16 best Boston coffee shops to try right now

What it is: This tiny shop is one of the best places to pop in for a gourmet coffee at High Street Food Hall. The independent roastery and cafe brews and serves their own locally roasted beans—and it truly makes a huge difference in the taste and richness of the drinks.

Why we love it: Sip a perfectly creamy cappuccino or knock back a shot of espresso, and admire the petrified wood counters, old-school manual espresso machine and various plants hanging from the ceiling.

Time Out tip: A speakeasy-style listening room appears almost every Saturday behind the secret door of the Leather District location, with a very carefully chosen list of wine and beers.

Address: 108 Lincoln St., Boston 02111 and 100 High Street Place, Boston 02110

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: The expansive seating, subway tiles and overall sophistication of the space, you’re forgiven for thinking you’ve walked into a bistro when you enter the flagship George Howell Coffee inside the Godfrey Hotel in Boston. There’s a massive marble bar, two espresso machines, coffee education classes, a retail corner for purchasing brewing equipment and beans, and a menu of upscale treats. The shop owns and operates a roastery in Acton, and has several locations including a brand new spot in Back Bay.

Why we love it: Coffee drinks still reign supreme, including specialty drinks like The Original (a frozen blend of coffee, milk and sugar). The also offer several free classes a month that offer up tastings and lessons on brewing and bean knowledge. 

Time Out tip: The new Lyrik location is a great spot to fuel up for a stroll down Newbury Street. It’s also filled with Wixarika yarn paintings by Juan Ríos Martínez.

Address: Check website for six locations.

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: Once a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, residing in a small spot on the Greenway, this LGBTQ- and owned and operated cafe is now in multiple locations, including the South End, Brighton, and the original spot in Provincetown. Kohi, (pronounced Koh-Hee) directly translates to “coffee” in Japanese, and you’ll find the independent spirit of a great cafe in each space, paying tribute to the precision and care that's crafted by Japanese coffee culture.

Why we love it: With the help of Tandem Coffee Roasters, they offer a unique selection of organic, fair trade, and single origin coffees. Alongside Tandem, they’ve also created the delicious Race Point Espresso blend, or you might try their signature house brew, KoHi Standard - a seasonally changing single origin ethically sourced and quality roasted in collaboration with Tandem.

Time Out tip: Talented baristas serving craft coffee and a small assortment of baked goods like cookies, vegan banana bread, and scones. We’re always tempted with the nod to New Orleans of the NoLa Cold Brew, a cold brew concentrate steeped with chicory.

Address: 92 Guest St., Brighton, MA 02135 and 40 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: With multiple locations in and around Boston, this unionized coffee shop roasts their coffee at their headquarters in Brighton. Beyond the house made bagels, lunch options and craft coffee served however you’d like, the positive vibes at all nine locations in Boston and Cambridge keep happy guests coming back for more.

Why we love it: Rathskeller is the house blend - a medium-light roast blend of coffees from Central/South America and Ethiopia. It’s also a dedication to life in ‘90s Kenmore Square during nights at music club “The Rat.”

Time Out tip: They’re known for their homemade craft bagels, which are kettle-boiled to set the crust for that dense, chewy bite, and baked in a rotating stone-hearth.

Address: Check website for locations.

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: This ideally situated cafe with a walk-up-window on Appleton Street in the South End is run by mother-daughter duo who refer to Greystone as their ‘baby.’ It’s no surprise, then, that the utmost care and craft goes into every cup and beyond, as they offer sweet treats and lunch noshes.

Why we love it: From the single-origin pour over to spicy chai, you can’t go wrong at Greystone. Try the Black Tulip – muddled mint and simple syrup shaken with espresso and served over ice. Or Batch Brew - Proud Mary's Ghostrider Blend drip coffee served hot. Ghostrider has tasting notes of milk chocolate, red grapes, and blueberries.

Time Out tip: If your littles are with you, get them a babycino, a coffee-free, child-friendly drink of steamed, frothed milk served in a small espresso cup, topped with cocoa powder, cinnamon, or chocolate flakes. There are also grab-and-go, sandwiches, and pastries (we love Mom’s Famous Apple Cake).

