Skip to content
Find my one

Savor Scout › Campuses › Massachusetts › BU › Coffee Shops

Campus food guide

Coffee shops near Boston University (BU)

19coffee shops within 1 mile
5within a ten-minute walk
74%independent, not chains

Open map listings put 19 coffee shops within a mile of Boston University, 5 of them within a ten-minute walk, and 163 within 3 miles. The busiest streets are Commonwealth Ave (7) and Peterborough St (2).

The closest coffee shops to BU

Chosen local-first, then listed by distance from campus: a starting point, not a ranking. Listings from Overture Maps open data (September 2026); they carry no prices or opening hours, so check before you go.

Can't decide between them? Say what you're craving and Savor Scout picks one near Boston, MA.

What to order

  • A cortado or flat white — To judge espresso and milk.
  • Pour-over — To taste the beans.
  • Drip coffee — If you need it fast.
  • A pastry — If baked in-house or by a good bakery.

How to spot a good one

  • Fresh-roasted beans — Roasted within the last few weeks, with a roast date on the bag. Many good shops roast their own or name their roaster.
  • Espresso pulled with care — Not bitter or sour. A good cortado or flat white is the easiest test.
  • Milk steamed properly — Silky microfoam, not big bubbles or scalded milk.

The whole picture is in the coffee guide.

Questions about coffee shops near BU

How many coffee shops are near BU?
Open map listings put 19 coffee shops within a mile of Boston University, 5 of them within a ten-minute walk, and 163 within 3 miles. About 74% are independent rather than chains.
Which coffee shops are closest to BU?
Buick Street Market and Cafe (0.4 mi), Cafe 575 (0.5 mi), Caffè Nero (0.6 mi), Pacific Street Cafe (0.7 mi) and Phinista Cafe (0.7 mi).
Where are most coffee shops near BU?
The busiest streets are Commonwealth Ave (7) and Peterborough St (2).

More near BU

All food near BU Pizza near BU Japanese Food near BU

Coffee Shops near other campuses