New Orleans has a rich and unique history in relation to coffee. Having been introduced to the Louisiana area in the early 1700s by French colonists, New Orleans, as a port city, became a hub of Caribbean and Cuban coffee beans. The birthplace of chicory coffee, today New Orleans is an important importer of coffee for the entire country.
A morning cup of joe is a must for most people. Try one—or all—of these delicious coffee spots and change your morning coffee ritual to include these New Orleans coffee experts.
Where to Get Coffee in New Orleans
1. PJ's Coffee
Multiple Locations
pjscoffee.com
Founded in 1978, PJ's Coffee House—originally called "PJ's Coffee & Tea Co."—started as a humble shop in the Carrollton neighborhood and has slowly grown into the coffee empire that it is today. PJ's sources their coffee beans from around the world, carefully and thoughtfully curating the best coffee in the city.
Serving classic coffee, seasonal specials, and New Orleans' treats, PJ's has a multitude of locations across the state and is a great place to grab a breakfast sandwich in the morning or go for an afternoon coffee date. Their original cold brew is a fan favorite, alongside their cafe au lait and hot mochas.
2. French Truck Coffee
Multiple Locations
frenchtruckcoffee.com
Recognized by its bright, yellow, exterior, French Truck Coffee's shops are cozy, inviting, and comfortable. Whether you are in a rush to grab a quick morning pick-me-up or need a nice spot to get some work done, French Truck is a fantastic option. On a mission to provide the freshest and most high-quality coffee beans, French Truck aims to source their goods from the best farmers and creates strong, lasting, relationships with their farmers to provide New Orleans with a connection to great coffee.
Their Honduran and Colombian blend entitled the "Rougarou"—after the Cajun legend—is a popular fall favorite, alongside their Ruby Breakfast Blend, Commander's Palace Coffee & Chicory, and Le Grand Coq Rouge. Their cold brew is a strong, delicious, and refreshing coffee, making it a perfect for a hot summer day in New Orleans.
3. CC's Coffee House
Multiple Locations
ccscoffee.com
Family owned and operated, CC's Coffee House originated out of New Orleans in 1995 and has delighted South Louisiana ever since. A welcoming and comforting environment, a morning at CC's is a morning well spent. Boasting multiple locations throughout local Louisiana, CC's is a staple of the community and is the perfect spot to grab your morning cup of joe on your way to work.
Try their signature "Mochasippis," which are delicious and refreshing. Their classics menu includes all the best: cafe au laits, cappuccino, cold brews, and more. Their seasonal selection always includes fun and festive drinks, including caramel apple pie-flavored coffee or peppermint during the winter season.
4. Envie Espresso Bar & Café
1241 Decatur St., (504) 524-3689
cafeenvie.com
Envie is a fun place to get some coffee and people watch in the French Quarter. Located on a busy intersection on lower Decatur Street, you can take your perfect cup of coffee and pastry and have a seat by a window or one of the cafe tables on the sidewalk and watch the world go by.
If you want to stay a while, try out one of
the breakfast or lunch specialties. The Eggs Envie is brie, ham, and
omelette-style eggs served inside a fresh croissant with hash browns. The Wake
Up! Burger is 8 oz. of fresh angus beef, sharp cheddar, tomato, arugula, and
pickles. Envie has a full bar so you can also get an adult beverage while
you're at it.
5. Cherry Coffee Roasters
Multiple Locations
cherrycoffeeroasters.com
Cherry Coffee Roasters proudly roast their own beans, and they invite you to partake in the coffee and espresso ritual at their gorgeous, sun-drenched shop Uptown and new location in Gretna. Take a seat in a plush chair or sip your coffee on the outside patio. The sidewalk seats are popular with those who love watching the passers-by or those who have their dog with them.
The lattes are beautiful. The baristas make
sure to put a pretty design in your drink that will put a smile on your face.
The pastry selection can go quickly though, so don't be shocked if you're
favorite muffin is out for the day.
6. Rue De La Course
1140 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 861-4343
ruedelacourse.com/home.html
Rue De La Course is one of the most visually-interesting coffee shops in the entire city. That's because it sits on the corner of Oak Street and North Carrollton Avenue, and it takes up the space of an old bank. The coffee shop has a soaring ceiling and seating on two floors. The old teller counter is where you can order your coffee before sitting and admiring the gorgeous stone walls and glowing chandeliers.
Rue De La Course offers coffee, espresso,
and iced drinks, alongside a small menu of pastries and confections. During
lunch hours, there are some bagel sandwiches and a daily soup that you might be
interested in.
7. CR Coffee Shop
Multiple Locations
crcoffeenola.com
The four CR Coffee shops in Greater New Orleans are off-shoots of Bankhouse Coffee and Coast Roast Coffee on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. CR Coffee has an outpost at the St. Roch Market (2381 St. Claude Ave.), an Uptown location (3511 Magazine St.), and an Old Metairie location, as well as a location in Armstrong International Airport, ready to serve you perfectly-roasted coffee.
CR has some crazy things for you to try. The Bumblebee is orange juice with cold brew on top! Even if you love getting a cup to go at CR, you may want to take a bag of beans home with you. CR keeps their special blends like the Streetcar Medium Roast Blend in stock.
8. District Donuts
Multiple Locations
districtdonuts.com
Sourcing their coffee beans from local artisan group Cool Kids Coffee Roasters, District Donuts believes in supporting small, intimate production and not large-scale industrialized approaches. Using a unique roasting technique, District Donuts offers an untraditional, yet delicious type of coffee. Similarly, they are revered for their unique and adventurous donuts.
Their coffee menu includes classics like espressos, Americanos, cappuccinos, cold brews, and more adventurous drinks like Vietnamese iced coffee, lavender latte, and vanilla bean latte. They offer sweet and savory breakfast options, their hot chicken and honey butter biscuit is a delicious mix of sweet and spicy.
9. HiVOLT
1829 Sophie Wright Pl., (504) 324-8818
hivoltcoffeepickup.com
HiVOLT is a bustling little coffee shop just off of Magazine Street. This is a popular spot with people who live in the area that need to get a buzz before going to work. You can also grab a reasonably-priced smoothie, excellent latte, or hot pastry. The Honey Cayenne Latte will give you energy and clear your sinuses.
If you need some food, this spot has
dishes such as the Mean Greens Bowl and Burrito? Burrito! While
this is a perfect spot for breakfast and lunch, you cannot come here for a late
afternoon pick-me-up. HiVOLT is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily (closed
Sunday).
10. Backatown Coffee
301 Basin St., (504) 372-4442
backatownnola.com
Backatown is so named because it sits on Basin Street, which was the back of the city many, many years ago. Backatown Coffee strives to cultivate a sense of camaraderie at the local coffee shop to talk with your neighbors as the sweet sounds of jazz drift through the coffee-scented air.
You are invited to have your steaming cup of
coffee with something sweet or savory to eat. The Salmon and Capers Bagel or
the Vegan Rose Pistachio Donut are excellent choices for breakfast time. When
lunch rolls around, you'll want to have a Raspberry Grilled Cheese (provolone,
cheddar, and pepperjack cheese topped with raspberry preserves) and a hot cup
of Tomato Basil Soup.
The Best Coffee Shops in NOLA
Whether you are looking for a spot to grab a quick cup in the morning or a nice and quiet environment to get some studying done, these local coffee shops are staples and friends of the New Orleans community. Try one, or try all, and become heavily impressed by NOLA's coffee connoisseurs.
