Downtown’s Wishing Cup Brews More Than Coffee

Reviewing Boston’s Newest Café: The Wishing Cup

As a self-proclaimed coffee-lover with a serious affinity for caffeine, I must admit I rarely diverge from the beloved Dunks seconds from my apartment. But I’ve turned a new leaf this year, with a horrible case of senioritis presenting as existential regret over every café I never tried in Boston. I ventured out to Government Center to visit one of Boston’s newest cafés, The Wishing Cup, which opened its doors on Court Street this September. The spot has generated quite the buzz, particularly for their commitment to granting community wishes every month (hence their name), but the question still stands:

Would the drinks deliver?

I arrived around 2 p.m. on a Wednesday, the middle of the work and school day, so I expected at most two or three others to be inside. Boy, was I wrong. College-aged caffeine comradestook up almost every seat. Some spoke quietly among themselves, but most were there solo with headphones on and laptops open. The noise level was low, but not silent, with quiet instrumental pop playing throughout the space. After walking straight up to the counter to order — a rarity in Boston — I snagged a countertop space and people-watched for roughly six minutes until my food and drinks arrived.

While they might be known for their beverages, their extensive food menu, spanning pastry, breakfast and lunch options, certainly has something for everyone and isn’t to be missed. The beverage menu is something of a Hall of Fame for modern café culture, featuring specialty lattes, playful matcha pairings, and fruity refreshers for our non-coffee drinkers. The service was friendly and quick despite the everlasting chaos of downtown, and a total of $30 for a central location that is just a few steps from Government Center isn’t too shabby.

My order:

Iced Matcha Air Latte — $5.75 Matcha + vanilla syrup + whipped oat milk

Iced Caramelista Latte — $6.25 Iced shaken espresso + caramel syrup + salted caramel cold foam

Almond Croissant — $4.75

Caprese Sandwich — $12.99 Parmesan focaccia + tomato + pesto + spinach + mozzarella

Air Matcha: Aesthetically pleasing and, well, airy — two things my daily cold brew certainly lacks. The presentation was seriously picture-ready, so make sure you order to stay to get the glass. I was sitting at the window closest to the sidewalk, and more than one person stopped in their tracks to appreciate the green foamy concoction. To me, the biggest turn-off when it comes to matcha is taking that first sip and getting hit with a dirty, grassy flavor. This was absolutely not the case here. The matcha flavor was there but balanced out perfectly with the oat milk and vanilla syrup. The whipped oat milk topping was the cherry on top and my favorite part of the drink–it was light, fluffy and damn near perfect. ★★★★☆

Caramelista: This drink’s a crowd favorite, an iced-shaken espresso with a salted caramel cold foam. I mean, what’s not to love? It’s a sweet latte, yes, but the boldness of the espresso still peeks through the sweetness, creating a toffee-caffeine explosion resembling an elevated Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks. Very tasty and perfect for someone with a sweet tooth, but if I had finished the entire drink, I would have definitely required an Alka-Seltzer or two. ★★★☆☆

Almond Croissant: An almond croissant is always my go-to, so I was excited for this one. The croissant was flaky and undeniably fresh; however, I found myself searching for more almond filling, which was mildly disappointing. Nevertheless, it’s a solid option if you’re on the go or just feeling peckish, especially at under $5. ★★★☆☆

Caprese Sandwich: The surprise star of my afternoon, the perfectly crispy parmesan focaccia could have been worth the humid T-ride over by itself. Layers of thinly sliced tomato, pesto, spinach, and mozzarella cheese stacked between two (enormous) slabs of focaccia — what more could you need? ★★★★★

Now about those community wishes. Each month, customers are invited to submit a community “wish” into a huge brass bowl next to the register. At the end of the month, staff review the requests and select one. A portion of café sales go to fulfilling the wish — whether that’s art supplies for a local school or donating coffee to a homeless shelter — in a tradition that adds a dash of local good into your morning latte.

The Wishing Cup isn’t merely an Instagrammable photo-op; it’s a purpose-driven café in the business of granting community wishes — with drinks that catch the eyes of passersby and satisfy the taste buds of fellow latte-lovers. Go for the Air Matcha if you’re in the mood for a creamy mid-afternoon kick, or the Caramelista if you’re a caramel lover in need of a sweet sip. But whatever you order, enjoy it and the quiet satisfaction of knowing your latte just helped make someone’s wish come true.

If you go: 45 Court St., Downtown Boston, (617) 982–6773, www.wishingcup.com, drinks $4-$7, sandwiches $13-$16, pastries $4-$5.