We were looking for a cafe since we needed a caffeine fix after a red eye flight, and Thinking Cup was the perfect spot. It's pretty hipsterish, and they serve Stumptown Coffee! I'm a huge of of Stumptown's roasts, especially espressos when made right. I went for the latte and it was pretty much spot on! Apparently Thinking Cup has won a few awards for their latte art and no wonder, it's damn pretty. I tried a bit of the hazelnut latte as well. It's good, but I'm still more of the regular latte type of guy. Went back later in the day and got an iced latte, and it's awesome! They pour milk first, then the espresso shots, THEN they add a layer of foam! First time I got an iced latte with foam. There's also food here, like sandwich and pastries. Sandwiches made in house , but it seems like their pastries are from elsewhere. Baristas here are very chill. Talked to one guy for about 15 minutes, just on the cafes and the roasters he's tried throughout US. Took some notes :P Compared to the Boston Common location, I prefer North End's more just because it's slightly bigger and I don't feel like the ceiling is gonna come down on me like at Boston Common's location. read more

I've spent a lot of my recent time in Boston in the North End, so the Thinking Cup is a somewhat regular stop. I've always had nice enough service at this location, though perhaps it can be a bit slow at times. My favorite coffee drink thus far has probably been the hazelnut latte, but they generally make a delicious drink - from the Café Au Lait to the Vanilla Ginger Latte. Add that to the fact that I JUST realized on my last visit (why it took me so long, I have no idea...but I clearly don't pay enough attention) that they have such an awesome variety of build-your-own grilled cheese options and I am pretty delighted with this spot. Of course, now I'm craving my favorite grilled cheese combination from this place and I have to wait until my next visit to Boston to both enjoy the ambiance and appease that pesky craving itself. Make no mistake though, I'll most definitely be back. read more

Really like this place for coffee and sandwiches (they also have desserts which I haven't tried). First time here I got a tasty grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. Everything tasted fresh and I liked the bread. Next time I came in in the morning and got a very excellent breakfast burrito. Really good. Got coffee both times which was good quality. Staff is friendly. read more

Got a salad, sandwich and some COLD BREW. Cute little spot, great for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Check it out. read more

Thinking Cup - Cafe art!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

On our honeymoon in Rhode Island we drove up to Boston for a day. The reviews were good, I'm admittedly a yelper, so we bookmarked this place. The smell as you walk in is something else. The pastries, every variety, every combination. We order coffee and get ready to pay. "Oh I'm sorry sir, the pour over will be 15 mins" "What?" "Yes, he is very busy making latte's right now" Admittedly, the barista had a fee drinks but I've worked in coffee and there wasn't even a full 10mins there. He was busy talking to the customers and didn't bother to look up when I asked the cashier a second time why the wait would be so long. She walked over to him and asked again and came back with "about 20 mins"... So even though no more drinks were set, you gained a 5 min wait estimation? Lettuce be serious... So we took the house brew, which was mediocre (the pour over regions were much better hence the request). We sit down and start talking and within 5-8 mins our little hipster barista with his natural ciggarette and sparse beard comes strolling past and heads outside for a smoke... You've got to be kidding me... You couldn't pour a coffee but you had time to call your bro and make sure he picked up PBR and cups for beer pong? That's poor customer service to say the least. He literally had no customers for at least a half hour after that. We got no apology, not even a look. (You know how you avoid looking at someone you've cut off in traffic and then they get stuck at the same red light you do?) Sadly, yes, the employee lost you all 4 stars. read more

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

We ordered some lattes and sandwiches from Thinking Cup. A lot of times "flavored" lattes are either way too sweet or don't taste like anything, but these were perfect. We all really enjoyed our breakfast sandwiches as well, we'll definitely be back read more

