Where to find great coffee shops in the Des Moines area
The Des Moines metro area offers no shortage of coffee shops to get you caffeinated. In Valley Junction you can enjoy a cup of joe while hanging out with cats, and in Grimes you can learn about different brewing techniques while trying a coffee flight. Many offer space to spread out as well as WiFi to do some work while drinking an espresso. Expand your taste buds by trying single origin brews from around the world or order one of the creative flavored lattes offered by these local shops.
Coffee Cats
Head to Valley Junction to visit Coffee Cats, a combination coffee shop and cat lounge. At the coffee shop try one of their specialty drinks. On the menu are the peppermint meow mocha, lavenfurr mocha and white caramel purrsian. You can also snack on pastries from Pies & Pastries by Lana, cookies by Cha Cha’s Confections, and vegan and vegetarian food options from New World Kitchen. If you want to spend time with the cats, you can make a reservation online. One hour costs $10 per person and eight people are allowed in the cat lounge per hour.
Location: 312 Fifth St., West Des Moines
Contact: 515-897-5410 or coffeecatscafe.com
Hours: Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Coffeesmith
Started in 2017 by Nate and Shanna Kempers, who grew up in Iowa, The Coffeesmith in Waukee focuses on handcrafted espresso with beans from Friedrich’s Coffee Roasters. Try a traditional espresso drink such as the Cubano (espresso and brown sugar) or order one of the cold coffee options like the Australian iced coffee (espresso, ice cream and milk). The Little Smitty menu for the kids includes a babyccino, not-so-hot chocolate and iced chocolate.
Location: 770 Alice’s Road, Waukee
Contact: 515-447-5137 or yourcoffeesmith.com
Hours: Open Mondays through Fridays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Daisy Chain Coffee
Find specialty coffee and local honey at Daisy Chain Coffee in the East Village. Opened in 2020, the shop serves coffee roasted by Windmill Coffee Roasters in Ames. Try the Daniel Bee’s Honey Latte made with local honey from owner Dan Bosman’s own apiary. You can also buy honey to take home. Seating is available inside and outside if you need to stay awhile and get some work done. The shop is connected to Raygun so you can pop in and do some shopping while you’re there.
Location: 505 E. Grand Ave. #104, Des Moines
Contact: 515-231-3426 or daisychaincoffee.com
Hours: Open Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Freedom Blend Coffee
With a focus on employment training for adults ages 18-25, Freedom Blend Coffee began by selling bags of coffee in 2011 and the coffee shop was opened in 2017. The company's fair trade coffee is roasted in house and sourced through Cafe Imports and Honduran Coffee Alliance. The inside is spacious with plenty of room to work or head outside to the patio on nice days. The shop also has breakfast and lunch items available, including a popular breakfast burrito made with house-made fresh pressed tortillas.
Location: 2329 Hickman Road, Des Moines
Contact: 515-279-0500 or freedomblendcoffee.com
Hours: Open Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Horizon Line Coffee
Opened six years ago by two friends from Southern California, Horizon Line believes in sustainability. In 2019 the coffee shop stopped serving drinks in single-use plastic or paper, using reusable glass jars and mugs instead. Coffee is sourced in small batches in order to offer unique and fairly priced options for customers and is roasted at the Barnum Factory. The Gibraltar with equal parts espresso and steamed milk is a good way experience the shop's single origin espresso. From the seasonal menu, try the cherry cola latte with house-made syrup, espresso, and choice of milk. Snack on a pastry by local baker Mark Nickel, cookie sandwiches from Thistle’s Summit or prepackaged meals from Sivid.
Location: 1417 Walnut St., Suite B, Des Moines
Contact: horizonlinecoffee.com
Hours: Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lightbrite Coffee Roasters
Get a coffee flight at Lightbrite Coffee Roasters in Grimes that includes four small drinks: single espresso, single cortado, filter coffee, and cold brew. It's a good way to see how different brewing techniques affect the coffee flavor. Lightbrite sources its beans with mindfulness toward fair wages and fair business practices and roast them manually in house. Try a Summer Camp — a marshmallow vanilla latte topped with cinnamon, made with espresso and choice of milk that can be served iced or hot — from the summer menu. The shop also serves baked goods by Jess Desserts and breakfast burritos from Flame Groups, owners of Flame Cantina and Flame the Taqueria.
