Coffee
The Best Coffee Shops in NJ: 16 Cafés and Roasters Worth the Drive
The best coffee shops in NJ by region: Jersey City roasters, Asbury Park cafés, a Lambertville coffee bar, Cape May espresso and a cozy Haddonfield corner.
By Tessa Moretti, our virtual host
Researched and edited by the Chefbouyon team
Updated · 12 min read
Quick picks
- For coffee loversModcup CoffeeA Jersey City roaster that travels to the farms it buys from and roasts several lines of coffee.Directions
- For a beach dayThe Art of the Bean and LeafIt says it's within walking distance of the Asbury Park train station and the boardwalk.Directions
- With a gardenCoffee CorralIt has an outdoor area called The Corral, with live music on weekends from spring into fall.Directions
- For a river-town strollLambertville Trading CompanyA family-owned coffee bar on Bridge Street since 1982, steps from the bridge to New Hope.Directions
- For pastriesJersey Java & Tea Co.Small-batch coffee plus its own bakery, Quiche & Tell.Directions
New Jersey is a coffee state that nobody gives enough credit to. We have serious roasters in old industrial buildings, chai houses in college towns, coffee bars in Victorian storefronts and espresso shops a few blocks from the Atlantic. Some of the best coffee shops in NJ have been pouring for decades. Others opened while you were busy commuting.
This guide is a statewide roundup for anyone planning a slow weekend around a good cup: city people from New York or Philadelphia looking for a day trip, Jerseyans who want a reason to drive to the other end of the state, and anyone who believes a new town is best explored with a latte in hand. It's organized by region, from the Hudson waterfront to Cape May, so you can match a café to the trip you're already planning.
Think of each café as an anchor. You come for the coffee, and you stay for the main street, the river, the boardwalk or the bookshop down the block.
How I picked these
These picks come from research, not from a loyalty card in every town. I checked each café's own website and recent social posts to confirm it was open in 2025–2026, and drew facts from its own words, official town and tourism sites, and local news. I looked for places with a clear point of view (roasting their own beans, a mission, a story, a sense of place) and limited most towns to one pick so the map stays wide. Princeton, Montclair, Hoboken, Morristown and New Brunswick have their own full guides, linked below.
North Jersey: the Hudson waterfront and the suburbs
North Jersey has the most cafés per square mile, and the most variety, from Hudson County roasters to train-town main streets.
Modcup Coffee
Known for A Jersey City roaster that works directly with farms: 'Born at Origin, Made in Chilltown.'
479 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Modcup is Jersey City's homegrown roaster, and its tagline sums it up: "Born at Origin, Made in Chilltown." The company says it travels to coffee farms and builds relationships with the people who grow and process its coffee. It roasts four lines: Traditional Blends, Modern Blends, Expressive Coffees, and Cultivar & Terroir, the last one for people who like to geek out over a single variety.
The Heights café, on Palisade Avenue, is a good place to start. Modcup has been growing fast, with cafés in The Heights, Bergen-Lafayette and Hoboken plus its Senate Place roastery. In 2026, local news reported a new café on Communipaw Avenue and a lease for a new roastery on Marin Boulevard. Check its site for the location nearest you.
Who'll love it: coffee people who read the bag, and anyone who wants to taste what Jersey City roasts. Nearby: The Heights sits along the Palisades, with views toward Manhattan from the cliffside parks.
bwè kafe
Known for A family-run coffee company founded in 2013 with roots in Haiti; its name means 'drink coffee' in Haitian Creole.
1002 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
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Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Bwè Kafe means "drink coffee" in Haitian Creole, and the family-run café has been doing exactly that in Hoboken since 2013. Its coffee is roasted in Jersey City and sourced from farmers in Haiti and beyond. Its Shared Harvest coffee is 100% Haitian Arabica, and its other coffees carry names like Beauty, Wisdom, Honesty and Courage.
The Washington Street café at 1002 Washington is the one I'd send you to on a Hoboken stroll. There's also a second Hoboken café on Adams Street and a Jersey City café on River Drive South. It even has a mobile coffee setup for events. For more of the Mile Square City, see my full guide to Hoboken coffee shops.
