Diesel Cafe

At Diesel Cafe, amidst the hum of espresso machines and the clatter of old-school gas station relics, one finds the essence of a bygone era. The timeworn ephemera adorning the walls, reminiscent of a Hemingway novel, transport patrons to a simpler time. The staff, much like characters in a well-crafted tale, are kind and helpful, adding a touch of warmth to the nostalgic ambiance. Here, one can sip coffee and pen stories, surrounded by the echoes of a literary past

Nice big space with plenty of pastry options, bagels, sandwiches, and drinks. The prices are pretty steep for the size of the sandwiches however so putting 4 stars for the food. I wish they did discount refills on drip coffee in house. The coffee was good! Staff was very friendly and it was nice to feel like there was room to spread out from other folks. The molasses cookie was delicious!

Had to give a shout-out to Diesel Cafe in Davis Square for being such a gem! Not only is their food top-notch, but their matcha lattes are a game changer – easily some of the best I’ve had. It’s the perfect pick-me-up when you need a little boost. But what I really love about Diesel Cafe is the atmosphere. It’s got this cool vibe that makes it an ideal spot to hunker down and get some work done, or just chill with a good book. The place just has a way of making you feel welcome and inspired at the same time. Whether you’re a matcha fanatic like me, on the hunt for some tasty eats, or just need a great spot to focus, Diesel Cafe’s got you covered. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re in Davis Square.

- Food: 3/5. Special breakfast sandwich was tasty but small for $10, and the focaccia was thin and holey more like sourdough. (Special sandwich was same as regular egg and cheese but with curry butter instead of dijonnaise) - Service: 4/5. Staff are very nice, but took 15 min to make my sandwich while my friends got theirs in 2. - Atmosphere: 4/5. Fun vibe and atmosphere. Pool table is cool despite being worn down and costing $6 to play.

Nice place to hangout. Big space with lots of seating. Matcha latte was decent not like ogawa but good. I like that they don’t charge extra for milk substitute here Order at the screen and wait for your name

The best coffeehouse in Davis square. Pastries, Ice cream, the coffee, everything is great, never had an issue here (except for seating) There is seating in the back of the building, tucked away against the wall.

Diesel is one of the oldest and coolest cafes in the Cambridge / Somerville area. Does great food coffee and it's just an awesome place to hang out or get some work done.

Good pastries, interesting coffee options on top of the usuals. Nice out for seating with some shade. A staff member recommended the rose latte, and it was worth having.

I have lived in Davis square for a long time and I have always loved Diesel. It's a bit pricey but their staff are unionized and the food and coffee is incredible. The Vietnamese coffee is always my go to. I also just love the vibes here. There is a pool table in the back. There is an ice cream bar! Like how could you go wrong. Perfect place to hang out and work and the food and drinks have never disappointed.

Came here twice because Diesel stays open longer than most of the other Davis Square cafes, but idk the experience was a bit underwhelming? First off, the theme is cool - it's retro, industrial, cool vibes all around. Difficult to find a table on the weekends because they are very busy at all times (& there's no wifi). Not to mention the tables don't seem to be cleaned often, there's always crumb residue on them. Pricing is fine. About $10 for a plain croissant + iced coffee which seemed average. But the plain croissant was pretty stale so wasn't worth it. Coffee was also oddly sour. I've gotten their Avo Toast before and it was very average, definitely overpriced for what you get. Service seems fine, you can order at a kiosk so there's not much interaction, but the food & drink do come out quickly. Overall, both times were okay experiences.

I have to come clean here. There's been a number of times I'm like "I should go to Davis, I haven't been there in a while". And then I start thinking about where I want to go in Davis. And I have to be honest with you. Usually, I can't think of anywhere. Davis SHOULD be good! It's close enough to Tufts to have that chill college vibe, but far enough from Harvard to not stick its nose too far in the air. It's just on the edge of Somerville, so it's a little weird, but not so far into Somerville that it puts Billy Tauro signs in its front yard. But Davis Square's only REAL cafe is Diesel. And I really WANT to like it, it has this wacky retro home kitchen vibe that matches Davis pretty well. But it's just...not very good. The drinks are pretty average, the pastries are usually picked over and generic. And there's just too many people, often I have to squeeze between the couple making out and the home office of some aging Socialist. I then share the internet with the better part of the Tufts computer science department, which means I just paid $9.50 to stare at loading screens. I think Diesel would be much better if there were, like, one other cafe. Any takers?

