Minneapolis
Coffee Shop Guide Welcome! Here you'll find reviews of independent coffee shops in Minneapolis. No Caribous or Starbucks need apply. Click on
the map or scroll through the list to find a shop you'll like.
It's a common question, "Where should I go for coffee?" There's always a place to go but does it suit your needs and mood of the moment? Minneapolis has many coffee shops. Those big chain operations give a consistent product and you can use any search to find them. But what about more fun and interesting places? Maybe you need a quiet spot for some work, or a meeting, or want to meet friends, or just enjoy a good cup someplace interesting.
Matchbox Coffeeshop MC
It's called "Matchbox" because it really is tiny. Sort of an NYC tiny. There are no tables except out back on a small patio. The coffee and tea are good and there are a few baked goods for snacking. And they take only cash. Plenty quirky and good for picking up something to go. It looks like the cool kids take they coffee across the street and recline on the church steps. That looks fun.
Cuppa Java CJ
Cuppa Java is one of the best neighborhood shops in the city. It's a busy place with people coming in steadily until the lunch rush is done. They have a full kitchen and prepare good food to order. Coffee and drinks are just fine. What makes it special is the real neighborhood feel with all kinds of people coming in to get something and to stay and enjoy it. There's retirees having a Koffee Klatch. Parents with kids. People having meetings. And a few solitary types doing their reading and work. The staff is genuinely warm and appreciates that you came. A few tables on the sidewalk. Most of the tables are smaller so no place for a four-people w/laptops session. Drop in for coffee and a apple fritter with a friend.
Caffetto Coffee House CF
Caffetto is different and amazing. It's very much an urban shop with a lot of alternative clientel. The coffee and drinks are good. There's pastries and food to be had and home made-style desserts. There'll be pie or cake and maybe tirimisu in the case. Delicious. It's got a lot of tables but will still get full with students studying and people with an afternoon to spend. The walls will have odd art and there's unusual music. There's a sort of derilict '50s steak house feel with a collection of ship paintings in the bar area. The basement has pinball machines and a ping-pong table along with two scary, graffitti-covered bathrooms. It's all highly recommended. Wear black.
Common Roots Cafe CR
Common Roots is great! It's more than a coffee shop but it's inviting to come in and have a cup, get something to eat, and get some work done. It's very busy on weekend morings and they frown on taking up tables then. Lots of space for people to sit and talk. They have a back room that'll hold a dozen for meetings and group meals. Another bright spot is the patio. That's perfect in the summer. Common Roots has a great kitchen and features local and organic food often in creative takes on classic dishes. A great place to go just for food or for a mealtime meeting. Add great staff and it's a solid winner.
Five Watt Coffee Kingfield 5W
For a lot of people, Five Watt is exactly what a coffee shop should be. They take their coffee seriously. The drinks are innovative, delicious and made with care. A nice asortment of pastries. What really makes it a top coffee shop is the atmosphere. People enjoy being there, which starts with a great staff, and it spreads. The clientel tends to be younger but all are welcome. It's very popular and hard to get a table after 9AM or so. It's not unusual to see strangers share tables. The design is simple and appealing with a few patio tables along Nicollet and a garage door opened on nice days. Coffee shop perfection.
Sovereign Grounds SG
This shop is a great neighborhood spot. The back room is set up as a childrens playroom and that gets a lot of use. The owner clearly enjoys the kids. The shop has a kitchen in back and a big selection of baked goods with some GF options. They also have sandwiches and salads good to grab to-go. The coffee is good enough. It'd be a good spot to meet local friends. There are children at play and the expected noisy and unhappy ones. There's constant activity and, if that will bother you, you'll be happier someplace else. I wouldn't plan any type of serious meeting here. It's not really set up to be used for business. That aside, it's a happy place to be.
Segue Coffee SC
This is a nice shop tucked into the Elliot Park neighborhood. There are a fair number of tables for 2-4 people and would make a good place for a meeting not too far from downtown. It's also close to HCMC. The customers look to come from the nearby North Central University. The coffee offerings are the basic brewed coffee and espresso drinks. There's a kitchen for sandwiches and breakfast ites including waffles. In good weather, there are tables outside. Overall, a nice neighborhood shop.
