A information to staying caffeinated within the Napa Valley

Naysayer, Ohm, Ritual, Barnhouse, brewed.
While these names could easily be confused for the specialty wine offerings available in the Napa Valley — or beer as is the case with the last entry on the list — these businesses represent just some of many coffee slingers in the region.
While some have been in business for years, others have opened shops more recently, taking on the challenge of caffeinating people in Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, American Canyon and communities in between.
“We have noticed some really great coffee spots opening up recently,” Linsey Gallagher, CEO and president of Visit Napa Valley, said in an email. “As the Napa Valley is known for world-class wines, luxurious hotels and Michelin-Star restaurants, it makes sense that our coffee would also be top-tier.
“Like wine enthusiasts, coffee lovers are interested in origin, production methods and creative drink pairings. The artistry of wine and coffee can be similar.”
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Artistry aside, Craig Smith, executive director of the Downtown Napa Association, noted that the aim of coffee is different from the aim of the valley’s alcoholic beverages.
Where is your favorite place to grab coffee in Napa Valley?
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“Coffee is in its own ‘this-is-how-the-day-is-started’ category,” Smith wrote in an email. “For many, of course, it’s the drink of choice throughout the day. I love our coffee shop scene; each place is unique and has its own vibe, don’t you think?”
Downtown Napa is home to a number of coffee establishments.
Barnhouse Napa Brews opened in 2021 on Clinton Street, with co-owners Adam Housley and Eric Barnes aiming for a comfortable, welcoming vibe. The space is modeled on an English pub, and serves beer as well.
“Napa has so many good bars, tasting rooms, and restaurants, but it needed someplace where everybody feels welcome to just hang out,” Housley told the Register previously.
Register reader Francesca Peralta includes Barnhouse in her list of favorite coffee shops in the area. She writes, “This one feels like a coffee shop from a book. It’s warm and cozy in there with very comfortable chairs. I work from home, and this is my favorite shop to work from. They have a coffee house dog named Leaf who is adorable.”
“This coffee shop also does a lot of local activities and events at their place, which I love,” Peralta continued. “I frequented their bingo nights and their paint-and-sip nights with Carlos, and it was so fun. I love that the staff in there takes the time to get to know you and will remember your name when you come in.”
Also on Peralta’s list is Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company, which earlier this year moved from one downtown Napa location to another.
The city’s oldest coffee house gave up its home in a landmark 19th-century building at First and Main streets for new digs in the Riverfront development where restaurants and fashion boutiques have dominated. The new address is 710 Main St.
“Their new location is very bright, modern, clean, roomy and right on the river front, so it’s the perfect spot to go for a walk and take in the views or window shop,” Peralta writes.
Desiree Rigdon-Baca agrees that Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company is a top choice downtown.
“Great coffee and the employees are super nice,” Rigdon-Baca commented on Facebook. “They even know our dog by name and give her treats when we come in.”
“They have great coffee,” Mike Lecours writes, calling Napa Valley Coffee Roasters his favorite coffee spot. “The crew is friendly. And their beans are the best in town.”
The Oxbow District has a few coffee options, including Ritual Coffee Roasters which sits in the Oxbow Public Market among an array of shops. Based in San Francisco, the Napa Ritual location has been open since 2008.
Nearby, at 943 Water St. the Hero Café is a coffee truck, but with a fixed location. Proceeds from the truck go back into Napa nonprofit The Hero Foundation, which brings volunteers together with community service projects.
Monica Patti, another commenter on Facebook, said they loved the Hero Café’s nonprofit “coffee roasting mission, tasty drinks, they source their beans from a woman-owned farm in Guatemala, and Michael and Rafael (Raphael) are just kind young men, pursuing their dreams!”
While the city of Napa boasts a number of food trucks serving a range of cuisine, there are also couple of coffee options on wheels as well.
Ohm Coffee Roasters operates a bright red truck, which is most often parked in front of Ohm’s brick and mortar roastery at 849 Jackson St. The truck made its first appearance in May 2016 at the Napa Farmers Market. The truck can still be found on Saturdays at the Napa Farmers Market and at other local events.
Derek Bromley, a former sommelier and wine industry executive, started Ohm in an attempt to inspire journeys of coffee discovery while not alienating customers who aren’t already coffee crazy, according to previous Register reporting.
“I learned early on as a young sommelier that it’s all about meeting your customer where they are,” Bromley said previously. “Some people just want their Morning Joe, and they want to move on, and they don’t really care too much about what goes into it. And some people want to geek out.”
More recently, another coffee truck — Café Gira Flohr — rolled onto the scene, setting up shop at 1490 Soscol Ave. Business owner and barista Sophia Flohr wants the Latin influence of her coffee flavors to shine in her menu. The business topped the list for many Facebook commenters, who were asked to name their favorite places to grab coffee in the Napa Valley.
