Strange Brew Cafe

I don’t quite get how it got its name. The only thing that may be considered strange would be one wall of decals. I think a more fitting name would be something to do with how good their drinks are. I ordered a vanilla bean frappe and I think it was the best one I have ever had! They also have a huge variety of flavor options for their drinks. It was quite impressive. Their food menu had a lot of options. A Mac’n cheese grilled cheese isn’t something I’ve seen on a menu anywhere else. The prices of the food were too steep for me unfortunately so I can’t say how any of that tastes. The display case of cookies and muffins etc. sure looked inviting though. The sitting area is pretty and most seats were filled it’s definitely a popular place.

Glad I found this place! Strange Brew Cafe is conveniently located in Binghamton. I wasn’t disappointed at all. The breakfast sandwich (Hashtag) was amazing! I picked up a box of coffee cakes for my team and they loved it. The matcha latte was creamy and delicious. I’d visit again whenever I’m in the area.

I visit this shop for my birthday we fall in love with it! coffee was great, their pastry and food really good staff was awesome! I love the little details like the mini tryout candy.

The best coffee shop in town! You can sip your delicious coffee while watching the historic downtown street. The staff is very smiling and friendly, and the place has a beautiful design. The owners are also very helpful, and the prices are quite reasonable. The cakes are also incredibly tasty! The owners are incredibly helpful and honest. We forgot our bag there yesterday, and before we even noticed it was gone, they tracked us down on Facebook to let us know. It’s a very safe and trustworthy business. We are so thankful to them!

We drive from Elmira once or twice a month to go to Strange Brew! Our biggest decision is do we want to go for breakfast or lunch! Menu items are great for both 😊. Service is always pleasant and atmosphere is enjoyable. Sometimes seating can be challenging (busy place). In warmer weather you have the option of outside seating! Definitely worth the driveway

WOW. I’m very particular about coffee and pretty hard to please but everything about Strange Brew Cafe hit the spot! The barista/cashier was so friendly, helpful in recommendations, my latte was delicious (so glad I went with a large!), and my very picky teen and I enjoyed what we dubbed the best breakfast sandwiches we’ve ever had (he had the Brooklyn & I had the Garden). We also tried a couple of pastries, also amazing. No pictures because we devoured everything while I drove (warning: a bit messy, dine in if you can’t wait) but we wish we lived closer than an hour & a half away - though maybe it’s best we don’t!

Strange Brew has been my favorite spot since they opened up. The food is always delicious, the drinks are made to order, to perfection. The owners and staff are welcoming and treat me like family. I can't imagine going anywhere else for a quick breakfast lunch or drink.

The food here is delicious! So much variety and it’s all so consistently good. They have baked goods but also sandwiches and other savory items. The coffee and drinks are delicious as well. They have some creative specialty beverages that are fun to try, and the best part is the enthusiasm of the staff when you try their creation! It can get crowded on the weekend mornings - it is fairly small inside, no bathroom, and there is not too much seating. However, the tables usually turn over quickly so something usually pops up. Best for groups of 2 or 3 people, but I have been here with larger groups of 4-6 as well. If you have a larger group it’s better to get there earlier. Overall, love this place, great bustling vibe, and it has always been worth the visit!

The tofu scramble was amazing!!! As someone who isn't vegan, I would order it every time!

Strange Brew Cafe is a decent local option for a caffeine fix and casual breakfast/lunch in the heart of downtown Binghamton. The interiors are tastefully decorated with funky wall art and pictures of celebrities sipping caffeinated beverages, with a playlist of popular songs from the 90s for music. They have a very small patio area out front and a couple tables inside, and seem to do a lot of grab-and-go takeout business. The staff I encountered were all very friendly, and menu prices somewhat reasonable. Since it was breakfast time, we went with a bagel (with cream cheese) and egg & cheese sandwich for food, and a mocha and cappuccino for drinks. All were of decent quality, so I'd rate them an overall 4.5 out of 5, and am happy to round up due to the nice interiors, friendly service, and cool, local vibes. The egg & cheese sandwich was prepared with a tasty bread that they said was made in-house. If you find yourself in downtown Binghamton looking for a local spot that's a good alternative to chains like Panera or Starbucks, I recommend a visit to Strange Brew Cafe.

