Best espresso in Philly if you prefer more citrus notes (ever wonder what's all the hype about la colombe?--this is your spot). This Catharine St location is my personal fav, but they're all superb. Lovely staff, good tunes, good pastries and cookies. Solid place that brings such joy to my life. read more

My friend told me about this coffee shop and I am so glad I checked it out. This place is pretty quaint and cozy. I love the glass windows since it makes this small space seem a little more spacious. This seems like a nice place to catch up some work and study. The quality of their coffee is definitely 11/10! read more

Ultimo Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great neighborhood coffee shop, yummy pastry, good service. Clean, neat and a very inviting place.

Consistently a great vibe and high-quality coffee - I always make sure to stop by when I'm in Philly. I've tried their cappuccino, latte, iced coffee and all have been equally delicious. Clean and modern interior, nice staff, and more seating than the Rittenhouse Square location. We got a brownie this last time, which was decadent and moist but I must say, the Earl Grey loaf left me wanting. Overall, just a great coffee shop. read more

Big disappointment. I'm an out of towner and went to this place wanting one of the sandwiches listed on the menu they have posted here on yelp -- and when I asked about it since I didn't see food other than the very few donuts in the window, I was coldly told "we don't have food. you were looking at the wrong cafe." I told the girl I wasn't, but both she and the other dude there started rudely insisting I had looked at the menu for a different place. I finally pulled out my phone and showed her the yelp menu to prove I *was* looking at the right place, and instead of being nice about it (or apologizing for practically calling me a liar), she just snarkily said "well that's obviously a really old menu from over four years ago" Over four years? Sheesh. And how this is obvious? It's not a huge deal to not have the food and it all to be a mistake, but what really annoys me is how cold they were. There's no need for the attitude. It's not my fault your stuff is listed wrong! How about fix your yelp listing and be polite about the mistake and then we all go on our merry way? The drip coffee was bitter, and I'm still starving because they are out of bagels, out of croissants, and don't have the sandwich I was craving because "obviously it's an old menu from four years ago" :-\ The environment is stale and uninviting, as were the people working there (THIS was obvious). Won't be back. read more

Ultimo now has sandwiches from American Sardine Bar. You could get the popular turkey sandwich... but you should really go rogue and get the vegan potato salad sandwich, which is far superior. Take it home, pop it in the toaster oven to warm it up, and it's even better. read more

Ultimo Coffee - chamomile tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I meant to wait a little before reviewing Ultimo, but I guess I'm just not that good at playing it cool. I'm super excited that these guys are in the neighborhood. The interior is super clean and sleek. It still feels warm, thanks to the wood detailing and smell of beans brewing. There is ample seating, which is a huge plus. When I stopped in, it was fairly busy but still didn't feel crowded. The baristas behind the counter were friendly, and my Americano was pretty perfect. Also, just as a sidenote from someone living in the neighborhood, the new amount of foot traffic and street lighting is really appreciated. I love the buzz that's been gathering in the 'hood. Very, very happy that Ultimo is here. read more

Unless you are a white person don't expect to get a warm welcome. Both white male behind and in front of me in line, the barista cheerfully greeted them with multiple questions about how they were doing and how's the weather. I expected the same cheerful greeting but only got a "what can I get you". Sadly the reviews of the service being great is only targeted towards a specific demographic group. I only gabe 2 stars because the quality of the coffee were good. That's the only thing that was worth mentioning. read more

Good bye hot cider, hello iced coffee. The iced coffee here is seriously the best and most flavorful in the neighborhood. I've also made the fabulous discovery that you can choose goat cheese as your spread if you order a bagel here. Such a good idea. read more

