Caffe Nero

Cafe · Neighborhood Nine

Caffe Nero

Cafe · Neighborhood Nine

1

1868 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

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Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
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Caffe Nero by null
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Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null
Caffe Nero by null

Highlights

Caffe Nero in Porter Square is a cozy coffee spot offering light bites and a variety of drinks, perfect for a quick caffeine fix or a work session.  

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1868 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 Get directions

caffenero.com

$1–10 · Menu

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1868 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 Get directions

+1 617 812 4391
caffenero.com
caffenerous
𝕏
@caffenero_us

$1–10 · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 7, 2025

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"London-based, Italy-inspired cafe chain Caffe Nero continues its takeover of the Boston area with another Cambridge location in the works, slated for the ground floor of Hotel 1868 in Porter Square, which is located at 1868 Massachusetts Ave. This will be Cambridge’s second location of Caffe Nero; its first opened in Central Square in late 2016. Caffe Nero goes before Cambridge’s board of license commissioners today to get its food license, with proposed hours of 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and seating for 54." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

The Butcher Shop in Boston’s South End Features Burgers and Beer - Eater Boston
View Postcard for Caffe Nero

Victoria W

Google
iced vanilla latte with oat milk and nitro cold brew are soooo delicious. ham and cheese baguette was good. breakfast roll also pretty good

Chris Evans

Google
Basic coffee shop with standard fare. I was not busy and I walked up to the cashier to ask a quick question and she snapped at me that I need to get in line to order. I ordered a breakfast roll and the top of the bun was so hard I did not eat it. The rest of it was tasty. There is only street parking.

Chao Tian

Google
This might be the most disappointing Nero I’ve visited. My first experience was at the Copley location, which left a great impression—especially with the freshness and quality of their food. Unfortunately, this branch falls short. There was a male staff seemed indifferent and unwelcoming, and the BLT sandwich I ordered felt hastily thrown together. The lettuce was wilted and not fresh, which was quite disappointing. Additionally, they appeared to lack patience when interacting with non-native English speakers, which made the experience even less enjoyable. On top of that, the space itself isn’t very accommodating for those who plan to stay longer and work, as there are very few power outlets available. I wouldn’t recommend this location if you’re looking for quality food or a comfortable spot to get work done.

Dan Drago

Google
Very nice selection of hot & cold coffee drinks, quality pastries and sandwiche. The 4-cheese fritatta was delicious. Friendly staff, clean comfortable spaces and a nice ambiance. Highly recommended.

Carlos

Google
It's a great Nero location. It's big and cozy and the cozy, really good. They made a mistake and charged us more, they fixed it and they didn't charge us. But even better, the bank ended up charging more that it should be, they fixed it again and gave us another free coffee! Excellent customer service!

Tyson

Google
Stopped in on a cold, rainy day and picked up a couple to-go lattes, one hot and one iced. Both tasted great but the hot latte was barely halfway full. Friendly staff, clean store, looks comfy and would be a nice place to spend an hour or so enjoying your coffee.

George Chalhoub

Google
Despite being busy in the morning, service was fantastic!

Kyle Vernest

Google
Good food, good service, and a good atmosphere. My favorite place to catch up with former colleagues. Always such an inviting space!

Laura M.

Yelp
The barista was very kind! I was traving to Logan and was in dire need of a restroom. Long story short, I found myself at Caffè Nero, cut to the front of the line and told the barista, "I really need the restroom. It's an emergency." She was very accommodating.

Eowz A.

Yelp
If you've ever been to a Caffe Nero, you know it's very mid with slightly more ok coffee. So you go knowing what you're getting and to be left alone, in peace. So it's annoying when the staff treats you like less than the mid coffee shop it is. No need to actively avoid eye contact. No need to save your "to stay" cups for people that you like. No need to treat people of certain skin colors so obviously better. Makes one wonder who the branch managers are; it is clearly evident, however, the way they must treat their their team. Not to mention that recently they have reduced seating and blocked off portions of the coffee shop through piled up chairs and weird boards. Really lends to the warmth. Way to go, managers.

Tom R.

Yelp
Really good baked goods Very clean , great vibe Weak, watered down coffee That's kind of worth a lot given how much they charge

Erin O.

Yelp
I really love the location and ambience of this Caffè Nero location, it's situated right outside the Porter T stop and is the perfect place to stop in for some takeaway, or settle in and relax with a hot drink. There are several nooks and crannies filled with tables and chairs here, making it an ideal place to study, work, or catch up with a friend. During my visit here, I ordered a hot mocha with skim milk, which they made very quickly for me despite the line. It was perfectly warm (not too scalding hot) and kept at a good temperature almost the entire hour I spent there. While it wasn't the best drink I've ever had, it was pretty solid and left me satisfied.

