What a pleasant atmosphere. Walking through the door, the first thing that hit me was the aroma of coffee. Yum. They are your basic coffee house feature home brewed coffee drinks. I went for the my favorite.... Ice coffee. The only drawback was they close at 5:00 so get your caffeine dose early. read more

George Howell Coffee - Interior of George Howell - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newtonville, Massachusetts

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Not a huge coffee person, but had to stop by since my husband wanted to get some work done. I ordered the peach fizz which was perfectly sparkling, sweet, and tart. A bit expensive for what it was, but it is what it is. A nice little joint to get some work done or chill on a nice weekend. Saw some other folks doing Bible study or on coffee dates. Can't speak on the coffee, but the non caffeinated drinks are yummy. read more

George Howell Coffee - Peach fizz - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newtonville, Massachusetts

George Howell is a lovely neighborhood spot with great service. The coffee is excellent. I had a shaken cold brew and the flavor was bold and rich and made me feel exactly how coffee should! You don't always find that these days. Love it! read more

George Howell Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newtonville, Massachusetts

Best coffee around - hands down. Been coming here for over a decade and the coffee, tea, pastries, and community are consistently top notch. Coffee: it's rare to find coffee that is good enough to drink black. That said, George Howell's drip coffees, pour overs, and espressos are arguably best enjoyed black. Not to say they aren't delicious with milk - they super are - they are just also easily enjoyed sans milk. The flavors are always balanced and clean. The iced coffee and cold brew is also amazing AND they have decaf cold brew The espresso beverages are amazing - cortado, cappuccino, latte.. yum. All of which can also be decaf or half caf. The syrups are all so, so good (and made in house!). A half-lavender oat milk latte is **chef's kiss** Tea: the tea is also super good (MEM Tea, from Cambridge, MA). Iced blood orange hibiscus is always a winner. And the matcha!! So, so good (and unsweetened). Pastries are also bomb. Cheddar Biscuit FTW. Limited seating and occasional wait when their busily handcrafting various beverages for the masses, but vibes and service are always great, and I always leave w a tasty treat :-) read more

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Still up-charging for non-dairy milks 2026 is unacceptable, I won't be coming back because of this. Consumers know that non-dairy milks are roughly the same price. Dairy milk is just as expensive if you're buying decent dairy. And of course, many people simply cannot drink milk. They have to pay extra just because they can't drink it? Get real. read more

I enjoyed a tasty hot chocolate on a chilly winter afternoon! I also had a tasty ginger scone (filled with real ginger) that was kindly warmed up for me. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. I appreciated that they were open until 5:00. It's a boisterous environment so I wouldn't recommend sitting here if you need silence to focus. Pro tip - there is free parking around back! read more

George Howell is a great café. I have been to Newtonville location many times and it's one of maybe 5 locations. I always get an iced mocha latte and it's always delicious. The café has limited seating so if you want to sit down, grab your seat quickly! A clean space, and friendly staff. Service is efficient without making you feel rushed. My main complaint but I understand from a business perspective: the coffee beans, beverages and pastries are expensive. Ideally, the beverages would cost less as I spend almost $7 on my latte so I don't come too often but come enough as a treat. The packaged coffee beans are a minimum of $17.50 but usually the beans I have been interested in are over $20 for 12 oz. I have not purchased a bag of coffee due to the pricing. I totally understand that coffee prices have been going up due to weather changes and tariffs and businesses have to stay afloat. I do recommend trying it even if it's as a treat! The coffee is excellent. read more

One of my favorite cafes in the area, near that big Star Market curiously located over the main highway, George Howell is a special place with some of the best coffee I've tasted in my couple years of drinking the stuff. The space is small with only a few tables, but it's cozy and sleek. The staff are great, very knowledgeable and conversational in my experience. There are a good amount of flavors, my favorite possibly being the maple with cinnamon latte (especially since two of my main coffee places have discontinued maple except in Fall or something, which is preposterous because this is New England and maple should be offered year round) which always really hits the spot and brightens my day. It's like the perfect balance of tasting the espresso and plenty of wonderful maple syrup. Smooth, full-bodied, and rich. Their seasonal flavors are also fantastic, the pumpkin spice being one of the best I've had as well. I think my only small gripe would be that for being pretty luxurious and pricey, there's only one size at 16 oz. whereas I think they should offer at least 20 if not 24 oz. size options without upping the price, but a lot of places do that. There's also a wide array of their brand coffee you can purchase in 12 oz. or bigger bags, in all sorts of flavors which probably tastes great. Their pastry and food items are real good too and worth trying. There's limited parking but you can usually find something, and I don't think there's a public restroom there unless they recently changed that. For sure worth checking out for coffee lovers who find themselves in Newtonville. read more

