As students prepare for midterms, many may ask how they will manage to stay awake through late night study sessions. Well, the answer to that question is coffee. As a coffee fanatic myself, it can be way more than a drink, but an experience to enjoy.
We’re all Dunkin fans around here, but if you want to switch up your caffeine routine, you came to the right place. Below are some of my favorite coffee shops in Boston and why you should try them.
1. Thinking Cup
The Thinking Cup is a recent addition to my list. This coffee shop has a unique aesthetic and a great atmosphere. If you’re lucky, you might find a seat indoors (6ft apart of course) to catch up with a friend, or study for midterms over an amazing cup of coffee. So if you’re looking for a coffee place to relax in for a bit, the Thinking Cup is the perfect place!
Try their cinnamon honey iced latte with oat milk!
2. Pavement
Pavement has high quality coffee and great bagels with vegan cream cheese options, which are super hard to find! This coffee shop’s rustic and industrial vibe makes it a perfect off campus destination. For vegans and my fellow lactose intolerant folks, Pavement offers soy milk, oat milk, and almond milk alternatives. Pavement roasts its coffee in-house and the bagels are also homemade. This Boston cafe chain has locations by BU campus, Harvard Square, Newbury, Fenway, and more. So whether you’re far off campus or close, you are most likely close to a Pavement Location.
Try their hot or iced lattes with oat milk, you won’t regret it!
3. Caffè Nero
Caffè Nero is definitely a must have for any student looking to get off campus and relax and do some work in a cool place. This Italian style coffee shop welcomes visitors with its comforting bookstore vibe. Books and art cover the walls. Pre-COVID, baristas served coffee in beautiful mugs to customers in chairs of all different sizes and styles. Caffè Nero is a safe, comforting space with many outlets to plug in your computer for studying. The food and beverage menu also offers vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, and nut free options.
Try any of their lattes and cappuccinos with soy milk.
4. Tatte
Tatte is a bakery and cafe with 17 locations in the Boston area, the closest is only a nine minute walk from Emmanuel’s campus. The clean, minimalist aesthetic is a signature of Tatte shops. and their coffee is a hit! All of the locations use Stumptown Hair Bender Coffee and the house blend is made with honey halva and cardamom.
Try the hot or iced vanilla latte with almond milk, and if you’re hungry their avocado toast never fails to impress.
5. P.S. Gourmet
P.S. Gourmet is a hit among Dunkin lovers. You can place your order online and pick it up at one of the three locations in the Boston area. It’s a great choice for an on the go cup of coffee. P.S. Gourmet is awesome because the flavored coffee is brewed (as opposed to just flavor shots). Plus, there are more than one hundred flavors, so your options are not limited! Although the closest location is in South Boston, it’s a great quick stop if you’re ever exploring in the Southie area.
Try the mocha almond joy iced coffee with almond or soy milk.
Supporting local businesses is especially important in this devastating time for local business owners, if you’re thinking of getting off campus and picking up a coffee, consider these following places, you won’t regret it!