Saw this place had tons of reviews so decided to check it out. This place was packed during lunch on a Sunday. Not an empty seat in the house, and considering how spacious this place is, that was a good sign. It wasn't good however for us when we were trying to find a seat, but it didn't take toooo long. I ordered the Monkey Wrench sandwich and an Iced Vietnamese Coffee. The sandwich was high quality and had really fresh ingredients. I especially loved the focaccia bread it came on. My coffee was good too, and I'm glad I tried it. I will say it took quite a long time for our food to be made. Considering how packed it was I understand, but it was loooong, like over 15 minutes long. Drinks came out fairly quickly though. I ordered a hot coffee too and the guy mistakenly gave me an iced, but another barista quickly apologized and gave me the correct one. I also liked the pool tables in the back and their photo booth. This is definitely a place I'd love to come back later in the evening and vibe with friends at. Oh, and they also serve ice cream! They also have monthly specials but the tiny menu is only by the registers so I didn't get a chance to look at it before ordering. I wish they had it on the board also because they looked good. Overall a cute garage themed coffee shop in the city with quality drinks and food, & great vibes.

Avocado toast (8/10): need a bit more salt and pepper, but lovely with a side of eggs! Cardamom bun (9/10): a little on the burnt side of toasting, but it was really great! the cardamom syrup shone through to give it that floral taste. Bagel and lox (8/10): not a fan of cucumber in lox because I personally think it's a filler to add less lox. Also, no sour component like dill in it. Bagel toasted really well. Service was great! this place is always slammed. One downside is that they don't offer wifi here on the weekends, but they are upfront about this information and also allow patrons to work if they have personal hotspots/don't need wifi. Such a cute cafe. I love how it's decorated and repurposed from an old fire station. Isn't my first time coming here and certainly not my last!

I was in Davis Square going to another cafe and was on the wrong side of the road for it. Luckily, I found this hidden gem. So glad I did! I looked in and saw crowds of people so knew it must be a local hit in town! They have breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, coffee, iced coffee. So I got the breakfast special with egg, cheese and spinach on focaccia bread and my friend got the Monkey Wrench which is turkey, cheese, avocado, sprouts, tomatoes and greens on focaccia bread as well. It is a pricy one, 15.25 while mine was 7.85 but my friend said it was fresh and tasty. Oh and after if you have a sweet tooth, yes, they have ice cream for you. Not sure when it's open. I visited here on a Sunday. They have a booth with about 7 seats around a board with ice cream flavors. You come in and find a few tables. You have to walk down to find more tables and booths. But it does get crowded and you have to wait to find a place to sit. I sat right behind a stack of journals that they sell. They also sell plants, shirts, coffee and other neat items. You go and place your order and find a table to sit. You wait for them to call your name and you get your food on a tray. You walk around the back and they have cool signs and a pool table in the back if you want to have some fun later with your family or friends. They do have public restroom. Parking can be tricky. You park on the street or in lots but the lots are small. It's a fun atmosphere and you have to try it once. But you will probably come back when in the area. I know I will!

I came here on a Friday afternoon around 11:30am for lunch with a friend. Although it was busy, there was plenty of seating. We both ordered the Joplin (egg, cheese, sausage, and maple butter, typically on focaccia). Unfortunately, they were all out of the focaccia, so we opted to have it on sourdough. While I enjoyed it, I think my expectations for Diesel were a bit high, and the value for money was a bit low. My friends who live in the area really seem to enjoy this spot, though.

Came here to get some work done with a coworker and it was definitely a nice space to do that. Unfortunately, their wifi kicks you off after 2 hours which I find pretty obnoxious, but if you only have 2 hours of work to get done or want to stop for a not-all-that-quick breakfast sandwich, it's a good spot for that. The Joplin, a sausage, egg, cheese, and maple butter sandwich on focaccia was very good but it took about 15-20 minutes to come out- not criminal but not great either.

