A Guide to the Best Cafe in the United States

Dumond Cafe New Orleans, Louisiana

A must-see for visitors to the French Quarter of New Orleans, Cafe Dumond has been serving chicory coffee with or without milk for 150 years. Chicory was first introduced during the American Civil War and is still used to enhance the chocolate flavor of freshly ground black coffee. Tourists and locals queue for hours for the cafe's specialty coffee and famous stuffed pancakes.

Cartel Coffee Labs Temple, Arizona

Stainless steel is everywhere, but the walls have been painted a fresh yellow-green and sculptures made of bicycle rims have been placed to make the cafe more humane. In addition, the approachable barista is happy to introduce guests to the techniques of coffee making. The cafe also offers "Baker's Choice" snacks, which are delivered weekly, monthly or bimonthly by baker Paul Haworth.

Deli Ed Cafe Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The traditional artisanal cappuccino cafe is a walk down an obscure path surrounded by trees. The beans used to make cappuccino coffee come from cappuccino, and there's even a humidor for those who want to smoke a cigar while sipping coffee, beer and wine on the outdoor patio.

Cafe Abalaco, New York

At this stand-up coffee shop, partner Jimmy McCormick makes the strongest, purest cappuccino in New York, laced with only whole milk. There is also a bar on the sidewalk outside the cafe where you can stop for a cup of cortado coffee and a delicious black olive muffin baked by partner elizabeth squigard.

Blue Bottle Cafe Oakland, California

Blue Bottle Cafe, which now has eight locations between the West Bay Area and New York, has become a household name among boutique coffee brands. At Blue Bottle, small batches of organic coffee beans are ground in an old coffee machine, and freshness is a unique attraction-all beans are discarded if not used or sold within 48 hours of grinding. Special desserts include saffron cinnamon crackers and muffins baked with parmesan cheese and fennel.