As a venue, it's cozy - wood floors, faux leather booths and vintage prints abound in a space sparingly, but effectively, lit with recessed LEDs - though intimate may be too strong a term. The baristas are indeed well trained, but the coffee roast they use is a bit too bright/acidic to consume on its own. It gives the impression of having been selected precisely because of an ability to balance the various syrups, pastries and gelato that may frequently accompany the coffee itself. Purists beware, the straight espresso may provide a jolt from more than the caffeine. A simple doppio, alongside tiramisu, was a confounding experience - a nearly faultless pour, but sharp as though scorched. If not for the crema and texture, it would've been assumed a fluke. The cortado, whose filter of steamed milk softened the edges, still felt incomplete without a hit of pastry. Speaking of which, the tiramisu was perhaps sightly oversaturated, making the base layer of ladyfingers a bit granular. The chai latte was flavorful, but should have been ordered without water - or left to steep longer in the milk - to draw out more of its flavor. read more

Thinking Cup - Chai, tiramisu and doppio - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is a pleasant little spot for a quick bite. I had a breakfast burrito which was tasty, only complaint was that it wasnt entirely hot(only parts were). Coffee was excellent!!! Quiet environment, no wifi offered to patrons but overall lovely experience. read more

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

So me and my friend went to Thinking Cup just because we needed a place to sit and eat our freshly bought Mike's Pastry's cannolis. It was a cute cozy small coffee shop tucked away on a busy street. Although we got there around 8pm, the shop was very busy and filled with people. We didn't try much but he had the latte and he said it was really good. The latte came with a design of a love swan. So cute. I'm not sure if they can be labelled as Bostons BEST coffee shop but it's not bad. They have an extensive breakfast menu and quiches!!! That's a plus in my book. read more

Thinking Cup - Love swan on the latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Nice decor and ambiance. It's a good place to get away from the busy Hanover street that's full of tourists. I ordered a large decaf coffee. The barista gave me an Americano with only two shots in a 20 oz cup. So it's very thin and watered down bland coffee. If they are out of brewed decaf, why not ask me Americano is ok and how many shots I would like? I would be happy to switch it to my espresso drink instead. If I wanted a double shots Americano, I would have ordered one instead of a brewed coffee. read more

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The cappuccino was just what I wanted! It's Stumptown coffee, too and they made it delicious read more

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

My sister and I stopped here after our harbor cruise. We were freezing and needed some coffee to warm us up. I ordered an americano and it was fantastic. Best coffee I had during our time in Boston. I also got the boston creme pie tart...it was delicious. The service was pleasant and quick. Side note...The bathroom was terrible. Probably the worst I saw during our time in the city. It was just filthy. Like no employee had stepped foot in there in days. Another side note...my sister hated the espresso she ordered, so much so she wasn't able to drink it. And she could hardly eat the puff pastry she got...she said it was hard and stale. Personally, I would go back again...they have "create your own" grilled cheese on the menu, I would really like to try that. Next time I would avoid the bathroom though! read more

We were in the neighbourhood and based on the positive reviews, we decided to try this place out. The moment we walked in there were cases of good looking pastries...if we it wasn't because we were going to have brunch, I would have picked up a few things to try. Being good, we decided to just order two drinks: Hazelnut Latte and Matcha Green Tea Latte (with Soy). The Hazelnut latte had chunks of hazelnut in there, which was interesting but not quite what the BF wanted in his coffee. He also mentioned that it was very milky and not so much coffee taste in it. So to him, it felt more like he was drinking steamed milk vs latte. My matcha green tea latte was ok. it was your typical green tea latte, nothing amazing or bad about it. If you like your latte sweet - make sure you add your own syrup! read more

One of my favorite coffee shops in Boston. Love this North End location because it doesn't seem as cramped as the Newbury location, and I love the bigger chandeliers and more availability of seating. I LOVE the decor of the place - it's so calm, with the tables lined with old newspapers. The pastries are delicious, and I typically get the lattes (only complaint is that I once ordered a hazelnut latte and it was a weird consistency because the hazelnuts were not smooth but choppy and got stuck in my throat). Great place to chat with friends and enjoy the North End. read more