Monroe Cannady H.

Yelp
Pretty decent coffee at this Caffè Nero. There's definitely better coffee in the area, but it wasn't disappointing. Convenient location, too.

Dina A.

Yelp
Ambiance is a 10. It can be hard to find a good cafe with nice/plenty seating, outlets, bathrooms, and kind staff :). I came here today for the first time and really enjoyed getting laptop work done. Next time, I'll try the food -- there are lots of sweets to choose from!

Claudia C.

Yelp
Misogynist iced latte anyone? The man working at Caffe Nero intimidated me by lingering in front of the credit card reader as I was paying for my coffee and practically staring at me as I was answering the tip screen (which was 100% visible to him). What I want to know is: Would he have done this if I were a MAN? How much extra tip money did he make in exchange for giving a customer anxiety? Does he behave that way to everyone, or just women? If this toxic behavior is typical of "barista" culture (I use quotes because the coffee isn't exactly gourmet), I think I can make my own goddamned coffee. Ending on a bright note, I hope I made this sad little man's day by giving him the only power trip that is available to him before he's inevitably promoted to CEO of Caffe Nero...not!

Charles G.

Yelp
Don't go to this Caffe Nero! Their food is frozen and they give it to you frozen. I thought I broke a tooth on a panini. They must freeze them if they don't sell them all the day before. Yuck. I sent a note to Caffe Nero "corporate" and ... crickets, so they don't care. The one in Central is now the only one I would go to.

Debra F.

Yelp
I had a chai latte with almond milk and a delicious egg sandwich with tomato on a brioche roll. The egg was light and fluffy and the brioche was homemade, super fresh and light as air. The interior is cozy, with small tables and chairs scattered around. The other pastries looked delicious. I definitely will go back.

Patty K.

Yelp
Great coffee and pastries, a place to stop by for a cup of Joe and quick breakfast. Will definitely visit the next time in Boston.

Caitlin M.

Yelp
The smoothies are advertized as being made from "real frozen fruit," but they conveniently forgot to mention the fake flavored syrup that is also in there. Gross.

Burke W.

Yelp
The guy who is there early in morning is the most comically grumpy person ever. It comical and actually makes me go more. Not sure if because he's understaffed or just not a morning person. Pleasantries are strictly off limits.

Emily C.

Yelp
Caffe Nero is everywhere in Boston but I'm not complaining since they always have great service and great coffee. This spot in particular was very spacious. There are a couple of sections where you can sit but in the back, you will see most people doing work. It's a bit dim inside unless you sit by the windows and it's fairly quiet inside so it's good for getting things done. Along with any good coffee shop is WiFi and their WiFi allows you to be more productive since Netflix and YouTube are restricted. There is a wide selection of items on their menu in terms of drinks, food, and pastries. I enjoyed their cold brew which wasn't too strong and actually very good. I also got cookies, which you can ask them to warm up for you! I recommend this spot if you would like some coffee or need a good place to study/get work done.

Jill W.

Yelp
Business has not claimed this profile so hours are wrong. They tell me a cortado only has one shot. Methinks not.

Pierre D.

Yelp
I came back to visit Boston area after two years and these Caffe Nero are everywhere now. I remember only seeing one location in the past. This Caffe Nero is conveniently located across from the Porter sq T stop and in the same building as a small hotel. I had a latte and thought it was very good with thick milk foam and a deep rich espresso. The drink was hand made with care by one of the baristas. Much better than the usual coffee shop chains at similar prices. The caffe has a sort of hipster homey feeling with plenty of seating to enjoy. They also have a reward punchcard if you are a regular.

Shaarif Z.

Yelp
Caffe Nero is generally great. This location however does not have good service. There is one barista(an old man) who is very rude and does not talk nicely. In today's day and age why would you go to a cafe and then get insulted? He rolls his eyes when you have to add to your order, and also his vibe is just rude. There are multiple occasions that happened to me. When it happened to me the first time, I did not mind as I thought maybe he was having a bad day, but then it happened to me 2 more times and that made me come here and write a review. I love their coffee and bakery product but I will not come in here because of that person. I would rather get a burnt coffee from Starbucks.

Daniel C.

Yelp
Gross sandwich, full of rotten arugula. Nice. I think it cost $10 too That's all I had to say, but yelp is making me write more in order for this to be a review.

Train L.

Yelp
Great music, staff was respectful, even though she was short staffed. Great place to get work done and great coffee

Bahareh T.

