Get an espresso straight up, you won't regret it. Or get two or three, they usually have a few varieties ready to go, including a Terroir or two. Yeah, the service is lackadaisical at best, and the shop has a very odd shape, but they're the best shot in town. read more

I'm going to update my Simon's review again so that I can give a thorough review of the actual espresso. Recently the question was put to me about what makes a latte great. Since Simon's has many of the characteristics, I thought I'd take the time in this venue to describe the cafe latte. The presentation gives the first impression of the latte and is therefor vitally important. If the latte lacks art on top, most often the latte is not going to be great. Latte art reflects the dedication to the craft and the skill of the barista. Simon's has very nice latte art. The art is smooth and styled. The next impression is the aroma followed closely by the first sip. The first sip is the best one of the drink. Simon's latte is smooth. It has good breadth of flavor, but it does lack a little bit of strength. This is more a reflection of the roast and the beans than it is of the barista. The latte is hot, but never too hot to drink right away. Simon's lattes are probably on the upper end of the temperature range of high quality lattes. Too high of a temp destroys the rich flavor of the espresso. That's probably enough about the latte. Simon pulls the best latte in the establishment, which is awesome because he owns the place. Allison is also fantastic. The rest of the staff is really good too, so I never worry about who is pulling my shots. I've always found all the employees to be quite friendly, so I don't know what some of the disgruntled Yelp reviewers are talking about. I'd suggest they give Simon's another try. read more

Simon's Coffee Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The pastries are delicious!! Latte art is beautiful! Chill atmosphere. I would come back if I lived closer. read more

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Tried Simon's after trying to study at Starbucks the day before, and thinking: "This is Camberville. There must be a better (read: hippy-run) coffee shop in this neighborhood" Based on the earlier yelper's review, I had an iced honey latte, which was divine. Light, sweet, and the most pleasant coffee drink I've had in a long time. I wish I hadn't eaten prior, as the special was gazpacho, and their sandwiches and bagels (baked on location) looked really good. I was lucky to get a table. This place is understandably quite popular. read more

Yeah, Sorry, no. Personally, not for me. Go to newbury st or 1369 in cambrdge for coffee/work study. The latte was good, nothing special. Manager (i think? he was a older guy who looked like he was running the place) was very nice - the only nice thing I have to say. But the other cashier/baristas gave me a very impatient/rushing me vibe. The place said they closed at 3pm but at 2:30pm they were ready to chase me out, packing up all the chairs, putting everything away and going around and about me to do it. I did not feel welcome so I left pretty early before closing time. Not coming back here again. Also, a couple of customers came in and were really loud or rowdy and no one did anything. No wifi either (you have to pay). read more

I went to Simon's on a Sunday afternoon based on the glowing reviews I read online. Maybe my hopes were too high. -The cashier was OK, not very friendly or assertively helpful, but she wasn't rude or cold. Somebody asked her about the Internet and she explained it like she was trying to sell rainy weather. -The espresso was much too sour for my taste, but maybe that's my karma for taking another customer's double espresso. It tasted like it had been sitting for a minute. They should take names. -Business was slow (I had no problem finding a seat), but the barista was slow as well. We waited at least 5 minutes with only two drinks ahead of us. Latte art does not take that long. They should take names and have a standard wait time of 3 minutes like Starbucks *gasp!*. I know they could do that without comprising quality... that of which I am not convinced. -The milk, however, was steamed to the perfect temperature and consistency and poured with perfect proportions. My art looked haphazard for someone who does it a million times a day (maybe because I took the wrong drink) but my boyfriend's was beautiful. For that I bump my rating from 2 stars to 3. I was very disappointed, but if I was in the area I'd give it another shot. read more

Simon's has amazingly good espresso. Amazingly good. I just like to sit and sip from my typical double shot, but someday I'll get brave enough to ask what the other espresso drinks are (besides the usuals, of course) and possibly try one of those. I took my laptop, book, and notebook today and had such a nice time, getting some writing/reading done. Even though the space is odd, I really like it...something about feeling isolated, yet still in a vibrant, alive area attracts me. I wouldn't come with a group of more than two or three here, as the tables are just meant for two and the space is really narrow. I was disappointed by the lack of free wireless, but only because I was expecting it due to a review on here. It's alright, though...I definitely was not distracted by the internet and got some actual work done. heh. ...also, yay for stocking Danish Pastry House goodies, as that's where I work! I hope everyone enjoys them! read more

