Warm Up at a Local Coffee Shop
Warm Up at a Local Coffee Shop
By Erica Wacker
In Minnesota, a local coffee shop is never far away, whether it's on a small town main street or in a big city neighborhood. Grab a good book or a good friend and feel like a regular at any of these cafes around the state.
Cookies and coffee at Gigi's Cafe in Minneapolis / Cast Iron Communications
Northeast Minnesota
Duluth
Located in the bustling Canal Park area, Amazing Grace Café and Grocery - link opens in new tab. serves up tasty coffee drinks from Alakef Coffee Roasters and house-crafted chai tea alongside made from scratch breakfast goods using locally sourced ingredients.
Recount your Boundary Waters adventure over a latte, beer or wine at Northern Grounds Coffee Shop in Ely / Lucy Hawthorne
Ely
The kids have their own place to play at Front Porch Coffee and Tea Co., which also features free WiFi, a fireplace room and certified Fair Trade coffees. Or wash down your latte with a lager at Northern Grounds Coffee Shop - link opens in new tab., which serves wine and beer in addition to their expertly crafted coffees.
Grand Rapids
Fuel up at Brewed Awakenings with organic Fair-Trade coffee, farm-to-plate foods, gelato and a variety of daily specials. Enjoy seasonal soups, muffins and other dishes at this popular spot downtown.
International Falls
A true corner coffee shop in this just-south-of-the-border town, Coffee Landing Cafe earns praise for its welcoming atmosphere, yummy food and great service.
Lutsen
A great place to gear up for a day on the slopes or trails, Fika Coffee - link opens in new tab. opened in 2016 and specializes in small batch, sustainable coffee sourced from around the globe.
Central Minnesota
Aitkin
Stop by The Beanery for coffee and pastries in the morning and paninis and soup for lunch; and head to the espresso and wine bar, which features live music, on Friday nights.
Crosby
A newcomer to downtown Crosby, Mixed Company serves Minnesota-made coffee from Duluth Coffee Co., smoothies, sandwiches and breakfast fare on Main Street. Or stop into Red Raven Cafe & Bike Shop, also downtown, where you can ask the owners about mountain biking in Cuyuna.
Sauk Centre
Found on the town's original Main Street, Jitters Java Cafe is a cafe, coffee shop and wine bar serving five unique brews daily, with live music and light fare in the evening.
The Kofe Shop in Spicer / Jessica Brouillette
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Minneapolis
One of Travel + Leisure's top 10 coffee cities in the U.S., Minneapolis has no shortage of options for a caffeine fix. Popular spots include Spyhouse (in the Uptown, Whittier, North Loop and Northeast neighborhoods), Gigi's Cafe (CARAG neighborhood) and Angry Catfish (Standish-Erickson neighborhood), which doubles as a bicycle shop.
Lakeville
Mainstreet Coffee Cafe serves small-batch coffees from a local roaster to provide a true "farm to cup" experience.
The Instagram-worthy beverages at Cafe Astoria in St. Paul look almost as good as they taste
St. Paul
Discover Instagram-worthy beverages at Cafe Astoria - link opens in new tab. near downtown St. Paul. This cozy shop is serving up tasty beverages that are almost too pretty to drink. If you are looking for something sweet, try the campfire latte complete with a toasted marshmallow. Ask your barista about the secret menu to discover the 24K latte with real gold leaf or the rainbow peppermint mocha with colors that change daily. If you're hungry, try one of the delicious crepes, smoothie bowls or pastries.
Waconia
Set inside a 100-year-old home, Mocha Monkey has two floors, comfy couches and a cozy fireplace where guests can enjoy a cup of organic Fair Trade coffee, tea, hot chocolate or a bite to eat.
Southern Minnesota
Jackson
One of Minnesota's newest coffee shops, The Coffee Nest in downtown Jackson makes and serves fresh pastries, soups and a full range of tasty beverages.
The Daily Grind in downtown Marshall / Jessica Brouillette
Marshall
Open daily, Bagels & Brew supplements its menu of fresh-brewed coffees, cappuccinos and hot teas with seasonal drink and food specials. Or try Main Stay Cafe on Main Street, which exhibits work by local artists.
Red Wing
Hanisch Bakery & Coffee Shop features a full espresso bar and about a dozen flavors of coffee daily. Don't miss the adjoining bakery, which was voted the best in Minnesota by WCCO viewers for its specialty cakes, Polish paczkis and inventive doughnut flavors like maple bacon.
Winona
With locations downtown and in the Winona Mall, Blooming Grounds Coffee House serves gourmet pizzas in addition to coffee drinks, breakfast and lunch items. Other cafes in this college town include Blue Heron Coffeehouse, Mugby Junction - link opens in new tab. and Acoustic Cafe.
Cantabria Coffee Company in Bemidji roasts fresh coffee beans in house every day / Micah Kvidt
Northwest Minnesota
Bemidji
Downtown Bemidji is home to a few independent coffee shops. Wild Hare Bistro and Coffeehouse serves coffee that's roasted in Duluth; Cantabria Coffee Company and Cabin Coffee House & Cafe are also popular with locals.
Park Rapids
Bella Cafe is both a coffee shop and a wine bar that also serves sandwiches and other house-made eats.
Detroit Lakes
La Barista - link opens in new tab. is the place to go for coffee, sandwiches and catching up with friends. Enjoy free WiFi at this cozy spot in Washington Square Mall.
Erica Wacker is a Midwesterner through and through, growing up in Illinois, going to college in Wisconsin, and settling down in Minnesota. She loves to run, travel with her family, and go to concerts to relive her youth.