We love coffee. And, Bostonians love coffee. Yet, there has been no single café that embodies the sophistication and attitudes that we share in Boston—an appreciation for the simple pleasures, a thirst for knowledge and a leaning towards subtlety. That is, until now.

Pavement provides a café experience that is uniquely and unmistakably Boston. We offer select coffees from across the globe, a modest café menu and opportunities to learn about the coffees we serve and the regions from which they come. You can stop in on the way to work for a fast cup or stay a while and enjoy a comfortable atmosphere for relaxing, meeting friends, or just reading a good book.

For more than a decade, Bagel Rising has been offering Bostonians award-winning kettle boiled bagels, a variety of sandwiches and fast service without sacrificing quality. Espresso Royale has been developing a reputation among locals, tourists and students for being a great place to relax, meet friends, study or just re-fuel. Pavement benefits from the experiences and lessons learned at both Bagel Rising and the three Espresso Royale stores. The result is a café of distinct character and, oh yeah, AMAZING coffee. So, come in and experience Pavement for yourself. We look forward to meeting you.

Our History
From our humble beginnings, more than ten years ago, as part of the Midwest’s Espresso Royale chain of cafes, we have matured into a distinctly urban café that is independently owned and that is 100% based in Boston. Because of our unique situation—originally as part of the ERC chain and later independently owned—we are able to offer the quality and variety of coffees that you’d expect to find in boutique coffee bars, but served quickly within the high-volume environment that is part of Boston city life.


Our Mission
Our coffee program is designed to promote social responsibility while delivering products that are extremely high in quality, clearly and concisely packaged—and without being snooty or pretentious. Call it a cliche, but we want to serve "coffee for the people". Our number one priority is making the coffees we serve accessible to as many people as possible by maintaining an efficient operation and by making educational information available to our customers—on request and free of charge. And we want to showcase the incredible developments that have taken place in coffee growing, production and preparation over the last two decades. This is our mission.


Coffee Selection
Our coffees are chosen by the farm based on geographic location and seasonal availability. We avoid carrying blends or coffees that are defined by roast level, "strength" or artificial flavorings and additives. We seek out and select coffees that are full in natural flavor and can be enjoyed by themselves or as the base of a great drink recipe.

Understanding how coffees grown in Kenya can taste much different than those grown in Sumatra is exciting, and we enjoy relating as much of that knowledge as possible to our staff and customers. While we offer a wide variety of coffee-based drinks, we pride ourselves in carrying coffees that exhibit simple yet multi-dimensional flavors and taste great on their own.


Seasonal Availability
Almost all coffee shops advertise the ”freshness” of their coffee, but we take a few extra steps to ensure that what you taste in your cup is the same unadulterated flavor you would find on the farm. All of the coffees we offer have been grown in the last 10 months and roasted within a day of its delivery. So, the coffees we make available at any given time of the year are chosen based on the growing seasons worldwide. You may not always be able to find the regional coffee you seek, but that it only because it is not actually in season. At Pavement, you can rest assured that the coffees you do get are always the freshest available.