I just spent a week road tripping across the country from Indiana to Oregon! The states I covered included Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon.
Naturally, I sought out local coffee shops for my caffeine fix each day before getting on the road, and I even made some afternoon stops along the way for a mid-day boost. In this article, I share my discoveries, from a hip cafe in downtown Bend, Oregon to a small-town roaster in almost middle-of-nowhere, Nebraska.
I always plan ahead when I road trip, taking time to research local cafes and restaurants along my route at which I can stop for food. If you are gearing up for a road trip soon, I hope this will inspire you to seek out local options, support small businesses, and step off-the-beaten path for your coffee or lunch stop, instead of driving through fast-food chains.
Here are 8 awesome local coffee shops and cafes I found on my road trip to the west coast!
zen coffee co – omaha, NE
Kicking off the list is Zen, a local roaster downtown Omaha! It boasts some of the highest ratings in the city. I ordered the honeybee, which is a cinnamon-honey latte, and it was delicious. The interior is also very cute, featuring lots of floral decorations.
the espresso shop – north platte, NE
My lunch stop for the day was at The Espresso Shop in North Platte, a small town in Nebraska, known for being western icon Buffalo Bill’s home. This cafe is very laid back and has what I’m going to call a rustic 90’s vibe, showcasing a shelf of skateboards as a decoration and featuring artists like Mazzy Star and The Smiths on their playlist. I ordered one of the best dirty chais I’ve ever had. Another plus is the generous amount of seating both inside and outside on the patio!
the Bluebird cafe – Glenwood springs, CO
The Bluebird Cafe is a quirky and cozy breakfast cafe on the main strip in downtown Glenwood Springs. It has the largest collection of paintings I’ve ever seen at a coffee shop, making the interior vibrant and colorful. It seems like a very leisurely, calm place–definitely somewhere I would go to read or journal in the afternoon, after the breakfast rush.
WIld coffee roasters – Glenwood springs, co
This was some of best coffee I had on the trip–I could tell these guys are serious roasters. My oatmilk latte was the definition of how an oatmilk latte should be: rich, flavorful, and not too milky. Wild Coffee has a small, hip shop right downtown, and I could tell it is the perfect stop for locals on the way to work in the morning (luckily I beat the morning rush)! I highly recommend this place!
nostalgia – Burley, id
I LOVED this coffee shop. Tied to the name, “Nostalgia,” the entire theme the shop is old americana. It has a rustic, western feel, with old posters (such as Rosie the Riveter), newspapers, and antiques as decorations. The wall to the left of the coffee bar really stood out to me–featuring newspaper articles from iconic moments in America’s history: such as the moon landing and tragic murder of JFK. The espresso was strong, bold, and smoky, and the avocado toast that I ordered was simple and delicious.
lone pine coffee roasters – bend, or
This coffee shop in Bend has some of the best ratings in town, and I can see why! This shop has an artsy, indie vibe, and it seems like THE place to be. This is definitely a place I would get dressed up and take myself on a solo date to 🙂 . I ordered a latte with their homemade almond-cashew milk, which was pretty good (the milk wasn’t my favorite but the espresso was superb). The interior was beautifully designed, with local art, plants, and fun light fixtures (I couldn’t get any good pictures because it was absolutely packed when I went). Such an awesome spot!
sisters coffee co – sisters, OR
This coffee shop was bustling at 10am when I went! Sisters is a small town in central Oregon and I could tell this is the main place to get a cup of joe for both locals and tourists. They embrace the Western theme with amazing woodwork and rustic decorations throughout the shop. Although it was a close call between, this won as the best coffee I had on the trip!
coffee girl – Astoria, or
Words cannot describe how awesome this coffee shop is. Tucked away at Pier 39, Coffee Girl is located right on the water in a historic cannery building in Astoria, Oregon’s oldest town (established in 1811). Several famous movies have been filmed in picture-perfect Astoria, such as Into the Wild and The Goonies. This leisurely coffee shop has a rustic boathouse feel, with spacious seating inside and outside right on the pier. Experience this place for yourself and enjoy your latte overlooking the water!
I had so much fun visiting these local coffee shops on my road trip. If you find yourself in one of these towns, I highly encourage you to check these places out. And remember, support local when you can!
Thanks for reading 🙂
Caffeine & Chianti 
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