Mojo – 4/10
Mojo Coffee opened its first Hoboken location in June 2020 at 230 Willow Avenue with the mission of creating a welcoming and community-oriented space. After their original store on Willow, Mojo expanded to 801 Bloomfield St. Mojo is one of my go-to spots. However, their pumpkin spice latte did not live up to my expectations. It was quite bitter, lukewarm, had an unpleasant aftertaste, and hardly tasted like pumpkin. This latte was disappointing, considering how much I usually love their drinks.
Bwè – 7/10
Bwè kafe, whose name means “drink coffee” in Haitian Creole, is located at 1002 Washington St. They also developed a partnership with Little City Books, adding to their appeal. The shop has a very cute vibe and welcoming baristas. Their pumpkin spice latte was divine. Its flavors were perfectly balanced, creating the perfect fall drink, as if it were made for a crisp autumn day.
Empire Coffee & Tea Co – 10/10
Empire is located at 338 Bloomfield St., offering a wide selection of coffee beans, tea leaves, and accessories. The shop itself smells like freshly brewed coffee and has cute outdoor seating. Their pumpkin spice latte was like autumn in a cup. The mix of pumpkin and cinnamon was perfectly balanced and left a sweet taste in my mouth. It was the perfect temperature and consistency. This latte blows away the competition. I wish I could get one every single day.
Hey Coffee People – 6/10
Hey Coffee People is located at 103 Garden St. It opened in April 2023 and has since become a Hoboken favorite. A local bakery, Baking Mama, provides their pastries. Their pumpkin spice latte was not what I expected it to be. The espresso itself was clearly outstanding, but it did not have a clear pumpkin taste. It tasted like a good plain latte, pleasantly bitter and unflavored. On the bright side, their cinnamon roll was outstanding. It was sweet and very soft with the perfect amount of cinnamon and icing. The pastry and latte together were a great combination.
The Hive – 3/10
The Hive, located at 1000 Park Ave., opened in November 2020. It is a welcoming coffee shop that also has a play space for children. On the weekends, they have limited amounts of specialty cinnamon rolls that people line up around the block for. I usually love every drink I get from The Hive, yet their pumpkin spice latte disappointed me. There was clearly too much syrup in the drink — it was thick and overbearingly sweet, with an extremely strong artificial pumpkin taste. I assume it would be significantly better with less flavoring. However, this does not change the fact that The Hive is one of my favorite coffee shops in Hoboken.
Jefferson’s – 2/10
The Jefferson family’s coffee roots date back to the 1880s, with ties to one of Constantinople’s first coffee houses. Sadly, their pumpkin spice latte was truly disappointing. It was lukewarm, watery, and overly bitter. There was also no pumpkin taste at all, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste.
Starbucks – 8/10
Starbucks was founded in 1971 in Seattle, Washington. It spread rapidly throughout the United States, now having countless locations. Starbucks is very popular and commonly visited for its expansive menu. In Hoboken, there are a plethora of local coffee shops, yet Starbucks is always busy. Their pumpkin spice latte was incredible. It was very sweet and had a good cinnamon flavor as well. It tasted just like the beginning of fall. While Starbucks doesn’t have the charm of the local businesses, it can always be counted on for a good drink.
