Minneapolis has over 200 coffee shops, but these eight are the ones that got coffee right. We're not including chains or hotel lobbies — just the independent shops that roast their own beans, train their baristas, and create spaces worth lingering in.
We visited every shop multiple times over six months, tried the espresso and the pour-overs, and talked to the owners about sourcing and technique. Last updated January 2025.
1. Spyhouse Coffee
Multiple locations • $$ • Third-wave roaster, pour-overs, espresso drinks
Spyhouse pioneered Minneapolis's third-wave coffee scene when it opened in 2000. Today, it has seven locations, and the quality hasn't dipped. They roast in-house, source directly from farms, and train baristas like they're apprenticing sommeliers. The pour-over menu changes seasonally — right now, the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is outstanding. The Northeast location has the best atmosphere: exposed brick, vintage furniture, enough seating that you can actually camp out.
Pro Tip
Order a single-origin pour-over and ask the barista which they're excited about today. They'll steer you right, and you'll get a five-minute coffee education in the process.
2. Dogwood Coffee
Multiple locations • $$ • Bright roasts, excellent pastries, laptop-friendly
If Spyhouse is Minneapolis's coffee pioneer, Dogwood is its perfectionist. Opened in 2014, it quickly became the spot for people who care about coffee but don't want to be snobby about it. The roasts are bright and fruit-forward — they're not afraid of acidity. The pastries are from Patisserie 46 and actually worth the $4. The Seward location has a back patio that's perfect in summer.
Pro Tip
Go to the St. Paul location (technically not Minneapolis, but too good to skip). It's in a converted house, and the upstairs seating feels like working from a friend's living room.
3. Five Watt Coffee
South Minneapolis • $ • Cozy, no-nonsense, neighborhood spot
Five Watt doesn't have Instagram-worthy latte art or a twelve-page origin story menu. It has really good coffee, reasonable prices, and a neighborhood vibe that makes you want to become a regular. Opened in 2010 in a former barber shop, it's stayed true to its roots: solid espresso, simple menu, friendly staff who remember your order. This is what a coffee shop should be — unpretentious and excellent.
Pro Tip
The oatmeal is legendary. Get it with the seasonal fruit compote. Pair it with a cappuccino. This is the perfect winter breakfast for under $10.
4. Quixotic Coffee
Uptown & St. Louis Park • $$ • Experimental roasts, unique blends
Quixotic is Minneapolis's coffee mad scientist. They're constantly experimenting with roast profiles, brewing methods, and sourcing relationships. The result: coffee that surprises you. Recent highlights include a honey-processed Costa Rican bean that tasted like blueberries and a naturally-processed Ethiopian that was almost wine-like. This is for people who want coffee to be interesting, not just good.
Pro Tip
Try the Chemex pour-over with their current experimental roast. It's $6, but you're basically getting a curated coffee experience from people who obsess about this stuff.
5. Bootstrap Coffee
North Loop • $ • Simple, solid, no pretension
Bootstrap opened in 2017 as the antidote to overthought coffee culture. The menu has five drinks. The space is minimal — wood tables, concrete floors, nothing decorative. And the coffee is exactly what you want: well-sourced, properly extracted, served quickly. This is coffee for people who have work to do and need caffeine to do it. No theatrics, just function.
Pro Tip
Get the cold brew. They brew it for 24 hours with beans from Colombia, and it's smooth enough to drink black. Perfect for summer mornings in North Loop.
6. Peace Coffee
Multiple locations • $ • Fair trade, organic, community-focused
Peace Coffee has been roasting in Minneapolis since 1996, back when "fair trade" and "organic" were niche concepts. Today, they're a certified B Corp that sources directly from cooperatives and pays above fair trade prices. The coffee is good — not experimental or flashy, just solid, ethical, and consistent. The Wonderland Park location is a community hub: locals reading newspapers, people having meetings, kids doing homework. It feels like what coffee shops used to be.
Pro Tip
Buy beans to take home. The Sumatra roast is dark and smooth — perfect for French press. And you're supporting a company that actually lives its values.
7. Penny's Coffee
Northeast Minneapolis • $ • Small-batch roaster, rotating single origins
Penny's started as a neighborhood spot in a converted garage in 2016. It still feels that way — small, personal, focused. They roast in tiny batches (60 pounds at a time) and change single-origin offerings every few weeks based on what they're excited about. The space is minimal: a few tables, some plants, coffee gear. This is for coffee nerds who want to geek out about processing methods and varietal differences.
Pro Tip
Talk to the roasters. They're usually around, and they love explaining why they chose the current beans. You'll learn more about coffee in ten minutes than you would from hours of internet research.
8. Colossal Cafe
St. Anthony Main • $ • Coffee + breakfast, river views, patio
Colossal Cafe isn't primarily a coffee shop — it's a breakfast spot that happens to have excellent coffee. But that combination is exactly why it works. Sit on the patio overlooking the Mississippi, order a cappuccino and the breakfast burrito, and watch the river. The coffee is Spyhouse beans, prepared well. The food is better than it needs to be. The vibe is relaxed and unhurried. This is Minneapolis summer mornings at their best.
Pro Tip
Go on a weekday morning in summer. Get patio seating by the river. Order the chilaquiles and an iced coffee. Bring a book and stay for two hours. This is what you moved to Minneapolis for.
Why Minneapolis Coffee Is Underrated
People talk about Seattle, Portland, San Francisco — cities that wear their coffee culture like a badge. Minneapolis doesn't brag. But the coffee scene here is quietly exceptional. Third-wave roasters who've been doing this for twenty years. Shops that prioritize quality without the pretension. A city that values good coffee but doesn't make it a personality trait.
That's Minnesota in a nutshell: excellent without needing to tell you about it.