Nice little café with seating indoors and out. Quick service. But everything seems so healthy. Gluten free, fat free, sugar free; I like muffins from the pre-healthy era. But that's just me. My kids loved it.

I will be dreaming about their Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso (with cinnamon) for days to to come. We were visiting the area and wanting to try a local coffee/breakfast spot. So glad we tried Strange Brew! The coffee was AMAZING and so flavorful. I've had a lot of shaken espressos, and although they are simple, they CAN be very different from establishment to establishment. This one was amazing. And their Garden Sandwich was soo fresh. The goat cheese was an amazing touch. Very good bagels. We didn't have to wait long for our order either! Very easy to order online. We were lucky and got parking right out front. Will definitely try to stop here again when visiting!

Entering the cafe was a little sketch as there was someone on the street outside the Salvation Army next door randomly screaming at us, but once we were inside everything was a dream. This is a humble, warm, comforting cafe. It's like walking into a hug from a friend. The barista was very smiley and friendly. Decor is understated but cool. The playlist was a VIBE. Indie gem after indie gem. Arctic Monkeys? Yes please. I got the 21-22 latte, their take on a caramel macchiato with caramel, hazelnut and vanilla topped with caramel drizzle. Indulgent and more sugary than I'd usually go for, but when a place has something out of the ordinary on their menu, my philosophy is to go for it. A little on the pricey side, but that's just life these days. Wonderful little third space open later than many of the other cafes in town. Worth checking out!

Wonderful sandwiches and coffees. Very relaxing vibe and decor. Steady service. College town gem

Friendly service, strong coffee. Stopped in on a Monday morning and this spot was bustling! Ordered a large coffee and Brooklyn egg sandwich on house-made bread. It was a 5-star egg sandwich - crispy bacon and perfectly folded eggs. We fought over who got the last bite! Such an amazingly simple, well-made breakfast sandwich. Great location, just off State Street, with cozy indoor and outdoor seating.

Second time stopping here while roadtripping out to the east coast and I can tell you it won't be my last. This time I stopped for lunch and the Shroomwich was something that surely I will be thinking about for the next few days. It has mushrooms and roasted red peppers and cheese (I subbed vegan) melted to perfection. Normally it has pesto but that's not vegan so she recommended I sub hummus and wow! The sandwich was toasted to perfection and I honestly want a second one. My husband got grilled cheese that had Mac and cheese inside and said his was awesome too. I love how they have lots of vegan and gluten free options AND decaf espresso. Interestingly they gave us little truffles with our drinks which weren't vegan but I'm sure my husband isn't mad that he gets 2. Also, now that it's summer I found out they have outdoor seating as well! This place couldn't be more perfect.

Location is difficult to get to the parking is awful but the chocolate brownie I had was outstanding as was the Coffee

Good breakfast sandwich (had the hashtag and garden - both tasty and house made bread was great - maybe a little too much aioli but not a deal killer, just need extra napkins). It was very busy but the line moved quickly. Would visit again if in the area.

We always stop at Strange Brew Cafe on our way back from the lake house but this will likely be our last time here. The bread that comes with sandwich I ordered wasn't available - they were out. The girl we ordered from said the sandwich wouldn't hold up to the thin white toast so said it should be on the Asiago bread. And then proceeded to charge an up charge for the Asiago. If you are OUT of the right bread you should not CHARGE for the substitution. I questioned it and the girl got nasty. Not a great experience

Nice spot. Seemed to have a good vibe. Staff was friendly and the coffee was good. Parking in front is paid.

