Boston is home to a plethora of coffee shops, varying from chains to artisanal, but if you’ve ever gone on the hunt for a truly phenomenal cup of coffee you know that not all coffee shops are created equal. What distinguishes the top coffee shops in Boston from the rest?
Thinking Cup has put a lot of time and energy into determining what makes a top coffee shop better than the rest, striving to remain worthy of this distinction. Having continually been voted one of the top coffee shops in Boston, we’re happy to share what we think those looking for the best of the best should expect from their coffee shops.
- Exception Coffee – It seems like an obvious first choice, but consumers no longer want “good” coffee, they want exceptional coffee brewed by knowledgeable baristas that take their jobs seriously. Third-wave coffee has been born as a result of a higher appreciation and understanding of all things coffee. Coffee lovers and connoisseurs want more and look for coffee shops that deliver perfection in every cup.
- Delicious Food & Locally Sourced Ingredients – It’s not enough to simply offer decent muffins and scones. Choosy coffee shop goers look for delicious comfort foods made on-site and with as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.
- Comfortable Atmosphere – The atmosphere inside a coffee shop can either enhance or destroy the coffee drinking experience, which is why it’s a key component in what can make a coffee shop a top coffee shop in Boston. The inside should be warm and inviting, yet not lacking in effortless sophistication. It should be the type of environment that makes you want to stay, whether alone or with a friend.
- Educated Baristas – Unless you’re looking for a “diner” experience, you want someone who can do more than pour already-made, burnt coffee into a mug. Baristas at top coffee shops in Boston such as Thinking Cup understand the science of brewing a perfect cup of third-wave coffee. You can literally taste the difference in every cup when coffee is a more than a job; it’s a passion.
What do you think? What makes a coffee shop a top coffee shop in Boston?