Yelp
My last time here, I ordered a cortado. They gave me something that looked like espresso at the bottom and water and foam on top (I wish I had a photo to show). I complained, and they told me you should let it sit and it will mix, as If I have never seen cortado in my life. They finally made another one properly, after I told them there is no way for me to accept this, and I believe no one in the world accept this from you as a coffee. Beside this, they always put two cups beneath the espresso machine, as if they want to give you smaller shot. I have no idea what they do with the other half. I will never go back. The only good thing about this place is that they have nice space and interior.

Kaeli H.

Yelp
The food and drinks are like an elevated Starbucks or Peet's. However, the vibe at this location (and I'm assuming the others too) is great. The music is a little loud sometimes but it's a perfect place for reading or studying. There's also a fire place which adds to the cozy vibe. All the workers there are very friendly too.

Me Iz S.

Yelp
Plug in, sip your order & munch on your breakfast! This place is good for their breakfast choices, the beverage selection including tea. The def service stations where the sugars and milk are kept is clean, full and no food waste lying around. Must go! Easy to order - in person or via the app!

Anonymous B.

Yelp
The food and drinks are just as expensive as Starbucks for a slightly worse quality, but nonetheless not bad every once in a while. The place is ALWAYS understaffed but the staff is usually rather kind. The cafe is very cute and cozy but can be extremely busy in the early mornings and afternoons, but especially on the weekends!

Prateek S.

Yelp
Upsides of physical distancing: 1. I can proudly cut gassers in public. 2. I get to treat tables at Caffe Nero like my own corner-office cocobolo desk. Electronics and coffee sprawled across half the fucker, feet up, mule out Lyndon Johnson style. ________________ Upsides of masks: 1. I can have full conversations with myself without anyone thinking I'm a homeless veteran or imminent jihadi since they can't see my lips move. 2. Defense against someone else's gassers. ________________ Upsides of this particular Caffe Nero: 1. For a franchise whose employees in every other branch I've been to are total dicks, the employees here are professional. One dude even stamped my buy-nine-get-one-free card retroactively because I come there a lot. 2. They allow us to sit inside but enforce the mask rule. I know some reviewers have referred to the former as a negative but Nero is more diligent about keeping the tables nice and far from each other now and they are making no exceptions with the mask rule. 3. Close to the Porter Square T station, Porter Square proper, and Lesley University. Proximity to a college ensures a good crowd. Just ask Dunkin' Donuts who, for some reason, have become THE trendy spot in town for sticking a needle between your toes unless they are next to a college. 4. The savory baked goods, man. It's a challenge to make even the best bread product that's been sitting there for a while to taste good but they manage it somehow. Their multigrain croissant with turkey and cheese is a delicious, gooey/crispy snack and, according to the little placard, it's only 320 calories or so. 5. The almost total lack of blathering idiots makes for a quiet place to work. I've gotten more work done here than in the last two years working from my dinner table. Summary: This dog will hunt.

Cody D.

Yelp
Great place to stop in for a coffee, tea, or even a smoothie. Tried the banana avocado smoothie they have right now, and it was very good. They have a good selection of sandwiches and other items you can eat, and the service is very good. The young lady who took care of me was very nice and made sure my drink was to my liking. It's right across from the T station at Porter, so the location is very convenient. Even if you love that other coffee shop, I recommend giving this place a try.

Kera S.

Yelp
Nice quiet cafe, kept clean and has plenty of seats. Seems like a good study spot. Ham and cheese croissant was warmed up.

Ned L.

Yelp
First of all, if you get to know the baristas, you can expect excellent service. In Cambridge, most of the clientele at any establishment tends to be overly self-important and entitled which is the case in this cafe and it seems alot of customers talk down or are insulting to staff. The food is pretty good and the espresso drinks excellent but customers tend to be dildos when it comes to being respectful to each other and staff. I've come in on countless occasions for seating and I will see one person hogging up a table with three chairs: the person in one chair, her coat in another chair, and her books in the third chair. Clearly this is inconsiderate to other customers looking for a seat. Second, the place needs more staff but this is the case with all cafe neros: they understaff in order to make profit. But what happens is that this only increases turnover. This place in particular has burned through about eight or nine staff members in the eight months I have been coming here: including managers. Making profit by reducing staff and tasking remaining staff with a thousand chores is no way to run a business.

rb l.

Yelp
I guess people like coming here because of the cozy nooks they can settle into. But for the goods, you can do so much better elsewhere where they actually know what coffee is and don't argue with you if you ask questions. Came here twice and gave up so I go to Simon's or Forge instead now.

Sacha P.