Five Watt E. Hennipen 5E
Five Watt does it again! Another great coffee shop. Always a good visit and always busy. Very popular with college kids. The ofeerings are top-notch with a few good bakery items. The space has a fun industrial feel. That's cemented by one side facing some major train tracks. This is a special bonus if you like to see them and sometimes two-at-a-time. A fair number of tables and all have outlets. There's a parking lot for the building so always a place to park but maybe not a place to sit. A few counter-style spots so 1 more person can afit but tough for a planned meeting of 3 or more.
Dogwood Coffee Northeast & Roastery DN
This shop has a modern and austere feel. Maybe "industrial" is more apt. It contains the company roastery which contributes to that. The space has about a dozen "study carrels" that are, appropriately, popular with students. Each holds 2 people. There's a large patio for the temperate months. The coffee is very good and they've got a few really nice baked goods. A plus is an ample parking lot. A good place to do some work. A good place for coffe. If you like both, then it's a winner. Curiously, it's a stones-throw from a large Spyhouse which is often busy and noisy with sociable people. This shop is cool and quiet in comparison.
The Coffee Shop Northeast NE
This is a good neighborhood shop tucked into the Northeast corner of Northeast Minneapolis. It's bigger inside that the storfront suggests with a large backroom. The tables are mostly 4-tops and reflect it's balance towards being a restaurant at mealtimes. The shop features a full kitchen and the food is good. Coffee is fine with good espresso drinks and smoothies. The feel is that the neighbors are coming in to relax and meet friends and family. Busy over lunchtime. A nice place to visit and do a bit of work. Easy to get a table off-peak for spreading out or having a meeting.
Dunn Brothers - Freight House D3
This is a great gem downtown. The first floor is a standard Dunn Brothers with a few tables and the signature coffee roaster. What makes this special is the spacious, attractive upstairs. A lot of places to enjoy your coffee and a muffin. A good number of tables for four people so a great spot to take a meeting or prep for one. There's also a table for 8. A special bonus is that the shop has a small, free parking lot. It is well-used but makes dropping in easy to do. The staff is busy and effective as they need to be.
Mojo Coffee Gallery MJ
It's hard to describe the decoration at Mojo. It must have been a huge exercise to collect all of the knick=knack, instruments and artifacts that hang from the ceiling and walls. This gives it a very freeing and creative vibe. Might be a good place to write some fiction or just daydream. The shop offers typical coffees and teas along with a selection of food cooked on-site. A lot of small tables and a small outdoor space invite, well, single people or small groups to linger.
Isles Bun and Coffee IB
Tub of frosting. This is a combination bakery and coffee shop that has a tub of frosting at the condiment station. It's sudden favorite! The shop smells delicious from the sidewalk. They do specialize in buns like hot cross buns and cinnamon rolls. All baked right there. There are a few tables on the sidewalk along 28th, just around the corner from Hennepin. Not a lot of tables and outlets inside but, with a tub of frosting, who cares?
Gigi's Café GG
Gigi's Café is puts an emphasis on their food. It has a full kitchen and offers a complete menu. The food is good with breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and desserts aplenty. The coffee is good, too. The atmosphere is very much a neighborhood shop. Many tables with small groups and couples settled in for a while to talk and enjoy something to eat. The shop has a large room with many tables. Even when busy there'll be a table. Parking can be tough but there's a small lot in back.
Wesley Andrews WA
This is a serious coffee shop. Not an extensive drink menu but they make them properly. The coffees are made with unusual beans and everything is made to-order. The shop is on the smaller side. Only a few small tables. They look to encourage people to be more communal. A few bakery snacks are available. The shop is near MCAD and attracts those young artist types. Street parking only and it can be a bit tight. It's better for neighborhood people but could draw you in for a fine cup. Their turntable is prominently on the counter and is often in use. A good shop for a small group or some solo work.
Royal Grounds Coffee RG
A nice, little shop tucked in the middle of Kingfield. This shop has a good neighborhood feel. Pleasant staff that are happy to see you. Good coffee, tea and drinks. They bake a good variety of breads, cookies and snacks from scratch. A nice selection of gutten-free items, too. They offer breakfast and lunch as well. Not terribly big but you can usually get a table. They have a few tables on the shady sidewalks. A good place for the locals who parade in with their kids, dogs and friends.
Butter Bakery Café BC
Butter Bakery Café is an appealing place for a good meal and to relax. It really emphasises its kitchen. They're into local and sustainable cooking. Lots of healthy options. The shop itself has a spare, modern feel with natural wood tables and lots of natural lighting. A few larger tables for groups and a fair number of small tables for pairs and singles. There's a parking lot in back. Can be busy early and at lunch but often space is available otherwise.
