8 Newer Coffee Shops to Try This Year
Keep calm and stay caffeinated with this list of recently opened coffee shops around the Pittsburgh area.
PHOTO VIA SHUTTERSTOCK
Some people are coffee purists, drinking the classics — black coffee, Americanos, espressos and cortados. Other people like their drink to have some flair, with decadent inclusions and experimental profiles. Others fall somewhere in the middle. Whatever your caffeine proclivities may be, Pittsburgh has the right coffee shop for you. Below, you’ll find a list of coffee shops that have opened in the last year or so; check them out, if you haven’t already.
Afters Café
While most coffee shops close their doors by midday, Afters Café is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday. According to the café’s website, the aim of the shop is to celebrate life after work or class.
The Squirrel Hill café’s menu offers the classics as well as some more experimental brews. One of those offerings is the “Sunrise Espresso,” an espresso shot mixed with orange juice, poured over ice.
On top of coffee, Afters sells pastries, sweets, refreshers, tea and more. The café is located at 1931 Murray Ave.
The Roaming Bean
The Roaming Bean started as a mobile coffee shop a few years ago, but in January 2026 it laid down its roots in the Strip District with a permanent brick-and-mortar storefront.
This shop has been a Pittsburgh staple since it debuted in 2022; it is a two-time winner in the “Best Local Coffee Shop” category of Pittsburgh Magazine’s Best of the ‘Burgh contest. While it is known for its sweet lattes — cookie butter, tiramisu and honey lavender — the store also features baked goods from pastry caterer, Icing on the Cake. The Roaming Bean’s permanent location is located at 1455 Smallman St., and you can still catch the cart around the city.
Standing Wave Coffee Roaster
The family-operated roaster Standing Wave Coffee Roasters has opened up two permanent locations in both Lawrenceville and the South Side.
The outdoorsy-themed coffee shop, which aims at being a sustainable and eco-friendly roaster, roasts all their beans in-house. To keep up with the water and nature theme, three of the specialty drinks pay respect to the flowing rivers that pass through the Steel City — The Allegheny, The Ohio and The Monongahela.
The Lawrenceville Standing Wave Coffee Roasters is located at 4112 Butler St. and the South Side location is located at 2024 Sarah St.
Pre Amp Coffee Studio
Pre Amp Coffee Studio is a caffeinated melomaniac’s dream. The musical themed coffee shop, located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, includes everything from your classic espresso shots to mocktails.
On top of serving caffeinated drinks at their coffee bar, Pre Amp Coffee Studio also has a full menu of food, including burgers and hot dogs. Pre Amp Coffee Studio is located at 5840 Forbes Ave.
Origin Story Coffee
The superhero themed coffee bar, located Downtown, believes that every hero has a story — and your story starts here. Many of the drinks pay homage to classic heroes — the Herculean Hazelnut, the Gilgamesh and Chewbacca’s Hot Chocolate, for example.
Grab your hero fuel at Origin Story Coffee, located at 309 Smithfield St.
Creative Chem Co.
Work, create, caffeinate. Creative Chem Co. is Bloomfield’s first creative coworking club and café. The eclectic club opened for members last December, but this year, the first floor opened its doors to the public as a cafe, where folks can purchase locally sourced pastries and caffeinated beverages.
The coworking club and café also has two studios available to rent. The first fits four, who can work under the watchful eye of a giant Jeff Goldblum mural, with the second seating eight. Creative Chem Co. is located at 4618 Friendship Ave.
Spot of Coffee
An East Liberty alley hides a new hidden coffee spot. Spot of Coffee opened its doors last August, aiming to integrate lifestyle and wellness into their brewing techniques. The shop uses no refined sugars, oils or additives and offers add-ons like grass-fed collagen, mushrooms and house made alternative milks, according to its website.
The health-focused coffee shop offers specialty drinks like toasted tahini honey lattes and lychee matcha refreshers. Spot of Coffee is located at 6015 Stevenson Pl.
The Soft Spot
The Soft Spot, located in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood, is the city’s only sapphic café. The sober and queer focused space has events almost every day, from puzzle swapping to trivia nights.
According to its website, the café is built for community building; it boasts a non-alcoholic coffee bar, book corner and family centered spaces. The Soft Spot is located at 5407 Penn Ave.
