I had to bump up my original rating by a star, because my experience was quite swell this past time. The counter guy who helped me with my order was extremely friendly. As usual, the place was absolutely packed but my husband and I quickly found a table to chill out at for a while. My iced latte was delicious and had the perfect amount of coffee to milk ratio. The coffee is strong, so a little extra milk was great. I had a fruit and yogurt parfait that was a little sweet, but very tasty. It came with blackberries, raspberries, granola, dried cranberries, and honey. My husband enjoyed his hot coffee as well. They have hot soup, but only had one variety when I was there (clam chowder). They also have a small selection of sandwiches in the case and a salad or two. Not really a place to go for lunch, but it's there if you are really starved. read more

The Coffee Exchange has been around for as long as I can remember. It's always busy, but the service is quick and friendly! I love to come here and do my homework or meet friends. They've got an outside deck which is great in the spring and summer. I can't say enough about how great their coffee and teas are! Check it out! read more

Great local spot! I don't drink coffee (so why am I reviewing Coffee Exchange?) Hello! Tea and Hot Chocolate! The ambiance is wonderful. Great patio during the summer, fun inside & decor, and people who actually enjoy their jobs and aren't working for the man (or mermaid?). the hot chocolate was a wonderful perk on a cold day and the whipped cream wasn't too over powering. Easy parking and seating is usually easy to find within a few minutes of getting there, but be careful on weekends - it will get packed quickly. read more

Great little coffee spot on Wickenden! The lattes are great, and there appeared to be a ton of coffee varieties for purchase. Though I didn't try any of the food, it all looked amazing. read more

Another great little shop where I caught up with a friend early evening this past winter. Coffee was pretty good. Cookies & pastries were tasty but more run of the mill. Got a chai the second go 'round. Staff was also friendly. Would go again. When it's busy, it's harder to hear when conversing. True for a lot of places, though - especially coffee shops like this! read more

Great coffee and atmosphere. Had a fun conversation with the roaster about different blends. Very knowledgeable staff. The food was great, too. Best donut I've ever had and a fantastic almond croissant. read more

This place is great as a coffee destination. My wife and I will walk the 2 miles in the winter to visit this place. The cafe au lait is good, as well as the Mel's decaf. read more

Do not go here if you want to sit and relax. It is way too crowded most mornings. However, they do have the best roasted beans in town. Buy your beans by the pound here (I actually brew their coffee at home more than I buy it there). They do a very good cup of coffee for a decent price. The people that claim they burn their beans are absolutely out to lunch. I have never had burnt tasting coffee there. If you go I would plan to pop in and pop out with coffee not hang out. You also have to have a fairly high tolerance for crappy hippies and yuppies. read more

One of my favorite coffee shops in providence. They have a wide variety of coffee beans, bakes goods, vegan bakes goods. Plenty of people do work here. Good spot for a date and to relax. Try their peaberry! It's delicious. I always have their espresso beans in supply at home. Lattes and mochas are great as well. read more

Great coffee, great atmosphere, excellent place to chat with friends. Plenty of seats and parking is easy behind the place. We got a seat near the window and enjoyed our 25 minutes here. read more

Thru all the years I have been coming here the excellent quality of their product is unchanged. They continue to build relationships with coffee growers around the world. They also sell locally made bakery goods. You just can't get better than this spot! read more

Just one thought. for The Coffee Exchange peeps: Perhaps having the sugar/milk/etc. counter right behind the line isn't the best idea in the world... it makes for a very crowded and awkward situation where people can barely move and they definitely can't pass thorugh... But, I can't imagine they wouldn't have thought of this themselves so my guess is there is a reason for it...! read more

I've been going here for quite awhile now. I have to say lots of good things about this quaint coffee shop. I usually get a tea (nice selection), cafe au chocolate ( hot chocolate & coffee), or cappuccino. Yummy stuff. I also enjoy the staff, which is mostly very talkative (unless they are very busy). Oh, and don't get me started on the treats/pastries. My last visit was the hot chocolate and a vegan chocolate chip scone. Don't let the idea of vegan put you off, it was heavenly. I also recommend the red velvet mini cupcakes. I saw in the reviews someone mention about a 1hour limit on tables? Maybe that's certain times of the day because I usually end up there around 6-7pm and stay for over an hour every time; even with 2-3 people. I enjoy that it has the lovely outside porch for those humid evenings. Overall, nice atmosphere, yummy food and coffee (of what I have tried) and it has it's own parking lot. Which the majority of places make you park on the street. The only con is some items can be a bit over priced in my book. But,...not *too* bad. -Tip: For people going on a first date! This is the spot. Sip some coffee, munch a tasty brownie (or share). Then when you are all done, you can wander around Wickenden street to check out the shops or sit on the many benches. It's a nice area to walk and chat. :) read more

Best coffee in Rhode Island. Spot on. Their americanos are excellent as well. Their pastry selection isn't impressive but everything they offer is pretty en pointe! Also, price is cheaper than Starbucks. Major bonus. Love love love!!! xoxoxo. read more

As one of the first gourmet coffee shops in Rhode Island the coffee exchange has been a wonderful place to meet a friend and great get a great cup of Joe read more

My absolute favorite coffee roaster. When you buy a pound of the coffee of the day you get a dollar off and a free cup. You get another discount for reusing your bag for the beans. Coffee is fairtrade, perfectly roasted, and delicious! read more

