A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment which primarily serves hot coffee, related coffee beverages. From an Australian flat white to a Chemex-brewed cuppa, the possibilities for delicious caffeinating are endless. Here’s a look at some of Philly's best coffee shops for international flair.
Philly's International Coffee Shops
Ants Pants Café
Curious about Australian coffee? Ants Pants Café in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood is a great place to be indoctrinated into flat whites and long blacks—not to mention iced coffees made from espresso ice cream and whipped cream. 2212 South Street, (215) 875-8002, antspantscafe.com
Bluestone Lane
Philly’s official second Aussie coffeehouse, Bluestone Lane occupies the street level of The Warwick Rittenhouse Square hotel. Melbourne roaster Niccolo beans are brewed into specialty drinks such as magics, piccolos, and iced long blacks. The light menu of daytime eats includes an avocado smash toast. Center City, bluestonelaneny.com
Gran Caffe L’Aquila
Espresso the way Italians intended it thrives at Gran Caffe L’Aquila, where the beans are roasted by Michele Morelli, an Italian coffee celebrity. As if that wasn’t enough, the menu features gelato, pasta, sandwiches, and house-baked pastries. 1716 Chestnut Street, (215) 568-5600, grancaffelaquila.com
Kaffa Crossing
Open all day, West Philadelphia’s Kaffa Crossing serves Ethiopian dishes including fir, Doro tibs, and Shiro wot. Those looking for liquid refreshments find strong cups of coffee and sweet specialty drinks like the Smooth Blog (vanilla, caramel, white chocolate). 4421 Chestnut Street, (215) 386-0504, kaffacrossing.com
Ray’s Café & Tea House
A Chinatown institution serving Hario siphon brews long before it was trendy, Ray’s Café & Tea House pairs its wide selection of international coffees (Jamaican, Brazilian, Kenyan) with snacks such as dumplings, noodles, and iced jellied cappuccinos. 141 N. 9th Street, (215) 922-5122, rayscafe.com
