Crema Cafe

Cozy café vibe, perfect place to grab a sandwich or some sweets! Would definitely recommend getting the hot chocolate I ordered! The hot chocolate was the perfect combination of cocoa and foam that was simply heavenly. My only qualm is that there is not enough seating and had a crowded waiting area.

Crema Café might be someone’s cup of tea (or latte) but it’s not mine. If you’ve got bucks to blow and people to impress in Harvard Sq, swing by. Avoid if you like cheap eats and wifi.
I came early on a Saturday morning to get some work done– knowing from previous reviews that it’s a beloved spot and seats fill up quickly. I saw some open tables and checked that off as a good omen. I scanned the bakery section and saw that not only were other reviewers correct that Crema is expensive, but they are disproportionately expensive. Bakery items are by and large $ 3 and up, and the scones/​muffins/​etc are small. Real small. Too small for $ 3 and change. Anyhoo, I order the famed Golden Crema latte and a croissant, drop my things at a table, and approach a young man for the wifi info. «We don’t have wifi, but if you sit up front you might be able to connect to Harvard’s.» Helpful, slightly, but upsetting. The internet had failed me!
I clearly didn’t do the right kind of research before I hopped on the train and was pretty disappointed to spend $ 8 on a small latte and nothing-​special croissant. Lesson learned.

One of my favorite places to go for coffee and croissants. Whether it’s to take out or stay in and sit upstairs at one of their tables the place is always hopping and it’s one of my very favorites.

Fantastic coffee shop. Conveniently close to the Red Line AND the food & coffee are great. Had the Dried Fig and Port Jam Sandwich (with Brie cheese and walnuts in it) and YUM! Also had their Red Crema– a yummy tea latte. Great atmosphere and friendly servers! A+

I have been here a few times. Finding a place to sit is Hunger Games (see what I did there?) style competitive… really gotta be on your toes, to be expected in Harvard Square. The House Roasted Turkey & Jicama Slaw sandwich is admittedly the only menu item I have tried, but oh boy is it tasty! If you find yourself unable to decide on what to order for eats, I would suggest trying this!

Crema Café is my first coffee experience in Harvard Square. I was drawn to it because it has the appeal of a hipster coffee shop – it’s not a chain, and I wanted to try something unique to the area.
The café itself looks lovely – there’s seating on the ground level as well as on the loft-​balcony above. However, this place appears to get packed easily; there really is not a ton of seating, unfortunately. The vibe is great. Most people appeared to be studying or meeting friends, and so there was a nice conversational white noise as I was sipping my coffee.
I asked the cashier for a coffee recommendation, and she said that the golden crema latte is their signature drink. I, of course, followed her glowing recommendation and ordered it. The price was fine; $ 4.75 for a good-​sized latte. The latte looked great; I probably should have snapped a picture. It was a gorgeous speckled brown with some simple-​but-​well-​executed latte art.
Then I tasted it. Sadly, I was disappointed. The flavors on this one are subtle… It essentially tasted like a plain latte with some small bits of cinnamon. I’d describe it as fine but completely unspectacular – this is not the sort of drink that one raves about to one’s friends. I hate to say it, but it was a bit bland.
I imagine that this is a great café for the experience of meeting friends for coffee, but, as far as the coffee itself goes, I must say that Crema is totally un-​noteworthy. I’d give it a solid A for presentation, but the coffee was an average C.

Coffee.Work.Sleep.Repeat. Beautiful shop in the middle of ‘Hahvad’ Square. It is unique in that it has two floors! Got lucky enough that the only open seat on the second floor was right on the railing, and could face the indoor of the shop. The coffee was brewed perfectly, and tasted fresh and rich. Also tried the pear almond cupcake that tasted organic and sweet. Recommend the Golden Crema, a double shot latte, with cinnamon and honey. #coffeebeantown
follow me on instagram: @coffeebeantown

This is solely based on my new favorite vegetarian (or not) sandwich. I’m not a sandwich girl but I can eat this goodness every single day. In between two perfectly toasted whole wheat bread from iggys is the perfect combination of skin-​on sweet potatoes, creamy avocado, crunchy sprouts, slightly tart green apples and hummus. Flavors and textures blend in to form this perfect delight. Filling yet super healthy.

Review for food only:
I had the thai peanut salad and golden crema latte.
Thai peanut salad — the peanut sauce was okay though I’ve definitely had better. There was also very little of it so I had to eat most of the salad without sauce.
Golden crema latte — delicious; definitely one of the better lattes I’ve had in Cambridge.
My friends also ordered sandwiches but none of them were crazy about it.
As a breakfast/​brunch place, I’d give Crema 3 stars because the food I had was pretty mediocre. However, the ambience did make it suitable for chatting with friends, so as a meeting spot I would recommend Crema.

I just had the best cup of hot chocolate I’ve had in my life. I’m glad I didn’t know about this place when I lived in Boston, it would have been hazardous!

A staple of Harvard Square, Crema Café is where I find myself catching up with friends over tea and coffee, grabbing a quick breakfast (the parfait is awesome), sitting outside in the sun (for a limited time only thanks to the lovely Boston weather) with sweet potato chips, and picking up catering orders. It’s always filled, though the more I think about it, the more I think it’s because there’s no other non-​chain bakery in the Square. I like the comfortable vibe and abundant seating. The food itself is just standard. The scones and quiches look amazing, but end up being a bit bland and dry. The croissants are decent, and the parfaits are great. Never insult the parfaits. The wait for food can be a bit long and given how busy it always is, the staff isn’t the friendliest. That said, Crema is consistent and convenient so as long as I need a breakfast spot close to campus, I’ll keep coming back.
Pro tip: $ 10 credit card minimum so if you’re just getting breakfast, bring cash.