Who'll love it: anyone curious about Haitian coffee, and walkers heading up Washington Street. Nearby: the uptown end of Washington Street and the Hudson waterfront.
Trend Coffee & Tea House
Known for A coffee and tea house in an 1860 house with house chais, crêpes, local art and live music.
411 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
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Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Trend Coffee & Tea House is Montclair's arts-scene living room. It's set in a house its site says was built in 1860, on Bloomfield Avenue, and the walls carry work by local artists. The menu runs from espresso drinks to two house chais, Trend Chai and Yogic Chai, plus bubble tea and both savory and sweet French crêpes.
What makes Trend special is the music. It hosts open mics, jam sessions and live music, plus an annual "Trend Fest" with twelve hours of it. If you've ever wanted to hear a stranger's first song over a chai latte, here's your chance. Montclair has plenty more good coffee. My Montclair coffee shops guide covers it in full.
Who'll love it: music lovers, crêpe people and anyone who likes a café with some history in its floorboards. Nearby: Bloomfield Avenue's restaurants, theaters and shops.
Rey Sol Coffee Roasters
Known for 100% single-origin Colombian coffee from the family's own farm in Risaralda, roasted in the café, with pastries and brunch.
22 Chestnut St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Rey Sol Coffee Roasters is the true farm-to-cup story in North Jersey. The Ramirez family grows every bean it roasts on its own farm in Balboa, in Colombia's Risaralda region. The coffee is 100% single-origin, microlot Colombian, and the family says it has farmed this way for five generations. In New Jersey, the coffee is roasted fresh in the café three times a week.
The Ridgewood café is at 22 Chestnut Street, in the village's walkable downtown, and it serves fresh-baked pastries plus brunch, lunch and dessert alongside the coffee. There's a second Rey Sol in Morristown, too.
Who'll love it: anyone who wants to know exactly where their coffee grew, and brunchers. Nearby: the shops and restaurants of downtown Ridgewood, close to the train station.
Boonton Coffee Co.
Known for A small-batch specialty roaster and cozy Main Street coffee shop with a seasonal, ever-changing bean selection.
602 Main St, Boonton, NJ 07005
Also in Coffee Shops in Morristown, NJ
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Boonton Coffee Co. is a small-batch roaster and coffee shop on Boonton's Main Street, and it describes itself as a place where people "come to relax, catch up with friends, or just enjoy the quiet charm of the town." It roasts its own beans in the shop, with "no warehouses, no middleman," and the selection changes with the harvest, so nothing sticks around for more than a few months.
It also hosts live events and runs a coffee subscription. It's a lovely excuse to explore a Morris County Main Street most people haven't walked yet.
Who'll love it: neighborhood-roaster fans and anyone who likes a changing menu of beans. Nearby: the rest of Main Street's independent shops.
LOKL Café
Known for A café built on the idea that great coffee can slow the world down, serving hand-crafted drinks from direct-trade beans.
80 South St, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Outdoor seating
- Dog-friendly
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Checked against official sources Nov 2026
LOKL Café, on Morristown's South Street, is built around a single belief: that "great coffee can build trust, inspire connection, and slow the world down for a moment." The beans are direct trade from Colombia, El Salvador, Panama, Ethiopia and Costa Rica. Its "Analog Life" project leaves pens, notebooks and film cameras around the café for guests who want to write by hand or shoot a few frames. There's now a sister café in SoHo, too.
Morristown has a lot more where this came from. See my Morristown coffee shops guide.
Morris County Tourism notes its chocolate croissants, its outdoor seating in good weather and its dog-friendly welcome.
Who'll love it: journal-keepers and slow mornings. Nearby: the Morristown Green and, a short drive away, Morristown National Historical Park.
Central Jersey: college towns and roasters
Central Jersey is where the state's coffee gets studious, with two university towns and some of its most respected roasters.
Boxwood Coffee Roasters
Known for A Westfield roaster, established in 2014, that roasts every bag to order and grinds it the way you brew.
143 E Broad St, Westfield, NJ 07090
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Boxwood Coffee Roasters started in 2014, roasting in a garage, according to its own story. Now everything it serves is roasted at its Westfield roastery. Every bag is roasted to order and ground the way you brew. Its range covers coffees from several origin countries, from single origins and blends to experimental "Boxwood Labs" releases, plus teas, brewing gear and subscriptions.