This is my "go-to" place for Non-alcoholic beverages when in Providence! It would have five stars if they had a non-carcinogenic sweetener such as a stevia product and some other non-dairy choices other than soy. There are some great coconut milk products now available and even an almond milk would be nice. read more

The coffee is ok. The vegan scones are real tasty. The no wifi on the weekend is a bummer though. I understand they're trying to make it easier to find a table, but there are other ways to do this: ideally they should time limits on wifi usage per device, but if they don't want to spend the money creating the system they could just cover up all the outlets so people are limited to a single battery charge. read more

Yup, they know what they're doing. Hangout with some seriously stinky art students too inspirationally driven to take time out to bathe. And that's on the deck, thank goodness (yes, still noticeable down-wind). Tables filled with Mac laptops and their intense owners. Every place around here probably becomes a library/study hall by default. Staff was very nice, great selections. read more

Their Hot chocolate is the best! Came here Saturday afternoon. Place was a bit packed but staff were able to manage it well. I had their brownies and those were one of the best I had in RI. I was supposed to go to duck and bunny this day but there was a lot of people in there so I went here instead. read more

Excellent coffee and espresso drinks and a HUGE selection of beans available for purchase, but beware that the line can be long (out the door long) and seating can be hard to come by. A lot of tables are crammed into a fairly small space, so if you plan to stay to enjoy your coffee, be prepared to stalk a table for a little while and to be within earshot of several other tables. This is not the place for large groups or to sit comfortably for an extended period (note that wifi is turned off on weekends) - but you're guaranteed a great cup of coffee and knowledgeable, friendly employees. read more

I had the tuxedo. It was delicious. Good atmosphere for small talk and researching or networling online. Staff was very friendlt and informative. read more

Love the fairtrade organic selection. wish the vegan baked goods would return or at least a similar option to enjoy with my coffee.

This is a great place to get great coffee. It has the largest free trade selection I have seen. If you don't mind the artistic crowd that frequents this place it's a very comfortable room to enjoy your fresh coffee. read more

I really like the atmosphere, Im more of a hot chocolate and sweets kinda girl and dont like coffee but I do like this place. They offer both the options I go for! read more

If you like the smell of hipsters and patchouli essence you might love this place. But I couldn't get past the stench of the patrons and the smug postures of people who are reading newspapers at 3pm Tuesday -- was laughable. I'm not saying they're rich n bored or unemployed n lazy. But they definitely keep me from wanting to get a cup of joe there. (Not a review of the coffee.) read more

Their mocha is to die for and where else can you get an authentic (& delicious ) Portuguese glazed popover?

I stopped in one time when I was in the area going to Blick and it's the cutest, most quaint coffee shop I've had the pleasure of going to. I got a regular hot coffee and loved the atmosphere! It was really busy but it made it fun! I would go everyday if I lived near it, I do want to go back and try other items on the menu. I'm sure they are just as good as the coffee I had! I highly recommend this place for great coffee and a good time! read more

Awesome place, friendly staff, good espresso. Tons of coffee choices and they have drip cold coffee. Outside seating on deck, place gets busy. read more

Great spot, a melting pot. The coffee is outstanding and roasted onsite. Variety of breads, etc... from local bakeries. Did I mention the Chicken Empanadas? read more

When you first walk in, you are greeted by the unique aroma of blended quality coffee. The line, although congested, goes quick. the atmosphere is cozy, and relaxing.The outside seats are very inviting....The coffee is probably the best quality I have had in my life time... Owners are extremely knowledgeable..Definatly make this a routine stop...only concern I have is that the place seems to be busy for it's location... read more

If you can imagine overwhelming in a good way..then you start to understand this place. You smell it when your a football field away. Then, when you walk in, it's option heaven. So many good choices. If you want a coffee or to get a lb for the road be prepared..you have much to choose from. read more

I love this place. It's my favorite study spot in the area. Lots of tables, cozy atmosphere. Nice staff. Wifi on weekdays. The coffee is so good and the drinks are well prepared and always pretty. As other people have said, visit at your own risk as you may leave a coffee snob! read more

My all time favorite coffee shop. I live an hour away and still drive there almost daily for an iced latte. You can't beat this coffee. If I could have an IV of their espresso I would. read more

QUALITY COFFEE. If you are a coffee lover, you must make sure you stop by this place when you are in town. I am super picky about my coffee, but I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this place. Their coffee is strong and extremely tasty. You will not be disappointed. The staff is super knowledgable and nice, too. Definitely ask them about their coffee! read more

Can't say how much I love this place. It's definitely the best coffee I've ever had and has consistently high quality beans. Never fails to impress. Also great vibes, cool people and free wifi. Such a great supporter of good causes and initiatives as well! read more

$3.25 for a small ice coffee (16 oz) bitter taste, one of those cringe worthy flavors. After all the years of coffee brewing they might have a better tasting coffee. This coffee needs a blast of something to disguise the flavor. Urghhh.. Creepy claustrophobic mini table clusters, not comfortable nor relaxing. Pleasant seating outside, but for me it is just better to get out of that environment. Pastries, so so.. read more

Really nice local spot. Smells great as soon as you enter. Tried the chai latte and a mocha both very tastey. Def will stop in again if in Providence. read more

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Best coffee beans in Providence. The roasters are knowledgeable and can explain the qualities of the different varieties.

Good coffee and decent food. Great vibe. However, it can take forever to get your order. Just waited 22 minutes for an iced coffee. And it's not even a weekend! Just be aware of the wait and don't be in a rush to get somewhere. People are friendly. read more