George Howell Coffee

George Howell Coffee… I walked in and felt like I was in a Starbucks. Just more of the same. Nothing attractive or memorable. I ordered an espresso and had to leave it—super acidic, under-extracted, just awful. Also got a coffee ice cream that tasted like ice. It took them 20 minutes to make my coffee… fast at the register, but the two baristas were a total mess. Not family-friendly either. Just another average spot. But hey, some people like it. You’ve been warned.

This might be the best latte I have had in the city so far. The plain latte is smooth and delicious, and the lavender latte has a strong lavender flavor without being overly sweet. I really appreciate that the coffee is served in real mugs. There is plenty of space to sit and work, although chargers are very limited.

The quality of their beans is exceptional, with every cup bursting with rich, nuanced flavors. Whether you’re having a perfectly brewed pour-over or a velvety smooth latte, the attention to detail is evident. The atmosphere is cozy yet modern, making it a great spot to relax or get some work done. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about coffee, always happy to share recommendations. If you’re serious about good coffee, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommend!

No place to sit, had to sit in the hotel lobby instead. Long queue but great tasting coffee! Well balanced flat white with great latte art!

Amazing coffee and the choices are delicious. The breakfast sandwich is also tasty. Definitely recommend this place for any specialty coffee fans. Great variety of light roast pour overs

I liked the overall atmosphere of the cafe and the staff were very friendly. Everything was organised in a professional way, displaying their sources and products for you to browse while waiting. One thing that didn’t quite scratch my itch in the cappuccino was the milk felt quite flat and lacked dimension, forcing the coffee to carry more weight of the experience.

I stopped in here for a coffee as had good reviews, I asked for coffee in a real cup, partly for the environment, partly because I prefer, barista said they were about to close, so not possible. But checking time, they were not even close to closing, even after I finished my coffee people were still coming in. Disappointing.

Great coffee ☕️ 😋. Nice treats / tried the ham & cheese. Hubs had an espresso. Service is great and conveniently linked to the Godfrey Hotel.

The George Howell Coffee House is adjacent to and connected with the Godfrey Hotel, but it enjoys an independent clientele due to its superb coffee quality and pastries. Also, the baristas are artists in designing figures on top of the cappuccino creams. One such memorable figure was a dragon riding a bicycle! So, come for the coffee. but come back for the barista artistry!

Place is loud, pecan sticky bun thing was pretty good. Service is ok, they try. It's expensive for the quality. Someone took my sticky bun and they sent another back to be warmed. Took them another 5 minutes to warm it, took 10 before I got up and said something. Fresh orange juice looked delicious but was very expensive. They do have free water which is nice. Well lot place, this art in the photo is a large tapestry I think. There is also more seating in the hotel lobby this place is connected to, since they didn't have enough seating inside for everyone on the Sunday morning when I went.

Overall: 2 Stars Great coffee but service cold as ice Food: a higher end coffee shop with great coffee and beans but the cashier and baristas are passive aggressive and down right rude Pricing: $14 for two coffee lattes, we got the mocha and vanilla Ambiance: woody, neutral color palette, and bright windows bringing in a lot of light Seating & Parking: a decent amount of seating, can seat about 20 people, there are a few seats by the hotel too Service: needs some improvement, it's one thing for people to have a bad day, but for all 4 people behind the counter to be rude? this isn't a luxury retail store Music: no music Final comments: a great coffee shop ruined by rude service

Stopped for a quick breakfast with friends on a Sunday morning. It's a popular location with lots of college students doing work and not that many tables/seats, so we had to be very eagle-eyed to pounce on a table that opened up (haha). The interior is quite nice - clean with generally modern fittings - and there's a small section to the side where you can buy merch (mugs, bottles, etc.) and coffee beans (which I hear are rather popular) I ordered a matcha latte and the egg and cheese [sandwich]. The matcha latte was quite nice. It was surprisingly large - the barista basically filled to past the rim of the large mug, and carrying it back to the table was a really precarious struggle for me, but I made it with no spills! - and thankfully not very sweet. But, as much as the underlying matcha flavour wasn't covered up by sugar, I did find it to be a bit bland / too milky. The egg and cheese (comes in an English muffin) was amazing! The egg was cooked very nicely (although idk exactly how they got the egg yolk to be that perfect shape within the egg white, very impressive), and I LOved the garlic aioli sauce that really tied everything together. Portion size was also bigger than expected - perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Considering the surprisingly large portions, I would say the prices were not bad at all, especially for this kind of fancy-ish cafe in a fancy-ish hotel haha. I would definitely love to come again, but I might actually stick to this order, because many of the other food options did not seem nearly as good/worth (like why is the bacon, egg, and cheese $4 more than just the egg and cheese?)

