Reviews of Coffee Exchange (Coffee Shop)

Kevin Geremia

Coffee Exchange on Wickenden Street is the best coffee house I've ever been in. They have set least 15 different types of beans on hand to purchase. If you buy a bag from them they'll give you a cup of any of their coffees on the house. There's more than enough places to sit inside and out. We bought a bag of their brew and wow is it awesome! I can't believe I've lived in the state this long and have only been to the Coffee Exchange just this time. Take my word of you love good, scratch that great coffee- give this place a look.

Hassan Shapourian

I don’t get all these good reviews. Their espresso drinks are not that good at all (as opposed to what you expect from a local coffee place). Mediocre cappuccino. Cookies are OK, a bit dry (could be because they weren’t fresh). Their sitting area both inside and outside is pretty good.

David Brown

One of my favorite places to grab coffee in Providence. The staff is always pleasant, and I've never had a bad coffee/latte. Not to mention they do a superb job of getting people in and out.

Pete Browning

Looks cool look for me on a weekend

Nuryelk Gutierrez

after moving here from Miami, i was anxious about not finding a great coffee shop until i stumbled upon this place by chance looking through Google Maps for a breakfast spot! the variety of coffee here is superb. Ben's the man, both providing fair prices to his customers and also making sure that the coffee farmers that he sources his goods from get paid more for their labor by only selling fair trade items. the baristas (shout out to Naomi!) here are so kind and they really give you quality coffee for what you pay. get yourself to this coffee shop and come check out why it's become my favorite place to get a cup of morning Joe in all of Rhode Island! and don't forget to try the cortadito for a nice kick in the bum first thing in the morning!

Daniela C

We stopped for a coffee on our way to New york from Cape cod. The place is super close to the highway exit and is the best coffee you can get!! This is what I call Passion for coffee ! And the banana bread.... no words needed !

Anvesh Bollam

Loved the way coffee is brewed here and their recommendations all the time I visited the place!!

Marilyn Burchfield

Love the customer service and the coffee etc!

Quinn Abrams

Lovely place, but they *really* like making their roasts dark to the point of being nearly burnt. Try ordering their single origin espresso instead of their regular espresso which is imo too bitter. As far as their whole beans for sale, it's hit or miss some beans are good, but some have similar problems with being over-roasted. That said, it is awesome to have a large selection of fresh roasted beans on offer!!

Josh

Best prices for high quality coffee in the city and they carry knead donuts

Ella H

I had a great time always when I visit this place

Goose Hadley

If, in your dreams, you could envision the perfect coffee house - where they roast their own coffee every day and the place is filled with a fascinating cross section of folks... Open your eyes. It is here.

joseph walecka

The best coffer

Tyler Watroba

Smells so good in there!

Kristen Walker

Best coffee in RI.

naperica

Friendly atmosphere.

Marcella Stevens

After figuring out how to get in, i felt super accomplished right for the bat. Good way to start a study session. Really great spot to work on your laptop for a while, but the tables are pretty small and it gets crowded. I wouldn't say this is a good spot to 'spread out' . Come here to chat with friends, work on your laptop, write, or just relax and smell the amazing smells! Cloud 9 tea is so good and has BASIL in it! Never tried anything like it. Hot chocolate is great. Chai hot cider is also so so good. This place is a winner.

noel/daniel Cortez

Best pick me up great staff amazing coffee

Joe Chasse

Amazing coffee. Haven't been here in about 10 years since moving. I've forgotten how great the coffee is.

Ken Boostrom

Best fresh roasted coffee!

veganallison

Great organic coffee, alternative dairy free milks n sugars. They Brew organic hot n iced cold brew coffee, they have lemonade or vegan dairy free option hot chocolate for kids too.

Alistair Duffy

Fantastic choice of coffees. Very friendly service.

Christian Cloud

Delicious!

Philip Mathieu

Every coffee shop in Providence seems to have their "thing." At Coffee Exchange - or CoFX to some regulars - that thing is food systems sustainability. CoFX has a long history of working to source fair trade beans, and partners with The Coffee Trust to promote community development in Guatemala. The coffee, which is roasted about ten feet from the cash register, will not disappoint. Pastries are sourced from such great local establishments as Knead Doughnuts and Bagel Gourmet. Seating tends to fill up fast on weekends, but the wait is rarely more than a couple minutes.

