If you are the type of person who plans a vacation around food, it might be time to start planning one around coffee. Across the country, Black-owned coffee shops are creating spaces where a good cup of coffee comes with culture, community, creativity and a little hometown flavor. Check out the Black-owned coffee shops you should pay a visit to when you take your next road trip.
Melanin Is Life has spotlighted Black-owned coffee businesses across the country, and we took that inspiration a step further. From Atlanta to Oakland and Brooklyn to New Orleans, these coffee shops are worth adding to your travel itinerary.
Black-Owned Coffee Shops To Visit
Atlanta, Georgia
1. Black Coffee ATL
Located on Atlanta’s Westside Beltline, Black Coffee ATL is a Black-owned specialty coffee shop serving handcrafted espresso, ceremonial matcha and house-made signature drinks. The shop also doubles as a cultural gathering space for Atlanta’s creative community.
2. Coffee Was Black
This Auburn Avenue coffee collective and gallery celebrates coffee, art and Caribbean American culture. It is a perfect stop for anyone who likes their caffeine with a side of creativity.
3. Grant Park Coffeehouse
Grab organic and fair trade coffee, handcrafted sandwiches, curry and dumplings, ice cream and bakery treats at this neighborhood favorite in Atlanta’s historic Grant Park district.
New York
4. SEED Brklyn
The Greenhouse Café brings together coffee, fashion, art, plants and music in Bedford Stuyvesant. The space serves La Colombe coffee, specialty lattes and vegan Jamaican patties.
5. Same Time Tomorrow
Harlem’s newest coffee bar is more than a caffeine stop. Located on Malcolm X Boulevard near 117th Street, Same Time Tomorrow is a Black woman-owned community space centered on coffee, art, design, music and connection. The cozy space serves espresso drinks, matcha, specialty beverages and pastries, including its popular matcha banana bread. It is the kind of neighborhood spot where you can grab a coffee, settle in with a book, admire the art and actually stay a while.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6. Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
This community-centered coffee shop and bookstore is the kind of place where you can grab a cup, browse books by diverse authors, and stay a while.
7. Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse
Coffee and comics make an unexpectedly perfect pairing at Ariell Johnson’s Black-owned shop, created for comic lovers and caffeine enthusiasts alike.
Washington, D.C.
8. Grounded
This plant-filled wellness space combines a café, plant shop and wellness studio, making it a great stop when you need to slow down and reset.
Chicago, Illinois
9. Sip & Savor
Founded by Trez Pugh III, Sip & Savor brings an elevated coffee experience to Chicago’s South Side with specialty coffee, teas, mochas, lattes, pastries and small bites.
Detroit, Michigan
10. Detroit Sip
Created by Jevona Watson, Detroit Sip is designed as a community gathering space where students, professionals, residents and retirees can meet, work and connect.
Denver, Colorado
11. Coffee at The Point
Located in Denver’s historic Five Points district, this Black-owned coffee shop offers quality coffee in a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere.
New Orleans, Louisiana
12. Backatown Coffee Parlour
Located on Basin Street, Backatown blends coffee, pastries, sandwiches and local culture into a cozy neighborhood experience.
13. Baldwin & Co.
If you love your coffee with a side of culture, Baldwin & Co. needs to be on your New Orleans itinerary. This Black-owned independent bookstore and coffee shop in the historic Marigny neighborhood combines specialty coffee, pastries, and a thoughtfully curated selection of books with a strong commitment to literacy and community. Named after literary icon James Baldwin, the space regularly brings together authors, artists and readers for conversations and events. It is the kind of spot where you can grab a latte, pick up a new book and spend a few hours soaking up the culture.
Durham, North Carolina
14. Beyu Caffé
With two Durham locations, Beyu Caffé is a community gathering place known for its Heart and Soul Blend and café menu.
Cincinnati, Ohio
15. Cream + Sugar Coffee House
This neighborhood café offers coffee, cappuccinos, lattes and hot chocolate in a welcoming environment for families, friends and remote workers.
Oakland, California
16. Red Bay Coffee
Founded by artist and entrepreneur Keba Konte, Red Bay has grown into a Black-owned specialty coffee company with cafés throughout the Bay Area. Its direct trade approach and commitment to creating opportunities within the coffee industry make it a standout stop.
Los Angeles, California
17. ORA Urban Café (FKA Hot and Cool Café)
Located in Leimert Park, this Black-owned café serves coffee and tea alongside a vegan-friendly menu and cultural programming.
Renton, Washington
18. Boon Boona Coffee
This specialty coffee roaster is known for its focus on East and Central African coffee traditions, making it a must-visit for anyone who wants to learn more about the people and places behind their morning cup.
Portland, Oregon
19. Deadstock Coffee
Sneakers and coffee come together at this unique Chinatown shop and roastery. It is an especially fun stop for sneakerheads who appreciate a good espresso.
Winter Haven, Florida
20. Amonie Jo’s Coffee & Delights
Created by three sisters honoring their late mother, this adorable coffee shop operates out of a renovated bus and brings a creative twist to the neighborhood café experience.
So, grab your keys, put your favorite playlist on and make a little room in the itinerary for caffeine. Because sometimes the best way to experience Black culture across the country is one cup at a time.
