Though several coffeeshops ring the Common, Thinking Cup is the only one worth visiting--and I say that with all due respect to my alma mater, Emerson, which runs its own café right around the corner. The bittersweet smell of Stumptown Coffee wafting through this dark, lamp-lit hideaway alone makes it irresistible. With cozy booths lining the walls and barstool seating overlooking the action in the Common, it's an excellent spot to spend an afternoon catching up with friends or reading the paper. The one hang-up? No free wi-fi to speak of. You can pick up the wi-fi over the Common, but it's not totally reliable. If you're planning to do a little work here over breakfast, as I did recently, bring a Verizon card or take your chances. read more

There is a coffee chain in the UK called Paul. It just dominates with good coffee, baked goods and sandwiches. Why isn't there a coffee shop in the US like this...I thought Thinking Cup is the closest to the UK standard. Thinking Cup is on Tremont st right off the Commons. It is rather small with about 12 tables and a counter with about 15 seats. They feature coffee and various baked goods. The coffee is excellent, and the sandwiches look good in a totally likeable atmosphere. In a world dominated by Starbucks, Thinking Cup is finally a viable alternative....Great place for a cup of Joe read more

This place is right across the street from Boston public garden. They serve stumptown coffee and one can find variety of desserts here. I ordered a cafe latte and almond croissant and liked it, if not loved it. The place has ample seating and has warm ambience. The most interesting part of this coffee shop is the pictures of old newspaper imprinted on the tables. So that's a piece of history right there for u. Staff is nice and helpful. Definitely a must visit. read more

Located in Boston Common, this is the kind of place that the area needs, where Emerson and Suffolk students alike can come sip delicious java and eat pastries in between classes. First impression was that I was afraid it was going to be corporate from the awning outside -- au contraire, I walked in and immediately was consumed by how full the joint was and how good the pastries looked. I ordered an iced coffee (in winter, yes I know judge me,) and a slice of coconut poundcake, which wasn't as heavy on the coconut as I'd like but I won't sue anyone. My friend and I sat for a couple of hours, enjoying the ample people-watching and good conversation. I enjoyed my coffee -- it was flavorful without a bitter aftertaste. There's something to be said about going to a coffee shop where the ambiance distracts -- its another thing to go to a coffee shop where you almost forget where you are because you are comfortable. That is what Thinking Cup was for me and I'm glad I went. read more

It was a cold and rainy night, and walked in to get out of the cold. Ordered a cup of French hot chocolate to see what it was. Served in a small espresso size cup, it was super thick and sweet, and I enjoyed it a lot. It was a bit expensive for hot chocolate, but it was yummy good on this cold night. I'm sure my glucose levels shot up a great deal. lol read more

Decided to try the affogato and it was strong! Ok it is an expresso on ice cream... So in that case, it is pretty good. Just mix all the ice cream and it is drinkable. Hahah So i also got a breakfast burrito and it was the dinkiest burrito ever!! I don't even know where the other half of my burrito went! I never knew I was paying for half a burrito! Wth!! Never again! There wasn't any chorizo I'd probably come back for their basic coffee but definitely not for the food. read more

This place is an absolute must when you're in Boston! We stopped by while on vacation, per the recommendation of a friend, and left wishing we could have eaten there every morning of our trip. A cozy spot with a wide range of food selections, any sort of hot beverage, and baked goods. We had a breakfast sandwich on a fresh bagel and a coffee & tea. Our one breakfast at Thinking Cup left us trying to figure out how to open a location in Toronto!! read more

I am bumping up my original review by 1 star because soon after my first review, I received a message from the owner explaining their business model. He agreed the attitude of the employee whom I spoke with could have been better and explained his reasoning behind the no wifi situation in a much friendlier manner. It is refreshing when a business owner is willing to respond to customer concerns. It is still a little expensive, but this is an independent coffee shop and rent on the Common is not cheap. read more

