Massaro’s

Yes! Coffee was good. I prefer something a little bolder, but that’s a preference statement, not a quality statement. I had a flat white and it was *lovely*.
Not only was the coffee good though, but I ordered a sandwich and it was FANTASTIC. Far above my expectations for Cambridge, and a very good sandwich for /​anywhere/​.
I came in about mid afternoon, and they didn’t seem to mind at all that I’d camped out for about two hours, working for the first hour and then gossiping with friends for the second. Of course, it wasn’t very busy (which is why you should go there! One, it keeps them in business, two, you’ll get a table for sure) so I guess they wouldn’t feel a need to evict me.
Anyway, great place, will be back!

So while in Cambridge over a booze-​filled weekend, I needed a bit of coffee to keep me sane. So Sunday morning (well late morning), I rolled up to Massaro’s.
I ordered a cappuccino and two croissant (one for me, and one to take back for the other half). They nicely offered to put a bit of sugar in the espresso so that I wouldn’t have to try to mix it in at the end! Score! They also warmed up the pastries.
Coffee was quite tasty. Not quite a cappuccino though, probably more of a latte. The cup just was too heavy. That’s how you know the sign of a good cappuccino. Good foam, and a general lightness to the cup. That being said, it was a very tasty latte.
The only complaint I have, and it’s a minor complaint is they seem to have some strange opening hours. I tried to come here at 9:50 am on Monday morning and they were closed! I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt that it was a bank holiday Monday, but to me coffee is definitely something that I need access to before mid-​morning. I would have liked to get another delicious cup instead of going to Sainsbury’s and ending up with a Starbucks double shot from the cold drink section.

One of the best Italian cafes in cambridge. Real foamy cappuccino you can get. Superb ciabatta, indeed. If you have ever had real espresso, this is THE place!

Without exaggeration, the best sandwiches I’ve had. The quality of the ingredients really comes through. Awesome coffee as well.

Who knew that Cambridge had a truly great place to get coffee? This quiet gem is well worth finding — it is half way down Regent Street (i.e. easy walking distance from centre of town, if you are staying at the University Arms GET BREAKFAST/​COFFEE HERE).
It serves as good as the best coffee you have ever tasted (my Californian comparison — this place is up there with Blue Bottle Coffee and LA Mill). And the cakes! Oh the cakes. The Tunisian carrot and orange cake is heavenly. The cornmeal almond cake is ridiculously moist and delicious. If only I lived closer.

Massaro’s has brought the speciality coffee scene to Cambridge. Hooray!
As a coffee tourist and espresso snob, I’ve been to every coffee house Cambridge has to offer, and this place isn’t just better than the rest, it’s far better than the rest.
The difference between a standard half decent Italian joint (e.g. Savino’s, down the road), and a speciality coffee house like Massaro’s is that the latter cares deeply about coffee, its origin, the quality of the blend, the age of the beans, and the process of brewing. It’s more than just road fuel!
The other difference is that Massaro’s is reliable with coffee. You never know who might be serving when you head into a more busy, popular place, and it’s possible that your latte is actually a cup of overextracted misery topped up with some sweet milk to hide the horror. At Massaro’s, not so. As far as I can tell, you will only ever be served by the owners, who are knowledgeable and have high standards and good barista skills.
Today was a horrid, rainy, wintry Monday, and my pick-​me-​up was a Flat White then a couple of double espressos at Massaro’s. It was a real treat, the espresso had that gorgeous tangy apply edge, robust, and wonderful creamy aftertaste. Also they serve espresso shots in small shot glasses with tiny little glasses of water on a silver tray, which is utterly delightful.
Sorry to focus just on the coffee — I know Massaro’s is also a serious deli, but coffee is my thing.
I dearly hope Massaro’s does well, and despite not living very near, I’ll be making special trips every so often, just for the great coffee.