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

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Thinking Cup is one of my favorite cafes- the interior is great, so vintage and old-fashioned with the newspaper tables. For this trip I chose to try the Belgian waffles. I've been seeing that they offered these for a while and decided to try it out. I expected it to be at least $13 no less but it was just under $10. They added a ton of berries to my waffles too, didn't expect much but strawberries and blueberries so no complaint there! Chai was great and I'm in love with their macarons. I didn't get their hot chocolate but that's also extremely good!! Can't wait for the winter so I can drink a bunch of those. Love the latte art they have here also read more

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

Nice place for a cup of joe. I had the Americano which was perfectly americano. Also had two peanut butter cookies, which are served out of a jar. They were, well, peanut buttery. Tip o the hat- good service and nice place to sit. Wagothefinger- could have served cookies warm. read more

Love this place! Went to the Tremont location and fell in love with the honey cinnamon latte. Went to the Hanover location yesterday for a morning latte and it couldn't have been better. This place really has the best coffee! They're good at what they do!! read more

The cappuccino was outstanding, the iced latte was perhaps the best ever, and the cannoli was incredible being just barley sweetened, with a hunk of orange zest in the filling with a very fresh and crispy shell. Outstanding experience and food as well as great value too!!!! read more

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

The have a decent selection of pastries and coffees. Place is clean and really chill - bathroom decor is quite interesting. They get 3 stars because the acidity level of their espresso was very high - it almost tasted burnt. I brought it back and they made me a cappuccino instead - I'm not sure if it was the bean...but that tasted burnt as well. I had 3 other people in my party taste - and it was confirmed. I kindly brought it back and they reimbursed me. It's sad because it was a decent spot - not sure what was going on....maybe it was an off day. read more

Had a pour over and bacon scone. World changing!! The coffee was so got dang smooth and flavorful. If you have a friend that doesn't understand the intricacies of coffee give this to them and it will open their eyes to the wonderful flavors that come from simple coffee without any additives. The scone was delicious and in all honesty was very reminiscent, flavor-wise, of a filipino pastry that I had all the time when I was younger read more

Loved it! The BALT and the customizable grilled cheeses are fabulous and to absolutely amazing!

I LOVE this place. The menu has amazing food and coffees to try. I also really love the vibe of the place. Great for a morning coffee or working for a few hours. read more

Thinking Cup is a delight and much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the North End. One of the few places that I know which does a Cortado justice, so I ordered two! The desserts were also impeccable, but fairly rich if you take in too much like us. We ordered a Boston Creme, Tiramisu, Chocolate Cheesecake and Peanut Butter Bar. Gluttony at it's best! The cafe environment is great for a post-dinner rest, meeting up with friends, reading or working away on a laptop. For an extra surprise, I recommend checking out the bathroom before you leave; it will definitely impress. read more

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

Two words: Belgian waffle. Out of this world. I'm pretty sure it's only available at the North End location, but it's totally worth it for the waffle. I have been a total of three times--two to the North End location (both of which times I got the cold brew and waffle) and one time to the Newbury St location, where I got a yummy sandwich for lunch. I highly recommend the Thinking Cup for a quick bite to eat or just an iced coffee on the go. Super cozy and friendly! read more

Thinking Cup - The iconic Belgian waffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I had one of the best chocolate chip cookies of my life here. It was the perfect soft / crunchyness, plus a little bit of salt on top. Unreal. We also got an affogato, but the real star here was the chocolate chip cookie. We walked in and it was crowded on a Saturday afternoon but still had seating available. Great resting spot in the middle of a fun area in Boston! read more

So glad to have had a chance to stop by Thinking Cup's new second branch in the North End before moving out and it was a great experience. In addition to the pour overs and espresso drinks, the baristas here can do siphon brews. Having never tried one before, I went with Stumptown's Honduras Finca El Puente and thoroughly enjoyed the clean and crisp cup. Just like the original location, the hazelnut latte here does no wrong and neither does the French hot chocolate...aka melted chocolate bar. Yum! read more