Have been to Binghamton a few times on my layovers (I'm a flight attendant) and have wanted to try this place for a while. Finally decided to go and......a little disappointed for one single reason but happy with what I ended up with. So the reason I was disappointed was because they don't do decaf espresso. I can't have regular espresso cause it's too much caffeine for me. It makes me shake and I get a bad headache. Because of this I was unable to order a latte which made me super sad. The guy taking my order told me they had decaf iced coffee and I think he said hot coffee as well. Was never big on iced coffee but since it was decaf I decided to give it a try. I told the guy I wanted cream and mocha and I wanted it to taste more like mocha than coffee. He made the drink for me and it was honestly perfect. The mocha they use is really good and mixed in the coffee was great! I was kinda scared it would make me shake or get a headache but that didn't happen. If I get that layover again I would actually go order an iced coffee again. And it was less than $5! If you do check this place out tho, it'll be PACKED. The place was full of people both inside and outside. So that alone says it's delicious.

Cute little cafe for breakfast/brunch/lunch. We were lucky to get the last available table as soon as we walked in. I really enjoyed my chai latte, but found the croissant to be just ok.

Was let down when I ordered a "melt" and got a cold sandwich. The espresso drinks are fine.

Strange Brew is absolutely a 5 star cafe with great service, great nitro, and great breakfast sandwiches. I got the California sandwich and went back 2 days later while visiting to get it again. It has hummus and salsa which makes it super unique from any other bagel sandwich I've ever had. Perfectly toasted, and just so delicious. I got one of the flavored nitros the first day, but it was too caffeinated for me so got a regular iced coffee the next time. Both were awesome. I love when coffee places flavor their beans instead of solely offering syrups and sweeteners with so much sugar! I also was very particular about ensuring everything I had was dairy free as I was going to a wedding later that day, and the woman at the counter was thoughtful in answering my questions. Anytime I'm near Binghamton I will be going out of my way to visit Strange Brew!

Been here a few times as an out of towner. Really nice spot. Friendly staff. Very solid breakfast menu made fresh in house. Very good breakfast- highly recommend.

I stopped in for a snack recently and was a little disappointed, but it may just be what I ordered. I had a blueberry coffee cake, which is GF and vegan, and a matcha latte. The coffee cake was okay but reminded me of getting a cheap packaged baked good because it was cool and a little hard, and the crumb topping was kind of caked on top as if it had been plastic wrapped. Even if they can't serve it fresh for whatever reason (be it that it's outsourced or that they don't sell enough to always have a fresh batch on hand!, I think it would have had a better texture at room temperature. I know gluten-free often means some compromise on texture but I've had better GF baked goods. IMO, this would be worth getting if you want/have to eat GF or vegan, but otherwise I'd say try something else. The matcha was what was really a letdown. I'm realizing that it may not be possible to get really good matcha in Upstate NY, but this one was just clearly very artificial. It was mostly mixed well, but there was one spot of powder on the cup where I could see the separate blue and yellow food colouring in the powder. It must be the same mix they use for bubble tea, which is one thing when used in bubble tea, where some people expect and actually enjoy that saturated artificial flavour, but not acceptable in an actual matcha latte. My other gripe is that my coffee cake for dine-in was served on a paper plate, but people who ordered hot food were getting actual ceramic plates. I don't get why they don't have small ceramic plates for baked goods if they can use them for hot food. And ceramic mugs/glasses for drinks wouldn't hurt either. Still a cozy place. It was very busy this time and the staff seemed very focused on just churning out everyone's orders, but they weren't unfriendly even if they were preoccupied. I'd give this visit 2 stars but I'm leaving 3 stars as an average of this and the previous visit. I'd definitely go back, I just know now to avoid certain items.

Enjoyed the nice vibe, friendly service, excellent coffees, delicious omelette with arugula salad and sourdough toast at Strange Brew! Tried my first Nitro Brew! Will definitely return when we visit our son at Binghamton Univ again! Thank you!

The staff is very friendly and the mocha was great ! However, wouldn't recommend the coffee cake. Other than that it's definitely worth a try

Non-vegan (Mother) and vegan (me) dropped in for lunch midafternoon. She had a salad; I had the tofu scramble. All I have to say is yum-o! Mother had good things to say, too... will definitely go back.