Location: 1895 S.E. Grimes Blvd., Suite 104, Grimes
Contact: lightbritecoffee.com
Hours: Summer hours (through Sept. 1): Open Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Northern Vessel
Pop in to Northern Vessel on Keo Way in downtown Des Moines and try the single origin coffee that is brewed from a rotating selection of international roasters. Right now, The shop is serving beans roasted by Tim Wendelboe from Norway. The home blend used as a base for other drinks comes from Windmill Coffee Roasters in Ames. Signature lattes can be served hot or cold and include the cheerio (espresso, honey, cinnamon, and oat milk) and the pink panther (espresso, sweetened condensed milk, strawberry, vanilla and whole milk). Pastries from Savor the Rise in Indianola are also available.
Location: 1201 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines
Contact:nv.coffee
Hours: Open Mondays through Fridays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Porch Light Coffeehouse
Located in Uptown Ankeny, Porch Light Coffeehouse brews coffee that is air roasted in small batches by Black Silo Roasting Co. in Altoona. The coffee shop also makes scones from scratch daily, including cinnamon chip and triple berry varieties that are always on the menu. With ample space to work, study or lounge with friends, their goal is to be a community hub where people can gather. Mud puddles — a blended drink made of espresso, ice, milk and your choice of flavoring — is a popular drink for summer.
Location: 417 S.W. Third St., Ankeny
Contact: 515-499-9999 or porchlightcoffeehouse.com
Hours: Open Mondays through Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Scenic Route Bakery
At Scenic Route Bakery in the East Village, you’ll find an airy, bright space with plenty of tables to use for working or a meeting. Chicago roaster Tugboat Coffee supplies the beans. Pastries, cookies, and light lunch and breakfast options make up the menu. Try a seasonal latte for the summer, a lavender latte with house made syrup. Don’t skip the baked goods — try the chocolate pinwheel or the cinnamon roll.
Location: 350 E. Locust St., Suite 104, Des Moines
Contact: 515-288-0004 or scenicroutebakerydsm.com
Hours: Open Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Slow Down Coffee Co.
Cozy up with friends on the couch or grab a table so you can get some work done at this locally owned and operated coffee shop in Highland Park. Try the single origin pour over or a shot of espresso made with beans from Windmill Coffee Roasters in Ames. The shop also serves vegan wraps and salads from New World Kitchen, gluten-free and vegan treats from Thistle’s Summit, baked goods from Scenic Route Bakery, stuffed cookies from Oh High Bakery, and on Sundays you can find cinnamon rolls from LeeTy Delights.
Location: 3613 Sixth Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-630-7000 or theslowdowndsm.com
Hours: Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Smokey Row
Smokey Row has multiple locations across central Iowa and you can find the Des Moines location in Sherman Hill. Settle in at one of the many Formica tables throughout the space that are perfect for working or meeting friends or co-workers. The shop roasts beans sourced from various regions around the world. The house blend is a combination of American and African coffees with a slightly spicy flavor and smooth finish. Smokey Row also offers a large menu of food and ice cream treats. Cool off with the Smokey Row Shake — a vanilla or chocolate shake with shots of espresso and whipped cream.
Location: 1910 Cottage Grove, Des Moines
Contact: 515-244-2611 or smokeyrow.com/stores/des-moines
Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sweetdude Coffee & Cafe
Serving coffee roasted by Fat Cup Coffee Co. in Waterloo, this shop in Clive specializes in espresso drinks, Thai iced coffee and tea, Italian sodas and hot teas by Rishi Organic Tea & Botanical. Bring your sweet tooth and enjoy crepes, waffles or a choux (pronounced “shoe”) cream, a pastry with an airy center, crunchy shell and filled with a thick cream in vanilla, coffee, chocolate and green tea flavors with creme brûlée and Thai iced coffee versions added to the menu soon.
Location: 9763 University Ave., Clive
Contact: 515-509-0915 or facebook.com
Hours: Open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Twisted Bean Coffee Co.
Twisted Bean Coffee Co. has two locations, but the Urbandale store is perfect for meetings with a large area with tables and chairs and a private room available to reserve in advance online. There is also a space with booths that is perfect if you’re meeting a friend. Small batches of beans are roasted daily and custom blends and packaging for businesses are available. Energy drinks, quiche, breakfast sandwiches, scones and acai bowls are also on the menu.
Location: 4504 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale
Contact: twistedbean.com
Hours: Open Mondays through Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure
Since 1993 Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines has been roasting small batches of single origin arabica coffee beans on site. The house blend coffee is used for all of the in-house espresso drinks and is described as a complex and sweet coffee. Along with being a full-service coffee bar, the shop also offers an all-day limited breakfast menu, pastries and pies. A laid-back vibe, you can sit at the counter or grab a table if you need to pop open a laptop and get some work done.
Location: 2723 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-244-7694 or zanzibarscoffee.com
Hours: Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Heather Torpy is a freelance writer based in Des Moines.