Address: 123 Appleton St., Boston, MA 02116

Opening hours: Daily 7am-4pm

What it is: Proudly owning its place as Cambridge’s first specialty coffee roastery, Broadsheet Coffee Roasters takes its spot behind Harvard Yard and serves up conscientiously-sourced coffees from a rotating selection of sweet and complex beans roasted on-site twice weekly.

Why we love it: All of the coffees are roasted in a Loring S-35 Kestrel, destoned, color-sorted (with a Sovda Pearl Mini), and quality controlled in their state-of-the-art Somerville roasting and training facility. Need a little lift? Grab one of their bulk jugs of 32 ounces of coffee. 

Time Out tip: There are take-out bags of whole beans for DIY drips, along with online tutorials to help you learn about options for brewing at home.

Address: 100 Kirkland St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-4pm; Sat. and Sun. 8am-4pm

What it is: Caffeine enthusiasts and vegetarians love this chill and certainly local-loved Davis Square destination. You’ll find top notch coffee, light fare with lots of veggie options and excellent people watching at this café.

Why we love it: If all the visual entertainment and steaming cups of java aren’t enough to hook you in, there’s a pool table and a black-and-white photo booth that give you delightful reasons to extend your caffeine break.

Time Out tip: Try the Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk. The Tuck’s Turtle is also great for a sweet treat – a decadent hot cocoa made from a mixture of chocolate, caramel, and vanilla (all housemade) swirled together with steamed milk.

Address: 257 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144

Opening hours: Daily 7am-7pm

What it is: This Japanese coffee chain’s first international branch gives downtown office workers a solid option for well crafted cups of coffee.

Why we love it: The moment you walk in the minimalist interior leads you straight to the coffee bar where cheery baristas await, ready to create adorable latte art. There are also light sandwiches and Asian sweet treats.

Time Out tip: Soothingly creamy hot chocolate is made with whole milk, heavy cream and rich, melted Carupano dark chocolate; it’s topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cacao powder. There’s also a spicy version with a subtle chili kick.

Address: 10 Milk St, Boston, MA 02108

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: This second-floor South End cafe is a sanctuary for caffeinated locals reluctant to give up their seats.

Why we love it: Locally owned and operated, coffee is the first and primary order of business here (with kudos from well-known experts the likes of Bon Appetit as a close second), with beans sourced from nearby roasters and transformed into americanos, cortados and cold brews.

Time Out tip: Nab a table by one of the windows in the back room cupola; if you’re lucky, a chair on the shaded patio will eventually open up.

Address: 563 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02118

Opening hours: Daily 7am-4pm (Sat. and Sun. opening at 8am)

What it is: Truly a gift to the city, and the Fenway, this shop is part Vietnamese cafe, part Parisian crêperie. This place offers a number of authentic beverages to keep you highly caffeinated—most famously, its phin coffee brewed using a traditional Vietnamese metal filter for a strong but smooth result. There’s also a newish location in Cambridge’s Porter Square.

Why we love it: Try the Phin Đen (it’s best served black) or the Phin Trứng (a customary combo of coffee, egg yolk and condensed milk) and if you’re not a coffee kind of person, grab one of its colorful, highly Instagrammable milk teas or lemonades. Crêpes are made atop a griddle for all to see, sending a sweet aroma throughout the delicately wallpapered cafe, and lunch-goers love the bánh mì and noodle bowls filled with fresh flavors like mint, lemongrass and pickled vegetables.

Time Out tip: If you’re looking to get your midday meal here, just be sure to show up on the earlier side, before the lunch rush leaves no noodle or baguette behind.

Address: 96 Peterborough St., Boston, MA 02215 and 1876 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: Serving tourists and busy office workers just off the Greenway, this spacious shop bills itself as a coffee shop and lounge run by self-proclaimed “coffee fanatics.”

Why we love it: During the day, it’s filled with people of all ages sprawled on the old-world look booths and high tops sipping Barrington Coffee Company’s blends.

Time Out tip: The shop serves Instagram-ready baked goods – you don’t want to miss the creative, over-the-top croissants – and in the evenings Monday through Thursday it’s the perfect spot to grab a craft cocktail after work.

