5 Most Memorable Coffeeshops OF the Midwest...

Is there anything better than a really good cup of coffee? 
 
Whether it’s that first cup that jumpstarts your morning and consequently sets the tone for your entire day, or that after dinner cappuccino that puts an exclamation point at the end of a satisfying meal, coffee has the power to embody comfort, creativity, and community all in one 12-16 oz cup. 
 
And if the coffeeshop itself has a unique story to tell, that’s the recipe for a memorable coffee experience. 
 
I recently had a cup of coffee so amazing, I paused after the first sip and swished it in my mouth like fine wine. It was so tasty, it inspired this entire blog post theme. To keep you in suspense (yes, I can make coffee dramatic), I will reveal the location of this rousing cup of Joe at the end of this list, which I will update every day for five days, counting down from 5 to 1, based on its distance from my hometown of Chicago. 
 
That’s right, you’ll have to check this post every day for the latest installment.

​So put “Check The Backstory Kitchen Blog” on your daily to-do list with playing Wordle and Connections. 
 
Here they are, the 5 Most Memorable Coffee Shops in the Midwest…Starting with No. 5. 

5. Vintage Paris ~ Hollister, MO (near Branson)

​To be honest, everything about my family’s trip to Branson, MO was memorable, because it took place during Spring Break of 2021. (i.e. Our first vacation after the pandemic!) We hadn’t traveled in two years and were perhaps easily amused. But Branson really is a beautiful and fun place to visit. With a darling downtown district, a touristy area similar to Wisconsin Dells, top-notch fishing and boating on Table Rock Lake, mesmerizing vistas and overlooks around every turn, and jaw-dropping beauty nearby at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, it’s jam-packed with activities and adventure. 

​When you think Branson, chances are you’re not thinking of a cute, eclectic French inspired café with mind-blowing coffee drinks, and that’s what made Vintage Paris in Hollister, MO, so unusual. The canary yellow building sits across the street from a scenic overlook (and not far from a trout hatchery run by the Missouri Department of Conservation ) but this photo-worthy stop isn’t what drew me to this coffeeshop. It was their menu of specialty lattes named after famous French history makers, from Napoleon to Monet to Joan of Arc, or artists who spent a lot of time in France, like Van Gogh in Provence. 

​The décor inside this unique café is definitely French bohemian, including a macramé hanging swing, cozy couches and chairs, books going every which way, and mirrors leaning against the wall. And while this might be reason enough to stop in, the coffee really speaks for itself. 

7900 Historic Hwy 165, Hollister, MO 65672At Vintage Paris, I ordered the Renoir—dark chocolate, coconut and almond—and it was the very best latte I ever had in my life! As in, I can close my eyes now and still taste it. The quality of the ingredients, the blend of flavors, the barista’s craftmanship seriously wowed me. I made the mistake of letting my kids taste my drink and had to steal it back from them before it was all gone. I savored every sip. I only wish I could have tried all of the lattes; the Van Gogh with lavender and honey was my second choice. 
 
If you are in the Branson area, you must stop by this truly unique coffeeshop and treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind experience.  Vintage Paris is located at 7900 Historic Hwy 165, Hollister, MO 65672  WEBSITE

4. Higher Grounds Coffee ~ Traverse City, Michigan

​Beyond the beautiful lakes and beaches and orchards, Traverse City, Michigan is a foodie’s playground. From the Cherry Republic shops with free tastings to the outdoor food truck food court called “The Little Fleet” to the farm fresh local ice cream shop called Moomers, there’s a lot of fabulous eating to do here. 
 
But if we’re talking specifically coffee, Higher Grounds, adjacent to The Village of Grand Traverse Commons, is a very memorable shop . The now shopping center was once a psychiatric hospital, The Traverse City State Hospital, a building that is both stately and foreboding.

Opened in 1885 as the Northern Michigan Asylum, the Victorian-Italianate style hospital was unique not only in architecture but in medical practices. Dr. James Decker Munson, founding Medical Superintendent, believed that “Beauty is Therapy” and that a patient’s mental and emotional health could be improved by beautiful surroundings.  For this reason, all patients had a window to view nature and ate their meals on fine china. Read more about the hospital’s history HERE. 
 
Being a history nerd, and a writer of suspense fiction, I put a visit to this National Register of Historic Places site on my list of things to do when I traveled to Traverse City in the Summer of 2019. Renovated and reopened in 2002, The Village of Grand Traverse Commons is today a bustling shopping, dining and condo complex. 

