Best Coffee & Tea Shops in Baltimore

Coffee Shops in Baltimore

Adee’s Coffee Roasters

With a name that honors both owner Ayda Abraham’s family members and the capitol of Ethiopia, Adee’s offers a glimpse into Ethiopia’s rich coffee culture. The space itself is a generous 3,000 square feet but feels cozy thanks to plush velvet seating and tons of natural light. Ayda also has a flower shop, Adee’s Tulip’s, next door, so you can treat a loved one (or yourself!) to a beverage and a bouquet at the same time.

Artifact Coffee

As the sister spot to well-known restaurant Woodberry Kitchen, it’s no surprise Artifact Coffee serves up unique breakfast and lunch meals like veggie Bahn Mi or toasted focaccias, all easily paired with a coffee of your choice. The menu features options like cold brew, pour over or even CBD add-ons for hot and cold beverages. Artifact is known for straying from the norm and the menu changes every day, so visit often to stay on top of their seasonal offerings.

Baby’s On Fire

Music lovers will delight in Baby’s On Fire. This husband-and-wife-owned Mount Vernon café features dozens of bins of vinyl to flip through while enjoying your morning dose of caffeine. After browsing the musical selection, you can enjoy local roasts from Open Seas Coffee, breakfast pastries and lunch sandwiches on the front patio. Want to expand your own record collection? Join their Record of the Month Club.

Bird in Hand

Bird in Hand has a lot more than just coffee to offer, as it’s recognized for its collection of books and records, locally-sourced meal options and bar as a collaboration between Artifact Coffee and The Ivy Bookshop. All of the coffee is sourced from Thread Coffee Roasters—a women-and queer-owned cooperative focused on sustainable farming practices. Plus, the owners of the Charles Village-based shop pride themselves on keeping the community connected, typically offering in-house events, featured books and daily shared specials.

Nothing goes together quite like a book and warm beverage. Check out our round up of Baltimore’s best bookshops and find a cozy place to escape the real world for a while.

Cafe Los Suenos

Carlos Payes spent his childhood in El Salvador working in the coffee fields, and he brings the expertise and passion he gained there to his storefront in Remington. Sueños is Spanish for dreams, and the shop is filled with reminders of all Payes has overcome to fulfill his American dream. Behind the counter hangs a framed black t-shirt: the only shirt Payes owned when he first emigrated to the United States in 2005. In addition to handcrafted coffees, Cafe Los Sueños carries Wight Tea products and pastries from Ovenbird Bakery.

A female couple sits outside a coffee shop

Common Ground

More than just a coffee pun, Common Ground’s name reflects its role as a “third space” between the home and the office where members of the community can relax, be themselves and engage with one another—all while savoring some delicious brews and bakes. The worker-owned establishment sells a mouthwatering array of muffins and croissants as well as hot and cold sandwiches. On a nice day, opt to sit out on the expansive wooden patio, which is dog-friendly.

Daily Grind

Situated on historic Thames Street in Fell’s Point, this waterfront coffee shop has been serving Baltimore for more than 20 years. Order from the charming walk-up window or step inside, where a smattering of tables and rustic brick walls invite you to read or work for a few hours.

Good Neighbor

A multi-hyphenate, Good Neighbor is a coffee shop, design store, apothecary, dining room, event venue and inclusive neighborhood hangout spot on a mission to foster community and ignite curiosity. The shop’s sleek, stylish atmosphere will transport you to something out of a magazine, but you’ll feel right at home. Along with espresso and filter coffee drinks, Good Neighbor also serves an assortment of unexpected toasts like floral butter, apple crumble, and spiced chickpea courtesy of Chef Durian Neal. Since opening in 2020, they’ve rapidly expanded to include a plant store/workshop in collaboration with plant and interior artist Hilton Carter and an outdoor dining area, and a dinner-focused restaurant concept is in the works. Find them in Hampden, between Wicked Sisters and Wishbone Reserve.

Koba Café

In south Baltimore sits this cozy cafe, whose mismatched chairs, brightly colored walls and exposed brick feel as though they could’ve been the inspiration for Central Perk in Friends. The upstairs features plenty of seating, large tables and an abundance of outlets perfect for the work-from-home-away-from-home crowd. There’s even a private room for those that need to take meetings or hold group study sessions. A robust coffee and food menu, not to mention a display of irresistible pastries and sweets from local businesses, also makes it a great place to grab a bite before exploring Fort McHenry, just a 5-minute drive down the road.

Mama Koko’s

Wanting to exude the same hominess and joy as his mother’s kitchen, Angola Selassie has worked hard to make Mama Koko’s a comforting, community-focused cafe and eatery. The coffee menu features classic espresso drinks, specialty teas and coffee-based cocktails to enjoy alongside breakfast bites. Settle into one of the myriad seating options, from high-top tables to cozy couches and an outdoor patio. In the evening, the space transforms into a stylish cocktail bar serving strong drinks and small plates.

Matriarch Coffee

Matriarch Coffee may have only recently opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Harborplace, but its story is multigenerational. Founder Jean Christophe Rusatira’s mother Marie was raised in a family of coffee farmers and passed an appreciation for the plant down to her children. Honoring this tradition, Matriarch sources its coffee fairly and directly in small batches from African farms and donates 10% of its profits to women-focused programs in coffee farming communities.

