Polcari’s Coffee

Local Legend! Italian coffee beans at its best. No exaggeration here, they have probably 20+ flavors of beans. All smell wonderful. The expert staff there are not only friendly and patient to bring down the jar and let you smell it if you can't decide, but they are also polite and knowledgeable. You can slice and dice however way you want, half a pound of this, half a pound of that in whole beans or even quarter pound grounded in front of you. This is such a gem. No wonder even Harvard bookstore features this Polcari's Coffee in one of their postcards! And I've seen some paid local tour guide also feature this as a "mandatory" stop. It is that good. I'm a self proclaimed latte artist and nerd; I can tell you that their coffee beans provide a very even grind and distribution. Most beans extract for 16 to 25 seconds and their beans extract for 47 seconds in a fine setting and produces great aroma. Their coffee beans have the perfect consistency and amount of oil that you can tell is expertly blended and roasted. Bonus fact: they serve really good Lemon Slush until early October (when cooler weather starts).

Not the kind of shop I was looking for when I went to find a coffee, but I’m glad for it. While the coffee isn’t my preference, I appreciate the authentic feel — as well as the lemon slush cups!

So helpful! Picked a bold Italian roast coffee for me to use in my new espresso stovetop maker - PERFECTION!

If you're in the North End, DO NOT SKIP POLCARIS. They'll mix the beans for you if you want just the right flavor for you. In my case I'm widway from the Medium or Dark Roast. Tell them what you like and they'll blend the beans and offer to grind. Also have great oils, deserts, snacks.....if I'm brining in out-of-town friends, this is where I love to take them before we go for dinner.

The best lemon Italian ice. Light, refreshing, flavorful. They have it in the summer and it's a must try. I think about it daily! Good selection of spices and coffee too.

I grew up in Charlestown Bunker Hill Projects and back in the day 1970's I use to always eat at Polcari's and the food and service are amazing.....The old school Italian may be lost in our Culture today but eat the once and you will get a glimpse into the heart of old school Italy.....Delicious....

We were introduced to this places while on a food tour (North End Little Italy Food Tour with Bobby). The smells outside lure you in and the guys working could not be more friendly. They were very knowledgeable and had Great conversation. A fun place with a lot of history. Be sure to stop and get your coffee here! They also have a wide variety of spices

Perfect old school coffee shop to try different kinds of coffee beans. They have a lot of variety from flavors like butterscotch to beans like peaberry. They are knowledgeable about their beans so they can talk to you about flavors and brews. You can buy 1/4 lb to try out a type. The prices are posted on the jars, probably about $16 per pound on average. They take credit but I'd recommend cash if you can because it's just easier. If you want hot coffee they can give you a cup of their house blend which is a mix of medium and dark roast for about $3. They also sell a lot of snacks, drinkware, magnets and other random things. No dining in but you can walk around and look at stuff while drinking.

Grabbed coffee from here recently! It isn't like a traditional coffee shop- they have 3 options. Iced coffee, hot coffee, or espresso. Which honestly, I liked not having 100 options to pick from. For context, I like dessert coffee. Basically coffee that doesn't taste like coffee. That being said, there were no dessert coffee choices, so I got the hot coffee with a little bit of sugar. It was amazing. I LOVED it. That's the coffee that makes me want to get into coffee and try other amazing ones. The service was pretty quick too- we got a hot coffee and an iced one. Which another thing- only ~$6 for 2 cups of coffee?! Don't see that too often in boston anymore.. This is more of a spice shop and they have a massive selection of spices and coffee beans. I will definitely be back for more coffee, and for some spice shopping! Overall I highly recommend, it's a nice store and their coffee beats out Dunkin by a mile!

We stopped her during a food tour. I loved the owners banter with our tour guide Anthony! LOL Great family friendly service and DELICIOUS lemon ice!! Sooo many wonderful products. Everything was neatly organized. With our party of 20, there was still room for us to mill about and browse the different offerings. I wish I had a bag/cart, I would have bought soooo much to bring back. I definitely have this as a YELP bookmark and looking forward to being able to return and shop for some stuff to bring home! Thank you for the warm welcome and wonderful service!!

Many varieties of whole bean coffees and teas they are very knowledgeable about their goods and will happily recommend what type might suit you. Will grind to your preference as well. They also stock some gourmet foods as well but coffee and tea is their thing for sure.

Not a coffee guy but this place is super cool. If I liked coffee I would definitely buy my coffee beans here. We had the lemon ice. It was refreshingly delicious.

