Thinking Cup is a wonderful independent coffee shop that serves up delicious coffee & offers an assortment of pastries & sandwiches. I have had their latte, hot chocolate, & iced coffee, & all of them have been very good. In addition to tasting good, their latte & hot chocolate are also pretty to look at, as the baristas create designs in the beverages using the milk. The prices are comparable to Starbucks & other chains; a medium latte at Thinking Cup costs $4. Tips: -Thinking Cup is a popular spot, so during the weekends especially, it can fill up. -There is another Thinking Cup located in downtown Boston near the Boylston stop on the Green Line. This Thinking Cup, however, tends to be even more crowded than the one in the North End. read more

Poorly managed. For a place claiming to specialize in coffee, you would expect to be able to get a large latte in something other than a paper cup. read more

Thinking Cup - Not what i want for a sit down coffee. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place was a great place to stop in and get a warm drink. They had many different drinks to buy and a nice selection of pastries/desserts. I had a chai latte and Laura had apple cider & macaroons. The chai latte was really good and not as sugary as Starbucks. Great atmosphere and a great place to do some homework. read more

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

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Didn't think I would come across a coffee shop more expensive than Starbucks, but Thinking Cup wins in terms of overpriced drinks. Got a medium Iced Coffee for $2.94, and it tasted sour. No thanks. Place looked like a pretty coffee shop for people to do work, but it was way too loud. read more

I haven't really been a fan of the Thinking Cup upon visiting two of the other locations, but I have to say that upon coming here, that tune has changed quite a bit. I am happy to have this awesome little place within a short walk from home. Even when they were busy, they seemed to do a great job of cranking through the orders, but more importantly, not sacrificing quality. My drinks were delish. My cappuccino was perfect, so much so, I ordered a second to go for the walk I had ahead. Consistent too... as I came several days in a row and my drink was always yummy. The staff here was friendly as well, which was one of the reasons I struggle with their other locations. Keep up the great work at this locations, and you may start to see me more often! read more

Taking a walk on Hanover St, we could have stopped into any one of the Italian restaurants dotting the street. But alas, we end up finding the hipster cafe that serves Stumptown coffee and some really good sandwiches. I settled for the Roasted Chicken sandwich and a cafe au lait. Service from the staff was very friendly and helpful. The chicken sandwich was really good. It was made with buttermilk marinated chicken tenders (not fried), havarti cheese, roasted mushrooms, tomato, lettuce, and mustard on multigrain bread, which was toasted in a panini press. Yum! The coffee was creamy, balanced and smooth. There was no trace of high acidity/sourness or bitterness. Every cup of coffee comes with nice foam art. I liked the coffee so much I went ahead and purchased a bag of beans to take home and received advice on how to store it properly. The barista takes his/her role quite seriously here. There's a person constantly cleaning the tables and a site for folks to deposit their baskets/cups/garbage. Table turnover was frequent enough at this location that finding an open spot wasn't too much of a problem. There is a restroom for patrons as well. The other sites are located on Newberry Street and across from Boston Common on Tremont. read more

Great location and nice space inside. But the small mocha ($4.13) was not good at all, the chocolate they used did not have a smooth rich dark taste that I look for. Service wise, the staff couldn't answer any of my questions - I was wondering if they were even working there! They weren't the nicest and they weren't that knowledgeable. So unfortunately I can't say I'd go back. read more

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As a coffee house, its not too bad. The food is good, but not cheap (for a coffee joint). I got the jittery sammie and it was pretty legit but not sure if I wanted to pay 10 bucks for it. They also have a variety of desserts which ranged from cake to scones to macaroons, didn't try them but looked delicious. The service was friendly and good but a tad on the slow side. Definitely not a study spot. No outlets and no wifi. Maybe because they don't want people to linger, which I understand but what's a cafe without wifi? read more

NO Wi-fi!! what is this, are they trapped in 1997?!? decent baked goods, but still overpriced coffee, at least at the other place I can get an hour or so of work done between meetings! I LOVE supporting local businesses, but not if they can't help me get stuff done so I can make money to buy the ridiculously priced coffee! read more

I love Stumptown Coffee. I had it my first time in NYC at the Ace Hotel (you must go there if you're ever in NYC) and I've always been a huge fan of it. I was so excited when I found out they had it in the North End! -- Love the decor of this cafe. Pretty big space for a coffee shop. You see all different kinds of people; tourists, students, families, Bostonians, etc. -- I recommend the ice lattes and the cheesecake desserts. Delicious! You must go and try their coffee! It definitely kicks the other big chain coffee shops in the butt. read more

