Omaha’s Coffee Couture
In Omaha coffee is an art form. From sourcing and roasting beans to the care taken with whimsical foam art, every step is an act of love.
Many Omaha coffeehouses roast and bag their own coffee, and when it’s roasting time, the smell is intoxicating. Rally Coffee Co. sources beans that are in season and roasts them at just the right time to accentuate the unique flavor profiles. When visiting Rally, check out how the barista uses a scientific-looking 3-foot-tall beaker gadget to create cold brew – it’s as entertaining to watch as it is to drink. Archetype concocts its beverages in three minimalistic locations, partnering with farmers for its premium coffee beans.
Amateur Coffee specializes in roasting 100% vegan coffee in unique flavors such as Sweet Tart and Soda Shoppe Sumatra, which includes notes of Coca-Cola, sweet grape and citrus. In fact, everything, from the oat milk to the waffles and donuts in this quaint coffee shop, is vegan. The husband and wife team also serves Espresso sodas, and one of the favorites is the Cherry Seinfeld: tonic, espresso, cherry … yada, yada, yada ... and lime – it’s George Costanza approved. Another husband and wife team run Hardy Coffee Co. The goal at their three locations is to serve “seriously useful coffee,” and that means opening early and staying open late so customers can grab a cup whenever the mood strikes. With a roasting lab and bakery included, if the mood calls for a homemade caramel pecan roll or a cranberry orange scone, they’ve got you covered there as well. Bad Seed Coffee & Supply offers small-batch roasted single origin and direct trade coffees from around the world. Their pour-over coffee is brewed to order.
Omaha has a homegrown coffee chain called Scooters that was started as a drive-through location more than 20 years ago. Today it has more than 80 locations throughout the city. Its signature drink is the Caramelicious, a rich caramel latte perfected into a smooth, satisfying cup of yum. Each Scooters cup comes with a smiley sticker; the owner started this tradition back in 1998 as a way of saying “have an amazing day.” Customers loved it so much, the sticker... well, stuck.
Want to try a little bit of everything? Sip your way through a coffee flight at Zen Coffee Company. Choose four drinks from a menu of over 50 iced and hot beverage options to create your coffee adventure.
One of the most unique coffee shops in the city provides coffee and kitty cuddle time. Felius Cat Café is exactly as it sounds. It’s a place to grab a cup of coffee and pet cats. The cats roam around the shop, and for a small fee, customers can enjoy a cat cuddle session. Cats are also available for adoption – how’s that for a souvenir?
Browse the many locally owned Omaha coffee shops below, and find a unique brew just for you.
