Minneapolis boasts one of America’s best coffee scenes with exceptional third-wave coffee roasters and craft coffee shops scattered throughout the Twin Cities.
From the North Loop neighborhood to Northeast Minneapolis and Skyway level cafes downtown, these independent coffee shops serve quality coffee beans roasted in-house.
Local roasters operate multiple locations offering seasonal beverages, espresso drinks, and single-origin coffees. The Mississippi River city features barista-trained staff, house-roasted beans, and artisanal coffee culture spanning South Minneapolis to St. Paul.
Spyhouse Coffee Roasters
Best For: National-caliber roasts and industrial chic
Christian Johnson founded Spyhouse Coffee Roasting Company in 2000, establishing national-caliber roasters with delicate beautiful roasts across six Minneapolis locations.
The North Loop location features marble countertops, a pristine La Marzocco espresso machine, and an original bank vault door from Hall’s Safe and Lock Co.
Their Northeast location operates in a former Land O Nod mattress factory sharing a building with 612 Brewery. Popular drinks include the Spygirl lavender honey latte and Sage Against the Machine pecan sage latte, with no charge for alternative milks.
Opening: Six locations across Minneapolis
Atmosphere: Industrial chic with minimalist aesthetic, marble counters, and original bank vault architectural details
Menu Highlights:
- Spygirl lavender honey latte
- Sage Against the Machine pecan sage latte
- Alternative milks (almond, oat, soy) at no extra charge
- Delicate, beautiful roasts
Backstory Coffee Roasters
Best For: Beautiful warehouse setting with greenery
Backstory Coffee Roasters operates as the most beautiful coffee shop in North Loop, where flora and greenery abound amid luxe finishes and soaring ceilings.
Roasting since 2012 in St. Paul, this 19th-century warehouse features historic industrial building elements with massive wood beams, steel infrastructure, and rugged brick walls with mullioned windows.
Three locations include St. Paul West Side, North Loop, and Bloomington Central Station. The curated menu features their signature Maple Standard cold brew with maple syrup, cream, cinnamon, and sea salt, alongside seasonal drinks roasted in-house.
Opening: Three locations (North Loop, St. Paul, Bloomington)
Atmosphere: Historic 19th-century warehouse with soaring ceilings, plants, luxe finishes, and upholstered seating
Menu Highlights:
- Maple Standard cold brew (maple syrup, cream, cinnamon, sea salt)
- Seasonal drinks
- House-roasted beans
- Curated coffee drinks menu
Five Watt Coffee
Best For: Craft cocktail-inspired coffee drinks
Five Watt Coffee excels as an excellent roaster delivering specialty coffee drinks with precision and creativity across three Minneapolis locations: Kingfield, Lyndale, and East Hennepin.
Their quirky sensibility shines through drinks like the Pumpkin Spice Lawsuit and Busy Beaver featuring maple syrup, blackstrap bitters, cinnamon, black pepper, and molasses.
These craft cocktail-inspired espresso drinks incorporate bitters, tinctures, and special infusions designed for coffee and cocktail snobs alike. The East Hennepin location offers lots of outdoor seating, with seasonal specialty drinks including the Atomic Blondie, Pollinator, and Northeast Fog.
Opening: Three locations (Kingfield, Lyndale, East Hennepin)
Atmosphere: Fun, friendly, and festive with quirky sensibility and lots of outdoor seating at East Hennepin
Menu Highlights:
- Pumpkin Spice Lawsuit
- Busy Beaver (maple syrup, blackstrap bitters, cinnamon, black pepper, molasses)
- Atomic Blondie
- Pollinator
- Northeast Fog
Dogwood Coffee
Best For: Third-wave pioneer with sustainable sourcing
Dogwood Coffee stands as one of the oldest third wave coffee roasters, having been roasting coffee since 2010 with high quality and great sourcing of espresso beans.
Their colorful modern aesthetic defines three locations across Northeast Minneapolis, East Lake Street, and St. Paul.
This Twin Cities standby maintains commitment to sustainability by sourcing from small farms around the world following ethical practices. The minimalist decor creates a serene environment for enjoying their signature Zamboni cold brew served in a beer goblet, plus seasonal offerings with unique flavor combinations showcasing the artistry of coffee-making.
Opening: Three locations (Northeast, East Lake Street, St. Paul)
Atmosphere: Colorful modern aesthetic with minimalist decor creating a serene, sustainable environment
Menu Highlights:
- Zamboni cold brew (served in beer goblet)
- Seasonal offerings with unique flavor combinations
- High-quality espresso beans
- Ethically sourced beans from small farms
SK Coffee
Best For: Nordic minimalism and single-origin roasts
SK Coffee delivers unique exceptional roasts at three locations: Whittier neighborhood, downtown Minneapolis Skyway (50 South 6th Street Unit 290), and St. Paul, near the border of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
This Skyway-level cafe maintains a minimal Nordic vibe while roasting single-origin coffees in-house with nuanced flavors that are quite flavorful and unusual.