Decided to grab lunch here when I was running some errands in Davis Square. Happy with my choice! Good ambiance - lots of places to sit, tables, booths, bar seating. Cute decoration. It was pretty full even on a weekday around noon so I imagine it must get busy on the weekends. I placed my order at the counter and my food was ready about 10 minutes later. I ordered the loaded avocado toast and enjoyed it. I love pickled onions so that was a win and the sesame seeds were a nice touch. The avocado portion was generous. I got it on whole wheat bread and it was a nice thick slice that could hold up pretty well to all the toppings. I still ate it with a knife and fork to avoid mess but that's just me. I'm not in Davis square often but I definitely may come back next time I'm in the area!

Nice place to sit and enjoy a cup! My cappuccino didn't have much foam it was more of a latte but it was tasty. The croissant was correct. Good chocolate flavor. The service was nice but they are busy so it takes a while. Will return. Recommend

The yummy hot chocolate in a little cozy corner with a great and friendly customer service...I love the wall arts and the atmosphere...It's a good place to study while it's a big cafe and not noisy one either...

Drinks and ambiance are great. Service couldn't suck mote. Watched staff fooling around together while people were waiting in line.

I loved my visit to this cafe. The seasonal latte was delicious, the vegan sandwich was healthy and delicious, and the sticky bun is aesthetic and yummy! I played pool and got to relax and enjoy the fun vintage themed atmosphere.

This cafe is a laptop worker/reader's dream. Delicious food and coffee. Great lighting and positive atmosphere. A bit pricey but I think it's worth the money because of its amenities -- spacious & lots of seating, outlets, bathrooms. Drinks/food might take awhile to come out once you order, but that's because the place is popular :). I had an avocado toast with egg, and it was splendid! Nicely cooked and seasoned. Diesel Cafe is an excellent study cafe in Davis square, Cambridge neighborhood.

I went to diesel Café because it was on a list of eight coffee shops to try in the Boston area. I was not disappointed. It's in an area where there's also places to shop and get something to eat so during lunch it was pretty easy to find parking. I got a hot whole milk latte and it was awesome. Not too hot and not too much foam. Free WiFi and bathrooms inside. Ample seating along with an ice cream shop.

Excellent coffee and a great place to vibe. They put a lot of care and attention in the food as well. I highly recommend this place.

Loved this place!! Was out for a walk and decided to just try it. So glad we did! Coffee came out quick and bagel Sandwich was so fresh and tasty. Will be going back!

Diesel was packed when we came in on an early Sunday afternoon and I can understand why! They serve a variety of drinks, pastries, and sandwiches, have a lot of seating, and have pool, chess, and other games scattered around to entertain folks as well. We got 2 iced lattes with almond milk, a cardamom bun, and a croissant and played chess with the magnetic chess board hanging on the wall after we were able to secure seats. The iced lattes were fine and the cardamom bun was crispier and less spiced than other buns I've had. I'd come back if I was in the area and wanted to hang out for a bit, do some work, or grab a quick pick-me-up, but wouldn't go out of my way to come here for lattes or pastries.

Diesel is my favorite cafe in the area to work. Tons of space, fun drinks and food (I am such a fan of their sticky buns!!). On nice days they sometimes are just open to the street which is so pleasant. There's always a range of people there (students, professionals, families with kids, people just reading or hanging out). Very much a beloved Davis Square institution! Great place to study/work, meet someone for a date/chat, pick up a coffee, or just spend a few hours.

Inside, there was a huge line and a lot of people sitting down. I went Friday lunch time and it was busy. A lot of people drinking coffee but also eating there. I got a basic iced coffee for $5 and added oat milk and simple syrup. It was good but nothing to brag about. I saw they had Vietnamese coffee on the menu which I would love to try sometime. Inside is huge for a coffee shop and there is so much seating. Like I said before, it's busy so most of the seating is taken up though. I like the decorations and vibe inside. The wifi policy is weird. You only get two hours during the weekday and there is no wifi during the weekend. As someone who loves doing work in coffee shops on the weekend, that's a bummer. I understand why they did it though since it gets very busy during the weekend and they don't want people staying too long. Keep that in mind if you want to do work here! A cute place in Somerville to visit. Parking is limited and you will likely have to street park or pay in a parking lot.

