“I’d rather take coffee than compliments”, Philly author Louisa May Alcott wrote in her famously inspiring novel Little Women. And she is not wrong! We know how much students in Philadelphia love their coffee, so we have gathered some of the most creative and calm coffee shops in the city in this article for you to try out. Enjoy!
1. The Monkey And The Elephant
This is Philly’s first and only non-profit coffee shop. They exclusively support and employ youths from the foster care system. Every purchase made from this shop supports their program in assisting the foster system. Sip your Monkey And The Elephant coffee while giving back to the community!
Where: 2831 West Girard Avenue Philadelphia PA, 19130.
2. Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
Owned by Marc Lamont Hill, Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books lives by its slogan:“Cool people. Dope books. Great coffee.”
“We don’t want to be a place that people come to out of obligation or burden. ‘The coffee is shit, but I love Uncle Bobbie’s,’” Lamont Hill says. “We wanted to make a place where you actually like coming here. You’re going to get a great latte. You’re going to get an amazing slice of sweet potato pie. You’re going to be hand-sold a book. Those things matter.”
Where: 5445 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144
3. Grindcore House
A hip coffeehouse where the drinks and eats are vegan-friendly and the grindcore soundtrack is intense, this coffee shop will not only wake you up with their drip coffee but also with their punk-like ambiance. They have a whole menu of vegan treats and only serve plant-based milk in their lattes.
Where: 1515 S 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 and 4134 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
4. Random Tea Room
Creating positive energy and good vibes, this tea room is a comfortable and loving place to savor a pot of delightful tea. They have a wide selection of international teas to satisfy anyone’s taste buds. You can even order a monthly tea subscription in zero-waste packaging. Their goal is to serve tea in a clean, healthy environment while promoting music, art and freedom of thought.
Where: 713 North 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
5. Batter And Crumbs
We love a vegan bakery with coffee from Fair Trade Roasters! Batter And Crumbs has a whole menu of planet-based sweet treats including their specialty homemade PopTarts and creative cupcake flavors. From Nutella Lattes, Maple Oat Lattes, Iced Tea Lemonade, they have many creative drinks and desserts to order. Are your taste buds tingling yet?
Where: 1401 Reed Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146.
7. Menagerie Coffee
In the heart of Old City, this local coffee shop has a homey, rustic vibe, providing you with the perfect ambiance to read, study or work. Serving everything from coffee, teas, and matcha, they also serve a selection of lunches, French pastries, and their famous Monster Cookie made with chocolate chips, M &Ms, butterscotch, peanut butter, and oats.
Where: 18 S 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 1910.
8. Cogito Coffee
Established in Zagreb in Croatia in 2014, they opened a shop in Philly and have many locations around the world. Their specialty coffee beans are from tropical countries that are bought seasonally by professional European coffee traders. This gives Cogito’s coffee a unique flavor that you will get nowhere else!
Where: 105 S 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
9. Ultimo Coffee
Ultimo Coffee is a family-run business. The owners met in a coffee shop in DC, fell in love, then decided to open their own in South Philly. After settling into this new city, they launched Ultimo Coffee Roasters to serve unique, rich coffee at their shop. They also serve a large menu of delicious items that pair perfectly with their one-of-a-kind coffee.
Where: 238 S 20the Street Philly, PA, 19103 and 5901 Wayne Avenue Philly, PA 19144.
10. Ox Coffee
This independent coffee house was founded by two best friends focused on serving only the highest quality of coffee. They give back to the community by featuring local artists, vendors, and musicians. Ox coffee partnered with organic local farms to provide the freshest quality ingredients to their food, and milk to their coffee.
Where: 616 S 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147.