10 Coolest Coffee Shops in the West

One of L.A.’s O.G. single-origin, third-wave artisan coffee shops—they were doing direct trade before it was trendy—Intelligentsia may have its roots in Chicago, but it’s got its pulse in Silver Lake. It could be the perfect pour-overs (they take their time). It could be the iced matcha oat milk lattes (so L.A.). It could be the much-photographed blue tiled floor (we dare you not to snap a pic).

Oh, the drip coffee. At other java joints you have to get a fancy Frappuccino for that oh là là jolt, but Heart roasts beans lightly to preserve the delicate flavors and acidity. Their Fetco drip machines are tricked out for an even more customized brew. The sleek Scandinavian design of the three coffee shop locations is just the foam on the cappuccino.

Lux ticks all the boxes: An industrial-chic space with retro furniture, vintage typewriters, and communal tables (check); top-notch baristas who won’t judge if you order a six-shot velvet (check); open until midnight for late-night cravings (check); plus in-house-roasting, cool vibe, local art, and kick-ass pastries (check, check, check, and check!). No wonder locals queue up for coffee, sometimes out the door. Order any drink with the house-made whipped cream. T-D-F!

While Denver has plenty of coffee shops where you can warm up with a cup of Joe, Black Eye is more than a place to keep your caffeine cravings in check. Located in the hip Lower Highlands neighborhood (LoHi for short), they serve up a rotating menu of single-origin coffees from world-renowned roasters (think Onyx Coffee Lab and Tweed Coffee Roasters) and a rustic-chic aesthetic to match the town’s chillaxed vibe. Kick back with a pour-over while biting into a knockout bacon sammie on brioche.

Between the “M & F” neon sign, the turquoise and white tiles that wrap around the bar, and the busy baristas whipping up coconut turmeric lattes as well as colorful cocktails, the Latin-themed Makers & Finders coffee bar in downtown Vegas has a sassy decor and mood to match. Baristas are trained in seven different brewing methods, single-origin beans, and specialty lattes. Order up a café con leche with a homemade empanada and savor the bustling vibe.

Who needs electrical outlets and WiFi on weekends when you can have matcha lattes, vibrant food, and millennial pink sidewalk tables? Not Cafe Réveille. One of three locations started by Marin-born brothers Tommy and Chris Newbury, this is home to their pièce de résistance Probat roaster that fills the pretty-in-pink space with the intoxicating scent of roasted beans. People flock for the pour-overs and breakfast bowls, and to snap pics of the colorful tiled bar.

Between vegan eateries and tattoo parlors, Salt Lake is getting hipster cred—and nowhere is that more obvious than Publik Avenues, an auto body-turned-coffee-shop subway tiled and designed to perfection. Mochas are made with locally-based Solstice Chocolate, the toast menu is epic, and the patio is sweet.

Communal Coffee is an Instagrammable delight. The hip gathering spot known for its photogenic flower latte flights shares a space with a floral boutique, thus the much-photographed “Coffee + Flowers” mural. And then there’s their South Park spin-off (pictured) where coffee is served from a converted 1959 Shasta trailer that loves getting its pic taken. Say “Coffee!”

With over 800 coffee shops, Seattle is a caffeine junkie’s dream, but there’s more on the menu than same-old Starbucks. Founded by brother-sister team Chelsey Walker Watson and Keenan Walker, Slate’s three locations, each unique in design, feature avant-garde drinks like deconstructed lattes, espresso flights, and iced coffee brewed pour-over style and mixed in a cocktail shaker. Yes, there’s a rotating menu of single-origin brewed coffees too, but served in glass so you can see the deliciousness.

Cute is the name of the game at the Aussie-inspired Arvo Café in Kakaako, one of Honolulu’s coolest hoods. Tucked inside a charming local flower shop, everything from the plant-filled patio and convenient takeaway window to the graphic cups and perky baristas are adorbs. Oh, and expect the cutest foam art you’ve ever seen.