The Best Coffee Shops in Asheville, N.C.

Trade and Lore Coffee

Fan favorite top coffee shops for experiencing the local flavor of Asheville.

We asked our social media fans to nominate the best place in Asheville to enjoy a cup of coffee. After tallying up the votes, we put together a list of the top coffee hangouts.

As a bonus, we've added a list of Asheville coffee shops that offer a unique experience you can only find here in the mountains. 

13. Green Sage

One of Asheville's greenest cafes, Green Sage serves up organic coffee and a great list of healthy menu items. All of its locations (downtown, north Asheville and south Asheville) offer ample, comfortable seating. 

12. PennyCup

Now with four cafes in Asheville, PennyCup Coffee has established itself as a staple of the Asheville coffee scene. PennyCup roasts its own coffee at its location in the River Arts District. In the past couple years, PennyCup added the artsy downtown location and an especially family-friendly east side location in the Haw Creek neighborhood. Locals love to take advantage of the opportunity to buy PennyCup Coffee by the pound.  

Ben Meyers - Vortex Donuts11. Vortex

There are few more classic combinations than coffee and doughnuts! Vortex has fantastic offerings of both. Located in the South Slope Brewery District, Vortex brews "1000 Faces" coffee to go with its sweet treats.

10. Ultra Coffee Bar

This is a local favorite in the River Arts District. At Ultra Coffee Bar, the coffee is organic and food is top notch. It's a great place to stop while you explore the many galleries and studios in this artsy district

9. Rite Rite

This cafe is known for being a beautiful space that has preserved much of the original features of the building in which it's housed. From the exposed brick to the tables made of the building's original doors, Rite Rite, formerly known as Trade and Lore, is an Instagrammer's dream. The shop sources as much locally as possible for use in its creative drinks.

8. Summit

With a high-peaked roof and lots of natural light, Summit Coffee is a great hangout. It's located at The River Arts District's "The Foundation" -- a group of buildings covered in colorful street art and murals. Asheville favorites 12 Bones BBQ and The Wedge Brewing are just steps away. Summit sources its coffee direct from communities around the world, roasting beans in small batches at its North Carolina roastery. There's lots of seating and free Wi-Fi.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge7. French Broad Chocolate Lounge

Enjoy fine coffee and espresso from Mountain Air Roasting at this cozy lounge that's often described as a dessert-lover's dream. While you'll love the delicious coffee and expert latte art, you'll find it hard to resist the sweet treats French Broad Chocolate Lounge is known for serving. Choose from house-made ice cream, artisan truffles, cakes and even drinking chocolates (like the Liquid Truffle!).

6. Old Europe

Old Europe serves up signature European desserts to go with its hand-crafted coffee drinks. For more than 20 years, people have flocked to this cafe in Asheville to try favorites such as French Creamy, Hazelnut Napolean and Tiramisu. 

5. Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe

Grab a cup of coffee in one of the area's top independent bookstores. Malaprop's Cafe offers locally-roasted coffee and delicious treats from local bakeries. While you are there, go on a "blind date" with a book from the bookstore. Malaprop's has a section with books wrapped individually in brown packaging paper. You can't unwrap the book until you buy so it's a surprise!

4. The Dripolator

In the beautiful, nearby town of Black Mountain, the Dripolator is a community gathering spot in downtown. You'll enjoy free Wi-Fi and outdoor seating. The Dripolator serves up freshly-roasted organic and fair trade beans. They also have fresh baked pastries and desserts.   

Double D's Coffee and Desserts Asheville3. Double D's

Coffee served out of a bright red, double-decker bus? It's an iconic Asheville experience at Double D's in the heart of downtown Asheville. Sip your coffee inside the bus or out in the courtyard. 

2. High Five

Hand-crafted goodness is what High Five is all about. High Five now has three locations in Asheville. It's newest location is located in Woodfin, just north of town on the banks of the French Broad River.  

1. Izzy's

Izzy's is an Asheville classic. It's no wonder this cozy, art-filled cafe receives such high praise from visitors and locals alike. Izzy's serves a variety of specialty drinks, a curated beer and wine selection and house-baked goods and snacks. You can experience Izzy's Coffee Den in downtown Asheville or Izzy's Coffee House in West Asheville on Haywood Rd.

Honorable Mentions

There is a wealth of great coffee shops in town. These shops earned votes and receive an honorable mention:

Biltmore Coffee Roasters
Filo
BattleCat
Liberty Coffee House

Unique Coffee Experiences in Asheville

Grind AVL in Asheville's River Arts District is the city's first Black-owned coffee shopGrind -- Grind is Asheville's first black-owned coffee shop and co-working space. Grind, located in the River Arts District, features specialty coffee and house-made pastries from The Rhu.

Forage at Flora -- Located inside one of the most gorgeous floral shops you'll find, Forage is the perfect place for a coffee and/or an impromptu Instagram photo shoot. 

Yellow Mug Coffee -- This relatively new shop in downtown Weaverville has quickly become a local favorite. In addition to great coffee, Yellow Mug is known for its amazing brunch meals. And, don't miss the tempting array of sweet treats next to the register!

Battery Park Book Exchange -- Discover thousands of books while you enjoy a refreshing beverage from the espresso bar or wine bar. The shop is also known for being especially dog-friendly. 

Odd's Cafe -- Just as the name suggests, Odd's is a great place for experiencing the true vibe of West Asheville. The shop specializes in high-quality, all natural products.

New Coffee Spots in Asheville

In Asheville, we cannot get enough of delicious brew! That is why our community jumps for joy (and java) when a new coffee spot opens up. Check out a few new coffee shops that have recently opened in the Asheville area:

Rowan - Located in downtown Asheville, Rowan originally started out as a mobile espresso cart, popping up in different retail spaces around town. Their mission is focused on "striving for balance" and creating a more sustainable future for the coffee industry. Reflective of a cocktail bar/speakeasy, Rowan is a cozy spot that blends modern and early 20th century design elements.

Gallivant - This new spot located in Woodfin, just north of Asheville, has a strong focus on sustainability and of course, quality. Don't miss The Forager - one of their top signature drinks that features wild-foraged pine with crushed flowers, a hint of maple, two shots of Four & Twenty Blackbirds espresso roast with steamed oat milk, then topped with pine sugar and spice. 

Pollen - This new downtown cafe will certainly take you on a journey of the senses. Not only does this shop serve up noteworthy coffee but it also acts as a flower shop, too! Pollen is focused on uncompromised self-expression through flowers, coffee, design, art, and music.

Farewell - With a focus on quality, this coffee joint is a multi-roaster cafe that carries two to three national or international roasters in rotation monthly. In addition to coffee, this Instagram-worthy shop offers natural wine, plants, sweet treats and more. Enjoy your cup of joe al fresco on their outdoor patio or you can post up along their open-air bar area. 

Coffee Roasters in Asheville

As mentioned above, PennyCup is a small-batch roaster in Asheville, roasting at its River Arts District location. Many of the coffee shops mentioned here serve PennyCup coffee. 

Another key local roaster is Dynamite Coffee Roasting Co. Dynamite is located in nearby Black Mountain and is 100 percent certified organic and fair trade. Dynamite tracks down the best coffee in the world and roasts it locally in nearby Black Mountain before the coffee goes out to many area shops.

Photo credits: Trade and Lore (top photo).

Updated December 11, 2023