I needed coffee. And I love a local coffee house! Lots of drink options. I opted for a hot lavender latte with oat milk. It was delish!

Super cute place, great selection of coffees and foods. Great ambiance, with indoor and outside seating. Coffee was great. Highly recommend!

Bagels were good, but too much butter; if you don't like a lot of butter you might want to request light on butter.

Really good coffee, really great crew. Locally owned and managed. This is the kind of cafe you want to see succeed!

For our first time at Binghamton, I had several options to grab coffee, and considered coming here. I ordered a hot chai latte and also got a hot mocha and both tasted so delicious! The inside of the store was so cozy and I enjoyed how it had seating options although it was a smaller coffee shop. The drinks came out quick and the baristas were very welcoming and helpful. Would definitely recommend if you're in the area!

Absolutely delicious food and coffee was perfect! We go every time we visit our son! Clean and friendly staff.

Fantastic breakfast spot! Makes great sandwiches! I had the California with bacon (egg, avocado, Swiss, hummus, salsa) on their house Asiago bread. Great flavors and the bread was crunchy, toasted perfectly, and so tasty! My husband just had a plain egg and cheese sandwich and thought it was perfect. Their breakfast potatoes are super good too! Huge portion and a ton of seasoning and peppers. They also have omelets and bagels, and lots of coffee choices of course. Breakfast is served all day. They have a decent lunch selection as well. Salads, sandwiches, Mac n cheese selections, and a Mac n cheese grilled cheese. Service is good, everyone is nice and upbeat. It gets busy, so you might have a wait sometimes. Pretty small inside, but there is outdoor seating as well. Prices are average, and the food is fresh and worth it!

Small but cute! If you have 4+ people in your party, you have limited seating! Menu is creative combined with traditional options. Staff seems just the right amount of friendly Food is good. The turkey brea sandwich was delicious. Worth checking if you are just driving by or living in town

Wonderful find! Great coffees and pastries. Fun place and amazed how Binghamton is coming back! More to explore!

Food is really good for a coffee shop. The coffee is a decent local roast. Fun environment. Service was great.

We love love this cafe The Americanos are perfection! My husband and myself love the vibes as well as the people who work there. They actually listen to how you want your coffee and are very accommodating. The breakfast, freshly made juice and sweets are very good as well. We highly recommend you visit.

Loved this cafe! My daughter and I shared a chicken ranch mac&cheese that was absolutely delicious. The best Mac & Cheese I've had eating out in a long time. We also shared a turkey, apple, brie melt on focaccia. It was also yummy but my taste buds were all about the pasta. The cafe is small but cute. The staff is friendly and the service was great. I'm sure I'll eat there again the next time I'm in the area.

Delicious coffee! Coolest and fanciest building you'll ever have a coffee in! Downtown Binghamton has lots of neat old brick buildings and factories, but the old dwelling that Strange Brew Cafe is housed in, takes the top spot. It's got curves and smooth lines. The Cafe has wide windows. There are awnings and fancy colors and holes in the in-betweens. The coffee here is anything but strange. The coffee is hot. The coffee flavors are neat and varied; from Jamaican to Hazelnut to Chocolate and even a coffee called a '21 espresso' (which is just a number, not 21 shots I recall). All coffees can be sampled in a small cardboard cup first - which is such a simple, such a novel and ridiculously easy way to make sure that people get the coffee that actually fits their pallets. Sample it first, just ask! I got the hazelnut brew coffee with a shot of caramel and it was decently strong, quite fragrant and flavorful. I added some brown sugar, which I do not usually do - and it was like a miracle waking up. Outside I sat at a table near the street and snapped some pics of the Strange Brew Cafe, which is really the HOTTEST SPOT in downtown Binghamton, NY to get some Joe. Next time I come here, I'll make sure to get more baked goods (which are made here and are SIMPLY TASTY). They have brioches, croissant, brownie bits, pieces of fruit pies, tarts, cookies and lots more. The staff here were so friendly (early in the morning) it was a delight. Strange Brew Cafe can not be recommended enough. It is a busy spot: maybe plan on eating in your car (not enough seats, tables for all the thirsty patrons) or take it on your morning walk. Rebel review: 5++

Tasty oatmeal with berries and nuts. Great variety of breakfast sandwiches. Fun, inclusive vibe right in downtown.