After all the rave reviews, I was actually pretty disappointed with my visit to Ultimo. The space itself is pretty nice although a little small. My boyfriend and I were thankfully able to snag a table in the corner on a Saturday morning when it was pretty packed. We had cappuccinos which were good but not the best I've had. I expected a lot more out of the coffee, given that Ultimo was recently ranked #1 for best coffee shop in the country by The Daily Meal (http://www.thedailymeal.com/americas-best-coffee-shops). My boyfriend got a bagel, and I chose a croissant. These were both just ok, and I thought it was a little ridiculous that you actually have to slice and toast your own bagel. Even Dunkin Donuts does this for you. Finally, the worst part of our visit was when we were trying to figure out where to leave our dirty dishes. We asked one of the baristas because we couldn't find a dish bin, and she rudely asked us if we had not seen the sign on the wall that pointed out where the dish bin was. I did not appreciate her attitude, and to be fair, the sign looked more like a decoration to me than a sign. Suffice it to say that we probably won't be back :( read more

Yawn. I need some coffee. So, I took off my smoking slippers and replaced my silk robe with a silk scarf tied artfully around my perfectly kissable neck. I hopped on my customized commuter bike and pedaled smoothly across Rittenhouse Square to Ultimo, where I parked my bike right in front where they have ample but tasteful bike parking. I was greeted by several Warby-Parker bespectacled baristas who took my order on their iPad and grinded my carefully selected coffee beans I requested after getting a fifteen minute briefing on the intricate and subtle flavors each one exhibited. A free cup of coffee brewed in such a fashion that it reminded of my laboratory postdoc students, was presented to me for my whole bean order which warmed my heart and perked my senses. Modern. Simple. Small but not cramp. Bring your best outfit, smartest book, and cutest terrier and perch outside. read more

The new Ultimo space is phenomenal. The coffee is just as good as the original location and the staff is almost all people from the old joint. Aaron and staff did an excellent job in creating a similar yet distinct experience at their new outpost in Graduate Hospital/South of South/Southwest Center City. I think it's a nice and sleek coffee bar but definitely not pretentious either. The people are neighborhood people and they cater to everyone. I had an almond croissant from the folks at Four Worlds (I believe that's what it is called) and a Counter Culture cup of joe. For about $4-$5, this is a great on-the-go breakfast. Considering their flagship is a little further south, I will certainly be finding myself here on a future day. It's way more convenient to my Italian Market neighborhood and producing the same amount of quality! Give Ultimo a shot, it's gonna be the go-to coffee joint in Graduate Hospital before you know it! read more

Had planned to hit Shot Tower when I was in town today but a friend suggested we stop at Ultimo instead. I like the space, it's bright and open, yet still has areas for private conversations or just working on a laptop. The barista knew the single origin beans without coming off as arrogant. Like Shot Tower, Ultimo has a Strada, the first "new" espresso machine to hit the market in decades. This machine, while technically a "semi-auto" requires someone who actually pays attention through the entire pull, and is keen on the ambient humidity and temperature, along with subtle changes through the day inside the coffee bar. They can make micro adjustments throughout the pull to compensate for these changes and adjust the flavor profile. To say I had a great espresso is an understatement. Yes, I understand that the roaster is due their proper credit as well, but execution here was really, really well done. The rest of the staff are really great, there is water available in the dining area with glass cups & they don't care if you refill your own water bottle while there. The natural lighting mixed with the naked bulbs works well, the music was at a decent level to both enjoy, but not overpower conversations, and the place was spotless. So clean, very hard to pull off with a near total white motif. I will make it a point to stop here again when I'm in the city. read more

This used to be one of my favorite coffee shops to frequent, but lately it feels like it's slipping. The coffee is really good, no question there, but the service is lacking. The staff often seems disinterested in helping you and more interested in having conversations with their friends at the counter. The internet has not been working there for a while now and a simple heads up would go a long way. I would see people asking for the password and a staff member would give it to them knowing full well the internet was not working. The other thing that bothers me is how they refuse to do the little things for you that pretty much all coffee shops do. If you order a bagel, you are required to slice it and toast it yourself. I overheard someone asking for their bagel wrapped to go and they told them "sorry we don't do that." They also have some really tasty spreads for the bagels such as fig jam, however if you get that you will barely have enough to spread on one side of your bagel. It's a shame I've had a handful of unpleasant experiences at ultimo lately because I do love the coffee and the food they offer is good as well. Guess I'll check back once in a while to see if things improve. read more

