Best Places For Locally Roasted Coffee In The Twin CIties

There are coffee shops around nearly every corner. Some of them specialize in espressos, some in chilled drinks, some in being the hot spot to grab a cup and scone and some in beans with a local flair. These five joints are some of the best bets to go to when you're in the mood for something local in the Twin Cities. 

Peace Coffee Shop
3262 Minnehaha Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 877-7760
www.peacecoffeeshop.com

Peace Coffee Shop is a hip, laid-back little coffee joint that might feel more like you're in the lounge of an art museum than a coffee shop, which is a good thing. Two years ago, an old warehouse-like building was transformed into what it has become today. Its focus on small scale farms around the world, organic, fair trade coffee and local roasting is what sets Peace Coffee apart from other shops like it. At any given time, you'll find delicious coffee drinks on the menu, like Yeti Cold Press Blend, a rich and robust coffee served hot or chilled, or Wonderland Park Espresso Blend, a mildly fruity coffee with hints of blueberry and cocoa.

Bull Run Roasting Company
4290 Park Glen Road
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
(952) 285-4242
www.bullrunroasting.com

Bull Run is a wholesale coffee distributor. It prides itself on sourcing coffee from sustainable and small farms around the world and then roasting it here in Minneapolis to distribute to coffee shops in the area. Bull Run also sells its small batches of coffee beans through its retail store as well as online.

Claddagh Coffee
459 W. 7th St.
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 600-3400
www.claddaghcoffeecafe.com

This little coffee shop opened its doors in 2011 in the West 7th neighborhood in St. Paul. Owner, Mary Hogan Bard, wanted to share her love of coffee and baked goods with the public with a focus on using coffee beans from all over the world, but roasted right here in the Midwest. Claddagh Coffee has been written up in the likes of City Pages, The Pioneer Press and The St. Paul Community Reporter, so it has made quite a splash since it opened. Inside, you'll find a wide array of coffee, espresso and tea drinks, as well as small plates, pastries and lunch options. It makes for a great little place to swing into if you're in the neighborhood and looking for a great cup of locally roasted coffee.

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J & S Bean Factory
1518 Randolph Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55105
(651) 699-7788
www.jsbeanfactory.com

J & S Bean Factory was started in St. Paul in 2001 and boasts 30 flavors of roasted beans on its menu. This shop likes to offer the community a place to gather and enjoy a cup of coffee along with a place for local artists and musicians to display their craft. Being part of the community and offering local and organic fair trade coffee is something that sets J & S apart from the rest of the coffee joint pack. J & S offers cups of coffee for sale in its shop as well as bags of roasted beans for you purchase and take home. They make for great housewarming or birthday gifts.

Dogwood Coffee Bar
3001 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 354-2952
www.dogwoodcoffee.com

As part of the growing community of specialty coffee shops here in the Twin Cities, Dogwood Coffee Company is a coffee shop focused on roasting quality over quantity. It takes great pride in finding the right farmers to buy beans from, learning about and crafting its roasting process and sharing its delicious cups coffee with everyone. Dogwood, located in Uptown, offers coffees and espressos by the cup, or whole bags of beans to go so you can enjoy the roasts in the comfort of your own home.

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Amber Ranzau lives on the edge of Uptown in Minneapolis and is a gal about town. She frequents the local restaurant scene, loves to support new and local businesses, follows the latest and greatest fashion and design trends, and she does all of this while working as an interior designer, spending time with her man, The Specialist, and taking care of her two goldfish Felix and Petunia and their tankmate Huey the Snail. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.