Came here on a Monday morning after brunch and the place was pretty busy ( it was a holiday Monday ) - they have kiosks for you to place your order, but it took people a few minutes to order each so the line was pretty slow. The crowd must come in waves honestly since the line was at 0 people by the time I got my drink, but I had to wait for at least 10 people before placing my order. The service was pretty quick and efficient while the space was really nice and it wasn't hard to find a spot to sit and wait for my drink. Once I got it and tried it, I was pleasantly content with the quality of the coffee and the taste - it was super smooth and refreshing to drink on a warm day. I really enjoyed the taste and the strength of the coffee, it was enough to keep me awake for the rest of the day! I'd love to come back and try some of their food or ice cream once it opens!

I ordered a Turkey sandwich on focaccia bread per a waiter's recommendation (The Elm). The cafe is often very busy but the bread was fantastic and the sandwich is overall very good. It is quite pricy but I would go back again if I want to splurge!

Cute coffee spot ! Really strong and good brews ! Enjoyed their bagel selection and decor - good for catching up with friends To

Expensive pastries - sandwiches are pretty good though ! Nice quality, strong coffee and decent brews Fun student atmosphere ! Gets busy early on !

Cute little coffee shop in Davis Square. Visited in the summer when outdoor seating is offered. Not sure if they have indoor now that the weather is cold. Cute decor of a car garage Small bites available as well - our coffees and iced coffees were delicious

Good coffee and selection. Strong coffee the way it should be and cool place. The only thing is the very long line and wait... it took for ever to get three coffees I ordered on the weekend.

Fell in love with the space, the concept, the coffee and the pastries but the wait each time I went was awfully long. Be prepared to wait at least 15 minutes for your coffee, with your pastries even being served faster despite being warmed up. The few times I came were not even peak hours so I can only imagine how much longer you'd have to wait during a rush. There's tons of seating however, and a great selection for breakfast, brunch or a mid-day snack and even a scooping station for ice cream. If they served their coffee even a wee bit faster (7 minute wait), I'd readily give Diesel 4-5 stars.

I'd give this cafe 4 stars. It's undeniably cute and cozy, although slightly on the expensive side. Despite their claim of diverse coffee options, I couldn't find one that met my high coffee standards. However, the owners are exceptional individuals, providing excellent customer service that adds to the overall positive experience.

My wife and I went to get a smoothie here on a Saturday after the gym (11:45am) and were excited to try them as we had heard good things. After placing our order via the kiosks (they were not taking orders in person at the time), our order went to the smoothie and ice cream bar/station. We continued to wait over 15 minutes for our $9 smoothies when I noticed there was no one at the station. I brought this to the attention of an employee who looked at me blankly and said "ok" and continued to ignore not only me but the other 3 orders that were on the screen at the smoothie station. Eventually, someone showed up and we got our $20 worth of smoothies after over 30 minutes of waiting... for a smoothie. The smoothies were good, although I'm not sure they warrant the $9 price tag... but I will not be returning given the wait time and overall apathy when I reported an issue to the employee without any kind of acknowledgement, action, or attempt to fix the issue. I had high hopes given the rave reviews and word of mouth for Diesel, but after this experience and the bad taste it left in my mouth I cannot bring myself to return.

Been coming here literally since they opened and it's still my favorite coffeehouse, even though I now live a couple T stops away. Yes, it's always crowded, but the staff are always so nice and they play the best music by far of any coffee shop in the area (I've tried them all). Not a great place if you want a quick bite, but absolutely fabulous for getting work done for an hour or a day, and the menu's good, too. Bring your own personal hotspot if you plan to work or study, especially on the weekends. It IS expensive, especially if you're from out of town. Blame the high rents and the fact that they treat their employees like human beings.

I have a weakness for their breakfast sandwiches! I always get them on a bagel because I love their bagels (baked at Forge) And coffee of course.