I ordered a vanilla latte at George Howell. Seating is hard to find, so I recommend getting something as take-out. I did not have to wait too long for my coffee to be ready, which was a plus. The latte art was standard and pretty, while the coffee had a nice color. The coffee itself was not bad as I enjoyed my drink overall. I tried my friend's mocha and found it quite chocolate-y. I preferred my vanilla latte since I did not want a drink that was rich. Overall, both drinks are not bad, so I would not mind coming back for a solid coffee.

Great spot for a relatively quick to-go order. Grabbed myself an iced latte "half caff" with maple. It did not disappoint. Not much to report on regarding service. Ambiance was clean and professional being that it's within The Godfrey Hotel. I enjoyed exploring the various coffee products they have on display. Nice shop to pop into!

We stopped at George Howell Coffee on our way out as we wanted a quick, yet filling coffee and breakfast before our day started! I ordered a decaf pumpkin spiced latte with almond milk (SO GOOD) with a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich on an English muffin. My Husband ordered a regular drip coffee with an egg, tomato and arugula sandwich on an English muffin. Both were so yummy and filling (as you can tell my Husband couldn't wait for me to get a photo first before taking a chomp), perfect for a quick breakfast on the go! And man oh man those baristas were pumping out orders like nobody's business! We went in the middle of the morning rush but you wouldn't have known it by how quickly they were getting people through the line, we waited no time for our order. Great spot!

Lots of seating with outlets and decent coffee! I got a vanilla latte which was pretty standard in terms of taste, but I was super impressed by the latte art on the hot lattes - I've never seen an entire unicorn-pegasus made of milk before. They have lots of seating in the cafe itself as well as in the adjoining hotel lobby, which makes it a perfect spot for coworking.

A busy coffee shop with high end coffee. They offer a variety of beans and brewing methods and if it was cheaper... I could probably spend a day sampling all their coffee and techniques. Geisha (El Salvador) pour over - I unfortunately had to run to the washroom or else I would have loved to watch them make the pour over. Something about the water level slowly decreasing gives a soothing feel to me. The coffee was served in a small carafe where the coffee reached to the waist of the vessel, smart (note that smaller surface area to air = less reaction to the air). An additional cup was already poured for me in a tea cup I recognize from dim sum, interesting choices for glassware... The coffee itself was definitely in the 3rd wave style. It was enjoyable but by the last couple drops, it was slowly becoming more acidic. Great coffee shop, a bit expensive, but a good place to have a small meeting. Otherwise, a nice place to sample interesting coffee technique and beans. Definitely a concept that is slowly becoming popular in Toronto as well.

Since we were staying at the hotel connected to this coffeehouse we thought we'd try it. We bought vanilla lattes. The presentation was nice, heart shapes made from the milk froth. The lattes were very tasty. My only complaint was the amount of talking the barristas do while making coffee. Seems to me they could get the coffee out faster with less talking or talk while making the coffee (?)

I needed to make a quick stop to grab some coffee and George Howell was right by so I went in and the line was long but it moved very fast! Everyone was very nice while also being very quick with orders. The cafe has a decent amount of seating options but I went on a Sunday morning around 8am and it was packed - there is some hotel seating adjacent to the coffee shop but I wasn't sure if you could sit there. The cold brew I got was very yummy and I added a splash of oatmilk in it and enjoyed it very much. The sizes are very generous which is amazing for someone like me who love's caffeine :) hope you check it out!!

