Boston Coffee Guide

This is a blog that will assist Bostonians or those coming to Boston find the right coffee shop. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Catherine Iannucci, Megan Mistretta, Pat Timmons~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Pulse Cafe

141 S Market Street Boston, MA 02109

No website

Our Experience:

It’s all about the service! This little outdoor cafe may not have a great food selection but they make up for it with lots of great service. The cashier was super helpful and friendly, with lots of suggestions on coffee and tea. The barista chatted us up as she was making our drinks and needless to say they got a great tip! They have really yummy lattes with plenty of flavor options, so you’ll never get bored. Their loose leaf tea was excellent as well, great aroma and flavor. We went on a beautiful spring day so the seating was sparse to say the least, the only seat to be had was the concrete border of a planted tree. So, maybe stop by if you are planning on walking around afterwards and not have to worry about seating.

About the Business:

It is an open air coffee shop with strictly outdoor seating, so do not go on a rainy day! They hold one of the coveted Quincy Market kiosk spots. It is open seasonally every year, from spring until fall. There food is not made on premises and they do not have “healthier” or vegan options. Most of the food available is prepackaged.

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Red Barn Coffee Roasters

1 S Market St, Boston, MA

http://www.redbarncoffee.com/pages/cafe-locations

Our Experience:

Wow! This place is a hidden jem! When we went to the shop it was a struggle finding the actual place until we realized it was in the actual Faneuil Hall building! Once we found it we were immediately greeted by a wonderful barista who was very sincere and kind to us. She recommended a few drinks and we chose the Creme Brulee. The latte was everything we wanted it to be and more. There was a nice taste that transformed as you drank it. When we asked her for her photo she kindly approved and made our latte. She even asked us for the blog name and said that she would definitely take a look at it!

About the Business:

Red Barn Coffee Roasters is a small business that has a few locations in Massachusetts. Based from Hopkinton, Ma, they roast their own coffee and brew it at the shops around Mass. Not only can customers purchase the coffee at the actual cafes, the customers can also purchase from the line of specialty coffees. Whether it is fair-trade, organic, wholesale, e-commerce, or mail order, the customer is bound to be happy with their purchase!

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Milk Street Cafe

50 Milk Street Boston, MA 02116

http://www.milkstreetcafe.com/OurCafes/FiftyMilkSt.aspx?catId=8

Our Experience:

OMG the fruit! For fruit lovers that are sick and tired of paying five bucks for a cup filled with honeydew melon and one grape, search no further for a better fruit cup. Their Berry Fruit cup is awesome, just blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and grapes (which are not a berry but I’ll let it go because I like them). Also, their apple oatmeal muffins are delicious and baked in house. Its always good to choose a muffin that says that it has oatmeal and fruit in it because you can tell yourself it is healthy! Their dark roast drip coffee is really good, strong but not bitter. All of this wrapped up in the cutest coffee shop,  a floor to ceiling window facade with blooming flowers and grass painted on the outside is the first thing you see when walking up to the entrance, not a bad view. Plenty of table seating inside and not too crowded, it’s kind of a hidden gem right there on Milk Street. The employees were very helpful and they make a great cup of coffee on top of that!

About the Business:

Established in 1981 as a vegetarian restaurant, Milk Street Cafe has become a fully functioning restaurant and catering service with an all Kosher menu. It still has vegetarian options but has added meat to the menu to expand their business. It caters to all types of specific dietary needs with organic options and even soy milk for their lattes. All baked goods are made in house and fresh, which is a rarity for coffee shops these days. All food is made from scratch daily with fresh, healthy ingredients.

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Wired Puppy

250 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116

http://www.wiredpuppy.com/content/view/16/33/

Our Experience:

Wired Puppy, besides having a really cute name and logo, is your typical city coffee shop. There are a few tables with stools for a quick place to sit. Although, the lighting is very dim, the drinks are delicious. The menu is extensive with lots of options for flavor shots. If you like a healthy serving of foam atop your drink, Wired Puppy is definitely the place for you. In terms of food, there are granola bars and some bakery items like muffins and scones that are prepared on site. This shop is inhabited by regulars who walk in and do not have to say a word and the baristas have their drink ready.

About the Business:

This shop originated in Provincetown and was such a success, that they opened another on Newbury Street. Since then, it has won Boston Magazine's 2010 Best of Boston for Best Coffee Shop. All drink ingredients are Organic Direct Trade Specialty Coffees and Teas. If you are interested in purchasing some of their beans, you can click here to browse and buy their different roasts!

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Pavement Coffeehouse

286 Newbury Street, Boston MA 02115

Website

Our Experience:

Pavement Coffeehouse an upbeat joint with exposed brick and abstract canvases on the walls. There is minimal seating that is usually filled with students doing work and chatting. There is also some outdoor seating that is shared with its Newbury neighbor, Pinkberry. This cafe is more of place to grab and go though. There is blaring music and seats that are not suited for sitting for long. Some of the favorites at Pavement include their vanilla beverages.

About the Business:

Pavement Coffeehouse makes homemade bagels, breads, coffee, and tea. Their espressos are roasted by Counter Culture. The reason why their vanilla drinks are so extraordinary is because their vanilla syrup is housemade! Check it out or feel free to try some of their other beverages!

