Coffee – it’s something most of us can’t go without for very long. And while it’s easy to punch in Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts in your favorite GPS app, those big chains leave a lot to be desired. Philadelphia may not be as well known as Seattle for their coffee culture, but we have our fair share of nice coffee shops to choose from.
The first coffeeshop in Philadelphia opened way back in 1703 right on Front Street. Since then, coffeehouses have taken many shapes, forms, and levels of cultural importance. Today, outside of a place to grab a cup of coffee, these places are known for meeting spaces or co-working areas, or even places to relax and read a book.
Anyway, here’s a snapshot of our top coffeeshops in Philadelphia:
- Herman’s Coffee
- Ray’s Cafe & Tea House
- Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
- Three Graces Coffee Co.
- Function Coffee Labs
- Alchemy Coffee
- Jiggy Coffee
- Bold Coffee Bar
1. Herman’s Coffee
Herman’s Coffee has only been open since 2017, but they have charmed the residents of Philadelphia from day one. Starting off by converting an old auto shop into a coffeeshop, they placed great care on the aesthetics and tried to hold true to their roots. Foldable lawn chairs line the brick building, a homage to Herman, who loved sitting outside in a lawn chair drinking coffee.
Not only does Herman’s make great coffee, but they have frequent pop ups with local vendors so you can try out great food as well.
Price For A Cup Of Coffee: $2.50
Address: 1313 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
2. Ray’s Cafe & Tea House
Ray’s Cafe & Tea House is a great place for any coffee connoisseur to check out, because they use a coffee siphon for a lot of their brews. And they have an amazing selection of teas as well.
Ray’s prides itself on having a robust selection of quality coffee available, and the experts available to brew it for you. It’s not the type of place you go to for Instagram photos, it’s the kind of place you go to if you want to have one of the best cups of coffee of your life.
Price For A Cup Of Coffee: $2.00
Address: 141 N 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
3. Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
Uncle Bobbie’s is a bit of a hike from downtown Philly, but it’s certainly worth it. In terms of coffee shops on a mission – this one wins. Not only do they serve some great coffee, but as the name implies, they have a huge book selection as well.
Unable Bobbie’s was created in 2017 to help underserved communities take back a safe space. They are even using their coffee shop as a bit of a community center, regularly having author talks and workshops hosted under their roof.
Price For A Cup Of Coffee: $2.00
Address: 5445 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144
4. Three Graces Coffee Co.
Three Graces opened up despite the onset of a global pandemic. It actually helped them to warm up to the idea of running a coffee shop – as the crowds weren’t so bad in the beginning. Given their dedication to their craft though we assume it’s always busy now (it is at least every time we try to go).
The aesthetic in this coffeeshop isn’t like most – it’s bright and alive and decorated with some modern flair. You can get lost in your work here and look around to find you are in one of the best designed coffee shops in the city.
Price For A Cup Of Coffee: $2.50
Address: 719 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
5. Function Coffee Labs
While many of the coffee shops on our list pair aesthetic with coffee, Function Coffee Labs is fully focused on their coffee quality. Founded in 2015, they bring science into the mix, striving to be one of the best coffee shops in the country, not just Philadelphia.
And it’s not to say the aesthetic in the coffeeshop is bad, it’s just that you will remember the taste of their espresso a lot more than the layout of the coffee shop. It’s actually a great layout as well, with some outdoor seating as well for those warm summer days.
Price For A Cup Of Coffee: $2.50
Address: 1001 S 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
6. Alchemy Coffee
If ever there was a coffee shop designed by an Apple store interior designer, this is it. If you come here for coffee, bring your laptop. The environment begs for you to stay for a few hours and get some of your more creative projects done. Drink a coffee, or two, or three and watch the hours fly by.
Price For A Cup Of Coffee: $2.00
Address: 119 S 21st St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
7. Jiggy Coffee
It’s time for a real hole in the wall to enter our list, and no coffee shop has finer coffee than Jiggy Coffee. You’re not coming here for some lavish aesthetic with Instagram worthy tables, though they are nice. You’re coming here for some great coffee. And Jiggy Coffee won’t let you down, they are adamant about making great coffee at a reasonable price.
Price For A Cup Of Coffee: $2.50
Address: 1000 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
8. Bold Coffee Bar
Open since 2020, Bold Coffee Bar has been serving up an gourmet mix of signature coffee blends. Their atmosphere is welcoming and unassuming, with a minimalist layout to let you know that this place is really all about the coffee. The staff are top notch, and they pride themselves on treating everyone as they are guests.
Price For A Cup Of Coffee: $2.50
Address: 1623 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130