So I was getting bored being cooped up at home when I decided to head out to Diesel and get some reading done. My writing "mentor" I guess you can call him said that my dry spell of scripts has been far too long so I decided to check Diesel out for inspiration. So let it be known that I'm pretty much a white-washed Asian. My dad grew up on a rice farm in the Philippines but somehow, some way, I ended up going to high school with Mitt Romney's kids. I'm not cool, I'm barely normal/functional so to say that I fit in with the awesome coolery (if that is a true word) that is Diesel Cafe is a stretch of the truth. Then again, you don't really have to fit in at Diesel, as it's got decidedly new age/hip/academic vibe. I managed to get a lot of solid reading done and part of a short story done while sipping an above average glass of ice coffee. And really, when the clientele includes a guy cuddling and mumbling to his stuffed raccoon in a Milton Waddams (Office Space)-like voice, I was able to take comfort on some level that I wasn't as weird as I thought I was. read more

Ah Diesel, Listen, you've got a hard, cold demeanor and your provisions are a slight bit pricey (though I admit I do like the little swirly designs in my cocoa). You let those laptop loving, table hogging, constant sitters stay waaaaay too long. It's cold outside man, I just want to sit and enjoy my tea. You need to impose a time limit or something. I really want to love you, but I just can't bear it any longer. My heart breaks just a little each time my hopeful, cocoa bearing self gets shunned by those cold grey walls and seat hogs. Then I go back to the counter, have my drink poured into a to go cup and walk back out into that icy, dim world. Have me, cold, bitter darkness, because Diesel has turned me away once more... read more

I like this place. Since I don't live in Somerville anymore, I don't get here as often. I love the tea and coffee drinks. The sandwiches are tasty though it seems they got rid of my favorite: The Branch Trio. Basically a cheese sandwich. Trust me, it was delicious. Sad that it's off the menu. Atmosphere is chill. Great place to hang out, shoot pool, get some work done, read or shoot pool. read more

okay, this place is pretty awesome, and maybe i should be giving it 5 stars. i cant though. ill start with the good and then tell you why it cant get 5 stars. first the good: this place has seriously delicious coffee. they use stumptown coffee, which in my humble opinion is one of the best. its from oregon, and its just delicious. seriously delicious. they set-up of the place is pretty cool too, and its worth a visit to see. they have a huge space, lots of booths and tables, a fun back area that is good for studying or lounging, and they even have a few pool tables. now that im writing this, i think i should reconsider the four star thing...but then i remember that this place doesnt have free wifi, which is pretty irritating and means that i cant study there unless i want to invest in some plan, which i dont. also, even though this place is huge, it always seems to be very loud...another reason i dont love reading here. lastly, they have a pretty good selection of baked goods and sandwiches, but i cant say that the sandwiches are very good here...and if youre in the area, there are definitely better food options just a few steps away. the baked goods are delicious though, ill give them that. a solid four stars...and edging on five. keep it up diesel. read more

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I had heard SO much about diesel. Whenever I told people, "I'm moving to Davis Square next week", they told me, "Oh my god! You have to go to Diesel! You will love it!" I like it ok. I haven't gone to chill out yet, so maybe it will grow on me. In which case, I'll pump up the star count at a later date. I came here twice in one day when I was looking at apartments in the area, first for an iced chai (kind of middling) and second for a raspberry italian soda and a raspberry pastry, also ok. I don't know, nothing was bad, but I wasn't blown away. I prefer the pastries at 1369. I'm also kind of put off by the atmosphere. I felt like the place was trying really hard to intimidate me. I find that kind of unpleasant. read more