Duck Duck Coffee DD
Duck Duck… grey duck? No matter. This is a nice shop tucked along 38th at Cedar. The usual assortment of coffees and teas done well. They have some food for sale and make sandwiches on-site. The shop is on the small side with maybe a deozen tables for two. A good feel to the shop with some quirky art and decorations. Parking along the street can be tight but there'll be a spot nearby. A nice shop for solo work or meeting a friend or two.
Sisters' Sludge Coffee Cafe and Wine Bar SS
Sisters' Sludge is a comfortable, neighborhood shop. Seems like most of the customers are people who've walked over. It's fairly large as the shop has two halves: coffee shop and wine bar. Lots of tables and outlets. The shop has the standard selection of coffee drinks and brews. They've got a simple kitchen and have a good assortment of baked goods. The staff, including the sisters, are warm and welcoming. Not remarkable coffee but enjoyable. Overall, a nice coffee shop that's got something for everyone although hip coffee snobs will be disappointed.
Fireroast Cafe FC
Fireroast is another good local coffee shop. It's tucked into the Longfellow neighborhood in an old corner store. They have good food prepared in the kitchen along with snacks and desserts and a freezer of Sebastian Joe's ice cream. It's a bit on the small side and sometimes busy. Counters along the windows are always open. It's not far from The Riverview Theater and a good place to catch a meal before, or after, a show.
Spyhouse Coffee Northeast SN
This is a decent shop. Well decorated and the coffee and snacks are fine. It's inside a multi-tenant build and is smaller than it looks from the outside. There's parking around back if there's no street spot available. Usually busy and can be tough to find a table especially for 2-3-4 people.
Carma Coffee CR
Hip and arty in Northeast? Maybe a bit. Carma is a fairly simple place with a clean and spare design. Some automotive touches make it fun. They offer a full menu and it's good. Snacks and cookies. Not many tables for the space. Perfect for that stand-up meeting? Well, it's welcoming and comfortable.
SiP Coffeebar SC
SiP Coffeebar is an OK place to get a cup. Kind of an austere, "Euro" feel with a few small tables. The back part looks like a waiting room and the feel, overall, is a bit worn. Their drinks are fine and they offer a variety of food. Regular coffee shop snacks plus soup and sandwiches from a panini grill. It's good for some solo work but doesn't accomodate more than two in a meeting. It's tucked into part of the Grain Belt complex and is a good spot for people who work in it to take a coffee break.
Spyhouse Coffee Uptown SU
This is the Spyhouse outlet on Hennepin. It's called "Uptown" but is North of there. It's nicely styled and serves a good cup. They have a sparse selection of baked goods. The emplyees are a bit cool and always seem to be new. It's often busy and in the afternoon there may not be a seat to be had. Not a lot of space for larger parties. The back room is quiet but the Wi-Fi is spotty there. Brewed coffee re-fills are full price. Popular with 20-somethings.
Misfit Coffee MF
This is a small, neighborhood shop along Lyndale. Seems to be popular with students and local beatniks who are whiling away some time. The shop follows from their coffee truck. The coffee is above average and they've got an assortment of snacks for sale. It can be tough to park as there's none along 24th outside the shop. Still, a good place to get a cup and settle in for a while. There are about a dozen 2-person tables and, usually, one is available. Busier in the morning and quiet in the afternoon.
Boiler Room Coffee BR
The Boiler Room just may have been a boiler room. It's a few steps down from the sidewalk and kind of hidden, mid-block, below an aparment building. Easy to miss. It's a decent place to grab a cup and enjoy some coffee shop activities. It's a bit on the small side with a few tables, a few booths and a small "living room" section. They offer the usual drinks and a selection of baked good and sandwiches. A fun addition is a waffle maker. Get your waffle on here! Tastes as good as it smells. Sparse parking on the street but most customers seem to be wandering in from the area.
Bob's Java Hut BJ
Bob's Java Hut is a basic coffee shop with a motorcycle theme. The parking spaces in front are "Reserved for motorcycles." Although the signs aren't official I've only seen bikes parked there. It's much more Ducati than Harley. The coffee is good enough with a few snacks in the case. A fair number of tables and some outside along Lyndales and along 27th. The shop has a great feature: garage door front. Always nice to bring the outdoors in during the summer.
Zoe's Cafe LB
Lake and Bryant Café is a decent enough shop. The owners are friendly and trying to have a coffee shop with more emphasis on breafast and lunch. They're baking and cooking on-site. A quick visit says it's "OK." Not a lot of tables. There's a central fireplace for reading and a larger table for group.s THis shop does have its own parking lot.
