Little Joy has become one of my favorite motorcycle ride destinations. It's the perfect excuse to get out for a ride and reward yourself with a great coffee. The indoor space is medium sized, normally a good number of folks working, etc. but they have a huge deck/patio through the back that's amazing! My go-to order is anything with the vanilla cream cheese cold foam--it's seriously so good and one of the best cold foams I've had. They also always seem to have fun, creative seasonal drinks, so there's usually something new to try. Their social media is really creative, and it's easy to see why this place has developed such a following. It can get pretty busy because of the hype, but the drinks are absolutely worth the stop. I'll definitely keep making the ride out here. read more

Little Joy Coffee - Exterior entrance - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

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He Said: Lovely coffee shop, located on the main street of Northfield, MN. I am not a coffee drinker, so I had the hibiscus lemonade-- pretty refreshing. We sat outside on a wonderful summer day. Their patio has several seating options. The staff was pretty good. Mostly young employees. I had to get their attention, when they were chatting amongst one another, so I could get something. Pros: - Another great downtown Northfield business read more

Little Joy Coffee - Hibiscus lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

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After hubs saw the viral Raspberry Danish Latte, he insisted on making a trip down to Northfield to get one of the delights. The space is a bit small, so expect to have to take your goodies to go. Hubs had the aforementioned latte, I got a Reanimator. That was pleasantly sweet but not overboard. The Raspberry Danish Latte was indulgence in a cup. Oh my gosh, it was so good. I have a feeling we'll be going back once a week as long as that item is on the menu. Staff were great, especially dealing with what I'm assuming is a bit of an uptick in business. read more

Little Joy Coffee - Raspberry Danish Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

Such a lovely find in Northfield. The space is really well done with plenty of seating inside, including some great window spots, plus an amazing patio that's perfect when the weather is nice. The coffee is excellent. They really know how to make a proper cappuccino. They also have a great variety of drinks beyond coffee like tea, matcha, and even kombucha. I especially love their seasonal drink menu. It's always fun to try something new and they do a great job with creative options. They also have a beautiful selection of pastries that pair perfectly with your drink. read more

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Adorable vibes with a GREAT patio. Service was super fast. I wish I had tried a specialty drink. I instead got my regular cold brew, and I was not a fan. Sometimes cold brew has an almost oily taste to it, and that's was I was getting from this. I should have trusted my gut and got the raspberry danish drink! read more

Little Joy Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

This spot was the perfect stop on our day trip to Northfield. We ordered an iced matcha and an iced chai tea latte. Both were really good, and the matcha in particular was solid compared to others I've had. The inside was cozy, but we chose to sit out back on the patio, which had brick walls and vines and felt like a little hidden gem. We stopped in on a Saturday morning and it was definitely busy since it is a college town and there was also a farmers market happening. We grabbed some specialty cookies at the farmers market before walking around the area and checking out the antique and vintage stores, then headed to a nearby state park afterward. Overall, it was a great experience and I would absolutely go back for the atmosphere and a good drink, especially to sit outside. Just know it can get busy. We ended up parking behind the building near the water, which worked out well. read more

Little Joy Coffee - Matcha & Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

A scrummy cheese danish. I had a lavender latte that I did not appreciate any lavender in. Gracie had the blackberry bramble with cream cheese cold foam and godddamn that was worth an 8 hr drive read more

OMG! We went to college in Northfield and come back to visit often and I will always, always stop to see what is on their seasonal menu and splurge on one of their creations! Today we truly could not decide because their summer menu all looked so phenomenal. If you like a specialty coffee creation with fruit purées, flavored cold foam, toppings, etc. this will be right up your alley. My husband got the bramble iced latte and I got the matcha sticky rice and we both agreed they were top 5 iced drinks we've ever had. The bramble had blackberry puree, iced latte, cream cheese cold brew and was topped with a skewer of blackberries. The matcha had mango puree, matcha with milk and toasted coconut cold foam topped with shredded coconut. Little Joy does their specialty drinks so well that they recently went viral for sharing the recipe for one of their craft drinks and coffee shops around the country and world recreated it! Even our little neighborhood shop in Cincinnati had heard of them. Regardless of what new drinks are on the menu when we visit next, I will definitely try them for this reason. They're priced higher than your typical iced latte or matcha, but negligibly when you consider the quality and "extras"- I paid $7 for a plain iced latte in St. Paul the day before, the my matcha for $8.50 with all of its delicious features was 50x more delicious and indulgent. Service was fast and friendly, and while the entryway/line gets a little congested, there is ample space in booths and tables (as well as patio seating) to sit, and a large bathroom. The Northfield Library, Arts Guild, and Riverwalk are steps away, making this the perfect spot to hit up while you enjoy Northfield on a day trip or weekend visit. I'm already scheming about how to fit in one more visit before we leave... read more

