There are plenty of places in Riverside where you can get a good cup of coffee. The list is long, even if limited to local shops, and omits the national chains. These are a few that stand out as especially dedicated to the craft of making excellent coffee, are committed to the local economy, and show pride in every detail of the product they serve. This list is for the coffee “snobs”.
Arcade Coffee is making an impact on the coffee scene beyond the city limits. They have been awarded “Best of the IE” by LA Times and voted number six in the country by Food and Wine. Three very different locations with the same great coffee. Arcade offers a range of experiences. They ship roasted beans and offer subscription programs for your favorite blends. Try their home-brewed seasonal kombuchas for a coffee alternative.
Their flagship location, Arcade Tasting Room, on Chicago near University, is for the purist. This is where Arcade roasts all of the beans for their store and for their wholesale operation that powers top rated coffee shops across Southern California. This is where you go when coffee is all that matters.
It’s as good of a brunch spot as you will find in Riverside. The Bakehouse, in the Canyon Crest Town Center, offers the same great Arcade coffee with the addition of a small kitchen for brunch items and baked goods. The cookies are not an afterthought at the Arcade Bakehouse. People come just for the seasonally rotated bakery menu.
Downtown
Arcade Downtown is in the literal shadow of city hall on Ninth and Main. This place is a power meeting, suit and tie, getting things done, and a coffee shop. Upscale but casual and with the same attention to craft as the other locations, it is a boss-energy coffee shop.
Condron Coffee is tucked away on Sunnyside Drive in the heart of Riverside’s Midtown neighborhood. Condron eliminates the downtown parking situation and attracts a crowd of fierce loyalists. If the weather is nice, a coffee out front on the sidewalk cafe tables is a laid-back coffee experience. The staff and customers are all very friendly. You may find yourself making a new friend. Ask them about their current special Espresso & Tonic flavor for something refreshing with a kick.
You may have driven by Twee Coffee on Magnolia, near Jackson, and never noticed Twee tucked in behind the laundromat. Twee takes pride in excellent products delivered by an expert staff in a warm and friendly environment. Follow them on Instagram and check out one of their latte art barista competitions. Twee also has outside seating and is a great place to meet a friend. It is away from the downtown crowd but still in a place with good energy.
“I Just Want A Good Cup Of Coffee.”
Maybe you couldn’t care less about flavor profiling and terroir and you just want a great cup of coffee in a cool environment. Riverside can do that too! Here are a few local staple coffee shops for those who want a great cup of coffee and a place to hang out for a while.
As much about what’s going on as it is about good coffee Back to the Grind has almost thirty years experience of being the place to be for all ages on University Avenue. Open Mics, live music, patio and basement seating make “The Grind” a true treasure for Riversiders.
Situated in a 1920’s Victorian home Coffeecito offers Coffee, pastries, and lunch items with a Latin twist. Coffeecito offers indoor and outdoor seating with plenty of little nooks for you and a friend to tuck away for a couple hours.
Just another punk rock coffee shop. Rad Coffee may not be for serious snobs, but it offers a regularly rotated menu of fun drinks, and its merch section is second to none.
It’s really not fair. Molino’s has the best real estate of any coffee shop in town. Take a stool at the picture window right across from the Mission Inn and enjoy your coffee and companionship with one of the coolest views in the city.