Dunn Brothers - Hennipen Avenue DH
This Dunn Bros is a nice neighborhood place. Seems like a leisurely pace with people coming from the nearby areas. It doesn't have many tables but always a spot to sit. There are some tables along 34th. Street for nice weather. The shop has typical Dunn Bros offerings including some in-house cooking for hot sandwiches and baking. There's parking in back. A fair spot for stopping in for a coffee, quiet work or meeting a friend or two.
Canteen 3255 C3
Toast! This is a good coffee shop and it's unique feature is that you can buy varieties of toast on weekends. There's a selection of pastries and rolls as well. Good coffee and drinks. What's not to like? Well, the help can be frosty if you're not a hip regular. The shop has a back room with a lot of space for sturying and working. A small patio out back. I think this is a great spot for students. This is a former Urban Bean location and has that austere design.
Dunn Brothers - 50th and Xerxes DX
This is a standard Dunn Brothers franchise with the requisite food and beverages. It's well done and the staff is cordial and effective. The space is fairly large with a good number of tables. It's a neighborhood shop and the regulars come in for their usuals and to visit. There's a small kidd's play area that's well-used. Something that's fun to watch is the kids gathering before school. The shop is near two junior highs and dribble in to suddenly disappear about 9. I'm not sure an iced mocha is the right thing for a 13yo at any time, but they're getting them. Usually a quiet place with a spare table. Nice for a meeting or getting work done. There's a small parking lot tucked in the back.
Five Watt Coffee Lyndale 5L
Five Watt has taken over this location. Set your way-back machine to find that the owners of Five Watt met while tending the coffee bar in what's now the back room. The usual fine drinks and tasty pasties. They've left the space alone from when it was Bull Run and then Vicinity. Plenty of 2-top tables with outlets. A few larger tables. The quiet back room has a garage door that may be open in good weather. Not the atmoshpere of their Nicollet shop but a good place for a coffee and to spend some time. The customers are a brpad mix and everyone will feel welcome.
Blackeye Roasting Company BE
Blackeye Roasting has a small retail shop in the Powderhorn neighborhood. It's got a spare interior design without clutter or the typical coffee shop artwork display. They have a strong emphasis on the coffee and present a menu on the roasts and their flavors. The coffee is really good and interesting. The self-serve water dispenser offers still and sparkling. The place is like that. Usually quiet techno music meandering in the background. Not a lot of seats, and not terribly comfortable, but there'll be a table in the afternoon. They offer some bakery items but no food menu.
Angry Catfish Bicycle and Coffee Bar AC
The Angry Catfish really is a bicycle shop with a coffee bar in the front. A good selection of snacks to go with their drinks. It has a mellow vibe and they take their coffee seriously. The preparation and presentation is done with care. Not a lot of space for tables but enough. A few tables for meetings or they can be shared with other people.
Selam Coffee SC
This is a basic shop with a few tables. The owners are Ethopian but, unfortunately, they don't feature Ethiopian coffee. The staff is always pleasant and welcoming. It doesn't seem to be too busy at any time. A good spot for a coffee which is what they're aiming for.
Milkweed Coffee Shop MW
Milkweed Coffee Shop has taken over the space of the former Blue Moon. The shop has been remodled to be modern and clean. They're offering the typical coffee shop drinks and a variety of food made on-site. Their specialty is paninis. It's an inviting place for some work, quiet time or meeting friends.
Diamonds Coffee Shoppe DC
This shop is in a colorful old industrial building and has a really fun retro motif. The rating is low, though, because the staff has been consistently cold if not rude on multiple visits. That expectation is established. The coffee was OK. They have snacks and food but it isn't notably good or interesting. The place is fairly small and uses the large back hall as extra space. During the winter, that hall can be uncomfortably warm. Not recommended.
Spyhouse Coffee Whittier SN
This is a nice coffeeshop but it's not recommended. Apparently this chain must be successful as there are four, but the attitude is off-putting at this shop. The coffee is good and they've got nice pastries. The staff has some good people but too often they give off an attitude of being too good for their jobs and not caring about the customers. Refills are full-price, too. Often busy with students studying.
This review site was originated since the author spends a lot of time "coffee shopping" for work. It's boring to go to the same place, and there are times to be in other neighborhoods of the city. After visiting a couple dozen, I thought to review them and share that on the interwebz.
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