where to find it

last updated 6/7/23

Whenever I travel somewhere, I always google best coffee in <city name>. That and word of mouth are how I’ve found a lot of these places.

Here’s a list of Matty-approved coffee shops. I’ll keep this list pinned to the top of the blog and update it as I visit new places (or remember places I may have forgotten).

If I learn a shop closes I will remove it from the list. But please check ahead before you visit to ensure your destination still exists, given the vagaries of a low-margin business.

Those with the Coveted Asterisk of Quality^TM are places I’ve particularly enjoyed.  If I know the shop is part of a chain, I’ve listed the location(s) I’ve visited.

Please leave a comment with your recommendations.

US and A (by state)
*Rasa Caffe, Berkeley, CA
*Ain’t Normal Café, Oakland, CA

*Ozo Coffee Company, Boulder, CO my review
*Corvus Coffee Roasters, Denver, CO  Denver’s best; my review
*Crema Coffee House, Denver, CO (Larimer Street) my review
*Huckleberry Roasters, Denver, CO (Dairy Block) my review
ink! Coffee, Denver, CO (16th St Mall)   my review
Little Owl Coffee, Denver, CO my review
Novo Coffee, Denver, CO (Glenarm) my review
*Pablo’s Coffee, Denver, CO (13th & Pennsylvania) my review

*Arethusa a mano, Bantam, CT
*Coffee Pedaler, New Haven, CT
*Poindexter Coffee, New Haven, CT
Tusk & Cup Fine Coffee, Ridgefield, CT
Lorca, Stamford, CT
Third Day Café, Waterbury, CT
*J. Rene Coffee Roasters, West Hartford, CT (fun fact: if you set Siri on your phone to the Australian female voice, ‘she’ will pronounce this shop Ja’reen, which always makes me think of Aussie tv comedy cult classic Ja’mie: Private School Girl… but I digress)

*The Station on Kings, Lewes, DE (my review)
Brew HaHa, Newark, DE and Wilmington, DE (Trolly Square)
Rise Up Coffee Roasters, Rehoboth Beach, DE (my review) and Easton, MD
I.M. Coffee, Wilmington, DE
Spark*d, Wilmington, DE

*A Baked Joint, Washington, DC
*Baked & Wired, Washington, DC  Georgetown’s best; my review
*Blue Bottle Coffee, Washington, DC (Georgetown, Union Market, Union Station) see story
*Bluestone Lane, Washington, DC (West End)
Büna Coffeehouse, Washington, DC
Café Georgetown, Washington, DC my review
*Café Integral, Washington, DC
*Café Unido, Washington, DC (La Cosecha; Shaw) my review
*Cameo Coffee + Tea, Washington, DC
*The Coffee Bar, Washington, DC (Shaw, 17th Street NW)
*Colada Shop, Washington, DC (14th Street)
Compass Coffee, Washington, DC (18th & Eye, Spring Valley)
*The Coupe, Washington, DC
*Culture Coffee Too, Washington, DC
*Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee, Bethesda, MD (my review) and Washington, DC (Dupont Circle, Hirschorn Museum)
*Doubles (formerly Colony Club), Washington, DC my review
*Dua Coffee DC, Washington, DC my review
*Ebenezer Coffee House, Washington, DC
*Elle, Washington, DC
*Emissary, Washington, DC (both locations)
*Filter, Washington, DC
*Grace Street Coffee, Washington, DC my review
Gregorys Coffee, Washington, DC (1900 L St, 1101 Connecticut Ave) my review
Hive Bar, Washington, DC my review
*La Colombe (NYC Tribeca; Philadelphia, Dilworth Plaza; Washington DC, Chinatown, Farragut)
*Lost Sock Roasters, Washington, DC see related post
*Open City, Washington, DC
Pitango Gelato & Coffee, Washington, DC (Adams Morgan – my review – and Reston, VA)
*Peregrine Espresso, Washington, DC (Eastern Market, Union Market)
*Rose Ave Bakery, Washington, DC
*Royal, Washington, DC
Rue Café, Washington, DC
*Sami’s Coffee Kiosk, Washington, DC my review update: relocated to pop-up at Sol Mexican Grill
Sidamo Coffee & Tea, Washington, DC
Slipstream, Washington, DC (14th St NW)
Soleluna, Washington, DC
*Sweet Science Coffee, Washington, DC and Arlington, VA
*Swings Coffee Roasters, Washington, DC (G St coffee house) & Alexandria, VA
Three Fifty Bakery & Coffee Bar, Washington, DC
*Tryst, Washington, DC
*The Wydown, Washington, DC (14th Street)