Though it's about an hour long T ride from where I live, I am more than willing to spend time to get here. First of all: the cream cheese brownies are fantastic. Once when I ordered one the brownie broke in half so the barista gave me two! She definitely didn't need to - I really wouldn't have minded eating a brownie in two pieces - but it totally made my day that she did. I also love all the drinks I've had here so far. The Somerville Smog in particular is a great treat for a cold day. I was curious to try their Pumpkin Chai last time I was there and ordered it, but ended up getting a Pumpkin Latte. It was in itself delicious, so I didn't mind, although I am still curious about that Chai... I also just love the atmosphere. The staff is adorable. While it has its fair share of hipsters, like most good cafes in the Boston area, it draws in a pretty diverse crowd. And, while it does get crowded, it's very spacious. Yes, the lack of free WiFi is kind of annoying (especially since I am probably the only person there who doesn't have 3G on her phone), but I do find that if I'm working there, it really helps me stay focused without the distraction. And even with all the people there, it never feels loud. I've never actually tried their sandwiches since I'm not usually there for a meal, but they look great and I can't wait to go back sometime for lunch. read more

Huh, I've never seen a coffee shop with two billiards tables in it before. Or lesbians. Haha, awesome. Diesel Cafe has a pretty cool look and feel to it with a combination of industrial and hipster decor. Yes, that means vintage type writers, old gas pumps, and various metal signs. The baristas are the obligatory chill, laid-back hipster type, without being douchy (I'm looking at some of you, Manhattanites). There's a nice selection of pastries, from various brownie flavors to cookies. The medium coffee brew was solid, and the prices not too bad. Also, this place is huge. There are booths to sit in which is great for doing work, more tables in the back, and a cabinet full of games.. that I've never heard of before. Free water from the cooler with cups. Smart. Good alternative if you want to support a place that isn't Starbucks. read more

It's a great place to do work and homework, nice place to hang out and have a great conversation with friends. The customer service is not the best. I was not asking for 5 star service but at least I would've want to feel welcome d. The coffee it's like regular coffee nothing different . read more

I tend to prioritize places with 300+ reviews low on my to-do list, but Diesel has been staring at me from my bookmarks for too long to ignore it. The general consensus is spot on: Maybe a little pricey, and the wifi isn't free, but the atmosphere is unbeatable. To expand: Yes, the prices are a bit high, but honestly, the price of a good sandwich anywhere nowadays is high. Sure you could get a big mac at the McDonald's down the block for a lot cheaper, but why would you want to? And more importantly, would you want to sit there to eat it? Think of it as a $5 sandwich with a cover, and maybe it hits closer to the mark. And steering away from fancy items, basic drinks like coffee and tea aren't higher than, say, Starbucks, but are better. Wifi too is prohibitively expensive -- but sometimes I'm glad it is. Diesel is already almost always too busy to even find a seat, so I don't mind a little less incentive for others to park themselves on a couch and monopolize the space all day. Diesel is the kind of cafe that makes me go out of my way to find myself in Davis so I can stop in. How many cafes do you know where you can shoot pool? The whole place bleeds cool, without coming off as artificially slick. It's a great place to sit with some tea and people watch, it's a great place to grab a coffee after a movie with a date. It's a great place to hash out some ideas with a colleague. If there weren't so many damned people, I'd be there every day. Which is probably why there are. read more

I came to Diesel Cafe fully aware that the Yelp reviews were a mixed bag, but I gotta say, I like this place! It's a cute, vintage cafe with ample seating and a college atmosphere (literally, I am pretty sure I was the only customer not doing homework). Despite all the seating, finding a place to sit was hard, because the place was packed. And I have a feeling that it is frequently that busy. I generally don't drink coffee, so my review is based only on the sandwich and bakery items I ordered. All of the sandwiches on the menu sounded good, so it was hard to decide. After considerable debate, I decided to try the Branch 3. This generously sized sandwich consisted of roast beef, tomatoes, sprouts, onions, and sun-dried tomato ricotta. The bread was just ok, but every other ingredient on this sandwich was very tasty, and the sun-dried tomato ricotta in particular is what really made the sandwich. The desserts were great too. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted by a mouthwatering display of baked goods. I have no self-control, so of course I had to try one. And that "one" ended up being two - both the raspberry crumb and the mint fudge brownie were rich and delicious. So as you might imagine, I left Diesel Cafe quite full and a little bit gluttonous . But it was worth it. Very, very worth it. read more