I stopped by for an espresso. It was honestly my first time trying an espresso so I have nothing to compare it to, but I like it for what it was. Theres tons of tables and I'd definitely come back if I just want to chill at a coffee shop (it looks small in the front, but it extends faaar back!)

I love this cafe so much. Beware- since it is so popular and loved, it can take an uncomfortably long time to get your items but it's worth it. The coffee is really great. They don't have almond milk, my preference, but the latte was amazing with oat milk. I adore the Mocha Slide "smoothie" and would recommend it to anyone and everyone who likes coffee. It makes it acceptable to eat ice cream for breakfast and I love it. The bagels are perfectly toasted and the cream cheese is so unbelievably fluffy. The Joplin sandwich was delicious and I can't wait to go try more. There's a ton of seating and free WiFi (except no WiFi on weekends even though everyone brings their computers anyways). There is a pool table and a photo booth that opens soon and an entire ice cream bar!

Awesome spot to study and meet with friends. There is a lot of seats to choose. However kind of disappointed that the iced coffee is a bit too watery. Hot caramel latte is pretty good.

Can't complain, everything was good and yummy. We ordered takeout. The sandwiches were quite large and very filling. We got the Elm and the Mason. The meat and bread were fresh as well as the veggies. Would come back. Service was pretty quick, order was ready before estimated time. I don't think they have outside seating, but there are multiple benches outside the establishment.

Definitely do not waste your time going here. In 4 yrs I've never found a table, because they just let people sit and work all day. It's the same 40 people in here every single day, open to close. Also their online orders are literally always closed, Even during business hours. Cool space, and the staff are probably nice, but terrible management. Cannot recommend any less.

Far exceeded expectations. We really appreciated the no contact digital ordering system. Was great to be able to read detailed descriptions of the drinks before ordering. Iced espresso with cream was perfectly executed. Iced latte as well. The tea lemonade was DELICIOUS. Enjoyed the socially distanced street seating as well. Highly recommend.

The last time I came with a friend we got tasty breakfast sandwiches, and I remember getting a turmeric latte that was pretty special. This time I just went with a standard oat milk latte. The chai is good too. I like the ambiance here, and the high ceilings. Lots of seating options- tables by the window, communal, or in the back. They have pool tables too, Updating the review- I think they were just going through some hiring changes. Still wish the WiFi were free- I would definitely just work and keep ordering food, fresh baked goods, and beverages. But the couple of hours was actually enough for a good work session. Found a new quiet spot on a big table in the back left.

Love love loved this super retro spacious cafe! I was visiting Cambridge from NYC for the weekend An old friend and I came in for a quick brunch date. The atmosphere with all the beautiful local artwork was just perfect for my bougie taste. I ordered a chai latte which was delish to go down with my egg sammie. It was a standard egg and cheese sandwich but it comes with spinach on fresh homemade bread which made the experience even more amazing.

Monkey bread was the best thing on the menu and without it I'd rather go to 3 little figs every time

Good: coffee is always good. People are nice. Bad: now that it also has a pool area, it's no longer as cozy and there is less emphasis on providing pastries. Baristas can be incredibly slow, I got a nervous twitch just watching one of them try to accomplish a simple task absent-mindedly while also making sure to look cool. Waiting 15 mins for a cap while having people after me served first is not my thing. I used to love this place, but it's not for me anymore.

My absolute favorite coffee shop that I've been frequenting for over a decade. The vibe, space, and aesthetic are all perfect. Definitely one of the highlights of Davis Square. Plus the Joplin is one of the most delicious breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. It's that thick cut bacon and honey butter - unbelievable.

We came here to duck past the freezing cold outside and drink a hot cup of Joe. I ordered a mocha with almond milk. It cost $5 which is in theory a lot of money for a medium sized tea cup but pretty standard for a specialty coffee shops. The mocha was pretty good. The expresso itself wasn't as strong as I would have liked but I was happy with the quantity. I wanted to order a sweet treat but there was only icecream and cookies. To be fair it was the evening but I really wish there was more of a bakery selection. There was barely anything to chose from and I definitely was not ordering icecream when there was snow on the ground outside. We stalked the diner style booths in the way back until we nabbed a seat from a woman leaving. The cafe is decorated very retro. There's a large old gas station Mobile sign over the bathrooms that reads "Mobil-ize". If the Citgo sign near BU ever gets removed, it should be placed next to this sign. There is a photo booth in the cafe as well- too bad it was out of service. There was also beautiful art on display for sale. I wish the cafe didn't have as much of an old demeanor though. It needs to be more lively. I felt like it's atmosphere had a depressing vibe to it. I mean the location of this cafe is pretty clutch. There is so much potential to be wonderful but Diesel definitely falls short.