UItimo is clean and well lit, with spacious doors along the front of the cafe. The walls are off white cement tiles and blonde wood. The counter is well designed to put the focus on the coffee and the pouring process. Above are bare bulbs hanging on red wires. Tables are wooden. Chairs are formed and comfortable. The space is simply well designed. It's pleasing and relaxing. To the right of the counter is a shelf full of beans and Ultimo swag. We grabbed a bag of beans then ordered up a couple of cups of Chemex and a couple of donuts. We were there before 10am so snagging a table was a piece of cake. The music was chill and the clientele was a mix of yuppies and inked up hipsters. Tables were generously sized for sipping coffees and writing papers. We chilled for awhile and enjoyed our well poured cups of Chemex coffee. I may have slipped into coffee douche speak when admiring the well poured coffee. The coffee was made as well as what I make at home, which is to suggest that the baristas are exacting and perfectionist about the coffee. In short after the dismal coffee I had at one of their competitors, Ultimo made it all better. read more

I have now stopped in here about 5 or six times, either early in the morning or later in the evening. Every visit has been good. The staff was friendly, the coffee was good and consistent, and the atmosphere is pretty good. I also like the fact that every time I had visited, the place was not filled with connected-disconnected people plugged into their headphones tapping away at their laptops taking up tables. There were people. People were conversing. Kind of great. Anyway, any trip that takes me in the direction of Ultimo will require a stop and a three shot latte. read more

Love love love! This is a cute, cozy cafe with great espresso, friendly service, and electric-trendy seating. It's a great place to meet friends or with a study group, and the prices are very reasonable. The food menu is somewhat limited but they are expanding the sandwich menu (right now they have a lot of veg/chevre cheese combos)! In the meantime, I would highly recommend an almond croissant from Four Worlds. read more

Ultimo used to have some of the best coffee I've had in Philadelphia, poured by baristas that, at the very least, looked like coffee aficionados who knew and loved what they were doing. The last couple of times, though, the rotating cast member behind the counter seemed disinterested. Worse, the creamer tasted off, which unfortunately detracted from the drink's flavor. It's still a convenient neighborhood coffee shop with a bunch of indoor ("work") and outdoor ("socialize") tables, so I'll be back, hoping that they replace the creamer more frequently, or maybe use a different creamer. Or maybe getting a different drink. read more

Excellent coffee and tea, always great customer service. I wish the place were bigger, as it fills up on weekends, but they do what they can with the space. read more

I have been meaning to visit Ultimo since I moved to the neighborhood and finally made it there today. WOW! The 3 employees behind the counter were all so helpful and nice. When I told them it was my first time, they explained the entire process of how they brew and the flavors of each coffee, which I found so interesting. Most importantly, the coffee was unreal. I will certainly make a stop to Ultimo very often, even if it's a bit out of my way. Keep up the great work! read more

Beautiful coffee shop that serves great coffee and decent pastries (I can only speak to the croissants). The modern, clean, and simple architecture with large windows allowing for lots of light makes for a great place to meet up with people and do work. On the whole, though, the coffee shop is on the smaller side. The baristas are very friendly. Every time I'm there I've had a consistently positive experience of great service, great coffee, and refreshing and relaxing atmosphere. read more

Perfect. I love the glass of windows and the modern decor inside. The best latte I have ever had. Ever. And I am a total coffee snob. Then I tried their cappuccino. Perfection - every sip is a perfect mix of amazing espresso and creamy milk. They use a Strada MP - it is the most beautiful espresso machine I have ever seen, and it's top of the line. The croissants they have from a local bakery are amazing. The best I have tried in Philly. They have ruined all other coffee for me - no other latte or cappuccino is as good. I have walked a mile from work when I am craving a great latte. read more

