I never thought there would come a day when the two most important beverages in my life would be found under one roof. Brew/ Ultimo read my diary; the recently opened spot serves up hand-crafted coffee, brewed drip-style alongside bottles of exotic and eclectic beer.  

Brew/Ultimo just opened on May 8 and so far only has coffee for sale, but the beer is coming soon, says owner Aaron Ultimo. Ultimo, who happens to be a U.S. Barista Championship Certified Judge, went into this coffee business endeavor with his wife, Elizabeth. John Longacre, owner of the Philly Taproom directly across the street from Brew/Ultimo, is handling the beer end of the deal. In 2001, Ultimo began working with coffee. “It was quite accidental, but it became apparent that I enjoyed it a lot,” Ultimo says of the serendipitous journey. Ultimo himself is enough reason to come to Brew/Ultimo (as if beer and coffee wasn't enough); running the show at his coffee bar puts him in the spotlight, where he flourishes like Tom Cruise in Cocktail.

Located in South Philly at 1900 S. 15th St., Brew/Ultimo brews up coffee in two different shifts.  From 7 -11am coffee is made in a Chemex glass brewer and crafted in a drip-style brewer. After 11am Ultimo switches over to individual cup brewers that allows him to wait on every customer hand and foot.  

Brew/Ultimo is customer and earth friendly. Ultimo looks for organic and sustainable items (organic hops, barely and coffee beans) to use in his new place. We're thankful Longacre and Ultimo decided to come to open in our city, and they're excited to have found a city with "the colorful and vibrant characters" that former D.C. resident Ultimo describes Philly as having.

With coffee beans from all over the world, superb espresso drinks and bold cappuccinos we are perfectly fine having a drink and waiting for the local brews to arrive.


For more information about Brew/Ultimo check out http://ultimocoffee.wordpress.com.  As promised by Ultimo himself, be sure to keep an eye out for signature drinks coming soon.