Probably the best cup of coffee in this small little town. Better than Nero and Starbucks. They make their own syrups which is great. A little on the pricier side for the experience but it's your best bet if you are in the area. Ambiance is nothing special and seating is somewhat limited (5 small tables and a few stools looking out to the town). read more

George Howell Coffee - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newtonville, Massachusetts

My husband needed an espresso and he said the alchemy espresso was delicious. I can't deprive myself of my own little treat, so I got an iced mocha. While I appreciate the reusable glass, I wish it had a lid to stain the ice away. Good mocha though. They were decorated for pride. And I liked their paintings too. Cute seating area. The only things I didn't like were that the area to bus your table to was hard to get to and hard to spot. They don't have much close parking but they are in a bank of other cute shops. I got some bread across the street after our coffee. Good experience over all. read more

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Great coffee they make the real old school way. This place is the real deal and they really make delicious drinks, just understand this isn't McStarbucks, come for good high end coffee made right and highly knowledgable staff. Friendly baristas almost all across the board. There is one woman who is a barista there with black hair and glasses who is a real turd sandwich with a "I'm better than you" look and a snarky attitude, it ruins the experience a bit as it can leave a bad taste in one's mouth that counteracts the molto delizioso coffee drinks. Having just eaten breakfast, my fiance and I weren't hungry yet this turd sandwich was force fed upon us when all we wanted was some delicious java. Other than that this would be a 5 star review. read more

I originally planned to meet a colleague here to chat over coffee, but the space was very small and not conducive to chatting at all. There are 5 two-person tables available. Three of those are inside and two are outside. Since it is raining today and the awning is very small, the tables outside are unusable. There are four seats at a bar-like table in the window and I snagged one of the two left empty. The space was full with a total of 5 customers each taking up their own space with books or work. It was very quiet excepting the soft indie pop music playing over the speakers. While I was waiting, I ordered some Jasmine Tea to warm up. The tea was great quality, but because it came steeping in the teapot, it became over-steeped quickly. If you've had over-steeped Jasmine tea, you know it becomes quite bitter. I wish they served the tea with a saucer to prevent this issue. Once my colleague arrived, we decided to sit down at the Cafe Nero around the corner. Far more seating options for two and less quiet (therefore more conducive to talking). I would return to George Howell's if I were in need of a quiet space to do work alone (the free Wi-Fi is great) over coffee (I've heard their brewed coffee is incredible), but not with anyone else. If read more

George Howell Coffee - Jasmine Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newtonville, Massachusetts

They have the best iced mocha latte out of all the coffee shops I've tried so far in and around Boston.

I love George Howell coffee. I always know I'm getting something good when the coffee shop I'm at serves their beans. This cafe is great because you can get it right from the source! No frills spot with above average coffee. Small seating area with a few tables and high top counter seats. They also have great pastries too! I believe they are from 7 stars bakery in Rhode Island which is another one of my favs. Their scones are amazing. Can't go wrong! read more

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When traveling, I love to check out the local coffee place. This one is situated near a Starbucks and another large chain coffee restaurant. They had unique coffee roasts in here, and the staff knew a bit about the different flavors and styles, which is nice because I like particular roasts over others. Unfortunately, of the three shops, the selection of baked goods here was very very small and uninteresting. If you wanted to bypass the mass-baked muffins from Starbucks, the other shop around the corner had an enormous selection of baked goods, quiches and assorted lunch items. I will say that I did greatly enjoy the coffee from George's, which was nice because there are lots of places to sit nearby where we took out our ukuleles and played and was completely content with just a good cup of coffee. Sidenote, the person I was with did comment on the barista-experience. I had espresso, and she went with a regular drip coffee, and for $4.50 or whatever it was, she was a little underwhelmed. If you ever read the @Cleo Coyle coffeehouse murder series, you will know that these specialty shops bring a lot more to them than just an overpriced drink in a cup. There is a lot that goes into selection of quality beans which aren't found in your local gardens, a choice of how to roast them, and friendly faces that know how to follow your detailed instructions without falter. I say bravo, and I would definitely come here for a cup of coffee if I were in the area again. read more