I absolutely love their hazelnut lattes!!! I introduce it to all my coffee-lover friends. My boyfriend and I were regulars (he was more of a regular than I was) and basically the staff recognized his face and sometimes greeted him by his name and knew his order, but now we barely recognize any faces (cashiers/baristas). The only reason why they get 4 stars instead of 5 is because the baristas are not consistent. Each barista brews the coffee/espresso differently, some stronger than others. I'm missing the old baristas, the one who went to the North End shop and the Asian guy named Chin who is rarely there anymore. On a side note, their iced coffee is ok, but the few times I've had it, after the ice melted it doesn't just taste like a watered down coffee, it leaves a bad after taste, similar to unfiltered tap water. I'll just stick to their hazelnut lattes, iced or hot!!! read more

I've been to both the North End and Tremont St shops and I definitely prefer the North End. The Tremont St location has less seating than Hanover St and it just doesn't have the same, I don't know, atmosphere, that Hanover St has. I walked into the North End shop and immediately fell in love with the place. Tremont Street not so much. It just feels like a Starbucks while the Hanover Street location feels more intimate, more private, more unique. Kinda hard to explain. Go and you'll see! Oh, and you'll notice that the air conditioning is never working properly at Tremont St! Yelp asks you to assign a per-person dollar figure to your review. I based mine on meeting just for a cup of coffee/tea and maybe a pastry. If you order more than that you're quickly going into the "moderate/$11-$30" range. Five stars for the Hanover St Thinking Cup! read more

Beautiful space, good coffee. Finally a good cafe in the North End. My friend and I are big fans of the Thinking Cup in the common so we were happy about this. I have not tried the food at this location yet but they fresh fill cannoli, automatic brownie points. I love the decor, even the bathroom is very nice, though dim. I saw someone say they don't have wifi, points for that too. Stay home with your computer people. This is not the library. It's one thing to go in for an hour but some people are really obnoxious and tie up tables too long. Luckily there is way more space at this location than the other one, where you can rarely get a table right away. read more

Awesome, awesome coffee! The sandwiches were especially good as well! With all the great Italian food surrounding this spot, if you're in need of good coffee, I'd recommend this place! The atmosphere is wonderful as well. I've only been here once, but my friends who used to live in Boston said this chain was their favorite. I can see why! read more

The ambiance is really sleek and modern inside. I haven't tried a lot of food at the Thinking Cup, but I had a croissant there and it was crispy and buttery and went really well with my coffee. I really have enjoyed all the coffee that I have ordered so far. My husband's favorite is the hazelnut latte which also has bits and pieces of hazelnut in the cup. I love getting the cold-brewed coffee which is really strong but doesn't have as much acidity as regular coffee. I also enjoy that they have milk alternatives out, such as soy, and not just your standard milk and cream. The Thinking Cup is a nice place to drop in and get a cup of coffee and lounge around. The atmosphere feels pretty calm and relaxing place to take a moment and just enjoy a good cup of coffee. read more

Love this place. It's got an unique twist from your usual Starbucks and Panera. Sandwiches sound interesting as well but so far, their lattes won my heart :) read more

3.5 stars Grabbed a quick coffee here on our way to explore North End. A really cute looking coffee shop with an intimate feel due to the dim lighting. The decor is interesting and unique -- for example, there's an old typewriter mounted on one wall! I could see myself coming here to study/read in the back if I were a local. read more

Stopped in with Wonder Wife to grab a sandwich and we split the Smoking Jamaican. The sandwich was very, very good, but left the bread soggy which made eating it on the go a bit of a challenge. Great atmosphere and the staff was friendly. Overall, a nice place. read more