The Westfield café is on East Broad Street in a downtown that won the National Trust's Great American Main Street Award in 2004. There's a second Boxwood café in Summit.
Who'll love it: home brewers stocking up, and anyone pairing coffee with a downtown wander. Nearby: Westfield's shops, and the NJ Transit station on the Raritan Valley Line.
Hidden Grounds Chai & Coffee House opened at 106 Easton Avenue in New Brunswick in 2013, started by "two immigrants" who wanted a café that felt like home. Its motto is "stovetop chai, specialty coffee." Today there are eight Hidden Grounds cafés across New Jersey, Brooklyn and Manhattan, but the Rutgers original is where the story began. Its stated goal is simple: "Good chai. Good coffee. Generous food. A room that feels alive instead of overly precious." It also sells its masala chai mix for home, and owner Anand Patel teaches ticketed barista classes in Jersey City. A second New Brunswick café sits at 4C Easton Avenue, by the train station. My full New Brunswick coffee shops guide has more on the city's café scene.
Who'll love it: chai lovers and Rutgers alumni. Nearby: the College Avenue campus.
Penstock Coffee Roasters
Known for A specialty roaster and café, formerly OQ Coffee Co.: 'responsibly sourced. handled with care.'
13 S 3rd Ave, Suite C, Highland Park, NJ 08904
Also in Coffee Shops in New Brunswick, NJ
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Penstock Coffee Roasters, in Highland Park just across the Raritan from New Brunswick, is a roaster with a conscience and a tagline to match: "responsibly sourced. handled with care." It began as OQ Coffee Co. and says it strives to know the people who grow its coffee and to introduce them to its customers. It lists memberships and certifications including the Good Food Guild, CCOF and the Specialty Coffee Association.
The roastery café is on South 3rd Avenue, just off Raritan Avenue. It also runs classes and events and has a second café in Roselle Park.
Who'll love it: anyone who wants to understand where good coffee comes from. Nearby: Raritan Avenue's shops and restaurants.
Small World Coffee
Known for Princeton's café and roaster since 1993, bringing West Coast coffee culture east with its own 'East Coast Roast.'
14 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08542
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Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Small World Coffee is Princeton's coffee institution. It opened on December 22, 1993, on Witherspoon Street, with the idea of bringing West Coast coffee culture east. Its roasting arm started in 1997, and its blends have names like Grumpy Monkey, Rocket and Joker Poker. Chai, matcha and scones are made in-house, and the company now roasts in nearby Rocky Hill. It also does wholesale and catering, so you may spot its coffee elsewhere around town. There's a second café on Nassau Street. For the rest of town, see my Princeton coffee shops guide.
Who'll love it: everyone, honestly, but especially anyone walking Palmer Square and the university campus. Nearby: Nassau Street and Princeton University.
The Delaware River towns
Lambertville Trading Company
Known for A family-owned Bridge Street coffee bar since 1982, the 'Home of the Coffee Ice Cube.'
43 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ 08530
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Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Lambertville Trading Company has been on Bridge Street since 1982, when Lisa and Dean Stephens opened it. It calls itself the "Home of the Coffee Ice Cube." In warm weather, every drink on the menu can be served iced, over cubes made of coffee, so nothing gets watered down. The rest of the year there's a full espresso menu, several daily drip brews, French press by the cup and spiced hot chocolate. The coffee comes from Kobrick Coffee Co.
It's also a specialty food shop, with pastries, chocolates and gift baskets. It's the kind of place where you buy a coffee and leave with a present for someone.
Who'll love it: antiques hunters, river walkers and anyone who's been burned by watery iced coffee. Nearby: the Lambertville–New Hope bridge across the Delaware is at the end of Bridge Street, and the towpath runs along the river. My Lambertville things-to-do guide fills out the rest of the day.
The Jersey Shore
Shore coffee is its own genre: sandy floors in July, regulars in November. Here are four that stay worth the trip after Labor Day.
Asbury Park Roastery
Known for A small boutique roaster since 2007 with mostly fair-trade and organic coffee, guided by one rule: 'make it good.'
