What Caydence lacks in space, it makes up for in heart. Rows and rows of vinyl record bins harken back to simpler days, and cozy seating beckons customers to stay and listen to music. Sip decadent drinks like the “Polyphia,” made with peanut butter and cardamom, or the caramel creme brulee latte. The back room here comes alive at night — a lineup of local musicians creates an intimate community vibe in this Payne Avenue shop.

Instagram darling Café Astoria is a sun-filled, bustling shop that serves creamy smoothies, light daytime dishes like savory crepes and salads, plyus specialty drinks. (One favorite, the “Bee Sting,” is made with wildflower honey and bee pollen.) Co-owner Leah Raymundo’s creativity shines through on the “Secret Menu,” which features lattes and matcha pours with rainbow foam, giant marshmallows, and more.  

It doesn’t get classier than Nina’s, in the heart of St. Paul’s historic Cathedral Hill. This shop has an old soul — it’s filled with nooks and crannies to nestle into, and has soaring windows that flood the space with light. Be warned, it’s hard to leave Nina’s. Come for the espresso and stay for the vibe.

Roaster Sam Kjellberg’s coffee comes from single-origin micro-lots all over the world, from citrusy Colombian varieties to Costa Rican beans with notes of apple cider and papaya. Skillfully roasted, they’re served in simple, classic forms: espresso, drip, Americano, flat white, latte, pour over, and cold brew. SK offers a handy coffee subscription service, too.

Known for its washed coffees and sleek, airy interiors, Dogwood operates a number of locations around the Twin Cities. The espresso tonic, finished with orange bitters, is a bright, summery pour; a rich cortado is hard to beat in cooler weather. Dogwood serves Marc Heu pastries, too.

Houston White, owner of the Houston White brand, and Dogwood Coffee owner Dan Anderson have come together in the Camden neighborhood (or Camdentown, as White is reimagining it) to create this Black-owned, Black-led coffee shop. Try the creamy sweet potato cream latte or a brown sugar banana latte — baked goods from farmers market darling Quince Mpls Market and biscuits from the Sandwich Club are offered too.

Caffetto is a well-loved, well-worn Uptown coffee shop with a cozy-punk vibe — it’s been around since ’91. One of the few places in the Cities that serves egg cremes, Caffetto also offers a wide variety of pastries, and is open from 7 a.m. to midnight every day.

Wesley Andrews has that classic minimalist coffeeshop vibe, but it never feels sterile — sun streams in from the huge storefront windows, imbuing the space with warmth and light. This spot is known for both its coffees and its aromatic teas, served loose-leaf. Pair an earthy ube latte with a pastry.

Once home to Blue Moon Coffee Cafe, Milkweed’s emerald-painted shop is one of Lake Street’s best spots for a coffee break. This shop has everything you could ask for on a coffee menu: soul-stirring espresso, hazelnut-milk lattes, and classic cappuccinos. But the real treasure is its specialty menu, which has both coffee drinks and non-coffee, almost potion-like brews, like the jitterbug perfume, made with beet powder, schisandra berry syrup, black seed oil, and rose water. Another plus: Milkweed is Celiac-friendly.

At SunBean, the new(ish) Black-owned coffee shop in Minneapolis’s Standish-Ericsson neighborhood, the focus is as much on mental health and community as coffee — this is a place to gather, to connect, and to slow down with a pastry and a steaming macchiato. Owners Fred and Annie DuBose have outfitted the space with a “sun bar” of light therapy lamps designed for warding off Minnesota’s endemic winter blues. Classic coffee drinks, plus tea and hot chocolate, are served alongside a smattering of pastries and snacks.

What’s the biggest plus at Duck Duck Coffee: the Nesquik mocha or the Pac Man game in the corner? This cozy south Minneapolis coffeeshop is stuffed to the brim with plants, board games, and good vibes. (Owner Kat Naden always has work from local artists hanging on the walls, too.) Come for chocolate chip cookies, nutmeg-laced miels, and chai lattes made with Assam tea and a bevy of fragrant spices.

When Lee Carter and Caleb Garn founded Five Watt in 2014, they catalyzed the coffee-as-cocktails trend in the Twin Cities. Using the shop’s own bitters line, baristas concoct unique flavor combos like the beloved “Kingfield,” made with Five Watt coriander bitters, vanilla, and black Hawaiian sea salt. Choose any of the four locations — each one has a unique vibe, but all are equally welcoming.

Vietnamese coffee shop Càphin comes from owners Jenny and Savio Nguyen, who got their start serving Vietnamese coffees like cà phê trứng (a traditional egg coffee) and cà phê lá dứa (an espresso drink laced with pandan syrup) from a food truck at farmers markets around the metro. At their first permanent location, they’re serving the same creamy coffees and colorful ube matcha lattes. Keep an eye on Instagram for announcements on rotating pop-ups with local makers like Mogi Bagel.