Four Coffee Shops in Boston Worth Trying

The first thing I do when headed to a new area is to scout out the best coffee shops in the area. When I found out I was heading to Boston for a graduate school weekend, my research began. Here’s my current round up, along with a few more places I can’t wait to try when I come back for graduation.

Pavement Coffee

After walking around campus and going into the BU Gastronomy area, brunch was definitely in order. So I walked over to the Pavement Coffee nearby.

I ordered a Presto Pesto bagel sandwich, which is vegetarian with eggs, avocado, sundried tomato pesto, and sharp cheddar cheese. They had multiple options for bagels but the poppy seed bagel seemed the best idea for me.

Here’s the best part about the sandwich: the bagel was soft. Too many times we get bagels that are tough to eat, inside and out. Not here. I found out this is because they make their bagels at a commissary nearby. Made from scratch bagels? Yes please!

I got the maple latte to drink, since Boston is so close to Vermont that syrup is bought fairly locally. Delicious. The perfect amount of sweetness for this girl- meaning, I could still taste my coffee.

Jaho Coffee

Not many people can say they own six locations of there coffee shop but Anil Mezini can. Her shop, Jaho Coffee, has three locations in Boston, two in Salem, and one in Tokyo!

I saw it when I was walking by a day before and decided it was somewhere I wanted to check out. On my menu today was their seasonal biscotti latte (spring 2024) which has chocolate, almond, and orange syrup. It really was a great combination.

They also have boba, which is an afternoon treat for me when I get it, I’ll have to go back. More of a cocktail kind of person? Jaho doesn’t disappoint in that area either, from what I’ve been told. I guess what I’m saying is there is something for everyone!

For food I think I opted for a plain bagel that day because I knew we were eating breakfast at a local farm.

Tradesman Coffee Shop & Lounge

Tradesman Coffee is a place that had been recommended over and over. While the coffee was good, I feel like people really go there for their over-the-top croissants. I mean- my Red Velvet did not disappoint!

I ordered a mocha. There were no seasonal flavors and the options were limited for coffee but not in the other category (can you see where I’m going with this).

The ambiance of the place gave old school charm as the owners really tried to bring out the age of the building- in a romanticized kind of fashion. It is nice. I enjoyed sitting at the window area and looking at people passing by as well.

The big thing here though is it is more of a food place- specifically croissants, than it is a coffee shop. Expect good coffee and great croissants.

George Howell’s Coffee

I have already written about George Howell’s coffee in my Boston Public Market post so I’ll make this entry fairy short. When you go to George Howell’s get the OG. Like Frappuccinos from Starbucks? It was his invention they bought from him. What did he do with the money? Invested in coffee education and helping coffee farmers. My kind of place!

Adding a Few More to My List

I’m going to leave this section open and as my graduation date gets closer, I’ll add to the list. Is there anywhere you think I should check out?