Top Coffee Shops That Go Beyond Coffee
Bookstore In The Grove
3390 Mary St.
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
(305) 443-2855
www.thebookstoreinthegrove.com
Besides great coffee and community events, the food and service here is top rated by locals like Atena Komar, who says Bookstore in the Grove's hot panini is the best, "but its brownies are to die for!" Another extra perk? This place has servers that will bring your food directly to your table, like a restaurant. And whatever you do, don't leave without trying the chocolate mint coffee. It will put you in a happy mood, even on a Monday.
Panther Coffee
2390 NW 2nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 677-3952
www.panthercoffee.com
Hands down, best cappuccino in South Florida, raves customer Elle Moral. "It even beats out the Cuban cortadito." Panther Coffee is a Miami-based specialty coffee roaster that specializes in small-batch roasting, and its baristas are among the best on the planet. Husband-and-wife Joel and Leticia Pollock own the place and Joel is the master of roasting the green beans to perfection. (They also use a 1927 Probat Perfekt Roaster, which contributes to the coffee's wondrous taste.) A second location recently opened at Sunset Harbour in Miami Beach.
Crumb On Parchment
3930 NE 2nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 572-9444
www.facebook.com/CrumbMiami
Peaches n' cream muffins hot out of the oven, bacon-maple donuts, grilled salmon on a baguette with curry mayo, arugula and red onions; these are just a few of the sought-after menu items that you'll find at this hot spot in the Design District. Owned and operated by James Beard award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, you'll find this bakery and café inside the atrium of the Melin Building. It's cozy with a "country shabby chic décor" and chef Bernstein's mom is usually in the kitchen baking up the pies and cakes. Everything pairs perfectly with its cappuccinos.
Related: Top Chefs Heat Up South Florida
Moloko
3201 N. Miami Ave., Suite 104
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 572-9336
www.molokomiami.com
"The Art of Crepe and Coffee" is the tagline of this far-from-ordinary coffee bar in the Shops at Midtown Mall. With red walls lined with gallery-quality artwork, the atmosphere here is a warm blend of artsy and homey. Bring a book to donate to the bookshelf (help yourself to a book too), then perch yourself high at the bar or at a table. There is even a sofa in the back where you can sip your favorite fine tea or locally roasted Panther Coffee.
Walter's Coffee Shop
17009 S. Dixie Highway
Miami, FL 33157
(305) 232-1235
www.walterscoffeeshop.com
Since 1965, this eatery has been a local institution - and family owned and operated. It's not your typical coffee house of today, with couches, artwork and dozens of mocha, latte, caramel and dark roasted choices on the menu, but you will find a good cup of joe and a whole lot of great food for breakfast and lunch, along with pleasant people both serving you and sitting beside you. Its location is unassuming, too, in a strip mall right off US1 in Palmetto Bay. Sit at the counter and order up a redneck benedict with sausage gravy, or the ever-famous S.O.S., just like mom used to make. It is only open until 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on weekends.
Jill Martin is a family travel expert, appearing on numerous television and radio shows. She spent five years as the VISIT FLORIDA Family Insider, has penned children's books, and is the creator of Sunshine Brain Games – trivia cards about Florida. A Miami native, Jill resides in Redland. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
