As a roaster, Willoughby's is great. They have a large selection of single origin beans at all of their locations. However, the beans at this location don't seem to rotate as fast as the Branford location. The staff usually doesn't know the roast date, so it's sometimes hit or miss. When you catch a freshly roasted batch, it's easily the best beans in CT. The Yirgacheffe is my usual go-to bean. It's probably worth the trip to go to the Branford location for guaranteed freshness if you are only after beans. As a coffee shop, there isn't much going on. They don't brew small batches of their single origins and won't even brew a cup after you buy beans. The house blend is mediocre, but I'd still put it slightly above the national chains. The coffee is made in large batches and stored in big vacuum pots at scalding temperatures. I wasn't even able to sip my coffee for a solid 5 minutes. I tried the iced coffee recently and it was better than their hot coffee, but still nothing amazing. Needless to say, I will only using Willoughby's as roaster from now on. read more

Love special coffee cafe. Right by Yale. Draws a nice crowd. The beans are fresh. The aroma draws u in and their sweets are worth trying.

The staff was superior today, friendly fast and adorable too! Tables were clean in the middle of a rush. Coffee was the perfect temperature, the feature was flavorful and dynamic. Minus one star for the house blend which is really burnt in flavor read more

Spent an afternoon there for some study. Good view!!! I really love those glasses. Coffee is good and not expensive. I'm eager to try some deserts next time! read more

Willoughby's Coffee & Tea - View from the cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

A must-stop place for me in New Haven. I usually load up on the Hazelnut flavored beans for the coffee-hungry familia back in LA.

Hands down the best coffee in New Haven. I feel like it's probably enough to leave it at that, but I'll go on. Willoughby's is one of the few places that roasts their own beans and as a result they have amazingly fresh coffee. The pastries are brought in from outside and can be of varying quality (better when they are first delivered then they slowly go stale as the week goes on). The food can be good, but it isn't reliable. Regardless, you're really coming here for the coffee. Their mocha is the best mocha I've ever had...ever. The cafe is quite tiny, but most people get their coffee to go so there are usually seats if you want to do some work or catch up with a friend. There's only street parking but it usually isn't too difficult to find a spot on Grove. read more

Hands down the very best coffee in all of greater New Haven. When you enter the cafe the smell is intoxicating - and the cafe comfortable. Great staff, great local baked goods and freshly roasted coffee beans to go. read more

Excellent cafe, nice atmosphere, only slightly attitudinal baristas, so all in all an excellent find. The best espresso drinks outside of NYC AFAK, prolly due in part to the roasting over in Branford. Good to great baked goods too. Get coffee! Get more coffee! Then run screaming down the street looking for the bathroom which is off-site. D'oh! read more

5 stars for the coffee, but a point lost for service. Willoughby's is tied with Coffee by Design and Alaskan Coffee Roasters as some of the best coffee I've ever tasted. I never leave without grabbing a bag when I come to New Haven. Unfortunately the service at the counter is hit or miss. Plus, there have been occasions where employees have been extremely sick but still working with the food and coffee behind the counter. I realize you need money, and I work retail while my brothers and other relatives have always worked food service, and I also know that half the time it ends up being you can't stay home because your boss will be upset as well as the fact that you won't get paid. I surely hope that is not the case, however, as my boyfriend was once given coffee by a worker who had just sneezed into it by accident and was oblivious to the fact that she did it as she put on the cap and handed it over. It is time to go home when you reach that point. The pastries are decent, but it does depend on what you get. I do also love their mocha drinks, especially the spicier ones. A must-stop for the beans. read more

In truth, I've experienced better. But it's a cute little trendy shop, the goodies in the display case and on the counter looked yummers, they give you a healthy packet of choco-covered espresso beans for only $0.75, my dirty chai almond milk latte was yummers, and the place was clean. The issue was the cappuccino I ordered for my friend. It was nearly all foam. Like, so light we were afraid to cough in fear that the cup would blow away. I wouldn't jump to go here again....but wouldn't resist, either. read more

