Location: 165 Tremont Street, Boston Common; 236 Hanover Street, North End, Boston; 85 Newbury Street Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 7am – 10pm; Thursday to Sunday 7am – 11pm
Official Website: www.thinkingcup.com
Facebook: Thinking Cup
Twitter: @thinkingcup
Instagram: thinkingcup
Awarded as the Best Coffee Shop in Boston by Boston Magazine in 2011, THINKING CUP is a locally owned, intimate specialty coffee shop in Downtown Boston that Bostonians go to for meetings, afternoon coffee, and alone time. As the first, exclusive to serve Portland, Oregon brewed Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Thinking Cup has a wide variety of coffee concoctions and standard types that coffee aficionados would certainly look for, including me.
It’s worthy to note that Stumptown Coffee Roasters are known as the “Best in the World” by NPR, The New York Times, Food & Wine Magazine, and USA Today.
I first encountered Thinking Cup back at Boston’s historic North End, along Hanover Street. But I was sidetracked by Mike’s Pastry so my time was pretty much consumed.
Then Thinking Cup showed up as I walked the red brick buildings of Newbury Street. It was such a cozy spot with a very crowded outdoor porch. Thinking Cup at Newbury sits beside Marc Jacobs boutique.
I couldn’t resist not going inside. The name itself lures me, as if I could miss one note of creativity in life. I almost got lost when I realized Thinking Cup’s door was small and I need to go through a flight of stairs below to get inside the pastry shop.
I immediately fell in love with its dimly lit New England inspired and Mahogany interiors with elements of olden times here and there. The lighting was perfect for me to take photos.
Thinking Cup is not only well known for its coffee, but its French macarons, specialty sandwiches, homemade soups and breakfast selections are what people enjoy here.
Since I just wanted some coffee, after a very awakening experience at Parish Cafe and Bar, I decided to get a simple cup of Latte.
I was lucky to find a seat inside the full house patisserie, where I can admire the hand-made artwork in the table, which is its signature. And did I mention each and every table in their stores are all created by the owner? It’s brilliant and beautiful handiwork.
A sip of their Latte was clear for me ~ freshly roasted, with little room for mistakes. It was precise, less fruity, and the earthiness resonates in my tongue. It’s indeed one of the best coffee I had that top bills all the cups I had in the past. Toby’s Estate, 49th Parallel, they’re nothing compared to this.
Each sip was all worth it. Bottoms up.
I’d gladly order a Cortado or Macchiato some other time. Or an Affogato on a hot, summer day. And just a plain Espresso for days when I need to think and I need a drink. That’s what it does.
THINKING CUP Drinks Menu:
THINKING CUP Rating:
[usrlist “Taste and Originality: 4.5” “Customer Experience: 3.5” “Value for Money: 3.5” “Brick and Mortar: 4”]