​​Now back to the coffee…I’m the kind of person who needs and enjoys a midday pick me up, so after shopping, I stopped at Higher Grounds for an afternoon treat. There is so much to love about this eco-friendly shop that roasts sustainable, high quality coffee sourced directly from farmers. This is coffee you can feel good about drinking and buying, and tasty to boot. I ordered a lavender honey latte and was so excited when I ordered it to go and was told they didn’t use disposable cups. Intsead, I should pick which mug I wanted from their “Take it or leave it” coffee mug wall. 
 
Coffee and a free souvenir mug? Yes, please!

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​My latte was beautiful. The design created with the crema and microfoam (this is called latte art, apparently) was photo worthy, and the lavender and honey infused coffee proved to be perfectly sweet and subtly floral. As I sipped my delicious coffee, with the former psychiatric hospital as a backdrop, this was one of those life travel snapshots I knew I wouldn’t soon forget.  

​But wait…there’s more. (I should do infomercials!) There’s a unique tourist spot within walking distance of the coffee shop and shopping center. It’s called “The Hippie Tree.” A short walk through a forest and wildflowers takes you to a massive fallen tree that over the years, people have spray painted with all sorts of colorful messages and images. I read about it on that fun place called the internet, and my family—especially my kids—really enjoyed this unique nature hike to an obscure photo stop in the woods. 

If you find yourself in the Traverse City area, you must swing by Higher Grounds Coffee at The Village of Grand Traverse Commons for a memorable  mix of history and whimsy.
 
Higher Grounds Coffee is located at 806 Red Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684 WEBSITE
 
The Village of Grand Traverse Commons is located at a 200 W Eleventh St, Traverse City, MI 49684 WEBSITE

3. Bankhaus~Amana, Iowa

When I was a kid, I remember hearing people mention “The Amana Colonies” from time to time, but to be honest, I thought it had something to do with the original 13 colonies and The Revolutionary War. 
 
I didn’t fully discover what the Amana area had to offer until I was an adult, looking for a cute place for a mother-daughter weekend trip near Chicago. When I Googled it, Amana popped up on many lists and reviews as a perfect destination for a girls weekend. I decided to take my mom, Gail (the wonderful woman who gave me my middle name), there as a birthday gift. And we soon found out, those reviewers were right!
 
Amana is located near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and about a 3 ½ to 4 ½ hour drive away from the Chicago area, depending on where you live. It’s a darling, nostalgic town with a main thoroughfare of stone and wood buildings, full of gift shops, restaurants, bakeries, wineries and more. It’s a National Historic Landmark, and thus, steeped in history and that’s where the “colonies” part comes in to play. There are seven German villages—Amana, East Amana, West Amana, South Amana, High Amana, Middle Amana, and Homestead-—that make up the Amana Colonies. 

​These colonies were established in 1855 by the “Community of True Inspiration,” a German group seeking religious freedom in America. They developed these villages about one mile apart and lived communally, each member playing an important role in society with assigned jobs from the village council. There were no wages for work because no one needed money. Every human need—home, school, food, medical care, and connection—was provided by the community. 
 
While in Amana, my mom and I toured one of the community kitchens, where women cooked three meals a day, plus snacks, and the community ate together. All of the food they cooked in these kitchens came from the growers and farmers of their community. More information about the history of the colonies is HERE.
 
After checking in at Zuber’s Homestead Hotel, a Bed & Breakfast with 15 unique guest rooms and the most delightful breakfasts served in a “wagon wheel” room, we headed to town to start our shopping adventure. But by that time, we needed a little pick me up, so our first stop was a coffee shop at end of the main thoroughfare. 

​But this was no ordinary coffee shop. It was in a…bank. That’s right, you can make a deposit and grab a latte all in one trip at Bankhaus, a division of Fairfax State Savings Bank. At first, we questioned if we were in the right place. It very much looks like a bank inside, though a very nicely decorated one. However, past the lobby was the coffee bar, Neuhaus Kaffe (Coffee)  boasting beautiful wood floors and ceiling beams, plus a community table that looked perfect for a group meeting. 
 
And the coffee was superb! Strong and rich in flavor yet incredibly smooth. This is not your run-of-the-mill Starbucks. We ordered Americanos, and the friendly barista handcrafted our drinks with love, in line with the bank’s ideology of the German gemutlichkeit, which means a place of warmth and friendliness.

I almost didn’t put this coffee shop on the list because I couldn’t find the pictures I took of it or of Amana in 2017. I got a nicer, newer smart phone in 2018 and unfortunately, looked high and low for those photos but couldn’t find them. So my descriptions will have to do. I did have photos from a follow up trip in 2018—yes, we liked it so much, we went back again the next summer for my birthday—so I’ve included those here.

If you're not much into coffee and prefer wine, the Amana area has several wineries, including Ackerman Winery, which boasts a truly unique and delicious Rhubarb Wine (rhubarb is very big in the Amana Colonies, especially rhubarb pie, without the strawberry to which everyone is accustomed) and Fireside Winery, that upholds a store in town and a winery out in the country, where we enjoyed a glass, live music and other nibbles. 