I like this coffee. I'm not really into espresso drinks, maybe the occasional americano, which is just an attempt to make an espresso into a regular cup of coffee, but a regular cup is what I like. So I don't order their lattes or other drinks which look like art in a cup. But their regular coffee is consistently better than good. damn good. If not great. The tangy yogurt and fruit cups are quite delicious, too. read more

Just have breakfast here this morning. I can't say how much I love this place already. The bad part about this place is there is no wifi for their customer in here. Otherwise the place is really nice and cozy, located in the heart of Boston. The staffs and services here are really good and friendly. I like their food and drink selections on the menu. Everything looks so good that I want to try them all. read more

Thinking Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The French macarons were AMAZING! So delicious and sweet. I tried coconut & salted carmel, and I would highly recommend both of them! The perfect amount of flavor in each bite! I also ordered a latte with skim milk. The latte was the perfect temperature and beautiful!! Every drink that I saw had a design on top. The best looking coffee drinks in all of Boston! The only reason why I gave The Thinking Cup a four was because of how long I had to wait for a seat. The place was SO crowded with people studying, standing around, and just waiting for others to leave. Besides this no seating factor, the French macarons and latte were wonderful!! read more

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I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but I think it's pretty good here! The real reason I'm reviewing is because the sandwiches are DELICIOUS. Just now I indulged in the peppercorn turkey - turkey, fresh mozz, spinach, roasted red peppers, just a bit of balsamic and mayo. drool. Great atmosphere too. Love sitting in here on my lunch break. read more

A coffee shop that feels more like a lounge. Atmosphere is what really sets Thinking Cup apart from other cafes. Low ceilings, small tables, relaxed but upbeat music, and dim lighting create a very casual scene that is a perfect compliment to the surronding area. The coffee is sublime. Conceivably pricey but I really I dont mind paying good money for good coffee. Its Stumptown! I do think some of the other items available are a little expensive, sandwiches, pastries but as I dont go to Thinking Cup often I'll pay the price for the experience. Overall I think Thinking Cup is an exceptional addtion to Boston and I look forward to visiting whenever I can read more

Great customer service friendly people and great environment. Also amazing coffee and food. Al's their desserts are great too. read more

Thinking Cup - Fantastic Hazelnut latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Just stopped by to get some dessert for my friend and myself. Not the best service. Got a broken macaron. I didn't say anything to them (maybe I should have) because I was in a hurry and there was a huge line behind me. What a "great" way to start a Sat afternoon! read more

Thinking Cup - Broken :( - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I've been to all 3 locations, this one is by far my favorite. The customer service there is great, if a mistake happens they are quickly to fix it with no hesitation.Quality of coffee is amazing! My favorite are the Cortados And the vibe is so welcoming you can't find a better coffee place. There are also new deserts cycling in for the season from their French pastries chef, you must try them! read more

The coffee is amazing, I have loved Stumptown ever since a trip out to Seattle last summer. I've only tried a few of their food options - all very good. Prices are high and the cup sizes are pretty small. I enjoy the coffee and the food, which is why I keep coming back, however I have had the misfortune of getting the same barista almost every time I go by (weekday afternoon around 5:30pm) and he is extremely unfriendly. I'm not sure if it is a matter of space, but there seems to be one barista making the drinks and everyone ends up waiting 10 minutes. This is not somewhere you stop in for a quick latte. My experience with the unfriendly barista was almost humorous today... after waiting for my latte for a very long time (something is wrong if my grilled cheese is ready 10 minutes before my latte), long story short - he said he had already put that order out, I never received it - I waited patiently for him to remake it, and he was unpleasant about it the whole time. The manager (maybe owner?) did notice that I had been waiting and gave me a card for a free coffee, which was nice. The barista was just so unpleasant about it, I actually apologized to HIM, he made me feel like I was the problem! I think I need a break from this guy, taking a breather from Thinking Cup for a while. read more

Cutesy coffee shop straight out of a movie. Perfect for a first date. Not so perfect for studying if you need Internet - no Wifi! Amazing Latte's and they make sweet little desserts including MACARONS! Tables are close together, so if you're cluster phobic you would feel a little uneasy. A tad overpriced, but atmosphere is as lovely as it gets and they make swirly hearts in your coffee :-) read more

