It’s easy to find a chain coffee shop in the US – the biggest names are on pretty much every corner. Beyond the familiar favorites, though, are the little guys: the small, homegrown mini-chains and one-off cafés that are beloved for their warm atmosphere, community spirit and great coffee. These are the best independent cafés ib every state across the US.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
Prevail Union is tucked inside C & P Mercantile on Montgomery’s Dexter Avenue. The cozy coffee shop, whose comfy sofas and exposed red brick add to the warm atmosphere, works closely with farmers and producers. Carefully selected beans go into its cold-brew coffee, classic serves, and house creations such as the Alabama Stinger, a customer favorite made with espresso, honey, and milk.
People love the sleek, stylish decor at this Anchorage local favorite, but that’s nothing compared to the quality of the artisan coffee, which some reckon is among the best anywhere. The menu includes house blends, single-origin coffees from Ethiopia and Mexico, and Italian sodas – and the unlimited refills on drip coffee are a big plus for customers too.
Each cup of joe served at A.T. Oasis is brewed using beans sourced exclusively from Ethiopia, widely believed to be where coffee was first discovered. Owner Aisha Tedros was born in Eritrea, Ethiopia’s northern neighbor, and she infuses her drinks with the region’s coffee and traditions. People especially love the ginger coffee and Ethiopian coffee ceremony, where beans are roasted and ground to order then brewed in a clay pot. Customers rave about the food and tea, too.
Doomsday is owned by war veterans and works with nonprofits to help former members of the military suffering with PTSD. Regulars love the fact that the business gives back while also serving fabulous coffee and a great menu of Mexican-style food. Breakfast burritos are a real crowd-pleaser and the tacos get high praise too.
Kreuzberg California is one of those dreamy cafés that locals love and visitors wish they lived nearer to. It’s in the compact Central Californian city of San Luis Obispo and its bright, industrial-chic space is a hit with students and those who simply appreciate great coffee and perfect burgers. Even better, it serves beer and wine into the evening, with a highly rated downstairs cocktail lounge.
It’s hard to imagine a hipper breed of coffee shop: Story Coffee Company occupies a tiny, timber house and roasts its own beans. The teeny café also donates a portion of profits to a charity that helps people who are homeless. Those who’ve visited reckon pastries like the oatmeal cream pie are delicious, especially when enjoyed with one of the perfectly brewed coffees.
Coffee gets creative at Story and Soil, a local-favorite café in Hartford’s Frog Hollow neighborhood. Customers rave about the Spanish latte – espresso topped off with a combination of regular and condensed milk – and the fact that the coffee is locally roasted. It also has inventive seasonal specials and perfectly prepared brunch-style dishes like avocado on toast.
This Dover coffee shop is cute as a button, and so is the story behind its name: 'coffi' is Welsh for coffee, a nod to the owner’s birth country. But it’s the atmosphere and fun decor, with local artwork on the walls and music playing on a record player, that keeps regular customers coming back time and again. That and the coffee, which meets the highest standards. Pastries like cruffins (croissant muffins) are also irresistible.
There’s nothing standard about this one-off coffee shop, named for the owners’ own ginger beards. You can get the usual brews, from a shot of espresso to bottomless drip coffee, and they’re always spot-on. But alongside the regulars are unusual but perfectly pitched creations like dirty chai latte (with espresso added to the fragrant milky tea), flavorings like lavender and cinnamon, and – according to some – the best nitrogen-infused cold brew coffees around.
The plant-based menu at this cute café has plenty of fans, with diners raving about the indulgent creamy milkshakes – made with coconut cream – and vegan takes on classic comfort food combinations like biscuits and gravy and ‘chicken’ and waffles. The pancakes are a firm favorite, too. The group has four other foxily named cafés in Savannah, though this is the only one specializing in vegan brunch-style dishes.
Ali’i Coffee, in downtown Honolulu, is owned by two friends with a passion for creating the perfect brew – and it stands out for its in-house blends, roasted from fresh green beans. Some of the specialist coffees are sourced from different countries, while others are from local farms – and all are delicious. People also praise the flatbreads, creative cold brews, and ‘coff-tails’.
The spacious State Street branch of this mother-and-daughter owned café is the second Boise location, but stands out due to its unique, colorful interiors, designed in the style of a brew-pub. The cozy room is scattered with comfy chairs and sofas, perfect for sinking into while sipping on highly-rated cold brew, pour-over coffees made with house-roasted beans, or the brew-on-brew – local stout with added espresso. It also serves beer, wine, a range of breakfast dishes, and ‘on toast’ snacks.
