In today’s episode of coffee shop reviews, I’d like to share my lineup for the best coffee shops in Evansville, IN.
As some of you might know, I travel and work remotely with my husband when he’s working contract work. One of my favorite things to do when we get to a new city or state is to try the coffee shops in the area.
Evansville is a mid-sized college town located closer to the border of Tennessee and Kentucky than central Indiana. It is 3 hours away from Indianapolis, 2.5 hours from Nashville, and a little over 2 hours from Louisville, KY.
While Evansville, IN definitely doesn’t have as many specialty coffee shops per capita as Minnesota, there are quite a few cafes worth visiting if you’re in the area.
River City Coffee
First on the list! River City Coffee is hands down the best coffee shop in the area (in my opinion). River City Coffee is located in a quaint area in downtown Evansville off the main street and serves up one of the best vanilla lattes I have ever had. (And that’s saying something because that’s my go-to baseline order at every new shop).
River City also serves a light selection of pastries and breakfast options. Think oatmeal and light breakfast sandwiches.
Located: 223 Main St, Evansville, IN 47708
Coffee
River City Coffee makes all its syrups in-house. Their vanilla syrup is particularly excellent. The other thing that makes this shop stand out as the best is how creamy the lattes are.
The milk (I order regular whole milk) is frothed in such a way that the latte art AND the body of the drink taste deliciously creamy compared to others I’ve had. And as for the coffee, it tastes like an easy light to medium roast, which is my preference.
I recommend ordering the vanilla latte. Once you’ve had house-made vanilla syrup like this, it will be hard to go back to bulk-buy stuff. I also tried one of their seasonal specialty lattes that had lavender and vanilla syrups and it was excellent as well.
Vibe
I’m almost ashamed to admit that a coffee shop’s vibe is almost as important to me as coffee. I have been known to visit a coffee shop twice that has a stunning vibe and interior space over a shop that serves coffee that I preferred (this was the case with Quixotic Coffee vs. Spyhouse Coffee).
That said, the vibe of River City is a clean, hometown boutique vibe. I say boutique in the literal sense, as selling handmade and locally curated goods is part of the River City Coffee experience. Enjoy browsing unique handmade items while you sip your latte.
Overall, the vibe is fresh, friendly, and upbeat with clean white tables spread amongst the local vendor booths. Out of all the coffee shops in Evansville, IN, River City wins hands down in my book.
Remote Work Review
When it comes to working remotely in River City Coffee, I’d like to see a little more seating vs. boutique booth spaces, but it’s not too bad. The back corner table is your best bet for setting up to get some work done. The noise levels are rather high at River City with many patrons meeting up to chat (like normal people), but the music is thankfully low.
Parlor Doughnuts and Coffee
Parlor Doughnuts is a craft doughnut chain that happens to also serve craft coffee. The Parlor Doughnut in downtown Evansville, IN is located in a great spot on main street. It is an excellent place to stop for a sweet treat and a tasty cup of joe. It also happens to be a short walk from River City Coffee.
If you’re not into sweet treats, you can also order a breakfast sandwich. The egg and sausage biscuit comes with a nice spread of fig jam. Overall a top-notch breakfast.
Located: 204 Main St, Evansville, IN 47708
Coffee
The coffee at Parlor Doughnuts certainly has a prominent roasted flavor. The espresso delivers a nice full-bodied punch, which stands out over any flavoring you may order. It tastes more like a high-class dark roast to me. I tried the vanilla latte and the cappuccino and both are good options.
Vibe
Parlor Doughnuts excels in the vibe and decor department. The downtown location specifically has an immaculate vibe. The theme is seemingly an old-world coffee parlor, complete with large windows and dark brown leather couches and chairs that add a masculine touch against a white marble floor.
Remote Work
I spent a morning working a few hours at Parlor Doughnuts downtown and had a very productive morning. Be aware, however, that the music is kept rather loud and the seats that have outlets available are few and far between.
Honey + Moon
Our next stop in the best coffee shops in Evansville, IN list is located off Weinbach Ave. in a cozy little corner shop facing a not-too-busy street. Honey + Moon has a welcoming staff and an excellent menu of specialty coffee and breakfast options, ranging from cortados to lattes and breakfast wraps to bubble waffles topped with berries and cream.
Located: 612 S Weinbach Ave, Evansville, IN 47713
Coffee
The coffee at Honey + Moon has an unassuming flavor. It’s a smooth roast that is not too prominent and easy to drink. It doesn’t make me jittery like some other coffees do. I’d recommend the Purple Ace latte which is a signature drink made with a mix of vanilla and lavender syrups. I also tried The Beekeeper, which includes a mixture of honey and cinnamon.
Vibe
Honey + Moon is a small venue that makes the most of its space. There are two exterior doors. One door leads to the barista counter and the other leads to the majority of the seating. There’s a bar with window seating in the main side and a mixture of seating options on the other side. Beware, this shop can get busy during the prime morning time. The interior design is clean and cozy and doesn’t try too hard.
Remote Work
I’ll be honest, this shop doesn’t get my endorsement for a remote work spot. That’s mostly because my company laptop is a Microsoft Surface and the Surface battery life only lasts me a little over two hours. Honey + Moon doesn’t offer spots with available outlets, so unless you have a battery pack extension, you can’t stay and work for very long.
Black Lodge Coffee in New Harmony, IN
Black Lodge Coffee gets an honorable mention on our best coffee shops in Evansville, IN list. Because while this coffee shop isn’t technically in Evansville, IN, it’s close enough and worth a visit.
Black Lodge is the quintessential small-town coffee shop located in the neighboring town of Evansville, in New Harmony. The owner and workers make it a point to try to know everyone who comes in the door. For this reason, the shop is always filled with locals who all appear to know each other. Black Lodge Coffee truly fosters a solid community vibe, and don’t be shocked if the staff strikes up a conversation with you to get to know a piece of your story.
Located: 610 Church St, New Harmony, IN 47631
Coffee
The coffee at Black Lodge is excellent. The roast is evident in taste, but to my uneducated pallet, I would say it likely falls on the side of a medium roast. It’s a great flavor and with the in-house roaster stationed in the far corner of the 19th-century building, you can tell it is a purposefully homegrown flavor.
Vibe
Black Lodge is set in a building that was made sometime in the 1800s. The space has a lot of history. From the moment you walk in, the floors, the ceiling, and the ancient beams all exude a stately presence that only comes from being a structure for the better part of two centuries.
The space is a mixture of old brick and wood offset by brightly colored red walls (which wouldn’t have been my first choice). The building has an open-concept living, including a nice selection of seating, and accommodates a large kitchen and coffee bar area where the baristas serve up beautiful pours in quick order.
Remote Work
Black Lodge seems like it would be a good place to set up shop for a couple of hours of light work. While there aren’t too many seats, the shop is altogether quiet and calm.
Best Coffee Shops in Evansville, IN Roundup
This part of Indiana has quite a few coffee shops to its name. Don’t sleep on visiting River City Coffee or any of the other shops listed here if you’re passing through.
