The 9 best coffee shops around Boston in 2024

There’s a reason 1369 remains a fixture of the coffee scene. Since its opening in 1993, 1369 has focused on quality, from carefully selected roasts, to specialties such as the malted cold brew, to the impressive tea menu. Both its Inman and Central Square locations epitomize the quintessential Cambridge coffeehouse: people-watchers will spot plenty of awkward first dates and local authors writing away.

This sleek, modern Cambridge cafe has become a go-to destination for coffee aficionados. Its deliciously balanced, small-batch roasts — made down the street at its roasting and training facility — are a favorite among cafe offerings near and far. Ever-changing featured brews, barista specials such as a Nitro Shandy, and seasonal homemade syrups such as Tulsi Thyme make it worth a weekly — or daily — pilgrimage.

This cash-only cafe crammed with antique espresso machines and faded photos feels like something from a bygone year. And it is: It was established in 1929, to be exact. In the morning, get a whisper-light cappuccino, generously dusted with cocoa. In the evening, order an amaro on ice and watch the crowds outside on Hanover Street, or retire to the hushed cigar bar in the basement for some Godfather-esque ambiance. Whatever time of day, try the tiramisu, barely sweet and spoon-ready.

The caffeine connoisseur has plenty to choose from at George Howell’s Downtown Crossing storefront, with beans sourced from across the globe and roasted in Acton, delicious cold brews and pour-overs, free tastings, and a shop with quality home coffee brewing supplies. Plenty of additional seating is available in the adjacent Godfrey Hotel lobby; the location in Boston Public Market is a great option for to-go orders. Another shop is in Newtonville.

This isn’t your father’s cup of Joe. Squeezing into Boston’s boutique Gracenote Coffee is a java connoisseur’s equivalent of boarding the Orient Express. Perched on the edge of the Leather District, Gracenote roasts beans not just from Colombia and Ethiopia but Kenya and Indonesia’s Sumatra. (Its Sumatra Tano Batak has notes of pineapple and fresh tobacco.) Find another location at the High Street Place food hall.

Nestled among the brownstones of the South End, you’re likely to recognize Greystone by the line that regularly snakes down the block from the walk-up window. But the line moves fast enough to grab a cold brew for your morning commute. Have time to lounge? Snag a comfy seat inside, or out on the small, shaded patio, and nibble on a homemade pastry. There’s a rotation of seasonal specialties to keep even the most devoted regulars surprised.

Cozy seating under a canopy of plants. The aroma of freshly pulled espresso. The rumble of a V-twin engine in the air. There’s no atmosphere quite like that of Madhouse Cafe in Roxbury. Relax, sipping a sweet tahini latte over a good book. Or, gaze longingly at a custom motorcycle through the large back window dividing the cafe from its adjoining repair shop and showroom, Madhouse Motors.

Render’s South End location is a beloved spot for neighborhood residents, as well as students looking to settle in for a study session. A glass-encased solarium in the back is flooded with natural light, and the back deck serves as a quiet outdoor patio space tucked away from the bustle. There is a second location in the Seaport.

Silky smooth, bold in flavor, and perfectly balanced. An espresso drink from Yego Coffee invites you in and keeps you coming back, sip after sip. The neighborhood vibe and friendly staff are known to do just the same. Since opening their shop in 2023, husband-and-wife owners Francois and Fatuma Tuyishime have brought new depth to the area’s coffee scene, importing beans from his family farm in Rwanda and roasting them to perfection. Even the cafe’s name inspires: Yego translates to “yes” in Kinyarwanda.