The independent Sacramento coffee scene is a vibrant mix of third-wave, eclectic, minimalist, and community-oriented cafés. I’m a sucker for a great-tasting cold brew, but what makes good coffee even better is an aesthetically pleasing setting in which to enjoy it. Interior design and calming aesthetics may fall high on my list, but coffee remains the primary decider when it comes to ranking my favorite coffee spots. Almost every coffee shop on this list brews coffee that was roasted in the Sacramento region.
Another thing that will make me drive an extra few miles out of my way to visit a coffee shop is the allure of homemade pastries and snacks. You can probably lure me across state lines for a perfectly buttery croissant or crispy waffle.
Key Takeaways
- Twenty coffee shops, seven neighborhoods: Midtown and Downtown have six each, and the best single reason to cross the river is Franquette in West Sacramento.
- Roast your own: Temple, Camellia, Chocolate Fish, Milka, Seasons, Pachamama, and Tupelo all roast, which is unusual density for a city this size.
- For the room rather than the cup: Cà Phê Phin on Stockton Boulevard, a mid-century collection of gramophones and treadle tables that happens to serve Vietnamese coffee.
- Oldest bones: Old Soul at the Weatherstone pours in a building that has been a bar, a speakeasy, and a cafe since 1910.
- Farmer-owned: Pachamama on J Street is a cooperative owned by the growers themselves, which is rare anywhere.
- Working or studying: the Downtown cluster around J and 11th has the most reliable seating and outlets.
Midtown Coffee Houses
Temple Coffee
My first experience with Temple coffee was at their Davis location when it first opened. I loved the quality of their coffee and teas, along with their warm yet minimalist interior design. They now have multiple locations in the greater Sacramento area, and many point to them as the coffee authority in the city. Temple has highly-trained baristas at each of their locations and excellent coffee bean sourcing and roasting. I prefer the welcoming vibe at the S street location (along with its beautiful outdoor patio), but each location consistently serves up quality brews. Temple also offers some pastries (often with gluten-free and vegan options). If you’re looking for an endless distraction while sipping on a cappuccino, try counting all the pennies adorning the floor at their K Street location.
Address: 2829 S St, Sacramento, CA 95816
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Scorpio Coffee
Scorpio Coffee in Midtown Sac has a lot to offer: innovative and artfully-plated dishes, a modern Japanese-inspired space, and top-notch coffee. This coffee house gives the whole new-age coffee house experience, with a sleek wood interior and creative drinks such as the bouquet latte with lavender, rose, and chamomile. Order one of their food items made with fresh and local ingredients, such as the strawberry ricotta toast, market pea salad, and Greek yogurt parfait. I tried one savory and one sweet toast option when I visited, and that’s definitely the way to go if you’re with a friend.
Address: 1905 16th St, Sacramento, CA 95811
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The Mill
The Mill is a cute and cozy cafe with tasty pastries, high-quality brews, and incredibly friendly service. Neutral colors fill this industrial, yet warm space, with plenty of communal seating and cozy spots to sit and enjoy an afternoon coffee. Their east Sacramento location is also their coffee roasting and tea studio, where they serve loose-leaf tea, excellent macchiatos, and vegan/gluten-free bakery options. When you stop by, be sure to order one of their signature waffles with powdered sugar.
Address: 1827 I St, Sacramento, CA 95811
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Old Soul at the Weatherstone
Old Soul at Weatherstone is located in an old brick building that was once a horse barn. Stop by if you’d like to enjoy some great Sacramento-roasted coffee or a more substantive meal in a Bohemian setting. They have plenty of American breakfast and lunch options, including a fluffy quiche or BLT sandwich.
Address: 812 21st Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
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Seasons Coffee Roasters
Seasons Coffee is a beautifully decorated coffee shop that resembles a grandmother’s quaint cottage in the English countryside. New to the lineup of Sac coffee shops, Seasons offers fresh-tasting coffee with a great flavor profile, as well as a few delicious food options, including paninis and avocado toast. If you prefer sweeter beverages, try the iced caramel or mocha latte. This uniquely decorated spot is located on the first floor of the CLARA (E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts). Once you enter through the big blue doors, it’s just inside on the right.
Address: 2420 N St Suite 105, Sacramento, CA 95816
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N Street Café
With a blue-tiled exterior and bright red signage, it’s hard to miss this neighborhood café and coffee shop nestled among the Victorian homes of Sacramento. The N Street Café is a laid-back spot that is serving up some delicious sandwiches, Mediterranean lunches, and coffee drinks in an unpretentious atmosphere. Everything is reasonably priced.
Address: 2022 N St, Sacramento, CA 95811
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Downtown Sacramento Coffee Shops
Goodside Coffee
Goodside Coffee in Mansion Flats is a modern open-plan coffee shop providing high-quality coffee drinks from Cat and Cloud Coffee. The welcoming and minimalistic ambiance at Goodside creates a great study atmosphere or a place to simply catch up with a friend. When you stop by, try their honey-lavender nitro cold brew or vanilla rose latte alongside a Solomon’s bagel or a delicious pastry.