Walked in on a Sunday afternoon and the smell of the coffee beans just hits ya. Delicious. Just with that I could tell the coffee was going to be good. All the staff was friendly and we were greeted with a smile. But it got even better...4 drinks for $5.09 (minus tip)?! I had to double check with the barista but there wasn't any mistake. I ordered 3 small ice coffees and 1 small hot Americano. The 89 cent chocolate chip cookie was tempting but I opted out for it. (Next time...). The Americano was served nice and hot and up to the rim. It was very smooth and good. I can go for a more bitter/darker taste but theirs was still on point. No complaints. I had a sip of the ice coffee and it was delicious as well and my family enjoyed it. And for all you, dairy and non-dairy adders, all the different types of milk were lined out for you (from whole, half&half, skim to soy). We were the only ones there at first but once 3pm came around, 3 - 4 people strolled in to enjoy some yummy pick-me-ups. read more

There's really two things you should know about me before you read this short review. I love local independent coffee shops, and I like my coffee black and simple. No fufu, no frills, not whipped whatever. And Willoughby's delivers in spades. Their drip coffee is smooth, flavorful and delicious. Their staff is fun. It's just a nice place to go and unwind to fight the corporate coffee you're used to. read more

If you like having access to a large selection of coffees and teas, then come here. They sell loose leaf teas and blends by the pound. Coffee beans as well. Space is smaller but the atmosphere is charming with floor to ceiling windows and plenty of natural lighting. A good place to study when it's not busy. Minus one star for small space, lack of outlets, and mediocre customer service. read more

Willoughby's roasts their own coffee weekly. If you are looking for the freshest cup of great coffee, this is the place to go. I believe one shouldn't have to buy coffee out of necessity only, but also be able to enjoy a great brew. This is the place to enjoy that great brew. read more

Willoughby's Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I love their Mexican Spice Mocha! It is my favorite! They are friendly here, and efficient! Great if you only have a minute to run out for a quick coffee or treat! read more

I love this place. I've never had a bad experience there. Their iced cappuccino is my favorite, but I also love the Mexican Hot Chocolate and the Mexican Spiced Mocha. When I'm not in the mood for coffee, I choose one of their many delicious teas. The service is always great. I think many of the employees have been there for a long time, which I see as a good sign. Even when the place is ridiculously busy, the service is surprisingly fast. I also like that they constantly clean and refill the little station in the middle with the milk, sugar, napkins, etc. Great value for the price and clean, fast service. read more

I picked up a regular coffee today on my way home from work. It's been quite a few years since I came here with my friend for the first time. Coffee was great - very impressive. I'll definitely come back soon and try some other versions. read more

Loved the atmosphere and different coffee creations/pastry options they had, AND a gluten free section Very nice read more

Good coffee, normal prices, terrible place to try to get work done. Coffee: People rave about the coffee here; it's good. Close to as good as you can get in New Haven, for what it's worth. Never tried any of the cookies/breads, but the selection isn't huge and they look average. Vibe: The nice, large windows make for good people-watching at the Grove/Church intersection. Place is pretty small with only ~6 tables inside. As a result, the wifi is definitely adequate--which is a shame because it's too small to be a good work spot. While other places (Koffee, Blue State) can get busy because of all the patrons, the size of Willoughby's makes it such that the whole place bleeds over onto itself. The baristas are constantly busy with an influx from the courthouse, and anyone having a conversation at a table can be overheard through the entire place--god forbid anyone's on their phone. That said, employees are very nice and people are in good spirits. read more

I am a longtime fan of Willoughby's going back to their beginning. The wait staff is well trained and the coffee is first rate. They roast their own beans! And they are a CT small business. I buy all my coffee beans from Willoughby's, which has a mail-order business. Try the delicious Peru French if you like a rich dark roast. read more

I come here when I have sleepless nights and subsequently when I need fuel guaranteed to keep me awake all day. The $2 and change that you pay for a cup of small coffee is so worth it and necessary after those kinds of nights. read more

they know how to brew coffee at the proper temperature. a bit pricey but their beans and teas are amazing too.

I had to give them 5 stars for the beautiful view more than anything. I was also encouraged by a couple of delicious experiences with their Mexican hot chocolate :) I think it might be a seasonal drink? If you have the choice, definitely stop by the Willoughby's on Church instead of the one on York. Much more cheerful and decorative atmosphere, and the coffee tastes better for reasons I don't quite understand. read more

GREAT cup of Cappuccino served by friendly baristas close to the Yale campus.

