Highest-rated cafes in the Des Moines area by diners

From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.

During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.

Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.

Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.

Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.

Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?

compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Des Moines area based on diners' reviews on as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Des Moines were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!

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#28. Caribou Coffee

- Rating: 3.3/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 Oralabor Road Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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#27. Smokey Row Coffee

- Rating: 3.5/5 (256 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1910 Cottage Grove Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
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#26. Smokey Row Coffee - Ankeny

- Rating: 3.6/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 1530 Southwest Vintage Pkwy Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee Roasteries
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#25. Plain Talk Books & Coffee

- Rating: 3.7/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 602 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Books, Mags, Music & Video, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
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#24. Caribou Coffee

- Rating: 3.7/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3220 Ingersoll Avenue Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#23. Vibrant Coffeehouse + Kitchen

- Rating: 3.7/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 520 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Salad, Sandwiches
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#22. Grounds For Celebration

- Rating: 3.9/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6600 University Ave. Windsor Heights, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#21. Grounds For Celebration

- Rating: 4.1/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2709 Beaver Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#20. Friedrichs Coffee

- Rating: 4.1/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1821 22nd St. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#19. Friedrichs Coffee

- Rating: 4.1/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4126 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#18. Flame Cantina

- Rating: 4.1/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 1315 Southwest Oralabor Road Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#17. Mars Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2318 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
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#16. Cafe Diem

- Rating: 4.2/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2005 South Ankeny Blvd. Ste 800 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#15. Ritual Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1301 Locust St. Ste D Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
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#14. Chocolaterie Stam - Des Moines

- Rating: 4.3/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2814 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Gelato, Coffee & Tea, Chocolatiers & Shops
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#13. Zanzibar's Coffee Adventure

- Rating: 4.3/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2723 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#12. Scenic Route Bakery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (194 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 350 East Locust St. Ste 104 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
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#11. Twisted Bean Coffee Company

- Rating: 4.4/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4504 Merle Hay Road Urbandale, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#10. Mahalo's Coffee Mini Donuts & Catering

- Rating: 4.5/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4800 Mills Civic Pkwy Ste 105 West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Cupcakes
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#9. HomeGrown - Des Moines

- Rating: 4.6/5 (351 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 555 17th St. Ste 102 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
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#8. Daisy Chain Coffee

- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 505 East Grand Ave. Ste 104 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Honey
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#7. Northern Vessel

- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 1201 Keosauqua Way Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#6. La Barista Coffee

- Rating: 4.7/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1963 Grand Ave. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#5. Freedom Blend Coffee

- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2329 Hickman Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#4. The Slow Down Coffee

- Rating: 4.8/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3613 6th Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#3. Gong Fu Tea

- Rating: 4.8/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 414 East 6th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#2. Zenko Tea

- Rating: 4.8/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5828 Douglas Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea
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#1. SweetDude Coffee & Caf茅

- Rating: 4.9/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 9763 University Ave. Clive, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Waffles, Creperies
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.

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