Address: 58 Batterymarch St., Boston, MA 02110

Opening hours: Daily 7am-5pm; cocktail bar Mon.-Thurs. 3pm-8pm

What it is: In many ways, 1369 Coffee House is the grand dame of Cambridge’s many coffeehouses. The venue simultaneously introduced Cantabrigians to great coffee and a fantastic coffeehouse scene; suddenly it was okay to savor a latte over a chapter book, or to sip your third cup while toiling over an early-era MacBook.

Why we love it: Now as popular with creatives and young professionals as it initially was with students, the cozy, narrow, neighborly Inman Square institution continues to thrive, even in the Starbucks era. If you can’t manage to snag a seat, its Central Square branch is just cozy, but also just as popular.

Time Out tip: Their Drink For a Cause program works to support local non-profits benefiting people in need in their community.  Every two months there’s a new drink and a new non-profit to support, and $1 of each drink sale goes directly to the cause. 

Address: 1369 Cambridge St. Cambridge, MA 02139 and 757 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139

Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 7am-3pm; Sat. and Sun. 8am-4pm

What it is: Among an unending sea of cafés serving drip-coffee in styrofoam, it’s refreshing to sip a rich pour-over out of a stout ceramic mug from this local chain. By serving Stumptown (called "Best Coffee in the World" by NPR, The New York Times, Food & Wine) and Third Wave coffees, Thinking Cup is the best choice if you’re within spitting distance of the Boston Common, strolling along Newbury Street or exploring the North End, looking for a quick fix.

Why we love it: Keep an eye on the expert baristas as they produce Instagram-worthy lattes and, if you’re hungry, don’t overlook the breakfast sandwiches and selection of flaky pastries.

Time Out tip: Want to change up your order? Try the Turmeric latte. Coffee doesn’t end at the cup's rim – try the Jittery Hen sandwich, Stumptown Coffee-braised chicken and TC coffee BBQ sauce with smoked gruyere cheese on sourdough bread.

Address: Check website for three locations.

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: Deja Brew is one of those special places where New Southie and Old Southie unite. Long-time regulars still enjoy a hot regular, while the younger set flock for fun flavored specials like coconut almond fudge.

Why we love it: Sending out piping hot cups thanks to Downeast Coffee Roasters (cheers to another family-owned business), they also serve breakfast and lunch until their 2pm closing time.

Time Out tip: Try the daily soup specials such as tomato bisque and tortellini with sausage or the popular Bubba Biscuit, an egg, cheddar, bacon, garlic aioli and arugula sandwich named after life-long Southie resident and retired firefighter Bubba Cahill.

Address: 704 E. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

Opening hours: Mon- Sat. 7am-2pm; Sun. 8am-2pm

What it is: With a flagship in mid-Cambridge set in the historic F.B. Hubley Auction House, Barismo appeals to local caffeine aficionados who come in for the fresh coffee, brewed one cup at a time. The company prides itself on its transparent sourcing and its attention to detail during the roasting and brewing processes.

Why we love it: The engaging baristas are experts at their craft and usually eager to talk shop. There’s a full bakery on-site for when you need a snack. 

Time Out tip: There’s also a Barismo in East Arlington, which is where their lab-style coffee bar recently moved to create a little space to linger.

Address: 364 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139 and 171 Mass Avenue, Arlington, MA 02474

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: Founded on the North Shore, Jaho’s Massachusetts roots run deep. But the vibe is a little more intentionally international. Its motto is “Live Slow” and its beginnings are from the shared philosophy and culture of slow living in Japan, where the company’s founder studied abroad. 

Why we love it: You’ll find its string of specialty coffee roasters and cafes (we’d be remiss not to mention its wine bar) dotted throughout the city - it has a flagship store and main roastery in its native Salem on Canal Street as well as one in Pickering Wharf, with other locations in the South End, Chinatown, Back Bay and Central Square in Cambridge (as well as a location in Japan). 

Time Out tip: This is definitely a spot you can hang. Each Jaho is as cozy as the other, designed by the founders’ own passion for “sitting in a relaxing café and watching the world go by,” so you can expect to want to stay awhile (especially if you grab a glass of wine).

Address: Check website for locations.

Opening hours: Check website for hours.