Damn that's good fancy coffee! I had stopped in earlier in the week for the carrot cake latte and just tried the bourbon maple latte, and both were just excellent. The flavors were fantastic - not too sweet and tasted real, not artificial. I might skip the croissant next time but the drinks are spot on! read more

Little Joy Coffee - Salted bourbon maple latte, pumpkin latte, chocolate croissant. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

What a delightful little spot! We were just grabbing ice coffee to go, but it is definitely somewhere that you could linger. Our ice coffee was excellent and service friendly! The share back patio overlooking is beautiful with terrific views of the river. read more

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Run, don't walk, to Little Joy for this season's Mont Blanc iced coldbrew special. Topped with orange vanilla coldfoam, this beauty blends the bitterness of the perfect cup of coffee with the nostalgia of a Creamsicle, rendered exceptional by freshly-grated orange zest and nutmeg. The baristas at LJC are pretty much the best in the business, and the space is sunny and light and populated with affable locals. Matcha fan? They've got you covered too. Toss in from-scratch baked goods from Brick Oven Bakery and, on Fridays and Saturdays, Martha's Eats & Treats, and you literally can't go wrong. Apologies to all of my local writer friends for sending more folks to enjoy LJC. It's too good not to share. read more

Little Joy Coffee - "Mont Blanc," one of LJC's Summer 2025 specials. Iced coldbrew under the smoothest, most delectable cloud of orange-vanilla coldfoam. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

What a delightful coffee shop! Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor tables are facing the river, there was even a stage, but was no performance when we were there. The coffees are outstanding, service is prompt and baked goods, although limited, are fresh and delicious. We also loved the student ambiance - it's a busy place, bustling with people hopping it to grab a cup to go, leisurely dates and those doing their school work. The airy and spacious place allowed for a very unique vibe that reminded us more of San Francisco and New York, and was a complete surprise to be discovered in our wonderful rural Minnesota. read more

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Sweet little coffee spot. Feels modern and clean. Good coffee and treats. Usually a bit crowded so not easy to get seats read more

Little Joy Coffee - Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

No raspberry danish latte???? what the heck? I wish I could have gotten this because I've been planning my trip for months.

This place had a great patio. Plays great music and makes some really fun seasonal coffees. I'm not always one to get extra sugar in my coffee but the orange cold foam really called to me and I was not disappointed. read more

Inappropriate attitude. It's just coffee no need to be rude. Owner seems very stuck up disrespectful and talks down to people that don't agree with them. read more

I was really excited to check out this coffee shop while visiting town for the first time and genuinely looked forward to supporting a local business. The space itself had a lot of potential, but unfortunately the experience didn't match the expectations. The service felt unwelcoming from the start, which set the tone. My partner didn't like his drink, and when I asked if it could be swapped for the one I had ordered, it seemed like a big inconvenience rather than a simple request. That interaction made me feel uncomfortable and hesitant to even go back to my partner and express how that went over with the barista. Being a previous barista in my hometown (NE) to a local shop and even working for scooters, I was just amazed at being told "next time we will have to charge you for a new drink." The price itself isn't the issue--I completely understand paying for quality and supporting small businesses--but spending $16 for two drinks, plus tipping on top of that after even not a welcoming first impression but from being a barista myself I couldn't not tip. We really wanted to love this place, but the lack of warmth and flexibility in service made it disappointing. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND. read more

At first I was a little joy hater... it is true. However, all that changed during the summer when they started their matcha bramble lattes. For a while I considered little joy matcha to be weak, and it still is if you order it iced. The trick is to order only hot matcha at little joy. I will be honest, if you want frills this isn't the place to go, but if you want good honest coffee and a vibe you can work (actually get work done) in this is the place! Always have such good music on that I hardly ever need my own headphones on. Very pleasant baristas and the best deal is the free refill drip coffees! Many essays written in this place :) read more

