Must-try local coffee shops, ranked
Must-try local coffee shops, ranked
These local gems are cozy, quiet, and full of culture versus the bigger chains moving in to Wichita and Newton.
With chains like Starbucks and Scooters popping up everywhere, the atmosphere of a quiet neighborhood gathering place is being replaced by the generic giants with convenience and familiarity. However, when I want an out-of-the-way place to spend a morning digging into homework, these chains just don’t make the cut. More importantly, I want to support local businesses and their community missions, and I know I am not the only one. With that in mind, here is a ranked list of my favorite local coffee shops.
1. Leslie Coffee Co.
Leslie offers extensive food options, an aesthetic interior, and, of course, great coffee. Located in Wichita’s historic Delano district, they have become my favorite local coffee shop, and Wichita agrees with me: Leslie Coffee Co. was named the Best of Wichita coffee shop last year. They also get bonus points for their surplus of healthy indoor plants.
2. Rhubarb Market
Rhubarb Market is, in my opinion, the highlight of downtown Hilsboro. Their menu includes some classic Mennonite staples and I have yet to order anything that wasn’t delicious. Inside Rhubarb Market are many little cubby holes – perfect for private studying. Another perk is their extremely reasonable prices.
3. Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery
Although the drive to Lindsborg is longer than the others on this list, I promise Blacksmith will be worth your time. In addition to their coffee, they also have a full lunch menu. The food is amazing, but the location is even better. As their name may suggest, their building was originally a Blacksmith shop. The interior has been preserved to be as close to the original structure as possible.
4. R Coffee House
Riverside Wichita is beautiful, as is its signature coffee shop. R Coffee House has the largest menu of any coffee shop on this list and the food is fantastic. The staff is unbelievably friendly, and the coffee shop itself has deep ties to its community. One example of this is their rotating display of local art.
5. Reverie Coffee Roaster
Reverie has recently expanded into Newton and North Newton with Mojos and Reverie Express, but their mother location in Wichita will always have a special place on my list. This Reverie location is truly the ultimate metropolitan coffee shop. Their baked goods are incomparable as are their drinks. As a result, the shop is always busy, which is simultaneously wonderful and distracting.
Honorable Mentions: Norms, Mojos, Metropolitan Coffee, Lincoln Perk, and Common Grounds Coffee House.
For all the coffee lovers out there wanting to get away from chains, I have some good news for you: local coffee shops are everywhere. They may require you to veer off the well beaten path of coffee drive-thrus, but they will offer all the ambiance, friendly service, and individuality you could possibly hope for.