where to find it

last updated 3/15/24

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 QualityTM 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)
*Cartel Roasting Co., Phoenix, AZ (Coronado)
*Let’s Meet Up Coffee, Phoenix, AZ
*Moxie Coffee Company, Phoenix, AZ
Songbird Coffee & Tea House, Phoenix, AZ
*WeBe Coffee Roasters, Phoenix, AZ
*Window Coffee Bar, Phoenix, AZ (Melrose)
*Xanadu Coffee Co., Phoenix, AZ
*Xolo Coffee, Phoenix, AZ
*Berdena’s, Scottsdale, AZ
*Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters, Tempe, AZ

*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)
Coho’s Market and Grill, Rehoboth Beach, DE
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
*Any Day Now, 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)
*Bread Furst, Washington, DC
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
*The Den, 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
Earth Grocery/Coffee Shop, Washington, DC
*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
*Honeys, Washington, DC
*La Colombe (NYC Tribeca; Philadelphia, Dilworth Plaza; Washington DC, Chinatown, Farragut)
*Little Hat Coffee, Washington, DC
*Lost Sock Roasters, Washington, DC see related post
*Lulabelle’s Sweet Shop, Washington, DC
*Mah Ze Dahr Bakery, Washington, DC (Navy Yard)
*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
*San Matteo – coffee & pastries by Soleluna, Washington, DC
*Sankofa Video Books & Café, Washington, DC
Sidamo Coffee & Tea, Washington, DC
*Simona Café, Washington, DC & Arlington, VA
Slipstream, Washington, DC (14th St NW)
*Soleluna, Washington, DC
*Swings Coffee Roasters, Washington, DC (G St coffee house) & Alexandria, VA
Three Fifty Bakery & Coffee Bar, Washington, DC
*Tryst, Washington, DC
*The Village, Washington, DC
*The Wydown, Washington, DC (14th Street)
*Yellow, Washington, DC (Georgetown, Navy Yard)
Zeke’s Coffee of DC, Washington, DC (Uptown 14th Street)

*BREW Five Points, Jacksonville, FL
*Southern Grounds, Jacksonville, FL (JAX Airport – airside)
*Lineage Coffee Roasting, Orlando, FL (Mills50)
One Way Coffee, Orlando, FL (mobile trucks – scheduled events promoted on Facebook page)
*Dos Coffee, St. Augustine, FL (SR 16)
*The Kookaburra Coffee, St. Augustine, FL (Downtown, Compound)
*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
*Coffee by Design, Portland, ME (Diamond St.)
*Tandem Coffee Roasters, Portland, ME (Café & Bakery)
*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
The Bakist, North Beach, 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)

*Revival, Cambridge, MA (Alewife)
Fuel, Great Barrington, MA
Northampton Coffee, Northampton, MA
*Diesel Café, Somerville, 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)
*Hudson Roastery, Hudson, NY
*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)
*Hello Donuts + Coffee, Philadelphia, PA
*La Colombe (NYC Tribeca; Philadelphia, PA, Dilworth Plaza; Washington DC, Chinatown, Farragut)
*ReAnimator Coffee, Philadelphia, PA (Garden Court; Kensington; South Philly)
*Rival Bros. Coffee Roasters, Philadelphia, PA (2400 Lombard)
*Thank You Thank You Coffee Brewers, Philadelphia, PA
*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

*Rossana to You, Northern VA (mobile cart & truck)
*Swings Coffee Roasters, Washington, DC (G St coffee house) & Alexandria, VA
Bakeshop, Arlington, VA
*Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery, 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
Happy Creek Coffee & Tea, Front Royal, VA
Sweet Beans Coffee Bar, Hampton, VA
*Busy Nothings Coffee Co., Newport News, 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
*Simona Café, Washington, DC & Arlington, 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

 

9 thoughts on “where to find it”

  1. *Spring Coffee Roasters – Nairobi, Kenya (Village Market)

    Cafe Humble Lion – Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Bluestone Lane – Montauk, New York

    *Joe Coffee – NYC

    Dillon Banerjee’s house – worldwide

    Happy Bones Coffee – NYC

    Irving Farm Coffee Roasters – NYC

    LALO – Mexico City

  2. Thanks, Martin!

    Dillon’s house is so far above the others that it doesn’t deserve to be on the directory. But you forgot the asterisk!

    – Matty

    1. Matty,
      I got confused on what the asterisk meant and thought it was to designate chains!
      I like this list and hopefully will be able to contribute more to it.
      Coffee on!
      -Martin

  3. Manhattan & Brooklyn are starting to develop a solid coffee culture. Here is my short list of some guaranteed places you can not get a bad espresso.

    Joe: Art of Coffee (multiple locations)
    Bluestone Land (multiple locations)
    Toby’s Estate (multiple locations)
    Citizens of Chelsea (Chelsea)
    Ludlow Coffee Supply (Lower East Side)
    Variety Coffee (multiple locations)
    Blue Bottle (multiple locations)
    Walters Coffee (Bushwick)
    Tigershark (Prospect Heights)
    Cotter Barber (Greenpoint)
    Sweatshop (Williamsburg)
    Pushcart Coffee (Village)
    Devocion (Williamsburg)
    Jane Motorcycles (Williamsburg)
    City of Saints (Union Square)
    Ninth Street Espresso (multiple locations)
    Cafe Grumpy (multiple locations)
    Sweetleaf (Multiple Brooklyn locations)
    Two Hands (Nolita)
    Cafe Integral (Nolita)
    Double Dutch (Harlem)
    Culture Espresso (Midtown)
    Darling Coffee (Washington Heights)
    Intelligentsia (Chelsea)
    Box Kite (East Village)
    El Rey (Lower East Side)
    City of Saints (Union Square)
    La Colombe (SoHo)
    Budin (Greenpoint)
    Little Collins (Midtown)
    Bluebird Cafe (East Village)
    Kaffee 1668 (Tribeca)
    Gimme! Coffee (Multiple Locations)
    Ground Support (SoHo)
    Hungry Ghost (Park Slope)
    Stumptown (Flatiron)
    Abraco (East Village)

    -Nicolas #NYCoffee

    1. Thank you, Nicolas, looks like I have a lot of places to check out in NYC. Appreciate the input!
      – Matty

      1. Matty, coffee is important to Nic. He compiled this list while on vacation. In Italy. So I expect some Italian additions soon…….

  4. Matty,

    As you’ve steered me to so much good jo the least I can do is make a rolling set of contributions.

    Tomoca coffee, Addis (the original home of this marvellous brew)

  5. It’s the ultimate guide. I love your writing style! Really helpful for beginners like me. Thanks for sharing. very informative posts
    Thanks again.

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