Titi Lopez

It’s always packed but it’s worth the wait. Their coffee is delicious.

Jeremy Salisbury

Best locally roasted coffee around and at a good price.

Elizabeth Bullard

Insanely delicious coffee....great service...only wish the shop was a little bigger!

William Glenney

Great coffee!!! Wonderful location!!! Great atmosphere!!! I'm jealous that the Coffee Exchange isn't "right around the corner" from me. Then again, I'd probably go broke if it were, because I'd be here everyday.

Joseph A Finan III

Great service! Very friendly staff

Justin Kahn

One of the major caffeine hangout capitals of the Fox Point neighborhood. Mainly indoor, with some minimal outdoor seating. Prepare to hear and feel a lot of buzzy laptops humming in unison inside. Please visitors, try to not crowd the counter or hold up the line with your overcomplicated order or anything like that. Space here is often at a premium

Steve Elliott

Best coffee in providence

Josh Lima

I absolutely love this place. They have hands down the best coffee in Rhode Island. I have a friend who moved to Oregon for a few years and missed this place everyday. I sent him beans a few times. It's a great place to go and study, chill with friends or read. I've been going here for years and always recommend it when people ask where to go to get coffee.

Holly Wade

The coffee was excellent and so were the couple of pastries we tried, but I'd really like it if they served the customers eating/drinking in their nice setting in ceramic dishware instead of single-use plastic and treated non-recyclable cardboard. It surely couldn't be that hard to implement and would fit better with the ethos that otherwise seems present in their coffee sourcing.

John Gniadek

Place was packed. My wife loves their coffee and special yogurt snack they had.

Regan S. Cai

The place is so nice, and I love the beans!

Holly Gish

A Providence staple. The best coffee in the city.

Y M

Bakery a bit too sweet but great coffee

Rock Jocelyn

Love this place! They have amazing coffee blends, tasty pastries, and exceptional customer service. Place is frequented with college students and folks with an alternative bend. Wife and I go here often and will be back again soon!

Lizette Hassan

Good coffee. Okay pastries. Not there for the pastries though, so...

Steven C

Don't know where to stand in this place while waiting for my order. Feel like a human pinball machine. Coffee is normally good, tea selection lacking. Sometimes the staff is warm sometimes cold. Guess it depends on the weather.

Tiff Any

Loved loved loved. Everything about this place is just wonderful. The espresso was delicious!

Rhoda Insula

Our other favorite coffee place on the East Side: they have my mother's not very common China tea and the atmosphere is quirky and friendly at the same time. The best refuge on a gloomy winter day!!

Angel Gervazio

The coffee is very good and the fact that they have strawless lids is great

TAC AUGUST

Ice coffee and ice tea are 99.99% ICE. We were robbed Service is good but overpriced for expensive ice

Daniel Ortiz

Expect the hippest of the hip. Whether young or old. Good coffee. Friendly service. Super intimate. Bunch of people on laptops.

Taj Overton

Coffee MAY be great for you!

dannybee2121

Fantastic selection of coffee beans. Tower drip cold brew is fantastic. Coffee selection is fantastic. Always busy and I can see why.

David Forrest

Proper coffee in relaxed surroundings. Expect a short wait as the place is small and always busy. Good place to buy ethically sourced beans and have them ground in-store. People and servers are friendly. Nowhere near as hipster as some reviewers describe. Just go and see for yourself. It’s a great place.

Nathan Malynn

Delicious coffee and amazing food.

Laura Blackstone

Great service. Great coffee. Indoor and outdoor seating options for small groups or individuals. Tables sometimes wobbly. Small variety of sweets available. Fair price.

Juan Novoa III

The coffee's amazing!

Bernard Carlier

Busy coffee shop and we stopped there after a business meeting. We were able to find a spot to sit down and there is a good vibe in this place . I tried the Macha Tea and it was delicious. We'll definately come back when we are in town again .

j s

Great coffee. A/C was blasting on a hot July day it felt sooo good. The counter area has slots with different coffee beans around the world it's pretty cool.