Why is it that I always manage to get culinary advice from attractive girls walking the other way? Anyways, I found this place the first time when I was looking the Porter Exchange and an attractive girl was telling her friend how they serve some of the best coffee in the area. So on a pouring rain day after eating at Cafe Mami before heading to Lanes and Games, I decided that I needed a nice hot cup of coffee to keep me toasty! There were many choices to chose from and despite my usual inquisitive nature, I tried their medium mocha latte w/ whole milk as my standard of espresso drinks. The drink definitely hit the spot that day! Plus I love how they do the flower cream design on the top even for a to go cup. Perfect after meal coffee whenever I'm in the Porter area! read more

Definitely one of the best around. You can get the best espresso here and the other drinks aren't that bad either, especially when you get someone who knows what they are doing, i.e., Simon/Ben. The only reasons I can't give 5 stars are the following: - incredibly high turn-over. Every time I go in there I swear there is at least one new person working there. And that usually means I'm not going to order what I wanted because I don't want a latte that tastes like shit. (Since everyone mentions it here - I can go to Starbucks for that!) - no vegan goodies. Get with it! At least a cookie or something! - wait time. I'm not always in a big rush, but waiting 10 minutes for a bagel toasted with nothing on it is a little excessive. That might lead back to reason #1. read more

As a coffee maker: 4 stars. As a cafe: 2 stars. Their latte is definitely above average, goes down smooth without me having to dump a bunch of sugar into it. They sell Aeropresses among other things for the home which is a nice touch. The narrow seating area isn't very comfortable, especially when all the seats are taken and more people are lingering waiting for their orders. I've had mostly bad luck with their food. I was told (earlier in the day, mind you) that they were all out of bread. When I do manage to get a sandwich, it's been forgettable, with lousy tough bread and boring contents. Their bagels are generally fine, except that when I ordered a ham-and-hummus bagel, they charged me the price of a ham bagel and a hummus bagel, despite only getting one bagel. Nitpicky, sure, but it's irksome. read more

Simon seems like a very nice person. He made my toasted everything bagel with pesto, and I was a huge fan. Whoever thought of putting pesto on a bagel was a genius. Of the two other people working there that day, the guy ringing me up also seemed like a nice guy, but the guy that made my smoothie was kind of an asshat. I'm normally a huge coffee person. I paid my dues as a barista, and I respect local shops that have good coffee. That being said, I really wanted a smoothie, and the wild berry one here is pretty good. I would go back to try the coffee, hope that the douche has worked on his customer service skills, and eat another bagel with pesto. read more

Simon's is by far the best cafe I have been to in the U.S. I am an avid coffee drinker, but I do not get the brewed coffee there as it is not usually great. However, the espresso drinks are where the goodness is. The "foam art" is always great to look at and enjoy, and the drinks are fantastic. I make a trip here every Saturday and Sunday morning, and sometimes again in the afternoon. Yes the drinks take a while to be made, but once that beverage is in my hand I forget about the wait. I also buy my whole beans from here when not buying them at Peet's. The George Howell beans are terrific. And the Atomic Cafe are not too bad. Service is usually great as 9 times out of 10 it is Simon there when I go in. Try their cappuccino- even if you don't like them, you just might be converted. read more

Nice local coffee shop! Went around 8:30 AM on a Thursday and it was packed! Had to wait for a table (there are probably about 10 tables that seat 2 people each). Ordered the oatmeal with dried cranberries and walnuts for $5.50. It was a perfect portion and nice and warm on a windy November morning. Plus it was dairy free! My friend - a real coffee aficionado- enjoyed a cup of coffee. The baristas were helpful and friendly. All in all, it's a great local coffee shop with some solid food choices as well! read more

Fresh from Reykjavik, Iceland--where I just had the most amazing what they call "Swiss Mocha" (essentially swiss mocha latte) ever at a local cafe--I was totally craving it again. Ordered the Mocha Latte. Did not disappoint. Sweeter than what I had in Iceland, but still oh-so-very good and quelled the craving. Nice selection of scrumptious looking pastries (sticky buns, croissants: chocolate, almond..all powdered sugar covered, danishes). The chocolate croissant was delish. Tried my husband's latte and it was also phenom. Will be returning again soon. read more

