The coffee scene in Philadelphia has been flourishing for years now. Though the city is best known for the canned latte giant La Colombe, it is also host to a vibrant collection of roasters and coffee shops. Fortunately, this has also brought a wide range of decaf options to the discerning Philly drinker. From longtime staples like Old City Coffee, to newer players like Rowhome Coffee, we’ve compiled the top ten coffee shops for decaf drinkers in Philadelphia.
Elixr Coffee Roasters
Locations:
3675 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
207 S Sydenham St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
1600 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
315 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Elixr is another leading force in the modern Philly coffee scene. They’re known for their lighter roasted coffees and meticulous brewing. In addition to their four cafes in Philadelphia , they’ve recently opened outposts in points as far as State College and Nashville. Their Center City location is a perfect place to get work done with its spacious floor plan. Keep an eye out for their Swiss Water decaffeinated Decaf roast, a lovely single-origin roast from Cauca, Colombia.
Green Line Cafe
Locations:
4426 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
4239 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
3649 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
3900 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
1650 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
518 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Green line has been a Philly institution since 2003. Though they’re primarily located throughout West Philly, they’ve added locations in Center City and Queen Village. Check out their tasty Shut Eye Decaf, roasted on a 100% solar powered roaster and decaffeinated through the Swiss Water Process. Pro tip, grab their cult favorite vegan Steve Sandwich to go with it.
Green Street Coffee Co.
Locations:
1919 Alter Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19146 (Point Breeze)
1101 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (Center City)
Green Street Coffee Co. is known as one of the best local roasters in the city. You can visit them at their long-time Point Breeze location to grab coffee, pastries, and beans amidst their roasting silos. They’ve also expanded to offer a sunny, full service cafe in Washington Square. Their Point Breeze location is great for coffee geeks or anybody looking for counter service, while their Center City location is perfect for your remote working needs. Green Street’s signature Starlight Decaf is a delicious dark roast decaf.
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
Locations:
130 S 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
1414 S Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19102
100 S Independence Mall W #110, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1335 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
8500 Essington Ave Philadelphia, PA 19153 (Philadelphia International Airport)
Okay, you know we had to touch on La Colombe before we finished. This Philly giant has gone nationwide thanks to their patented (and delicious) canned lattes, and a high profile partnership with Leonardo DiCaprio. With numerous locations in Center City, the roaster even has an outpost at the Philadelphia International Airport. Fortunately, La Colombe roasts two great decaf options: the dark roast Decaf Monte Carlo, and the lighter Honduras Luna Azul Decaf. The Monte Carlo is decaffeinated with Methylene Chloride, while the Honduras uses the Swiss Water Process. Now if we could only get some decaf canned lattes going!
Lombard Cafe
Location:
542 Lombard St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
This lowkey neighborhood gem is a lovely spot to read a book and sip some decaf in the cafe’s ample sunlit. Lombard is also known for their creative espresso drinks and exciting food specials like baklava waffles.
Herman’s Coffee
Location:
1313 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Herman’s Coffee is a truly unique experience. In addition to being a full coffeeshop, Herman’s is also one of Philly’s top import shops for Italian specialty goods. So when you head in for a cup of joe, you can also grab some delicious olive oil, tinned fish, and much more. Their cheekily named Snooze Fest Decaf is a delicious dark-roast.
Old City Coffee
Locations:
221 Church St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (Old City)
1200 Filbert St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (Redding Terminal Market – Center City)
Old City Coffee has been roasting since 1985, making them the oldest presence on this list. They’ve maintained their flagship location in Old City since then, and they’ve been a constant presence in Redding Terminal Market since 1988. In fact, that Redding Terminal stall was one of the first places I tried truly great coffee when I was kid. Their longevity is no surprise considering the quality of their beans and their pioneering small-batch roasting practices. They’re also one of the best roasters for us decaf drinkers, offering no less than four decaf roasts.
Reanimator Coffee Roasters
Locations:
4705 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19143
1248 S Clarion St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
310 Master St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
3118 Richmond St, Philadelphia, PA 19134
1523 E Susquehanna Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Reanimator has quickly established itself as a defining roaster and cafe in Philly. Their single-origin decaf options are bar-none some of the best you can get. Their sugarcane decaffeinated Colombia Desvelada Decaf, for example, preserves flavors and matches Reanimator’s signature light-roast style. Their minimalist chic cafes are great for remote working and coffee dates alike.
Rowhome Coffee
Locations:
2536 Pine St, Philadelphia PA 19103 (Center City)
2152 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122 (Kensington)
Rowhome Coffee opened their first location in Rittenhouse Square in 2020, and they’ve already opened a second location in Kensington in the few years since. They’re best known for their delicious pretzel sandwiches, which are made on house-baked Philly soft pretzels. It’s no surprise that they’ve popped up on lists of the best pretzels in Philly. Good thing their decaf is up to the same standards! We find it makes for a wonderful pairing with the extremely Philly experience of eating a delicious breakfast sandwich on a pretzel.
Ultimo Coffee
Locations:
2149 Catharine St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
238 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
1900 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19145
5901 Wayne Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144
Like Reanimator, Ultimo has grown into a mini empire of specialty coffee shops. With locations dotting the city all the way from Germantown to South Philly, Ultimo has made a name for itself with its sleek cafes and carefully sourced beans. They’re currently offering the Decaf Colombia for those of us in the caffeine conscious crowd. Ultimo uses the all-natural Ethyl Acetate process to decaffeinate the beans.