You must add historic Amana and a stop at Bankhaus to your Midwest travel list!

 Bankhaus is located  at 4304 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203

​​Zuber's Homestead Hotel is located at 2206 44th Ave, Homestead, IA 52236 

​Fireside Winery is located at 1755 P Ave, Marengo, IA 52301 and their store in is located at 4402 220th Trail  Amana, Iowa, 52203

Ackerman Winery is located at 4406 220th Trail  Amana, Iowa, 52203
 
Find out more about Amana and download a digital Visitor’s Guide 

2. Café 43 ~ Mineral Point, WI

​The story of how a café in Mineral Point makes this list actually goes all the way back to high school, when my thespian troupe took a trip to Spring Green, Wisconsin, to the American Players Theatre to see a Shakespearean production. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend (though I can’t remember why now.) All I know is that I missed seeing a play performed in an outside theater in the woods, and I was forever tormented by missing out on this amazing experience.
 
Decades later, in honor of my birthday, I decided that I should finally take that trip to American Players Theatre (worthy of its own blog post) and headed to the beautiful and uniquely European towns west of Madison, Wisconsin,  I had discovered this area during past trips to Mount Horeb and New Glarus. This time, my trip to Spring Green included a stop in one of my favorite towns, Mineral Point.

Mineral Point is a darling town with Cornish (as in, Cornwall England ) roots and boasts beautiful, limestone buildings built by Cornish immigrants who were masters in mining and building construction. In addition to a quaint downtown, featuring unique hotels, restaurants, and shops, it is also home to Pendarvis, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and maintained by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

​​Before touring Pendarvis, my mother, Gail--who you may remember was also my trusty companion in Amana—enjoyed downtown Mineral Point and all it has to offer. That included grabbing lunch at Café 43. This stately building with a spire was once the Old Royal Inn, a luxury hotel. While they serve great coffee, it is, of course, much more than a coffee shop. Its fare includes breakfast specialties like avocado toast and egg dishes, sandwiches, soups, and salads, as well as beer, wine and spirits. 

When you enjoy coffee or lunch in Café 43, you feel transported to another time. The extremely tall ceilings, cozy fireplace and homey decor reflect the old hotel feel, not an everyday café coffee shop. The sunlit café also boasts a market, complete with gourmet food items. And the food is amazing. I enjoyed their smoked chicken salad sandwich and a side salad with poppy seed dressing, and I could tell the food was prepared with the highest quality ingredients. It was the perfect start to our trip and provided the energy needed to tour the rest of the downtown and Pendarvis. 

​While the café itself is quite memorable, the stop there will likely remain in my memory because of the role it played in my career. It was during my tour at Pendarvis that I learned Duncan Hines of cake mix fame was, in fact, a real person who wrote a restaurant guidebook called Adventures in Good Eating. This inspired a newfound interest in Duncan Hines, and I began researching his unique story to discover he made a huge impact on the American restaurant industry, a story it seemed no one knew. Using my background in education and theatre, I developed my research into an entertaining and educational food history talk. Soon, local libraries, historical societies, and women’s groups were booking me for events. This trip to Mineral Point ended up being the spark to a new side career for me as a professional food history public speaker. 

I already had a history with Mineral Point. I had stayed there many years earlier with my husband for a weekend getaway. We stayed in a townhouse next to the Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, which offers classes, retreats and lodging for artists. I remember walking around their grounds one beautiful May night to observe ornate fairy houses created by artists. Shake Rag Alley is an enchanting place and in fact, so is the entire town of Mineral Point. There is an other-worldly, magical feel to this little town that has me coming back again and again.
 
In fact, I’ll be going there soon when I attend a culinary book event this month at The Book Kitchen located inside The Republic of Letters bookstore. The event features Lori Fredrich’s new cookbook Wisconsin Field to Fork: Farm Fresh Recipes from the Dairy State. Food Editor and Arts Writer Lindsay Christians will lead a discussion with Fredrich and Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Organic Farm and Mill (Ridgeway, WI). Food from the book will be served. Tickets available on The Book Kitchen website. This bookstore and culinary school opened more recently in Mineral Point, and I’m so excited to see this new addition to an already visit-worthy town.
 
When you visit Mineral Point,  I highly suggest you stop by all the places I mentioned, and specifically Café 43 for breakfast, lunch, or a midday coffee. You’ll love the historic feel of the dining room, and of course the delicious food and beverage.
 