Nosa FL

What a coffee? I loved it and this is my first time here and I hope it’s not last

Pieter van Cort

Delicious cold brew, great chocolate chip cookie and friendly staff. I'll be sure to stop by next time I'm in town!

Ronald Warr

Cafe au lait and Chai spiced cider were excellent!

Ryan Huggins

Great atmosphere, and great coffee.

Jamie Baril

Awesome

Joe Acciardo

Great place to get coffee and hang out to enjoy it. Great people who work there and nice people who hang there!

Leigh Samantha

I love this place! The atmosphere is wonderful and the coffee is great too! It’s typically pretty crowded so I don’t usually hang out here but I still really enjoy this place!

Bacary DIATTA

Good coffee, good ambiance

Paul Alcantara

Great coffee, atmosphere and staff. If you need coffee while in Providence, you need to stop here.

Clovis

This is the type of place for certain crowd; the crowd that gets coffee, has their headphones on and sits and works on their laptops. They're a bit pricey and have a rather small seating area. They do however have wifi and a diverse group of drinks and options to flavor with. They also boast a small selection of deserts and pastries.

LIA pinto

The have a Great coffee, but it's always crowded

nicole ashley

All there lattes sizes automatically come with 2 shots of espresso. Got a hot cider was really good very sweet! Also there is no wifi on sat and sun because the place is to busy and they don't want it to be to crowded so says the sign.

Paul Kelley

Loved this shop. Relaxing and real. Great beans to go. Staff really friendly and knowledgeable

Angela Thornton

One of my all time favorite coffee shops! I've been randomly visiting here since my days at JWU in 2000-2002 and I am happy they are still on Wickenden St. The coffees and teas are the same and same quality and I love the amount of types of whole beans yo it can purchase and have ground for you. I wish I were closer to Prov but this is one of my favorite treats when I'm in the area. I love getting their spicy chai.

Ginette Walsh

Always a wonderful place to gather with great freshly roasted coffee & pastry & friends not necessarily in that order

Dayan Siri

Tea was good. Nice place to hangout.

Chris Dillman

Delicious.

Timothy Killilea

Great coffee shop, lots of selections for coffee, tea, and a lot of other snacks that accompany the drinks. The best way to learn about all the cool things going on in Providence is to check out their restaurant long bulletin board. Claim a table near it to see what kinds of amazing things are going on.

Matt Bowen

Friendly, knowledgeable staff! Amazing coffee too!

Hen Hen 601

Very calm, nice place to get a coffee and study. The London Fog is very good. I really enjoyed the place and hope to go again soon. If you’re jogging through the park nearby this is a great spot to get a cup of joe. Large variety of coffee to choose from!

Gabi Diamond

Always a good time at the Coffee Exchange

Brandon Paine

I hate to admit this but I used to come here when I lived in Providence back in the early 90's. Now I make it a point to visit anytime I am near there. Great coffee, desserts, and environment; it's everything a coffee house should be without all the corporate glitz!

Kelly M

We love going here once a week to pick up our coffee beans for the week. Fair trade. Lots of selection. And a great deal on the coffee of the day.

Jim Monti

I love the coffee exchange. Their small batch roasted coffees are delicious. I love their weekly whole bean deal. You can't go wrong stopping in for a coffee and grabbing a bag of beans.

Matthew Willett

great little shop tucked away on Wickeden street serving fresh coffee and tasty snacks. The iced mocha (and iced tuxedo mocha) are delicious.

Rebecca M

The Coffee Exchange is a wonderful coffee standby in Providence. AKA the OG of the PVD coffee scene. They’ve been roasting their own beans and brewing quality coffee for over 20 years now and they know what they’re doing. The baristas know what they’re doing and are happy to answer any questions you have about the menu. Only con here is that they get busy and with limited seating it can get cramped on the weekend. The speciality drink to order here is the Undertow (unsweetened)—it’s a rich, bold shot of espresso poured over a glass of cold milk. (Think cortado proportions in terms of espresso to milk distribution.) You might get so lost in thought at how great it is that you get swept out to sea! :P

Andreas T

Very popular. Roasting a huge variety of beans, for every taste preference. Snacks are sourced from good nearby shops. Drinks command average prices, beans are in the $15/ pound and up area.

