The moment we decided to create an article about St. Paul’s top coffee shops, we became aware of an issue.
Coffee shops each have their own soul and soul, arguably more so than any other type of business. They have a strong sense of community support and are firmly rooted in their neighbourhoods.
We therefore realised right away that our piece should do the same. Instead of creating a modest list of the greatest coffee shops, we decided to create the most thorough reference to the capital city’s independent, locally owned coffee shops.
1. Cafe Astoria
Cafe Astoria is a warm, cosy coffee house that offers excellent coffee, delectable crepes, and a variety of mouthwatering teas.
When you walk into Cafe Astoria, the first adjective that springs to mind is charming. The service is prompt, and the staff is polite and informed.
The coffee menu is well-stocked with all the usual suspects, plus a tonne of smoothies, cold and hot teas, and mixed frappes.
You can get an oatmeal bowl, a smoothie bowl, or one of the delectable crepes if you’re hungry.
2. Backstory coffee
Backstory began roasting coffee in Saint Paul in 2014. In 2019, it relocated to its current site on the West Side and launched a coffee shop serving an array of coffee, pastries, and other treats.
In the past, they were known simply Bootstrap Coffee Roasters. Utilise the walk-up window or place an online order.
3. Claddagh Coffee Café
Another one of the cosy coffee places St. Paul excels at is Claddagh Coffee. The store is called after an Irish emblem that stands for friendship, loyalty, affection and has an Irish feel.
True to form, its warmly baked pastries and carefully hand-crafted drinks feel like a warm hug. They offer a variety of coffee.
This covers espresso, cold press, pour-overs, or brewed beverages. They also offer teas, smoothies, hot cocoa, and other beverages.
4. Creators Cup Coffee House
The menu at this coffee house in the heart of St. Paul is varied. Along with additional alternatives like burritos and salads, they provide a variety of delicious baked goodies including pies and cupcakes.
They provide take-outs, although only on certain days, so you can enjoy your meal and coffee at home or work.
They occasionally host events like book fairs, which is another reason you should go here. Keep an eye out for their Facebook announcements about their forthcoming events if you want amazing entertainment, refreshments, and coffee.
5. Quixotic Coffee
The goal of Quixotic Coffee is to give each customer a special experience. This is a good spot to visit if you want to have a satisfying cup of coffee to energise your mornings because of its tranquil and pleasant ambiance.
You can pick from their extensive menu of beverages, which also includes cold brew or espresso. They also provide a variety of meals to go along with your drink.
6. Yellowbird Coffee Bar
Yellowbird Coffer Bar aspires to create a warm, sociable atmosphere full of compassion and care, for the customers as well as when applied to the shop’s work ethic. It carries the owner’s deeply personal tale and familial attachment.
Yellowbird uses ingredients from local roasters, caterers, dairy farmers, and kombucha brewers in St. Paul to make its coffee drinks along with additional beverages.
All of your preferred espresso beverages, both hot and cold brews, winter-themed cocoa, chocolate, and teas, as well as a variety of soups, sandwiches, and pastry for breakfast and lunch, are all available on the shop’s menu.
7. Groundswell
Groundswell’s coffee bar, kitchen and in-house bakery have been providing a cosy and almost beautiful setting for the neighborhood’s coffee enthusiasts to mingle and enjoy a decent cup of coffee and a serving of Groundswell’s very own hand pie for more than ten years now.
Belgian waffles, pancakes, omelettes, quiche, and plant-based bowls are all available on the shop’s all-day breakfast menu and can all be customised to be vegan and gluten-free.
Weekend brunch and lunch specials are more limited but still provide a variety of mouthwatering dishes, including biscuits and gravy, potato waffle poutine, and banana bread French toast.
8. A Side Public House
In the centre of the west side’s 7th neighbourhood, on Randolph Street, sits A Side, a distinctive location. A former fire station of the 1800s was transformed by the owners into what is now essentially a half-coffee shop, half-restaurant.
You can choose to have a lovely sit-down meal from their extensive culinary selection, or you can order a fast drink from their counter-service area.
9. Nina’s Coffee Café
Nina’s Coffee, a cheerful and welcoming cafe ideal for breakfasts and unwinding after work, is adjacent to the neighbourhood condominium near Boyd Lake and is conveniently located nearby.
Nina’s breakfast and lunch menu, along with the sandwiches, wraps, yet salads, are both reasonably priced and unquestionably good.
The beverage menu includes all well-known espresso, batch brew, and chilly press drinks in addition to teas, chocolate, and kombucha.
10. Kopplin’s Coffee
For quick breakfasts or breaks for lunch in the Merriam Park area, Kopplin’s serene, unassuming setting with comfy seats and a work-friendly table area will be excellent.
Kopplin is another smaller, neighborhood-focused coffee shop.
Kopplin’s is a family-run business that manages every step of the preparation and product procurement process.
They serve premium coffees that are roasted in-house along with freshly baked pastries, Rustica baguette slices, cheese platters, and other popular small nibbles.
Conclusion
Here they are: our top 10 picks for coffee cafes in St. Paul. However, this is actually only the start.
In the Twin Cities, there are a tonne of additional fantastic venues to satisfy your caffeine craving! So why are you still waiting? Discover St. Paul coffee right away!