It wouldn’t be fair to talk about coffee shops Minneapolis without covering its twin city of St Paul. Though their coffee culture is fairly uniform, what’s with twin city nature, St Paul can be singled out for coffee bars and cafes that reflect the influences of their historic neighbourhood locations.
Many smaller local coffee shops also focus on their local communities, so if you want to be more socially conscious about your coffee intake or simply want to find a less known spot, check out the coffee shop list below.
Cafê Astoria
180 Grand Ave
St Paul, MN 55102
651-340-9471
Open daily from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm;
One of the more recent additions to St Paul’s West Seventh, the women-led Cafe Astoria provides a peaceful cozy corner for brunch in this side of town.
Astoria serves hot and cold coffee brews, espresso and non-caf drinks as well as intricately-prepared specials like rainbow matcha, frozen hot chocolate, or espresso with rose syrup and meringue cuties. Their food menu mainly covers light breakfast foods such as smoothie and oatmeal bowls, salads, crepes, pastry, and fruit plates.
Fresh Grounds Café & Catering
1362 7th Street W, St Paul, MN 55102
651-224-2348
Open Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm;
Saturday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm;
Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm;
Beyond offering a warm and open space for all your casual breakfasts and lunch breaks, Fresh Grounds Cafe functions as a supporter of the social service program, funded on community donations and pouring 100% of their profits into programs for disadvantaged youth, affordable housing, and other social causes, making it one of the best coffee shops in Minneapolis and St Paul combined when it comes to giving back to the community.
Apart from its rich coffee and hot & iced beverage selections, the Cafe serves full breakfasts, lunches, and combinations of both. Here you can warm yourself in the colder months with a hot cup of fresh brew and a delicious sandwich or one of the classic panini melts or treat yourself to soup for lunch and some sweet Belgian waffles for dessert.
Quixotic Coffee
769 Cleveland Ave S
St Paul, MN 55116
651-699-5448
Open daily from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm;
If you’re looking for coffee shops in downtown St. Paul that are more hearty and serene, Quixotic Coffee is likely to appeal to coffee lovers of all backgrounds with its rustic atmosphere, locally-roasted coffees, freshly-made pastry, and even meeting rooms for conducting business or spend time casually.
Most menu items, including breakfast and cold deli sandwiches, toast, and pastry are available to go. If you prefer to eat in-house, you can also enjoy Quixotic Cafe’s selection of salads and sides, soups, parfaits, and an assortment of baked goods. And if you want to spend some quality time with friends, the cafe serves beer on tap and in bottles, a selection of wines, and spitzer.
Yellowbird Coffee Bar
1168 Selby Ave
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-493-7134
Open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm;
Saturday + Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm;
Carrying the deeply personal history and familial affection of its owner, Yellowbird Coffer Bar strives to create a welcoming, companionable atmosphere full of affection and care, both for the customers and when applied to the shop’s work ethic.
Yellowbird’s coffee drinks and other beverages are made using ingredients from local producers and retailers in St Paul, from roasters and caterers to dairy farms and kombucha brewers. The shop’s menu covers all your favorite espresso drinks, hot and cold coffee brews, winter-themed cocoa, chocolate and teas, as well as a selection of soups, sandwiches, and pastries for breakfast and lunch.
GROUNDSWELL
1340 Thomas Ave W
St Paul, MN 55104
651-645-6466
Open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm;
For over a decade now, Groundswell’s coffee bar, kitchen, and in-house bakery have served as a homey and near-idyllic spot for the neighborhood coffee lovers to be sociable and enjoy a good cup of coffee with a helping of Groundswell’s very own hand pie.
The shop also offers an all-day breakfast menu featuring Belgian waffles, pancakes and omelettes, quiche and plant-based bowls, all of which can be made vegan and gluten-free. Weekend brunch and lunch menu are simpler but no less unique in its flavors, particularly such classics as biscuits & gravy, sweet potato waffle poutine, or banana bread French toast.
Nina’s Coffee Café
165 Western Ave N
St Paul, MN 55102
651-292-9816
Open daily from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm;
Located close to the local condominium near Boyd Park, Nina’s Coffee is a bright and pleasant cafe perfect for breakfasts and decompressing after work. All in all, Nina’s is what you’d get googling coffee shops near me or best brunch coffee shops.
Both affordable and inaruably delicious, Nina’s breakfast and lunch menu, as well as sandwiches, wraps, and salads, won’t leave you hungry nor disappointed. The drink selection covers all popular espresso, batch brew, and cold press beverages plus teas, cocoa, and kombucha. The shop also provides locally-sourced goods and produce.
Kopplin’s Coffee
2038 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104
651-698-0457
Open daily:
Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm;
Saturday +Sunday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm;
Another of the smaller local-oriented coffee shops, Kopplin’s calm unassuming space with comfortable seating and work-compatible table area will be ideal for quick breakfasts or lunch breaks in the Merriam Park area.
As a family-run business, Kopplin’s oversees every aspect of the ingredient sourcing process and prep, serving high-quality coffees roasted in-house as well as freshly baked pastry, Rustica bread slices, cheese plates, and other favorite small bites.
Golden Thyme on Selby
934 Selby Ave
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-207-5945
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm;
A quiet little cafe with a simple setting and easy-on-the-wallet pricing, Golden Thyme on Selby is perfect for students and locals looking for a nourishing breakfast nearby with a cup of freshly-roasted espresso or cold brew.
The cafe offers a wide range of jazz-themed coffee and hot drinks, each named after a famous jazz musician, as well as bagels and croissants on the side. Breakfast options range from light omelettes and burritos to noodles, hashbrowns, and shrimp grits.
Claddagh Coffee Cafe
Claddagh Cafe
459 West 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
651-600-3400
Wee Claddagh Shop on Selby
612 Selby Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55102
651-493-7455
Open Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm;
Saturday + Sunday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm;
The Irish-themed Claddagh Coffee is a relaxed java coffee shop, offering a piece of the old country in the neighborhoods of West Seventh and Irvine Park. Named after the Irish symbol representing love, loyalty, and friendship, Claddagh Coffee more that lives up to it with its home-like baked goods, hand-crafted coffee drinks, and light breakfast and lunch meals of panini, Irish oats, and many more.
Both the West Seventh cafe and the small shop on Selby prepare coffee using the best of Dogwood and Bootstrap roasts, serving brewed coffee, pour-overs, cold press coffee, traditional espresso and specialty espresso-based drinks. Teas, smoothies, and hot chocolate are also available.
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