Pittsburgh's 2025 coffee boom brewed new cafes
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Pittsburgh had a latte celebrate this past year as several new cafes popped up in neighborhoods across the city.
Why it matters: Some neighborhoods welcomed new shops while other cafes expanded to more locations, offering fresh flavors and comfortable coworking spaces.
As we look back on 2025, we rounded up a list of coffee shops that we covered during the Steel City java boom.

Shibam - Oakland
Pittsburgh's first Yemeni cafe opened in February, offering coffees bursting with Middle Eastern flavors and decadent desserts. The gold-plated interior design gives an elegant vibe while sipping an iced pistachio latte.
📍 4630 Centre Ave.
- ⏰ 7am-11pm daily

La Prima - Oakland
The longtime staple continued its dominance in the city, opening its fifth location in May. The North Side-based coffee roaster offers Italian-style espresso drinks, and owners hoped the Oakland location would serve hospital staff and college students.
- 📍3400 Fifth Ave.
- ⏰ Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 5:30am-4pm, Wednesday and Friday 5:30am-5:30pm and Saturday-Sunday 6:30am-2:30pm

Ineffable Cà Phê - Point Breeze
Ineffable Cà Phê added a location in June attached to Enson Market. The Vietnamese coffee shop serves "Viet Cold Brews" and "Sunny Banh Mis," staying true to its authentic flavors established at its flagship Lawrenceville location.
- 📍7511 Thomas Blvd.
- ⏰ 8am-3pm Monday-Sunday

Spot of Coffee - East Liberty
Opened in August in an unlikely location – an alleyway behind Kelly's bar – this new space turned a formerly empty road into a coffee destination, the stylish bar-like counter and comfy seats added a place to hang out in East Liberty and try a banana bread iced latte.
- 📍 6015 Stevenson Place
- ⏰ Saturday-Thursday, 8am-3pm, Friday, 8am-1pm

Arabica Robusta - Homestead
This new spot became the only local coffee shop on Homestead's main drag after opening in September. The Black- and woman-owned cafe is named after arabica and robusta coffee beans, which the borough-native owners combined for a special "Homestead blend."
- 📍207 E. 8th Ave.
- ⏰ Monday-Friday, 6am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday, 8am-4pm

Pre Amp Coffee Studio - Squirrel Hill
This music-theme coffee bar opened in November on Forbes Avenue and became an instant hit. Operated by DeShantz Restaurant Group, known for running several stylish and popular restaurants in the city, you can find a bustling crowd on a Saturday afternoon sipping a maple bourbon latte.
- 📍 5840 Forbes Ave.
- ⏰ 7am–6pm, Tuesday-Saturday

Creative Chem Co. - Bloomfield
Opening Dec. 1, Creative Chem Co. offers a multi-use coworking space decked out in eclectic decor — like a lifesize Jeff Goldblum mural. The cafe's first floor is open to the public, featuring specialty drinks from Commonplace Coffee.
- 📍4618 Friendship Ave.
- ⏰ Monday-Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm
