Blue Bottle Coffee - Cambridge, MA
This West Coast coffee shop with its chic vibes has been expanding rapidly, and for good reason. With probably one of the smoothest lattes I’ve ever tasted and some killer pastries, it brings a new vibe to the coffee scene here in Boston.
Blue Bottle Coffee is located off of Bow street in Harvard Square. It’s actually pretty easy to miss since it’s not on the main strip of stores and other cafes that you usually see when you go to Harvard Square… so it made sense that I hadn’t heard of this place until now. An easy way to spot it is to look for the Harvard Lampoon, an undergraduate humor publication that was founded in 1876. The castle-like layout with the brightly painted doors of the Lampoon will act like your Yellow Brick Road to the coffee shop.
The brick building on the corner of the street that houses this little coffee shop is discreetly labeled with a small sign sporting the logo of just a blue bottle and faint writing making out the name. Pretty easy to miss indeed.
White walls and minimalist decorations adorn the inside when you enter. The space is pretty small and there’s a constant cycle of people coming and going, same for the people sitting and doing work at some of the very few tables they have. The place doesn’t have any WiFi or outlets either, which limits one’s time spent there if you are trying to do any work; This space is more for catching up with friends and not necessarily for answering emails or working on assignments. However if you would like, make sure you come with a charged laptop and a Personal Hotspot you can set up. If you’re a Harvard Student, the Harvard WiFi is within range, although it’s incredibly spotty… suspicious.
It’s clear that Blue Bottle doesn’t want people staying there for too long of a time. Generates good business, I suppose, but for those who want to find a cool coffee shop to work in, look elsewhere.
Generally a younger crowd hangs out here, although you’ll have the occasional family stop by. The menu is listed in the corner of a series of light, wooden panels that match the counter and most tables. Off to the far side of the café are these two apparatuses that look like a giant light bulb designed by Thomas Edison. However upon closer inspection, you’ll find that these are actually for making cold brew. The chemistry-like set up of it makes it seem like Blue Bottle has their coffee-making down to a science, and they very well might. Parallel with the counter is a wall with Blue Bottle’s products on display for sale, neatly arranged. You can buy anything from their coffee beans to supplies to apparel.
There’s a case next to the main counter with a few pastries on display and a small, refrigerated section with an assortment of yogurts and drinks. I opted for a ginger molasses cookie and avocado toast. They even had liege waffles on their dainty menu, but that’ll have to be for another time.
I ordered a latte as well, per a friend’s recommendation. Although the price was steep for a latte ($5 without tax, those be West Coast prices!!), the drink itself was great. The avocado toast was a hefty $9, and the cookie also was on the pricier side at $4. The baristas were pleasant during the ordering process.
Let me start with the latte. The bitterness of the beans and the frothed milk blended seamlessly. It was incredibly easy to drink. The taste of the coffee is subtle, following the creamy texture of the milk after you take a sip. Would I have preferred a stronger taste of coffee after each sip? Perhaps, but at the same time, I think I’m just not used to a latte blending together the elements of milk and coffee together this nicely. The avocado toast satisfied all my BoHo girl desires: A thick layer of blended avocado, spread across toasted multigrain bread and topped off with some chili flakes for a little kick. The toast didn't fall apart or cause a mess, inclining me to devour it at a speed that I’m embarrassed to disclose.
The cookie was a tasty blend of ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and molasses. Very chewy, with a strong taste of ginger in each bite, but not enough to make the treat overbearing. There were tiny pieces of ginger scattered throughout, and the top was coated with thick sugar crystals. Delicious.
All in all, this coffee shop is worth the visit. There is definitely a mightier-than-thou air to the whole place, but I think that’s what comes with a small West Coast coffee chain that specializes in craft coffee. Blue Bottle offers smooth coffee, flavorful food, quick service, and a chic space to sit and hang out a bit. If you visit their website, they even have guides on how to make cold brew, roast and pick your coffee beans, make latte art, etc. It’s actually incredibly nifty that they offer these informational posts; it’s unlike any other coffee shop I’ve seen. I’ll be coming back to Blue Bottle, however not all the time, since their prices are rough and it’s hard to get a seat in this place, let alone do work. If you’re in Harvard Square, make sure to stop by here and check them out!
Coffee: 5/5
Food: 4.5/5
Price: 1/5
Atmosphere: 2/5
Overall: 4/5
