25 Best Coffee Shops in Columbia, Missouri (2025 Guide)

Lakota is a beloved local coffee shop that has been a comfort and treat for residents in Columbia over the years, appreciated for its friendly service, cozy atmosphere, excellent coffee, and warm hospitality. Whether customers are enjoying a quick drink while working or seeking a relaxing place to read, Lakota consistently delivers high-quality experiences and maintains its status as a cherished part of the community.

Cafe Berlin, located in Columbia, offers excellent food and friendly service. It's a charming cafe that caters to both diners and brunch-goers with its variety of breakfast and lunch options, though patrons should be prepared for occasional wait times. The staff is attentive and helpful, ensuring a pleasant dining experience regardless of the menu selection.

The Grind, as reviewed by multiple customers, is an inviting and consistently high-quality coffee shop known for its great coffee and friendly service. It offers a variety of drinks, including delicious hot chocolates, Irish Cream flavor lattes, and hot chocolate with hazelnut options. The atmosphere features both indoor and outdoor seating areas with scenic views, making it a popular spot for locals to enjoy their beverages in comfort.

Lakota Coffee is an exceptional coffee shop beloved by many for its consistently great coffee, welcoming atmosphere, and diverse menu options. Whether you're stopping in for a quick brew or looking to grab a light meal, this establishment offers a delightful experience with friendly service across all areas of their business. Notably appreciated are the wide variety of coffee offerings as well as vegetarian and gluten-free options, making it a go-to spot for both casual visitors and regulars alike.

Fretboard Coffee Company is a beloved Columbia, Missouri-based coffee shop praised for its delicious espresso and mochas, exceptional service, and friendly atmosphere. Located on a quiet street near Broadway, it offers both dine-in and take-out options at reasonable prices. Known for its vibrant vibe and artistic ambiance, this establishment has quickly become one of the favorites among locals and visitors alike.

Just Love is an inviting and delightful coffee shop with excellent service, offering high-quality coffee that stands out among similar establishments. Despite smaller portion sizes, the food quality makes up for it, providing patrons with an exceptional dining experience regardless of their visit purpose. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or savoring a leisurely brunch, Just Love consistently delivers satisfaction and warmth in its welcoming atmosphere.

Acola Coffee Company is a charming and inviting coffee shop that offers an array of seating options, including quiet nooks for studying or reading. Bursting with plants, it creates a beautiful and welcoming atmosphere, making it perfect for both work and leisure. The service is impeccable, coupled with delicious food and drinks that are sure to delight any visitor in Columbia.

Scooter's Coffee Shop is a highly-rated café that consistently offers excellent service, delicious coffee, and warm atmospheres across various visits. Customers appreciate its competitive pricing and friendly staff, with some highlighting their love for the barista interactions and quick drive-through service. Despite occasional criticisms regarding specific menu items or service issues, the overall experience remains overwhelmingly positive, making it a top choice for coffee enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.

The coffee shop is highly praised for its beautiful and spacious atmosphere, warm service, and friendly ambiance. It offers plenty of seating areas with plants and even has a dedicated kids corner, making it an ideal spot for families. Despite minor issues like limited parking, the quality of the food and drinks consistently receives high ratings from customers.

Shortwave Coffee in Alley A is an exquisite hidden gem, known for its inviting and cozy ambiance with warm wood interiors, perfect for both work sessions and casual meet-ups. The café offers high-quality, house-roasted coffee and tea options, including unique blends like a Moroccan mint ice tea or Ethiopian pour-over, which have earned it top reviews. With its thoughtful service, ample seating, and convenient downtown location, Shortwave consistently delivers an exceptional experience that makes it a standout spot in Columbia.

Love Coffee is a charming and welcoming coffee shop known for its excellent service, friendly atmosphere, and delicious menu options. Whether you're stopping by for breakfast or lunch, they offer a variety of dishes including their signature turkey bacon wrap and savory scones, all prepared with fresh ingredients and great care. The staff members are attentive and enjoyable to interact with, making every visit feel special and appreciated.

This coffee shop offers decent food and service overall, with both positive and negative aspects noted by customers. The menu items like soups are praised for their quality, though portions can vary widely as mentioned in some reviews. Service is generally satisfactory, but there have been issues with orders not being prepared promptly, leading to long wait times. Customers also highlight that the atmosphere could be improved, suggesting a need for better organization or cleanliness behind the counter.

The coffee shop offers a delightful blend of atmosphere, variety in menu options, and quality food and service, evident from multiple highly-rated reviews. Known for its clean and inviting environment, it caters to various meal types with choices ranging from breakfast to lunch and other options, all at reasonable prices. The staff is described as friendly and knowledgeable, ensuring a pleasant dining experience.