We took a trip North for a little getaway and it was much needed. What goes best with a much needed vacay? Coffee. Good coffee, at that. We went in the morning, 3 days straight. Also, we really enjoyed their scones and almond croissants. Friends of ours ordered the pour over, iced coffee, and my husband and I had a hot coffee and cafe au lait. Perfectly roasted espresso, a good temperature for the milk in the cafe au lait. Unlike some places with an "S" ::coughs::. The ambiance is really amazing, and the service is good. What's nice, the hotel next door allows patrons to enjoy their sofas and stay there to enjoy their brews. My only gripe would be, they ask if you're sitting in and other than the pour over - they didn't have any in-house cups and everything was served to us in to-go cups.

Yeah, this one is getting the coveted 5-Star designation!!!! As always, I scoured the three w's to find the coffee establishments to visit while in Boston. Let me just say, thank you to all those other enthusiasts out there who recommended George Howell!!! So the day I visited GW it was roughly 14 deg F and to say a piping hot cup of Joe was welcomed is an understatement, but the heat wasn't the impressive part! The succulent deliciousness of coffee made with skill and precision is what we're talking about! So much so, that I actually circled back after wandering Boston Common to order another drink and purchase a couple of their house roasted offerings. In summary - Knowledgeable baristas capable of hosting an exciting conversation regarding the product A plethora of delightful offerings from multiple regions And an array of accessories and gear that are actually useful put GW on list of I WILL ABSOLUTELY FREAKING BE BACK!!!

Nice coffee shop adjacent to the Godfrey hotel. There's sufficient amount of seating. There's a good assortment of coffee based drinks and pastries. I got an oat milk latte, it was super pretty. The barista had really cool latte art, I asked for a to-go cup but the few I saw that was in the for-here cups with a larger cup face had some super interesting designs like unicorns and other animals! The one downside was that this coffee was really expensive, an oat latte although delicious, cost me $7 so bit on the high side.

Came here on a weekday to get a good cup of coffee and get some work done. This is a good place to hang out or work, the wifi is good and there is plenty of seating. I got a lavender latte. The flavor was good, and the steamed milk art was great! The guy doing the designs in the lattes is talented, I peeked and saw that he did a different ones in each one. Service was okay, but overall good experience.

Really good coffee. Their cold brew is great. You can't go wrong with espresso, and their pour-over selection is high-quality. I could tell that the people working at George Howell are proud of their product and enjoy what they do.

Always amazing coffee, competent and friendly workers, and a clean environment! I may be biased having grown up in the boston area hearing about how great George Howell Coffee was from my mother but I truly love it.

Lovely spot that serves coffee in real cups! Or paper if you take it to go. Lovely staff and let me tell ya, the orange cranberry muffin is delicious with a piping hot americano. Do yourself a favor and stop by. Plus their super close to the Park...

Great coffee! Staff is fantastic! Ambiance upscale , a hidden treasure in my book ! Connected to the lobby of the Godfrey Hotel , thanks for a great experience and such a great place and cheerful staff !

Overall: extremely ideal location for a quick coffee run or to do remote work in. Plenty of seating, but can get a bit crowded as it's connected to the Godfrey (hotel). Wi-Fi is strong and there isn't too much ambient noise, perfect for working. Coffee: staple selections of coffee. Lattes, iced, hot, espressos, pour over, and even tea. Pricing isn't exorbitant by todays standards and the coffee starts off strong, but they offer additional add ons at no cost (oat, almond, whole, half, etc.). Ambience/Decor/Service: colorful artwork and very hipster ambience really stimulates the brain flows. Soft music, but not too loud and certainly not noticeable with noise cancelling earbuds. Quite a few seats, but can get easily crowded (see photo below). Bus your own cups and dishes.

A great place to sit and work with a coffee. Not too many outlets (I think I only see 2 in the cafe), so if you want to post up I'd rec Nero instead but for a quick writing stop it's great. Definitely higher on the pricy side but they have lavender lattes so it's ok, I'll pay whatever I need to. Also I assume the high prices help staff be paid fairly and well since everyone is always seeming genuinely happy to work there so that's worth it!

Loved the ambiance, the appealingly upscale craft coffee scene. Delicious pastries too!

A coffee shop should know how to make coffee drinks. Don't you think? My mistake for stopping. Staff friendly. Barista needs to be trained. Clean and pleasant setting. $13 for 2 drinks made poorly or mid-made after 2 try's leave room for drastic improvement. Coffee was yuck.