Simon's Coffee Shop - Most amazing mocha latte. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My partner and I popped in real quick. The space is more of a hallway than a room per se and a tad dark, but it's pleasant. I had an iced honey latte and my partner had a drip coffee, which he said he liked. I was pretty impressed with mine; I don't usually expect much from an iced latte and this one was worth a second trip. It's got a nice flavour from the honey but is also not too sweet. Goes really well with a bagel from Bagelsaurus down the street! The staff seem a bit overworked, but they're polite and helpful. Wifi is paid, because you sometimes have to pay for things at businesses, especially if they're trying to avoid people camping out with their laptops and not buying anything, which they are, because the space is so small. If you want to take up space for hours and not buy anything, Starbucks is a few doors down. read more

I'm a tourist from NYC, so I had a good amount of coffee that's NOT Starpoops. Well, the shop is quite nice, big, and old school. The people that came here seemed like locals, students and teachers. I saw tons of people reading. So intellectual this city is, people in NYC are... Reading too, their phones tho, these people were reading books. BOOKS I SAY! Ok, I had an espresso, my girlfriend had iced latte. Their coffee is pretty legit and the prices are pretty low. I usually pay more than 10 dollars when I go to get coffee with my geisha girlfriend but damn... The bill was 6 dollars plus tips 8. THATS PRETTY DAMN LOW. One thing I like about Boston or Cambridge... Is the prices. Well, the coffee was really good, I liked it a lot, very dark espresso with a chocolaty after taste. I would come back. Keep up the good job! read more

If you like coffee - this is your place. It is a small coffee shop with nice Cambridgian atmosphere and a few tables outside. You can park your car on the small parking lot (on Linnean Street) behind Rite-Aid. The cashier/baristas are usually friendly. Owner, SImon, is a great barista. On the cold windy day I treat myself with a cup of spicy Mexican hot chocolate. Definitely a place to come back again... and again. PS Hey, Simon get yourself a website! read more

Ordered the SHAKEN ICED HONEY LATTE. Delicious. Different but good. Will definitely be back for it again. Cozy spot with room but not too much. read more

Simon's Coffee Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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It looks smaller than it is, so I have oft missed it, but it's totally worth a trip to Porter and here's why: After having ordered one of the best soy cappuccinos that I've ever had, I was informed by a friend that the barrista behind the bar has won several barrista championships years in a row. There is a reason. She managed to get a rosette in my soy cappuccino. Not an easy task if you've ever worked with soy. There are only two other places I've found around here that can manage that feat reliably: the Diesel and the Sip Cafe. It was nice and light, and the coffee itself was delicious. I was also hungry, so I ordered the chipotle sweet potato soup, which was lovely. It lacked a little depth (maybe it needed a tad more salt) but was still filling and tasty. I can't wait to go back. read more

Great space and coffee however! However! However! There is one person with blond hair ( not sure if she is the owner or just staff) but she doesn't smile at all and gives a very uncomfortable vibe! ( a little passive aggressive ) ... A client came up stating that the sandwich he ordered is not what he got and what he got from that person is "what's wrong ?" In a very demeaning tone and once he said it again she did "pfft" and turned her back ... read more

Simon's Coffee Shop - Accessible and accepts level up! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ah, Simon's! The first few times I came here - I LOVED it. They have great coffee, yum Hot Chocolate and loads of teas and rooibos to choose from. Their scones are the best in Cambridge (yep, better than petsi's and biscuit's) and their sandwiches and soups are always tasty. All positives, BUT..... The staff are unfriendly and sometimes even rude. They barely look at you when taking your order, and you can forget about getting a smile. You better know exactly what you want when you get to the counter, because the last time I was deciding (there was no line behind me), I heard a long sigh from the girl behind the counter. All of the staff act like they're too cool to work there or something - full of notions, and I don't get it. Such a pity, because with such great food and drink, I would be here every day. A few lessons in customer service perhaps? read more

