Voluto is without question one of the flag bearers for high-end coffee in Pittsburgh. They are supplied by 49th Parallel out of Vancouver, who offer both single origin and blends from some of the world's best growers. They do french press or pour over for coffee as well as pretty killer latte art if you're into that. I'm not a fan of flavored coffee drinks but the ones here are surely superior to your standard chain shop. I also like the local art on display, spacious sitting area, available parking out back, and the pastries. I'm by no means a tea expert but they take tea just as seriously here, which is a great sign. What would I change? Sometimes the hours are frustrating and inconsistent. I wouldn't care except this isn't the easiest spot for me to get to. I suggest following them on Twitter just in case there are unforeseen changes. The bottom line is that local, dedicated places like Voluto are so manifestly superior to the Dunkins and Starbucks of the world that it almost goes without saying. It's discouraging (read: depressing) that in 2012 the megachains still draw in the masses so overwhelmingly. read more

They sell coffee. It's pretty good. Don't come here expecting anything else besides a muffin or cookie. The main draw is the atmosphere. It's always busy but never packed. It's got a great simplicity to it which makes it cozy an unassuming. Aside from Courtney (the resident mentally challenged homeless guy) trying to smoke a pipe inside and yelling - this place is great. In some ways he actually adds to the grungy charm of the coffee shop. read more

Latte was delicious! But just fyi--they don't sell drip coffee after 1pm? That's a level of hip beyond me.

Thumbs up for Voluto. Thus far, the best coffee I've had in Pittsburgh. The barristas are friendly, and though the prices are above average, you get what you pay for. My only issue with this place is the atmosphere. The building it's in is very store-front-strip-mallish, and it's usually crowded. Also, there really isn't any set-up-camp-and-study-for-a-few-hours type of seating, but you can't have it all. read more

Great coffee, great tea selection (love their yerba mate). Baristas are really sweet. Free Wifi is always a plus (and there's no time limit). The pastries look really good and they have vegan cookies, some sandwiches and I think pastries from Sustenance. I've never had trouble finding a place to sit and it's never too loud to read or study. Overall, a great little coffee shop for both their drinks and ambience. read more

Finally made it here and so glad I did! I had both a cortado (like cappuccino but less milk) and a brewed coffee and both were very good. I spent a couple hours here doing some work and the atmosphere is comfortable and the wifi fast. All the glass and windows let plenty of light in and made for a good view of life on Penn Ave. Baristas were nice and overall a great experience. read more

I agree with others that this is by far the best coffee in Pittsburgh, and probably the best coffee I've ever had. I'm by no means a coffee snob (I've always been pretty content with iced coffee from McDonald's a lot of days ;) but tried Voluto now that I work nearby, and I'm absolutely hooked. I don't know that I can ever go back to 'regular' coffee, seriously. The atmosphere is very warm and relaxing, the women who work there are super-friendly, and the pastries are very good -- they have a small selection but everything is VERY fresh and tasty. Another thing I've noticed, and this seems small but to someone who loves iced coffee it makes a difference... there's nothing worse when you get an iced coffee than when it is brewed hot, then poured over small ice cubes... it's literally the recipe for lukewarm, watery coffee. Voluto uses really big ice cubes, though -- and it sounds simple enough, but it keeps the coffee cold and pure-tasting for the rest of the afternoon at work. I wish other places would do this. My only complaint, and I'd like to think it's more constructive criticism... I definitely understand that because of the process they use, you're not going to get your coffee as fast as you do at say... uhh...just off the top of my head... the McDonald's drive-thru. I also get that that's exactly what makes the coffee so good, so I would not trade that. This being said, though, while I do agree the owners are very friendly and warm, there have been times when I have been the only person ordering (no one in front or behind me) and it's taken up to 4 or 5 minutes to get my coffee...and it wasn't just because of the process. I generally have to skip them in the mornings when I'm in a hurry (which is most mornings), simply because, even going from the cash register to actually making the coffee, they often seem to just move really slowly. For example, one time, after I'd paid for my coffee, the woman who waited on me stood there organizing receipts from the last few customers (even though there was no one in front or behind me, so I imagine it probably could have waited until I left), then talked to another employee for a few moments, before going over to the counter to start my coffee. I'm not suggesting at all that they should be in a frenzy like you see in the-coffee-shop-that-shall-not-be-named, but at ANY coffee shop, you are going to get clientele in the morning that are hoping for/needing a bit of a faster pace. Again, it's fitting for a laid-back afternoon, which is often when I end up there, but in the mornings, it'd be cool if they...well... hustled a tiny bit more. This is not a big deal and did not stop me from giving it 5 stars, I just think it might be a good consideration for them about maintaining/increasing a 'before work' crowd. read more

