You don’t have to enjoy coffee to enjoy a good coffee shop. The best coffee shops cater to everyone: from straight black-coffee drinkers to people whose go-to is a hot chocolate. Although Salt Lake City may carry the stereotype that we dabble in soda concoctions rather than coffee, this city still holds its own in the coffee department and continues to grow as more and more coffee drinkers start to call this place home. So if you enjoy the occasional cup of joe or just the comfort of a coffee shop, then this article is for you. This article will explore the ins and outs of the (objectively) best coffee shops in Salt Lake City—ambience, location, service, price, and of course, coffee.

Coffee Garden 

Coffee Garden, located on 9th and 9th, is a melting pot of peculiar people. When you walk in, you are greeted with the smell of freshly ground coffee; the soothing, shrieking sounds of a milk frother; a line that has almost reached the door; and tables upon tables, every last one filled with people. From over-caffeinated teens from nearby schools to older, serene folks looking for a game of chess or a place to read, Coffee Garden’s strongest attribute is most definitely the crowd of people it attracts. It is a wonderful place to grab your drink or pastry of choice and people watch, as it is almost always packed. In the rare lulls, it is a quiet, calm environment where you can actually hear the classical music playing without the cluttering sound of people’s chatter masking it. When it’s quiet, Coffee Garden is a great place to do work, although as Kelton Ferritor, Rowand Hall senior, put it, there’s “good coffee, good food, no wifi.”

The coffee itself  “is smoother than [the coffee at] other places,” an online review argues, and I would have to agree. Coffee Garden uses Ibis coffee and Tea Zaanti for their drinks, and these blends prove to make impressive beverages, but the blend is only the half of what makes them so good. It's the professionals behind the counter who make Coffee Garden’s drinks so enjoyable, the same people who will always put on a smile (even if they're in the middle of a crazy rush) and ask you if you want your usual. My only hitch with Coffee Garden is the wait time, as comes with any popular coffee shop. With lines that almost reach the door (and no coffee in your system quite yet), your patience can start to be tested, although that is where the cons stop. The price is pretty average for their drinks, although their pastries can get a little pricey, but as college counselor, Jesse Chavez said, “Coffee garden is the best coffee on a budget, especially if you bring your own cup.” With their unusual crowd and excellent drinks, Coffee Garden is a must-try in Salt Lake.

Alchemy Coffee

Alchemy Coffee is located in Liberty Wells on 390 East and 1700 South. It is next door to an antique shop, which makes for a perfect duo: shopping and coffee. As you step into the door, there is an array of couches, tables, and communal spaces, which feels like a movie-esque environment. My favorite part about Alchemy is the back room, which is kind of closed off and has a singular table with an L-shaped bench surrounding it and is lit by a single light bulb, which makes it simultaneously eerie and excitingly secretive. The place lives up to its name, Alchemy, as it feels almost like an alchemist’s shop-front with their plethora of coffee instruments, and as their website says, the “coffee is chemistry” there.

Alchemy is especially good if you like strong coffee, and the espresso is impressively smooth. The baristas are kind and memorable human beings. Honestly, it feels like a requirement on the resume to be and dress cool in order to work there. Alchemy is a unique coffee shop that is a must-try in Salt Lake City. And if you happen to have time on a Tuesday night, you can always stop in for their open-mic night and enjoy some local talent.

Salt Lake Coffee Break

Salt Lake Coffee Break is right along 430 E and 400 S. If you come through the back entrance, you really can’t miss the bright red wall. The in-your-face color scheme is carried through to when you walk in as well, with bright orange walls lining every side of that first room. My favorite part of this place has got to be the flow of the seating. Much like the library at school, there is a place to quietly work, with large tables spaced out; then as you walk further in, there are booths and tables lining the left wall meant for quiet talking I would assume; then as you gravitate towards the counter there are groups of couches—a communal space meant for the conversationalists. 
Salt Lake Coffee Break also brews their own tea and has a wide and obscure selection of flavors ranging from cardamom to rosamonte. Quite honestly, their drip coffee and espresso are fairly average, but their teas and more unusual drinks make this place worth your time. 

These shops do everything from ambience to a good, strong coffee extraordinary well in comparison to the competitors around them. Nowadays, it feels like what most coffee shops lack is a strong brew. A latte becomes milk, an americano becomes water, and the coffee gets lost in the diluted liquid it is combined with. These shops stay true to coffee and other drinks and food in order to create distinctive places for coffee and coffee shop lovers alike. You don’t have to love coffee to enjoy a coffee shop, but you also shouldn’t discount these wonderful places’ coffee simply because we are in a state known for our soda-shops.