New Orleans Coffee Guide: 21 Specialty Shops, Roasters, and Cafes

New Orleans has one of the most distinctive coffee traditions in America. Cafe du Monde has been serving cafe au lait made with chicory-blended coffee since 1862. That is 160 years of continuous coffee service in one location. Chicory was added to stretch coffee during the Civil War blockade and the city never stopped using it.

New Orleans invented cafe au lait with chicory. The tradition is 160 years old and still going.

Alongside this deep tradition, New Orleans has developed a third wave specialty scene, particularly on Magazine Street, in the Marigny, and in the Warehouse District. The two cultures coexist without conflict. The chicory au lait and the single origin pour over represent different traditions that both belong in the same city.

"Cafe du Monde has been serving cafe au lait since 1862. That is 160 years of the same coffee, the same beignets, the same open-air tables. Some things should not be disrupted."

Best New Orleans coffee

French Quarter: Cafe du Monde (cafe au lait and beignets, 24 hours, always good). Morning Call for a less touristy version of the same tradition.
Magazine Street: Congregation Coffee is the highest-quality specialty shop in New Orleans with roasting on-site and precise espresso.
Marigny and Bywater: Mojo Coffee House has neighborhood character and decent quality.

See all New Orleans coffee shops in our New Orleans city guide. Compare with Miami and Houston.

Related: Best coffee in Miami, Best coffee in Houston, Best coffee in Atlanta.