Ultimo Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is lucky to have an abundance of coffee shops -- good ones that serve decent coffee (Reanimator, Counter Culture, Stumptown, etc.) - you don't realize this until you move away that the Philly coffee shop is a thing. It's a thing that I miss terribly now that I'm gone. Ultimo Coffee is one of those coffee shops -- they've got decent coffee and a chill vibe, they're neighborhoody, and you can bring your laptop here and get some work done. If this place were in Boston (where I live now), I would be all about it because we don't have many places like this here. However, in Philly, coffee shops are in abundance, and this one is just average at best. I came here for a coffee and a snack while I was waiting for my significant other. The iced coffee I got was good. The raspberry crumb bar (there weren't many food options to choose from), was average at best -- I don't think I finished it. The music was full power Michael Jackson -- for an hour. I tried at first not to pay attention -- but once i did, there was no turning back. Another thing--- it was cold -- yes, they do have glass doors along the front side of the space which would be nice if the weather was warm. However, it was cold and windy, so I wasn't really enjoying that. Overall, an ok experience. I'd return if I was ever in the neighborhood, but probably wouldn't seek this place out otherwise. read more

"$9 for a cold, pre-made sandwich?" At least that's what I thought to myself when I reluctantly handed over my debit card to the cutiehead behind the counter. Then I actually tasted it. And I was very, very pleasantly surprised. In fact, the price may have even maybe sorta been justified because it was really that good. No gray mayo mush here. It was tangy, lemony, and fresh with actual chunks of discernible fish. I can't say that I make a habit of ordering tuna sandwiches when I'm out, but of the ones I have had over the years (mom's weekend lazy lunch included), this was the best tuna sandwich I have ever had. So, if they tack on an extra $1-2 to make up for the free wi-fi, or the very convenient spigot by the sugar and creamer, or exceptionally clean bathroom then I'm not mad at it. The space is bright and welcoming, the staff is warm and gracious and it's close to my house. Definitely a fan. read more

The sandwiches were amazing! A little pricy ($8 each) but definitely unique, fresh and very yum. The garbanzo bean, goat cheese, and spinach one was especially yum. Pros: delicious sandwiches and treats, quaint atmosphere, beautiful and delicious coffee creations, friendly staff, outdoor seating Cons: cramped seating inside, pricy read more

Ultimo Coffee - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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When Thrillist or whoever ranks this as the best coffee bar in the nation believe them. They have very good coffee and very nice people serving them. Additionally, even their pastries are delicious. I'm not a coffee expert so I can't speak too much to the taste, but it's a nice venus and they didn't mess up my order. However, I can speak to the BAR portion of the coffee bar. This location of Ultimo also has a beer bar available. About 10 beers on draft and more on bottle. Most can be served cold! Even more, they have specialty beers available. It was crazy to see some of special bottles and have it with my morning coffee. I elected to have a PA native beer from Victory. The lady there was very informative and nice. Anyway, this is a great coffee bar, in both aspects. Whether you want to study or sip on some delicious beer. read more

-Counter Culture -Vertical Garden -Free Compost -Good pastries -Clean aesthetic -Nice Baristas Not quite sure I would call this the number one spot in the country though. read more

Favorite coffee shop in the city. First of all, the coffee is unbeatable. Counter Culture beans are top-notch and Ultimo baristas excel at making a fine cup of coffee or espresso. Perfection. The setting is low-key and relaxed, with but personality. Staff knows their stuff, and Counter Culture even offers classes upstairs. Love love love. read more

Love to study here. Great coffee! Cute little spot. My go to for coffee in the city. The dirty chai is also incredible!

Great place, friendly knowledgeable baristas and great coffee beans! Also a good ojace to sit and catch up on done work on your laptop read more

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The coffee is pricey compared to other places, but the quality is second to none and well worth the increase. I've been going here daily for quite some time and consistently find the entire staff to be not just amazing and well-informed baristas, but genuinely pleasant and wonderful people. It's rare to find a group of baristas that are consistently dealing with the uncaffeinated masses to always be so happy or at least so good at putting on a pleasant front, but it's a welcome addition to my morning and I look forward to going there every day. Emily, Abby, and Nate are who I usually interact with and especially enjoy seeing behind the bar, but there isn't one that I haven't had a great experience with. Bravo Ultimo. read more

Nice, clean, and relaxing coffeeshop to get work done. Not too big and very modern looking.