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The staff is very unhelpful, and I was there on a day that it looked like they were filming some kind of social media I could order and was treated like I was in the way. Maybe focus on coffee and not clicks and likes. read more

Great service from a super friendly staff. Both of our specialty drinks were really delicious. The pastries looked fresh and enticing. I ordered a ham and cheese croissant (looked like it was sourced from Brick Oven Bakery) which was really good. My only constructive comment is that microwaving it took away the crispiness and flakiness. Overall an exceptional experience. read more

So cute with such a creative menu! One thing is that their chai is very bad so don't order that if you like chai. Everything else is amazing. read more

Awesome experience. Very good coffee plus muffin. Comfortable and open space. Would be a regular if I was from here. read more

On the way down to Iowa I decided to stop in Northfield for a coffee, and found myself at Little Joy Coffee... and what a joy that was! For someone who takes little joy (I can't stop myself with this pun) in mornings, this place was a wonderful! If I was a local college student you wouldn't be able to keep me away. The lighting alone in this place was great! Seating: Numerous tables, booths, bar spots. Good selection. Coffee: They had lots of fun flavors. I got the Spring Fling (espresso, lavender infused honey, pink salt, milk), but the Fizzy McGuire (matcha, fresh Cara Cara orange juice, pandan simple syrup, topo chico) and Salted Lavender Coldfoam both sounded really yummy and unique as well. Food: I can only speak to the morning bun, but what a morning bun it was. Delicious! There was some orange zest in it that really set it a part from other morning buns I've tried. Parking: On the street out front. All in all, great first experience at Little Joy Coffee. I can't wait to go back! I saw pictures of poptarts online, so maybe I'll try one of those next time! Parking: On the street out front P.s. I'll post pictures later. Apparently the awesomeness of Little Joy Coffee is too much for the Radisson wifi to handle. read more

This is a great little college town coffee shop. Light, spacious, and airy inside. It was busy but not crowded. I bet this would be a great place to read and do homework while sipping a coffee. I really liked the vibe of the place. However, my story was a bit different. We came with screaming kids on a hot day and brought chaos to this nice, quiet corner of Northfield. I got an espresso and my wife got a latte. We got my son a croissant. The coffee drinks were very good and the staff was also very nice. They did not roll their eye with icy stares toward our kids - which I would not blame them if they did. Just a very nice bunch of people working there. read more

Best coffee in Northfield with good service! I usually get the iced vanilla latte. They also have delicious pastries and sometimes pastries from Martha's Sweet Treats! There are great seating options inside (nice environment to work) or outside on their back patio that overlooks the river. read more

Little Joy Coffee - Iced large latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

One of the best coffee spots in town. Amazing ambience and the outside tables are amazing too

Little Joy is the ultimate coffee shop. I've been a student in Northfield for the last 4 years and can confirm LJ is the best spot in town. They use locally roasted beans from Groundwire with transparent and ethical origins for the coffee (which they occasionally post about on their Instagram). When I go home for breaks, I have to bring home their coffee beans! They always have fun, rotating seasonal drinks - normally two lattes, a cold brew and a tea concoction. The standard menu is also full of great coffee drinks, teas and kombuchas. There aren't a ton of food options (baked goods from Brick Oven Bakery, and a few wrapped snacks like granola). But on Fridays and Saturdays, they normally have Martha's baked treats which are a town favorite. The service is always friendly and knowledgeable. Plus their latte art is always beautiful. The ambiance is sunny and modern, and the back patio has a great view of the Cannon River. I always like to play their mini cornhole game while procrastinating homework! read more

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The location of this place is excellent and the deck outback overlooking the river is great. Most of all the drinks that they craft are really good. House made syrups and such make these drinks much better than other mass produced coffee sbops. read more

Coffee is great. If you live in town and it is during the school year, go to the Hideaway down the street or across town to James Gang. Fighting students for a seat not worth the struggle! read more

Cute, modern and simplicity feel of a coffee place. MEA I is simple but my coffee was not. So yummy and just enough creaminess. Great place to do work or people watch. read more