Local Legend! Italian coffee beans at its best. No exaggeration here, they have probably 20+ flavors of beans. All smell wonderful. The expert staff there are not only friendly and patient to bring down the jar and let you smell it if you can't decide, but they are also polite and knowledgeable. You can slice and dice however way you want, half a pound of this, half a pound of that in whole beans or even quarter pound grounded in front of you. This is such a gem. No wonder even Harvard bookstore features this Polcari's Coffee in one of their postcards! And I've seen some paid local tour guide also feature this as a "mandatory" stop. It is that good. I'm a self proclaimed latte artist and nerd; I can tell you that their coffee beans provide a very even grind and distribution. Most beans extract for 16 to 25 seconds and their beans extract for 47 seconds in a fine setting and produces great aroma. Their coffee beans have the perfect consistency and amount of oil that you can tell is expertly blended and roasted.

Super fun vibe. The employees are very friendly and kind. Coffee on a cold day, Italian lemon slush on a warm day. Amazing place, and a must stop in the north end!

Can't say anything new that others haven't. It's a fantastic! I stop in for house blend on every visit to Boston.

If you're in Boston's North End and don't stop at Polcari's Coffee, you're seriously missing out on a true local treasure. I stumbled in on a crisp morning, drawn by the rich aroma of fresh coffee and spices wafting through the air and I'm so glad I did. This place is old school in the best possible way. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm smile and a genuine welcome that instantly made me feel like a regular. The gentleman behind the counter (I believe he was the owner?) was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what he does. He took the time to walk me through the different blends they offer, let me smell some fresh ground beans, and gave me a brief history of the shop that dates back decades. You just don't get this kind of personal experience anymore. I ended up buying a pound of their house blend coffee (which is OUTSTANDING, smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced) and some fresh spices I didn't even realize I needed until I smelled them. They have an incredible selection of herbs, teas, and spices. Seriously, this place is like stepping into a time capsule of quality and care. What really stuck with me was the pride they take in everything they do, from how they bag your purchase to how they speak to each customer with warmth and respect. This is more than a coffee shop. It is a piece of Boston's heart and history. If you're a coffee lover, foodie, or just someone who appreciates great service and authentic local businesses, run, don't walk to Polcari's Coffee. Can't wait to go back!

This is a nice and great coffee shop. Real coffee beans and herbs for tea here. I felt the warm welcome, and I got a Frapucchinu Coffee, It was delicious. The tea is also good here too. Good service and people. What more could I desire?

Hands down my favorite business in Boston. My mom frequented this spot when she lived in the north end 30+ years ago and it's never wavered in quality. It's not a sit down and hang out coffee spot, but it's got the best selection of coffees and teas I've ever found.

Stopped in today to pick up some fresh ground and this place is awesome. Super helpful staff was very knowledgeable. Will definitely be back!

This place was super cute and cozy! Very clean place, great polite staff and service. Food was great!!! The servings, presentation, taste overall 10 out of 10. Would diffidently go back whenever I visit again.

My son moved to Boston 3 years ago. Visiting him, we wandered thru the North End and came upon Polcari's. Walking in we were treated like long list friends. I've been ordering the house blend and shipping it to Minneapolis ever since. Its the best cup of coffee i've ever had.

If you are a serious coffee fan then stop at Polcari's Coffee in the North End. There is is a fragrant coffee atmosphere inside Polcari's. They have a wall full of coffee varieties. The rest of the store is coffee accessories, sweets and cups of all kinds. Stop in for a souvenir or for a bag of high end coffee. Its well worth a visit. Highly recommend.

Lovely spot in the North End for beans and teas. I purchased the Italian Roast for espresso as well as the pan-fried green tea for tea. The Italian roast created the perfect foamy espresso to compliment my homemade lattes. Better than any coffee shop i have been to. The pan-friend green tea had a nice earthy taste. Will come back whenever I'm next in town

This wasn't what I had envisioned for a coffee shop as there were no tables or places to sit and consume a coffee. I had given this place as a meeting place to a friend once I arrived in Boston. They do serve coffee and have many herbs and different roasts. We bought a pound of coffee to take home. My husband also grabbed a cup to take with us. It is quite good but just a wanting for others that this isn't a coffee shop to really meet and catch up with friends.

Great neighborhood market focused on spices and coffee. We had a coffee and a doppio, both were good. I really enjoyed the banter with the gentleman serving us. He gave us a lot of tips on local spots to check out.