Thinking Cup - Delicious Ice Latte! (excuse my ugly dry hands) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Three cheers for Stumptown in Beantown! There aren't many things I love about Portland, Oregon, but their coffee is absolutely one of them. Whether by the cup or by the pound, the Thinking Cup has you covered on both fronts. I am forever grateful for this location because the Tremont Street one is a complete nightmare. Waiting in a long line is only half the battle. Then you have to awkwardly stalk tables in an effort to score the first one to open up. It's just too much work. The Newbury Street location is just as bad. This location is wonderfully spacious and there is always a table to be had. With the plethora of choices the North End has to offer, people seem to overlook the cafe with the non-Italian name. They'd rather queue up for an unauthentic cannoli from Mike's Pastry apparently. Your loss, folks. In addition to the coffee, I love just about all of the Thinking Cup's offerings. Most notable are the breakfast sandwiches, the Jittery Chicken sandwich, the moist macaroons, and the luscious key lime tarts. Their prices are a tad high, but everything they put out is excellent quality and ultimately worth the cost. read more

This review is way overdue. While wandering around little Italy in Boston, we stumbled into the Thinking Cup and were overwhelmed by the amazing customer service, delicious food (you have to have the fruit tart), and the ambiance. If you have the opportunity to go to the restroom, please go. The restrooms are dimly lit with shadow boxes of historical pages detailing Boston's fun history, artwork and floors made of coins. I spent far too much time than I needed to walking around the women's restroom. The iced coffee was delicious, the staff, though extremely busy, were amazingly kind and chatty and I'd happily stop in every time we are in town! read more

Love latte art! I actually got my latte from the other location on Tremont, but I got my desserts and pastries here. This location was a little bit more quiet and larger than the one on Tremont. We tried the apple & cheese danish, almond croissant, coconut macaron, tiramisu and the fruit tart - all very good! The french macaroons were also delicious - salted caramel was the best one! I would def recommend getting a latte and a snack in this cute little cafe! It also opens late for a coffee shop - 11pm! read more

Really good coffee (the latte art is lovely, and won first prize in 2013 in NYC) and excellent biscotti. Order taking seems a bit confused sometimes based on two incorrect orders during my short visit, but mine went through smoothly. read more

Thinking Cup - Cortado with anise-fig biscotto. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great atmosphere. Had the white tea and flourless chocolate torte. Definitely recommend. They'll warm it up for you :) read more

Such a cute place for brunch or afternoon snack. Got a delicious fruit tart with a small hazelnut latte. The fruit tart is light and just perfect! Loveeeeee it! Will be coming back soon!! read more

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

Nice Clean Coffee Shop. Coffee was good. Overall, a nice place to grab a coffee and chat with friends. read more

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

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Who better to call out a workplace bully than someone who writes about the world's bullies? I finally found some time to write about this uniquely bad experience. It started with a subtle mind game the saccharine employee -- and resident gossip -- began playing with me at the start of the year, the objective of which wasn't lost on me, or anyone who possesses an ounce of emotional intelligence. As she took my order each day for 8 months, the charming-but-inauthentic Neve would pretend to have forgotten my name as she looked up at me doe-eyed, and ask, "I'm so sorry, what's your name again?" "Anna," I'd reply. Not my real name, it's just quick. Seeing as how I consistently reacted with stoicism, as you do with attention seekers, Neve then tried to amp up her attempt to insult the customer in less subtle ways, and with skillful duplicity -- this is vital to maintain a facade. She would groan dramatically and grimace when I was next in line, snicker and shake her head as she studied my face as I ordered, walk by my table and look me up and down as she stifled her laughter, or hover over me as I sat like I wasn't there. If I was at the condiment bar in the back, I'd turn to find Needy Gonzales suddenly standing right beside me. In July, I had stirred my drink only to find phlegm floating amongst the ice cubes. I stood in my kitchen in disbelief, and thought, "Why would Daud spit in my drink? He smiled when he handed it to me." (Daud, one of the supervisors/baristas, who also happens to be Neve's boyfriend -- a fact revealed to me by another employee later in Oct). I threw the drink out. August : About to type in my name, she caught herself, studied my face, and then fluttering her lashes, sweetly asked for my name. I asked the barista who the supervisor was (it was him), and decided the issue could wait. Maybe he'd asked the others if something was wrong, because the next time I came in and ordered my usual iced chai (the best iced chai there is) Neve quickly said, "You're Anna, right?" And then proceeded to giggle. I found this hilarious as well, as she had walked into a trap all on her own. I spoke with a supervisor soon after, which infuriated her. She tried to have a stare-down with me on my next visit, and was promptly ignored. So she refused to take my order and walked away (as witnessed by the supervisor), and I stood there for a few minutes along with other customers until another employee arrived. On 8/16 I emailed one of the owners. I began with, "I would rather not write a review on Yelp or Google as I only have a complaint regarding a specific employee" and ended, "I'm not looking to get her fired, but I thought her conduct needed to be acknowledged." But Neve won't be criticized. When called out by another regular for wiping down my table with cloth that'd been on the floor, she ignored him, quickly walked away, and wiped down other tables. September : I see Neve whispering in Daud's ear as I walk by -- not an unusual sight, only this time he was staring right at me. He started to watch my every move when I came in, as she made a big show of twitching her mouth as though experiencing an uncontrollable spasm of the lower face while she suppressed her laughter. Oct 6 : While I waited for my drink, I heard her ask Daud what I'd ordered (why?). He told her, and she reached into the ice machine to fill a plastic cup. Thinking she was helping him with drinks, I started to object. Later, I apologized to Daud for misunderstanding, and he continued to berate me for picking on his girlfriend. I attempted to explain to him what had been going on. He responded to everything I said with a flippant and condescending, "Nope. That never happened. She didn't do anything wrong. You're the bully." I asked him what he was talking about. He angrily asked, "Did you curse at her while she took your order?" If I was insulted by anything she'd pulled at this point, it was the fact that a bratty twenty-something year old who's mastered the art of manipulation couldn't think of a more convincing lie to feed her supervisor boyfriend to get him to clean up her mess, twist things around and play the victim -- an excellent strategy to get what we want in life. Unless you're a person with integrity, then this would be beneath you. Two shady employees who come into the workplace with entitlement and complacency, tamper with beverages, and slanders a customer who wanted nothing to do with them -- I'm weirdly flattered at being singled out. It's pathetic to have to keep making complaints as a customer dragged into this bizarre experience, though. After speaking with a member of the neighborhood council and some lawyer friends, a complaint will be made with the Department of Public Health due to a raging narcissist that no one can keep in check, and who has no respect for boundaries or cleanliness in the workplace. I stopped coming here between 7am-3pm since then, but have decided to stop altogether. read more

