I always try to go to local independent coffee shops when possible, and fortunately, there are some great ones in the Sacramento area. Here are some of my top favorites.
Chocolate Fish
Chocolate Fish has a cool name and a cool Core Purpose: Make coffee approachable. Their team is friendly, and their menu is not overwhelmingly huge.
They have 3 stand-alone cafes, and they’re also in a handful of Raleys/Bel Airs, as well as the Sacramento Airport. East Sac, Land Park, and Folsom.
They’re big into education and have a variety of classes like coffee tasting and latte art.
Temple Coffee
Temple has quite the cult following. Many people would 100% agree that it’s THE best coffee shop in Sacramento. I know one person who claims ONLY to drink Temple Coffee when in the Sacramento area.
I get it. Baristas are friendly, knowledgeable, and excited about their coffee. The lattes are one of the smoothest I’ve had.
Pachamama
Pachamama is 100% coffee farmer-owned and offers a subscription service online.
They have brick-and-mortar locations in midtown, East Sac, Davis, and Placerville. They call also be found at the Davis Farmer’s Market.
While You’re In Northern California:
Coffee Works
Located at 3418 Folsom Blvd, the family-owned Coffee Works is just a couple of minutes away from UC Davis Hospital. They’ve been in the same location since they opened in 1982. Their walls are covered in art, and they have some good-looking pastries (their scones are made in-house!) and hot items available if you’re hungry.
DRIP
Having opened in March of 2022, DRIP is new to the Sacramento coffee scene. It’s a black and woman-owned shop owned by 2 sisters. They also support the community by sourcing local products. Their motto is Where Espresso, Community and Culture connect ✊🏾☕️
They do have somewhat limited hours (Wednesday – Sunday 7:30am – 3:30pm), so if you need some very early morning coffee, skip this one and save the visit for your mid-day pick-me-up.
The shop is decorated with happy, bright colors that are welcoming and make you want to stay a while.
Old Soul
Visit Old Soul if you want not only delicious coffee but a food menu of tasty-sounding sandwiches and other options. They have 4 cafe locations, and their flagship The Alley location is a great spot to not only hang out but to host events. They themselves host a monthly makers market. Oh, and if you want something a bit stronger than your morning coffee, get a mimosa in their Alley and Weatherstone locations with your weekend brunch!