I stopped by this cafe while I was exploring the city. One of my friends recommended it to me as a great place for coffee. Located right next to the Godfrey hotel this place is hard to miss. It is not a very large place and did not have many outlets to plug in my laptop. I was hoping to sit down and get some work done but there was no space. They were out of their ingredients for their specialty drinks so that was upsetting as well. Conveniently George Howell was in the restaurant greeting people. Always nice to meet the owner of a restaurant before you sit down and eat. There were not many people there when I entered so I ordered quickly. I ordered the Smoked Salmon Toast and an iced latte. The salmon toast left much to be desired. It was tiny and did not have enough flavor. The iced latte did not disappoint. As expected the coffee here was exceptional. It was packed with caffeine and flavor. I don't know if I will go out my way to come here again but it is a special treat.

My daily morning routine must consist of coffee, especially in the days I go into the office. George Howell happens to be across the street, thankfully from my office and has been my go to spot for my much needed caffeine boost before my day gets started. This location is popular as it is downtown close to the silver line, green line and orange line stops and it is always quite busy. This location is also connected to a hotel so tends to be on the busier side between the hotel guests, locals and commuters, be prepared to wait in line for a bit. The service is always friendly and the pastries are always looking fresh on display. They have plenty of seating for people that want to work while enjoying their coffee and or snacks as well as a more intimate side where you can connect with a friend or colleague over a cup of Joe. The atmosphere is a typical buzzing coffee shop and my lattes are always great. The prices are on the higher side and there are not many cup size options but the quality is fantastic. Please note - if you are taking your food and drinks to go, you must find a top/lid for your coffee across from where they place your coffee and call your name. That area is typically crowded which can be a bit frustrating and difficult to maneuver with a hot cup of open coffee.

Many years ago when we stayed at the Godfrey Hotel I became a big fan of George Howell Coffee which was and is located at the hotel. They have two other locations. I now mostly order all my whole bean coffee online from them. Their world wide selection of family owned coffee bean farms and estates are known for the finest and most flavorful beans. They buy green then roast light, medium or dark. See their site for coffee and brewing techniques. I buy mostly light because of the floral aspects, but I always have medium roast on hand for post evening meals when needed. I buy a variety of their coffees. Price wise usually double the amount, but not always, of your typical bag of beans. But worth every penny when you drink that perfect cup of coffee.

location: just outside downtown crossing stop vibe: busy but not overly crowded coffee shop. lots of tables and seats, some outlets, and fast wifi. coffee: too notch, as you'd expect. pourovers are excellent, albeit pricey, and their espresso drinks are great. pastries: good pastries. nothing special, but a good snack and complement to coffee. this has become a favorite for cafe working for me. also lots of good beans to bring home to make myself.

Grabbed a morning matcha latte before going to work and didn't disappoint. They make it without sweetener by default, so you have to ask vanilla or simple syrup if you want. Their matcha is legit, I can't remember the brand name even though I asked lol. Their coffee smells so good, I would definitely go back to try their coffee drinks. Couple hours later, my colleagues went here as well for coffee because turns out that it's their favorite coffee shop in the area too!

The coffee was smooth and didn't give a sudden jittery caffeine high. It was a good smooth rush of energy lol.

DELICIOUS iced coffee! So worth the one coffee I buy like every 2 months or whatever... lol. I literally NEVER buy coffee out as I much prefer making my own using my Ninja coffee machine to make a delicious warm coffee or drink cold brew from the bottle, but this brew was perfectly strong. The maple syrup they added was also delicious, and I was able to add in my own cream + almond milk. The store is super cute + cozy as well. I did a mobile order and it was ready within minutes (strongly recommend as it was pretty packed on a Sunday morning).

AMAZING UNICORN Artwork on my delicious gingerbread latte! George Howell barista working 12/5 am shift is BRILLIANT

Had a chocolate croissant because their kitchen closes at 2. Place is nice and cozy for studying or just taking a minute to sit down and talk. Staff is nice even though they shattered my dreams when they told me about the kitchen closing.

Very good espresso based drinks from this local roaster. Good selection of pastries. Nice space with seating inside and out. Friendly service.