Out of the three Thinking Cup locations in Boston, this is my favorite one by far. I love how much more spacious and (seemingly) secluded it is- it's nearly impossible to find a seat in the Newbury and Downtown locations. I come here to catch up with friends and have study dates. The atmosphere certainly allows it! The lighting is pretty dim but it's not distracting. Rather, it adds to the vintage-esque vibe I really adore. The food selections range from pastries to sandwiches and I love that they offer such a broad variety. I personally love the B.A.L.T. sandwich because it's perfectly toasted and super flavorful. However, the pricing is a bit high for the size of it- but overall, it's pretty filling. In terms of pastries, the cakes differ in moistness so it's a hit-and-miss: Granola coffee cake- the cake itself is too dry, but the crumb/granola topping is great. Bread pudding- it was sweet and moist the,first time I tried it, but it was dry and bland the second time I ordered it. White chocolate matcha cake- the texture is much too dry and there isn't much flavor to it. Carrot/chocolate cake slices- incredibly moist!!! and super sweet after a few bites. I highly recommend it! In terms of drinks, they also differ in quality and flavor: Chai latte- its flavor is very subtle and not very prominent, which could be a good or bad thing depending how you like it- but the flavor fell flat for me here. Hazelnut latte- one of my favorites here! It boasts a rich and amazing flavor. Matcha latte- a super bland drink and frankly, disappointing! I love matcha, but I just can't vibe with this particular one. Earl grey latte- also one of my favorites here! It has the right balance of tea/milk flavor. Vanilla ginger latte- one of my favorites BY FAR!!! It's a perfect combination of both flavors and it's not too sweet, either! Also, it's so creamy and flavorful. I'd definitely recommend coming to this specific Thinking Cup location if you're looking for a spacious place to sit in and dine. The staff, depending on the day you go, are generally pretty nice. Once, they got my order wrong so they offered to re-make it for me, but it ended up being incorrect again so I didn't pursue it. read more

Thinking Cup - Chai latte and a granola coffee cake slice - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I have seen this place a few times and finally decided to go in and what a great find! I was coming from another place with a snack and I was sad that I didn't just get something here because all the pastries looked amazing so this is a place that I will have to explore further. In this occasion I got an iced coffee and then added some soy milk and sugar and it was delicious. Most places never have anything lactose-free to add into your iced coffee, but this place does and I was thankful! The lady at the register was very nice and the place was very well set up and quite inviting so I will be coming back as soon as I am back in town. read more

Thinking Cup - Caramel Latte with a chocolate Macaroon. What a delicious combination! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Had the quiche and a coffee. It was delicious and a great healthy breakfast on the go! Highly recommend

This place was on my list of places to visit while in Boston, the place is super charming and I love how they kept the original interior in the entry. The entry is always full of old school phones. The service was extremely fast and hot chocolate was so creamy and chocolaty. I'm definitely coming back on my next visit to Boston read more

Thinking Cup - Really cool wall entry with old cameras and other things - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Do the cups here think? Haha, just kidding. Even though the cups don't think, the coffee is great. They serve stumptown coffee! I came here because I was trying to kill time... ahem ahem Neptune Oyster ahem ahem. They also have pastries but I didn't have any. There is some seating inside. If you always drink Starbucks, come here and have something different! read more

I'm a fan of Thinking Cup. Their hot chocolate was incredibly thick and rich. It was so viscous, it moved like molasses. Let me be clear: that is a good thing. It was incredibly tasty and decadent. The matcha latte tasted good, but it was a bit cold. Some extra heat (as in temperature, not spice) would have made it more pleasant. But the latte art was great, and the matcha flavor was present. The environment of Thinking Cup is was really sells it. It's very comfortable inside, with dark wood and rustic decor. The tables are have newspaper clippings under the resin. The music is soft in the background so it's not annoying if you're trying to read. All in all... great place to wait for the bus, with the benefits of tasty beverages several steps above your common coffee shop. read more