Archetype Coffee is a local favorite in Omaha known for its dedication to high-quality, small-batch roasting and community-driven vibe.



The shops feature a clean, minimalist industrial design with exposed brick, wood accents, and plenty of natural light, creating a cozy yet modern atmosphere perfect for both working and relaxing.



Their menu focuses on expertly crafted coffee drinks such as pour-overs, cappuccinos, and lattes, while also offering matcha, chai, pastries, and hearty brunch options.



While their coffee is exceptional, the hot chocolate is a standout -- rich, creamy, and well-balanced, it’s often praised as one of the best in the city.



Their Sweet Corn Coffee Cake balances natural corn’s gentle sweetness with a moist crumb - offering a creamy, subtly grainy texture, without leaning overly sweet.



Their coffee philosophy highlights small-batch roasting, meticulous flavor profiles, and craftsmanship -- led in part by notable baristas like Isaiah Sheese, a U.S. Barista Champion and world finalist. Their space is clean yet vibrant. And it all led to one tasty cuppa.



Grade: A

Fox Coffee Co. in Clendenin is an eclectic little specialty coffee shop tucked at 14 Main Street. They serve handcrafted espresso drinks, weekly specials, frappes and more. It is located inside Elk River Boutique, so you can get some shopping done while waiting for your beverage. I will say the setup confused me a bit. I assumed the counter straight ahead of me is where you order, but it was actually off to the side. I felt a little embarrassed about that after noticing the large sign and shame walking to the other side. I ordered a large chocolate fox frappe, which was perfectly chilled for a very warm summer day. Not super sweet; I actually had some cocoa flavoring, as opposed to straight up sugar. Have you been? Grade: A

Dutch Bros Coffee is a drive-thru coffee chain founded in 1992 in Oregon, known for its coffee & energy drinks. With over 800 locations across the U.S., it also has limited sweet bites. I went for a seasonal drink: Mochi Berry Lemonade - strawberry, passionfruit, sweet cream with soft top and mochi berry pieces. This was tart, but also very sweet. The mochi pieces fell to the bottom and by the time I made my way to them, the texture was not ideal. Grade: B

For over 25 years, City Brew has been brewing up the best for the Mountain West! From dark to light, intense to bright, there's always a new cup awaiting. Savor the finest, globally sourced coffee beans roasted to perfection, reads the website. City Brew was my first stop in North Dakota, so I was ready for a drink and snack. I opted for a Mountain Morning Latte - our signature Cool River espresso and milk combined with Ghirardelli White Chocolate and caramel pecan create a rich, nutty, and sweet latte. I also ordered a bagel with cream cheese. The coffee was very tasty. Just the right amount of sweet for me. The bagel was lackluster - not a ton of flavor and maybe a bit too toasted that made it crumbly. Grade: B

Knobley Mountain Coffee Roasters create small batch, air roasted coffee in whole bean coffee, fresh ground coffee, single serve pods and cold brew pouches.

Types include Brazil, Ethipia, Guatemala, House Blend, Knobley Blend, and Sumatra Mandheling.

Good Grounds Coffee & Bistro serves coffee and breakfast sandwiches in a cool, modern space. I was on my cross-country roadtrip when I decided to stop for a quick snack. I love a good frozen hot chocolate and breakfast burrito. I could've done without the extra chocolate at the top of the drink, which lent a little bitterness. But, otherwise, it was delish. The breakfast burrito was full of sausage, potato, egg & cheese. It was good, but a bit dry overall. Some salsa or sour cream or even more cheese would have hit the spot. Grade: B

The Grand Hotel is a stunning display of elegance. It's a proper resort, which reminds me of The Greenbrier in many ways. Its architecture is beautiful in an old world charm kind of way.



