There were so many intriguing coffee shops that opened throughout the American Midwest this year, whittling this list down to 10 was a task fit for Paul Bunyan’s axe.
There are warm new coffee shops galore from St. Louis to St. Paul. While some are new expressions from existing brands, or long-awaited cafes from established roasting outfits, others offer whole new takes on coffee craft and service.
As we continue our 2023 Year in Review, here are 10 of the biggest coffee shop openings in the Midwest.
Take Care by Oleo Offers a Warm Welcome in Kansas City
Located in the Crossroads district space formerly occupied by Kansas City coffee company Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters, the new coffee shop and bakery called Take Care by Oleo envelopes guests in the comfort of things well-wrought and long-lasting… read more
Take Care by Oleo. Courtesy photo.
Intuition Coffee + Juice Gives Peoria a Warm Bear Hug
Acting on a strong hunch that Peoria, Illinois, has room for more high-quality, fresh-roasted specialty coffee, Peoria native Ty Paluska returned home to launch Intuition Coffee + Juice… read more
Intuition Coffee + Juice. Courtesy photo.
In St. Louis, Brew Tulum is a Gateway to Mexico
The new 1,700-square-foot shop in the Gateway City reflects the company’s roasting and retail roots in the city of Tulum along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico… read more
Brew Tulum. Courtesy photo.
Cincinnati Roaster La Terza Lights Up its First Cafe, Luminary
The opening rekindles the glow of a 2,800-square-foot cafe space formerly occupied by College Hill Coffee, a neighborhood institution that went dark following the pandemic… read more
La Terza. Courtesy photo.
With Colombian Roots, Magnifico Coffee Makes Marvelous Chicago Debut
Safely distanced from the touristy hustle and bustle of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, a Colombian-family-owned coffee shop and roastery called Magnifico Coffee has opened on the city’s north side… read more
Magnifico Coffee. Courtesy photo.
Pinky Promise Coffee Comes Through with New Door County (WI) Cafe
True to its word, Pinky Promise Coffee has expanded in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, with a retail coffee shop now up and running at the front of its roasting facility… read more
Pinky Promise. Courtesy photo.
A New Day Dawns for Solstice Roasters in Cleveland
Solstice Roasters, a Cleveland roasting company that has operated for three decades behind the scenes in the business-to-business realm, has stepped fully into the light of day… read more
Solstice Roasters. Courtesy photo.
Tinker Coffee Custom Tailors Downtown Indianapolis Cafe
The new shop spreads over 1,900 square feet formerly occupied by Starbucks Coffee on the ground level of the 28-story Market Square building. The space was already optimized for retail cafe service, giving the growing Tinker crew more time to dabble in the finer details… read more
Photo by Nick Joson, courtesy of Tinker Coffee.
Blue Mind Coffee Roasting Scores its First Cafe in Indianapolis
Specialty coffee has traveled into an NBA team’s former headquarters in Indianapolis, where the intense navy blue of the Indiana Pacers now gives way to Blue Mind Coffee Roasting… read more
Blue Mind Coffee Roasting. Courtesy photo.
SK Coffee Rides Again with Second Twin Cities Cafe
On a bustling corner of Lyndale Ave and 24th St in Minneapolis’ Whittier neighborhood, the new 900-square-foot shop can can accommodate approximately 30 patrons, although it’s also built to handle stampedes of grab-and-go guests… read more
SK Coffee. Courtesy photo.