Laptops are banned in this laid-back Chicago spot, where the emphasis is on savoring a good book and an even better coffee. It’s a café, bar, and bookstore all at once, with shelves of liberal arts books and a stash of games patrons can use. Customers particularly love the wide selection of coffee-based drinks, the warm atmosphere, and the great cocktails.
Indy is fittingly packed with cool indie coffee houses, so the competition here is as hot as a freshly poured Americano. But Calvin Fletcher's consistently attracts praise for speciality drinks like the Calvin Pepper, cappuccino with cayenne pepper and honey. People also love the walls adorned with local art (available to purchase) and the fact that money is pumped back into the community, with a charitable foundation focused around donating tips to local causes.
Everything at Morning Bell, a one-off café in the university city of Ames, is spot-on, from the pour-over coffees made with beans roasted in-house to the dirty chai latte (muddied with a shot of espresso). The pretty, plant-filled interior is a hit, too: a bright space with honeycomb tiles, dark wood floors, and a pressed-tin ceiling.
The flagship café from Reverie Coffee Roasters, which has two other Wichita locations, serves the best coffee in town according to customers. The business started out roasting beans for wholesale and quickly grew into a popular gathering spot for coffee-lovers. Stand-out menu items include the lattes, which come infused with inventive flavors like rosemary and salted caramel – and the perfect pour-over brews. It also serves breakfast all day, with ricotta pancakes among fan favorites.
Located on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, Carabello Coffee draws customers from Cincinnati, Ohio, too, just across the bridge. People love the warm, relaxed atmosphere and cute touches like art swirled on top of lattes. The company also pours some of its profits into community enterprises with coffee themes in Rwanda, Nicaragua, and beyond.
Café Du Monde has been famous for one particular treat since it opened in New Orleans’ French Market in 1862: beignets. These deep-fried pockets of dough are served buried under an avalanche of powdered sugar, and are pretty much guaranteed to leave dusty marks on the clothes of anyone who eats them. Those who’ve tried them agree that it's worth the mess, though – particularly combined with a cup of chicory-infused café au lait.
The iced Vietnamese coffee – made with condensed milk – and the beautifully fragrant chai latte with lavender and honey are among the reliably great drinks served up at this cute little café in Portland's West Bayside neighborhood. The food menu is small but perfectly formed, with the breakfast sandwich especially addictive. There’s also a tempting range of unusual sweet and savory pastries.
Vigilante Coffee, which also has a branch in College Park, Maryland and a new one opening soon in Oceanside, California, has won over many a coffee lover with its on-point lattes and cold brew. The ambiance is a huge part of its popularity, with people praising the cool decor and the lush greenery that brightens the space. The fact that index cards are handed out with the brews, giving information on the region and how the coffee is made, is another lovely touch.
Baked beans earned this city its 'Beantown' nickname, but Boston is also a great purveyor of coffee. The city has a huge number of highly rated independent cafés, and Polcari’s Coffee has been a favorite spot since it opened in the 1930s. It’s primarily a deli that sells Italian-style charcuterie, cheeses, and other speciality foods in addition to coffee, which is sold by the cup or as beans and grounds to brew at home. People love the traditional feel and excellent espresso.
Named after the Arabic word for coffee, Qahwah House serves up deliciously aromatic coffee that reflects the Yemeni roots of its owners. They use beans sourced from the Yemen to make brews infused with spices like cardamom and ginger. The creamy, delicately spiced Yemeni latte is a crowd-pleaser, as is the sabaya – a flaky, layered Yemeni pastry loaded with nutty brown butter and drizzled with honey.
There are four Twin Cities branches of Five Watt Coffee (three in Minneapolis and one in Saint Paul), but the E. Hennepin location holds a few trump cards: wine, beer, and low-ABV cocktails. People come for the coffee – with classic pours alongside inventive flavorings like black sea salt, lavender, honey, and cilantro – and stay for the chilled-out ambiance and delicious food including paninis and salads.
Coffee and pies are the core offerings at this cool indie spot in Jackson’s Belhaven Heights district – and that’s all you need, as every sip and bite is delicious. People praise the pie flights, with rotating flavors from chocolate to lemon cream, and the 'excellent' coffee. It also serves beer and breakfast (though not necessarily at once), with savory scones among the favorites.
