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Philadelphia knows its coffee. From expert pour-overs to signature roasts, coffee fans here have numerous options for where to satisfy their caffeine craving. Some spots offer a great place to work, others partner with local bakeries to provide tasty bites, and others focus on sharing their love of a carefully-crafted cup. We’ve visited lots of coffee shops around Philadelphia in our quest to find a great cup. These are some of our favorites.
Green Line Cafe
We were first introduced to Green Line Café at its original location at 43rd and Baltimore. Though all of its five locations are worth visiting, the charm of the original by Clark Park makes it clear why people love Green Line so much and why it’s known as “West Philly’s Living Room.”
Green Line’s organic fair trade coffee is roasted in West Philly, a commitment to sustainability that’s at the heart of the company. Their wide selection of coffee and espresso drinks is available with homemade muffins, cookies, breakfast sandwiches, and more. They also have a range of vegan options wider than most coffee places. Locations: 43rd & Baltimore; 4th & Gaskill; 17th & Arch; 37th & Lancaster; 45th & Locust
Gran Caffe L’Aquila
In Rittenhouse, Gran Caffe L’Aquila is one of the best places to go in the city for espresso and cappuccino–a hallmark of an excellent Italian spot. Their blends represent distinctive regions of Italy and are roasted daily on-site, so you’re sure to get the perfect shot. You can also buy a bag of coffee to take home from their market. Take our advice: get some olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar, too, while you’re there.
In addition to the coffee, L’Aquila has great food options and some of the best gelato we’ve ever had. Try some inside or pull up a sidewalk table for some outdoor ambiance. Location: 1716 Chestnut St
Elixr Coffee Roasters
Award-winning coffee roasters, Elixr Coffee is the one shop we’ve gotten to visit in two cities (check them out in the heart of Nashville on Broadway, if you get a chance).
Elixr is known for lighter roasts and high quality, single-origin beans. They make excellent pour-overs plus espresso drinks and drip coffee all of which can be enjoyed in the cozy seating area. You’ll find typical drinks like mochas and unique offerings like a butterscotch pink peppercorn latte. We’re partial to the seasonal and creative kabosha spice latte that’s packed with fall flavor; a strawberry latte is our go-to other times of the year. Locations: 207 Sydenham St.; 16th & Market; 315 N. 12th St; 3675 Market St.
Càphê Roasters
Càphê Roasters is the city’s first and only Vietnamese coffee roaster. They’re beloved for bold coffee and specialty lattes. The Vietnamese Latte–a traditional Vietnamese coffee with espresso–is the best I’ve had outside of Asia and shows why so many restaurants in the area use their beans. They also offer egg coffee, cereal milk lattes, and lots of condensed milk-laced wonderful drinks.
While the coffee is the star at Càphê Roasters, the food is also outstanding. We’ve never had anything here that was less than stellar, but we especially recommend the J Street breakfast sandwich, banh mi, and loaded fries. There is plenty of space for working, but power outlets are limited. The staff is friendly and strives to create an environment where people want to spend time. While the neighborhood isn’t the best, the shop is safe and there is ample parking along Kensington Avenue. Location: 3400 J Street, G1
ReAnimator
With beans sourced from around the world and roasted in Kensington, ReAnimator Coffee is locally owned, and they offer dedicated fans regular subscriptions that feature some of their top roasts (yay for free shipping!).
ReAnimator is known for their colorful seasonal creations like the green and blue iced lavender matcha, a combination of butterfly pea flower, lavender, matcha, and milk. Other treats like the blackberry sage tonic (made with a house blackberry sage syrup) can be spiked with espresso or made caffeine-free. Locations: 4705 Pine St.; 1523 E. Susquehanna Ave.; 310 W. Master St.; 1248 S. Clarion St.; 3118 Richmond St.
Herman’s Coffee
As soon as you see Herman’s Coffee, you know it’s a place you’ll want to hang out for a while. And it’s designed to be that way—the name and lawn chairs out front are in honor of the owner’s grandfather who loved to sip coffee in his lawn chair in his garage.
The small-batch roaster located in Pennsport is set in a former auto repair shop. When the weather is good, the doors are wide open. It creates a relaxed environment, especially on the weekends when food trucks and other pop-ups are on-site.
Herman’s offers pour-over and espresso drinks alongside a selection of baked goods. For something unique, check out the Pennsport Mule, an iced mocktail with ginger beer, honey, and espresso. Don’t miss the chance to browse the local and artisanal food products in the shop. Location: 1313 S. 3rd St.
Three Graces Coffee Co.
Three Graces in Queen Village offers top-notch espresso drinks and pastries in a serene environment–the walls are covered in cool colors and natural landscape paintings. You’ll find everything from a traditional cortado to a Twix snickerdoodle latte on the menu. Grab a pain au chocolat and a honey lavender latte and settle in. One thing we love: they’re open until 5pm in case we need a caffeine kick later in the afternoon. Locations: 719 E. Passyunk Ave.
One Shot Café
The cozy environment on both floors of One Shot Café makes it a popular café in Northern Liberties for people who want great coffee and a nice place to linger. With upstairs, downstairs, and outdoor seating, you almost never have to compete for a seat.
