Academic

Best Cafes And Coffeehouses In America: A Random City Guide

By Dan Filler

I like to create lists of useful food-related information. Foodies will surely want to consult my list of America's Best Restaurants before hitting the road.  So here, as a result of mildly exhaustive research, is my fully un-guaranteed but still incredibly useful list of some great (or really good) American coffeeshops.  I haven't been to almost any of these places, but hey - neither have you - and I'm certain that you'll have a better experience here than in your hotel lobby.  Look.  I'm pretty darn good at this sort of aggregation...so I suspect that most of these shops will actually be mighty fine!   I am stone certain there are other superb cafes I've missed and  I encourage alternative suggestions in the comments.

I've excluded the solid national chains - Starbucks, Peets, and the like - on the theory that you oughta be able to figure those out for yourself.  I've included a few local chains.  And I've tried to emphasize cities where good coffee is likely to be a bit more obscure.  After all, if you want good coffee in Seattle or San Francicso...GO OUTSIDE! 

The list is after the jump...

Akron - Nervous Dog Coffee Bar

Atlanta - Joe's East Atlanta Coffee Shop

Baltimore - 'Spro Coffee

Birmingham - Lucy's Coffee and Tea

Boston - True Grounds

Charlotte - Jackson's Java

Chicago - Metropolis Coffee Company and Bourgeois Pig Cafe

Cleveland - Phoenix Coffee (a local chain)

Dallas - Opening Bell and Murray Street Coffee Shop

Kansas City - Broadway Cafe and Roastery

Milwaukee - Alterra Coffee

Philadelphia - La Colombe and The Flying Saucer

Phoenix - Copper Star Coffee

Pittsburgh - 21st Street Coffee and Tea and Enrico's Tazza D'Oro

Sacramento - Temple Fine Coffee and Tea

Salt Lake City - Cocoa Cafe and Salt Lake Roasting Company

San Diego - Rebecca's

St. Louis - Northwest Coffee Roasting Co.

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on November 23, 2008 (boomark / email).