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Trident Booksellers and Cafe

338 Newbury Street, Boston,  MA 02115

Menu

Our Experience:

When approaching Trident Booksellers & Cafe, one will see a crowded outdoor seating area. When entering the cafe, you are surrounded by books and gadgets. The store/cafe is split down the middle with seating on one half and hundreds of books on the other. This cafe is the perfect place to pick up gifts after a delicious meal and cup of coffee. They have everything from delicious challah french toast to sassy socks to christmas tree ornaments. If you enjoy an eclectic atmosphere, Trident is the place for you. Now, let’s talk about the coffee and food. There are a wide variety of delicious coffees as well as food options. We suggest that you try the Cappuccino, the Challah French Toast and the Mega Tots (giant cheese-filled tater tots). The menu also includes many specialty items like Poutine, Momos, and Bubble Tea.  The service is quick and the place is busy!

About the Business:

Trident is owned by the Flynn family, who are very interactive with the store. The family decided to open the bookstore and cafe because they felt that there was a lack of hangouts to read a book and sip some coffee. All of the food is prepared on site and they bake fresh each day. Trident mainly hires college students, so they truly are interested in supporting the local economy. An extra bonus that makes Trident unique is that they are open from eight in the morning to midnight!

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The Thinking Cup

165 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111

Their Website: http://www.thinkingcup.com

Our Experience:

On the hustle and bustle of Tremont Street in the heart of Boston, Thinking Cup is serving their high grade coffee at an affordable price. We walk into a very homey and friendly place that welcomes you right away with the brand’s apparel and pastries.There are many customers there for many different reasons, either to get their quick fix, to sit and read a book, or to catch up with an old friend. The contrast in all of these customers results in a very exciting and interesting environment. The woman who took our order was kind and friendly. I asked her what her favorite type of macaroon was, and she recommended at least five different flavors. She was not shy about starting a conversation with her customer even though there were other customers in line. I ended up choosing the pistachio macaroon because it looked amazing and it really was. With the macaroon I ordered a simple cafe mocha with almond milk. The drink, the service, and the sweets, were all great. I could not expect any different.

About the Company:

They were named “Best Coffee in the World” NPR, The New York Times, Food and Wine Magazine, and USA Today! They obtain their coffee beans directly from Stumptown in New York so that they can ensure the quality of the beans they are using. They involve themselves in various charity organizations and they have won three awards! Check them out today!

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Boston Brewin Coffee Company

45 Bromfield St, Boston, MA 02108

Menu

Our Experience: We approach a very small window that says “Boston Brewin Company” and almost instantly feel at home. This coffee shop is all about making people feel comfortable and to make the customers feel like family. Because of this, there is an extremely high amount of customer loyalty. As we ask the employee taking our order the favorite drink (caramel latte), a woman comes into the small shop. The employee knows her by name and starts having a conversation with her just as friends or family would. We took some time to talk to the woman and her experiences with Boston Brewin Company. 

About the Business:

She told us that the employees really care a lot about their customers and the owner of the shop cares even more. The company does a lot for charity, the woman said, and the owner is very selfless. The owner trains the employees so that they too can eventually own a successful shop themselves. There were many items on the menu and it all sounded amazing, their fresh made breakfast sandwiches, specialty lattes, and even a classic cup of joe is amazing, according to the woman we talked to.

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Caffe Nero

560 Washington Street (Downtown Crossing) Boston, MA 02111

menu

Our experience:

Think Anthropologie meets Urban Outfitters when it come to style! Get cozy next to their stone fireplace and leather chairs, have a group meeting at long wooden tables, or have some time to yourself at individual booths. While there are a lot of options for seating, Cafe Nero is very busy. I suggest that you check for seating before you let the barista know if your order is “for here” or “to go.” There is also some outdoor seating for the spring and summer. When it comes to coffee, the flavor is there. The employees will make anything you request. The menu is not limiting at all. There are some breakfast sandwiches and dessert options, but that is by no means the center of attention at Caffe Nero. There are many options for flavors here and most drinks are served with lots of delicious foam. 

About the Business:

The thing that makes this business so unique is the fact that it uses locally sourced milk. Specifically, the milk is sourced from the High Lawn Farm. In addition, Caffe Nero markets itself as an Italian business. When talking to the employees, we found that their customers enjoy their cappuccinos, mocha frappe lattes, and caramel macchiatos most. 

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Boston Common Coffee Company

515 Washington St. Boston, Ma 02116

Menu

Our Experience:

Affectionately known as Bococo, Boston Common Coffee Co., has a great atmosphere with art by local artists resting on almost every wall and a handwritten chalkboard menu you get a real neighborhood, grassroots vibe. There is a lot of seating, everything from sofas to counter tops so bring your friends! The bakery is on location whipping up all of the pastries, but once they are sold out in the morning you are out of luck so if you have your heart set on that flaky croissant get there early. Baked goods include everything from cookies to gluten free and vegan options. They have an extensive breakfast and lunch menu and lunch offerings are served until seven every night. All of their ingredients are fresh not frozen and prepared to order. Now about the main event, the coffee, all of their beans are fair trade and they have their own roasting facility. They sell drip coffee, espresso drinks and they retail bags of their coffee beans. Their espresso is delicious and the baristas use an old school manual espresso machine. They also have an assortment of milk to make your latte with, whole, skim, 2%, Almond, and soy. So if   are in need of a latte with a yummy milk substitute Bococo is the place for you!

About the business:

They have their own local bean roasting facility in Hopedale, Massachusetts. It opened in 2009 where their Roastmaster Patrick Maloney has overseen the roasting of almost every single small batch of coffee beans ever since. They only import fair trade certified beans into their roasting facility. Their bakery is located in the back if their Washington Street location, so go there for the freshest baked goods!