The Buzz on the Des Moines Coffee Scene
It doesn’t matter what corner of Greater Des Moines (DSM) you are in, good coffee is never far away. From cozy mom-and-pop coffee shops in surrounding small towns to hip East Village roasters with baristas offering art in a cup, there is a wide variety of great brews to enjoy across the best coffee shops in Des Moines.
If you are looking to shake up your java routine and explore DSM to sample some new brews or innovative coffee combos, here we share top recommendations at some of our favorite neighborhood coffee shops.
Hot Coffee Shops in Des Moines
Just opened in November of 2022, Northern Vessel is a new coffee shop on Keo Way. This business started with pop-up events and their premium coffee is now being served at a stand-alone store in a renovated building. We recommend trying the Spanish latte.
Here are a few more great coffee shops in the central part of the city:
Daisy Chain Coffee
Location: 505 E Grand Ave. #104, Des Moines
We recommend Daniel Bee’s Honey Latte, made with honey collected by the owner’s own beekeeping enterprise.
Horizon Line Coffee
Location: 1417 Walnut St., Ste. B, Des Moines
We recommend the Gibraltor, but it’s only served in-store so take a seat and enjoy.
Mars Coffee
Location: 2318 University Ave., Des Moines
We suggest trying a pour-over coffee and a breakfast sandwich to start your day energized!
Scenic Route Bakery
Location: 350 E Locust St., Ste. 104, Des Moines
We recommend picking out a delicious handmade pastry to enjoy with a cup of Joe.
The Slow Down Coffee Co.
Location: 3613 6th Ave., Des Moines
We suggest trying their signature Honey Cinnamon Latte.
Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure
Location: 2723 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
We recommend sampling one of their small batch roasted on-site coffee blends and buying a bag of beans to enjoy at home as well.
Great Coffee Shops with Multiple Des Moines Locations
Smokey Row is a coffee house and old-fashioned soda fountain that originated in Pleasantville, Iowa in 1998, and it quickly expanded into other small towns such as Pella and Oskaloosa. Smokey Row’s first Des Moines location is at 1910 Cottage Grove in Des Moines. Its popularity continues to grow with an additional site in Ankeny’s District area. If you’re in a western suburb, you can also enjoy Smokey Row coffee at a number of Hy-Vee gas stations, too!
Here are a couple more local coffee shops that have more than one location:
Grounds for Celebration
Locations: 2709 Beaver Ave., Des Moines; 6601 University Ave., Windsor Heights; 5950 University Ave., West Des Moines
We recommend treating yourself to a latte and then picking up whole-leaf teas or a bag of freshly roasted specialty coffee to bring home.
Twisted Bean
Locations: 6155 SE 14th St., Des Moines; 4504 Merle Hay Rd., Urbandale
We recommend their jitterbug frappe or an iced caramel macchiato for cold coffee drink lovers.
Sizzling Coffee Shops in Des Moines Suburbs and Beyond
With so many people working from home, never fear as there are a host of great coffee shops in the surrounding suburbs too! Here are a few must-visit coffee shops from around the Greater Des Moines regional area.
Blue Bean Coffee
Location: 110 N Ankeny Blvd., Ste. 200, Ankeny
We recommend bringing your laptop to take advantage of this co-working space while you enjoy an entire flight of coffee.
The Coffeesmith
Location: 770 Alice's Rd., Waukee
We recommend ordering a classic cappuccino in a mug. Their beautiful pour is Instagram-worthy!
Coffee Cats Café
Location: 312 5th St., West Des Moines
Do you love coffee? Do you love cats? Serving Grounds for Celebration coffee beans, try the Calico Mocha with both white and dark chocolate and enjoy a few furry friends too!
The Coffee Connection
Location: 213 E Main St., #101, Knoxville
Try the Toffee Brûlée latte on ice with extra whipped cream — you won’t regret it.
Light Bright Coffee
Location: 1895 SE Grimes Blvd., Ste. 104, Grimes
We recommend the Spicy Mayan. It’s like a mocha with a kick!
Morning Glory Coffee Shop
Location: 120 School St., Carlisle
We recommend ordering the Vanilla Cardamom Latte, one of their signature drinks.
The Morning Grind Coffee
Location: 720 Prairie St., Adel
Give the Campfire Latte a try with your choice of milk or milk alternatives including almond, oat and soy.
Rising Sun Café
Location: 107 2nd St., Polk City
This little coffee shop and café gives us vacation vibes with its hometown feel nestled just a few blocks from Saylorville Lake. Try the Rose White Mocha: white chocolate, a hint of rose with espresso and milk, topped with whipped cream. And don’t sleep on their tasty selection of energy drinks and teas!
The Sanctuary
Location: 719 Franklin St. Pella
Find your fix with a selection of coffeehouse drinks, loose leaf teas and coffee beans to go! Don’t leave without a taste of Holland: Give the Dutch Letter latte a try, featuring almond and vanilla flavors.
Somewhere in the Middle Coffee Shop
Location: 106 First St. Southeast, Bondurant
We recommend the cold brew and meeting friends to catch up in a relaxed atmosphere.
Des Moines Coffee at Home
You can also enjoy your local Des Moines coffee right at home, thanks to several local roasters.
Find beans and grounds from BLK & Bold at Hy-Vee, Target and through their online subscription service. BLK & Bold donates 5% of their profits to support programs for at-risk youth, which makes you feel even better about enjoying an extra cup of coffee in the morning.
Look for Pammel Park Coffee out of Madison County at local retailers like DSM Mercantile or from their online store.
And head to Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, May through October, and grab beans and fresh coffee from roasters like Coffalo Coffee, Happy Home Coffee and several others.
Greater Des Moines (DSM) is buzzworthy beyond coffee. It’s consistently named a top place to live and work and has earned bragging rights as the #1 mid-sized city for Millennials. Do something greater and see what all the buzz is about!
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