I just have to rave about this place. They opened this March and have been making high quality coffee from the beginning. It's been reviewed before in this forum - it's a tiny place on the corner of 11th and Spruce in Center City. They use Counter Culture and do traditional, basic coffee. In the morning they also offer some high quality pastries.
Spruce Street, along with Chestnut Hill Coffee, are the only two places in the Philadelphia region where I have had an excellent cappuccino. Spruce Street doesn't drown theirs in milk, they use about the same amount as you find in Italy, maybe 5 ounces or so. The combination of properly foamed silky milk with an excellently poured espresso made out of decent, fresh coffee seems a hard commodity to come by in this city. But Spruce Street delivers.
In warm weather the venue is very pleasant. They open the nearly floor to ceiling windows and have cafe tables outside.
Definitely worth a stop if you are in Center City.
I'm going to be in Philly on Sunday for the ING Distance Run, both around the Art museum in the AM then the italian market (Pat's) for lunch. Any good places nearby?
Can't say there is anything that most would consider amazing around Pat's or near the Art museum. Between the two are many spots (for a long list, you can check my map), but the only ones really worth stopping at in the area between would be:
Spruce Street Espresso (11th and Spruce) as mentioned above
Beauty Shop Cafe (20th and Fitzwater) a newer shop that serves Chestnut Hill Coffee
Brew Ha Ha (12th between Locust and Walnut), a local joint that recently has improved a good deal
Outside the main drag, you have Chestnut Hill Coffee out on Germantown Ave and across the river in NJ, there's Crescent Moon Coffee & Tea.
alongfortheride Senior Member Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Middletown, PA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Krups (old) Grinder: La San Marco SM90 Drip: Newco OCS-12
Posted Sat Sep 20, 2008, 12:59pm Subject: Re: Philadelphia: Spruce Street Espresso
I'm not running, just supporting my fitness group (I'm in to bodybuilding, running is counterproductive to making muscle gains, but more power to them!)
Looks like Spruce St is a good place to park for me to see the race, so I'll hit there for sure. Seems like the place to go (6/6 on lots of reviews) Hopefully they are open early tomorrow since the race starts at 7:45.
Then it's on to meet sweaner to pick up his La San Marco grinder! (smiles)
Lev Junior Member Joined: 1 Nov 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Philadelphia Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Nov 20, 2008, 3:26pm Subject: Re: Philadelphia: Spruce Street Espresso
Just to reiterate here... Spruce St. has the best cappa in the city. Props for their friendly service and tasty drinks. I would highly recommend checking them out. If you're not in the mood for espresso, french press is served up fresh all around the clock. My only wish is that it were a little bigger inside for spreading out, but that's OK b/c I normally take my coffees to go anyways. Check them out if you're visiting and looking for some excellent espresso!
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