The coffee drinks and lattes are winners, and regulars love the brunch items from breakfast tacos to housemade quiche and baked apple French toast. The salted caramel latte and ultimate breakfast sandwich are our favorites. There are so many good drinks and dishes to choose from that you might just have to go back over and over again. Location: 217 W. George St.
Menagerie Coffee
In historic Old City, Menagerie Coffee is a locally owned specialty coffee shop. They have a full espresso bar serving creative drinks made with Elixr Coffee as well as hand-poured brew from Dogwood Coffee.
If you’re stopping in for a drink, come hungry because it’s nearly impossible to choose between Menagerie’s breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Their fresh baked cookies are really something special–we always go with the chocolate chip. Locations: 18 S. 3rd St. and 908 N 3rd St.
Old City Coffee
Old City Coffee has been a Philadelphia institution for nearly 40 years. With locations in Old City and Reading Terminal Market, they have supplied some of the best coffee the city has to offer since a decade before Starbucks arrived.
Old City Coffee roasts very small batches of high-grade Arabica beans on site to deliver a top-quality product. Grab a housemade pastry alongside your flat white or cappuccino. If you’re in the market for beans, their 1893 blend celebrating the anniversary of Reading Terminal is a great full bodied choice with hints of chocolate and cherry. Locations: 221 Church Street; 1136 Arch; 51 N. 12th St.
Anthony’s Italian Coffee House
A mainstay of the Italian Market, Anthony’s Italian Coffee House crafts espresso drinks and other favorites using beans roasted on site. Pair one of their espresso macchiatos, teas, or hot chocolates with a pastry made in house for a perfect breakfast. The sfogliatella is an excellent choice. We won’t judge if you come back for chocolate and gelato later in the day (in fact, we recommend it). Location: 903 S. 9th St.
Rowhome Coffee
Known for its coffee and stellar pretzel sandwiches in equal measure, Rowhome Coffee is an ideal place to grab a latte and a bite. The original coffee shop in Fitler Square is small with a little bit of outside seating while the East Kensington location has much more room to spread out. Curiously, neither is in a rowhome.
Both locations serve La Colombe coffee, and the sandwiches are available all day long. They’re part of our regular rotation and one of our favorites. Weekend lines can be long but tend to move quickly. Location: 2536 Pine Street; 2152 N. Front Street
Rival Bros. Coffee Roasters
At its locations around the city, Rival Bros. features drip coffee, espresso drinks, a pour-over bar, and even smooth BlackTop nitro in cans.
Everything starts at the Rival Bros. roastery in northeast Philadelphia where they focus on custom blends and seasonal single-origin beans that ultimately turn into the perfect drinks. Rival Bros. also serves outstanding pastries and other treats from local bakery Mighty Bread Co. and French specialties like croissants and beignets from Au Fournil. Locations: 2400 Lombard St.; 1100 Tasker St.; 3145 W. Jefferson St.; 1134 Sansom St.; 1701 N. 2nd St.
Greenstreet Coffee Co.
Greenstreet Coffee Co. is impossible to miss. The enormous mural in their cafe on 15th Street plus the inviting coffee aromas just call you inside. Everything at Greenstreet is singularly focused—one bean from one place, sourced sustainably and responsibly. The staff here knows their stuff and is happy to share their knowledge about the beans and techniques. They even offer occasional cupping events, kind of like wine tasting but for coffee lovers. Stop in for a cortado, a latte, or another skillfully prepared beverage. Location: 1207 S. 15th St.
La Colombe
One of the most popular coffee shops in Philadelphia, La Colombe pioneered the draft latte that it’s become famous for. This coffee powerhouse that got its start here sources single-origin coffees from around the world as well as locally roasted blends. Its massive flagship location in Fishtown attracts visitors and locals who enjoy a good cup. Try the vanilla latte alongside a donut, pastry, or tasty breakfast sandwich. Locations: 1335 Frankford Ave.; 130 S. 19th St.; 1414 South Penn Square; 100 South Independence Mall W; 915 W. Lancaster Ave., Suite 160 in Bryn Mawr
Ultimo Coffee
Ultimo Coffee’s focus on quality and service have helped it land on lists of the best coffee shops in the country. With a focus on single-origin beans, which they roast in South Philly, they make standout drip and espresso drinks.
Ultimo also offers tea, hot chocolate, and housemade pastries as well as selections from Crust Vegan Bakery. It’s open later than many of the places on this list, so stop by when you need a late afternoon pick-me-up. Locations: 5901 Wayne Ave.; 1900 S. 15th St.; 2149 Catherine St.
Adelie Coffee House
Adelie Coffee House has a prime location on Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy (especially for ice cream lovers since it’s right next to Zsa’s ice cream). With a selection of pastries plus beans roasted by Maiden Coffee in New Jersey, the shop is a favorite for locals looking for a good drink and a hospitable place to hang out for a while. Location: 6610 Germantown Ave.
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
A popular stop in Germantown, Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books is a special place. After you browse the bookshelves full of thought-provoking works authored predominantly by writers of color, try one of the specialty lattes made with La Colombe coffee or the pastries from Au Fournil and Manayunk-based Crust Vegan Bakery.
From the moment you walk through the door, it’s clear that Uncle Bobbie’s is beloved by its regulars. Pull up a seat and make yourself at home in this spot that welcomes everyone. Location: 5445 Germantown Ave.