"Since 1887, Grand Hotel beckons guests to a time where old-world meets new charm. Experience the tradition of Afternoon Tea in the Parlor, dressing up for dinner, nightly dancing to the sounds of a live orchestra, and sitting in a rocking chair on the world’s longest porch overlooking the Straits of Mackinac. Discover the rich history and tastefully preserved architecture of this National Historic Landmark, while enjoying the hotel’s modern amenities and unsurpassed service. Slow time and spend time, in the relaxed atmosphere of Mackinac Island, voted “Best Island in the Continental U.S.” at the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. Welcome to Grand Hotel, where past meets the present," reads the website.



I stopped at Grand Coffee & Provisions for a quick snack. To my surprise, they had individual quiche loraines, and I was sold. This is one of my favorite ways to eat eggs. This one was definitely a bit more egg-y. I love mine with lots of veggie filling. Warmed up, the quiche was filling and quick.



Grade: B

Groundhog Grindz Cafe is a coffee shop and bakery in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Punxsutawney is home to the famous weather-predicting groundhog, Phil. So, there are a lot of groundhog-related shops, art, restaurants and more in town. My friend Kayla and I traveled to town to experience Groundhog Day. It was a cold one, and after we finally made it down pff the hill, we stopped at this cafe to warm up and use the restroom. The cafe is small, so it was overrun with folks. But, it was cute inside and even had a specialty menu for Groundhog's Day that had fun drink names. I ordered a large hot chocolate with whipped cream and a ham & cheese croissant. The hot chocolate was a bit watered down, but I was happy with the ham and cheese croissant, which was flat and toasty rather than super airy and crumbly. That made the cheese melty and delicious. Grade: B

"In 2010, Panther Coffee began roasting and developing its wholesale program in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami. Shortly after, the coffee shop was opened to the public ... Founders Leticia and Joel Pollock have decades of combined experience in the coffee industry. They met at a coffee convention and decided to combine their expertise and open a wholesale and retail coffee company. Visiting Miami in 2008, they quickly realized that although Cuban-style coffee shops were abundant, the specialty coffee scene was nonexistent. They thought this would be a lovely place to call home and to build what is now known as Panther Coffee," according to the coffee shop's website.



"Each single origin coffee we serve have been selected for taste as well as individuality and origin ... After the selection of green coffee, the roasting team defines the specific roast profile to be used. Their goal is to achieve full development and caramelization of the sugars present within the coffee bean, without the conversion of these precious caramelized sugars into carbon, which can result in an ashy or smoky taste."



I went with an iced coffee, which doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some other coffee places. You really get a feel for the coffee bean flavor, which is definitely more on the bitter side.



This is a wonderful. For those who want to know the origins of their coffee and really appreciate the individual flavors of what each bean can offer. I can't pretend to be that knowledgeable; I only judge based off of what tastes good. But, I can appreciate the art.

Grade: B

Biggby Coffee (pronounced "big B") is a coffeehouse franchise based in Lansing, Michigan, with over 390 locations throughout the United States.



The drink optiond include everything fron lattes and hot chocolate to tea lattes and sweet foam cold brew.



I ordered a hot chocolate and an asiago bagel with cream cheese. You just can't go wrong. They are simple, but each was done well. A great bite to start the day.



Grade: A

Smokey Row Coffee Co. is located in and around the Iowa capital city of Des Moines.



They have the standard coffee offerings, plus specialty drinks and a soda fountain. I went with a caramel milkshake. I think caramel should be a more standard option for milkshakes, to join the big three: chocolate, vanilla, & strawberry. It's sweet, but has those deep rich flavors.



To go along with that icy, cold milkshake, I ordered a bowl of hot cheeseburger chowder: "our signature soup with a hearty cheese flavor, featuring ground beef and shredded potatoes." Warm, comforting and very flavorful.



Grade: A

The Girl and The Raven Cafe and Brazen Raven Coffee Roasters offers top quality coffee, southern dishes and fresh baked treats.



I ordered an iced chocolate and a bologna, bread and butter pickles, pimento cheese, and Lusty Monk Mustard sandwich.

This is a down and dirty homemade summer sandwich with a fancy upgrade of the mustard. I joke that dishes like this speak to my white trash upbringing - because despite being poor, meals like this are still delicious.



Grade: A