Address: 1430 H St, Sacramento, CA 95814
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Milka Coffee Roasters
Not only does Milka offer delicious and unique seasonal espresso drinks (like their maple latte), but they also have one of the most unique locations for a coffee house in all of Sacramento. Operating out of an 1861 Victorian house on the corner of G and 15th, this place is the essence of fun hipster coffee shop vibes. In addition to being highly “Instagrammable” with their occasional Anthropologie-esque decorations inside, they are brewing up some solid in-house roasted coffee. When you stop by, try their matcha latte and or a crazy-colored Thai-died-iced-tea with lemongrass tea, condensed milk, and a splash of citrus. This is a nice location to get some work done.
Address: 1501 G St, Sacramento, CA 95814
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Cora Coffee
Cora Coffee is a spacious and modern coffee shop in the heart of Downtown that serves quality espresso drinks, and some authentic matcha tea. Their sleek and minimalist black interior makes for a great work environment, and the baristas are very friendly. Their drip and pour-over coffee is light and well-balanced. If you prefer espresso, try a cappuccino or a pumpkin spice latte in the colder weather.
Address: 1201 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Camellia Coffee Roasters
Since launching their coffee company in 2015, Camellia Coffee Roasters in Downtown Sacramento has transformed into a Sac coffee staple. All of their coffee drinks are made with high-quality espresso and syrups. If their horchata latte weren’t enough reason to pay them a visit, they also cook up some of the best breakfast sandwiches in Sac. These omelet sandwiches come with your choice of meat and are served on toasted brioche buns. Stop by their pink-tiled shop for a cold brew and a fresh pastry supplied by Faria Bakery.
Address: 1200 R St Suite 130, Sacramento, CA 95811
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Blueprint Coffee Project
Blueprint Coffee Project is a non-profit coffee shop partnered with Project Church next-door with the goal of selling quality coffee to fund relief programs for Sacramento and the surrounding communities. Their cheery and open space is located in a historic building in Old Sac, conveniently near the Tower Bridge Garage. They offer a limited menu of coffee, espresso drinks and tea. With fresh and bold coffee and friendly baristas, this is a comfortable place to get a caffeine buzz while you work or study.
Address: 1200 2nd St, Sacramento, CA 95814
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Roots Coffee Co
Roots Coffee is a clean and convenient coffee shop located near the Old Sacramento Waterfront in the Downtown neighborhood. They serve up some decent coffee and have plenty of food options to choose from, including toast, salad, and sandwiches. This no-frills coffee shop is a quality place to study or get some work done.
Address: 428 J St Suite 120, Sacramento, CA 95814
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East Sacramento Cafes
Pachamama Coffee
Pachamama Coffee is a cluster of quality coffee shops in the Sacramento region and a cooperative business collectively owned by Guatemalan and Nicaraguan farmers that grow and harvest the beans. They’ve since expanded into multiple coffee houses in Sac, Davis, and even Placerville. Stop in for a rose cardamom latte, peach cream iced cold brew, or a well-balanced espresso shot. Each shop has a welcoming and vibrant interior, usually with a few small outdoor tables.
Address: 3644 J St, Sacramento, CA 95816
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Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters
The Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters shops are all clean and unfussy spots for legit espresso drinks, excellently roasted coffee, great chai lattes, and some delicious avocado toast. There are multiple locations around Sacramento, and each offers a large, open interior with plenty of spots to work. They roast their own coffee and even offer coffee-cupping classes!
Address: 4749 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95819
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Tupelo Coffee & Roasting
Tupelo Coffee is a spacious spot in East Sacramento with a clean and open interior that is perfect for posting up with a laptop. You can even bring the dogs and sit out front on their patio. They serve Naked Coffee and offer some fun espresso drinks, from the toast and jam latte to a traditional Mexican hot chocolate or mocha.
Address: 5700 Elvas Ave, Sacramento, CA 95819
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Broadway and Southside Park
Mast Coffee Co
Mast Coffee Co is a relaxing coffee shop with a minimalist brick-walled atmosphere and great in-house roasted coffee. In addition to their top-notch beans and brews, they serve melt-in-your-mouth pastries from Faria Bakery, huge slices of avocado toast, and high-end sandwiches on fresh focaccia.
Address: 2421 17th St, Sacramento, CA 95818
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Broadway Coffee Company
Broadway Coffee Company is a warm and welcoming community coffee shop with an eclectic vibe and colorful local art adorning both the outside and inside the building. They serve Temple Coffee and Teas, so you can be sure to find a great no-fuss cup of coffee here, as well as plenty of tea options. People brag about the sweet potato pie that occasionally graces their cafe.
