Best Independent Coffee Shop in Every State

With two Oahu locations, Brew & Foam has won over the locals with its perfectly prepared menu of classic coffee drinks as well as new creations like the Undertow (espresso, coconut syrup, and half & half), Dawn Patrol (drip coffee, grass-fed butter, and cold-press coconut oil), and Haupia Mocha (espresso, cacao, steamed milk, and coconut whipped cream). They also offer a small selection of waffles, sandwiches, and pastries.

At the stylish, retro-inspired Slow by Slow, they’re serving up coffee from some of the finest small independent roasters in the country, including Proud Hound in Cincinnati, HEX in Charlotte, and Elm Coffee Roasters in Seattle. Their baristas are trained to bring out the very best flavor in each roast (they’re all sold individually as pour-over), and guests who fall in love with a specific roaster can also buy their beans by the bag. It’s a smart and creative way to support small local roasters while introducing Boise to coffees they wouldn’t be able to find otherwise.

Making the Windy City swoon since 2015, Two Hearted Queen was founded by Cassandra Andrewson and Cely Garcia on the first floor of an old house. Each room is filled with quirky furniture, making the place fun and comfortable for hanging out. The enterprise was founded with a mission to support sustainable coffee farms, and they roast signature blends in-house with fun names including Love Potion #222 (juicy and velvety) and Witchcraft (dark chocolatey with a nutty finish). A variety of pastries and teas round out the menu.

This cute and cozy coffee shop only offers coffee to-go, but it’s worth seeking out while strolling through downtown Indianapolis. Founded by Justin Jones in 2016 (the lines haven’t let up since), Georgia Street Grind serves only coffee from local roasters, blended in-house and turned into some truly stunning coffee creations, including café Miel (with honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla), Blended Caramello (mocha, espresso, and caramel sauce), and honey lavender latte. Justin also recently opened a larger café, Bovaconti Coffee, nearby.

At Morning Bell Coffee Roasters, they only purchase Fair Trade and Organic-certified green coffee beans, as well as some Smithsonian Bird Friendly certified coffees, namely from Selva Negra in Nicaragua – and roasting them all in-house. The whole operation is computer-free, for a truly “made by humans” coffee experience, and social and environmental sustainability is central to what they do. Founder Nadav Mer recently sold the business, which is transitioning into Iowa’s first workers’ cooperative.