Voluto is great. It's not as cheap as some of my other Pittsburgh favorites, and I find the setup a little bit cramped (but beautiful--they do a great job with the space they have) but the latte I had there may have been the best I had in Pittsburgh. It was really, really delicious and served with a smile. I've also had a hazelnut sunflower seed cookie, which was unique and tasty. I did, however, have a pretty disappointing cilantro italian soda. It sounded perfect and refreshing for a sweltering day, but it actually just tasted like seltzer. The service can also be a little slow, but the staff is friendly and this is a great place that I like to stop into whenever I find myself in the area. read more

Great espresso, good cold brew, awesome baristas. Cool little place to chill too

I love Voluto. You should go there. Their iced tea is amazing. They have outdoor seating. And free parking. And beautiful furniture. And free wi-fi. And great espresso. And lovely cups. And a cool bathroom. And sweet service. read more

Cute, quiet coffee house on Penn Ave. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, and there's good indie music playing over a small set of speakers to keep some ambient noise without being distracting. The coffee selection is nicely edited, and the coffee is delicious. These hipster hippies know their coffee ;) I'm not sure that they have different sizes of most of their drinks, which is fine with me because I think it's weird to get 16oz of some coffee concoction. My cappuccino was a reasonable size, was carefully made, and tasted fantastic! read more

very friendly baristas this morning , i didn't want caffeine but don't like decaf coffee. they recommended the raspberry iced tea which was delicious. very inviting space and the lighting here was nice. bonus points for being so close to spak brothers. read more

Voluto Coffee has been on my hit list for a while and I'm glad I finally got to it. This is a really great spot. Modern yet comfortable decor w/ pops of orange and light blue. Plus there is some outdoor seating outside. It is a bummer that parking is only street but on the flip side this means that the place can be a quiet refuge since not everyone can access. I tried a latte based on their recommendation and while I take it usually with skim mine was made with whole milk and was delicious. The espresso itself enjoyable and had distinct flavor. read more

I love that I can find Commonplace Coffee here. A great, low key option for studying, except it's difficult not to order a second, or maybe a third, soy latte. Voluto is a great addition to the East End. I really can't get enough! read more

Great coffee, quiet place to read/work/study. A bit of the beaten path but plenty of parking, and you can easily lock your bike around that area. read more

Commonplace is anything but. A charming place to meet up for social or professional engagements, friendly staff, and a modest menu with a range of options to satisfy the budget conscious caffeine junkie and the bourgeois connoisseur alike. read more

This is hard to write, as I typically really enjoy Commonplace - but if you have kids - don't come here. My wife and newborn had to go to children's, so I brought my 5 yr old and 2yr old here to pass some time. Get rushed to have them choose their "treat" and the baristas were visibly impatient with us as the stereotypical hipster was impatiently waiting for their turn to order behind us. Commonplace seems to be cementing themselves as a hipster coffee joint, as every location is not conducive for families, and the baristas are some of the rudest/least interactive baristas I've ever experienced. Used to be a big fan - then had kids - now it's clear we're not the target demographic anymore. I felt remarkably unwelcome at this place - not so "commonplace" after all. More exclusive/not inclusive at all. read more

I can't believe I haven't yet reviewed Voluto considering I've been there bunches and had my photography up in their cafe for several months. The two owners are very nice--these ladies are your neighbors, folks. Amelie was very friendly and nice about letting me hang my photography there. The coffee beans are sourced from wonderful roasters--I do believe they recently switched to Commonplace--a local Pittsburgh cafe. When I "go-out" (a rarity) for coffee I always get a cappuccino breve. The baristas can be a little hit or miss--mostly hit. The last time I was there, he knocked it outta the park and I told him so. Voluto is cute, has delicious coffee/espresso, they play good music, and it's local. That's enough, right? read more