I made an unconventional order during my visit to the thinking cup. Though it was mid-October, it was an unseasonably warm and sunny day in Boston. When I came across the coffee shop, I had to get something cool and refreshing and I went for an affogato. It just hit the spot -- stumptown espresso over a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. When I try out a new coffee shop, I usually go for a latte or something not too fancy, but on a warm autumn day the affogato was the way to go! read more

Thinking Cup - Affogato :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I love love love the Thinking Cup!! The staff is great! The desserts are divine. The lattes are not only delicious but aesthetically pleasing! The atmospere is warm, and relaxing. The perfect place to sit and have a cup of coffee. Great addition to the Theatre District Neighborhood. read more

Just what I have been looking for - great coffee, great atmosphere, great music - all in one place. I haven't been disappointed yet - the hazelnut latte is my favorite, the chocolate cake is delicious (and I'm picky about baked goods), and the rooibus tea is good (you have to love that they serve tea in teapots). The first time I went my friend and I had two complaints: 1) It was a cold day and everytime someone came in we were frozen. My friend suggested the put up a curtain around the door as other restaurants do; 2) I thought that the chocolate cake was expensive (almost $5 per slice) given the small size of the slice. The manager must have been listening in on our conversation, because the next time we went - there was a curtain around the entryway and the chocolate cake slices had doubled in size. Now that's a good manager. My only complaint now? It's so popular and busy on weekends that finding seating can be tricky - but it's worth the wait! read more

High energy, steamy, cozy...just like the espresso. This cafe right off busy Park St serves all your coffee needs alongside pastries, fruit, pudding cups, and probably sandwiches but I didn't pay attention to that. We walked in around 4pm on a weekday and almost all the tables were full; a good sign. I ordered a shot on ice and the Boston cream tart--because it's my first week in Boston so I have to get as much Boston-y food as I can. My husband ordered just one shot of espresso: the one thing you have to try first to see if you want to come back for another visit. The service was a tad slow but nothing to make a big deal about. They got my name wrong but what Barista doesn't? My shot was poured over a generous serving of ice in a plastic cup and my husband's hot shot in your typical espresso cup and saucer. It was missing the carbonated water on the side though...c'mon cafes, talk to Italy about this one. For a total of around $11 I thought it was a bit pricey however the Boston cream tart was delish. The crust was buttery, the cream smooth, and the chocolate sweet and rich. If you need a quick jolt in the afternoon and don't need a quiet spot to get work done, this is your place. read more

Coffee was amazing and the breakfast sandwich (egg, sausage, and cheese on an English muffin) was worth the longggg wait. But then again, it was on a Saturday morning. To be expected. read more

Thinking Cup - Chocolate croissant reminded me of the ones I had while in Italy! Nutella. YUM. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Delish hazelnut latte! It was so good I wanted to lick the cup at the end Breakfast sandwiches were pretty good too.

The thinking cup is a very relaxing spot to unwind & just sit for a minute, they have awesome hospitality and fabulous service w delicious food!!! I ate here and had the smoked salmon w onion & tomato on a bagel, it was so delicious, I originally went in just to charge my iPhone but overall it's a good place, atmosphere is very calm & relaxing with the dim lights & low volumed music. read more

I was looking for Park View Cafe (closed) and found this place instead. What an unexpected surprise! It was pleasantly crowded, but our group easily found a table, and the decor was really nice. I think maybe because the sun was setting and the doors were open and it was dark inside that it just felt really cozy even though the space is open. The people working behind the counter were extremely friendly and helpful. It was kind of weird - most cafe workers are not this nice! The bakery selection was awesome. LOVEDDDDD the red velvet cupcake. I also like that they had mini versions. The chai latte I had was also delicious - less thick than Starbucks and now I'm going to crave it for days. Guess this means I'm heading back to the Thinking Cup soon! :) read more

