Need a cup of joe? Check out these 19 local coffee shops in the Peoria area

Cassidy Waigand, Peoria Journal Star
·6 min read

Walking inside Leaves 'n Beans in Peoria Heights, customers will find many coffee-based quotes. One reads: "I don't really rise and shine. I caffeinate and hope for the best."

Coffee has become an essential part of many people's morning routines.

Whether you depend on coffee to make it through the day or you simply enjoy cafe-hopping, here are local coffee shops to check out.

[CxT] Roasting Company

[CxT] Roasting Company has teamed up with Radish Kitchen in Campustown to offer vegan, gluten-free cupcakes, donuts and other baked sweets to coffee lovers at Keller Station. Shown is a [CxT] mocha latté and a Radish Kitchen chocolate coffee cupcake.
[CxT] Roasting Company has teamed up with Radish Kitchen in Campustown to offer vegan, gluten-free cupcakes, donuts and other baked sweets to coffee lovers at Keller Station. Shown is a [CxT] mocha latté and a Radish Kitchen chocolate coffee cupcake.

The business offers espresso drinks, lattes, iced coffee, cold brews and more. Patrons can also find tea and baked goods from local businesses.

Love [CxT] coffee? Customers can also purchase specialty coffee to brew at home.

Locations

  • Apollo address: 309 Main St., Suite B, Peoria

  • Keller Station address: 6035 N. Knoxville Ave., Suite 101, Peoria

  • Website: https://www.cxt.coffee/

More: Peoria coffee shop offers 'super delicious' treats from local vegan store

Ardor Breads and Provisions

Cody Scogin, owner of Ardor Breads and Provisions at 301 W. Water Street on the Peoria riverfront, stands in the new kitchen area of his expanded bakery and restaurant space. The popular eatery has taken over the space formerly occupied by Nailon's Plumbing and Supplies and expanded from a small bakery to a full-fledged restaurant.
Cody Scogin, owner of Ardor Breads and Provisions at 301 W. Water Street on the Peoria riverfront, stands in the new kitchen area of his expanded bakery and restaurant space. The popular eatery has taken over the space formerly occupied by Nailon's Plumbing and Supplies and expanded from a small bakery to a full-fledged restaurant.

Looking for a freshly baked pastry with your morning cup of joe? Ardor’s café offers Americanos, cappuccinos, cold brews, lattes and more.

Of course, customers can also order baked goods, such as an almond croissant, a vanilla crousti, a morning muffin, a Danish, a tartine and more.

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Bake & Brew Panadería

The shop offers a variety of drinks and treats.

Customers can find lattes, cold brews and drip coffees, as well as horchata, tea and lemonade. The shop also offers empanada, concha, beso and a variety of other Mexican pastries.

More: From sweet breads to coffee, new bakery bringing Mexican treats to Peoria shopping center

Big Mike's Donuts & Coffee

Mike Henry and Andrea Vincent are the owners of Big Mike's Donuts and Coffee. On the walls of the shop, they have hung pictures of some of their favorite movies.
Mike Henry and Andrea Vincent are the owners of Big Mike's Donuts and Coffee. On the walls of the shop, they have hung pictures of some of their favorite movies.

Big Mike's Donuts & Coffee offers a variety of coffees, donuts and other baked goods.

More: Looking for the scoop on Peoria restaurants? Sign up for PJStar Dining

Café Santa Rosa

An expertly swirled cream flower tops a cup of cafe mocha made by Rafael Vidal at Cafe Santa Rosa.
An expertly swirled cream flower tops a cup of cafe mocha made by Rafael Vidal at Cafe Santa Rosa.

Customers at Café Santa Rosa can order espresso drinks, drip coffee, cold brew, teas and more. The shop’s coffee is grown and harvested from the business's own farm in the Cauca region of Colombia.

The shop also offers coffee blends to brew at home.

COFFEE CAN

The shop offers drip coffee, cold brews, iced coffee, lattes, Americanos and more. Customers can also find breakfast, lunch and dinner foods.

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Coffee Connection

Situated in Pekin, Coffee Connection features cold brews, iced lattes, drip coffee and more.

Cultured Grounds

Patrons of Cultured Grounds relax in the Twin Towers coffeehouse Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in downtown Peoria.
Patrons of Cultured Grounds relax in the Twin Towers coffeehouse Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in downtown Peoria.

Situated in the Twin Towers Mall, customers can find baked goods, breakfast foods and lunch specials – such as a $9 taco Tuesday deal – along with their coffee.

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Eli's Coffee Shop

Eli's Coffee Shop announced summer menu options, such as the salty coconut cold brew, in late May.
Eli's Coffee Shop announced summer menu options, such as the salty coconut cold brew, in late May.