By far the best boutique coffee shop in Harvard Square. Each cup of coffee I have had here is prepared beautifully. The flavor of the coffee is well balanced, silky, smooth, rich, and bold. The coffee art adds a nice touch and they also have a great deal of latte variations that are also quite good. Great place to do work (although it sometimes gets a little ramped). The only caveat is there’s no wifi.

Favorite café in Harvard Square for coffee & a quick bite! A bit noisy and crowded, so not a good café to sit and do work imo, but cute date spot if you can find seats.
Reviewing what I’ve gotten here:
Sweet Potato Sandwich — a must-​try! @Meat-lovers, before you shake your head, know that you can add chicken (as I did; an egg sounds really good, too) and it’ll still be amazing. Normally I’m not a fan of overly bready sandwiches, but their thick, chunky, toasted homemade wheat is the bomb.
Turkey jicama sandwich — Also really good, bacon + avocado are a match made in heaven. VERY greasy though… probably the unhealthiest sandwich on the menu.
Lattes — Can’t go wrong, ever. I’ve tried the Golden crema latte (amazing, I got it w/​soy and w/​o honey and it was sweet enough for me) and Chai tea latte.

Crema is my go to spot in Harvard square. Good sandwiches (sweet potato) and decadent pastries but the real stars are their espresso drinks. Their Red Crema latte is exceptional.
Finding seating can be a challenge so be prepared to stalk tables and elbow grad students out of the way to claim one of the coveted tables on the upper level.

For nearly four entire years, I never found a seat at Crema Café whenever I came by, so I walked out empty-​handed and on my way to Starbucks. What a big mistake! Having finally gotten around to trying out the I think Crema is definitely worth the long waits!
I tried some of their iced coffees and lattes and they were very solid. Easily the best coffee I’ve had in Harvard Square. Sometimes, they are too sugary, but they otherwise taste amazing. I also got my buddy a couple of bacon cupcakes and macarons, and he was a very happy camper. They have a great selection of sandwiches and pastries! For sandwiches, they’ve got the Pesto Grilled Chicken Melt, Grilled Cheese, Spicy Tofu Bun, Crema Grilled Chicken, and House Roasted Turkey & Jicama Slaw! You can’t go wrong with any of these picks…

[+]
— One of the best cup of coffee (cappuccino, latte) in the greater Boston area.
— Desserts are decent.
[-]
Somewhat crowded.

Go here instead of Starbucks! I love Crema. It is a great place to grab lunch or coffee with friends or sit down and do homework. It gets very crowded, so if you come around lunch you need to hover while you wait for a table to open up.
Drinks: try the ginger steamer. It is cheap and really great if you are feeling under the weather. I always feel cleansed after I drink this. The red crema is also good, but it mostly tastes like milk and honey, so don’t get it if you want a caffeinated drink.
Food: the sweet potato and avocado is the go to sandwich. Who knew that sprouts, green apples, and hummus would go so well together? The grilled cheese is also nice if you feel like eating something a little less healthy. You can add onions and tomatoes to it for free. I also love the cupcakes here because the flavors are so fun and they are cheaper and better than the cupcakes at Sweet. Check Crema’s instagram for the flavors of the month.
Tip: bring cash if you spend under $ 10!

Average coffee but nice clerk. A freaking busy coffee spot.
Ice coffee does have way too much ice as other Unilocalers pointed out. Can taste burning bitterness in espresso even though it’s iced.

To get a deep sense of all that is beautiful and good in the world, order a large mug of the Red Crema. It relaxes your entire being and instills a sense of calm and coziness. It’s as if you’re about to begin a nice long, chilly, fall weekend by a merry fire. Had this on a rainy day last week and again today — exquisite. It’s a rooibos latte with honey and cinnamon — I order with almond milk. Reminiscent of a chai latte but much milder — a subtle sweetness without the spice flavor. Don’t order it iced!
My friend and I did a half/​half thang with the sandwiches — what better way to try different foods right? I probably wouldn’t have finished the turkey and jicama slaw sandwich if it weren’t for the bacon and avocado — holy goodness. However, without that I would have left it because the slaw was bitter and fell short of my expectations of a mindblowing experience based on other Unilocal reviews. My friend loved this sandwich.
I favored the spicy tofu bun. The ginger pickled cabbage was bangin — especially with the sriracha aoili. The satisfying crunch of the pressed boule elevated my sandwich experience. DAMN. So so good! Messy to eat — egg and tofu will try to get away from you so be wary if you’re in polite company.
The steamed ginger drink is a great option if you feel like you need to crawl under your covers to die. I loved the first few sips but it started to taste sort of like a honey lemon cough drop after awhile.
Chocolate truffle amaretto was ok — didn’t taste the amaretto (sad, I love that flavor).
The space is cozy and fun — fantastic café atmosphere with outdoor seating options. The employees have been consistently friendly and awesome and seemingly happy. The restrooms are clean. They also have the «vacant» or «occupied» locks, a worthy investment for every establishment.
I love you a latte, Crema — no chance I’m staying away!

The jicama slaw with turkey sandwich (red cabbage slaw, bacon, avocado, tomato, sliced turkey) is absolutely delicious (though messy)! The Red Crema is, as always, crave-​worthy. It’ll be hard to grab a table, but the effort will be worth it!
Cons:
–No wifi
–You’ll leave the café with your hair smelling of oil, rather than coffee like in Starbucks