One of the best kept secrets about Oklahoma City is the surprisingly robust coffee scene. As someone who loves a good cup o’ joe I am consistently impressed with what OKC has to offer in the caffeine department. Those who know Kacy and I can pretty well tell you that neither of us are really morning people. Even on a good day I tend to mope around like a drunken grizzly bear before getting that first cup. It is truly an essential part of my day and having great coffee shops nearby is a must. OKC more than delivers on this.
My affinity for espresso drinks came during our time living in Brazil. It was the preferred style for any coffee drink there, so much so that my company’s Brazil-based office only had a simple espresso machine that churned out single or double shots. You could add hot water or some sugar to balance it out, but that was it. My co-workers claimed that was all you needed when you had the quality of beans that they were accustomed to. After a few attempts, I found my perfect balance of adding just enough water with a tiny sprinkle of sugar. I had quickly established a strong appreciation for strong coffee and even had a short bout with headaches that came from starting to drink too many of them and not hydrating enough (oops).
Brazil being the top exporter of coffee beans in the world, it’s easy to expect great coffee from there. However, I wasn’t expecting downtown Oklahoma City to step up to the plate the way it has coffee wise. Here are a few of our favorite coffee shops in the downtown/midtown OKC area!
Elemental Coffee
Elemental Coffee in Midtown has a little bit of everything. Great food options, ample parking, dog-friendly seating, and of course, excellent coffee. We frequent this shop for lunch or even just want to stretch our legs and take Ashton for a walk. They are just as skilled at offering tacos, salads, and sandwiches as they are a cortado, latte, or cup of pour over. Pro tip: you get a free drink when you purchase a bag of coffee from them so we frequently stock up on their beans to have at home.
Coffee Slingers
Right in the middle of Automobile Alley is Coffee Slingers. Like Elemental, Slingers has been serving up some serious coffee for quite a while in OKC, something like 10 years I think. The hip, open space focuses on sourcing some of the highest quality beans they can get their hands on and roasting them in house. You can also find some of the best cold-brew in OKC here.
Clarity Coffee
Located downtown, Clarity Coffee is a bit smaller than some of the other coffee shops in town but they more than make up for this with their charm. The baristas are some of the friendliest around and are frequently engaged in some fun banter with customers. I’m also a big fan of their secret menu, which includes some unique items like the espresso cream soda, matcha lemonade, and oatmeal latte just to name a few. They also have great wifi for getting work done while you’re there.
Leaf & Bean
Leaf + Bean is located in the Deep Deuce area of downtown. The interior is a minimalists designer’s paradise with clean lines and white space abound. As the name suggests, they focus on tea and coffee and always have a healthy selection of each available. They’re known for their inventive take on deconstructed espresso and milk, which comes with one glass of each along with a third glass of the two combined. Not to be missed, however, is their cereal milk latte. The cereal milk is made in house, deliciously sweet to balance out the espresso in the latte.
Okay Yeah Co.
OK Yeah Co. in Film Row has a lot of things going for it. First off, that Steven Adams mural in the parking lot is everything that is right about OKC. Also, the space that it shares inside Plant Shoppe is uniquely welcoming and fun to hang out in. I mean there is are a whole bunch of cool plants and a full Airstream inside there. All that being said they’ve recently announced they’ll be changing their name to Stitch, moving locations, and opening a new spot in Bricktown. I have faith they’ll be able to translate all of this awesomeness over to the new places. But nothing can replace that large painting of the Big Kiwi.
Long story short, there’s no excuse for being under-caffeinated the next time your in the downtown OKC area. These are just a few of our favorite options! Honorable mentions include The Jones Assembly (Kacy is pictured above enjoying one of their massive cups of joe) and Kamp’s 1910 Cafe.
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