Cute local spot. - good wifi - good seating for 10 people or so - excellent iced oat latte read more

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The service s friendly and the cheddar biscuits outstanding. The coffee has always excelled and never disappoints

Greatest coffee around! Keep it coming, it is much appreciated Service and quality are both excellent and consistent

How anybody gives this place a good review is beyond me. I imagine every person doing this a millennial who likes to spend $10 on a shitty cup of coffee and because it's poured in front of you you think it's good. I just got a coffee that taste like water down tea. read more

Cortado and latte was ordered. Not every place knows cortado, good sign. The coffee was deep, rich, and smooth. We sat at the bar which has about half a dozen spaces for either sitting or standing, high chairs at the bar is limited. Another half a dozen small tables fill the front seating area. The place is long and narrow with the bathroom in the back. I really like that they have a lot of mugs stocked for the dine in guests. There's even a sign with Captain Planet making a remark about paper cups. This earned a personal star from me. We saw some baked goods on display and teas on the menu which we will try on future visits. Bags of coffee are across the bar to buy for home. Street parking. read more

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I love their coffee, they can make the coffee so quickly and delicious. The employees are always so nice, and the service is amazing!!!

Wow! What they say is true this is really a place for the people that really like coffee! Added bonus to the great coffee... the staff are awesome too! Just take a look at the kind gentleman there who made a very *nicely* drawn bike! Anyway down to the details. I came with a group and we ordered a variety of coffees and speciality coffees. All were excellent, with some more than others. Mine was a maple bourbon latte and it was fantastic. The moment I tasted it and noted geniune syrup was used I knew the rest would be as well. So many restaurants and cafes try to get away with high fructose corn syrup infested fake maple syrup, but not here and that speaks to their quality. Bourbon notes really came through and in all the right ways not to be too overpowering. What topped off the drink was the fact I could taste the coffee very clearly through these two powerful flavors. It wasn't burnt, it wasn't over extracted, it wasn't bitter. The coffee was just right! The prices weren't cheap but they were far from expensive too. If your used to any third wave coffee shop this place isn't any different. All the coffees were had for under $10 each so expect third wave pricing but nothing gouging. Coffee isn't an easy thing to accomplish and the fact it was so good speaks to the staffs superior ability to brew and care for coffee as well as the business overall. It's very easy to make bitter or otherwise bad coffee and at George Howell they don't, they make a fantastic well cared for coffee. Will come again happily. As for the eldest of the drink read more

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Great coffee, pretty good baked goods and food, ok service. It feels like it may have lost it's way during the pandemic. Still good for coffee and people watching. Make sure you'vee slotted some time. read more

The coffee and pastries are fine but the employees can be more attentive and respectful. I was having coffee and another customer got up to leave and he took his coffee cup and dish to place them on the counter where the sugar and straws were. All the sudden one of the guys behind the counter screamed at him "Sir put them in the bin". The customer said sure and he did. I could tell he was embarrassed. They have a tip jar where almost everyone drops tip money. This employee could have done it or asked more politely. Service needs improvement. read more

I keep coming back and get disappointed almost every time. There is one woman who knows how to make good coffee and the rest of the stuff is beyond clueless. It is disturbing that a coffee house like George Howell can't train their employees to make a proper cup of coffee. Usually you get an extremely bitter, sour and basically disgusting liquid that is undrinkable. They do offer to remake it but you still get the same horrible stuff. Once in a while I get lucky and one barista who knows what she is doing is there and the coffee is great. I keep coming back hoping to get that good coffee and it is just really bad nine times out of ten. I suspect the people who work there are not coffee drinkers and think that coffee should be burned, bitter and sour. Thank god now there are two-three alternatives in Newton where you can actually get a decent cup of coffee. read more

Very nice dainty coffee shop in a very walkable neighborhood. Seating is limited, 3 small tables + a bar that fits 4 people. Their coffee and tea are terrific, one of the best chain coffee shop. They don't put any sugar in their latte or teas. I like that I have full control of how much sweetness I want. Their savory scone tastes amazing. Remember to ask them heat it up for you. Overall I am happy with this place, except that they don't have a public restroom. read more

