In Search of the Country's Best Coffee Shops
January 17, 2008. Have you ever noticed, during your travels, that the best neighborhoods always have a good coffee shop? There's nothing better than finding one near your luxury vacation rental, waking assured that fine espresso or fresh-ground beans are available every morning.
Forbes Traveler went so far as to pick "America's Hottest Coffee Houses." They're all to be found in bustling cities, where the pace of life no doubt requires a little caffeination. These same cities are also great vacation destinations.
Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Co., Seattle – A story can't be written about coffee without mentioning Seattle, home of Starbuck's. The Emerald City has far more to offer than today's fast-food equivalent of a java purveyor. Zoka stands out among them with its small-batch roasting.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Portland – The other major city of the Pacific Northwest also deserves a mention. Stumptown's claim to fame lies in its "direct trade" with farmers, which cuts out the middleman and helps sustain small, independent farmers.
Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea, Inc., Chicago – Intelligentsia also helped pioneer the "direct trade" movement, finding rare beans to delight the taste buds. And you have to admit, the name is pretty cool.