This coffee shop on Hanover Street was a great jumping off point for our daily adventures every day on our recent trip (and like half the days on our trip last year). Their bakery case offered some pretty good looking pastries, but I generally went with oatmeal or an egg and cheese sandwich each day. My mom is a pretty regular oatmeal eater, so she was pleased to be able to order it the way she likes it here, with a variety of toppings to choose from. But the true star are the coffee drinks. The 8 oz latte was a perfect proportion of milk and espresso. I think they do a double, even for the small size, so it wasn't super milky and the espresso was bold but not bitter. They also have good matcha lattes for those that need a little less jolt and don't want something super sweet. The ambience is nice. The tables have old newspaper clippings shadowboxed into the table so you have something to read, the music is at a great moody volume, and the tables are kept pretty clean. The counter service is not the friendliest, but both the drinks and the food come out relatively promptly. read more

Gelato was a bust.. but the pastries, however, were quite good! The coffee was nice and strong. Plenty of seating but it got very cramped and loud. Service was relatively fast, but the baristas seemed a little lifeless. read more

Cute and trendy spot in the north end with good coffee and breakfast and lunch items. Got the breakfast burrito, and Italian sandwich and a blueberry lemon donut which were all good and reasonably priced read more

This place really hits the spot! I love the "build your own" grilled cheese and the baristas are spot on. Syphon bar is killer, pour-overs are done really well and the espresso is delicious. I'd like to see a single origin espresso at some point, but thats just me. I am also a big fan of the shop not having wifi. Really an innovative concept that fits the aesthetic perfectly. All in all a great shop. I would go out of my way to come here. Ps did I mention the bathrooms? Amazing. Best in Boston for sure. read more

I really like the thinking cup... it is big enough that there is always a place to sit, and there is a nice ambiance. The servers behind the counter are nice and considerate. Really cool tables with old newspaper print on them. It is expensive. A small macaroon cost three bucks or something. But if you don't go everyday, it is not a big deal to pay a little extra. Plus, you can always grab a pastry elsewhere. But it was a damn good macaroon. Personally, very glad they don't have wifi. I don't like to be around people who are constantly plugged into the internet, not cool. It's one thing to be on your laptop at home, but everywhere? It's not a computer lab. Early in their opening, they played the music a bit too loud for my taste, but the last couple times I've been there, it has been really cool and mellow, they played Zero 7, which brought me back to my college days. I would say that The Thinking Cup is the best damn coffee shop in Boston, hands down. read more

The only place to get a good cappuccino in the North End. No chocolate sprinkles. No overly fluffy foam. Just excellent espresso and properly steamed local organic milk. read more

I had their traditional hot chocolate ( French-style was out) and it was frothy and delicious. Not too sweet and wonderfully chocolatey (though that is not a word!). Perfect for a COLD day. read more