Great place. I had one of their newer baristas who had only been there about a month, and the blend shot of 49th parallel was well... unparalleled. Great shot, much better than the Intelligensia shot I had at 21st St. Coffee. Their iced coffee was also bold and had a chestnut-roast kind of aftertaste. Great looking place even though the surrounding area is sorta iffy. And... just gotta love the look of the groups exposed on the Synesso 3 group machine. read more

The taste of coffee is really great. In my opinion, their taste is much better than any other coffee houses' one in Shadyside. Although I live in Shadyside, I prefer to go Voluto (or the commonplace coffee in Squirrel Hill). The baristas carefully make a coffee. All cups I tried, macchiato, americano(ice & hot), cappuccino did not disappoint me. They also have the some kinds of single coffee for hand drip. The atmosphere is cozy, simple, and bright. The parking lot is another benefit too. read more

Really helpful and friendly staff :) Called in to check how many open seats there were, and the staff was engaging and friendly throughout the entire call. read more

I am a big fan...previous impressions are erased and I enjoy going to Voluto a few times a week now.

One of my favorite local coffee shops. Great pour over selections, lovely treats and great outdoor seating in the summer.

Great coffee. Chill environment and friendly staff. Definitely the kinda place to come and study or just take a few minutes away from the city. read more

I really enjoyed this place. The latte was good and it was a very nice atmosphere. Will visit again.

Very chill, low-key hipster coffee shop with good iced lattes. A lot of table space and windows so it's a perfect spot to post up for the day if you're working or studying. read more

Voluto is the best coffee shop in pittsburgh and actually my fave anywhere. it is beautiful inside. the building is leed certified. The coffee is single source. the desserts are all unique and local. the girls who own are kind. the bathrooms are immaculate. the design is modern, unique and yet not at all pretentious (which took me a couple of visits to realize). Free wireless, a unique experience, a refreshing place to hang. I'm a designer so it's vital. it's also in an awesome neighborhood. I can't recommend it more. read more

As a coffee lover who lives less than a 10-minute walk away, it's embarrassing that it's taken me this long to discover one of Pittsburgh's best coffee shops. Voluto is now my go-to morning coffee stop, thanks to their incredibly well-crafted coffee and espresso drinks and friendly baristas who know the product inside and out. And while they could school you on bean sourcing, roasting methods, and exotic blends, they're not the type to roll their eyes if you ask for a bit of cream. A bright, friendly space offering a top-notch product. read more

Friendly folks, great coffee. Always multiple beans available on pour over, all from their roaster a couple miles away. Nice work atmosphere, a couple standing tables, busy and hipster but not too busy or hipster. read more

Bias: I go here nearly every day. I live around the corner. I like the baristas. The coffee is the best in town. The prices are fair. This would get 5 stars if it weren't for the space. I really don't like the interior decorating. The seats are uncomfortable. It's echoey. It's awkward. I've tried hanging out but I usually get my coffee to go. The atmosphere is much better in their Squirrel Hill location. read more

Voluto uses 49th Parallel coffee and espresso beans. They pull great espresso shots and aren't afraid to use brighter roasts. The staff really know what they are doing behind the bar and produce consistent shots and steamed milk. I highly recommend these folks! read more

This is one of the best coffee houses that I have been to and I lived in two other cities (Columbus, Cincinnati) and have traveled frequently to New York CIty. The coffee is the highest quality that I've had and the latte's absolutely rock! I think the decor is cool because its very contemporary and you don't see that in the Pittsburgh market. The food and baked goods are amazing - I have cheated too much on my fitness diet in this place. read more

