Blue Bottle Coffee

"A year and a half after opening its first Boston-area location, California’s Blue Bottle Coffee opened its fourth area outpost today, June 7, in Cambridge’s Kendall Square. Located at 88 Ames St., it’s inside the Proto apartment building (along with a location of DC-based fast-casual Mediterranean chain Cava) and practically across the street from an existing cafe, Vester. The designers of this Blue Bottle location reportedly drew inspiration from MIT’s Baker House dormitory, which boasts an unusual shape and was designed by Alvar Aalto of Finland. As a nice tie-in, the Kendall Square Blue Bottle has standing tables designed by Aalto. Like other Blue Bottle locations, this one has plenty of natural light and light wood. Customers at the Kendall Square Blue Bottle will find, in addition to coffee, snacks like waffles, avocado toast, yogurt parfaits, pastries from A&J King in Salem, and more. The new location is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. It joins Boston-area locations in Harvard Square, Back Bay, and Boston’s Financial District; elsewhere, it has locations in California, New York, D.C., Japan, and Korea." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

"A coffee company from California that operates three locations in and around Boston stands poised to add a fourth to its lineup: Blue Bottle Coffee has submitted an application for an operating license at 88 Ames St. in Cambridge’s Kendall Square. The proposed storefront spans nearly 1,500 square feet and would allow the cafe to seat 20, with a total occupancy of 40, operating from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, per the application. A rep for the coffee company declined to confirm the potential expansion or provide additional details at this time. Blue Bottle made its first foray into the Boston area in February of 2018, opening in Cambridge’s Harvard Square. It later added locations in Downtown Boston and in Back Bay, at the Prudential Center. The chain, based in Oakland, operates cafes across California, New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C., along with some international locations. Blue Bottle is known for its variety of pour over coffees, espresso beverages, and selection of pastries. The Prudential store also sells Liège-style waffles. The proposed Ames Street location would place Blue Bottle in the midst of dozens of other food and beverage establishments, including recently opened sister spots Vester and Dumpling Daughter, as well as locations of Clover, Cava, and Bailey & Sage." - Dana Hatic