Coffee is my lifeblood. Not to be dramatic or anything. But seriously, I cannot recall the last time I went a day without coffee.
I still am a true Dunkin’ fan, and I even love a cold brew or classic java chip frappe from Starbucks.
Those chain coffee shops are studded through the city, and you’ll always be able to find one.
But if you are visiting Philadelphia or even just a native who wants to try something new, skip that frappe at Starbucks & check out these local Philly coffee shops.
I have tried coffee shops all over the city, and I wish you could try them all. Going to a coffee shop is always unique: is the coffee shop a calm, quiet place to work?
Are the walls covered in Vinyl Records or shelves of books? Does it smell sweet like baked goods or is it that perfect coffee smell that drew you in?
It’s a little adventure & I am going to take on each little one as we go down the list.
Top Coffee Shops in Philly
Càphê Roasters
3400 J St G1, Philadelphia, PA 19134
Phone: 215-690-1268
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Càphê Roasters is the only Vietnamese coffee shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition, it’s the first-ever shop in Kensington, a neighborhood in the Lower Northeast part of Philadelphia.
All the coffee is sourced from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. On my trip to Philadelphia, I learned Càphê Roasters is minority-owned and woman-led for a diverse and inviting experience.
Càphê Roasters offers delicious Vietnamese coffee and lattes with espresso and sweetened condensed milk. You can substitute for almond, oat, or coconut milk.
In addition, they have multiple teas that are common in Vietnam and Korea. I love the Iced Gritty Matcha.
Elixr
1600 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (239) 404-1730
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Elixr provides wholesale coffee to a lot of the city, but if you are craving a specialty lighter roast, head inside at one of their three locations in Philly.
Their spaces are open and filled with natural light. It’s the perfect place to get exactly the coffee order you want & have a chat with a friend or lunch meeting.
If you are also a self-proclaimed coffee snob (it’s okay, we all know one!), the Roastery on N 12th is a really cool place to go and buy some coffee beans for your at home espresso making or pour over coffee.
La Colombe
1335 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Phone: (267) 479-1600
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La Colombe’s coffee is in shops and stores all over the city and for good reason – it’s awesome. But going to the flagship shop in Fishtown is an adventure on it’s own.
There is food, a coffee tasting room, cocktails, even coffee classes. Get your favorite coffee order, or my suggestion, the draft latte.
It is an even better version of their delicious canned latte’s sold in stores.
And if you don’t have a La Colombe nearby, may I suggest ordering their box of cold brew online (you must!).
Menagerie Coffee
18 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
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Menagerie Coffee is in the heart of Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood. It’s a small coffee shop and locally-owned business. Menagerie Coffee is near the New Hall Military Museum and the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Menagerie Coffee offers classic drinks like Macchiatos, Cortados, and Cappuccinos with impressive coffee art on top.
In addition, there’s fresh cold brew and multiple teas, including Jasmine Green, Turmeric-Ginger Herbal, and English Breakfast Black.
They have baked goods like Irish soda bread, scones, muffins, and French pastries. Their Hummus and Labne sandwich is a great option if you’re looking for a quick lunch on the go.
I never turn down a cookie and their Chocolate Ginger was one of the best I’ve ever had.
Ultimo Coffee (multiple locations)
238 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 267-804-7972
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Ultimo Coffee is located in Center City West in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, they have multiple locations in Philadelphia for your convenience. The innovative brewers make every day feel like a cozy Sunday morning.
The first location opened in 2009 in the Newbold neighborhood of South Philly. The second location opened in 2012 near the Graduate Hospital neighborhood. This location opened in 2018 and is right off Rittenhouse Park.
Ultimo is famous for its Columbian roasts with flavors like tangerine, marshmallow, plum, toffee, and vanilla. The owners, Aaron and Elizabeth Ultimo, are passionate about serving the best coffee to visitors and locals of Philadelphia.
ReAnimator Coffee (multiple locations)
1248 S Clarion St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: 610-492-1281
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ReAnimator Coffee is a specialty coffee shop located right outside Columbus Square Park. ReAnimator Coffee is geared towards the early morning risers so keep in mind that they close for the day at 3pm.
ReAnimator Coffee is one of the best coffee shops in Philadelphia because they focus on freshly-brewed and single-origin coffee.
