It’s funny.. a few months ago (when I was living in San Diego), I tried to give up coffee. I actually thought I had succeeded. I was sick of having to depend on a caffeine kick every morning & how crummy I’d feel if I didn’t get my usual order: a Starbucks venti iced coffee. One morning, totally fed up, I gave up coffee cold turkey. Well, maybe not completely… I just switched up my morning beverage to an iced green tea. I thought that maybe I was being healthy.
Then, I moved to Boston.
While I’d pass a Starbucks and a Dunkin’ Donuts on my way to work, I’d always see a line out the door of of 1369 Coffee House. Or, I’d log into my Instagram and see photos of the beautiful Tatte Bakery. I then realized it was fate that I start drinking coffee again once I started working with Ogawa Coffee, the newly opened cafe, just two blocks away from the office.
Yup, my coffee boycott was over.
Now, I’m not trying to sound like a coffee snob, but I will say, since returning to my daily cup of joe, I promised myself I wouldn’t go back to the daily Starbucks grind. So far, I’ve succeeded and in doing so, have a much better appreciation for coffee.
Therefore, I present to you one of the 2309209 listicles that exist on where to get great coffee in Boston (oh, and one place in Rhode Island too!).
Tatte Bakery – With locations in Brookline, Cambridge and Beacon Hill… it just goes to show that everyone in Boston loves this spot. In addition to great coffee & food, all the cafes are so beautiful.
Ogawa Coffee – The famed Japanese roaster (with 36 locations in Kyoto) opened their first location in Boston this past summer. Between the cappuccinos topped with latte art, the Kalita pour-overs and their coffee flights, I can never decide what to do order…they’re all just so good!
1369 Coffee House – This was the first place I grabbed coffee upon returning to Boston. I love their cold brew and best yet, you can get growlers of their iced coffee delivered!
Thinking Cup – Everyone (well, most people) loves Stumptown Coffee. This spot is the first coffee shop in Downtown Boston to exclusively serve Stumpton, named the “Best Coffee in the World” by NPR, Food & Wine, NY Times, etc…
Coffee Trike – I’m actually obsessed with the Coffee Trike. On Tuesdays, the coffee tricycle (yes, tricycle!) pulls up to Dewey Sq. for the weekly farmers’ market. Sadly, I just noticed the Coffee Trike is no more, but the good news is the owner is opening up a brick-and-mortar just a few blocks away called Gracenote Coffee.
Dave’s Coffee – Here’s the one outlier out in Charlestown, RI. I have to include this place since every time I head back to Rhode Island, my fiance and I always wait in line for an iced coffee & one of their delicious muffins.
While I know there’s many other great coffee shops in Boston, I don’t like to suggest places I haven’t been myself. But don’t fret! As I continue to get to know the city’s coffee scene, I’ll continue to add to this list.