Highly recommend! Only stayed in Boston for 3 days, but made sure to hit up George Howell 2 times because it was just that good. First time here we tried the gingerbread latte, and it tasted exactly like a gingerbread cookie. Second time we came, I got a caramel latte and my bf got espresso. The gingerbread latte was my favorite, but the caramel latte was also incredible. This location was quite busy, but they have expanded seating thanks to some tables and bar seating in the Godfrey Hotel lobby (which is connected).

It was so nice stopping by George Howell today. This bright cafe in the lobby of the Godfrey Hotel makes for a great meeting spot (and people watching perch) downtown, but this was my first time back since the start of the pandemic. It was busy with coffee dates and working folk and can get quite crowded. In the past, I've enjoyed many of the espresso drinks, but an iced chai latte called me today. They use the classically local MEM Tea as their base, which is a favorite of mine, and both my iced version and my mother in law's hot version were quite tasty and not too sweet. They charge $1 for vegan/non-dairy milk options (almond or oat).

If I could rate everything separately, I'd give 5 stars for customer service, 2 stars for pricing, & 3 stars for quality - alas, I'm landing at a 4! I ordered a dirty chai with oatmilk and a slice of banana bread & was surprised to see the total come out to over $10. The banana bread was just okay (the crust was super dry/cardboardy) but the latte was great. Customer service was super friendly and went above & beyond. Unfortunately, it was pretty crowded the day I went so there was no where to sit (despite how big it is inside!). They do have some cute coffee cups/accessories/shirts for you to browse along the windows. I'll probably come again to try something new, but wouldn't be a regular thing for me because of the price.

THIS COFFEESHOP MAY CHANGE YOUR LIFE! THE "COFFEE CONNECTION" STARTED MY LIFELONG AFFAIR WITH GREAT COFFEE In 1975 George Howell began searching rare beans. Roasted them with art & science and offered various preps. Having studied in Europe I longed for espresso and artfully roasted coffee. When I had a six week assignment in Boston in 1978 I "discovered" the "Coffee Connection" on. Cambridge street corner and went in the back door to score a shot. Couldn't wait to get back every chance I got and when my company sent me to Korea I made a special trip to Boston from Princeton to buy a chromed levered espresso maker to take with me. In May of this year I happened upon George Howell connected to the stylish Godfrey Hotel. Didn't understand the relevance until this trip when I saw 1975 on the wall and asked the barista if the company began in Cambridge and she said yes indeed ''twas called the "COFFEE CONNECTION". I didn't need Popeye Doyle to further unravel the provenance of my impeccable Cortado. Touché George

I always go out of my way to find local roasters whenever I'm traveling - I found this coffee shop through a few local blogs. The shop is located in the theater district at the Godfrey Hotel. While it's at the hotel, it doesn't feel like you are intruding on the lobby of a hotel. The spaces is separate. The wait was fairly short, despite the fact that the shop was very busy. I purchased a bag of beans to take home and a pour-over coffee (you pick one of the few blends they have available that day). The coffee was VERY good. The cashier didn't know how to use the register.... that was the only downside. But I'll chalk that up to being new and a busy day. At the end of the day, I got the right drink. I will certainly be back.

Solid spot, very conveniently located! The interior is super nice and there's lots of space to sit inside - just wish they had some outdoor options as well. Coffee is good and their cold brew is really flavorful, not too strong but not watered down at all.

I really like this coffee spot and often tell people this is the best coffeeshop in Boston! They make a mean pourover and have baristas who know how to whip up a nice latte art as well. They also roast their own beans and host special espresso tasting events for free throughout the year and saw many for this month. I can tell this place cares about coffee in a way that I don't see often in Boston. They also sell coffee equipment and local chocolates and snap-chilled coffee. The seating space is also quite nice, and seems like a great place to catch up with a friend or study. The baristas are all very friendly and nice as well. The one con I see is the amount of space. It seems that it gets crowded a lot, and when it does, the line gets slightly chaotic. I wish the tasting classes also got their own dedicated space, as it took up the entire area next to the coffee equipment and milks/lids/sugar. Other than that, this place has fantastic coffee, and I'd love to come again often!

