2/27/2013 10:47:00 AM

The United States of Caffeine: 50 States, 50 Must-Try Coffee Shops

Coffee at Sunergos in Louisville
By Staff
Take a deep breath, America - do you smell that? It's not the smell of amber waves of grain, it's the mouthwatering aroma of coffee brewing at some of the country's coolest roasters, tasting rooms and coffee bars. Unlike some regional favorites, the country's caffeine fixation is spread far and wide. From a slow bar with a siphon brewer in Alaska to a Miami-based roaster that has direct ties to a Colombian farm, there's a place in every state where you can get a great cup of joe. Click through the slide show for our cross-country tour of 50 states' notable coffee shops (plus one in DC), and let us know which java joints you pledge allegiance to in the comments.

Bonus: For a look at some international coffee destinations, check this out.


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39 comments :

  1. Artifact Coffee beats any other Maryland coffee house hands down

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  2. Check out The Hub next time you're in Springfield, MO.

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  3. In NYC, the best coffee served in fine hotels and restaurants is Gillies.

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  4. Replies

    1. Sorry, over roasted and consistently bitter. But to each his own.

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  5. This is the worst list of coffee shops ever compiled.

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    1. I agree not much thought went into this list. I think the writer likely googled each state and picked what looked nice or something. sigh.

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  6. Trabant in Seattle is hands down the best coffee in the state of Washington!

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  7. I second the Trabant comment.

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  8. Beach Bum Cafe in Hawaii features the wrong photo (as in, the cafe and the photo are on different islands). Nonetheless, both excellent places to visit!

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  9. I know we're not a state, but what about DC?

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    1. They included Peregrine Espresso. Is it good?

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  10. Not only does Elevated Grounds have the best no fat Latte, but their Power Bar for breakfast parallels none. I'm in there everytime I pass through WY which is a least twice a year. Great coffee, great food, great staff and a special ambiance.

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  11. I guess the list might be great for those looking for a great coffee shop experience, but I think that having a great coffee shop experience does not always equate to the absolute best coffee experience. I didn't see any of my favorites listed like Ceremony Coffee in Annapolis, MD. I think a better source for finding great coffee is the site run by Ken Davids, coffeereview.com

    I might have missed it, but it I don't recall seeing a set of criteria that defines a great coffee shop. For instance, I would put Tartine Bakery in San Francisco on the list, because while the coffee is very good, the pastries are amazing, and that makes me want to sit and enjoy the experience.

    At places like Ceremony in Annapolis, Blue Bottle in Brooklyn, or Intelligensia in Chicago, I got there to buy great coffee and discuss brewing and beans.

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  12. Macy's really? That would be one of my last choices and even then I might skip it.

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    1. If you're in Arizona, it's got to be Cartel. Hands down.

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  13. Generally speaking this list appears to be stuck in the 90s. Sunergos in Kentucky is a great shop though and deserves to be on the list.

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  14. Steam Dot in Alaska? Not bad coffee, but anyone in the state would tell you there's only one name in coffee here: Kaladi Brothers.
    In fact, I think Steam Dot uses Kaladi roasts.

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    1. Kaladis is/was good, but SteamDot has quickly passed them by. SteamDot makes much better coffee and has cooler cafes. And they roast their OWN beans at a plant in Anchorage- which you can watch them do through big glass windows.

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  15. Kaldi's Coffee in St. Louis and Columbia, Mo. THE BEST. Also, Ipsento in Chicago. Star Lounge is a great pick though, too.

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  16. Wonder how the heck they came up with this list? The Runcible Spoon, really? It's great if you are a desperate collage student.

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    1. Aw... I love the Spoon. C'mon, gimme a hug.

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  17. Please correct the error on the Macy's slide (3 of 51). Currently reads "Award-winning vegan fair and..." - should be changed to "Award-winning vegan fare and..."

    Also, is this list based on local voting for "best"? If not, what was the criteria for these choices?

    Thank you.

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  18. Haha, everyone's a critic. Oh well.

    I'm confused about one thing. How come all of these are not in Zagat? I'd love to use Zagat but there are only a couple places in the entire city and the coffee shop you listed above, isn't even in the app. How can we fix this?

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  19. Obviously they never went to Asheville, NC if they spelled the city name wrong. It's Asheville not Ashville

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  20. This is pretty pointless. What does Zagat know about the local coffee scene in states across the country? For example, if you ask the locals in Springfield Missouri what is their city's best coffeehouse, they wouldn't say Coffee Ethic. Afterall, they don't even roast their own beans.

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  21. Asheville is the correct spelling. Not Ashville.

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  22. Jo's is great for people watching, but the coffee isn't amazing. What about Once Over or one of the other dozen excellent pourhouses in town?

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  23. Obviously whoever reviewed Denver's shops came here in 1988. For actual good coffee, go here: Happy Coffee, Crema Coffeehouse, Aviano, Black Eye, Two Rivers, Corvus, Huckleberry, Boxcar...and shops slated to open within 3 months: Little Owl, Novo. Yum. -Joshua, Denver Coffee Review

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  25. Do not agree with this list. I live in Columbia, SC and never step foot inside Drip. The coffee is average and the staff is rude.

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    1. i disagree i find the staff at drip to be quite wonderful and the coffee very good, also the food is unmatched. the effort they put forth into each cup is quite amazing being that they only do pour over and the sense of community within the shop between the patrons is an awesome thing as well. i've traveled near and far with my job and still find drip to be my favorite coffee shop.

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    2. drip is soooooo effin good! what are you talking about dude?!?!?!?!

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    3. Folgers and a Mr.Coffee would be better.

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    4. he's probably just some dude that attempted to hit on on the baristas and got fuckin' rejected.. out of the shitty coffee shops columbia has to offer drip is by far the best choice.

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  26. to each his own. lists like these really don't matter a bit, it's all opinions and perceptions. having been to many of these shops i agree with a few disagree with most, but the important thing is no matter where you get your coffee get it locally owned.

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  27. Could you add an address to your Steam Dot listing in Alaska? They do have a location on O'Malley, but the picture you posted is from their new location at 600 E. Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK.

    Thank you!

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  28. Sure Java Break is open all night, but their coffee is terrible.

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