803 Second Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Asbury Park Roastery opened in February 2007, founded by Alli Kennedy, who left an office job to do it. Its guiding rule is "make it good," and the shop calls itself a small, boutique roaster. The coffee is mostly fair trade and organic, sold by the bag or by the cup. The shop also stocks organic loose-leaf teas, brewing accessories and confections, and offers coffee subscriptions.
The shop is on Second Avenue, between Main Street and Memorial Drive, with tables for sitting. Watch its Instagram for "Coffee With Words" nights, which are perfect for a town with this much music and writing history.
Who'll love it: roaster purists and anyone who wants to buy beans from a shore-town original. Nearby: downtown Asbury Park and the walk to the boardwalk.
The Art of the Bean and Leaf
Known for A colorful, plant-filled Cookman Avenue café that roasts small batches every weekend on a fluid-bed roaster.
633 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
The Art of the Bean and Leaf on Cookman Avenue calls itself "Asbury Park's newest creative cafe and coffee house." Its owner, Nancy, started it after the financial company she worked for closed in 2020. The café roasts small batches every weekend on a fluid-bed roaster, which it says gives a smoother, less bitter cup. It keeps a lean, fast-moving range of beans so everything stays fresh.
The space is described as colorful and whimsical, full of artwork and plants, and the café says it's within walking distance of both the train station and the boardwalk. That makes it an ideal first stop on a car-free beach day.
Who'll love it: train-to-the-beach day-trippers and anyone who likes a café with plants in every corner. Nearby: Cookman Avenue's shops and restaurants.
Coffee Corral
Known for A specialty coffee roaster and community-inspired shop with an outdoor 'Corral' for weekend live music.
177 Dr. James Parker Blvd, Red Bank, NJ 07701
- Outdoor seating
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Coffee Corral calls itself a "Specialty Coffee Roaster & Community-Inspired Shops," and the community part is real. It was founded in 2012 and is now run by owners Courtlyn and Erich. All of its coffee is roasted on site in Red Bank, and Erich often picks coffees on farm visits.
The heart of the place is "The Corral," its outdoor area, with live music on Saturdays and Sundays from April through November. The calendar is packed: kids' classes, book clubs, pony rides, pumpkin events and dog adoption days. It also runs donation-based coffees for local groups. There are additional Coffee Corral locations in Long Branch and Farmingdale.
Who'll love it: families, dog people and anyone who wants their coffee with a side of community. Nearby: downtown Red Bank and the Count Basie Center for the Arts.
Magic Brain Cafe
Known for 'The Smartest Choice For Coffee Since 2001': crafted espresso drinks and freshly baked pastries.
31 Perry St, Cape May, NJ 08204
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Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Magic Brain Cafe has been "The Smartest Choice For Coffee Since 2001," and it's been pouring espresso in Cape May for more than two decades. It serves crafted espresso drinks and freshly baked pastries. It takes orders in person only, which it says keeps quality and freshness high. It also ships home-brewing goods anywhere in the US, so you can take a little Cape May home. It's a natural first stop before a morning on the beach or a walk among the gingerbread-trimmed Victorians, and a warm one on a chilly shoulder-season day.
Who'll love it: Victorian-porch strollers and morning beach walkers. Nearby: the Washington Street Mall and Cape May's historic district. Planning more of the trip? See my Cape May things-to-do guide.
South Jersey
Jersey Java & Tea Co.
Known for South Jersey's 'cozy corner' for small-batch specialty coffee from Evermore Coffee Roasters and house-baked pastries.
140 N Haddon Ave, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Jersey Java & Tea Co. calls itself South Jersey's "cozy corner," and it says it has been open for 17 years on North Haddon Avenue in Haddonfield. The coffee is small-batch specialty from Evermore Coffee Roasters of Burlington, NJ. That includes a house blend, Morning Glory, made only for Jersey Java.
It also has its own bakery, Quiche & Tell, which takes holiday orders for pies, quiches and scones, and there's an order-ahead app for the morning rush. Its roaster page tells the Evermore story in detail, and it's worth a read if you like knowing who roasted your cup.
