4A Coffee In Brookline To Close After Almost 10 Years In Town

BROOKLINE, MA — An acclaimed coffee shop that has been at the corner of Harvard and Fuller streets for nearly a decade is set to close for good. The closure could happen as early as next month, the shop owners are telling customers.

Alan Draper his wife Erke and two daughters have roasted coffee beans every morning in-house since 2012 at the shop named simply "4A Coffee" The small coffee shop has long been considered a draw to the JFK Crossing neighborhood, next to Coolidge Corner. Although some have criticized the owners for not having traditional seating — there are no tables just a bench near the window for those waiting for their coffee — it's won acclaim in Boston Magazine, WUBR and the Boston Globe for its high quality coffee.

Although there is no mention of a closure on the shop's website, or social media, the coffee shop owners are telling customers and restaurant owners who serve their coffee that they're closing permanently in February. A blog post from Boston Restaurant Talk first reported the news. The exact date unknown, Erke Draper told a customer recently. Alan Draper told Patch in an email the next steps were still not quite finalized.

Servio García, owner of BISq Cambridge in Inman Square, and Bergamot/FAB in Sommerville said he's been serving their coffee at his restaurants since the shop opened. He said he's ever been impressed by their passion and knowledge of coffee. When they told him last year they were closing shop he was sad.

"They have the best coffee in the Boston Area," he said in message to Patch. "They are amazing people serving amazing coffee."

Last year, Tatte's, a local chain associated with Panera Bread that specializes in a variety of Mediterranean baked goods set up shop across the street. But Erke Draper told customers recently that neither the new bakery nor the pandemic really affected business much. She said they've been wanting to retire since before the pandemic.

Draper and his wife established the coffee shop in Kazakhstan in 2005, before moving to the states and setting up shop here, offering everything from espresso to a mocha with Tazo chocolate shavings to teas to go. The owners say the shop is only serving small batch brewed coffee amid the pandemic.

For now, the shop is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and is closed Sundays and Mondays.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.