Diesel Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Update and upgrade time. I've been spending a lot of time at Diesel lately and with time, my affection for this buzzing cafe grows. I love grabbing a chai and sitting by the "garage door" and staring vacantly into the street or plugging my laptop in by a booth & settling in for a couple hours of work. There's usually a good number of ppl camping out at the place so no one really cares that you've been there for the past say... 4 hours. It does get pretty crowded sometimes, and I've had random people ask me if they could sit with me a few times, but for the most part they were pretty cool. Definitely a good place to get some work done, pretend to do work or just hang out. P.s. I disagree that the servers are rude. Sure, they don't always shower me with love, but they're generally decent people P.p.s. Try the egg & cheese and gobblit! (and chai of course!) read more

When it comes down to Starbucks or the local joint... I'm choosing the local joint every time. Diesel Cafe was very crunchy-hipster (whatever that means) but service was friendly and fast, and there were a ton of choices. The menu didn't specifically list all the cold beverages, there was only 3 or 4 listed. I asked if they could make my chai latte iced and they could, TG, otherwise I would have opted for the Thai Iced Tea (total score that they have it) but that wouldn't have ended well (if you know me, you know what I'm saying.) I was surprised that this place is much more expensive than Sbux... almost $5 on a 160z bevie, yikes! I won't be stopping in often - cuz I don't roll in dough or in Davis Sq. but when needed this past Saturday afternoon... it hit the spot. read more

We only recently welcomed Diesel back into our lives. After moving to Boston last summer, we quickly boycotted this place for some time. And with good reason. The day the GF moved to Boston, she was at Diesel killing time and her purse was stolen. In the hippie commune that is davis square, can't we trust each other? And Diesel in particular, who the f*ck steals a purse here? Anyway, after a good 10 months, we decided it was time to break the boycott and give it another go. Despite the fact that it's difficult to get seating here (and for the lack of free wi-fi, which costs them a star in my book and the biggest reason I didn't go with a 4 star), the food and atmosphere are pretty good. Like the decoration and student vibe of the place. Interesting crowd ranging from students to professionals (with apparently some purse snatchers peppered in for good measure). I always go for the breakfast sandwiches, and they are some of the best in the area. The perfect size, good selection of bagels/breads, and never over stuffed or oily like they can sometimes be. The coffee is also excellent, though sometimes the mocha can be too heavy on the mocha and too lite on the espresso. But still tasty. Overall, solid neighborhood spot to go for coffee, sandwiches, or to just hang out for a bit with a good book. Just make sure you keep an eye on your stuff. read more

Cool atmosphere upon walking in, but decidedly hipster. Very cool that they welcome dogs! Their mint brownie is a decadent diabetic bomb, with not one, but TWO layers of frosting... one mint and one chocolate ganache. Score! Annoying that prices are hard to discern, and it's a bit pricey in general, but I suppose for sitting in a cafe with one wall entirely open on sunny days for people watching, it's worth it. read more

When you walk on Davis and you see this place, there is no way that you will not feel to try it out. I love both it's exterior & interior, its vintage, love the bike on top .. Haha. Pool tables are great fun. Specially about the food here! It's healthy and delicious. I had "The Branch". It's a wrap that includes spicy bean hummus, avocado, slaw, Tomatoes, cheddar and mix greens. Loved the taste of red bean hummus . For drink I had their Raspberry lime Rickey!! No complains at all. M absolutely coming back read more

Diesel Cafe - Great place ! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I really like Diesel. It's been a couple years since I have gotten a seat, but I'd rather get something to go from here than support Starbucks. Please, please, please if you're one of the many people who like to read, run a business, or write your thesis for hours in a coffee shop be considerate of the other people who'd like to experience some of the atmosphere they pay for. read more

I remember when I first came here in 2005, I was blown away by the fact that there were pool tables to use! And best part? They are NOT coin slotted! However, you still have to pay by the hour in using them, and it is in a very laid back and casual setting (nowhere close to a pool/billiards hall!). There is also a photobooth nearby to use. Eventually, I got around to trying the food and drinks (especially around The Slutcrackers season!). I am absolutely in love with The Granby (fresh avocado, sun-dried tomato ricotta cheese, swiss, and onion on foccacia bread) and their special hot chocolate drink (I forgot the name...it has a hazelnut flavor and finished with a cute leaflet design on top)! The Raspberry-Lime Rickey is good too! And hipster....really? That's the excuse for the low rating? Ahahahaha! Hipster or not, the food is still damn good enough to knock over that silly notion! read more