Chai and bagels are always good! However, the manager (I'm assuming, or the lady in charge) has a very nasty attitude. Stick to the York street location. read more

Great coffee spot, worth trying -- also located right by the Jasmine Thai cart, also worth trying =)

Had a not great cup of coffee and the manager made it more than right. The outstandingly rare customer service I received has made me into a very loyal and dedicated customer. The espresso is some of the best in town! It is also one of the best places to get a bag of beans for home. read more

This review is for those who like to work on a laptop at coffee shops. From that mindset, this cafe is mediocre at best. My skim mocha was burnt. You will need a laptop with a long battery l life (shockingly, Starbucks has more outlets). Yale community can get on the Yale wifi. read more

For the best coffee in New Haven, Willoughby's is the place. They also have the hippest and surliest baristas in New Haven. Which is funny, because they work in a coffee shop with no atmosphere. I'd rather spend my best years in an unfurnished studio apartment than spend more than a few minutes in Willoughby's loud and uncomfortable coffee drinking space. That said, on any given day I'd rather have Willoughby's Mexican Spiced Mocha than body surf in Waikiki. I also recommend any of their espresso drinks, e.g., doppio espresso + doppio water, or doppio espresso over ice. Just don't talk on your cell phone while you're placing your order, or you'll get the hipster boot. read more

The coffee is delicious and the staff is very friendly. If I lived in New Haven, I'd be here all the time.

Good place to go and have a nice coffee. It has a small seating area to spend some time if you would like. The coffee is delicious.

I normally I go in for the chocolate milk which requires them pouring a shop bought pre-made drink from a bottle into a cup, however it's still delicious and fairly reasonably priced. The staff are pretty friendly too. read more

Nice clean space with windows onto the corner. Excellent pastries. Coffee is reasonable for New Haven, but not quite third wave.

Used to come here as a kid often. It's still running and the coffee is as good as ever. Fun place to chill out in a less-frenzied section of New Haven. read more

Was in New Haven for my wife's reunion. We were staying in the dorms and needed coffee and breakfast. My wife loved this place when she was here. The coffee is fantastic and the place was a block from the dorms! It was a Sunday morning and they didn't open until 8am. I was there by 7:30. Really?? I wasn't the only one looking for coffee that early in the morning. read more

This is the place to buy your beans! Great selection of gourmet beans - fair trade, etc. I agree with the other reviewers - the place is not great for hanging out, nor is it a convenient place to stop for a coffee (unless you are walking). read more

Pretty decent coffee place in New Haven, this has kind of become my regular spot when passing through. Tasty espresso, house drip not bad. Beautifully surly baristas. Not lots of seating, often crowded. read more

I've always just walked past this place - I'm typically a fan of the gritty looking, run-down, home-y coffeehouse, while this place appears very sterile: glistening glass windows, pristine coffeebar. I've been attending the nearby Book Trader Cafe regularly instead. So today, Book Trader was closed due to their annual staff field trip (weird, I know...) so I was forced to try out Willoughby's. I saw on their wall they had a plaque deeming them best coffeehouse in New Haven in 2010. I ordered a tall, skim mocha. I received my drink quickly after. Upon my first sip I instantly realized they didn't stir the chocolate into the milk, and all I got was a bland taste of espresso and milk. I was disappointed as that's my #1 pet peeve about lazy baristas, but after drinking some more I got to the more chocolate-y sections of the drink and I really enjoyed the kind of chocolate they used. (I think someone said it was Hershey's, but I thought it tasted better) I will go back to this place to try out different items such as their pastries because they looked very tasty. Wasn't instantly impressed, but it deserves a second try. ********Went back and had a house blend and a cranberry smoothie. Both were very tasty and I also took the time to admire some of the desserts in the case. They all look divine - will have to try them soon! read more

Ordered a cappuccino it was pretty bland.. I suggest walking around the corner to Jojo's Cafe....better atmosphere and better coffee

One of my favorite coffee shop in New Haven. I really like their French roasted blend. It is strong, but not too strong. Staff is very friendly. read more