50 Best Coffee Shops in Durham

“awesome ice cream and delicious 😋 and the owner is very nice and down to earth! love this place!“

“Fun atmosphere and excellent drinks.“

“Great spot for a delicious coffee and a curated book selection! Love the area for littles to play :)“

“Great idea and excellent products! Tastefully done. :)“

“They allow dogs 🐶 What’s not to like? 🫶🏻“

“Best bagels in NC! Looking forward to their new store.“

“The BEST coffee shop that I have ever visited. Great drinks plus very friendly staff. 🥰🥰🥰“

“The bigg C, is a wonderful servergiver , and dynamic personaa. Ohh and the coffee and servic is of the chart , go and experience it for yourselves.
The people who visit this spot, makes it even a bit smoother.

Warmly
Hw✌️“

“Had a great time taking the coffee class with Casey. She gave a comprehensive overview of espresso making, including lattes and cappuccinos. The class was informative, fun, and easy to follow. Highly recommend—she opened my eyes to things I had no idea about with my own machine at home.“

“The atmosphere was so nice and calm the workers there are sooo nice and friendly this place is also kid friendly so many activities like playing board games , coloring, and the best part eating snacks and yummy ice cream and so many different varieties of desserts!!! Loved it here definitely will come next time“

“Across the board and incredible gem in Durham!
Came for lunch and work and the staff was so courteous and accommodating. The food was AMAZING! The Jerk Chicken Plato was perfection. The vibe was awesome. It could be laid back but you can't help but feel you've been transported to somewhere exotic ✨💖“

“Everything! Love their chai latte.“

“I got the Greek omelette with light feta spinach and peppers ! It was amazing ! Great lil spot!“

“Yummy pastries! 🥐 🥮 Definitely recommend this place! 🥰“

“The best. Just the best. Try it!!“

“Wonderful place. I am there 3 times or more a week!!! Awesome Staff and Owners. Support Local!! Their outdoor clothing and accessories store is also awesome“

“Rachel is committed to both efficiency as well as high quality espresso. Your menu choice is certain to be well executed and served with a human touch. This place makes the Boxyard great. Highly recommended for all coffee occasions, like professional connections, first dates, or brokering world peace. Enjoy your finely brewed drink as you knowingly flex your inner champion for good and spread good cheer amongst humanity.“

“Where do I even begin? Scooters has been my go to since moving to Durham this year. The service is always exceptional! No long wait times and the coffee and food is ALWAYS fresh. I've tried multiple drinks on their menu and I must say my favorites are on the 'Licious Lineup (blended)! The prices are great as well. It's like a win all around!!! AND they have giveaways often! Stickers, patches, Keychain, ducks, etc. It's like a family. If you haven't been, GOOOO!!“

“I checked this place out because it's the only dog-friendly coffee shop around me. Ordered online for pick-up so I could run in with my dog on our walk - fast and friendly!“

“I started frequenting The Bean Flower a couple of months ago after my sister took me for the first time. I’m not a matcha enthusiast or connoisseur in any way, shape, or form, but this place has the best matcha I’ve ever tried by FAR! The staff is always super friendly and efficient, the space is super cute inside, and they sell adorable stickers and merch too. I would highly recommend this place!“

“Friendly staff and great food. Was worth the wait.“

“Román is a Gem! He loves what he does and you can really taste it! He sources local treats that he tries and loves! He answered every question my husband throw at him and we loved hearing his process on how he makes his tea! The Tea is AMAZING! It will ruin sweet tea because it is that good! His lemonade is equally amazing! We will be adding this place to our snack stop list!“

“I want to express praise and gratitude to Desmond at the Durham Hotel. I had been calling the rooftop restaurant for a couple of weeks to try and modify a reservation for a birthday party and after five or six attempts, they had not called me back. I eventually called the hotel and Desmond answered and even though it is completely separate and outside of his job responsibilities, he took down all my information and reached out to them on my behalf . Desmond was able to modify my reservation so that I did not have to drive down there an hour each way. He was very professional and I enjoyed talking with him. He is definitely in the right line of work because I felt like I was talking to a friend. Details matter, and Customer Service should still matter. Thank you, Desmond!! Sincerely, William / reservation 9546“

“This was the first time my wife and I tried this spot and we loved everything about it! Before ordering, we were greeted by Arturo and he was super friendly and kindly offered to give us a quick rundown of the menu. The burritos and aguas frescas were phenomenal! We definitely got the cool New Mexico vibes while we were there. All in all, great experience and will definitely be back again soon to try other menu items!“

“Definitely one of my favorite spots! Would recommend to anyone.“

“I placed a pickup order one morning while on vacation in Durham a couple of weeks ago. The baristas were friendly, the place was nicely decorated and clean, and my order was almost ready by the time I walked through the door. Thanks so much for the delicious waffles, chai latte, and açaí bowl! My fiancé and I enjoyed having some special extras for his surprise birthday breakfast and a refreshing late-night movie snack.“

“AMAZING FOOD!!!! My family loved it there and it’s also so beautiful!! Highly recommend“

“Great place to get Boba!! Me and my boyfriend became OBSESSED going here. It got to the point, the one worker knows us and gives suggestions what we might like. Even though I like to experiment once in awhile- My absolutely favorite is the strawberry ice milk all mixed together with strawberry popping Boba...Sooo good! It's like drinking a strawberry milkshake. My boyfriend likes to be a little braver and try different kinds when he gets one- he likes more of the fruit Boba and has tried a few varieties. Definitely would be back, maybe more than I need to 😂😂 but it's definitely worth it.“