Ada Dogrucu

A large London Fog increases your working memory by 20%. It's science.

Rita Hansen

Great coffee! Nice outdoor seating!

Cameron

The coffee is enjoyable. Not a typical customer as I felt out of place amongst the very hip crowd. The porch was quiet and relaxing.

Ken Oliver

Excellent place all natural coffee

Tim McKenna

nicest around

Brandon W

Some good drinks there. Had some great Apple cider. But it's very hipster there. Like every person there is a hipster. Everything about the place is hipster. If you walk in there and you're not a hipster then you're getting judged. Judged by a bunch of hipsters. So it's pretty easy to ignore that because you know their opinion is meaningless.

michael h kane

Great coffee's!!!

Scott Phothisane

Been coming to this place for years, the atmosphere here is always a welcoming feeling. Only problem with it is busy ot is really busy, and there is not much room to sit, but you can always get coffee here and take a lovely walk

Jade Williams

One of my favorite spots in PVD to get coffee whenever I am in the city. Sometimes there is a little bit of a wait but that is simply because it’s so good! Def check it out!

Rose Nickerson

I live in RI, not too far away. But, it was like being on vacation! Great espresso! Donuts are good too!

Kishan Rana

Amazing place to try out some exotic coffee, sit outside in the sun or sit inside and work, read or converse! Very busy during the day, cools off in the evening.

Leah Nakashima

One of the best coffee shops in Providence, great atmosphere and even greater coffee

Kenneth Michaud

OMG -.You have to try the Coffee Exchange . You 'll see.why when.you go there

Maria O'Malley

I cannot say enough great things about this spot - my sister introduced it to me when I was visiting her last year in MA .. and I'm still craving the coffee!

vamsi krishna Kavuru

Love the options for coffee and the ambiebce is just perfect for a weekend morning coffee...

George Clark

Visited here in the morning around 8 am. Very busy had to wait a while for my order. Great selection of beans for sale by weight and a variety of options for drinks to have. I feel it’s a little over priced. I like the atmosphere and everyone is welcome. I have a suggestion about the way the London fog is made. ( Perhaps instead of making it with a tea bag use loose tea and put through the espresso machine - unexpected having mouth full of string) otherwise pleasant experience. Cheers.

Caroline Sutherland Mills

Pros: Strong coffee, lots of pastries, and cool vibe Cons: Pricey, rude staff, super crowded

Miranda M

Great hot chocolate and they have non-dairy milk perfect for vegan drinks!

Derek Pajaczkowski

Excellent local coffee house, with a great selection of coffee and tea and whole beans also. Limited selection of light pastry, too.

Kyle Bromley

Great coffee and also teas surprisingly! I'm a matcha addict and their matcha latte is awesome. Usually really noisy though and music blaring, so maybe not the best place to study and work unless you like really loud places to study.

James Atchison

Great coffee!

Hanae Akachkach

This place is always crowded, so expect to wait in line for a while, I don't recommend it for people who want to set and enjoy their drink. It has become popular because they have fair trade organic coffee and wide collection from all over the world, which is nice but it's not the only place in Providence that has these options.

Tina Allen

Freat coffee and bagels.

D. D.

Amazing coffee and espresso. Excellent selection of high quality bulk whole beans. You get a free coffee with a purchase. It can get a little busy and crowded but the atmosphere is lovely. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Stephen Herman

Amazing atmosphere, fresh coffee, a wide selection of coffee beans. This place is a great stop. I highly recommend getting something to eat while you drink your coffee. I will be back.

Santos Campos

I'm a frequent-er of coffee shops. CE was quite charming. Try the Narragansett blend if you get a chance.

Emily B

We went in the morning, was crowded and we had to wait, but it was great. They just need a bigger space for customers.

