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.
Tip: Brunch sells out by 12:00 weekends. The pastry counter at the front is the fast take-away.
Address: 70 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
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.
Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery on Mass Ave near Central Square Cambridge has run a bakery-cafe in Boston since 2007. Sticky buns, sandwiches, the largest sit-down Flour location.
Signature drink: Coffee and sticky bun
Tip: The Cambridgeport location is the work-friendly Flour with the most seats. Sticky buns sell out by 14:00.
Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick's Sofra on Belmont Street has run the Eastern Mediterranean cafe in Huron Village Cambridge since 2008. Turkish coffee, ginger morning buns, za'atar manaeesh.
Signature drink: Turkish coffee and morning bun
Tip: Park on a side street; the small car park fills by 09:00. Ginger morning bun is the under-ordered pastry.
Aaron Mason's Broadsheet on Kirkland Street has run a single-origin specialty-coffee bar and roastery in Cambridge since 2017. James Hoffmann recommendation; pour-over the menu's whole point.
Signature drink: Single-origin filter coffee
Tip: Pour-over filter coffee is the order; the espresso is excellent too. Closed earlier on Sundays at 16:00.
Barrington Coffee on Newbury Street is the Boston outpost of the Berkshires roaster in Boston's Back Bay since 2014. Single-origin filter coffee, espresso, no laptop ban but the room runs small.
Signature drink: Single-origin filter coffee
Tip: Roasted in Lee, MA; the Newbury store sells whole-bean retail. Filter at the counter, espresso the secondary order.
