5 Best Coffee Shops in Downtown, Rochester MN
Updated 29 September 2026 · 15 cafes in Downtown, Rochester MN considered · Ranked from Google ratings
This guide lists five of the best coffee shops in and around Downtown, Rochester MN, for residents, remote workers and visitors in town for appointments who need a reliable cup. Every business is categorized on Google as a coffee shop, and 15 qualifying places were ranked by rating weighted by review count. Entries include hours, addresses, accessibility details and the drinks and food reviewers mention, from lavender lattes to Americanos and avocado toast.
#1
St. James Coffee
★ 4.8 (187 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
St. James Coffee on 18th Ave NW is open 7:30 am to 6 pm on weekdays, until 4 pm on Saturday, and closed Sunday. Reviewers describe a coffee shop that supports a Catholic non-profit, with an adoration chapel, a small gift shop, board games, and toys and books for kids. A lavender drink is named as a favorite. It is fully wheelchair accessible.
Best for: Families and faith-based gifts
- Address
- 4156 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7:30 am–6 pm; Mon 7:30 am–6 pm; Sat 7:30 am–4 pm; Sun Closed; Thu 7:30 am–6 pm; Tue 7:30 am–6 pm; Wed 7:30 am–6 pm
#2
Café Aquí
★ 4.7 (320 Google reviews)Coffee shop$1–10 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Café Aquí is a women-owned coffee shop set in a greenhouse on 2nd St SW, open daily with Sunday hours from 9 am. Reviewers mention an iced maple cardamom latte, a wildflower honey latte and drinks served in a glass fish, with plants all around and plenty of seating. It lists live music, vegan options and laptop-friendly space, with full wheelchair access.
Best for: Remote work among the plants
- Address
- 1811 2nd St SW Suite B, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
- Hours
- Fri 8 am–6 pm; Mon 8 am–6 pm; Sat 8 am–5 pm; Sun 9 am–5 pm; Thu 8 am–6 pm; Tue 8 am–6 pm; Wed 8 am–6 pm
#3
MOKA
★ 4.7 (287 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
MOKA on N Broadway Ave opens at 5:30 am on weekdays and 6 am on weekends, closing at 4 pm daily. Reviewers mention quad espresso drinks and a Blanco Americano with dark chocolate, and note that nitro coffee, beer and wine are also served. Staff are described as sweet and friendly. One reviewer finds the room loud, which may not suit quiet work.
Best for: Very early espresso runs
- Address
- 1023 N Broadway Ave, Rochester, MN 55906, United States
- Hours
- Fri 5:30 am–4 pm; Mon 5:30 am–4 pm; Sat 6 am–4 pm; Sun 6 am–4 pm; Thu 5:30 am–4 pm; Tue 5:30 am–4 pm; Wed 5:30 am–4 pm
#4
Café Steam
★ 4.6 (1,205 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
Café Steam on Broadway Ave S keeps long hours, open until 10 pm every day and from 7 am on weekdays. Reviewers mention strong coffee, matcha drinks, the option to build your own drink, and fresh breakfast food. Several describe friendly staff and a welcoming space for bringing kids. The car park, entrance, seating and toilet are listed as wheelchair accessible.
Best for: Evening coffee and breakfast
- Address
- 315 Broadway Ave S, Rochester, MN 55904, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–10 pm; Mon 7 am–10 pm; Sat 8 am–10 pm; Sun 8 am–10 pm; Thu 7 am–10 pm; Tue 7 am–10 pm; Wed 7 am–10 pm
#5
Lumen Coffee
★ 4.7 (203 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
Lumen Coffee on 55th St NW, north of town, opens at 6:30 am most days and runs a drive-through window. Reviewers mention balanced lattes, a honey double lavender latte, strong espresso, and avocado toast with bacon and smoked egg. They note the drive-through lane is narrow and has no menu speaker, so larger vehicles may struggle. Service is described as friendly.
Best for: Drive-through lattes
- Address
- 3550 55th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901, United States
- Hours
- Fri 6:30 am–4:30 pm; Mon 6:30 am–4:30 pm; Sat 6:30 am–4:30 pm; Sun 7 am–4 pm; Thu 6:30 am–4:30 pm; Tue 6:30 am–4:30 pm; Wed 6:30 am–4:30 pm
How we made this list
We looked at 15 cafes in Downtown, Rochester MN with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then Google category “Coffee shop”, ranked by weighted rating. A rating from thousands of reviews counts for more than the same rating from a handful, so a new place with a few perfect scores does not jump the queue. Ratings and hours are from public Google listings on 29 September 2026 and can change. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Tips before you go
- For an early start, MOKA opens at 6 am.
- Hours and prices come from Google listings and change, so check the listing before a long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-rated cafe on this list?
St. James Coffee ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.8 from 187 reviews. Café Aquí is second at 4.7 from 320 reviews.
Which cafes in Downtown, Rochester MN are open late?
None of these stays open past midnight. The latest to close is Café Steam, at 10 pm.
How much does it cost at these cafes?
Google lists these price ranges per person: Café Aquí $1–10. The others do not list a price range.
Which of these have free parking?
Google lists free parking for Café Aquí.
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