Diesel is one of the only places in Davis Sq. that I actually really like. The atmosphere is really awesome. It's decorated really well and the space is neat. The only problem is that sometimes it gets really packed and it's hard to find a seat. The food here is really good. Very good sandwiches and teas. Good place to meet for coffee or lunch and awesome in the summer with the front open. read more

The coffee is good, the food is good, the atmosphere is ok. It's overpriced for what it is, but the Davis foodies reassure them that jacked prices are a-ok. Who am I to fight the foodies? Their specialty coffee drinks are really good, especially the mocha. Not as much a fan of their baked goods. People are a little too hipster for my taste here. I'd rather take my mocha w/ skim milk to go than hang around. The square is much nicer. read more

The food and coffee are worth five stars. It's the price that's the killer. Diesel has some great offerings, especially for the veggie crowd, and they make an effort to have as many of their ingredients locally sourced as they can. I'm partial to the Somerville Smog (Diesel's tongue-in-cheek take on a London Fog), but $4 for a glass tumbler of it is steep. I know it's a location thing - Davis Square is great, but be prepared to shell out a bit more - but man, that's rough. The sandwiches are also very good; I like the vegetarian wraps even as a meat eater. You'll pay about $10 for a drink and a sandwich, but it's arguably the best in the area. It's also a great place to people-watch; the ambiance is very much love all, serve all, and you get a motley crew in at any given time. It's a very relaxed place, but note that the volume does tend to get a little loud later in the evening. Also, the pool tables rock. $8 for an hour's not bad when you're splitting it, though you might have to bend in creative ways to avoid committing accidental battery with the back of your cue. read more

I go here all the time and have never, I mean never, enjoyed anything. The coffee is somehow bitter and weak, all of their custom drinks are terrible, the food tastes like cardboard paste, and even if I just order a coffee I have to give them my name and stand there and wait. It's either this or starbucks all the time, but just go to starbucks. read more

Food made me sick! My friend and I paid $22 for 2 sandwiches. We split a breakfast and meat sandwich. We both instantly got sick, and it had me running for the bathroom. I made in time, in case you were wondering. And no, the taste of the food did not come close to making up for getting me sick. read more

There is little difference between this place and the two 1369 Coffee Houses, my recommendation is to go to the most convenient of the three. Because I end up in Davis more then Central or Inman I decided to review this one. Regular drip coffee is good, but their specialty is espresso drinks. My personal favorite is the Americano. read more

Diesel is, by far, one of my favorite places in the Cambridge/Somerville/Boston area. They have great coffee (especially iced lattes - well worth the high price tag!) and have never once burned a drink I've ordered. To top it off, the baristas are super nice and the place is accommodating overall. It's a lot bigger than it looks, but be aware that seating fills up fast so you might have to get your coffee/sandwich to go. This is more of a college/twenty-something hangout space so don't go in there expecting a quiet cafe with jazz music (or something like that?). The items on the menu are pricey but my friend swears by the tofu scramble and they sell great locally-made gluten free pastries! read more

I hope the extra money that you pay for coffee goes to Therapy for these emotionally deprived human beings behind the counter. Rampant hipster-ism, GROSSLY UNSANITARY LACK OF HAIRNETS OR HATS, unpleasant staff and pricey, sub-par coffee. Sigh, I dislike writing negative reviews, but every time I'm hear I get a rude awakening that some places deserve it.... So here are some positive things about it: They seem to have a lot of vegetarian meals (though I recall the bread to be a bit stale) and the atmosphere is nice. Kind of a Rockabily theme going on, and some board games and pool tables in a nice open space. I want to like this place, I've tried it a few times but there ain't much going on. read more

