South Philadelphia: What’s Brewing? Coffee — And Plenty Of It

In the neighborhoods east of Broad Street and south of Washington Avenue are a handful of coffee shops that are no more than 10 years old. They’re not Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, but they’re staffed with families and baristas who consider coffee brewing their livelihood.

Despite their young stature, employees from each of the five shops below said they have a special relationship with the tight-knit South Philadelphia community.

Each barista also said residents of South Philadelphia place an emphasis on shopping at small businesses rather than visiting chains. Small businesses make up 99 percent of employer firms in the U.S. and pay almost 43 percent of the nation’s private payroll, according to the U.S. Small Business Association.

Here are five local coffee shops to check out in South Philadelphia:

 

Benna’s Cafe

Benna’s Cafe, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, is located on 1236 S. 8th St. and is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Benna’s Cafe is the original of three shops owned by Nancy Trachtenberg.

Anne Marie Drolet (above right), 27 of South Philadelphia, has been working in the cafe for eight months. She said that it’s mostly regulars who come in, which adds to the communal feel that surrounds Benna’s.

“It just has a really neighborly feel to it because everyone’s really friendly and knows each other,” Drolet said. “It’s a nice environment.”

 

Grindcore House

Grindcore House, a punk-themed vegan coffee shop, can be found on 1515 S. 4th St. The shop has been around for five years and is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the weekends.

Whitney Sullivan (above), 27 of South Philadelphia, has been working at Grindcore for only a month but recognizes the familiar faces that stop in.

“I feel like the vibe is pretty laid back,” Sullivan said. “We have a lot of regulars and people in the neighborhood, and even though it’s a vegan coffee shop, I feel like people have really embraced that.”

 

Cafe Crema

Cafe Crema, a stone’s throw away from Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, is at 1205 S. 9th St. and open everyday from 10 a.m. until midnight.

It stands apart from other coffee shops – the late-night cafe has a hot chocolate bar filled with in-store made chocolates and imported cannolis from Sicily, Italy. Heather D’Antonio (above), 46 of South Philadelphia, said she hopes for more imported desserts from Italy by late March.

D’Antonio, the owner’s daughter, said the former yogurt shop converted to a coffee shop just two years ago. As far as the shop’s relationship with the community, it’s slowly building.

“We’re about working with the community,” D’Antonio said. “We’re about doing fundraisers. We would love more of the neighborhood people here – that’s what we’re aiming for.”

 

Black ‘n Brew

Black ‘n Brew is the only coffee shop in the neighborhood that sells La Colombe coffee, which 36-year-old barista David Caler (above) said makes the shop stand out.

Caler’s been working at Black ‘n Brew for five of the nine years it’s been open, and he claims it’s the friendliest spot to grab coffee in the area.

“Everybody knows one another,” Caler said. “I know almost all of my customers by name.”

Black ‘n Brew also offers breakfast and lunch (Caler said the breakfast burrito and the barbecue chicken wrap are most popular), with a menu that’s all natural and prepared almost all in-house.

Black ‘n Brew is located at 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. and open Monday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Plenty’s Cafe

Plenty Cafe’s long hours make it a popular hangout for late-night coffee cravers, 32-year-old owner Anthony Mascieri said. The cafe doubles as a bar in the evening where bartender Scott Chuss (above), 27, offers wine on tap, beer and cocktails.

Mascieri opened the cafe at 1710 E. Passyunk Ave. two years ago, following success at the restaurant’s Rittenhouse branch.

“There’s a great community relationship in South Philadelphia,” Mascieri said. “It’s a small community in a food-focused neighborhood, and people from different restaurants work together.”

Plenty Cafe serves Square One Coffee, brewed in Lancaster. The cafe is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to midnight, Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to midnight.

— All text and images by Patricia Madej and Claire Sasko.