadsheet is Cambridge’s only specialty coffee roastery. They are incredibly transparent about where they source their beans from and then ship their product all the way around the US. Walk up and ask what they’ve got that day, and enjoy some of the best freshly roasted coffee around.
Curio Coffee and Wine
441 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141
(857) 242-3018
Curio Coffee and Wine is a curious, convenient, and atmospheric coffee shop that transforms itself into a natural wine bar in the evening. In the morning, you can stop by to grab an espresso and their divine Liege-style Belgian waffles. In the evenings, when the seasons are a bit warmer, you can sit outside and enjoy a delicious burger and a lovely glass of wine. The Taza hot chocolate is also a great shout and is perfect for those cooler days.
George Howell Coffee
505 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111
(857) 957-0217
George Howell Coffee is on a neverending quest to identify, source, and roast the highest quality coffees from around the world. Founder and operator George Howell has been roasting coffee since the 1970s, and his passion for excellence and flavor has established his self-named coffee company to become one of the best in Boston. Whether you want an espresso, brewed coffee, pour-over, flight, or more, George Howell Coffee has you covered.
Gracenote Coffee
108 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111
Gracenote Coffee was founded on the belief that “specialty coffee should be available and enjoyable for everyone.” They absolutely deliver on that. The friendly and knowledgeable baristas create fresh and delicious beverages every day behind a beautiful live-edge olive bar. The space itself is standing room only since it’s only 200 square feet. The pour-overs, espresso drinks, and drip coffees are the go-to, and each and every one of them is packed with flavor.
KoHi Coffee Company
125 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110
(857) 239-8695
Established in Provincetown, KoHi Coffee Company is a locally owned and operated LGBTQ+ business. Now with two Boston locations, more people can enjoy the airy and eclectic vibes that KoHi embodies. The spaces are all decorated with geometric white tiles and wrought-iron accents. The coffee on offer is a unique blend of organic and fair trade coffee as well as espresso drinks sourced from Tandem Coffee Roasters. The Brighton location offers up a great selection of breakfast options to enjoy with whatever drink you prefer.
Ogawa Coffee
10 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 780-7139
The people at Ogawa Coffee have been dedicated to the pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee since 1952. These coffee artisans hail from Kyoto in the heart of Japan, and Ogawa Coffee became their first international location when it opened up in 2015. Of course, you’ll find your standard fare of espresso and coffee drinks, but you can dip your tastebuds into new and unique international flavors, such as the Hojicha latte. Featuring ground-up powder made from more than ten types of green tea. Vietnamese iced coffee is another wonderful new flavor if you’ve never had it before. Ogawa Coffee is unique, and that’s what makes it so good.
Pavement Coffee Co.
415 Western Avenue, Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 766-6052
With multiple locations across the city, Pavement Coffee Co. has quickly become a fixture of the Boston coffee scene. They’ve been around since 2009, but the 2018 opening of their new flagship store and roastery in Brighton has really propelled Pavement Coffee Co. to whole new levels. They have a daily selection of single-origin coffees as well as their delicious house blend, the Rathskeller, which has lovely chocolaty notes. Another thing that separates Pavement Coffee Co. from the pack is that they also make their own bagels in-house, and they are phenomenal. These bagels become the vehicles for some delicious lunch and breakfast sandwiches. We definitely recommend getting down to your nearest Pavement location and checking out what all the hype is about yourself.
Recreo Coffee & Roasterie
1876 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132
(617) 553-2379
Recreo Coffee & Roasterie is a true farm-to-cup coffee company located a little bit outside of Boston. However, you can also find a location at City Hall Square, although it’s only open Monday through Friday. Although its main store may not be in Boston proper, Recreo still belongs on this list. That’s because there aren’t very many places like Recreo. Each and every bean that’s used is sourced from their family farm in Jinotega, Nicaragua. At Recreo, each and every part of the process is controlled, from planting to roasting to brewing. This is the place where you can really taste the love of coffee in each drop.
Thinking Cup
85 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 247-3333
Thinking Cup was the first coffee shop in Boston to serve Stumptown and Third Wave Coffee. For those of you who may not know, Stumptown was named “Best Coffee in the World” by NPR, The New York Times, and more. This is the level of coffee that you can expect when you go to Thinking Cup. No matter what you order, you can know that you’re going to be getting the highest quality coffee that you can find. This commitment to excellence has seen Thinking Cup win numerous awards since they opened in 2010. They also have a full breakfast and sandwich menu, as well as offering up gluten-free and dairy-free options too! Everything is affordably priced as well for the quality and flavor that you’re getting. Thinking Cup is a must-visit for locals and visitors alike.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Boston page, here!
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