Another coffee shop that has been resonating with locals is Naysayer Coffee Roasters, located at 1813 Old Sonoma Road in Napa.
“From a morning pop-up in the garden at St. Clair Brown Winery/Brewery, to a short stint at First and Franklin, to finally carving out their own permanent space at the Food City shopping center on Old Sonoma Road,” Napa resident Alex McCart writes, “the couple behind Naysayer Coffee Roasters have been through a lot the last couple years, but they continue to be great shepherds of our community in Napa. One of many great ambassadors of quality coffee in the city of Napa!”
Others have given one of the newest city of Napa coffee additions a try, with great fanfare. Journey Coffee Co. is located at 2770 Old Sonoma Road, formerly home to a Southside Napa café.
Of course, not everyone wants a local cup of Joe. Starbucks has seven different locations across the city of Napa, including one downtown located between Barnhouse and Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company. The newest one opened on Jefferson Street just south of Trancas.
Those who enjoy their caramel macchiatos from a “venti” cup with a mermaid on it were met with an interesting change in Napa. The city’s standalone locations (and six others in Petaluma) are testing a new idea, called “Borrow A Cup.” These reusable plastic cups are being distributed in place of the classic Starbucks paper or plastic cups. The “Borrow A Cup” cups are reusable and returnable and include incentives to win stars with the Starbucks Rewards program.
The Starbucks pilot is set to run until Oct. 22. Other chain coffee shops in the city of Napa include Peet’s Coffee in Bel Aire Plaza and Dutch Bros Coffee on Jefferson Street.
On the city’s coffee culture as a whole, Jeri Hansen, president and CEO of the Napa Chamber of Commerce, noted that coffee has an appeal both in terms of the beverage itself and because of the connection it can build between the people drinking it.
“We are a community that revolves around engagement and connection, and this extends to how we do business and solve problems together,” Hansen said in an email. “Rather than meeting one another in conference rooms or offices, we prefer to do our thinking together and our business in a more social and relaxed setting. A change of scenery (and some caffeine!) can get the creative juices flowing.”
“I have numerous business meetings per month that are over coffee first thing in the morning at one of our local coffee shops,” Hansen continued. “At the same time, my colleagues and I are talking about business, ideas, strategy, we are also supporting local establishments — business owners and employees. It happens often that I am at one meeting over coffee, see other friends and colleagues, and before I leave another meeting about another topic all together has been scheduled.”
Beyond Napa
Elsewhere in the Napa Valley, others are getting their caffeinated favorites from local businesses.
Alexandra Dale, a community and customer experience manager with the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce, provided a list of eight coffee shops in the city: Farmstead Garden Café, Brasswood Bar + Bakery, Crisp Kitchen, No|Ma House Café & Collective, Model Bakery, The Station St. Helena, Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company and Caffe Della Valle.
Eric Reichert with the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce provided a similar list: Bella Bakery, Calistoga Depot, Calistoga Roastery, La Palmeraie, Mis Raices, Sam’s General Store and Soul Rebel Coffee.
Facebook commenter Brent Augustine writes “Calistoga Roastery. Clive is a Valley treasure. If you are Up Valley, it’s a must!”
“Calistoga has lots of great coffee spots,” writes Eden Umble on Facebook, Sam’s General Store topping their list. Umble describes the atmosphere as “historic, cool location, copy patio tables,” adding that Sam’s serves “ a superb latte. Can’t beat it!”
Soul Rebel Coffee is another Calistoga favorite.
“Best coffee I’ve ever had and the owners are the friendliest, most accommodating people you will ever meet,” writes Brianna Clawson on Facebook. On the same note, Kyla Terry Gutierrez wrote “Soul Rebel Coffee (is) my favorite place in the whole world for coffee and breakfast.”
Laticia Sahs, a membership and marketing manager with the Yountville Chamber of Commerce, notes that “in Yountville, since there is less open real estate, we have not seen quite the trend you are seeing in Napa. That being said, Yountville is definitely flush with coffee offerings.”
Among those offerings are Kollar Chocolates, Ottimo, Mini Model Bakery, Bouchon Bakery, Madeleine’s Macarons, Honor Market (formerly Kellys Market) and Velo Deli. Sahs added that Madeleine’s does a coffee and macaron tasting that is “pretty unique.”
Attempts to reach the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce by deadline were not successful. However, a search online for coffee shops in the city yields several results, including multiple Starbucks locations and a Dunkin’ Donuts.
“Our local coffee shops and morning spots give us both a beverage and time of day alternative to the late afternoon option of talking about business over a glass of wine (which is another regular occurrence here)!” Hansen, of the Napa Valley Chamber of Commerce, concludes.
What Napa Valley food or beverage should the Register explore next? Email sdowling@napanews.com to let us know.
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