The most popular single-origin coffee is a Guatemalan blend with milk chocolate, blood orange, and nougat.
Like a blend that you wish you could brew at home? You can get whole bean bags to make your own cup at home.
In addition, ReAnimator Coffee has five different locations spread throughout Philadelphia. The location near Columbus Square Park offers indoor seating, healthy small plates, and desserts.
I love the pretzel shortbread cookie. A salty and sweet treat you can’t pass up.
Three Graces Coffee Co.
719 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
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Three Graces Coffee Co. is located in the triangle of E Passyunk Ave, Fitzwater Street, and S 5th Street.
It’s a beautiful and bright coffee shop that opened in the middle of the 2020 pandemic, and construction was done on a building that used to be a bank.
Three Graces Coffee Co. features some of the best everyday coffee drinks, including Macchiato, Cortado, Flat White, and Cappuccino.
Also, they have some of the best flavored hot drinks. My favorites were the Twix Latte and the Honey Lavender Latte.
If hot coffee isn’t for you, Three Graces has plenty of iced classic coffee drinks. Their iced chai latte was refreshing after walking around the neighborhood.
Three Graces Coffee Co. is famous for its pastries, including vanilla cream beignet, almond croissant, and lemon iced pound cake. All the pastries are made and served daily.
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
5445 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144
Phone: (215) 403-7058
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Another shop on lists all over the internet, Uncle Bobbie’s is a place I genuinely could move into and live. Book lovers unite here.
Their mission is to create a safe place for underserved communities to have access to books, a whole other adventure all on their own.
You can’t go wrong with the sweet potato pie, and they have a full coffee & espresso bar.
So you know you can grab a good book, dessert and your favorite drink and be set for a very relaxing hour or two of your day.
Rival Bros.
1100 Tasker St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
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Rival Bros. is another one with housemade coffee. The Champion Blend is a new roast to try, but you can get all the information you have ever wanted about their blends of coffee beans on their website if you choose to order.
As for pick up, their menu is classic and delicious and their pastries are stunning. This is the perfect coffee shop to start your morning if you are going for a cozy stroll through the city.
Grab a cappuccino and chocolate croissant and you are set. Oh, and the blueberry tart is as tasty as it is beautiful.
Persimmon Coffee
11 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: 267-314-7903
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Persimmon Coffee is a minimalist coffee shop inspired by Japanese and Korean influences. Aside from being an independent coffee shop, Persimmon is a lifestyle brand devoted to its city and people.
Persimmon Coffee has a short menu of coffee drinks, including espresso, americano, cappuccino, latte, drip coffee, and Japanese flash-brewed iced coffee.
The menu is limited from other coffee shops in Philly but the baristas pride themselves on beautifully crafted classics.
In addition, the Japanese and Korean influence the tea options at Persimmon Coffee. They offer Jasmine, matcha, and corn silk tea. However, coffee and tea options only have whole or oat milk.
Persimmon provides a safe space for anyone who wants to sit inside and enjoy coffee or tea.
Bold Coffee Bar
1623 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: 267-319-8689
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Bold Coffee Bar is a bright and intimate coffee shop in North Central Philadelphia near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Also, Bold Coffee Bar is a morning-only coffee house and tea room.
It’s the perfect minimalist coffee shop offering espresso drinks, cold brew iced coffee, tea, pastries, and bagels. They offer plenty of seating room for you to enjoy your drinks and food before going about your day.
Bold Coffee Bar lives up to its name by reinventing coffee drinks with innovative flavors like the iced salted caramel white mocha, peanut butter cup latte, and the iced campfire latte.
These are bold coffee drinks you can sit and enjoy in the shop, making them one of the best coffee shops in Philadelphia.
Jiggy Coffee
1000 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-995-3252
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Jiggy Coffee is a specialty coffee shop in Washington Square West. The exterior is beautiful with red bricks, giving you the Washington Square West atmosphere of the rest of the area.
Jiggy Coffee partners with Small Planes Coffee, a specialty roastery located in DC. If you’re interested in buying some beans for home, you can purchase 12-ounce bags of Jiggy Coffee and Small Planes Coffee.
While there are everyday hot and cold drinks, Jiggy Coffee offers seasonal drinks like the lavender brown sugar matcha latte and rose matcha latte.
