Everyone has their favorite Auburn/Opelika coffee shop, but how can you know it is your favorite if you haven't tried them all?

I love going to my favorite coffee shop to study and grab a coffee on the weekends. But why settle for just one favorite? The Auburn Opelika Coffee Shop Trail will take you through some of the best cafes in the area, some you may have never heard of. You may even find your new favorite spot!

What Is It?

The Auburn Opelika Coffee Shop Trail is a new community initiative to invite guests to visit local coffee shops in the area. With 16 unique coffee shops joining the lineup, there is no shortage of espresso and good vibes to go around. While I have been to several of the locations featured on the trail, there is a lot I have yet to try.

How To Participate

All you have to do to participate in the trail is visit one of the participating coffee shops and order! And yes, you can order stuff other than coffee. By visiting any of the participating shops you will receive a passport. Each cafe will have a stamp to check off your list as you make your way through Auburn and Opelika. You also do not need to visit the locations in order, feel free to jump around and try a new one each week. Also, there is no time limit or deadline to complete the trail. After you have visited all 16 you will earn a prize, a branded hot or iced cup!

Iced or Hot Take?

Of course, I had to give my reviews on the coffee shops I was able to visit. I decided to rate them on their drinks, food, and atmosphere. Find out for yourself which is the best!

Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers

Drinks: ★★★★
Food: ★★⯨
Atmosphere: ★★★★

Who doesn't love a good book and a coffee? Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers has a variety of fiction, nonfiction, and more available for purchase so you can cozy up with your new favorite book and one of their specialty seasonal drinks.

Coffee Mafia

Drinks: ★★★⯨
Food: ★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★

The beloved Coffee Mafia is an eclectic and cozy coffee shop with local art. The menu can be confusing at first, but they are well known for their iced crack cold brew and have killer breakfast sandwiches.

Corner Office

Drinks: ★★★⯨
Food: ★★★★⯨
Atmosphere: ★★⯨

From the owners of The Hound and The Depot comes Corner Office. They have amazing food for breakfast and lunch, some of my favorites being their tot-chos and breakfast sandwiches.

One Bike Coffee

Drinks: ★★★⯨
Food: ★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★

I would say these are arguably the best muffins in Auburn. When you go to One Bike you are supporting a great mission, and you get a great drink too!

Ross House Coffee

Drinks: ★★★
Food: ★★★⯨
Atmosphere: ★★★⯨

A classic Auburn staple, whether you are at the original or the 320 location, Ross House is great for an afternoon study break. Get to the original location early to snag a table!

The Bean Coffee Shop

Drinks: ★★★⯨
Food: ★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★⯨

The Bean is a retro-style cafe with tons of seating options and a variety of baked goods and specialty drinks. They also now offer shaved ice and smoothies.

Thrive Here @ Auburn

Drinks: ★★★⯨
Food: ★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★⯨

Located right next to Hey Day Market, Thrive serves up locally roasted coffees and fresh teas from Atlanta-based growers. The culinary building space is great for studying or you can grab a coffee and stroll around downtown Auburn.

Well Red

Drinks: ★★★⯨
Food: ★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★

Well Red has cozy bookstore vibes with great baked items and desserts. One of the few coffee shops open late so grab a slice of their vanilla cheesecake to cap a night of studying.

Ristretto Lounge

Drinks: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★★

I may be a little biased, but Ristretto is one of my favorite coffee shops in Auburn. It is great for a serious study sesh or to catch up with friends. With amazing drinks and food, you can’t go wrong.

Side Track

Drinks: ★★★⯨
Food: ★★★⯨
Atmosphere: ★★★★

With their unique pay-what-you-want menu, there is something for every price range. I’m a huge fan of their banana bread and it’s a perfect way to kick off an outing in Opelika.

The Coffee Shop

Drinks: ★★★★
Food: ★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★⯨

Unfortunately, I caught them at the end of the day, but the owner was so nice and was incredibly knowledgeable about their chai and new spicy chai (coming soon). This is the perfect spot for catching up with friends and grabbing some coffee before exploring downtown Opelika.

The Market at Botanic

Drinks: ★★★⯨
Food: ★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★★

If you haven’t visited Botanic, you are missing out! The Market at Botanic has freshly baked pastries and sweets ranging from croissants and quiche to cookies and macarons. Embracing the outdoors, I love to get the iced lavender latte to sip as I stroll through their greenhouse.

This was such a fun experience and I had a great time exploring the city to try new things at each stop. Don’t forget to ask your barista for a passport to start your adventure today!

Be Well, Auburn.