Love love love me some Polcari's! It's a small shop but BIG impact. We walked in while visiting the area and when you first walk in you have the sweet savory smell of coffee.....like you just opened a fresh bag of coffee you know that first whiff? That's it. The staff was super friendly and explained you can buy coffee that they make (pour overs, nothing to fancy) but also have the option to purchase coffee, teas, spices, candies, olives, oils and more. With the coffees and teas they have them in big glass jugs that you can smell the flavors and choose how many pounds you would like to purchase. We purchased snickerdoodle beans (they can grind them for you as well), cinnamon beans, cinnamon orange tea, lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika & lemon ginger chewable candies. The smells are very much there and we made our first cup of snickerdoodle coffee at home and it tasted exactly like a snickerdoodle cookie. Luckily you can order online on their website so I will gladly make more coffee so I can order some more. 10/10 highly recommend. Even if you don't live in Boston check out their website as they do ship. Woohoo!

Amazing service and delicious coffee!!! Thank you for your exceptional house blend. I look forward to coming back.

Believe the hype: their lemon slush is the stuff of dreams at this little coffee shop. Such a surprise. They hand it to you in a little paper cup and you just down it like a beast in 80-degree weather. Would come back here again and again when in Boston. 5 stars!!!

The Best Coffee in Boston and the nicest people. I love this place I get 2lbs at a time of the espresso blend every Month. It's worth the drive for me. Also they have the best lemon slush, spices, and Flour. Best place in Little Italy! If you are visiting Boston it's a must visit

Picked up espresso beans, dark Italian roast, excellent taste and flavor! Will go there again!

Hands down the best coffee joint in the North End! I've tried several places in the North End's area ever since I moved here and found that Polcari's Coffee provides the most consistently satisfying coffee. My go-to is the iced house blend with no cream and sugar for whenever I need a little extra energy in the day. I'd recommend that to any coffee drinker looking for an all-around taste profile that sits evenly between acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and sourness.

The absolute best I have ever had. We walked by. We were so intrigued and thank goodness we walked in. This traditional coffee shop has history and a legacy. The guys that work there also take their coffee seriously, which was welcomed. We ordered an iced coffee and an espresso. They were wise to not water down my espresso as an Americano. The iced coffee is OUT OF THIS WORLD. I will forever miss and crave this until I return. I wanted it one more time before leaving Boston but they were closed on a Sunday. Please try this neighborhood spot!

Update: they now serve the house blend in 2 cup sizes, small or lahge! My friend bought some beans to go this time. Great place and the staff are awesome.

Visit each time I am in San Diego, perfect combo of location, dessert, and coffee. I had quite a few of their pastries and cookies all superb matching their cappuccino!

A pretty cool Italian coffee store. They had many of Italian items. They had so many different types of coffee beans. They grind them for you. There were 2 super nice guys in there. A few regular customers came in while we were there to wish them a happy new year. You can tell these guys were well liked!! We got some goodies.

The smell along will bring you into this place ! Super cool coffee sport in the heart of Boston! On a recent trip we were wondering the streets and stumbled on this place because of the smell! Super chill place with vet knowledgeable and fun workers who know about coffee! This is not your Starbucks where you can get tons of sugary drinks! No this is just straight up good ol coffee- and tons of varieties ! Definitely a cool spot to check out if you visiting Boston!

North ends neighborhood coffee shop. Imagine the tv series called "Little House on the prairie", this shop could almost be a carbon copy of Mr Oleson's merchantile store. Many people pass up in going to Starbucks, Timmy Ho's and even DD's to come here. Why?? Because here you can get a cup of the old school coffee, that is made from fresh grounded coffee beans. This is the coffee everyone enjoyed in the early years. Way before the Latte's, Expresso's, and Froth top coffees. Became the norm for coffee consumption. There is also tea, spices, nuts, coffee beans and candy you can get here.

How does a coffee shop with hours 11-5pm get 5 stars? It got me intrigued, so much so that I planned our last day in Boston around Polcari's business hours. We walked by a few times during our stay but was always too early or too late, but I love a good cup of coffee so I said we'll come back. My daughter and I made our way there after a late breakfast and lingered around Salem Ave, stopping by local pastry shops, while we waited for the "open" sign to flip around exactly at 11am. When we got there, already a few people in the store. I think regulars as they knew exactly what to get. I got a lb of their House Blend and a cup to go. First time I've taken a sip of coffee and say "Damn that's good!" Definitely up to the hype and I am so glad we got to stop by!!

Polcari's should really be your go to spot when you visit the North End! The shop is very cozy and a like a candy store - if your candy is spices, and interesting snacks! Drinks wise - definitely swing by for their espresso and lemon slush during the summer. Its all very fresh and very worth your time to take a stop here!