Since opening its first location in Morton, Eli's Coffee Shop has expanded to four locations in the area.

Customers can currently find a summer drink menu – with options like “salty coconut cold brew” and “matcha fresca.” Nonseasonal coffees and drinks are also offered.

Locations:

  • 205 W. Jefferson St., Morton

  • 105 W. Pearl St., Tremont

  • 101 W. Partridge St., Metamora

  • 116 S. Main St., Mackinaw

Website: https://www.eliscoffee.com/

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Faire Coffee

A crowd lines up to order at the new Faire Coffee shop in the former Denhart Bakery and Restaurant on the square in Washington.
A crowd lines up to order at the new Faire Coffee shop in the former Denhart Bakery and Restaurant on the square in Washington.

In 2018, Faire Coffee began as a mobile business. The shop has grown to include multiple storefronts and offer a variety of coffee options.

Customers can find “favorite combos” such as Miel, brown sugar cinnamon late and more. Aside from coffee, the shop offers tea, cocoa and smoothies.

Locations:

  • 101 N. Main St., Washington

  • 128 N. Main St., Eureka

Website: https://www.fairecoffee.com/

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Happy Thought Coffee

Happy Thought Coffee offers lattes, cold brew, tea and more. Customers can also find a variety of baked goods and breakfast foods – such as biscuits and gravy, a bagel sandwich, oatmeal and more.

Leaves ‘n Beans Coffee

Leaves 'n Beans has three cafes in the area. At the shops, customers can find a variety of hot and cold coffee drinks, as well as specialty flavors. These include Mayan Mocha, sticky bun latte, sugar momma latte, Milky Way Mocha and more.

The shop also offers eggwiches, omelets, pastries, paninis and other foods.

Locations:

  • 4800 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights

  • 730 W. Jackson St., Morton

  • 3208 Court St., Pekin

Website: https://www.lnbcoffee.com/

More: The best coffee shops in the Peoria area as voted on by readers

Meet me on Madison

Customers wait in line at Meet Me on Madison restaurant in Twin Towers Mall on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021.
Customers wait in line at Meet Me on Madison restaurant in Twin Towers Mall on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021.

Situated at the Twin Towers Mall, Meet me on Madison offers lattes, cold brews, espresso drinks, tea and more. Customers at the shop can also find “Ninja Coffee” in flavors such as pumpkin spice, Oreo, churro and Nutella.

The shop also features breakfast and lunch foods.

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Nat's Place

The exterior of Nat's Place in Chillicothe on Dec. 7, 2021. Nat's Place offers customers food, drinks, gift shop novelties and games.
The exterior of Nat's Place in Chillicothe on Dec. 7, 2021. Nat's Place offers customers food, drinks, gift shop novelties and games.

Customers at Nat’s Place can find freshly brewed coffee, lattes, a caramel macchiato, Nat’s Frappuccino, dirty chai, a turtle mocha and more.

The shop also offers breakfast, lunch and dinner foods.

One World Cafe

One World Café at 1245 W. Main Street in Peoria.
One World Café at 1245 W. Main Street in Peoria.

Customers at One World Cafe can find fresh brewed coffee, mocha frappes, French press coffee, lattes, Cafe Miel, cappuccinos and more. The cafe also has extensive menu offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

More: This longtime Peoria restaurant is switching up its hours for the summer

Smooth Sips

Situated in Dunlap, Smooth Sips offers Americano, cold brew, cafe au lait and other coffee drinks. The shop also has smoothies and bubble tea, as well as a variety of breakfast foods.

More: Check out these 36 places that opened in the Peoria area in 2022

The Blend

At The Blend Cafe, customers can order the “basics” like drip coffee, French press, cold brew or espresso drinks. The business also offers specialty lattes, matcha and non-coffee options like tea and hot chocolate.

Locations

  • The Blend Cafe: 1130 Peoria St., Washington

  • The Blend Express: 1287 Peoria St., Washington

Website: https://theblendcoffee.com/

The Spot Coffee

Customers can find iced and hot lattes, drip coffee, cafe Miel and more. The shop also features Four30 Scones.

Zion Coffee Bar

Popular Peoria coffee spot Zion Coffee Bar, 803 SW Adams St., offers cold brew, lattes and more.
Popular Peoria coffee spot Zion Coffee Bar, 803 SW Adams St., offers cold brew, lattes and more.

At Zion Coffee Bar, customers can order nitro cold brews, pour over coffees, lattes, Americanos and seasonal drinks. The shop also offers tea, matcha, chai and other non-coffee drinks.

Connect with Cassidy Waigand by emailing her at CWaigand@gannett.com or by following her on Twitter at @justxaxwriter.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Here are 19 local Peoria, IL cafes and coffee shops