I lived less than a mile from here when I was living in Davis Square and wish I'd gone more. The food was awesome, with tons of vegetarian and gluten free options. The people who worked there and the customers were always friendly. The decor and atmosphere are hands down my favorite ever! The only reason I'm deducting one star is that there was rarely a place to sit. You'd go in and see people camped out for ages with a cup of coffee or something small, their laptop plugged in, using a 4 person booth as a 1 person office. Diesel's vibe was so laid back that I can't imagine them ever enforcing a policy on this or a time limit per purchase on the wifi, but I wish their customers would be more considerate when taking up so much space during high traffic hours. read more

Cold brewed ice coffee was delicioso! I will definitely go back for one. The egg sandwiches are really tasty as well. Good venue to sit around in and have a coffee if you can find a spot. A lot of people in there are "studying" on their macs and working on their novels... read more

Diesel Cafe is an oasis. It's hard to get a seat sometimes, but only because it's so awesome. The Monkey Wrench (turkey, avocado, sprouts, tomato, etc.) is a staple in my diet and the wonderful beings behind the counter prepare it with consistency and love. Let's just say that coffee is important to me and I am a discriminate drinker of the stuff: the coffee here is like sunshine. There are myriad ways to enjoy Diesel: with a book (early morning!), with friends, shooting pool, chatting and joking with the totally friendly and fun people who work there, working on your thesis... This place is teeming with life. Can get a little loud and full at times, but again, that just goes with the territory of being amazing. Plus, the hours are extended so you can always time your visit and get a seat or some space or whatever. The design of the place is really cool and done right. I almost always look up and admire the ceiling when I'm in there, for example. There's some interesting design to catch your eye pretty much wherever you look. Diesel rocks. read more

I loved the S P A C E. So many tables, so many hours of sitting and reading, wifi-ing, coffee drinking... that feels like an urban oasis to me. I was feeling the groovy colors and "diesel" themed decorations. Yes, it looks like there's always a line but the coffee was very delicious and the crowd seemed hip. read more

Diesel is my favorite place to do work in Somerville, except for Tuesday nights, when some sort of community group meets (they're fun to watch, but louuuud). I love that knitting/crafts circles and motorcyclists mingle here and the coffee is great. They serve Intelligentsia and the baristas know what they're doing. I really like that they serve Vietnamese coffee hot and cold. I've never had a problem finding a seat, which is surprising considering that Diesel is ALWAYS packed. Also cool that they have a pool table you can use for under 5 bucks an hour (or around that). read more

This is one of boyfriend's old haunts when he used to attend Tufts, so we stopped by here for a bite and a drank. HUUUGE COOKIE is what I most remember. They have a decent menu of sandwiches, cafe drinks, and GET THIS: fancy $5 toast of SF fame. Take that, Boston. You're no better than us. read more

Cool, hip, punkish place to hang out and grab a small cup of coffee. This place has wonderful appeal and atmosphere with its open windows during the summer and coffee aromas wafting through the street. It's mighty better than that corporate franchise, the Big S, across the street. read more

If you're in the mood for an absolutely fulfilling sandwich/salad experience, Diesel is the place for you. Always-fresh, organic, quality ingredients (veggies, cheeses, Boars-head deli meats) abound, along with delicious (also organic) baked goods and perfectly-concocted coffee and tea drinks. Personal favorite orders include the Monkey Wrench (turkey, avacado, boursin cheese) and the Gobblit (Diesel's own version of Thanksgiving in a sandwich, served warm or cold). Their Avacado Salad was also extremely yummy, but I think they've taken if off the menu. Perhaps you could still request it? Think perfectly ripe slices of avacado served over mesclun mix with the best balsamic vinaigrette I've ever tasted. Definitely worth a try. The best thing about Diesel is that the owners are true humanitarians that live in the area. Dedicated to sustainability and charity, they've implemented ways to improve the community, including donating a certain percentage of coffee proceeds to local non-profits. For me, handing over a couple extra dollars in return for quality goods that give back to the area is completely worth it. Check it out. read more