The cozy family-friendly space features hand-made arts and crafts from local artists and craftspeople, plus crayons and colored pencils for customers to draw and doodle. Their well-balanced cortado and flat white showcase some of the finest coffee in Minneapolis with markedly consistent quality.
Opening: Three locations (Whittier, Skyway, St. Paul)
Atmosphere: Minimal Nordic vibe with hand-made arts, crafts, and family-friendly space with drawing supplies
Menu Highlights:
- Single-origin coffees roasted in-house
- Well-balanced cortado
- Flat white
- Nuanced, flavorful, unusual coffee profiles
FRGMNT Coffee
Best For: Rotating roasters and dramatic spaces
FRGMNT Coffee (say “fragment”) stays serious about roasting while sourcing the best beans from around the world through their rotating roaster program featuring different coffee origins.
Four Minneapolis locations include North Loop (729 North Washington Avenue), St. Anthony Main, Mill District, downtown Skyway, plus Eden Prairie.
Knowledgeable baristas guide customers through intriguing, exquisitely crafted beverages in spaces with expansive dimensions and dramatic fireplaces. The North Loop location features a modern Nordic building with outdoor seating at Nordic Plaza, near pop-up holiday markets and the Minneapolis Christkindl Market, creating vibes a plenty alongside a great coffee experience.
Opening: Four Minneapolis locations plus Eden Prairie
Atmosphere: Expansive dimensions with dramatic fireplaces, modern Nordic design, and outdoor seating at Nordic Plaza
Menu Highlights:
- Rotating roaster program from different coffee origins
- Intriguing, exquisitely crafted beverages
- Beans sourced from around the world
- Seasonal offerings from various roasters
Fairgrounds Craft Coffee & Tea
Best For: Whimsical carnival vibes and aesthetics
Fairgrounds Craft Coffee and Tea brings Chicago-based whimsical carnival theming to Minneapolis’ North Loop location (116 3rd Avenue N, 612-333-9165) for a fun escapist coffee date.
This historic building features high ceilings with pale blue and bright yellow accents on white-washed brick, creating one of the prettiest coffee shops in Minneapolis.
The instagrammable F sign, rolling library ladder, and industrial-style ironwork lights complement the marble counter. Coffee from a variety of independent roasters includes several cold presses on tap, plus loose leaf tea selections like peach blossom white tea, served among rustic wood tables, tufted banquettes, and cozy sofas by the fireplace.
Opening: North Loop location, Minneapolis
Atmosphere: Whimsical carnival theme with high ceilings, pale blue and yellow accents, and instagrammable details
Menu Highlights:
- Coffee from variety of independent roasters
- Several cold presses on tap
- Peach blossom white tea
- Loose leaf tea selection
In the Loop Coffee Company
Best For: Dog-friendly neighborhood vibes
In the Loop Coffee Co. (708 N 1st Street, Minneapolis, 612-479-9300) operates as a little coffee shop with a lot of heart where baked goods taste homemade and a photo wall displays customers’ pets.
This North Loop neighborhood spot makes visitors feel like regulars on their first visit, serving locally roasted organic coffee, tea, smoothies, pastries, and a light lunch menu.
Signature drinks lean toward the sweet side of the spectrum, including the toffee crunch mocha garnished with toffee bits, alongside traditional espresso drinks and pour over coffee. Dogs are the real VIPs here, welcomed with water bowls and immortalized in the Doggie Hall of Fame featuring framed black-and-white photographs.
Opening: North Loop, Minneapolis
Atmosphere: Neighborhood coffee shop with homemade feel, pet photo wall, and Doggie Hall of Fame
Menu Highlights:
- Toffee crunch mocha with toffee bits
- Locally roasted organic coffee
- Traditional espresso drinks
- Pour over coffee
- Homemade-style baked goods
Wesley Andrews Coffee & Tea
Best For: Artisan pour overs and vinyl records
Wesley Andrews Coffee and Tea (111 E 26th Street, Minneapolis, 612-460-7739) operated as a beloved neighborhood spot from November 2016 until closing in December 2025.
This hipster coffee shop featured exposed brick, lush houseplants, and exquisitely prepared pour overs alongside creative seasonal drinks like the Szechuan miel with fresh pressed ginger honey syrup, Szechuan peppercorn, and orange bitters.
