Phillyist's Favorite...Place to Get a Cup O' Joe

Welcome to the first installment of Phillyist's Favorite, an occasional feature where we tell you our favorite places to do...you know..stuff.

Phillyist has a wee little caffeine addiction. Our need is so sharp that we have developed a sixth-sense that allows us to locate the Starbucks nearest to us at any given time. However, although we are a slave to the bean, we aren't slaves to that Seattle corporate coffee giant. Here are some of our favorite coffee spots around town:

Best Coffee: La Colombe
This Rittenhouse Square coffee shop makes our favorite cup of coffee in town; just smelling their house brew in the air when we walk by is invigorating. However, their interior combination of atmosphere and clientele is so hip, we're only comfortable getting their coffee to go. We're certain we exponentially diminish their coolness with our mere presence every second we're inside. (130 S. 19th Street)

Best Place for Coffee and a Chat: Walnut Bridge Coffee House
Sprawling sofas, friendly service and good coffee makes this a great spot for a long sit. It's a little off our personal beaten path, but it's where we take friends in from out-of-town when we need a coffee-fueled catch-up session. (2319 Walnut Street)

Best Cup of Hot Chocolate: Joe's Coffee Bar
When we want a warm drink that won't give us the caffeine jitters, we stop by Joe's, where they offer not only fair trade and organic coffees, but our absolute favorite winter drink: Aztec Hot Chocolate. As an added bonus, no matter what we order at Joe's, the cashier invariably responds with an understated, "Cool," as though our drink order were the height of hip. It almost makes us feel cool enough to hang out at La Colombe. (1100 Walnut Street)

Best Place for a Beverage and a Browse: Big Jar Books
Books and coffee - two of our greatest pleasures - exist here in wonderful synergy. And the way we can shop for books, we need all the energy we can get. (55 N. 2nd Street)

Best Place to Sip and Spy: Gleaner's Cafe
Funky, friendly Italian Market coffee shop that serves a complimentary chocolate kiss with every cup of java (awesome). We recommend people-watching at an outdoor seat with a breakfast sandwich and latte mid-Sunday mornings, when the market is hopping and that roving accordionist is wandering up and down the street. (917 S. 9th Street)

Best Baristas: The Starbucks at 9th & South
We know, we know; we're guilty, guilty corporate consumers. But we love this Starbucks. The baristas always seem happy to see us, and have the best smiles in town. (600 9th Street)

Where do you get your fix?
Image via: Zapp-net