Great vibe. Very big coffee shop for Boston which I'm a fan of, and a good place to work. Good food/drink. Put it on your list

Very large and quite good sandwiches, and a great, low-key vibe. Lots of singletons tapping away at solo tables, could make seating a challenge.

This is a deceptively massive and trendy coffee shop in the heart of Somerville that's a great place to study and unwind. My Video Review: https://youtu.be/jB1DjvrGYpA I went on a busy Saturday morning, so there was a bit of a wait, but luckily there was PLENTY of seating so I was able to find a table with an outlet for my laptop. You wouldn't know it from looking at this cafe from the outside, but this place is huge! Speaking of huge, I ordered a cold brew (priced moderately at $4.25) and it was a full 8oz bigger than the standard 16oz for a large that you would find for iced drinks in America. Now that's what I'm talking about! The coffee was well-rounded and smooth, with notes of dried orange, molasses, and caramel (this is why I love medium roasts, you get the sweetness/fruitiness of a light roast with the richness of a dark roast). Diesel Cafe brews Intelligentsia Coffee, which I kind of have a problem with considering that Intelligentsia is pretending to be a micro-roasted artisanal brand when really it's owned by a large corporate company that also owns Peet's Coffee (JAB Holdings). However, I have to admit..... Intelligentsia's coffee beans are high quality. As much as it pains me to say this, Intelligentsia beans are as good as micro-roasted beans. There's free wifi, a bathroom, and art from local artists all across the walls, propelling this cafe to a 5 star rating. DEFINITELY visit this place if you're in the greater Boston area.

I was in Boston for a couple of days. I strolled in here randomly to work on a paper and get coffee. I was not expecting to be amazed!! I ordered a drip :) Delicious, what flavors! Yumm. They had their parfaits on display. Now I like a good parfait. I'm also a choosy yogurt and granola eater. They said it was home made everything and I decided to give this a shot. MUST HAVE. Amazing blueberry compote, creamy solid Greek yogurt, and nice almond-y granola. It went perfectly with my coffee. They have a solid sitting area. Plenty of bar stools and booths and chairs. It has a very rustic look and you feel right in your library. If i visit Boston again I am definitely coming back, no doubts!

Oh my goodness! Love Diesel!!! From way out of town...I immediately felt like a local. Northwest DC, you read it here. Get real. Be like Davis Square Diesel.

Had breakfast a couple of times here during our Boston trip since our AirBnB was in Somerville and this cute cafe was a very short walk away. The bf had actually been here years ago when he used to visit a friend, and the AirBnB guy also recommended it. I tried the bagel & lox the first day (bagel from Forge Baking Co) and the egg & cheese sandwich w/ bacon on the second day. Between the two, I preferred the bagel sandwich. I originally wanted the London Fog latte but they were out of Earl Grey and then I think they were out of my second choice (which was either seasonal or matcha latte doh!) so then I opted for the turmeric latte. Very cute environment, comfortable to hang out in. I liked that they had a pool table, diner booths, and long communal tables.

Great atmosphere and convenient location, but the coffee absolutely misses the mark and their food and pastries are very overpriced. I live in Somerville so have been to Diesel, Forge, as well as Bloc 11 many times, but their coffee always tastes burnt regardless whether it's a regular hot block, iced latte, cappuccino, etc. Not being a fan of their coffee, I have tried the tea, raspberry lime rickey, hot chocolate, and other drinks, but each is nearly $5+. Their pastries are pretty good but I'd rather go to their sister spot Forge since it's an actual bakery with more options. As others have noted, the bathroom is really gross and the service is slow. With Nine Bar down the street, it'll be hard to get me back here.