Where to Enjoy the Best Coffee Shops in Sacramento
At home, I drink black coffee. At coffee shops, I drink black coffee. Recently, I saw a TikTok positing that people like me (black coffee drinkers) think we are better than other people because we fuel our days sans sugar, syrups, or milks. May I posit another theory? That, perhaps, black coffee drinkers (like me) are addicted to sweets in other forms and maybe have to cool our jets on the stuff? Also, black coffee is delicious, fast, easy, and can be reheated to near nuclear levels without fear of curdling. I need that in my life.
With all this in mind, my feelings about Sacramento coffee shops have very little to do with their coffee offerings, actually. For me, it’s all about the food menu, space to work/visit/read, and the FRIENDLINESS of the folks working there.
Here are some local spots that I love to spend money and time at, and a little about why they made my list.
Philz on R Street - right away, I’m going to confuse you because the biggest reason I love Philz is that they offer the only coffee drink I adore that isn’t just plain, black coffee. I get the Tesora, Philz Way. It’s right there on the menu, recommended by staff and years of patrons as a top choice. I agree, and when I want a special cup of joe, this is where I go! Anthropologie is right there, and The Strapping Store. It’s a great place to be.
Camellia - I have a good friend and her good friends own this place so I like to spend time & money here to support my friends-in-law (that I’ve yet to actually meet…maybe one day!). I love the pink tiles, fun wall paper, the fact that there seem to be as many dogs as humans hanging out at any given point, and think their Breakfast menu is fantastic. I like to work here.
Chocolate Fish - you have a couple choices here: Folsom & Freeport Blvds. At either location you MUST order the avocado toast with “the works.” This is where I go to have chatty meetings or catch-ups with friends, clients, and industry partners.
Scorpio - I helped clients purchase the most perfect bungalow just steps from this coffee shop and it quickly became one of the go-to, multiple-times-a-week spots. They kept telling me, “You have to check out Scorpio! It’s so cool.” As a self-aware Nerd, I wasn’t sure this was the place for me. When I did finally go, I realized that it’s an extremely chill, albeit quiet, spot with superb food offerings. I was literally blown away by the Mushroom Toast and think about it every day.
Milka - I love the location of this one becuase it’s really close to the Sacramento Theatre Company, a place I seem to find myself every single day of the week for one reason or another! Milka is located inside an 1860s Victorian so the vibe is right. When I pop into this spot, I grab an iced coffee and a pastry sourced from local spots like Faria. It’s the go-to coffee spots in the Mansion Flats part of Midtown.
Coffee Works - HOUSEMADE PASTRIES. This coffee shop is older than me! It’s close to everything in my world - my house, my kids’ school & my office. I love popping in here and tipping based on a fun choice: “John Lennon/Paul McCartney” or “Star Wars/Star Trek.” I put a dollar in the McCartney and Star Wars cups on those days, respectively.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the friendly, yummy spots that offer coffee in Sacramento. Where should I try next?
Thanks for reading, and next time you’re at a local coffee roaster, try a cup of black coffee. It just might change your life!