George Howell Coffee - two cups of coffee and a pastry - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newtonville, Massachusetts

I found George Howell a bit fussy. The coffee itself is good and there's a solid range of flavors. That being said, the online order pickup experience left much to be desired as you have to wait in the normal line which could be long since they only allow 3 people inside at a time due to COVID restrictions. I also ordered an almond croissant which honestly is terrible; it's very dense, not flaky at all and oddly dark. I appreciate that the business has a strong DEI stance, but that doesn't make up for a poor in-store experience when there are other options within a block. read more

For macarons only! If your looking for macaron local in the area and don't feel up to traveling through loads of traffic to Boston, they sell them here! I had to google but wanted to put up a review here in case others were looking too! The cafe doesn't make it but gets it through http://moochiesmacarons.com They offer a variety of favors and beautiful colors so it was convenient. They sell for $2.25 each read more

George Howell Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newtonville, Massachusetts

Best coffee around, plus various accessories and coffee related supplies. Don't know what others are even talking about when it comes to rude service. I have found the staff to be nothing but friendly and responsive; if I want to chat, they are happy to chat. If I am still sleepy when I drop by in the morning and just want to place my order, they leave me alone. The one complaint I have is it seems like they are constantly running out of coffee and you have to wait three to five minutes while they brew another pot. It's like the idea of starting a pot when you are running low is completely radical to them. Then again, if that's thhe worst thing that happens in te course of your day, you're having a pretty good day! read more

Visited the original GH coffee location to score some nice freshly roasted coffee beans as they have a vast selection of bags. However, I found this location to be underwhelming when compared to their Godfrey Hotel Boston store. First, the cortado we got looked amazing, but tasted awful. It was one of the most acidic / burnt coffee drinks I have ever gotten at a coffee shop. Not sure if it was just a fluke or a temperature thing but it was pretty acidic. The iced iced lavender latte we got was pretty good however, tad bit on the milky side but not bad at all. The worst part I think is their seating arrangement that consists of a couple round tables designed for about 2 people each are crammed into a small space so to get up and get an extra napkin or sugar, I kept bumping into other peoples tables (literally) to the point where it was almost impossible to move around. I know this location is older and not as new so their furniture and overall appearance has gotten plenty of use but some of the seats and tables could use updating from rips and wear. Love George Howell, but most definitely recommend visiting their Boston location over this one if you have the option! read more

Wow, this is one of the best coffee places in the whole of Boston. They make so rich, tasty, right cappuccino that I ready to go there even if it is out of my route. The place is a small one, and it has 5-7 tables. But it's not Starbucks. This place has a soul and their specific style. You have to feel it. If you are driving the car to be ready to spend some time to find parking. It is a commercial street, and meters are always busy. I usually park and Star Market on the next street. It says "only for supermarket customers," but nobody toes me during the next 10 minutes. Pastry and bakery: I'm in love with a sticky bun. Man, every time I tell myself, "it was my last bakery," but if I am somewhere close to their coffee place, I cannot avoid a cup of cappuccino and a sticky bun. Anyway, this place is excellent. If you read it and still think of checking other Coffee shops, you can do there, to be disappointed by that place, waste your time, money, and come back to George Howell Coffee. read more

Just returned to indoor coffee dates here and it's so wonderful to return. I've been coming for beans pickup, etc. throughout the pandemic bc all the protocols seemed very safe. Now back in person, I continue to LOVE the staff and staff culture (the place just has good feelings) and love to run into other regulars-- we keep coming back bc of the great staff and curated products (which is even more since pre-pandemic). Thanks always Danny and JP (and nice to meet new Luke!). It's been 5 years of Cheers-like atmosphere where "everybody knows your name" and just feel the good vibes as soon as you walk in (keeps regulars loyal even though 2 other shops are right down the street). read more

Boyfriend and I stopped by when we were in the neighborhood and ordered two almond milk lattes. There must have been a miscommunication between the baristas because they accidentally made two cold ones instead of hot and then offered them on the house to anyone who wanted one. When we received our hot ones, they were perfectly made. The coffee tasted wonderful, it smelled nutty, there was a great microfoam layer on the top, and they even achieved latte art - really hard to do with almond milk. One of the best lattes I've had in Boston. The place is a little pricey though - it came out to over $11 for the two lattes. read more

