Caffe Vittoria on Hanover Street has poured espresso in Boston's North End since 1929. Four floors of antique espresso machines, three liquor bars, the city's first Italian cafe.
Tip: Sit on the front terrace in summer; the basement bar pours grappa late. Cash and card both.
Address: 290-296 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Thinking Cup on Newbury Street pours Stumptown coffee in Boston's Back Bay since 2010. Three Boston locations; the Newbury sit-down room is the work-friendly option with strong wifi.
Signature drink: Stumptown Hairbender espresso
Tip: Counter pours Stumptown Hairbender espresso. Avoid the 10:30 to 13:00 lunch rush if you need a laptop seat.
Gracenote on Lincoln Street near South Station pours its own roasted single-origin espresso in Boston's Leather District since 2015. 12-seat counter, weekday breakfast and lunch.
Signature drink: Single-origin espresso
Tip: Closed earlier than most cafes; 16:00 weekdays, 15:00 weekends. The single-origin espresso list rotates weekly.
Pavement on Newbury Street has run a local Boston roaster and cafe in Back Bay since 2008. Bagels boiled in-house, cortados the house drink; seven locations across Boston and Cambridge.
Signature drink: House blend cortado and bagel
Tip: Bagels until 14:00, then pastry only. The Newbury location is the largest sit-down room in the small chain.
Tatte on Charles Street has run an Israeli-style bakery-cafe in Beacon Hill Boston since 2016. Shakshuka, pistachio croissants, the green-shakshuka brunch list, multiple locations citywide.
Signature drink: Cappuccino and shakshuka
Tip: Brunch sells out by 12:00 weekends. The pastry counter at the front is the fast take-away.
Diesel Cafe on Elm Street in Davis Square Somerville has poured local-roast coffee with a pool table in the back since 1999. Queer-owned, full-service kitchen, the city's classic third-place cafe.
Signature drink: Pour-over filter coffee
Tip: Strong wifi, plenty of outlets, food until 19:00. The pool table is free if you buy a drink.
1369 Coffee House on Cambridge Street in Inman Square Cambridge has poured house-blend drip and pastry in Boston since 1993. The city's most-loved neighbourhood coffee shop; two Cambridge locations.
Signature drink: House blend drip coffee
Tip: Inman Square location is the classic; Mass Ave location is bigger. House blend, drip, no fuss; the menu is short on purpose.
