Let’s be honest with ourselves. Many of us cannot start our day without the wonderful warm cup of coffee in the morning, so it’s not like we really need a “national holiday” reminding us to celebrate our favorite caffeinated beverage. But, hey, any excuse to make a trip to a coffee shop, or what I call my third home, right? (Note: my second home is at my coworking space, where I work.)

Today is National Coffee Day! And, instead of sharing drink specials at the popular coffee chains, I wanted to share our suggestions for where to go for your espresso needs around the United States. Oh, and yes, I always google “best coffee” when I visit cities for business or pleasure trips because like I said before, there is no better way to start the day then with a GOOD GREAT cup of coffee. Enjoy!

Victrola Cafe and Roastery, Seattle, WA
I remember walking into this magical place when I visited Seattle for a #FoodieChats event, and it did not disappoint. From the characters who drink their coffee hear to the music playing the background to the delicious cup put before me, Victrola is my go-to place when I visit Seattle. All three Victrola locations focus on single-origin coffee, but offer blends as well. Founded in 2000, Victrola hosts free cuppings, or coffee tastings, open to the public every Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Either/Or, Portland, OR
Either/Or is an intelligent coffee shop, located in the city of coffee. Start with any of the signature drink offering, as they change frequently. Try the beverage flight, which includes a shot of espresso, a cappuccino or macchiato and a tiny food pairing. Their spicy Tanglewood chai is fantastic, and coffee sodas are an ideal caffeinated spritzer on warm days.

Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters, San Francisco, CA
Wrecking Ball is now offering their award-winning coffee in a full-service shop, after operating as a pop-up for several years. The originators of the term “third-wave coffee,” the shop does not disappoint, offering precise and technologically advanced pour-overs and espresso drinks.

The ELK, New York, NY
Located in West Village, the ELK is a destination for a fine cortado and a single-origin pour-over. Enjoy the wall of well-curated artisanal products or get some work done in the bright, cheery space.

Dinosaur Coffee, Los Angeles, CA
An expansive, gorgeously laid out coffee bar with plenty of space for laptop warriors, this shop offers the best of LA: quality Four Barrel espresso, friendly baristas and an airy room perfect for conversation (or mobile work).

Communal Coffee, San Diego, CA
Communal brews the acclaimed Sightglass Coffee with the beautiful monochromatic background. It is a nice place to sip coffee in “America’s Finest City.”

Sawada, Chicago, IL
There’s more to Sawada than just a “military latte,” a posh coffee drink that’s looks like camouflage. It’s roasty from espresso, slightly bitter from the green tea and warmed with gentle notes of white chocolate. Sawada also offers straightforward espresso drinks and iced coffee. Grab a seat at the ping pong table or on a counter seat.

Copper Door Coffee, Denver, CO
Copper Door is the first female-only-owned roasting company in Denver offering beans to-go and some of the best & most creative drinks in town.

Crema Cafe, Cambridge, MA
Located at Harvard Square, Crema stays busy year-round churning out espresso beverages, tea lattes and plenty of iced beverages when it is hot outside.

Colada Shop, Washington, D.C.
Colada Shop offers unusual coffee drinks like its Cafe Cubano (a shot of coffee, sweetened with whipped sugar) or Cafe Bon Bon (espresso and sweetened condensed milk). Don’t stop there! Grab some delicious Cuban food while you enjoy this colorful space in Washington, D.C.

La Colombe, Philadelphia, PA
Of course, there are a number of La Colombe cafes around the US and hundreds more brewing their beans. While I have only been to their Rittenhouse Square coffee shop, I have heard amazing things about the charms of the massive flagship in Fishtown. There’s good food and so much space (no WiFi, though), so not a place to work remotely. Next trip to Philly will definitely include this coffee shop with my girlfriends.

Dogwood Coffee Co., Minneapolis, MN
Dogwood Coffee Co. is a coffee shop focused on roasting quality over quantity. It takes great pride in finding the right farmers to buy beans from, learning about and crafting its roasting process and sharing its delicious cups coffee with everyone. Dogwood offers coffees and espressos by the cup, or whole bags of beans to-go, so you can enjoy the roasts in the comfort of your own home.

Caffé Medici, Austin, TX
This longtime Austin coffee shop has five branches around town, including the Congress walk-up window with sidewalk cafe. I stop here every time that I am in Austin because it has a warm and homey vibe, and the elegant downtown space boasts a massive espresso bar. Like Seattle and Portland, there are a lot of amazing coffee shops in Austin, but this place always feels like home.

PublicUs, Las Vegas, NV
PublicUs features coffee selections and pastries. Thanks, Frank Gruber of Tech.co, for introducing us to this delicious cup of coffee. What a great gift to bring to Spark.Me! While you are PublicUs, try their farm-to-table sandwiches & pastries. Also, consider trying the Green Panda matcha latte.

The Wired Goat Cafe, Columbia, SC
Highly recommended by Spa Travel Gal Ava Roxanne Stritt, the Wired Goat Cafe has a funky interior with vintage furniture and local art. Their freshly baked bread and lattes are always a hit and their staff is extremely friendly.

What do you think? Is this list missing any coffee shop that you love?

Please comment below and share where!