The most pretentious coffeeshop I've ever been to. First, the positive. The espresso was very good. Next, the ridiculous. This is no longer just Voluto, I think it's being switched over to Commonplace Coffee. Apparently they take their coffee very seriously. I went in the other day and ordered an iced espresso. It was very hot outside. I didn't think I was asking for anything absurd. The lady behind the counter looked at me like I had two heads, but said "Oookay." She put it into a glass and put ice cubes in it, at which point I asked her if I could have it to go. She told me they don't serve their espresso to go. She said it was a company policy so that I would "enjoy the espresso within minutes of it being pulled." I'm sorry, but if you're going to charge me $2.50 for a single shot of espresso then you need to give me a cup, with a lid, and not give me a hard time about it. You are not serving the nectar of the gods. You're a coffeeshop in Garfield, for crying out loud. What happened to the customer being right? I used to live in Los Angeles, the home of pretentious coffee shops. This one takes the cake. Needless to say, I won't be returning. I'll get my fill of pretentiousness elsewhere. read more

This is my favorite place in Pittsburgh for delicious coffee, friendly service, and great atmosphere. The coffee itself is delicious-- I was a barista for 6 years and am picky about my espresso drinks, and theirs are always consistent. They also offer delicious homemade syrups (try the honey cardamon!) and the baristas are warm and personable... not the scary too-cool-for-school kind. read more

My favorite coffee shop! I can vouch for their espresso drinks (usually I get a capp) and they are velvety smooth, consistent as heck, and obviously made with expertise. Fair prices, comfortable and good-looking environment. And baristas are nice! If service is slow, I don't know--I come before the crowds. They do take their time. PS I haven't been getting the baked goods anymore; my review is on the espresso drinks and experience. read more

Great coffee. Friendly staff. Nice space. Easy parking. Only downside is that it's getting more and more crowded.

I really like Voluto. You ought to go there. Their iced tea is astounding. They have outside seating. And free parking. And exquisite furniture. And free wifi. And excellent espresso. And wonderful cups. And a great toilet. And pleasant service. read more

Modern specialty coffee is a finicky thing. Too often cafes either stagnate, unwilling to, or uninterested in, keeping up on developments in the industry, or are so obsessed with novelty that they become dumping grounds for the Revolutionary Brew Method Du Jour. But these extremes are easy to spot: if you ask your barista about their coffee and they describe their awesome pourover bar with microgram scales, or mutely point at sad, lonely carafe, they're doing it wrong. Voluto has found the sweet spot: they are passionate, informed, and committed to coffee, always searching for ways to develop their product but without ever degenerating into technical minutia. The focus here is on simplicity: It's in their menu (small), their decor (spare), their technique (minimalist). If you want to geek out over hardware, there are places in town where you can do that. If you want to be chided for putting cream in your coffee, you can get that too. But if you want a consistently excellent cup without pretense or intimidation, you cannot do better anywhere in Pittsburgh. read more

It is not quite as inexpensive as some of my other Pittsburgh favorites, and I locate the set up slightly cramped (but wonderful--they do an excellent job with the space they've) but the latte I 'd there may have been the finest I had in Pittsburgh. It was really, truly tasty and served with a grin. I have also had a hazelnut sunflower seed biscuit, which was exceptional and delicious. I did, nonetheless, have a pretty unsatisfactory cilantro italian soda. It seemed perfect and refreshing for a sweltering day, but it really only tasted like seltzer. The service may also be somewhat slow, but the staff is friendly and this is an excellent spot that I like to discontinue into whenever I find myself in the region. read more

I'm very lucky to live in a city with such an abundance and diversity of neighborhood coffee shops. On any day, I can wake up and decide to go to a couple dozen or more places to sit and work (which I'm doing more and more of as I write my dissertation). I've been to Voluto a couple of times before, and my one major complaint before was that the hours were ~9-5 business hours. However, I stopped in this morning and actually writing this review from here now- the hours have expanded to 7pm, which is great. The coffee here is good- subtle, not very strong- and the tasty treats are good (except no bagels (!), which I love). I like the space a lot, right by Verde, one of the coolest new hip restaurants in the area, and windows cover the entire front side of the space. The decor is pretty minimalist/modern/industrialist, which is quite different from the typical homey, cozy, warm couchiness of most other local coffee shops. I like how they've carved out a new place and vibe here. And who can beat $1.25 for a cup of coffee with $.75 refills? I'm definitely staying for a while, and I will definitely stop in a few more times in the future. read more