I wanted a hummus & avocado sandwich but I was told that the bread isn't Vegan. It's just "regular" bread. My server did point out that the breadbox-sized case on the counter had all Vegan items, so I had 2 of the blueberry tea cakes (a little cloying) and some green tea. The menu had some things that might have been Vegan, but they weren't marked and I didn't feel like asking about each one. There is a rest room, but no outlets for your phone or computer to charge. read more

Get the iced honey latte. The service wasn't the friendliest and it was kind of small but it's a good alternative if you want to quick bite to eat. read more

Simon's is a cute, comfortable, and welcoming little coffee shop. The barista was very friendly and made a fabulous latte topped with a cute heart design made from the foam. The latte was delicious....no burnt after taste and perfect milk to espresso ratio. I love that they have real mugs...nothing worst than drinking out of paper when your seated at a coffee shop. My macaroon was scrumptious but a bit pricey. The coffee prices are normal for an independent coffee house and they even take credit card ($5 min) which is a big plus in my book. It wasn't to busy so I was able to grab a seat & get some work done for about 45mins which was very nice. Simon's will be a great addition to my coffee house rotation. read more

They serve the best coffee anywhere. I have not had better in Italy, or other places. Do you ever cringe at bitter coffee? Not at Simon's! They know how to brew it. And if you order latte or cappuccino, you will also get an aesthetically pleasing experience. In the morning you might get some delicious still warm scones--try the raspberry chocolate, amazing! I would move to Cambridge just so I can go to Simon's regularly! read more

This place is hands down amazing. Absolutely beautiful coffee that tastes that way carefully prepared coffee should. I enjoyed a cappuccino that was, by far, the best I've had in a long time if not the best I have ever had, and it came with a heart on it. Thank you cute coffee girl, I shall return. But wait there's more! Simon's also has a nice selection of teas, snackage, and coffees to buy; by the way, I didn't try any, I only looked at the menu, but they looked good. The atmosphere in the place is relaxed and groovy, the way a neighborhood place should be. I enjoyed the orange and purple(I think it was purple but I could be wrong) wall colors, music was chill, paintings on the wall were nice. Only issue is that the bar is quite large and dominates the space, I can only imagine that when its busy its a little tight in there and you might have that awkward situation when a person's rear end decides to join your conversation...thats awesome. Regardless, awesome coffee shop. Go there. read more

I wish I could give a 4.5 - the coffee here is really good - they use George Howell, which I think is the best stuff on the market. The espresso drinks tend to be perfect and I love the scones. The sandwiches are OK, not great, and you have to ask if you want your bagel crispy. Also, if you go early in the morning, the day old pastries are still soft and delicious and only 1.25 or 1.50 - for us thrifty folks. I wish they had more seating and that it felt a little cleaner. I think they need to wipe the tables more often. I'm a big fan and I love to read here. read more

So here's the story, it was rainy, cold, miserable beyond all belief and I didn't have an umbrella. So I ducked into Simon's, as I had just been to Hollywood video, and ordered a tomato Mozz sandwich with coffee. So, sitting in the seat by the window watching it rain slushy slush I was a little down on how the hell I was getting home; queue bite of sandwich; end worrying. This sandwich is by far the best commercial attempt I've tasted at a matomozz. the Pesto, the bread, all equally distributed not too much of anything, it was truly amazing and brightened my water logged day. There are a lot of choices if you are into mixed coffee beverages, and there were quite a few other bakery goods to choose from. Quick service and excellent staff also made this a great place to go. There is limited seating though, so if it's a good day picking something up and hitting the park is an ideal situation. At the end of it all, I managed to get another coffee to go and a cab. Gotta luv the weather read more

I would never have discovered Simon's on my own. That's what friends are for, right? Pro tip: Bring friends there and suddenly your recommendations will have more weight! I was always happy with my drinks there, but one time I asked for a mocha chai, which I've only found on the menu at Diesel. The proportion was exactly right, and Simon's is officially the only other place (besides Diesel and Bloc 11, which are basically the same) where I can get a reliable fix to my mocha chai craving. The space is small, but you're actually more likely to find a seat than at Diesel, which is many times larger. The cakes I've gotten have been good, and the service is friendly. There's not much more to a coffee shop than that. Minus one star for location, which is neither close enough to Harvard or Porter to have Simon's be an unplanned trip. It is worth planning for, but most of the time I'm just not that organized. read more

