Starbucks may have locations all over, but independent coffee shops hold their own keeping locals caffeinated and happy. What makes the best ones great? Is it the quality of the beans, a daily roasting, some flavorful espresso-based experiments, the latte art, pastries, or maybe food, live music or overall mood? Or some mysterious combination of the above.
Hoodline filtered the numbers to find the top five coffee shops around the city, using both Yelp data and our own blend of analysis to produce a data-driven breakdown of where coffee drinkers go out of their way to get the city’s best cup(s) of coffee.
Pasion del Cielo Coffee
Multiple locations
This homegrown chain of craft coffee shops offers beans from all over world, including Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Kenya, Hawaii, Cuba and more, that it turns into standard or custom-flavored espresso drinks. You can also get tea (including matcha lattes), sandwiches and assorted pastries. While locations vary in size, the general theme is comfy, casual seating with modern-style decor.
Panther Coffee
Wynwood
The Miami-based small coffee chain roasts its own coffee—which you'll see as soon as you walk into its locations—and sells it in small-batches for wholesale on its website. Customers can choose from a variety of espresso drinks including an east coast espresso, west coast espresso, cortadito and more, or select from its single-origin section, which offers detailed explanation of where the coffee bean comes from. In addition, Panther Coffee also lets you choose how you want to receive your coffee including in a French press, Chemex, Clever or the Kalita Wave.
Alaska Coffee Roasting
Aventura
Alaska Coffee Roasting has one location in Alaska... and the other location in North Miami, which has gained a big following. It roasts its own single-origin beans, offers a few specialty espresso drinks in addition to the classics (like one with cardamom syrup). And it also makes its own range of breakfast dishes, desserts, and even pizzas.
Cachito Coffee & Bakery
Wynwood
A hybrid of a cafe, roastery, motorcycle shop and boutique, this Argentina-inspired coffee shop is housed in a former warehouse and decorated with vintage motorcycle bikes, plush sofas and single bulb light fixtures all throughout the space. In addition to the caffeinated beverages, facturas, alfajores and other delicious food, you can buy most anything else in the story, including the furniture and decorations.
Mister Block Cafe
Wynwood
Mister Block Cafe is a newcomer to the Wynwood neighborhood—which is already home to several beloved coffee shops—but it's been holding its ground thanks to a combination of great drinks and food, solid service and a whimsical space. There are a variety of espresso beverages made with Counter Culture beans on the menu, as well as seasonal selections of single-origin coffees. Grab a drink and stick around long enough to check out the colorful patio space and art walk that's available to the public everyday, and regularly hosts live music and other cultural events.