Café 43 is located at 43 High St, Mineral Point, WI 53565
 
Pendarvis is located at 114 Shakerag St, Mineral Point, WI 53565
 
Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts is located at 8 Shakerag St, Mineral Point, WI 53565
 
The Book Kitchen and Republic of Letters are located at 151 High St, Mineral Point, WI 53565

1. Three Tarts Bakery and Cafe ~ Northfield, IL

​I first went to Three Tarts Bakery and Cafe in Northfield, IL during the pandemic. It was six months in, and life had gone slightly back to normal. My son had a cross country meet at a nearby high school, and I took the opportunity to try takeout from a local café, as I was itching to return to what I love—exploring new places to eat! We ordered lunch—salads & sandwiches—and we enjoyed the food so much, we looked forward to going back and visiting the café in person when life really got back to normal. 
 
Fast forward to six weeks ago, when I finally joined Instagram. I love to support local, small businesses and remembered Three Tarts when I was building my follow list. (And they so kindly followed me back!) Their Instagram posts of food are their own sort of seasonal entertainment, from Fat Tuesday King Cakes to unique flavor pairings like Strawberry Grapefruit Scones. One day, they were promoting free coffee sponsored by Chicago Northshore, and a free cookie, with enticing photos of a Strawberry Pistachio Rugelach, and I decided it was time to finally stop back in to enjoy the café in person. 

​There is so much to love about this bakery and café, housed in an adorable mini-mall with an inside corridor, boasting other unique shopping and boutiques. It’s conveniently located off I-94, but still has a homey, small-town feel. They boast an extensive menu of breakfast and lunch specialties, including a “Good Morning” cookie, cinnamon rolls, carrot-zucchini muffins, grown-up grilled cheese, ham and brie panini, and a variety of quiche, to name only a few. When you walk in, their bakery case is a feast for the eyes and they also have an instore market, selling fresh packaged cakes, loaves of bread (my family devoured the multigrain I brought home) and cookies at the front of the store, so you can even pick up some essentials from your grocery list as well.
 
And while all of this is reason to enough to visit, it’s the food and drink that truly sets this bakery and café apart. I ordered the baby spinach, caramelized onion and white cheddar quiche, and it was so creamy, with the right amount of salt, and a buttery yet light and flaky crust. The rugelach I tried was so tender, and the combination of strawberry and pistachio was so original, one bite and I was in heaven. There was a small hint of anise flavor I picked up that worked so well with the pistachio. It was so tasty, I ordered another half dozen of them to take home to my family. 

​And the coffee! Oh my god, the coffee. One sip, and I actually stopped and paused, because I was just expecting “coffee” and that’s not what I tasted. The first word to come to mind was fresh. The second word was complex. And the third was smooth. This was the kind of coffee I remember having in Italy and France when I traveled to Europe. It was totally next level. And the crazy thing is that it was decaf! (I’d had enough caffeine that morning and decided to lay off it to avoid any heart palpitations). 
 
I ordered an Americano, which of course had to be made by someone who knows what they’re doing, but its taste was also due to Three Tarts’ choice of coffee purveyors. They brew Big Shoulders Coffee, which I had never even heard of before. I found out Big Shoulders is a local Chicago coffee roaster with six shops in the Chicago area. No wonder I thought their coffee was so good, though. They just won 2024 Overall Champion in the Small Chain/Franchise category of the Golden Bean World Series, a prestigious coffee championship. 

In addition to partnering with Big Shoulders, Three Tarts also works with a number of local farmers and fine food purveyors (a full list of these “friends” is on their website) and that’s likely why their food and bakery items taste so good. It’s these locally sourced, quality ingredients and their expertise in baking that result in these mind-blowing flavors. In this way, they cultivate community in the food industry, but they also do that right in the store. While in a bustling suburban location, Three Tarts seems to be a cozy, home-away-from-home for locals, and the owner, Kate, actually takes time to talk with the customers when there isn’t a line out the door. She even took a few minutes from running her busy café to chat with me, and it was so nice to actually meet someone in person instead of online. 
 
I can’t wait to go back to this café and enjoy more of their extensive menu items, and I know you’ll love it too. Right now, it’s the place to pick up all the seasonal culinary delights of March, considering their Instagram photos of Irish Soda Bread and the old school Hot Cross Buns I saw in the display case. 
 
Three Tarts Bakery and Café is located at 301 N Happ Rd, Northfield, IL 60093
 
Big Shoulders has six locations in Chicagoland. Visit their website to learn more.
 
Follow Chicago Northshore to learn more about amazing businesses in this area of Chicagoland.
 
Well, that a wrap!

I hope “The 5 Most Memorable Coffee Shops of the Midwest” was as much fun for you to read as it was for me to write!
 
Please comment here on my blog if you’ve been to any of these spots and agree, and share your own coffee shop favorites! (Scroll up to the top and click the hyperlink comments)
 
And I’ll see you again soon at The Backstory Kitchen!