Robert Botts

If you love great coffee go here if not well still go here it's that good

Andranik Souvalian

I was told I would get a free cup of coffee when buying a pound of coffee beans, then they went ahead and charged me. When I brought it to their attention, they wanted to give me another coffee because it was too much trouble providing a refund. I paid $26 for 1 pound of coffee beans and 2 coffees. With pricing that high, you would think their customer service and coffee would be impeccable... Unfortunately though, both were lacking. I will not be returning. Save yourself the trouble and find another coffee shop.

Xinyu Hua

I went there today and they made me wait for 7 minutes for a drink because they forgot to make until I asked. It turned out it took them 45 seconds to make it, never coming back

Dominga Gleason

A bit pricey but cool atmosphere, a good place to meet up with friends and they sell coffee beans

j hwang

Yes, the place is cool and quirky and the service is fairly good but the coffee is so so. Additionally, if you order ice coffee or ice tea, the cup is 90% ice anyway. Ask for less ice next time.

Colleen Cambell

Ive been a regular for years. I like the coffee variety, especially the dark Costa Rica blends. The outdoor space is great when Im with my dog. Welcoming ambience!

Kurt Breneiser

Amazing coffee served by equally--nay-, markedly more amazing baristas! In addition, Charlie is coequally amazing!

emre biyikli

Great taste of coffee. They serve and sell various kind of coffee.

Don Cunningham

Everything was great

Isabel Toro

I love the idea of showing customer the information related to the coffee they sell. It is a warm place and the coffee is delicious.

Vincent Grourke

Premier coffee joint in Providence. Best coffee around. Good atmosphere. Outdoor seating.

Ryan

Some of the best. Everything I tried was excellent. They are on another level in terms of quality and consistency. Incredible flavor and texture in every cup. Can't wait to visit again.

Patrick Daniels

Delicious coffee, knowledgeable and helpful salespeople. Their consistency is impressive.

Evan Stark

Coffee was ok but the place was crowded so there was no where to sit.

shruti kannan

Loved the brewed coffee and the ambience. The ginger bread and the banana bread were excellent!

Sue Heaney

Small crowded Cafe. Everything is wonderful there.

Justin Cantrell

The undertow is amazing.

Christina T

Interesting place! It is in the College Hill neighborhood of Providence and is in an old house. It was a bit confusing where the main entrance is (but the doors are labeled). I think they make good use of the space with a lot of small tables and different areas to sit on the deck and porch outside. It seems to be a popular place. I enjoyed my iced matcha!

Wade Hitchcock

Some of the best coffee in Providence. Beans roasted on sight, great selection of fair trade organic coffees.

Esther Gonzalez

Exquisite coffee lounge, loved the vibe and diverse crowd. Let's not forget the whole reason for going the coffee right people

tim patterson

This place has turned me into a coffee snob. I gotta have it freshly roasted, freshly ground, freshly brewed. If you're the kind of person who enjoys milky, sugary beverages with fun flavors and calls it coffee (even though it tastes nothing like coffee), Coffee Exchange might not be for you. The coffee here has bold, rich, complex flavors. Depending on the roast, you may get nutty, chocolatey, toasty, fruity, earthy or flowery notes in your coffee. My favorite is any full city roast, because it's doesn't taste burnt the way darker roasts can, and lighter roasts don't taste as "strong." Kinda like toast. The full city roast is that crispy golden perfect middle ground toast.

Princess Smith

Most of the time Coffee tastes old. And their is almost no plug for the pc. Need some improvement.

james ohair

There are coffee shops, and then there are coffee shops. This Providence gem is Head and Shoulders above others in the vicinity. Their Baristas are well-trained, and they roast beans on site. We also like the fact that they are very involved in the entire process of coffee harvesting with ties to organic coffee growers around the world.

Joshua Humphries

For some reason, this shop feels so warm and home-like. I felt welcome and completely comfortable at this shop. Ordered a cortado, and it was delicious (literally had to put my phone down and take the time to savor it haha). Staff is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and humorous. Can’t wait to go back to this shop when i return to RI.

Cyrus Coffee

The best coffee

Viera Levitt

Unpretentious, easy place to have a coffee. Free street parking, usually available.

