The Minneapolis Coffee Scene
We’re celebrating International Coffee Day (September 29) with a look back at the Minneapolis coffee scene. In the early 1990s, “gourmet coffee” became all the rage. Coffee connoisseurs said goodbye to home-brewed Folgers and Maxwell House and welcomed the influx of cafes and coffeehouses serving espressos, cappuccinos, or a cafe latte. Local chains like Dunn Brothers Coffee Co. in 1991 and Caribou Coffee in 1992 hit the scene and in 1994 Minneapolis welcomed its first two Starbucks–one in the IDS Crystal Court and the other in One Financial Plaza. Corner coffee shops like those pictured above, were abundant. Did you have a favorite?
Today’s coffee scene is just as booming–we’re even known for launching the third wave coffee economy–ethically sourced, small batch coffee.
Coffee shop photos from the City of Minneapolis Collection in the Hennepin County Library Digital Collections.