Java junkies can thank Coffee Connection founder George Howell for kick-starting the specialty-coffee industry in Boston in the ’70s, laying the groundwork for Starbucks and others to follow. Today, his eponymous roastery and cafes—with locations in the Godfrey Hotel and Boston Public Market—do it best. Attentive baristas serve third-wave brews including coveted single-lot varieties like the Kenyan Mamuto and espresso-specific blends such as Alchemy. Plus the brand keeps its fans educated, offering an ongoing schedule of “palate training” classes, cupping courses and more.
George Howell Coffee - The Godfrey Hotel
505 Washington St., Boston • (857) 957-0217
georgehowellcoffee.com
George Howell Coffee - Newton
311 Walnut St., Newton • (617) 332-6886
georgehowellcoffee.com
George Howell Coffee - Boston Public Market
100 Hanover St. at Haymarket Station, Boston • (617) 777-2217
georgehowellcoffee.com
George Howell Coffee - Roastery
312 School St., Acton • (978) 635-9033
georgehowellcoffee.com
Other Winners
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Coffee Shop
2014 Winner: Thinking Cup
Coffee lovers who have graduated from pedestrian Dunks and Starbucks can choose from a growing range of small, independently owned Boston cafes...
- 165 Tremont St., Boston
- (617) 482-5555
- thinkingcup.com
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Coffee Shop
2015 Winner: Barrington Coffee Roasting Company
Once upon a time, simply saying “venti” was enough to make one feel oh-so-informed on coffee…...
- 346 Congress St., Boston
- (857) 277-1914
- barringtoncoffee.com
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Coffee Shop
2016 Winner: Jaho Coffee and Tea
You can’t rush a good cup of joe, and Jaho owner Anil Mezini has been slow-brewing his business for a decade. ...
- 665 Washington St., Boston
- (857) 233-4094
- jaho.com
Photo Credit: Meghan Marin -
Coffee Shop
2017 Winner: Dudley Café
This social justice-minded java joint, housed inside the rehabbed Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building, fuels its Roxbury neighborhood’s recent renaissance...
- 15 Warren St., Boston
- (617) 445-1000
- dudleycafe.com
Photo Credit: Samuel Allison