Jiggy Coffee offers vegan and gluten-free food options like Zucchini Loaf and Jasmine Peach Scones. However, a majority of the food and pastries options aren’t vegan.
Function Coffee Labs
1001 S 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: 267-606-6734
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Function Coffee Labs gets its name because they are passionate about the science behind coffee. They’re Philadelphia’s best coffee shop located in the Bella Vista neighborhood.
They use beans from Central and South America and obtain them from the sister company, Vibrant Coffee Roasters.
Bella Vista is one of the most-loved neighborhoods in Philadelphia, ensuring there’s a lot of foot traffic for Function Coffee Labs.
Function Coffee Labs is one of the best coffee shops in Philadelphia because they use a Hario V60 pour-over for dynamic drinks.
Even if you add milk or cream to your coffee, I recommend you try a cup of Function’s coffee black so you can taste the fruity, floral, earthy, and nutty notes.
If you’re a latte art fan, their knowledgeable and enthusiastic baristas give you the picture-perfect coffee art. Need a little snack with your coffee? I love that they offer toast and other treats.
Greenstreet Cafe
1101 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 267-284-0675
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Greenstreet Cafe is near Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens and the Millennium Art Gallery. It’s known as one of the best coffee shops in Philadelphia because all employees are passionate about the art of coffee roasting and brewing.
Greenstreet Cafe only distributes small batches of locally-sourced coffee beans. In addition, they’re dedicated to training baristas and coffee lovers to live up to the Greenstreet Cafe reputation.
My favorite roasts were the Columbia, Brazil, and Ethiopia beans. If you’re eager to learn more about the craft of coffee brewing and roasting, Greenstreet Cafe should be at the top of your list.
Rowhome
2536 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
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New to the scene, and absolutely hear to stay, Rowhome Coffee is a must try. It is next to a beautiful playground for your kids and large park to sit with a book or do some work.
An absolute must mention is their breakfast sandwich. Pork Roll, egg and cheese on a Philadelphia Soft Pretzel. That’s your perfect order.
The coffee is from all over the world, and the baristas are knowledgeable about which one you should try. A hot coffee and a soft pretzel sandwich is the perfect coffee shop combination you never knew you needed.
Cogito Coffee
105 S 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
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Cogito Coffee is a unique Philly spot because not only is it the only one in Philadelphia but it’s the only Cogito Coffee in the United States. Many of the other locations are in Croatia and Dubai.
Cogito Coffee is located in Downtown Philadelphia. They offer a simple and open space with a bright and minimalistic atmosphere. Along with excellent coffee, Cogito Coffee has fun music and a few tables to sit at and enjoy your coffee.
Cogito Coffee sources fresh green coffee beans transparently and seasonally. Many of the coffee beans come from South America and Africa.
Cogito Coffee roasts, grounds, and brews the beans once they’re dry and pulp-free. I bought a bag of Blackout Espresso to take home.
Green Line Cafe
518 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (215) 469-3225
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Green Line Cafe has a few locations and is on almost every list you’ll find when you look up Philly coffee shops. Now, you can even order the coffee beans online for your own perfect cup of coffee.
But if you have a chance to pick up there are two things you have to get: the house-made muffins and the house-made raspberry cream cheese danish.
Walk away with your pastries and a small iced mocha and your day will be made.
Good Karma
928 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (267) 519-8860
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Good Karma has such a relaxing, fun vibe. The Grad Hospital location has outdoor seating, and on a perfect day there is no better place to work.
They have made to order breakfast & lunch sandwiches and daily baked goods.
Their seasonal drinks are great, try the Violet Sunset (an oat milk latte with cardamom), and their iced coffee is my go to. It is a great cafe for work, a quick meeting, or coffee with friends.
Are you the coffee shop goer who needs a workspace? Or one who just wants to try something new; like buy a vinyl record or snuggle up in a small library.
This list has coffee shops all over the city, with different missions, different settings, amazing food, and of course any coffee drink you could ever want.
And if you are by chance a caffeine addict who also loves cheeseburgers, check out the latest article I did on where to eat the best burgers in Philly.
Did I miss any of your favorite coffee spots? Let me know in the comments so I can check them out!