Morning Mugs

Consistently voted Baltimore’s Best Coffee Shop by Baltimore magazine’s readers’ poll, Morning Mugs is committed to starting your day with a smile. They rose to fame with their color guessing game, in which customers earn prizes for correctly guessing the color of their cup sleeve, but they continue to impress with innovative espresso drinks and coffee flavors. Fan favorites include the banana bread latte, Old Bay caramel latte and seasonal specials like the toasted coconut latte and pumpkin pie chai. Find them in Federal Hill, just down the street from Federal Hill Park and the American Visionary Art Museum.

OneDo Coffee Roasters

Though relatively new to the scene, Canton’s OneDo Coffee Roasters is making a name for itself with its very own, ethically-sourced coffee that’s roasted in-house. The beans are sourced globally from places like El Salvador and Ethiopia, ultimately making their way into the shop’s recyclable or compostable coffee bags. While you’re in the green-filled space, try out baked goods and lunch options brought in from other Baltimore businesses.

Pitango Bakery and Cafe

Nestled on a picturesque waterfront side street in Fell’s Point, Pitango Bakery and Café employs the same commitment to honest ingredients and transparency as the nearby Pitango Gelato shop. The menu was inspired by Italian bakeries and sandwich shops, and all their breads are baked daily with natural leavening and a slow-rising process. They also source their prosciutto directly from a family-owned producer in Parma, Italy and make all their coffee syrups in-house, so you’re guaranteed a fresh, flavorful experience from start to finish.

Yellow umbrellas line the cobblestone street outside Pitango Bakery in Fell's Point

Red Emma’s

This worker cooperative has served primarily as a resource for movements of social justice in the city of Baltimore since 2004, yet it also provides delicious vegan meals, coffee from Thread Coffee Roasters and books that are bound to start a conversation. Red Emma’s hosts events weekly, including virtual affairs like author-led book readings, live music and poetry sessions. They recently moved to a multilevel Waverly property that includes a bookstore, a community coffeehouse and a social center.

Sophomore Coffee

No slumps here, just friendly faces and fresh-brewed coffee at Sophomore. It’s hard to miss the big, blue “coffee” sign painted on the side of the building that leads to the shop’s front door. Not only is the space bright and inviting, but it’s an impressive testimony to just how much one can make of a basement. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by the scent of ground coffee beans that’ll keep you coming back for more.

Spoons Café and Coffee Roasters

Famous biscuits, a scratch kitchen and in-house roasted coffee make the Federal Hill-based Spoons a standout of the dining scene in Baltimore. Every season, the roasting team gets experimental and creates unique brews worth trying, such as the pumpkin maple foam cold brew or the salted caramel latte. If you’re craving something more, make a reservation and enjoy all-day brunch options like various egg scrambles or the out-of-the-box cinnamon roll pancakes.

Vent Coffee Roasters

Housed in a large, industrial space at Union Collective in Hampden, Vent Coffee Roasters provides freshly baked donuts, coffee tastings and specialty creations like CBD coffee. Owner Sarah Walker and her team roast beans on-site, giving customers the chance to learn exactly what it took to create the coffee in their cup. In addition to a walk-up window, the shop provides same-day delivery to locals, as well as shipping for visiting coffee lovers who can’t get enough.

Charm City Tea Houses

Cuples Tea House

Cuples Tea House, owned by real-life couple Eric and Lynette Dodson, is creating an urban tea experience with their range of loose and bagged teas. From green tea to blood orange to classic chai, Cuples has a blend for everyone to enjoy. This local small business focuses on the little details to make every tea drinking experience a special one.

Charmington Holistics

Charmington Holistics in Highlandtown offers all things nourishment for your mind, body and soul. Their sprawling wall of herbs allows you to create a tea blend that’s specifically curated to your needs, and their signature alcohol-free herbal tonics can be enjoyed straight or added to your favorite beverage for a healthy boost.

Emma’s Tea Spot

Look no further than Emma’s Tea Spot for a proper British experience, right here in Baltimore’s Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhood. You don’t need a corset or ballgown to enjoy all the British classics at Emma’s, such as high tea, biscuits and scones, and ham and cheese toasties, among a wide range of other dishes from across the pond.

Pillion Tea

Much like their name combining motorcycles and tea, Pillion Tea is totally unique. They have a wide assortment of rare, fragrant loose leaf teas that can be enjoyed hot, cold or as a latte. When you stop in for a drink at their Mount Vernon shop, try out the assortment of different pastries Pillion serves depending on the day, and grab a book to read while you relax.

Matcha Spots in Baltimore

Catalog Coffee

Tucked away in Hampden, Catalog Coffee offers a hand-whipped ceremonial matcha that can be served iced or hot as well as a creamy matcha oat latte. Settle in to seat by the bright garage-door-style windows to do some people watching on The Avenue and savor one of their flavorful breakfast sandwiches.

Ceremony Coffee Roasters

With locations in Federal Hill, Mount Vernon and Harbor Point, Ceremony makes it so that you’re never too far from your matcha. While their perfectly-balanced standard matcha hits the spot, it’s worth sampling their seasonal matcha beverage; past ones have included a lemonade with spruce and lavender and a hot oat milk latte with peppermint and star anise.

Dooby’s

In addition to being a popular spot to grab a quick breakfast sandwich or a hearty rice bowl in Mount Vernon, this Korean-inspired cafe serves up a satisfying matcha. Dooby’s version of the beverage comes subtly sweetened with house-made vanilla syrup.

Sacre Sucre

It may seem surprising that a French-inspired bakery serves up some of the best matcha in the city, but Sacre Sucre uses ceremonial grade matcha directly imported from Japan and offers several flavor syrups to elevate your experience. Order the rose syrup and expect your drink to come topped with rose petals! Of course, while you’re there, you might as well help yourself to a flaky croissant or aesthetically pleasing pastry.