The 13 Best Coffee Shops In Philadelphia

Coffee shops are bliss. The hum of the espresso machine grinding away, the jingle of a bell as you open the front door, the murmurs of patrons around you gossiping about their personal lives, and a perfectly concocted latte to sip on are just a few of the ingredients that make a coffee shop warm and inviting. Even though most cafes have all of those baseline elements, there are always other factors to set them apart.

The decor, quality of the coffee, owners, environment, location, accessibility, seating availability, playlist, and energy are just a few of those unique factors at each coffee shop. In Philadelphia, there is no shortage of locally-owned cafes. This may surprise you if all you know about Philly revolves around its famed cheesesteaks and sports teams. But in reality, you could walk five minutes in almost any direction and hit a coffee shop if you so pleased. Sure, you could go to ol' reliable Starbucks and Dunkin' — and no judgment if you do — but when you're in a place with so many fun, interesting options, it would be silly not to try at least a few of them out. And who knows! Maybe in your exploration, you'll find your new favorite hole in the wall to sink into a corner chair with your cup of chai and read your favorite book.

Because of the (slightly obscene) amount of coffee shop options in Philly, we've done the work of narrowing down the best ones to check out.

With over 16,000 Instagram followers, Green Engine Coffee Co. isn't exactly a Philly hidden gem. If you live in a tiny apartment in the city but are craving the comforts of a spacious and cozy living room, come to Green Engine Coffee Co. A warm fireplace, cozy lounge chairs, and delicious brunch food items await you. The avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries are just a few of the crowd favorites at this coffee shop. But if you just need a quick caffeine fix, Green Engine has you covered in that department, as well. Everything you'd expect to get at a regular coffee shop, it has, and it gets the basics right. You won't be disappointed with the coffee here.

Though it's located towards the edge of Philadelphia in Haverford, it's still regarded as a Philly favorite. Green Engine Coffee Co. is the perfect opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and, well, find a new comfort coffee shop. This is also the perfect spot if you commute to work in Philly from the suburbs of Pennsylvania, as you could pop in here for your morning cup of joe, or even to plan an idyllic Saturday morning brunch with your friends. If you're coming to Green Engine Coffee Co. from the other direction, Green Engine Coffee Co. gives you the feeling of escaping city life without actually having to leave the city.

A locally owned coffee shop with multiple locations in one city? Sign us up. ReAnimator Coffee Roasters is a renowned Philly coffee shop, and it has everything you'd want in a modern cafe. It roasts its own beans (hence the name); has locations across Philly in Fishtown, Port Richmond, South Philly, Kensington, and Garden Court; has friendly staff; and keeps every location aesthetically pleasing. Though you'll get a slightly different vibe at each spot, the elements that matter stay consistent: namely, the coffee.

As we mentioned earlier, ReAnimator Coffee Roasters is known for brewing its own bean juice. And if you want the option to recreate the tasty drinks at home and be your own barista, you can do that. ReAnimator sells bags of beans (ground or whole), to-go mugs with its logo, tote bags, bumper stickers, coffee mugs, single-serve coffee bags, instant coffee, and a wide variety of merchandise available both online and in stores. You can really deck yourself out with ReAnimator merch, and if you have a loved one who is obsessed with this iconic Philly coffee shop, it makes for the perfect present. You can even sign up for a subscription to ReAnimator's coffee so you'll never run out of your beloved beans at home.

Whether you choose to enjoy the delightful brews of ReAnimator Coffee Roasters in the comfort of your home or the comfort of your favorite Philly location, you will fall in love with everything ReAnimator has to offer.

Ultimo Coffee really is the ultimate Philly coffee shop — pun intended. The aesthetic Instagram images on the brand's page really do match up with the quality of the experience you get at any of Ultimo Coffee's locations (you can visit one in Rittenhouse, Germantown, Newbold, or Graduate Hospital).

But Ultimo Coffee goes well beyond the surface level. One of the amazing things about this shop is that it donates 5% of its earnings each quarter to worthy local charities and non-profits. You can definitely feel good about getting your morning caffeine fix here. Additionally, Ultimo Coffee was actually one of the first specialty coffee shops in Philadelphia, the site notes, but this doesn't make it a pretentious cafe. The vibes at every Ultimo Coffee are welcoming and upbeat, perfect for giving you that push you need to get through your afternoon slump. Even though the energy at Ultimo Coffee isn't snobby, that doesn't mean it's not a pretty place to be. If you're getting tired of staring at the walls of your room while working or studying from home, the decor inside Ultimo Coffee (at every location) will be sure to give you the inspiration you need to keep chugging along.

Ultimo Coffee also started roasting its own beans in 2016, notes the website, so you can be sure that every latte, iced coffee, and cold brew you get has the unique and flavorful taste of Ultimo Coffee Roasters.

With the tagline "Cool People. Dope Books. Great Coffee," Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books is exactly that. Uncle Bobbie's provides a unique and much-needed space in Philadelphia. The coffee shop-slash-bookstore is always looking to make people feel included, especially some of the underserved communities in Philly. All are welcome at Uncle Bobbie's, and we think all will love it.

If you've been finding yourself going down the rabbit hole of BookTok lately, or if you simply want to get back into reading, Uncle Bobbie's will provide you with your favorite coffee drink and a new read. What's not to love about that? And if you're looking for some things to do in the city, Uncle Bobbie's has no shortage of events for you to attend. Author events happen frequently here, especially because Uncle Bobbie's has partnered with The Free Library of Philadelphia to put on these exciting author events, notes the website.

Since 2017, Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books has been giving many Philadelphians a greater sense of community, and whether you're looking to pop in and out with your iced latte, stay awhile and curl up with a beverage and pastry and read a good book, or attend one of its famed author events, Uncle Bobbie's is just happy to have you. If you're in Philly, this is a can't-miss shop located in Germantown.

The Green Line Cafe truly lives up to its name. With plants hanging in every corner and nestled on every surface, this coffee shop will make you feel like you're in a real jungle, not a concrete one. Aside from the aesthetically pleasing greenery speckled everywhere, The Green Line Cafe has been slinging coffee orders since 2003, which is an impressive amount of time in a city as competitive as Philadelphia.

And if you love the offerings at Green Line, you'll never need to go without. There are five locations all across Philly, including in Clark Park, Queen Village, Center City, Powelton Village, and Walnut Hill. No matter where you are in the City of Brotherly Love, you can pop into a Green Line Cafe and soak in the greenery and good coffee for a little respite from the hustle and bustle of it all.

This Kensington coffee shop is relatively new — and its story is pretty cool, too. Càphê Roasters, founded by Raymond John, is the first and only Vietnamese specialty coffee roaster in Philly, notes the website. Located in Kensington, Càphê Roasters is serving up some seriously tasty coffees. If you're looking for a sweet treat, we recommend the latte float, which is comprised of whole milk, condensed milk, Vietnamese espresso, and topped with creamy condensed milk soft serve. While basically a dessert, it will still give you that caffeine boost you're looking for.

If you're not looking to indulge, check out the Bac Xiu, a shaken espresso latte with milk, condensed milk, and Vietnamese espresso foam. But all of the drinks at this shop are good; you really can't go wrong with any one of them. If you're feeling munchy, definitely go for the banh mi. Overall, Càphê Roasters is a spot you have to check out if you're in Philly.