“Join the Open Mic Series on the last Wednesday of every month! FREE ENTRY. GREAT VIBES.“

“This place is wow. Amazing beautiful deserts. Always fresh. Paninis! Unusual for NC as well, great selection. And the custom croissant sandwich I had today with egg, ham, tomatoe and lettuce was warm and heavenly. Also love the pictures on the walls.“

“Lovely place to drink Kava. The mojito is perfection.“

“It was a busy Saturday I recommend walking down to the farmers market and picking up some bakery items there. But walking a block to come get some coffee here. The barista was sweet and they were even giving out samples of their lemon loafs. Will definitely come back the chai was an 8.6 and although it had hints of lavender and floral it was grounded in spice and vanilla.“

“Lavender Bloom tea is so good as are the Cappuccinos“

“I’ve been ordering whole bean coffee from Joe van gough for awhile and love trying the newer blends and specialty coffees, it’s what we get up for! So fresh!“

“I’ve been ordering whole bean coffee from Joe van gough for awhile and love trying the newer blends and specialty coffees, it’s what we get up for! So fresh!“

“Fresh everything! Great sandwiches, salads, ambiance, & service. Highly recommend this Durham gem!“

“Ordered a drink that came out wrong, explained it so I could order something different as it wasn't tasting right at all. Still get charged for the old drink, infact my drink points I redeemed didn't even get accounted for. Terrible service. They won't remake your drink either, even if it's clearly wrong. don't recommend cary location its only gotten worse.“

“Excelente cervicio deliciosos batido bebidas y waffles“

“Coffee World shares the building with a Subway and an ice cream space. I was here super early with a coffee and a bagel, sitting in a corner table for six solid hours. Easy to sit with my work laptop for this time, dialed in to calls and sending emails.

Coffee was good and the bagel with cream cheese was good.

No one bothered me. I watched customers come and go. It was a great "office" for a Monday morning.

Vegetarian options: They have some vegetarian options.

Dietary restrictions: Ask about allergens.

Parking: Easy parking for the Sprinter van.

Kid-friendliness: Yes, they have donuts too!

Wheelchair accessibility: Step free access.“

“Lo mejor de lo mejor , buen servicio , excelente limpieza , la comida exquisita ?.“

“I used to live two blocks north from this Cocoa Cinnamon location during my two years in grad school and would order from here at least twice a week. I have so many good memories of studying here after class and seeing friends randomly drop in. The coffee is actually incredible, and I mainly ordered iced lattes like the Amuleto. I’d also go to the other two locations but not as often. As soon as March 2020 hit, this location took sanitation and safety very seriously, quickly implementing contactless ordering and pickup. I remember when they also sold their iced ternura coffee in quarts, which I was so excited about, especially because they had an option with almond milk. Although I graduated in 2020 and moved away, I still regularly purchase ground beans from Little Waves’ website (with a longer break in 2025)! I’m drinking a cup of Ternura right now. I want to credit Ternura, Amor Prohibido, and Positive Pressure for helping me through grad school. I still visit Durham every year and come in person to this location. I haven’t really found any other local roasters that I want to support like this one. :)“

“I love the lattes here becauae they're strong. I always stop by when I come. My kid usually plays with all the toys and the staff is just fine with it. The staff tends to be really nice and friendly. Also, I almost always watch the the train in the ceiling make a full route back and forth because it really is mesmerizing.“

“What a Durham Treasure! Beautiful projects and Toni and her team are so patient. Do yourself a favor and go visit. It’s really a treat!“

“So far, I recommend the French toast donut and the maple bacon donut.“

“I’ve been consistently coming to this cafe since my sophomore year, and highly recommend the place to anyone who wants a caffeine boost around campus.

My personal favorite drinks are either Thai Iced Tea or Iced Vietnamese Coffee. Both cost around $5.

In addition to coffee, there is a lot of food sold, ranging from a chicken caesar salad to red velvet cake squares. The food rotates throughout the semester.

Scott runs the place and he is a fun person to talk to. He is energetic and is clearly passionate about running this cafe.

Vegetarian options: Beyond the usual salads, there are vegan pastries sold seasonally.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free food is sold here, but the menu varies by semester.

Wheelchair accessibility: The Wilkinson Building is wheelchair accessible.“

“You just have to hope you caught this Starbucks on a good day... most of the time it is working normally and well, but when it's not... they can go from having one person working to ten quickly. they'll close early if only one person is on shift but 10 others are hanging around in uniform. I was once here at like 7 pm and they all started yelling at each other. when it's good though, staff will engage in Convo, be quick and kind, the works.“

“Really enjoyed the experience! Thank you for the excellent service. 🙂“

“Ordered a drink that came out wrong, explained it so I could order something different as it wasn't tasting right at all. Still get charged for the old drink, infact my drink points I redeemed didn't even get accounted for. Terrible service. They won't remake your drink either, even if it's clearly wrong. don't recommend cary location its only gotten worse.“

“This Whole Foods Market near Duke University has lots of vegetarian choices in the restaurant. The hot bar is big and there are salads as well as dessert choices. They have good vegan cookies for dessert, which is a treat. The only negative was that some of the cashiers at this store are, occasionally, less than friendly and helpful . In addition, there is usually an armed guard on duty (typically an off-duty police officer), which is something you don't see at most other Whole Foods Markets around the country.“

“One of the nicest coffee shops in the Columbus area. Well appointed decor and furnishings, great customer service, delicious coffee and those insanely tasty biscuits!“