Cats roam, leap and purr their way around this bright, colorful café, which combines great coffee and snacks with the chance to cuddle and coo over felines that are available for adoption. The animals are the main draw, of course, but people also praise the powerful, flavor-packed lattes and sweet treats like cookies and chocolate brownies. Private groups can reserve time slots to drink coffee and hang out with the cats.
Homemade marshmallows, freshly roasted coffee, and cozy couches. Need we say more? Customers love Colter Coffee, and some even claim it's the best place to work besides their own desk at home. This spot specializes in freshly roasted and hand-crafted coffee beans and brewing the perfect cup of coffee.
This specialty vegan coffee shop has earned a following thanks to its colorful designs, vegan treats, and sustainable Reusable Jar Glass Program, ditching single-use cups in exchange for glass jars and using a recycling program/incentive for customers. Seasonal flavors such as the pistachio latte are customer favorites, with some people even saying it’s the best latte they have ever tasted.
There are two other Mothership locations in Vegas but the relatively new spot Downtown is the most unusual and welcoming of the lot. It’s right at the heart of Fergusons, a micro-district of independent restaurants, shops, and public art that’s taken over a disused motel. People love the wide range of top-notch coffees (including lavender lattes) and the fact there’s plenty of outdoor space.
Colorful artwork and intricate tapestries adorn the walls of this Turkish café, which is also a gallery, a food market specializing in Turkish delicacies, and a shop selling handwoven rugs, beaded jewellery, and gifts. People love it for its chilled-out atmosphere, with Turkish music filling the room, and coffees with a twist like honey and almond milk lattes. The pastries and selection of Turkish street foods are delicious, too.
This cute coffee shop wins praise for its iced drinks like the frozen mocha and its sweet offerings like crumb cake and raspberry and orange scones. Savory breakfasts include ‘delicious’ egg and cheese wraps – while the fact that dogs get special 'puppucinos' wins over many visitors.
This café is most famous for the eye-catching design of its building: it’s shaped like a giant owl, making it a popular stop for road-trippers travelling the historic Route 66. But there’s character beyond the kitsch. The Owl Cafe’s menu includes winning cheeseburgers smothered in green chili and, some believe, the best milkshakes around.
House-made almond milk, used to whip up delicious lattes, is among the stand-out features of this hip café in Brooklyn’s equally hip Bushwick neighborhood. Other talking points include the cool, minimalist decor, the satisfyingly strong coffee, and seasonal favorites like the golden milk with turmeric. The food is a winner, too: people call out the ‘mind-blowing’ avocado toast and filling breakfast sandwiches.
Everything bursts with sunny color and flavor at this aptly named family-owned café, which is a favorite for hearty breakfast/brunch dishes like burritos loaded with scrambled eggs and chorizo, huevos rancheros, and chicken and waffles. The warm, friendly atmosphere and service are also top notch.
The interior of this beloved Fargo café is bright and minimalist, almost to Scandinavian standards. And thankfully it has the substance to match the sleek style, with brown sugar lattes achieving almost legendary status amongst devotees. The avocado toast also lives up to the hype, particularly because the sourdough bread used for this and other menu favorites – like toast with almond butter, honey, and jam – is baked in-house.
This café in Columbus’ Short North Art District is as hip as its locale, yet always warm and welcoming. People love the bright decor, and the menu includes coffee made with locally roasted beans, heavenly pancakes, seasonal salads, and a cracking veggie burger. There are two other locations in Columbus, plus one in Liberty Township, one in Shaker Heights, and another in Westerville, Ohio.
The coffee served at this cool spot, which occupies an old garage north of Oklahoma City, is roasted in-house and also sold in bags to take home. It’s a lovely space, with high ceilings, sleek modern decor, and vintage items dotted around, and the scent of roasting coffee adds to the ambiance. Customers love the smooth, perfectly balanced coffees, prepared with methods from pour-over to French press.
The bright, airy feel of this café in Portland’s pretty South Waterfront District draws customers in, while the warm, friendly vibe keeps them coming back time and again. Everything is vegan, with drip coffees, flapjack lattes, and iced drinks like the matcha latte served with non-dairy milks. Oracle fans also appreciate the delicious range of savory and sweet pastries.
Allegheny Coffee & Tea Exchange is a coffee enthusiast's dream. With a wall full of coffee beans from all over the world and six rotating nitro cold brew taps, which include microbrews such as salted pretzel and nitro tea, the possibilities are endless. The shop’s vintage decor and old-fashioned dispensers will make you feel like you are in an old coffee trader’s market. Pop in to buy and grind coffee beans and grab a drink from their specialty coffee bar.