Owners Jared Thompson and Johan Podlewski created a space with a colorful architectural flourish over the front door, large windows overlooking the street, and natural light brightening the clean-lined interior. Food and Wine Magazine named it Best Coffee Shop in Minnesota for its fine teas, coffees including Heart Coffee from Portland Oregon, latte art, and community spirit.
Opening: Closed December 2025
Atmosphere: Exposed brick, lush houseplants, natural light, and clean-lined interior with vinyl records
Menu Highlights:
- Szechuan miel (ginger honey syrup, Szechuan peppercorn, orange bitters)
- Exquisitely prepared pour overs
- Heart Coffee from Portland, Oregon
- Latte art
- Fine teas
Northern Coffeeworks
Best For: Minnesota outdoors theme and maple
Northern Coffeeworks (4208 S 28th Avenue, Minneapolis) serves tasty house-roasted coffee in a laid-back atmosphere inspired by Minnesota’s great outdoors.
This South Minneapolis location features a handful of seasonal beverages alongside their signature regular latte plus maple, delivering intense maple flavor that’s not too sweet.
The casual neighborhood vibe connects to their house roastery where fresh beans are roasted daily, creating an outdoor atmosphere with Minnesota outdoors theme throughout the Minnesota-inspired decor. Picnic tables along the sidewalk provide sidewalk seating in picnic style, making this local roasting operation perfect for enjoying their maple lattes and seasonal drinks in a natural setting.
Opening: South Minneapolis
Atmosphere: Laid-back Minnesota outdoors theme with picnic tables along sidewalk and casual neighborhood vibe
Menu Highlights:
- Regular latte plus maple (intense maple flavor)
- House-roasted coffee (fresh daily)
- Seasonal beverages
- Minnesota-inspired drinks
Café Astoria
Best For: Instagram-worthy colorful latte art
Café Astoria (180 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, 651-340-9471) became Instagram-famous for inventive, aesthetically-pleasing drinks that taste as lovely as they look.
The rainbow latte features peppermint and chocolate flavoring that’s not too sweet, making stunning photos, while the 24K latte includes edible gold and the campfire latte comes with a toasted marshmallow garnish.
This Grand Avenue location showcases beautiful murals and artwork throughout the shop, offering colorful Instagram-worthy lattes decorated with edible flowers like pansies from their secret menu. The food menu features crepes, smoothie bowls, salads, sandwiches, croissant sandwiches, and momos, plus Filipino flavor Ube drinks. Outdoor seating handles the busy shop’s long wait lines from viral video fame.
Opening: Grand Avenue, St. Paul
Atmosphere: Beautiful murals and artwork with Instagram-worthy aesthetics and outdoor seating available
Menu Highlights:
- Rainbow latte (peppermint and chocolate)
- 24K latte with edible gold
- Campfire latte with toasted marshmallow
- Filipino Ube drinks
- Crepes and smoothie bowls
- Momos
Momo Cafe
Best For: Tibetan-inspired tranquil atmosphere
Momo Cafe (3035 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, 612-446-3483) creates a serene space decorated with the owner’s collection of Tibetan art and antiques in Northeast Minneapolis.
This tranquil atmosphere features unique specialty drinks with Asian flavors including sesame and ube, plus offbeat options like corn milk lattes that showcase unique flavor profiles with Asian ingredients.
The Northeast location along the Central Avenue corridor offers a peaceful environment where cultural artifacts are displayed throughout. The food menu includes pastries, croissant sandwiches, and authentic Tibetan momos as ethnic food offerings, with streetside tables available. This neighborhood cafe specializes in Asian-inspired coffee beverages and alternative milk options in specialty lattes.
Opening: Northeast Minneapolis, Central Avenue
Atmosphere: Serene space with Tibetan art, antiques, and cultural artifacts creating peaceful environment
Menu Highlights:
- Sesame and ube specialty drinks
- Corn milk lattes
- Asian-inspired coffee beverages
- Tibetan momos
- Croissant sandwiches
Conclusion
Minneapolis showcases one of the best coffee scenes in the country with local roasters leading the third-wave movement across independent coffee shops focused on quality.
These neighborhood cafes serve as community gathering spaces throughout the Twin Cities specialty coffee culture, offering house-roasted beans fresh daily at multiple locations across the metro area.
From downtown skyway to North Loop and Northeast locations, barista expertise from trained professionals delivers seasonal specialty beverages on rotating menus.
The diverse coffee experiences range from craft coffee dedication to artisanal approaches in coffee making, with unique drinks and creative offerings in welcoming environments. This Minnesota coffee culture thrives on quality beans expertly prepared, making the Twin Cities a standout destination for coffee enthusiasts and passionate coffee community members.