Greg Serpa

Great coffee. Hip atmosphere. Fresh roasted coffee as well. Highly recommend.

David MacIndoe

Really good coffee selection. A very forward thinking establishment that supports free trade and social issues. Great place to get bagged coffee or sit back and enjoy a cup. Only complaint is that it's a bit pricey

steven sullivan

Great coffee, great atmosphere and superb wait staff.

stephen gillissie

The coffee is really good. They also offer a bunch of different types of brews. They also have a focus on sustainable coffee farming which is kind of a nice added touch. Go across the street to Amy's place, they let you bring in coffee connections coffee and their food is good.

Isabel Ramirez-Burnett

great coffee and service

Krystal Leigh

This place is just amazing! So many roasts it'll make your head spin. Outdoor seating. Been going here for over 18 years.

Kim Andrade

Cool coffee shop to hang at. Has its regular crowd with many locals but will also meet many travelers to Providence. The only thing I wish they would bring back are savory food items, in addition to the traditional sweet items they sell. Also could offer more exciting. Tea selections as there are so many out there.

Igor Jumara

They know Coffee

Joel Nolette

Cozy spot with wide variety of selections

Donna Mello

Great visit. Tea, Service and Vibe - All good - And WiFi a bonus

David James

If you like strong coffee and a variety of pastry items, this is the place to go. The crowd there is mostly college students and the retired. If you have to wait in line, it often goes to the door, it goes quick.

Jillian Davies

I came here with my brother (who doesn’t live in New England) during his stay in Rhode Island. We got 2 drinks (the baristas did good and were very conversational and polite.) My review is 1 star because of the interactions with the older male by the coffee beans. I’m not sure if he was the owner or what his job title was. While waiting for our drinks, my brother and I were browsing at the coffee beans. I was previously a barista, and I was explaining to my brother how my old job had discontinued buying coffee beans from Ethiopia & Kenya as per trade issues. Myself, I was very much considering buying a lb of coffee beans for personal use in addition to a holiday gift for family. The older man asked us “to step away since we weren’t paying customers,” — it was very cold and rude. My brother and I were incredibly confused consider we were in fact paying customers. We explained that we were browsing, to which the man argumentatively said “yeah but are you BUYING any?” — at this point, all I could think is 1.) I was considering buying this product 2.) with this type of behavior, why would I now?...... the man told us to get out of the way for an old, large man - which would have been fine if he was nicer and more polite. But he wasn’t. He acted as if we were loitering and not as worthy of service as compared to the large man. I will not be returning and I will be telling my friends & family not to go here. There are other coffee shops in providence that have relatively the same products & give excellent service. This place is not one of them.

Ken Calamar

Consistently good coffee beverages.

Michael Schemaille

I always enjoy coming here. Great atmosphere - always lively and diverse. Employees are friendly, knowledgeable, and good at what they do.

Kevin Lisi

Good cup of joe but generally way too crowded, for my taste.

Jackie Twitchell

Great coffee from ethical growers!

Marlena Venturini

Very crowded, waited 30 min for coffees and didn't feel they were worth the wait. Upside; baristas were very friendly and did let most patrons know there would be a wait.

Spicyx

Wow! The staff is amazing and they know everything about coffee. Ad I like the small rustic feel of the place. The coffee wether cold or hot is always o point, and its strong. Though the seats are close to each other, and the place is usually crowded i the mornings, and at night.

Lisa Allen

Excellent coffee and chill, homey atmosphere. Lemon basil donut was excellent! Staff not 100% patient with first timers but mostly pleasant enough. Nice deck terrace too!

James Pope

Lovely place with just a hint of uptightnes.

Todd English

Consistent quality and experience, besides great coffee the selection of sweets is nice.

Justin Dowlat

Friendly staff who are knowledgeable about what they're passionate about!

Brian Guckian

This shop sells really good coffee.

Joell O'Malley

Excellent super cool coffee shop!

Lam Cynthia

Delicious Mocha and love that they have some gluten free brownies! also yummy bagels ,muffins, scones ,donuts, gingerbread...staff is always friendly no matter how busy they get...