The original branch of Dave’s Coffee (there’s one other in Charlestown, in the south of the state) is considered something of a hidden jewel in downtown Providence. Many believe it serves the best coffee around, in fact, with a menu including drip and pour-over coffees, nitrogen-infused cold brews, and regional specialties like coffee milk (sweet coffee stirred into milk). The colorful lattes, including one infused with matcha, are a hit, too.
Hip Kudu has something many other cafés don’t: delicious, locally brewed craft beer. The downtown Charleston spot is a favorite hangout with more than 20 rotating beer taps, a selection of wine, and, of course, impeccable coffee, brewed using house-roasted beans. Customers love to linger in the gorgeous, gloriously green courtyard with an iced tea and perhaps something from the range of delicious pastries, bagels, and sandwiches sourced from local bakeries.
You know you’re in hip hands when there's a VW van on the premises, like the one parked inside (yes, inside) Harriet & Oak. It’s a real charmer of a café with cute decor, excellent breakfast options (including enormous sandwiches), and inventive coffees like a lavender-infused white mocha. The ever-changing selection of waffles draws compliments, too – toppings have included macadamia nuts with tropical fruits and coconut, carrot cake, and black forest gateau.
This classic teahouse oozes old-fashioned charm and also serves delicious tea, cakes, and desserts. The menu extends beyond your typical tea room fare, though, with burgers and side dishes like curried quinoa salad. People also praise the friendly atmosphere and serene, tucked-away location, surrounded by mountains.
Ca Phe Phin specializes in Vietnamese-style coffee, reflecting the large Vietnamese-American population in Houston and Nassau Bay. The Saigon-style coffee house serves up authentic, highly rated drinks such as ca phe den da (Vietnamese iced black coffee) and ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) alongside delicious banh mi sandwiches and a range of teas.
This cute café has lots of cozy corners and nooks to nestle in and enjoy a cup of the consistently good coffee and perhaps a pastry or two (the sweet potato muffins are a hit). The specialty drinks are popular, too. There are also regular displays of local art for sale and the spot usually hosts social events like open mic nights.
Onyx Tonics describes itself as a ‘coffee tasting room’, treating coffee like fine wine by exploring its terroir and teasing out its flavors and aromas. A rotating menu of single-origin coffees are served simply as espresso, espresso with milk, and filter, allowing the notes of each bean to shine through. People love this dedication, even venturing that it might be the best coffee shop in the US. It serves teas and tasty pastries, too, as well as seasonal specials like lavender lemonade and chicory-infused brews.
The bold, bright decor is among the factors that wins this hip, Ethiopian-owned spot consistent accolades, with people describing the atmosphere as warm and welcoming – and the coffee as the bomb. A stand-out is the draft latte, which customers rave about. The friendly service is another plus, as is the range of delicious breakfast sandwiches.
Washington state may be the birthplace of Starbucks but that hasn’t stopped many younger bucks thriving, too. State capital Olympia is a hub of craft coffee, with cafés and coffee roasters dotted around the city. Brilliantly named Burial Grounds is one of the coolest, owned by a workers’ collective and carrying the vibe of a particularly chilled-out library. Customers love the unique coffee-based drinks like the mint-chocolate Grave Moss.
Apart from the great name, Mea Cuppa wins customers’ hearts with its friendly, knowledgeable baristas, cute vintage-style decor, and amazing coffee, freshly brewed from a variety of beans sourced from local roasters. The midcentury-modern themed café is tucked inside Charleston’s Capitol Market, and is a lovely place to linger a while over a coffee and maybe one of the tasty pastries, scones, or donuts too.
Cheesecakes, tarts, and bundt cakes with flavors like lemon and poppyseed, delicious, freshly made chai, steaming mugs of coffee brewed with beans roasted onsite… Wilson’s has all the right ingredients to make the perfect indie café, plus a little more. Its rotating selection of coffee beans is sourced from around the world, and people rave about the morning glory muffins, laced with carrots, spices, and dried fruit.
The Paramount Café does things a little differently, and that’s what people love about it. Alongside the usual coffees, you can try whimsical creations like the Mary Poppins, laced with white chocolate, salted caramel, almond, and (yes) a spoonful of sugar. People also love the bubble tea. Even better, perhaps, is the fact that the café has an onsite cocktail lounge, serving handcrafted drinks named after shows that played at the Capitol Ave Theatre that once occupied the site.