The 10 Coolest Independent Coffee Shops Across The U.S.

In a lot of areas of the U.S., coffee flows almost abundantly as water (speaking of which -- is it time for a coffee break yet?). While most people know joints like Starbucks, Peaberry and even Stumptown, lucky for us, a lot of great independent coffee houses still survive in different areas of the country. Mainly these places focus on quality drinks, perfectly-roasted coffee, a variety of beans, hip baristas and an artistic quality lacking from the name-brand chains out there. Here are some of our favorites. Which places do you frequent?

Also see: Chefs Share Their New Year's Resolutions and Best Meals of 2011

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Comments

[ScoutDeb]

12:32 PM on 01/21/2012

Thank you for including Press in your list! There are some cool things in Dayton when people give it a chance.

[Akaash Saini]

02:23 AM on 01/10/2012

Why is Intellegencia not included in this list? Michael Phillips, head barista at Intellegencia in Chicago, Il, is the only US barista to win the World Barista Competition. He did it in 2008.

[surbinder]

11:17 AM on 01/08/2012

The Bean Counter Bistro in Williams Lake B.C. has by far the most welcoming staff and atmosphere.
Did I mention the local food/farmers items served there? YUM

[susanbsbi]

10:11 AM on 12/30/2011

I wish we had the real coffee shops here in south Florida, all we have is Starbucks. I miss those coffee shops

[Davidsly]

12:40 AM on 12/30/2011

Krankies Coffee, period.

[eclipse292]

08:06 PM on 01/05/2012

My first thought too. I've been to cafes around the world, and damn, Krankies is the bar-none best.

[paulsca138]

10:35 PM on 12/29/2011

Cool and coffee- shop go together like Rosie O"Donnell and exercising.

[jacki650]

07:22 PM on 12/29/2011

New favorite: Coffee Bar in San Francisco :)

[jmichaelmunger]

03:09 PM on 12/29/2011

There is a small coffee house in podunk and deeply conservative northern Alabama (I think in Cullman) called Berkeley Bob's. It has a regular, devoted, and diverse customer base that keep them rolling. They even have bluegrass and open mic nights that really round out the atmosphere.

Really cool diamond in the rough.

[mstass]

10:00 AM on 12/29/2011

Old World Coffee House in Princeton, NJ is still my fav.

[Kremfresch]

01:59 PM on 12/29/2011

Don't know an Old World Coffee in Princeton, but If you mean Small World, I am down!! Get a Mocha and listen to a Chris Harford show while perusing his paintings!

[mstass]

05:37 PM on 12/31/2011

Quite Right... Small World it is!!

[sewgirljudy]

09:29 AM on 12/29/2011

Anyone ever been to the Culver Coffee Company in Culver Indiana? It's a lovely little coffee shop in a quaint little town. They've a great cuppa + more! I love LOVE em!

[Ancaeus]

06:09 AM on 12/29/2011

Ironically, the window of Press in Dayton has a sign advertising Gimme Coffee -- a coffee roaster and coffee shop in Ithaca NY. That's the unmistakable red sign in the window.

[rimabean]

06:28 PM on 12/31/2011

Why is that ironic? They serve Gimme! Coffee -- lots of places do because they roast excellent beans and have great relationships with their farmers.

[godsjester71]

02:24 PM on 12/28/2011

The crowd, the regulars, the COUNTER, even the wifi all adds to the quaintness of the location and the vibe of it all with upbeat morning music, to sometimes seriously duuurty bass music at night. Hands down my all time favorite coffee spot in my 20 years of coffee going in Chicago! I almost forgot to mention all the support it gives local artists with some of the more innovative and time consuming pieces and gallery openings, it really adds to the camaraderie that sets this place apart from the rest! Go sit at the counter sometime and just watch and listen. ;)

[Unreadable]

11:33 AM on 12/28/2011

I think it's a chain, but I still liked Taraccino (sp?) when I lived in the Midwest.

[maigoro]

09:39 AM on 12/28/2011

I like many coffees but my hands down favorite is Dunkin Doughnuts in America. The DD coffee around the world is not so good as they don't have half and half cream and since they don't sell a lot the coffee is not usually fresh.
Coffee and coffee houses where a lot more fun when I was a smoker. There is hardly anything more enjoyable and relaxing than a fresh cup of coffee and good smokes.

[TSOCANUCK]

06:59 AM on 12/28/2011

don't know how american's get there espresso but up here in canada the best espresso bars are your local ma and pa bake shops .. and i have been frequenting them all my life.