Hello and happy 2014! I have some exciting resolutions for 2014–I can’t share quite yet, but when I can I will. As always, my resolution is to continue discovering the best mocha lattes wherever I go. Recent travels took me back to Boston. I was happy to play tour guide for family and friends; I knew that when we needed to escape, recharge, and defrost from the cold, we had to try Thinking Cup. This small cafe is perfectly situated across from the Boston Common on Tremont St. (Park St. T stop), and I have always wanted to try it! What lured me in was their sign ‘serving Stumptown coffee.’ Stumptown in Beantown? Sold.
Taste: 6
Thinking Cup opened its doors in 2010, the same year I completed my graduate studies and left Boston. Had this cafe been open during my three years in Boston, I would have definitely studied here. Thinking Cup boasts that it is the only coffee shop in all of Boston that serves Stumptown coffee (my favorite NYC mocha to date). Thinking cup makes a slightly different mocha than those made at Stumptown in NYC. My mocha here tasted mostly of bitter espresso. I could barely taste the cocoa. It was almost like I was drinking a straight espresso (once I master this I will move on to drinking Turkish coffee!). I did appreciate that my mocha was served with a spoon — a much needed utensil to scrape every last drop of steamed milk.
Appearance: 8
Coffee as an art form. Are there any modern art museums featuring photos of latte art? There should be! Our drinks took some time to arrive, but look at the photo below – worth the wait, right? Beautiful art. Not exactly an original image, but I love the design. Looks like my favorite Matisse (La Gerbe) is latte form! Delicious.
Ambiance: 6
This is a crowded little coffee shop, almost set back in time. Since there were many of us, we divided and conquered – some waited in line, others scoured the cafe for seating. Thinking Cup is situated across from the Boston Commons, so expect crowds. While seating is a hot commodity, I do recommend waiting and then staying a while. After about 5 minutes of waiting, behold, a small table appeared! The brick walls, dim lights, and tables with antique newspaper clippings made for a great atmosphere to sit and talk with friends. We did not eat anything here, but I read great accolades about the Nutella croissants. I plan to try one next time I head to Thinking Cup.
Have you been to Thinking Cup? What’s your experience? Let’s converse in the comments section below!
Del Mocha Vista 
Nate Rosenblatt
January 19, 2014 at 11:03 am
Kate,
Loved the post! I didn’t try a mocha, but as for the espresso, I can say it had the first two of three ingredients that the old Turkish proverb recommends for good coffee (“Black as the devil, strong as death, sweet as love”). So I agree with your first rating — 2/3rds!
Also agree with your take on their ambiance – I think they were trying to recreate the old coffee house, but it felt like there was too large a dose of pretension about it all. Furthermore, the whole visit was spoiled by that “am I going to find a seat?” anxiety. Luckily we did find a seat, but holding a conversation while standing as a group of five in the middle of a crowded coffee shop would have ruined the whole thing. So I agree with your third rating — good but not great!
-Mehmet
delmochavista
February 28, 2014 at 8:14 am
Hi Mehmet,
Thanks for the feedback! I loved that Turkish proverb; it makes me want to scour the world.. err, the internet… for other coffee proverbs.