Yelp
horrible barista. he was so rude to my friend and I. whoever was working at 8:30AM 11/1 is awful. Came in and asked for avocado toast because online said you guys have it and I haven't come since may, he Was super rude and passive with his response. Then basically yelled at my friend bc she couldn't hear him because his back was turned to her. Then proceeded to not give us the student discounts because "it was not working and there is no button to punch it in".

Alli G.

Yelp
Aesthetic on point. Caffe Nero is popping up everywhere, making it more and more convenient to try it out. They all have the same very cozy and rustic aesthetic. Their lattes are very well done! You can definitely tell it's an ~Italian~ company. Their Porter Square location has a super friendly and fun barista. They also offer loyalty cards. Did I mention? Free wifi. For up to 3 hours. Winning.

Audrey B.

Yelp
Really good coffee and service! The decor is cozy and very classic. However, they were super busy and the only place we could sit was the long table at the front - they need to put curtains or blinds or something on the windows. The sun was searing through the windows and made working on the computer impossible no matter which side of the table you sat on. We had to eventually leave and go somewhere else to work because our laptops were over heating in the sun.

T T.

Yelp
This Caffe Nero was like all others we have been too, but what really made this place stand out was their staff. They were patient, willing to explain things in the menu, and the two staff at the front had great energy individually and together.

Meredith A.

Yelp
Amazing matcha latte!! Seems like a great place to work with comfy chairs and lots of seating

Seth A.

Yelp
This cafe has got some issues -- first and foremost, while the pandemic is going on, they have a worrying amount of indoor seating and there is apparently no rule about mask-wearing while people are sitting at tables. As a result, typically only about half of people (or less) are wearing a mask, even when they're clearly done eating and are just camping out doing work. The cafe is putting people in danger by being so lax in their rules. (There is a contact tracing sheet, but, strangely, it's optional.) Beyond the pandemic super-spreader aspect, the baked goods are always stale and the coffee is not good, never hot, and always seems to have been sitting a long time. In other words, it is chain-cafe quality at its peak. All of this seems correctable with some effort, the staff is always very nice, and the inside of the cafe is also quite nice for a chain. But as it stands, the cafe (as, I can imagine, a number of their other branches as well) needs work.

Keith S.

Yelp
It you would like a cold breakfast sandwich this is the place to go. Be careful because they don't put an egg on each of their breakfast sandwiches.

Eduardo N.

Yelp
So happy that there is finally an alternative to the Bourbon Cafe across the street in the Lesley University complex. I love the Bourbon Cafe, but it closes at the ridiculously early time of 8pm every night. Caffe Nero closes at 9...not a huge improvement, but I'll take it. Wish somebody would open a late night or all-night cafe in this neighborhood...I would actually be happy to pay a cover charge for that! There's the Panera Bread near Dunkin Donuts which closes at 10, but it's a rather sterile/generic environment. Oh lawdy, when oh when will civilization ever come to ever-sleepy, yet ever-more-expensive, Camberville???

Rebecca S.

Yelp
Great new addition to Porter! Nice spaces to do work, excellent iced latte and friendly staff.

Emma B.

Yelp
This place is very cozy and delicious! Stopped in for a quick lunch while traveling. Everyone in my party enjoyed their quick bite. The sandwiches are all pre-made and can be warmed up. Very cute dessert options! We shared a couple macaroons and they were very tasty! We also stopped at another location in Boston and it was equally as cute! Would like to try some of their coffee drinks next time I have a chance!

Wendy O.

Yelp
The coffee was fine. No complaints, but nothing spectacular. My beef is with the customer service at this location. I waited for the restroom for what seemed like forever. A barista came out, saw me standing there waiting, and promptly slammed the door shut. You need a code to use it, so I get that... but I was a paying customer, so that wasn't entirely necessary. I walked in to hair and pee all over the toilet seat and only two squares of toilet paper left on the roll. The least he could have done after blowing up the bathroom was clean up after himself. The whole thing just really turned me off. I'd patronize Caffe Nero again, but avoid this location for sure.

Gouri A.

Yelp
We tried a couple of things here - almond biscotti, strawberry vanilla frappe and chai latte. All of them were really good.

Lizzie B.

Yelp
The porter square one is so cozy and welcoming especially in the evening. I know it's a chain but I really like the coziness of the place and the fireplace!

Solutions4Space M.

Yelp
Love it here! Coffee and staff are great! I am able to get work done while enjoying a cappuccino. It appears crowded but I have never had a problem getting a seat.

Duncan M.

Yelp
Fantastic coffee, food, and atmosphere. It's interior nicely decorated and the music is relaxing.