*BREW Five Points, Jacksonville, FL
*Southern Grounds, Jacksonville, FL (JAX Airport)
*The Kookaburra Coffee, St. Augustine, FL (Downtown)
*Relámpago Coffee Lab & Roasting, St. Augustine, FL (Downtown)
*Breaking Wave Coffee, Sarasota, FL
*O&A Coffee and Supply, Sarasota, FL (Main Street)
*Perq Coffee Bar, Sarasota, FL
*Rise & Nye’s, Sarasota, FL

*Chattahoochee Coffee, Atlanta, GA (Westside)

*Bee Coffee Roasters, Indianapolis, IN (Downtown Cafe)

Acadia Perk, Bar Harbor, ME
*The Independent Cafe, Bar Harbor, ME
Brisetto’s Second Cup, Boothbay Harbor, ME
Red Cup Coffeehouse, Boothbay Harbor, ME
Zoot Coffee, Camden, ME
*Treats, Wiscasset, ME

*Brown Mustache Coffee, Annapolis, MD
*Curate, Annapolis, MD
*Greenmount Coffee Lab, Baltimore, MD
Clove & Cedar Coffeebar, Bethesda, MD
*Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee, Bethesda, MD (my review) and Washington, DC (Dupont Circle, Hirschorn Museum)
*Basecamp Coffee Company, Cumberland, MD
Rise Up Coffee Roasters, Rehoboth Beach, DE (my review) and Easton, MD
*Weather Gage Coffee, Easton, MD
*Whole Note Coffee, Easton, MD
Dublin Roasters Coffee, Frederick, MD
*Ibiza Cafe, Frederick, MD
*Vigilante Coffee Company, Hyattsville and College Park, MD
*La Gelatteria, Kensington, MD
Social Coffeehouse & Cocktail Bar, Leonardtown, MD
Java Nation, North Bethesda, MD
*The Patio, Glenstone, Potomac, MD
*Bump ‘n Grind, Silver Spring, MD, Kensington, MD
*Kaldi’s Social House, Silver Spring, MD and Arlington, VA
*The Blue Crab, St. Michaels, MD
*Takoma Bev Co, Takoma Park, MD (my review)

Fuel, Great Barrington, MA
Northampton Coffee, Northampton, MA

*Hazel, Las Vegas, NV

*Turnstile Coffee Roasters, Belmar, NJ
*La Tabatiere, Closter, NJ (my review)
*Crema, Jersey City, NJ

*Hungry Ghost Coffee, Brooklyn, NY (Prospect Heights)
*Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Brooklyn, NY (Cobble Hill) and Portland, OR (Ace Hotel Portland)
*Otto’s Market, Germantown, NY (my review)
*Abraço, New York, NY (my current favorite – see here and here)
*Birch Coffee, New York, NY (Herald Square)
*Culture Espresso, New York, NY (Culture 307, Culture Espresso)
Gasoline Alley, New York, NY (Lafayette St)
*gertrude, New York, NY
*La Casa del Caffe, The Bronx, NY (my review)
*La Colombe (NYC Tribeca; Philadelphia, Dilworth Plaza; Washington DC, Chinatown, Farragut)
Joe, New York, NY (Grand Central Terminal, West Village)
*Peaky Barista, New York, NY (2680 Broadway)
Think Coffee, New York, NY (Meatpacking)
*Samuel’s Sweet Shop, Rhinebeck, NY

*High Five, Asheville, NC (both locations)
Blackbeard Coffee Roasters, Greenville, NC

*Kittie’s Cafe, Bexley, OH
*Fox in the Snow Cafe, Columbus, OH (Italian Village, German Village)
*Global Gallery, Columbus, OH
*The Roosevelt Coffeehouse, Columbus, OH
Luck Bros., Grandview, OH retail operation currently closed, roastery remains in business and beans can be ordered through website

*Community Cup Coffee, Eugene, OR
*Equiano Coffee, Eugene, OR
*Glass House Coffee & Kitchen, Eugene, OR
*Tailored Coffee, Eugene, OR (UO Campus)
Vero Espresso House, Eugene, OR
*Wandering Goat Coffee Co, Eugene, OR
*Dog River Coffee, Hood River, OR
*Coava Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR (Coava Flagship, Coava on Jefferson)
*Good Coffee, Portland, OR (Woodlark)
*Heart Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR (Westside)
*Kainos Coffee, Portland, OR
*Keeper Coffee Co., Portland, OR
*Less and More Coffee, Portland, OR
*Prince Coffee, Portland, OR (Beaumont)
*Proud Mary Coffee, Portland, OR
*Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Brooklyn, NY (Cobble Hill) and Portland, OR (Ace Hotel Portland)
French Press Coffee & Crepes, Salem, OR
*Espresso 101, Waldport, OR

