Rival Bros Coffee has roasted in Philadelphia since 2011, the work of two proud natives and lifelong friends: Jonathan Adams, a chef, and Damien Pileggi, a roaster who had worked on both coasts. It roasts house blends and seasonal single origins at its own roastery in Frankford, in the north-east of the city.

There are five cafés. The Rittenhouse Square café serves Rittenhouse Square and Fitler Square; Midtown Village is in the middle of Center City; East Passyunk is in South Philly, a few blocks off East Passyunk Square; the fourth is in Brewerytown; and the newest, Olde Kensington, sits on the edge of Fishtown and Northern Liberties. Each pours drip coffee, a Chemex bar and the full range of espresso drinks, with whole leaf teas and grab-and-go water, juice and kombucha. Pastries come daily from Au Fournil and fresh baked goods from The Mighty Bread Co.

Champion is the charity blend. It is always two coffees, rotated with the seasons. The current pair is La Huerta, a single lot from Finca La Bolsa in Huehuetenango chosen by Jonathan and Chris, its director of coffee, on a visit to the exporter Vides58, and La Avi, from smallholders in Lempira, Honduras. Two dollars from every retail bag and every wholesale pound go half to Gemma Services, which supports children and families in Greater Philadelphia, and half to projects in coffee-growing communities; since the blend launched in late 2020 it has raised more than $56,000. The team visited the owners of Finca La Terraza in Huila, whose washed Java is on the current list, in August 2025.

Rival Bros also cans its own iced coffees, brews Black Top cold brew, bottles Bareknuckle cold espresso and supplies wholesale customers with coffee, tea and equipment.

Coffee on the shelf

Photograph: Rival Bros Coffee