I really enjoyed my lavender latte and delicious ginger scone. Plastic barriers were put in place between wait staff and customers. I believe only two people were allowed into the shop at a time to order. A hand sanitizer was also in place. Outdoor seating was also there which was nice. Waitstaff was also extremely nice and had a great attitude. Drink was ready very quickly. Downsides: no clear direction on online ordering to prevent wait time near others on website. Did not see any staff wiping down outdoor seating in between use or access to wipes for patrons to do it themselves, also directly in the sun with no shade. No big deal, just keep in mind if you're sensitive to the sun. read more

Great coffee shop with high quality beans. They also sell Mem Tea, which I love. The 4 stars was due to the barista support. A nice, friendly guy was clearly new, perhaps training. Any question I asked, he tried his best to answer whilst the main barista looked on. It would have saved time and trained him better if she answered my several questions to A. provide great customer service and B. so the new guy could learn the ropes. Annoying time waster. She is not a good manager. By the way, the scone was delish. read more

My sister and I made plans to meet here for coffee. The very small seating area was filled with folks camped out, working on their laptops. We stood around for awhile and it was clear no one was moving. The barista joked with one of the working patrons about how he had been there over two hours We ended up leaving and grabbing a burrito across the street. When I walked back to my car an hour later every seat was still full with the workers. Don't go here if you want to sit down and enjoy a beverage. read more

What luck. I come to Newton to visit family, and this cafe is here! I came here several times. Needless to say, George Howell knows how to roast, and the skilled baristas made some excellent cappuccinos and drip coffee. If you want quality beans, well roasted so you can appreciate the flavor of the coffee you try from various regions, then this is the place for you. A Starbucks right around the corner, but this cafe was just as busy. These folks appreciate good coffee. Service was great. One day I brought my daughter and they made her a hot chocolate. She and I talked about someday traveling the world trying good coffee like Mr. Howell and his daughter. Father-daughter goals. read more

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Emo time (in couplets). ....... Filled with self-loathing Full of foreboding 6 years I've been near Delayed coming here Why oh why Cry cry cry What the fuck, I suck. Caffeine: Clean, pristine. Tip well Or go to hell. ....... End Emo rant. I really like the coffee. read more

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If this isn't your first time at the specialty coffee rodeo and if you know you're way around a pour over, burr grinder, and espresso machine then most likely you will be slightly annoyed that the baristas talk to you like you've never heard of pour over and that they are the only place in Boston that serves good specialty coffee. I know coffee, am passionate about coffee, and Im always looking for the best roaster out there. George Howell is a legend but the coffee here is honestly not that impressive. One story - I ordered an Ethiopian pour over and asked for it to be made on the machine instead of by hand as I wanted to watch the machine in action. I paid $4 with my CC. I was then told that they don't have any Ethiopian but they would make me Kenyan which is very similar (not in my opinion but ok I'll go with it - there was Ethiopian on the shelf so I'm a little confused... why can you just go grab it and make it for me? That is what I ordered.) Next I'm told they can't use the machine because it isn't on. Long story short I get my coffee after 10 minutes. And after drinking it I am never asked how it was, if I was ok with them switching out the coffee I ordered. I don't know about you but I expect more. I've decided that my coffee money is better spent elsewhere supporting people and roasters that are starting out. Sorry George, but ya let me down. read more

I kind of have to agree with The T on this one. Pros: + Great coffee + Great tea - all the traditional / herbals. My fave was the rooibos. + Great big cups for tea. + Individual teapots that serve about two cups. + Nice bar stools at end of the counter + Clearly displayed wifi password Cons: + Terrible acoustics. It was just loud, unpleasant and ongoing noise. + If you sit by the door you are frozen because they don't use the antechamber properly. + Uncomfortable seating. Wood, cheap. + This was probably the thing that bothered me the most. I sat for two hours and unless (and sometime while) customers walked in the baristas (4 total) would stand around talking amongst themselves and CUSSING; rather than cleaning, organizing and restocking. The expletives make it not kid friendly and just kill the vibe. The staff's standing around makes it all about them rather than their customers. Coffee spots are 50% product and 50% vibe. Newton is desperate for a comfy, cozy hip coffee shop. Unfortunately, this is not it. read more

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