Providence, RI has a great coffee scene. You can find everything from serious roasters to quaint bakeries, all focused on crafting the perfect cup. Read on to learn about the best coffee shops in Providence, RI!
New Harvest Coffee and Spirits
New Harvest Coffee and Spirits is a total gem with both a roastery and a cafe.
They have single-origin coffee and blends like a French roast (with smoked chocolate notes and a molasses finish) or the Cycledrome (with woodsy aromas and a hint of citrus).
They also have classes that help you make the most of the product you buy. You can learn how to prepare quality espresso or create designs in steamed milk.
They even stay open late, especially compared to other coffee shops in Providence, RI. You can get cocktails like The Grey Lady (tea-infused gin, crème de cacao, lavender, vanilla, and milk) or a Hot Toddy (rye whiskey, ginger chamomile tea, honey, lemon, and bitters).
I like that they are transparent about their sources and travel yearly to coffee farms in Central and South America.
Small Point Cafe
Small Point Cafe has a laid-back vibe with lots of plants and bright colors. The space is also full of natural light, which pours over the brick walls and concrete floors.
Here, they serve coffee that is organic and fair trade. You can get the classics, like drip, espresso, and tea, as well as some tasty food. The owner sometimes grabs ingredients from the local market, and they always have fresh eggs, milk, and butter.
You can order the Lox Supreme, with dill cream cheese, red onion, and capers on a bagel, or the Fed Hill, with tomato, mozzarella, and pesto on house-baked ciabatta.
They obviously value community, which is a nice change of pace from the many chains nearby.
Dave’s Coffee
Dave’s Coffee in Providence has robust coffee that is bold in flavor. Both the single-origin coffee and blends are truly strong with great aromas.
The focus is on the growers and farms that only yield a few hundred pounds with each harvest. They roast in small batches, and the price is more affordable than other spots.
I love to get the coffee milk, which is the official state drink of Rhode Island. You can also just buy the coffee syrup to make affogato or espresso martinis at home!
The lattes and toasts are incredible too, with options like vanilla bourbon and turmeric ginger or classic avocado and whipped feta.
The interior has concrete floors, wood paneling, and a pleasant atmosphere, perfect for meeting up with friends.
White Electric Coffee
White Electric Coffee is a co-op and thus unique among coffee shops in Providence, RI. A group of workers formed a labor union during the pandemic and eventually bought the business.
The coffee is from New Harvest, and they have seasonal lattes like the Tiramisu or the Pistachio Rose for springtime. The house specials are great too, like the White Lightning (with caramel and vanilla) or the Flower Power (with hibiscus and lavender).
They have bagels with toppings from chive cream cheese to Nutella, and the space is funky with pops of bright red.
Locals tend to come here, the vibe is decidedly unpretentious, and the workers make you feel at home.
Seven Stars Bakery
Seven Stars Bakery takes coffee very seriously.
They source it from George Howell Coffee (a brand devoted to coffee farmers) and extensively train their baristas.
The house coffee is from the Antigua region of Guatemala and has deep chocolate notes, while the espresso is a blend and cuts through milk with a clean finish.
The artisan breads are famous too, made with the highest quality ingredients and craftsmanship. They bake from scratch with organic grains, fresh-milled flour, and the age-old method of long fermentation.
They have classics like a baguette, sourdough, and focaccia, but I tried (and loved) the walnut and raisin. You can also get artisan crackers, pastries (the lemon cakes are delicious), and sandwiches.
Bolt Coffee
Bolt Coffee in Providence started with a cart at weddings and now has multiple locations. The coffee here is sourced and roasted with intention.
You can get single-origin coffee from places like Mexico or Honduras and blends like No Fuss, which is comprised of seasonally rotating coffee with low acidity and the sweetness of dark chocolate.
They also serve great food, with yogurt parfaits, fresh-baked croissants, and breakfast sandwiches on the menu (my personal favorite was the strawberry mascarpone danish).
The locations are The Dean Hotel, downtown, and the RISD Museum, and each one has a friendly atmosphere with top-notch service.
If you need some caffeine, then definitely stop by!
Little City Coffee
Little City Coffee is cute and cozy, with a small space designed for coffee on the go. They use Tandem Coffee Roasters in Maine, who source at origin and are climate neutral.
You can add flavor syrups like mocha, brown sugar vanilla, coconut caramel, orange blossom almond, or lavender, and they have milk from macadamia nuts.
The scratch-made treats are great too, and people often rave about the English muffins. I tried the potato, leek, and cheddar galette, which was truly tasty, and next want to get the pulled mushroom sandwich.
The wooden shelving full of plants is a nice touch, and the vibe is as welcoming as other coffee shops in Providence, RI.
Madrid European Bakery and Patisserie
Madrid European Bakery and Patisserie is an absolute treasure in Wayland Square. A visit here is like being transported to Europe, with intimate seating, delicious coffee, and beautiful treats.
The coffee is from New Harvest, and they even serve Vienés, a double espresso with vanilla syrup and whipped cream. They use actual truffles for hot chocolate, which took me right back to my semester abroad in Spain.
The owner is the baker, and you can watch him in the kitchen through a glass partition. He follows traditional methods, eschewing shortcuts that are often taken these days.
They have fresh bread, a variety of croissants, and gorgeous pastries (I loved the rich Santiago cake, a slice of almondy heaven).
Here, the art of pastry making is on full display, and the end result is incredible.
Coffee Exchange
Coffee Exchange in Providence has been open since 1984, serving organic coffee that is fair trade. The interior is warm and inviting, with both wood floors and wood paneling.
They roast daily in small batches, and it shows in the exceptional taste. You can get single-origin coffee from places like Columbia or Ethiopia and blends that are light, medium, or dark.
Here, you can learn about The Coffee Trust, which helps indigenous farmers improve their agricultural practices.
Coffee is strongly linked to poverty, and they collaborate with residents of San Gaspar Chajul, Guatemala to develop various projects that progress toward self-management. For example, they assisted with beekeeping so that honey could diversify the income stream of any participants.
The Nitro Bar
The Nitro Bar started with a cart the owners handmade from scrap wood. They would bring it to farmers markets and eventually got their nitro cold brew on tap at restaurants. Now they have a brick-and-mortar location at Dash Bicycle Shop (you can still book a cart for events though)!
The signature nitro cold brew is awesome, and the Dark Horse is an extra concentrated version with more caffeine.
They make craft drinks with syrups like caramel, coconut, or lavender that you can get hot with expresso or iced with nitro cold brew. I recently tried the Fruit Loop, a delicious pea flower blossom iced tea with vanilla syrup and oat milk.
They also make food like a chorizo salsa verde wrap and seasonal specials.
The space has a nice vibe but keep in mind that prices here are higher than other coffee shops in Providence, RI.
I hope you enjoyed this post and that it will lead to some great experiences at the best coffee shops in Providence, RI!
Now check out the best breweries in Providence, RI (or even head south and check out the mansion tours in Newport, RI).