Who'll love it: pastry people, Philadelphians on a PATCO day trip, and anyone exploring Haddonfield's historic downtown. Nearby: Kings Highway's shops, a short walk away.
Getting around and when to go
By train: A surprising number of these cafés are reachable without a car. The PATH runs from Manhattan to Hoboken and Jersey City. NJ Transit serves Ridgewood, Montclair, Morristown, Westfield, New Brunswick, Princeton (via the Dinky shuttle from Princeton Junction) and Asbury Park on the North Jersey Coast Line. From Philadelphia, PATCO stops in Haddonfield. Going the other way? See our coffee shops in Philadelphia guide. Check each operator for current schedules.
By car: The shore and river towns are easiest by car, and most have metered street parking downtown. Summer weekends at the shore and in Lambertville bring traffic and full lots, so arrive early.
When to go: Fall is the sweet spot. Expect foliage on the Delaware, quiet beaches, cozy menus and open seats. Winter weekends in Cape May and Lambertville are lovely too. Always check a café's own website or Instagram for seasonal hours before a long drive, especially at the shore.
For more ways to fill the day, see my things to do in New Jersey guide, browse the Jersey Shore towns, or turn a café crawl into one of my weekend getaways.
Every place in this guide, on the map
- Modcup Coffee479 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307
- bwè kafe1002 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
- Trend Coffee & Tea House411 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
- Rey Sol Coffee Roasters22 Chestnut St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
- Boonton Coffee Co.602 Main St, Boonton, NJ 07005
- LOKL Café80 South St, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Boxwood Coffee Roasters143 E Broad St, Westfield, NJ 07090
- Hidden Grounds Chai & Coffee House106 Easton Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Penstock Coffee Roasters13 S 3rd Ave, Suite C, Highland Park, NJ 08904
- Small World Coffee14 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08542
- Lambertville Trading Company43 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ 08530
- Asbury Park Roastery803 Second Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
- The Art of the Bean and Leaf633 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
- Coffee Corral177 Dr. James Parker Blvd, Red Bank, NJ 07701
- Magic Brain Cafe31 Perry St, Cape May, NJ 08204
- Jersey Java & Tea Co.140 N Haddon Ave, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Questions people ask
What are the best coffee shops in NJ?
A few that are worth planning a trip around: Modcup in Jersey City and Penstock in Highland Park for serious roasting, Small World Coffee in Princeton for a beloved college-town classic, Asbury Park Roastery at the shore, Lambertville Trading Company on the Delaware, and Jersey Java & Tea in Haddonfield in South Jersey. The best one for you depends on which region you're exploring.
Which New Jersey coffee shops roast their own beans?
Several in this guide roast in-house or run their own roastery: Modcup (Jersey City), Bwè Kafe (roasted in Jersey City), Rey Sol (Ridgewood and Morristown), Boonton Coffee Co., Boxwood Coffee Roasters (Westfield), Penstock (Highland Park), Small World (roasting in Rocky Hill), Asbury Park Roastery, The Art of the Bean and Leaf and Coffee Corral in Red Bank.
What's a good coffee shop near the Jersey Shore?
Asbury Park is the easiest shore town for coffee, with Asbury Park Roastery on Second Avenue and The Art of the Bean and Leaf on Cookman Avenue, which says it's walkable to the train and the boardwalk. Coffee Corral in Red Bank adds weekend live music outdoors, and Magic Brain Cafe has served espresso in Cape May since 2001.
Can I reach New Jersey cafés by train from New York or Philadelphia?
Yes, many of them. Hoboken and Jersey City are a PATH ride from Manhattan. Ridgewood, Montclair, Morristown, Westfield, New Brunswick, Princeton (via the Dinky) and Asbury Park all have NJ Transit stations. From Philadelphia, PATCO trains reach Haddonfield. Check NJ Transit, PATH and PATCO for current schedules before you travel.
When is the best time to visit New Jersey coffee shops?
Fall is the coziest season, with foliage in the river towns and quieter shore towns after Labor Day. Weekday mornings are calmest almost everywhere except commuter cafés near train stations. Summer weekends at the shore and in Lambertville get busy, so go early, and check each café's own site for seasonal hours.
Spot something out of date, or know a place we should add? Tell us. Corrections are read first.
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