I really enjoyed my iced coffee here. Excellent flavor. Dare I say, better than Starbucks? Not sure that I will walk the extra blocks to get coffee here instead of SBUX, but I will definitely stop in again if I am close by. I can't wait to try the acclaimed hazelnut latte. My only complaint was that there was no place to sit. :( I had to take my coffee to go. read more

I love The Thinking Cup. The people that work there are incredibly friendly and I've never ordered anything I didn't like. I love that they make cute designs in their coffe, like a heart or a flower. Also, I love their decor, especially their cute tables. I suggest their macchiato and apple cinnamon muffin. read more

very nice decor, good coffee. pastries are hit or miss Owner contacted me after this review to offer to make it up to me, the stale pastries. Brownie points for good management read more

This place is so chill and relaxing..and the people who work there seem happy to work there. I like the cappuccinos very much..too bad it's such a small cup for 3.50$! The macarons are delicious, i got the pistachio one! A bit sweet..but mmm, the next best thing to laudree. It's a steep price at 2.50 a piece.. I almost dropped my jaw when my total was like 13$ for 2 cappuccinos and 2 macarons.. I guess I'll save the macarons for special occasions... read more

This is a popular place for young students and professionals to hang out. There is always a wait for a table. Amazing amazing desserts and delicious decorated drinks. I would have loved to hang out for longer and look outside into the Commons, but it was difficult to find good seats. read more

Perked. Packed. Personal. If you need a strong cup with personal service nobody does it better than TC. In fact, keep an eye out for the blue DEA jackets, because there is no way coffee alone can perk you up as much as the brew these punks put on does. We're talking bean crack'n, nostril-pop'n, hand-twitch'n defribulator-class cups here. Ya, you will be thinking... thinking how you are ever getting to see those soft, jumping sheep again. Worse, the staff is actually fast, friendly, and nail their latte art spot on every time. Nevermind the no-wifi thing, these guys are some of the best damn coffee crack dealers anywhere in Beantown. Come get your perk on. read more

nice little cafe... good pastry and drinks. a little too small and out of the way location wise. zucchini bread and banana bread are not bad! read more

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Thinking Cup is my go-to coffee place in Boston! Excellent coffee from one of my favorite roasters (Stumptown Coffee from Portland, Oregon) and artistic presentation of espresso drinks, plus great baked goods. Nice heavy, chunky mugs. Great baked goods (like the breakfast sandwiches, too). Pleasant and friendly (and hip but not pretentious) staff. What's not to like? Nothing, TC is great! read more

I think that my cup of tea to think was expensive!!! $3.85 for a cup of tea will not bring me back but the gluten free bread is going to. I was super excited to see gluten free bread on the sandwich menu as most of the coffee houses have all premade sandwiches and are not allergy friendly. I will return to the thinking cup because I'm thinking about my sandwich not so much my cup but it was a good cup of tea and it got me thinking!!l read more

I guess the food is good. The thing is they make their egg sandwich with egg patties, which are an abomination.

The cup do be thinking. Poggo woggo and very good for me and my doggo. No soggo all loggo and my hoggos enjoyed this jogging corgi boiga loiga read more

Awww yisss. Thinking Cup. I love the Stumptown Coffee. I love the latte art. Its comfy (albeit it crowded at times). I love the fact that it is by downtown crossing (since this area is awful). The food is good but overpriced and too small. Why do you have to be so expensive Thinking Cup? Why. read more

Cherry ginger scones. That is all you need to know. But if you want to know more, know that the Nutella croissants will suffice. read more

the place has a nice soothing ambiance to it. it's a pretty good size for a downtown location. they have this thick curtain at the entrance to keep the cold air from blowing in. a very nice touch. they have their desserts nicely laid out. we got a slice of tiramisu ($7 or something), a 6 pack of macaroons ($14 something), and 12oz hot cocoa ($4 something). everything tasted good and the service was friendly. i hear the sandwiches are good so i might give it a try later. i recommend the place. read more

Thinking Cup - 6 pack of macaroons $14 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts