America’s Most Loved Roasters: Iowa

Our “America’s Most Loved Roasters” series now sets its compass towards the heartland, landing in Iowa. Beyond its sweeping cornfields and friendly communities, the Hawkeye State is cultivating a surprisingly robust and dedicated coffee scene. We’ve delved into local discussions and online reviews to spotlight 10 highly-regarded roasters, celebrated for bringing exceptional roasted coffee beans to Iowans and beyond.

Iowa’s Top Coffee Roasters

Here are some of Iowa’s most celebrated coffee roasters, highly recommended by coffee enthusiasts across various online platforms:

1. Horizon Line Coffee
   • Main Location (Des Moines): 1417 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
   • Website: https://www.horizonlinecoffee.com/
   • A standout in Des Moines, highly praised for its meticulous approach to sourcing and roasting unique, high-quality beans.
2. Ritual Cafe
   • Main Location (Des Moines): 1301 Locust St Suite C, Des Moines, IA 50309
   • Website: https://www.ritualcafedm.com/
   • A beloved local institution known for its vegetarian fare and commitment to excellent, locally roasted coffee.
3. Smokey Row Coffee
   • Main Location (Des Moines): 1910 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
   • Website: https://smokeyrow.com/
   • A long-standing and very popular coffee shop that also roasts its own wide variety of well-loved blends.
4. Capanna Coffee Roasters
   • Main Location (Cedar Rapids): 2803 16th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
   • Website: https://capannacoffee.com/
   • A well-regarded roaster in Cedar Rapids, celebrated for its quality beans and community focus.
5. Sidekick Coffee & Books
   • Main Location (Iowa City): 1310 1/2 Melrose Ave, Iowa City, IA 52246
   • Website: https://sidekickcoffeebooks.com/
   • A charming spot that roasts its own coffee, a favorite among Iowa City locals for its unique combination.
6. Ross Street Roasting Co.
   • Main Location (Tama): 102 S Market St, Tama, IA 52339
   • Website: https://rossstreetroasting.com/
   • A smaller, highly-praised roaster making a name for itself with carefully crafted batches.
7. Mars Coffee
   • Main Location (Des Moines): (Often found in local shops and online, check social media for locations)
   • Website: https://marscoffeeco.com/
   • An artisan roaster gaining popularity in the Des Moines area for its distinctive offerings.
8. Press Coffee Co.
   • Main Location (Cedar Falls): 112 E 3rd St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
   • Website: https://presscoffeeco.com/
   • A popular choice in Cedar Falls, known for its excellent coffee and inviting atmosphere.
9. Coffee By Design
   • Main Location (Clive): 1800 NW 86th St, Clive, IA 50325
   • Website: https://coffeesbydesign.com/
   • A well-established Des Moines area roaster offering a wide variety of blends and single origins.
10. Impact Coffee
    • Main Location (Decorah): 104 E Water St, Decorah, IA 52101
    • Website: https://impact.coffee/
    • A beloved roaster in Northeast Iowa, known for its commitment to community and quality coffee.

Iowa’s coffee landscape is steadily blooming, offering a delightful array of roasted beans that truly reflect the state’s growing passion for quality coffee. This curated list provides a glimpse into the highly-regarded roasters that coffee enthusiasts consistently praise online. While I haven’t personally had the opportunity to sample every one of these excellent Hawkeye State roasts, our Coffee Chronicles journey will certainly lead us to discover their unique offerings firsthand. Happy brewing in Iowa!

Don’t forget to try out RoastBot for more coffee insights and recommendations!