Before heading over to line up for dinner at Giacomo's I needed some place nearby to charge my phone for a bit after a day spent walking around town. I saw on Yelp that there was a Thinking Cup on the North End and figured that was a good option. I've been to the busy Boston Common location on a previous trip and remembered that it wasn't too hard to find a seat. I think this one was even more spacious. I sat down at a table before moving over to the counter by the wall where I could plug in my phone. I don't think this is a great spot for reading unless you can block out all the noise. But it's definitely good for a breather, to people-watch, grab a bite to eat and/or enjoy some good coffee. I really liked my CORTADO. read more

Got the breakfast sandwich with ham egg and cheese and it was fantastic. It was like a higher quality egg McMuffin with more egg and ham, a ratio I appreciated. My friend got the macchiato without knowing what a macchiato is and was upset at the espresso beverage, but that was his fault. read more

Meh... The Stumptown coffee wasn't anything special. I don't know though; I think my body is starting to reject coffee. I can never seem to finish a whole cup lately. Anyway, I like the ambiance and decor, as well as the brick wall and the dim lighting. A cafe that is named Thinking Cup ought to offer free wifi, however. At the very least a couple of free hours! I can think and write brilliant papers without the web, but definitely do not get as far as I potentially could without the help of my ridiculous random google searches. I know, I know.... you don't want your patrons hanging around all day, but come on... It's the 21st century. Hook us up! read more

I love this place! The sandwiches are really good. I'm a fan of the BALT and the Smokin' Jamaican. Great lil spot and convenient for lunch. Their coffe and chai are really good too, although quite expensive. Defintely go if you live or work in the area! read more

Love visiting the Thinking Cup when I am in the North End. They have the best french hot chocolate. It's very rich, almost like you are having a cup of melting chocolate! Great spot to take a break. read more

Stopped by Thinking Cup for the first time today on my way home from work for a study time pick me up. I got the Carmel latte which was AMAZING. A few hours later I couldn't help myself and went back to try something else- this time I got a cold brew ice coffee which blew Starbucks cold brew out of the water. Highly recommend this coffee shop! And it looks like they have really great food/ snacks as well. Also a really great atmosphere to catch up with a friend over coffee or even to do work of study. I will be going back daily!! read more

Thinking Cup - Skinny Carmel latte- you will not find this taste and presentation at Starbucks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place is a great to come and hangout to enjoy coffee with a friend. We came to study a bit and it's not too loud of an environment to study in, but we didn't have any outlets where we were seated so it made it inconvenient. It's also very clean, as the staff goes around cleaning tables often. I had the cold apple cider and it was so delicious! read more

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

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Good service and food. Not a conducive environment for doing work. Usually pretty busy.

The best Gluten-free desert selections I've seen outside of California in a coffee shop. The lavender and rose macaroons were unique and delectable. Among the top Tiramisu deserts that actually can stand up to their name. Thank you for going over the top so us folks with food allergies can enjoy deserts as well. Good coffee, clean bathrooms and happy helpful staff. read more

Absolutely phenomenal coffee shop. The barista Cabel knows what the funk he's doing. Found he won 1st place at the NYC coffee fest this year. Grabbed an affortona - the espresso was bangin. Also got a nice little Syphon pour of the yirgacheffe from Cabel -- had a great clean feel with unbelievable citrus flavors. The food was great too. Got a grilled cheese sandwich custom made with everything that was on my mind like white cheddar, aged manhego, pickled jalepenos, coffee BBQ, and some applewood bacon. I can't wait to get back there next time I'm in Boston. read more

Always my go to stop when waiting for my boyfriend get his haircut at Boston Barber. I am always changing up my drink but today was hot chocolate. Fantastic on this cold morning. read more

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

Thinking cup was a spontaneous stop but worth it! The macaroons were phenomenal and have to say surrounded by well known bakery's thinking cup holds there own when it comes to baked goods. read more

Thinking Cup - The French macaroons were incredible. With variety of flavors, wht: coconut, pink: strawberry, orange: pumpkin, green pistachio. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I love this Thinking Cup location! The staff is always friendly and helpful and consistently makes excellent espresso based drinks. I cannot recommend the hazelnut latte highly enough - house made ground hazelnut syrup - need I say more? Now that this location has started carrying oat milk it's become a weekend staple of mine and I'm there more often than I'd like to admit. The food is also always wonderful with the cinnamon rolls (only available on the weekends), the eclairs and the chocolate chip cookies as true standouts. read more

The Thinking Cup serves Stumptown Roasters Coffee! This alone should be the reason to stop by. Skip the donut shop coffees which are on every corner and keep walking on by the other chain because the Thinking Cup brews a good bold cup of coffee that is not burned or bitter. I sampled coffee at both the Boston Commons location and the North End and consistency was found with both cups. Next time I will try some specialty coffees. read more

This coffee shop is absolutely spectacular. The atmosphere is great; not too loud and not too quiet. Perfect environment for studying, catching up with friends, or just solo relax time. Each table has a different newsletter as a table top; gives a very antique feel. read more