The Best Independent Coffee Shop in Every State

Story Coffee, which is situated in a “tiny house” less than 400 square feet in size, roasts its own beans for use in a variety of coffee drinks. The shop also donates 5% of every dollar spent (not 5% of the profits) to The Marian House, a Catholic charity that feeds the hungry and helps struggling families.

Serious coffee is the focus here, including a single-origin direct-trade coffee of the day and various artisan pour-over options, as well as espresso and espresso variations and an unusual Lorchata (cold brew coffee with horchata). The main Stamford location is temporarily closed (it’s set to reopen on March 20), but a satellite in nearby Cos Cob is open for business.

The owner of this coffee shop is Welsh, hence the name “Coffi” — Welsh for our favorite morning beverage. Described on Yelp as being “truly a nice little coffee shop with a beautiful setting” and a “must go” with an “incredibly friendly” staff and “delicious […] strong and robust” coffee, it frequently is hailed as the best coffee shop in the Dover area.

Among the choices here are espresso, pour-over coffee, Cuban coffee (de rigueur in Miami), and an array of imaginative lattes, including wild rose, lavender, sweet plantain, and campfire s’mores variations.

Drip, pour-over, and espresso are available here, along with “traditional cappuccino,” latte, mocha, and more. This “cute, hip space selling a variety of coffee house favorites” and “cool spot and a great relief from the typical chain coffee shops” (according to Yelp) also offers a modest menu of breakfast and lunch fare.