The Best Artisan Coffee in Louisville, Kentucky
If you want to be the best, you have to drink the best, right?
Fellow Javadventurers, when you roll into a new city either on vacation, relocation, or just happen to be passing through, I’m sure you are immediately scoping out the best coffee roasters and shops in the area. So let me break my town down for you.
First of all, there are a couple of coffee companies laying claim to the title.
Sunergos Coffee – Award Winning Espresso
My personal favorite greatest is Sunergos Coffee. Sunergos was founded in 2003 and has grown out to 4 location, with their roastery located in the back of the Woodlawn location. Sunergo notably won the 2014 “America’s Best Espresso” award at Coffee Fest, so if you are a fan of espresso, lattes, or other espresso based drinks, you will want to check Sunergos out. Aside from award winning espresso, Sunergos roasts seriously good coffee and is recognized as one of the leaders of the 3rd wave coffee movement in Loiusville. As you know, I love light and fruity coffee, and Sunergos is one of the best rosters in the city for this profile. Not to mention, they routinely carry Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, one of my favs.
Good Folks – One of America’s Best
Good Folks is another local independent roastery garnering nationwide attention raking numero 11 in Men’s Journal’s 2017 article, “25 Best Coffee Roasters in America” for their Day Tripper blend. GF is a wholesale roaster, so your best bet for picking up their award winning beans would be one of their retail partners. For a real treat, you can visit Please and Thank You in Louisville’s trendy NULU neighborhood for a cup of Good Folks Coffee to go along with P&T’s “best chocolate chip cookie in Louisville.”
Local Legend Coffee in Louisville, Kentucky
Heine Brothers’ – Second Wave Visionary
It’s hard to talk about the Louisville coffee scene without mentioning Heine Brothers’ coffee. Founded in 1994, Heine brought the California espresso bar to the Louisville area and has expanded out to 17 locations. Heine may not serve the fancy Chemex and V60 coffee you would expect in a 3rd wave coffee shop, but Heine pioneered quality coffee with an emphasis on fair trade principles. Having locations all across the Kentuckiana region, Heine is a great place for meeting with friends if you want a local alternative to Starbucks on seemingly every corner.
Quills Coffee – Third Wave Leader
Along with Sunergos, Quills is a local name brand in 3rd wave coffee in Louisville. Quills got their start in 2007 and have a small footprint in a few neighborhoods: NULU, Highlands, and St. Matthews. In addition, you may find a Quills shop in Indianapolis, Indiana if you are ever up that way. If you are taking a tour of Louisville’s coffee culture, Quills is must on your list as a historic leader in the local industry.
Highland Coffee Company – I Know Where Highland Coffee Is
Although Highland Coffee Company only has one location, you can hardly pass through the ever trendy Highlands without seeing a bumper sticker stating, “I Know Where Highland Coffee Is.” HCC has a uniquely Louisville atmosphere along with solid coffee and good food. To my knowledge, HCC is also the only coffee shop in the area (outside a Starbucks) that has the cutting edge Clover Brewing System. Shortly after Highland bought their machine Starbucks bought the rights to the system, so unless you find a shop that bought one second hand or pre-buyout, you are unlikely to get any non-Bucks coffee from a Clover. IMO, this alone makes it worth a trip to HCC, that and getting to say you know where it is!
Side note: back in 2006 I was prepping to take an internship in Washington, DC and took my girlfriend (now wife) here for our last date before I flew out. It may have been a bit too public for our parting for her, but hey, I like coffee!
Safai Coffee – A Place for Pourovers
The Safai family has been part of the craft coffee scene in Louisville since 1998, starting with a 72 sq ft drive-thru coffee kiosk. Today they have a single location on the trendy Bardstown Road. It is a small shop, but I personally love that when I first asked if they served pour-overs, they said that is all they serve! I hooked! Great organic, direct-trade coffee from a great local shop served the way I like it.
Ntaba Coffee Haus – African coffee, and safaris
Founded in 2019, Ntaba is a newcomer to the Louisville coffee scene and specializes in organic, fair-trade African coffee. Despite Covid hammering most restaurants in 2020, Ntaba has managed to expand to a second location and often participates in Cars and Coffee meetings. If you like good coffee and sports cars, you may check out one of the events in front of Ntaba’s second shop on River Road. Aside from coffee and pastries, you can also pick up an African safari while visiting Ntaba! Owner Robin Mountain’s other line of business is luxury safaris. Coffee and travel, two of my favorite things!
Fante’s Coffee – Specialty coffee fueling the future
Owner Leo Fante has been sourcing specialty coffee since 1978, bringing his experience and passion to the Louisville coffee scence in 2017 with the founding of Fante’s Coffee. When you go to his coffee house you immediately feel the invitation to stay, work, and enjoy long conversations and community. The front patio and tables are covered by a beautiful European-feeling pergola. Once inside you are greeted with bright, casual space featuring a glass wall looking out towards the historic Cherokee Park and golf course. Unlike other small coffee bars designed for grabbing coffee on the run, Fante’s is designed for staying around a while. You can get a solid pour-over or siphon coffee here as well, which you know I always appreciate.