I can't seem to pass a coffeehouse without stopping in to sample the atmosphere, the pastries and of course the specialty brew of the day. A quick [google search] led me to this quiet lil shop w/ outdoor seating. Today's weather called for something iced, so I went with the "Flash Brew" which I learned was their cold brew but just fancier. (grin) The two baristas on staff were plenty pleasant, which is what you want when you patron any caffeine establishment. Having ruled out 1 of the 3 cookies, I'm proud to say that I almost incited a DANCE OFF between the baristas as they passionately offered up their fave selections to help me choose. In the end, Chocolate Chip-pecan won but I virtually pinky swore that I'd be back for the Chocolate Chip-Cherry contender. Today was a good day (smile) read more

Stopped here on a beautiful Sunday during our morning dog walk. Great place to sit outside on a nice day and people watch (especially weekends when you can watch people going in/out of Sidecar). The coffee was superb, as was the espresso. The employees were also very friendly and helpful. You do have to know where you are though, they do hand-poured drip coffee here- no machines people, expect to wait a minute or two! I don't want to call this place snooty since the employees were so nice, but it's a little on the snooty side. I'm okay with that since their coffee is so darn delicious. Two thumbs up! read more

Super cute neighborhood coffee shop. Their coffee and espresso drinks have excellent quality. They don't have a flat white on their menu, but they were more than willing to make it when I asked and it was perfect. There is a good variety of drinks that I would love to try. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the baristas were super nice. I love local coffee shops and this one one is a keeper. read more

Ultimo Coffee - Flat white, yum! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I always go to the Newbold location . Cool chill spot with BEER ! And yummy tea and croissant . Staff are very nice . I prefer it when it isn't wildly busy . The owners are very nice and I highly recommend this spot if you just want to chillax alone or have a nice convo with someone . Not a crowd spot so please youngsters , keep away !! :) read more

Ultimo Coffee - Peppermint tea and goat cheese croissant. Treating myself to a calming non vegan meal. It's so yummy and relaxing.. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ultimo is the ultimate coffee-lovers dream. The space is bright and welcoming. Oh and it's super clean, unlike some coffee houses where you get a dingy, dull feeling served with a mediocre coffee. Not at Ultimo! The coffee is delish. Although it's not the best brew I've ever had, the flavor is smooth, which I appreciate. The staff is super friendly, even when they appear to be busy (because on the weekends, this place is). If you're a bacon and eggs kind of breakfast person, you won't find it here. But what you will find are many pastries, especially various flavors of croissants, from goat cheese to chocolate to classic butter. Oh and get the peach butter...amazing. I feel like Ultimo could be my new favorite coffee place in G-Ho. read more

Oh this coffee is good. On par with Elixr for a steeper price and smaller quantity. One size fits all: 12 oz for $2.65 - a hefty price considering there are no discounted refills. Lovely natural lighting highlights white walls with knotty pine wood paneling. The design makes the space pleasant and soothing. Clientele a mix of grad students, young professionals, and grad hospital families. Tiny doublet tables along windows and walls good for studying. Most everyone here is, on this Sunday morning. Speaking of which, I should get back to work. read more

I like coffee. Not love. I only drink it enough to tell you if it's good or bad coffee, and Ultimo has good coffee. They also serve sandwiches and baked goods, some of which are supplied by Sardine Bar (which can be pretty tasty). My favorite aspect of Ultimo is the design--it's so clean and simple and it just makes my insides feel happy when I'm there. This will definitely be my go-to study spot since I'm new to the neighborhood. I'm subtracting a star because there's only one size option for the drinks. And if I'm tired and cranky and need lots of coffee, I'm not about to buy two to get my fix. read more

We had the most rude employee tell us they were closing and we had to leave. We ordered some ice tea, sat down outside for 20 min around 4:30 on a Saturday and an employee comes out they were closed and we had to leave now and to get up and leave. Honestly we thought she was being funny and joking in an over exaggerated sarcastic way so as we were standing up we kinda joked and say "oh like right now, haha?" and she said ya we are closed I don't mean to be rude but ya leave. We kinda left in shock. Not somewhere I plan on ever going back to. it was a weird experience. read more