Ebru Coffee Co., Audubon, PA
Folklore Coffee & Co., Elizabethtown, PA
Steel Penny Café, Hatboro, PA
*Elixr, Philadelphia, PA (Center City)
*La Colombe (NYC Tribeca; Philadelphia, PA, Dilworth Plaza; Washington DC, Chinatown, Farragut)
Old City Coffee, Philadelphia, PA (Reading Terminal Market)
*ReAnimator Coffee, Philadelphia, PA (Garden Court; Kensington; South Philly)
*Rival Bros. Coffee Roasters, Philadelphia, PA (2400 Lombard)
*Ultimo Coffee, Philadelphia, PA (Rittenhouse)
*de Fer Coffee & Tea, Pittsburgh, PA (Highline)
*Redhawk Coffee, Pittsburgh, PA (120 Meyran Ave)
*Tazza D’Oro, Pittsburgh, PA (Highland Park)

*Bolt Coffee Company, Providence, RI (College Hill)
*The Coffee Exchange, Providence, RI

*The Rise Coffee Bar, Charleston, SC

Bongo Java, Nashville, TN (Cafe at the Johnny Cash Museum)
Crema, Nashville, TN
Frothy Monkey, Nashville, TN (Downtown Nashville)

*Mocha Joe’s Roasters, Brattleboro, VT see post
*The Cosmic Grind, Burlington, VT
Kestrel Coffee Roasters, Burlington, VT (Downtown)
*PK Coffee, Waterbury, VT
*Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co., Waterbury, VT my review

*Swings Coffee Roasters, Washington, DC (G St coffee house) & Alexandria, VA
Bakeshop, Arlington, VA
Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters, Arlington, VA
Good Company Doughnuts & Café, Arlington, VA
*Kaldi’s Social House, Silver Spring, MD & Arlington, VA
*Northside Social, Arlington (my review and interview) and Falls Church, VA
*Sweet Science Coffee, Washington, DC and Arlington, VA
Happy Creek Coffee & Tea, Front Royal, VA
Pitango Gelato & Coffee, Washington, DC (Adams Morgan – my review) and Reston, VA
Black Hand, Richmond, VA
*The Lab by Alchemy Coffee, Richmond, VA
Sefton Coffee Company, Richmond, VA
Deja Brew Café, Warrenton, VA
*Hopscotch Coffee & Records, Winchester, VA

Caffeinated, Seattle, WA
*Fremont Coffee Company, Seattle, WA
*Monorail Espresso, Seattle, WA (Pike St)
*Victrola Coffee Roasters, Seattle, WA (3rd & Pine)

*Sibling Coffee Roasters, Charles Town, WV
*Lost Dog Coffee and Tea, Shepherdstown, WV (my review)

Anodyne Coffee, Milwaukee, WI (Public Market)
Colectivo Coffee, Milwaukee, WI (Lakefront)
*Wonderstate Coffee (formerly Kickapoo Coffee), Milwaukee, WI (Third Ward)

International (by country)

any place with an espresso machine, Australia

Dark Horse Espresso, Toronto, Canada (Spadina)
Jimmy’s Coffee, Toronto, Canada (Kensington Market)
*Quantum Coffee, Toronto, Canada (King Street West)

*Coco Espresso, Hong Kong (Wan Chai, Stanley Street Central) 
*Cova, Hong Kong (Pacific Place mall, Alexandria House, Prince’s Building)
Fuel Espresso, Hong Kong (Landmark, IFC)

Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, New Delhi, India

see my Dublin field report
*3fe, Dublin, Ireland (Grand Canal Street)
*Coffeeangel, Dublin, Ireland (TCD)
*The Fumbally, Dublin, Ireland
*Nomad Mobile Cafe, Dublin, Ireland

any place with an espresso machine, Italy

Spider on a Bicycle, Aboyne, Scotland

*Nomad Coffee Lab &  Shop, Barcelona, Spain (Passatge Sert)
Coffee and Kicks, Madrid, Spain
*Toma Cafe, Madrid, Spain (Malasana)
Bluebell Coffee, Valencia, Spain
*Retrogusto Coffeemates, Valencia, Spain

Dean & DeLuca, Bangkok, Thailand (MahaNakhon Cube)

*Raw Coffee Company, Dubai, UAE