The best almond milk flat white I've ever had period. I've given out 5s but this is a 10. Look at the picture. Perfect. Smooth with strong caramelized notes. This place came highly recommended. The flat white stayed warm as well for a healthy amount of time. Wish I would have gotten the baristas name so I could throw a shot out but they were amazing - total all star. Also wish I could replicate this at home but when I'm Boston next I will try it again to make sure it's as good as the 1st time!

It's hard to tell coffee places apart, but in a sea of Boston coffee shops this is by far my favorite! Strong, single origin coffee is how I like it and it's how I got it here. Also they have those mugs with the flat spot at the top of the handle and well... It's the little things but I love holding those cups! Great atmosphere- loud enough you feel comfortable meeting up with people for a catch up session but not too loud that you couldn't use this as a workspace.

The coffee here is pricier than most coffee shops in the area (cheapest pour over starts at $8). The actual coffee is pretty good. I tried the americano (hot) and it was very well made. Not too acidic, not to watery. While the coffee was good, the store layout and the staff did not help the experience. They have the menu boards set up so you see them when you first walk in, but the staff will firmly tell you that you need to wrap the line into the hotel (where it is extremely hard to see the menu boards). They keep yelling at the customers that are walking in and it really detracts it from being a relaxing environment. They were very short and not welcoming at all. The space is cramped as well and the a large amount of the floor space is used to display the items they are selling. Overall, I don't think I will be returning.

This coffee shop is hands-down my favorite in Boston so far. The ambiance was so warm and welcoming, and the staff was very conversational while helping me find the right pastry for me. I loved working and enjoying my afternoon snack in the cafe. I felt like I was right in the middle of a bustling community and still had plenty of personal space!

The food here was pretty good. The almond croissant is an overnight croissant however it didn't have the right texture nor flavor. The service was pretty good. We understood everything but the seating is limited. The latte looked and tasted amazing.

Offering single estate espresso with excellent taste and aroma. The service is warm and the shop is very easy.

It's one of those place you walk in and you just feel good. The coffee is great, the staff are great, the plant decor is great. It's connected to a hotel and the place is very well decorated. Love the windows.

The cafe au lait was Terrible. Dont get it! I tried to replace it with a latte. They simply poured out my coffee and charged me for the second beverage like nothing happened. Poor customer service overall. And the latte was kinda so so too. Ugh!

The latte is art is unbeatable! I think they straight up hire latte art professionals or something bc they pour such creative and complex designs. great service and spacious interior perfect for getting some work done or just to chill with a book. I came here twice during my one week Boston vacation because I had such a positive experience! I ordered the iced latte the first time and an a regular hot latte the second. Though I wouldn't say I have an extremely refined coffee palate, it was definitely delicious and was a perfect pick-me-up in mid day. Bonus: Since it's connected to a hotel, you can also use the hotel lobby space and their super nice and bougie restrooms.

when I came in I saw people drinking shaken cold brew out of tall glasses (real glasses) and thought, that looks good. So I ordered one "for here." the cashier nodded, took my name, and I left a tip that brought the whole purchase with tax to a bit under $8 (which is crazy, but 2023 in downtown Boston in a place that styles itself upscale is also not crazy). I waited about 5 minutes for the barista to make my drink. When she did, she proffered it in... a plastic cup! Boo! So I said, "Actually, I had ordered that for here, can I get it in a glass?" And the barista screwed up her face and said, "Uhhh, OH keey" in a tone that would have been appropriate if I had just asked her to watch me do a headstand. So she poured it into a glass, which left a few swallows in the bottom of the plastic cup, then turned to toss it out! Like, hey, that's probably $0.75 of coffee right there, and I'm getting my money's worth, George! So I said, "I'll take that," and downed it while the Barista added an audible scoff to her screwface. I will likely come back here, I just won't tip them if they're going to be pricks anyway. Certainly not if that barista is working. Otherwise, this is a good place to hang out and work in. There are outlets, good seating options, and overflow seating and a bathroom in the hotel lobby next door, but bring a coat for the lobby if it's the summer because they had it chilled to meat-locker temps. The coffee isn't cheap, but again I think it's appropriate contextually. I was surprised to see they offered a BLT for $11, which, if it's a good BLT, is actually a pretty good deal. So, will try again and be super nice and hope I don't get the 'tude...