Super cool shop located near little Italy. They have very cool products that are from all around the world. I came across this place on Yelp when searching for a spot to get coffee. I asked the store clerk if they had an iced latte, he told me "Let me check", and then comes back and said yeah. So I was happy and ordered it. Along with the coffee I got an iced lemonade. I loved the fact that you only pay for the cup price, in it you can get any drink. Sadly the iced latte was made with instant powder espresso. I wish they had told me beforehand that they do not have an espresso machine. On top of that they added 8 pumps of French Vannila syrup! So it just tasted like watered down syrup with a little bit of coffee aroma. (1/5) However, the iced lemonade was impressive (5/5). All in all, this is a more of a grocery store than a coffee shop. Definitely some unique finds in here. When it comes to their coffee don't expect anything more than generic instant coffee.

I'm absolutely obsessed with this coffee, tea, and spice shop nestled in the Little Italy neighborhood of Boston. I've been here about half a dozen times now, and I've had a chance to try their spices, tea, and (whole) bean coffee. If you're visiting Boston and wondering what to get friends, this place is a great start. The Coffee: A wide range of whole bean coffees, including dark and light, caffeinated and caffeine-free, robust and sweet. They can grind the coffee if you don't have a grinder. What i love the most about this place is that you can combine your coffee. I love a 3:4 ratio of maple nut with something darker. Some of my favs are the Maple Nut Crunch and Snickerdoodle, but they also have classic flavors like Italian Dark Roast and French Vanilla and coffee from Africa, Indonesia, Columbia, Costa Rica, France, and of course Italy. They have other fun flavors like Pecan Rum, Butterscotch, Chocolate Coconut, and Chocolate Raspberry. Even with flavors I haven't been a huge fan of, you can tell the beans are great quality because of their low acidity; coffee here is the kind of coffee you can drink black or with a splash of cream to cool it off. I believe they do a minimum of 4oz, which makes quite a few cups of coffee for one or two. The Spices: This is the place you should go if you want to cheaply refill spice jars, instead of constantly buying new jars. They have pretty much any spice you can think of from cinnamon rolls garam masala to lavender to peppercorns. The Tea: They also have loose leaf tea! I'm not a huge tea drinker, but i like that i can get a few ounces of tea to try here. And my tea-drinking friends have enjoyed the tea I've purchased for them here. I like the Hawaiian Sunrise and Peach teas I've tried. Sooo aromatic, with a generous amount of dried fruit. I also want to say that the workers here are super helpful every time i have questions about things, and more than happy to offer suggestione for you. I love this place so much that i plan on visiting every so often once i move just to pick up coffee.

Discovered these guys last year thanks to a family member who was living in the area for school. Was searching for a strong dark roast to combat the jet lag and everything in Cambridge where I was staying was weak or light. Was guided to Polcari's and obsessed after one cup of dark roast. Returned two weeks ago; got more coffee & a bag of whole bean dark roast (I think it was Uganda that the very friendly/helpful employee recommended as their favorite). Took the beans home to California and significant other really enjoys it also. Which is significant 'cause they tend to prefer flavored roasts/cream/medium and light roasts. Really happy to discover I can order more beans online through their website. Shipping is a lot but good coffee is one of my vices (worked in coffee for multiple years) and this is definitely worth it. Thank you guys!!

I love the food but am in love with the coffee. My entire family always orders and we are all over the east coast

Great coffee and service. We live in WNY and we were on a food tour with Bobby. Loved this place so much we are ordering coffee and spices online

Best spice shop around. Go in and explore. This is where we get cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, vanilla beans to make our own vanilla extract, and saffron. You'll always find a cool gift item here too. Well worth the visit!!

This is heaven. An eclectic assortment of spices, coffee and other Italian imports. Very nice staff who was helpful. Great place for all your coffee needs. Get an espresso and browse to your hearts content.