The coffee shop has had mixed reviews, with issues ranging from inconsistent food quality and service speed to rude employees and poor communication. Some customers have praised polite staff and accommodating service, while others have experienced long wait times for drinks and unsatisfactory orders. Despite these challenges, there are also reports of a positive dining experience for children, indicating that the atmosphere might be welcoming and comfortable.

The coffee shop has inconsistent experiences with varying levels of cleanliness and service quality. There are complaints about dirty locations, forgotten drinks, late deliveries, rude staff, and unexpected additional charges. However, there are also positive remarks about good food portions and healthy options available. The atmosphere is rated as average or below average across reviews.

This coffee shop is highly praised, offering a delightful atmosphere with ample seating for studying or relaxing. It serves delicious food and drinks at reasonable prices, including a variety of pastries and beverages. The friendly staff and welcoming environment make it an excellent choice for visitors, whether they're there for work, study sessions, or just to enjoy some downtime.

Scooters is a highly-rated coffee shop that consistently receives stellar reviews for its friendly and efficient service, whether it's through their drive-thru or dine-in experience. Notably praised for its cleanliness and excellent atmosphere, customers often appreciate the variety in drinks and food options, from traditional coffee to special treats like English Breakfast Tea. Despite minor complaints about uncooked bacon sandwiches at times, Scooters generally offers a pleasant dining experience with plenty of positive feedback across all aspects.

Shortwave Coffee is a standout gem with an exceptional coffee experience and warm ambiance that envelops patrons in vintage-modern charm. The café offers ample seating for students and others seeking a relaxed space, and features thoughtful touches like custom-made live-edge tables and built-in chargers. With high ratings across various aspects including food, service, and atmosphere, it's clear why this coffee shop has become a beloved destination for both regulars and newcomers alike.

7Brew is a highly-rated coffee shop that consistently offers excellent service, delicious drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere. Customers appreciate their customizable menu options and friendly staff who are knowledgeable about their products. Despite minor issues like drink inconsistencies or overpriced items, the overall experience remains overwhelmingly positive, earning multiple 5-star ratings from satisfied patrons.

Vida Coffee is a beloved campus favorite known for its warm atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious pastries. With an extensive menu that includes specialty drinks like their Smoking Gun Latte with matcha green tea and Sweet Heat, as well as fresh baked goods that are often highlighted on the creative chalkboard menu, Vida offers something for everyone to enjoy. Their commitment to providing excellent coffee and a welcoming environment has made it one of the most cherished spots on campus for studying, meetings, or simply relaxing with friends.

This coffee shop consistently receives high ratings for its friendly and attentive staff, who go above and beyond to ensure customers are well served, whether it's serving breakfast sandwiches in record time or making perfect lattes at ungodly hours. The service is outstanding, with a consistently 5-star rating across all reviews. Despite occasional issues with lighting and opening hours, the shop maintains its welcoming atmosphere and delicious menu items, which have been praised for their variety of coffee options and refreshing smoothies and lemonades.

Imperial Coffee House is an exceptional establishment that consistently receives top ratings for its delicious and expertly crafted coffees, warm and welcoming atmosphere, and outstanding service. From its laid-back vibe to its professional staff, every aspect contributes to making patrons feel like they're having a mini vacation while enjoying their beverages. The coffee house also offers flexible seating options and convenient parking spaces, along with wheelchair accessibility for all guests.

7Brew is a highly praised coffee shop that consistently offers excellent service and atmosphere, as evidenced by the positive reviews from customers. With attentive staff who prioritize customer satisfaction, ranging from those providing personalized touches to others known for their friendly demeanor, the cafe consistently delivers high-quality beverages at reasonable prices. Despite minor issues with drink flavors or speed in some instances, the overall experience remains impressive, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

The coffee shop consistently receives positive reviews for its delicious and well-prepared beverages, as evidenced by ratings ranging from 4 to 5 stars. Customers appreciate the friendly service and calming atmosphere, which often contributes to their satisfaction with meals priced at $1–$10 per person. However, there are instances of poor customer service that have led some reviewers to give it lower scores, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement in this establishment.

The coffee shop in Columbia has consistently received top ratings, with authors praising their "super rich" lattes and "next level" energy bites. Customers appreciate never waiting in line and always getting exceptional service, which is often highlighted as one of the standout features. Additionally, they offer a punch card for extra rewards, further solidifying their reputation among frequent visitors.