Address: 3200 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95817
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South Sacramento
Cà Phê Phin
Cà Phê Phin sits on Stockton Boulevard in Parkview, and the room is the reason to go. A gramophone, an old television, a Singer treadle sewing machine doing duty as a table, rattan chairs, and more plants than the square footage allows. Order at the counter or from the self-order kiosk.
The phin in the name is the little metal drip filter that sits on top of the glass, and the menu runs well past it. We ordered taro coffee, a soursop slushie, and a mango matcha latte. The coffee is good.
Address: 7386 Stockton Blvd suite e, Sacramento, CA 95823
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Interested in more caffeinated content? Check out MK Library’s AeroPress Coffee Maker Guide and everything you need to know about Cold Brew Coffee!
More Sacramento Restaurants
Del Paso Boulevard
Shift Coffee House
Located in Old North Sac, Shift Coffee House is all about grilled cheese sandwiches and coffee. Their grilled cheeses include options like “That’s My Jam,” with Havarti and berry jam, and “The Firehouse 20” with flavorful brisket. All of this is accompanied by quality coffee and espresso drinks. Their industrial-looking space with racing memorabilia and private outdoor patio makes for a great breakfast or lunch spot to enjoy with friends.
Address: 1616 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815
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West Sacramento
Franquette
Franquette is a new and modern French Bistro in West Sacramento, located near Drake’s: the Barn and the Sutter Health Park. This small yet bright bistro is serving up all the goods, and doing so beautifully; They have coffee, pastries, sandwiches, cheese, and wine. Their breakfast, brunch, and lunch options are simple and artfully prepared, from their savory galette with leeks and potatoes to their expertly prepared ratatouille. Franquette is the perfect place for a Sunday brunch or simply for grabbing a quality coffee and pastry on your way to work.
Address: 965 Bridge St Suite 100, West Sacramento, CA 95691
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Sacramento Coffee Shops by Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Coffee shops |
|---|---|
| Midtown | Temple, Scorpio, The Mill, Old Soul at the Weatherstone, Seasons, N Street Café |
| Downtown | Goodside, Milka, Cora, Camellia, Blueprint, Roots |
| East Sacramento | Pachamama, Chocolate Fish, Tupelo |
| Broadway & Southside Park | Mast, Broadway Coffee Company |
| South Sacramento | Cà Phê Phin |
| Del Paso Boulevard | Shift Coffee House |
| West Sacramento | Franquette |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many coffee shops are in Sacramento?
Several hundred once you count chains and drive-throughs. The 20 independent coffee houses and cafes above span seven neighborhoods, weighted toward places that roast their own beans or are worth a detour for the room.
Which Sacramento coffee shops roast their own beans?
Temple, Camellia, Chocolate Fish, Milka, Seasons, Pachamama, and Tupelo all roast. That is a lot of roasting capacity for a city this size, and it is the single best argument for drinking coffee here rather than importing it.
Where should you get coffee in downtown versus midtown Sacramento?
Downtown clusters around J Street and 11th, which suits working, meetings, and anyone walking from the Capitol. Midtown is denser and more varied, running from Temple on S Street to Old Soul in the Weatherstone building. If you only have one stop, make it Midtown.
Where can you get Vietnamese coffee in Sacramento?
Cà Phê Phin at 7386 Stockton Boulevard, named for the small metal drip filter that sits over the glass. The menu runs to taro coffee, egg coffee, durian, coconut, and a soursop slushie, and the mid-century room is worth the drive on its own.
Which Sacramento coffee shops are good for working or studying?
The Downtown group has the most consistent seating and outlets. Shift Coffee House on Del Paso Boulevard has room to spread out. Smaller Midtown rooms fill quickly on weekends and are better for a short stop than a long session.
What is the oldest coffee house in Sacramento?
Old Soul at the Weatherstone pours inside the Weatherstone building on 21st Street, which has served drinks in one form or another since 1910. The coffee company itself is much younger; the bones are what is old.
Is there good coffee in West Sacramento?
Yes, and it is worth crossing the river for. Franquette on Bridge Street draws people from the Sacramento side.
What is the difference between a coffee house and a cafe?
In practice the two blur here. Coffee house usually signals a room built for sitting a while, cafe suggests food beyond pastry. Several places on this list are both, and the label tells you less than the seating does.
Article Updates
- September 30, 2026: Removed Pivot Coffee, Naked Lounge (1500 Q St), Chicory Coffee & Tea, Tiferet Coffee House, Barrio, and Insight Coffee Roasters, which have closed. Updated Camellia Coffee Roasters’ address to 1200 R St Suite 130. Removed dead website links for Cora Coffee and Broadway Coffee Company.
- August 8, 2026: Regrouped all 26 coffee shops under seven neighborhood headings so the guide can be read by where you actually are. Visited Cà Phê Phin and rewrote that entry from the room, with original photography. Added a Key Takeaways summary, a neighborhood table, and a frequently asked questions section.
October 30, 2025: Added Cà Phê Phin.