To me, just meh. Maybe I have to lower my bar when reviewing upstate? Ok. Then make it three ;)

Strange Brew Cafe is an EXCELLENT place for really good coffee and food. Their Nitro Brew is my absolute favorite. It's super delicious and definitely a drink you need to try at least once it your life. It's so cool how it pours straight out of the tap. It looks like a Guinness almost, but tastes even better! The owners of Strange Brew are also incredibly kind and hard working people. They've done an amazing job to create a charming atmosphere that makes for a cute date or a cozy spot to hang out with some friends.

Everything about this place is amazing. From the vibe, the food, kind staff, and great coffee. I went here for lunch for the first time and was blown away by how good the food was! I got their Pulled Chicken pressed sandwich on their asiago house bread with Chicken Corn Chowder. WOW, absolutely fantastic, seriously best sandwich I've had in the area, and the soup was incredible. I also got an Iced Latte which was great! I'll definitely be back, especially for their delicious looking breakfast!!!

Ordered a cinnamon raisin bagel to go. Took 35 minutes to get my order and it made me late for a meeting. The food was ok, but I'll go somewhere else next time.

Cool vibe and really nice service. Didn't quite have what I was looking for but made a decent alternative. Definitely pricey maybe pricier that Starbucks

I got a caprese grilled macaroni & cheese sandwich. It was delicious! People there were very nice.

What a great little cafe! I can't remember exactly what I got now - maybe a turkey sandwich, a fruit smoothie, and a scone? In any event, fantastic all around! Menu items that were both familiar and new and interesting. I don't go through town hardly ever, but I would definitely go out of my way to go back again!

Strange Brew smells like delicious warm coffee. I stopped here on a rainy Labor Day weekend and found the staff and customers to be friendly and welcoming. Well needed in Binghamton, not much open during the holiday. Good food.

One of my favorite coffee place in town. Coffee is great and fresh. The baristas are super friendly and service is pretty good. Definitely give their ice 21/22 a try, if you like your coffee a little sweet.

We stopped at Strange Brew for lunch while heading further north. It's a cute little cafe that specializes in coffee and also makes some small plates to knosh on. Unsurprisingly, it was filled with Binghamton students and their laptops when we came in. The first thing that caught my eye about Strange Brew was the awesome decor they had! Almost all of their art referenced pop culture and it was so clever and creative. I especially loved their tribute to Breaking Bad. To eat, I got the Mac and Cheese with a cappuccino to wash it down. Both arrived at my table super hot, and remained hot for quite some time after. The Mac and Cheese tasted extremely homemade and was delicious (and I'm not saying this a biased hangry person). The cappuccino was nice and strong and perked me right up. Other people in my party got the pulled chicken sandwich and the breakfast wrap. They concurred that their choices were great too. The service was decently fast and friendly. Every employee and transient customer wore a mask. If I ever visit the Binghamton area again, I would gladly return to Strange Brew.

Great food and drink! Felt a bit pricey but the fresh ingredients, homemade food and friendly service makes it worth it. The space can be crowded, so be prepared to wait for seating or get your food to go.

Stopped by here on a drive to Buffalo and can confirm that it's the best coffee I've had in a long time. They unfortunately don't sell beans and I'd say that's the only shortcoming.

Strange Brew is a tiny little cafe that's easy to miss. However, it's pretty impossible to get a table in there. They have the best coffee in the area and an extensive menu. The staff is super friendly and always accommodating. No complaints!

this was the cutest place!! matcha was so good lunch was amazing! there's street parking and a very cheap parking garage right next to it