I like this place. The space is very industrial looking and there's a lot of room if you can find a table. Plus it's okay to squat at a table for a couple hours, in fact I think it's almost expected. My latte was tasty and had more espresso than what I'm used to, but that's not a bad thing. On the downside a small vanilla soy latte for $5.30? Seriously? They recycle everything, which makes me, as well as the environment, happy :) Oh and the ladies who made my latte were friendly, but not over the top. I'll definitely be returning when I can justify paying 5 bucks for a latte. read more

Here's the thing, Diesel. Now that I've moved further than walking distance from you, I'm really missing you. This could be in part because it's cold out and the Cider Delux is my very favorite winter beverage. I know it's not anything special (hot apple cider, caramel syrup, homemade whipped cream and a light dusting of cinnamon) but it's something about it that I just can't get enough of. I would forgo any other sustenance if I could just get 16 ounces of that toasty goodness. Other than the Cider Delux - I guess you're pretty great. It's true, more often than not your packed to the gills and it's difficult to find a place to sit at any given time during the day, but it's okay. I'm a to-go type anyway (I guess...). Your staffers are pleasant and adorably hip. Your decor is aces - if only I could find a place to perch and enjoy it... read more

3.5 stars to be exact. This will be very short: I went to Diesel today, I haven't been there for a while. I was finally going to order the Spark Plug sandwich after many many months of debating (lame, I know!) There were no breads or wraps, oatmeal, OR yogurt parfait. I ended up ordering what I could only order, a salad. The latte I got was on the light side this time, but they usually make it better. Oi, oi, oi!! I didn't want to take away a star, Diesel =( read more

Diesel is everything a coffee house should be. The use Intelegensia beans, and they even serve the coffee in a pint glass. The place is huge and the crowd is diverse. Staff is friendly and the pastries are great. They have lots of vegan stuff too for those who choose that path. The people watching here is top notch too. They have pool tables and a photo booth, but most people just sit there and work away on their laptops or chat with friends. Last time I was here I got a steaming pint of coffee and the muffin of the day, orange/nectarine, holy cow-it was good. When I finished I decided to get an iced coffee and I jittered all the way home and the most delightful way. I go here whenever I return home to Boston (and it's a bit of a hike, but I will go great distances for a quality coffee shop. read more

This place looks really cool on the inside and has a very "hipster" vibe when you walk in. There's a lot of seating and couches to hang out on, there's a pool table, which I thought was really cool. The menu looks really neat, everything about it is very hip and relaxed. The food on the other hand was not worth it for me. I went vegan for the next month so there were some options for me as long as I took the cheese off of it. I got the temph burger without Swiss and I didn't think it was anything special. I've had better frozen burgers from the supermarket. It was very bland and the salsa gave it some flavor but not much. I put a lot of ketchup on it to make it better and it didn't do it for me. This is my one and only experience, I don't think I'll ever go back when I visit, but it seems they have good things. Not for me though. I didn't have the coffee, Starbucks across the street had me before I realized they served coffee. read more

Uber hipster fun. Love it. The atmosphere is really fun, coffee smells and tastes delicious, putting Charbucks to shame. The brownie we got was a bit cold :( but it didn't kill us. You have to pay for Wifi? Mmm, no thanks, but what about an hour free with a purchase? Maybe I'll just buy some coffee beans from here. read more

I don't really know how I never reviewed Diesel Cafe!!! For those of you who love an independent coffee shop that makes honestly one of the better lattes or espresso drinks you will have in that area by far, Diesel is for you. They even have a pool table in here! Their sandwiches are also tasty, but not the biggest in the world for how much they are, so if you are a big eater, probably best to just come here for coffee and a snack I would say. Also, this place is hipster/indie land too. So funny to me since it is across the street from Starbucks, so you can literally see the coffee world divided in Davis Square when you come here which is awesome. Thanks to Diesel I think Davis Square actually has a coffee spot for everyone! I only wish they had free wifi here. You have to pay for it, and it is a bit pricey, but if you are looking for an awesome coffee shop to do some work and you don't want wifi distracting you, then this place is awesome. That is if you can get a seat--it is a pretty popular spot. But something about doing work in their retro like booths just kind of makes work that much for fun! Especially with one of their tasty lattes heh read more