Little Joy Coffee - Latte with cocoa bitters. It does have a special name but can't remember - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

I have visited Little Joy Coffee numerous times over the last several weeks and it is an awesome coffee shop with a great location in downtown Northfield. I love the architecture and decor inside and if you go out back you will find a large deck overlooking the river. I've had delicious mochas, hot and iced, and I purchased a bag of beans to take home. They also have oak milk if you prefer non-dairy lattes. It is one of my favorites now. Everyone is so friendly that works here and if I was a local I would be here often! Definitely one of my favorite coffee shops I've visited. read more

Little Joy Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

I ordered the iced lavender latte, on their summer menu and it was delicious! The service was fast and friendly. I recommend sitting on the patio overlooking the river. They use local coffee and I am obsessed with their merch and artsy aesthetic inside. read more

Great spot. While not an established institution of Northfield, this is place serves locally roasted coffee which is a unique plus for us coffee snobs. The seating is plentiful but sometimes at a shortage on busy days. The space is bright and cheery with both historical and modern aspects shining through, and the patio seating has great views and atmosphere as well. They also sell beans directly from their roaster on shelves if you want to skip the online store. If you're not a coffee person they also have a good tea and kombucha selection as well. read more

I have visited so many coffee shops and i am so happy northfield was blessed with little joy! I have never been let down with their lattes my go to drink is a vanilla latte with oat milk and they never burn the milk and it is always so thick and even when I get other types of drinks they are always full effort and amazing. Thank you for being the best!! read more

Little Joy Coffee - Vanilla oat milk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

This is one of the places to support in downtown Northfield. The staff is inviting, supportive, and incorporating safe practices during a time where we crave to work in a coffee shop again. Atmosphere is great, bright environment, plenty of seating, and WiFi available. But don't forget the coffee! The menu has some great roasts and drinks that you won't find at a chain somewhere else. But if you're a fan of the classics, don't worry, they also have those. Personally I'm a fan of the 'spro and go. One shot of espresso and then a cup of black coffee. Perfect for a productive morning. They also offer baked goods from local bakeries if you're looking for something sweet in the morning. Definitely visit! read more

Little Joy Coffee - Cold Brew Tonic - One of their signature drinks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

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10/10 the best coffee shop in Northfield. They offer many types of milk and most of their products are local and sustainable! The atmosphere is amazing. read more

Little Joy Coffee - Green tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

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This is a cute coffee shop with very hipster vibes. The coffee was good! The service, perhaps, could have been warmer, but maybe it was a rough day. read more

Northfield has definitely needed an updated coffee house, and I'm so glad it came in the form of Little Joy!!! The ambiance is bright and spacious. The coffee is delicious. The staff is kind and personable. All a radical departure of what this town has known for coffee shops in the past. Bonus: a friend was staying with me fora short period and frequented Little Joy... within a few days the staff know her by name and remembered her order. A true gem. read more

Little Joy Coffee - Morning work sesh - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

This is a top notch coffee shop with an informed owner, delicious coffee, and exceptional barista skills. Little Joy could give any coffee shop in a larger city a serious run, and it's an awesome addition to Northfield. Do yourself a favor and level up to some delicious coffee. read more

Little Joy is such an incredible addition to Division Street and to Northfield. My husband and I are pretty particular when it comes to coffee, tending to like bright, lighter coffee over dark/burnt, oily coffee that needs to be inundated with sweeteners; good, third-wave coffee can be hard to find, especially in smaller communities. We're more than happy to pay for locally roasted, quality beans and to support a business that in turn supports other excellent, local businesses. Both my drip coffee and Gibraltar were great, and I can't wait to try some of the fall recipes they have in store. The service both times I've been in has been top-shelf. The space itself is lovely - light-filled, clean, minimal, and welcoming (with a kickin' playlist). Bonus: there's a back patio that overlooks the river. I noticed some folks commenting on the seating being uncomfortable; however, that was not our experience at all. We spent a peaceful Saturday afternoon in one of the well-crafted booths near the front for several hours and had no complaints. It was a perfect spot to see how welcomed every person was who walked through the door. Thanks, Little Joy team -- we'll be back! read more