This is the coolest market in the north end. Herbs, grains, rice, flour everything you could need to to make the most elegant meal. Quinoa for $5.99/pound. Arborio rice, Antimo Caputo 00 flour, sun dried tomato paste it's a chef's dream store and really great prices. I bought a cookbook from the North End, tomato paste, sun-dried tomato paste and dried pappardelle pasta. The funny thing is that they call it a coffee shop. Check it out. Listed in Drive Across America: https://www.yelp.com/collection/4_4-FCUBHEQBq43u7DXRig

This is such a Boston/North End staple, an authentic old Boston MUST. I can't say enough about their helpful, friendly staff and how delicious the coffee is!!! It's hard to pick a favorite coffee flavor/type... so be prepared to carry multiple bags for home brewing. But there's more than coffee here, the store provides many aromatic dried goods and spices. Also, do yourself a flavor and get a couple ounces of cinnamon. Mmmmmmm

I still love this place even though I am on the opposite coast. Anytime I am in the area I try to make it in. I received my shipment of coffee quickly and well packaged . The prices are great for quality beans and the shipping prices reasonable

A MUST DO! 4 Stars for the Coffee & 1/2 Star more for the Cool Shop & another 1/2 Star more for their Delicious Homemade Lemon Italian Ice only made in the summer. Polcari's Coffee is located in the North End of Boston. It is an old school Coffee Shop that has stayed tried & true since 1932. Entering the premises feels like you are entering a time capsule that's transported you way back in time. The shop opened in 1932 by Mr. Polcari. When he passed away he left the business to his faithful employee Bobby Eustace who now owns & operates it. It's like a Coffee Museum in here. There's almost 90 years of coffee aroma within these very walls of this structure. No wonder why it Smells So Darn Good in here. They will custom blend your coffee for your beans to go. They carry many varieties of Coffee from around the world. They also have lots of Spices from different countries from around the globe in here as well. They also sell olive oil & other packaged goods too. They also serve their own Coffee on brew in the store. The store is So Cool! It has lots of Vintage Machines, Old School Pictures, & a Variety of little Hidden Gems. You've got to Scope out every inch of the whole place or you might miss something Cool! Outside the shop you'll see the picture of Nini Limone hanging on the outside of the building that's Nini's Corner - a tribute to one of the long time residents here. You'll also see Polcari's name & date embedded in the cement sidewalk outside. Polcari's Coffee is Very Good & has a huge devoted following but their Italian Ice only made seasonally in the summer is my favorite reason to visit the shop. IT'S DELICIOUS! OLD SCHOOL ALL THE WAY! DO NOT MISS OUT ON THE LEMON ITALIAN ICE! They also sell their own Polcari's T Shirts as well. You can order online or visit the shop in person. If you want to taste what an authentic coffee shop from the 1930s looks like & tastes like then you've got to stop in here. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

About the store: Awesome coffee and great service. Don't expect high brow coffee concoctions. While you can buy a cup - and at $2 for this quality is a STEAL - you're coming here for the beans. Buy a pound of the house and a pound of your favorite. Then ask the one who's helping you for their favorite and buy a pound of that. Just remember when you're packing your suitcase to put the coffee beans on top or the TSA will be rummaging through your entire bag while you tap your toes in embarrassment. About the coffee: Having just returned from a gluttonous week in Boston, we have only tried the Guatemalan coffee which is our favorite type of coffee. The cup has a beautiful smooth, mellow flavor with a delicious chocolate finish. Can't wait to try the rest.

A welcoming, cozy little shop with big history, excellent (& friendly!) service, and the best coffee. May it never change.

Some of the nicest coffee in all of Boston. Plus the staff is sooooooooo nice. They have this lemon slush drink that's so great too. Cozy with exposed brick walls. This place is a gem in the North End.

Great value and great beans, we have been coming here weekly for a while. Whole bean combination for our Saaco machine. I don't know the mix as I'm not the barista here on the home front but it sure is fresh and excellent beans. Friendly staff, family small business. Selection of spices, and coffee and kitchen items for your pleasure. Thank you Polcari's.

Polcari's is a great place to buy locally roasted coffee beans. They also have a wonderful assortment of spices and imported Italian goods. We bought some chocolate covered coffee beans, some Italian dipping spices and some roasted hazelnuts. The roasted hazelnuts are my favorite.

yoooooo... what the hell? I just had literally the most negative encounter with one of the employees at this place. The owner was on the phone so I can't comment on him but this employee either needs to be fired or a lesson in friendly service. People in LA don't act this way. He literally gave me so much attitude when I ordered an Americano saying they don't have any... without telling me what else he could make... so then I order an iced coffee. He gives it to me. It's an inch LESS than the photo I just attached. Then I ask if he can fill it up more, he follows up with MORE sass and attitude and gives me this. And it's shitty coffee! What the hell? I'm like shocked at the good ratings here. Maybe he can tell I'm out of town but that entire interaction was so negative and unnecessary to me. I just threw away the coffee. Do better Polaris.

It was an incredible space. Such a variety! The quality of tea was great and decent price. Everyone who helped was so helpful and thoughtful. Would definitely go back!