The Best Coffee Shops in West-Central Iowa

By Victoria Anders

As more and more coffee shops pop up in the small towns of West-Central Iowa, it’s good to know which option is worth the drive. It’s good to know which shop is better for grab-and-go coffee. I like to know where you can grab a solid lunch with your coffee or where is most comfortable for getting some work done or reading a book. Finally, I like to know which is best equipped for friend gatherings or meetings.

I always prefer to support a locally-owned caffeine source than Starbucks or Casey’s coffee, and I have tried many! My drink of choice is a latte with dairy-free milk. I rate the quality of this drink and various other elements on a “happy coffee cups” scale of 1 to 5. This rating includes the variety on the menu, non-coffee drinks and food options available, ambiance and seating availability, Wi-Fi connection, and customer service. Check out this feature on the coffee shops of West-Central Iowa

The Broadway 312

• 312 Broadway St • Audubon, IA

Count on The Broadway for a filling lunch, tasty pastry, and great meeting and working space. Their coffee drinks are average, especially for the price, but their gourmet tea options make up for it. The Broadway’s food menu maintains small-town pricing. Their salads are hearty and delicious, best complemented with a cup of their daily soup option. The lobster bisque is to die for. Lovingly called “The Bakery” by locals, the shop lives up to its nickname with homemade breads, fresh cinnamon buns and donuts, and customized birthdays cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. They also fulfill various dietary needs, with gluten free pastries and keto egg bites available.

Since original publication, the Broadway 312 has changed owners and still operates as a coffee shop, bakery, and lunch spot, but under the name “The Bakery on Broadway!.”

The most ample coffee shop on this list, it also has a community room which you can reserve in advance. It is perfect for your meeting or a get-together with friends in a more private setting with caffeine nearby. In the summertime, the outdoor patio is the perfect place to sip your iced drink.

CoffeeGirl

• 1205 7th St • Harlan, IA & 402 Chestnut St • Atlantic, IA

Both of the Coffeegirl locations are within marketplace/office settings, making for an environment of movement in and out of the still-ample sitting area. The Harlan location was the perfect, quiet space to get some computer work done. They have a limited espresso-drink menu (lattes, Americanos, frappes), but a sizable flavored-syrup menu. My latte was nothing to write home about, given a slightly burnt taste in the espresso. Their smoothies are made with fresh ingredients, and you can customize to your liking. Their soup of the day meal makes you feel as though you’re enjoying a hearty lunch at grandma’s. It is served in homey dishware with a side of apples and carrots (chips and cookies available as well).

Greene Bean Coffee

• 202 N Wilson Ave • Jefferson, IA

Looking for a cosmopolitan and sophisticated coffee shop that’s still down-to-earth? Get to Greene Bean; their friendly staff serves by far the highest quality and most artisanal espresso menu among West-Central Iowa coffee shops. Their trademarked Hayworth cream-based vanilla cappuccino is a must-try when you visit. They have a limited food menu beyond delicious looking homemade baked goods. Their home-crafted oatmeal mixes are so good. I asked for a list of the ingredients so I could try to replicate them at home. I have yet to hit the perfect salty-sweet ratio GB does.

Take a seat in comfy sofa chairs or standard booth tables. Or, take your perch at a window nook looking onto Jefferson’s town square, home to the Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower. GB also boasts a roasting counter, where you can take your beans home to your own coffee maker. This is your prototypical coffee shop, perfect for open-mic nights to book clubs and business meetings.

The Market Place

• 321 Main St • Manning, IA

The Market Place serves deliciously smooth espresso, with a creative seasonal flavor menu to choose from. Although you really don’t need additional flavoring! Their counter feels like a gourmet convenience store, full of packaged cookies, fun-looking candies, and a handful of baked goods. The Market Place doubles as a home décor and clothing store, so you’ll probably walk out with more than your $4 latte. The selection of Cyclone/Hawkeye gear, baby’s and children’s clothing, and local artisan products are a lot of fun to browse. The Market Place has some family-style table seating, but this is sometimes busy with their fully schedule of community classes . These class range from chunky blanket making, painting, and centerpiece design classes.

Queen Beans

• 522 N Clark St • Carroll, IA 3

Queen Beans has become a hometown staple in the West-Central capital of Carroll. It certainly has the largest menu of flavored syrups and inventive flavor combinations of the shops on the list. This includes a seasonal menu for every holiday and season. Their latte always left something to be desired, never finding the right balance between espresso and milk quantities. Where their coffee quality may leave something to be desired, their large breakfast menu makes up for it. They serve breakfast all day (until the kitchen closes at 2pm), along with salad, soup, and sandwich options. Their fresh, homemade cinnamon buns and muffins (though I would call some of them cupcakes) are to die for. The shop has ample seating, with high-table and standard table options, though it does get crowded at peak lunch hour. Queen Beans also boasts a drive-thru window if you’re on the go.

More Coffee Shop Goodness

You know that we, here at Flint & Co, love us locally owned coffee shops! Read about more of our favorites by clicking the links below!

• Block 10 at 1921 City Hall – Sheffield, Iowa
• Ozark Coffee Company & Roasters – Sedalia, Missouri
• Rustic Brew – Hampton, Iowa

About the Author

Victoria Anders is a Washington, DC native with Western Iowa roots. She is the granddaughter of Chuck and Kathy Manatt, Audubon natives and proud Cyclones. Her family owns Taylor Hill Lodge, a bed and breakfast north of Audubon. She works in domestic and global health policy and dabbles in lifestyle writing. 

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