The best coffee shops in Philadelphia

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A post shared by Herman's Coffee (@hermanscoffee)

There’s no question that Herman’s roasts one of the best brews in the city. Their range of creative espresso drinks, highlighted by a signature and ultra-refreshing Pennsport Mule that includes ginger beer and a splash of honey, may be even better. But calling it “just” a coffee shop feels incomplete. With its garage doors open wide and picnic tables dotted with red-and-white lawn chairs—a homage to the founder’s father and the shop’s namesake—the former auto-repair shop has become a quirky beacon for Philly’s food lovers. The adjoining market offers a wide selection of mocktail mixers and perhaps the city’s most robust selection of tinned fish. Many of Philly’s up-and-coming chefs have held pop-ups here, and on weekend mornings, Herman’s becomes a community hub, with a rotation of top-notch food trucks and a burgeoning crafts market.

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Thank You Thank You is an unabashed love letter from one coffee nerd to the rest. Owner Cody McGregor curates the city’s most diverse range of roasts. The shop, nestled in a few hundred square feet on Jeweler’s Row, serves coffee by dozens of different roasters per year—and the employees will spend the time with you to find out which best matches your taste. It’s like a boutique service for your tastebuds. Each cup is hand brewed—hence the brewers in the name—and their pour-overs are a luxury worth the splurge.

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The first and only Vietnamese specialty coffee roaster in Philly, Càphê Roasters sets a high bar not just for its Kensington neighborhood but the city itself. Its coffee is primarily sourced from Vietnam and other areas of Southeast Asia. The result is the realization of founder Thu Pham’s vision: a distinctive brew that’s bold, smokey, chocolatey, and unlike anything else. Don’t sleep on the full food menu, led by an audacious breakfast sandwich topped with crispy Chinese sausage. You can feel good about spending your money here, too. A portion of the profits go to 12 Plus, an educational non-profit that partners with public high schools to encourage educational equity.

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A standout among the many gems of the Bok Building, Two Persons transformed an old tool room by the auto bays of the former technical school into a coffee-lovers destination. Two Persons is one of the only places in Philly to serve Passenger Coffee, the well-regarded Lancaster roaster. This is a great place to work, with airy, sunny spaces, and an endless source of interesting relics from its former life to keep you pleasantly distracted. If you can’t find something you like from its small food selection, the neighboring Machine Shop serves the finest croissants in the city.

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A post shared by OX COFFEE ROASTERS PHILA (@oxcoffee)

Long before Queen Village was the darling of Philly’s restaurant scene, Ox Coffee made this neighborhood a worthy destination for coffee lovers. No Wi-Fi here, but why would you want it? There’s a record player spinning good tunes—donate a vinyl, get a free drip coffee—and the baristas are warm and friendly. It is better to skip the laptop and gaze at the lovely, sunny space adorned by its signature wood-paneled coffee bar, well-worn hardwood floors, and ornate ceiling. Roasting is done in nearby Kensington, and food options are locally sourced, like biscottis from Gilda’s in Jersey and weekend bagels from neighboring The Bagel Place.

A marriage of coffee and science, Function Coffee Labs owner Ross Nickerson is a former mechanical engineer who built his business on getting the science of his coffee just right. (Hence the “labs.”) Try his signature “Coffee Shot," which will fascinate your tastebuds with a curiously fruit-forward flavor that's unlike any espresso shot you've had before. Pair that with a sweet treat made from their homemade sourdough and let the good vibes roll. Just don’t plan to stick around: Seating is minimal. If it’s warm outside, take your coffee to-go to the pint-sized park just across the street.

One of the city’s more unusual concepts, Bella Vista’s Rally is a triple threat: a neighborhood coffee shop, event space, and creative marketing agency. Rally doesn’t struggle under its multi-purpose mission. It holds a long-term partnership with Blind Tiger Coffee, a Maine roaster that specializes in medium-light brews. The cafe space is refreshingly bright and chic, with extra seating along the sidewalk out front during warmer months.

One of the originals of the city’s “craft coffee” movement, Ultimo has been constantly innovating to stay ahead of the scene since they opened their original spot in Newbold in 2009. The mini-chain has grown to include locations in Rittenhouse, Graduate Hospital, and, most recently, a large cafe and bakery in Germantown. Their Ultimo Coffee Roasters brand, which sells directly to customers and supplies many other coffee shops around the city, sprang from a roastery and lab near their Newbold location.

Practically a force of nature in Philadelphia, La Colombe coffee can be found in a slew of restaurants—and even markets selling cans of its well-regarded “draft lattes.” But if you want the full experience, step into the shop’s cavernous marquee location in Fishtown, where you’ll grab the signature coffee (a palatable medium-to-dark roast) neatly served up with a dainty cup of cream and sugar cube on a plate—made better in the context of the space’s hanging globe lights and coffee-themed art. La Colombe doesn’t just do affordable luxury; it perfects it. Only catch: No WiFi, so laptop toters should steer clear.

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A pioneer in Philly’s craft coffee scene, Elixr has long been a go-to spot for business folk and downtown travelers shopping Walnut Street. But Elixr’s growing empire has come to include a booming wholesale business and seven locations, including one in Nashville. The cafe is known to turn out an acidic, caffeine-potent, thoughtfully sourced cup of coffee that is roasted in-house. The rustic-chic, wood-heavy space of the Rittenhouse location makes it a suitable place to meet a friend for coffee—just don’t plan to stick around too long; despite its spacious outfit, it gets quite crowded.