Skip large-scale coffee shops and instead buy your cup of Joe at one of these local coffee roasters and stay for a study session!
“I’d rather take coffee than compliments just now”, 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. Franny Lou’s Porch
Fannie Lou Hammer was an activist during the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi and gave her name to this wholesome coffee shop that specializes in community activism and cultural awareness. Indeed, this coffee shop is a vehicle for sharing radical ideas and creating business relations. It is meant to be a restful space where POC and marginalized people can come together to connect over a cup of coffee.
Where: 2400 Coral Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125.
3. Lucky Goat Coffee House
Dedicated to displaying art and culture from Africa in an educational way, this family-owned business works with local roasters and local bakeries to serve the best quality foods. They serve seasonal specials and have a lovely outdoor seating space for you to enjoy the summer weather and summer menu items.
Where: 888 North 26th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130.
4. Grindcore House
Described as 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.
5. Random Tea Room
Creating positive energy and only 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. Indeed, their overall goal is to “serve you tea, to serve your children tea and your grandchildren tea in a clean healthy environment that promotes art, music, freedom of thought, and positive energies.”
Where: 713 North 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
6. 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. Cognito 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. According to their website, they were one of the first specialty coffee shops in Philly to do so. 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. Indeed, they 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.
[Featured imge: @ultimocoffee / Instragram]