Best blueberry scones of all time. Which is high praise because I've never likes scones. I love these! I hear excellent things about their chai from my co-worker who is sweet enough to share her scones with me! The people here seem very nice and happy to be at work in a coffee shop. What a novel concept! I don't drink coffee but they offer so much! Sandwiches, salads, iced tea, hot tea. It's cozy in here and there are a few small coveted tables outside. I really like this place! Prices are very fair too! read more

Absolutely love this place. And Jody is amazing. Never would I ever drink green juice with kale and ginger( it's called a skittles) but it was amazing. And I'm thankful she told me I gotta try it. I figured I'd be brave with one sip but I downed the entire glass... perfect place to bring your vegan friends as well read more

Simon's is an artsy-divey coffee shop on Mass Ave. Very Cambervillian. The coffee is great (George Howell and Barismo) and the scones are even greater! I didn't think I liked scones until I went to Simon's, but they converted me. The blueberry is my fave. I haven't ventured to try their marked-down day old pastries only because I know the fresh ones are so good! There is fairly limited seating and tables will only seat up to two people, so don't go with a group (even 3 would be difficult). I LOVE this place for the food and coffee, loses one star for the lack of seating and (to me) unpleasant rock music. Definitely not someplace I would be able to read a book or get work done, but it is a fun and tasty spot to stop with a friend. read more

Coffee is great, but the waitress with the tattoo has a terrible attitude that made me just feel so uneasy. Also no credit card for anything under $5 read more

Simon's Coffee Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

5 stars for service and coffee. Fast, friendly, and really good coffee! 2 stars for pastries. Mediocre, not made in-house. 2 stars for atmosphere. The tables are arranged in a way that evokes cramped elementary school desks. 0 stars for wi-fi charge. I spend the majority of my time reading, so it's a bummer they charge for wi-fi. I'm not paying $5. to momentarily check something on my phone now and then. That reason alone, is why I will not return. read more

In the spirit of the holidays, I am reviewing some of those tried-and-true places that deserve a good rating but I have been lazy about reviewing. So, Feliz Navidad, Simon's! This one is for you. Simon's is a small, intimate, cozy, comfortable, low-key, yummy, blink-and-you-miss-it coffee shop on Mass Avenue closer to Porter than Harvard. Baked goods = great. Green tea latte = dandy. Coffee/latte drinks = yum. I have never been disappointed. Bonus points for using coffee that is roasted locally by Barisimo. And it has been mentioned in other reviews that their baristas have one all sorts of awards; that sort of thing is lost on me but the lattes indeed are pretty. Simon's is a very pleasant hang, nice decor, art work changes every so often. I may be nuts but if I squint the place reminds me of a very narrow version of the Plough and Stars, pre-2001 (you know, before it got sort of fancy-pants). That might just be my imagination though. Simon's deserves every one of these five stars. read more

I love the soy latte (the best), herbal chai latte, and I love the artsy quirky and friendly staff there. and Simon is pretty awesome himself! I don't deem myself to be a regular at many places, but I certainly do here :) Yay read more

The best coffee around for sure. The only bad thing... Can be really busy with no place to sit.... As people are coming for hours... But again The best coffee around , real quality. read more

So I have been to quite a few coffee shops around town, it doesn't make me an expert, but you don't have to be one to know when you drink an amazing latte, or are treated like a human being, and not a money dispenser. Not only are the latte's and baked goods the best in town, the service is truly genuine, and incredible. The cashiers always are patient, and provide service with NO PRETENTIOUS bullshit. Sandwiches are made quickly and to amazing quality, and still are an affordable price for about anyone who has the money to be spending at a coffee shop. On top of all of this, you will see the owner, Simon, working often, he made my latte the last time I went, that's just neat.... read more

Nice little gem not far from Harvard and same name as my favorite dog Simon so had to try. Had the dark roast and it was pretty damn good and stayed hot for quite awhile. Nice brown sugar and chocolate smell in the steam. Can't wait to stop tomorrow before the second day of a weekend board meeting read more

I spent 3 days in Cambridge and made it a point to try all of the well-reviewed coffee spots, and Simon's was the clear winner. I enjoyed their regular drip coffee as well as their latte. There's even a little parking lot if you are lucky enough to find a space. read more