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Shortwave Coffee

4.2 (42 reviews)
Open • 7:30 am - 6:00 pm

Shortwave Coffee Photos

Business Info

SHORTWAVE COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for working
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Shortwave Coffee

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Reviews With Photos

Matcha tea mix
Diana F.

This was a cozy little coffee shop. I was greeted quickly and kindly. The gal behind the counter seemed shocked when i asked for a recommendation. I got a tea matcha mix and it was delightful and colorful. I will say the seating in here was rather tight and not as comfortable as it could have been. Some seating spots were directly in walking paths. Additionally, the bathroom was out of order. Overall the decor and the coffee was tasty and I'd be back!

Caramel roll
Hoa N.

Found this place for dog friendly inside versus outside on the patio. My friend was visiting from Chicago and brought their dog and needed to be dog friendly. Short Wave didn't disappoint as there were many dogs with their owners coming and going. Service was ok in that we didn't get our drinks and food all at once but available as they are ready. I just had black coffee with cream and sugar. It was ok. They had specialty lattes available on their small chalk board with three different kind of pie flavors. The space is small but cozy. Prices are reasonable. The caramel roll just melts in your mouth so definitely recommend ordering once of them if available.

So cute inside!
Raisa B.

This place is so cute! I walked in right when they opened on Wednesday, and there were already two people waiting for their coffee (which is really nice to see). I was followed by a few other people, so they must stay pretty busy! The barista greeted me right away, even though she was making other drinks. She took my order and offered me a suggestion for my husband's coffee. The drinks were made quickly, and the foam heart was cute! I am so excited to find out that they have a cardamom latte on their menu all the time, as cardamom is my favorite flavor, and it's hard to find places that have it on their menu (and not just as a seasonal special). Shortwave is really close to my work, so I'm definitely looking forward to coming back soon!

Banana latte
Chris S.

Cool Little nook in southwest Minneapolis with a good variety of coffee styles. The barista once again was very helpful with guiding me to a drink. I ended up getting a latte with cold foam. It was great. Will come back soon.

Smaller chai-$6
Emily A.

Visited 12/21/24. Full disclosure I've gone to Shortwave like three different times willing to give them another chance because I think it's so cute inside and every time I find myself pretty disappointed. Price points are high, and service is never particularly prompt. While the coffee/drinks themselves are decent I always find myself thinking that I would get similar results from a chain (which I never say and is such a bummer). Wishing them the best but would likely pick another local coffee shop instead

Kailee C.

Cute little coffee shop! My matcha latte was so smooth. I had it with homemade vanilla. I love when places use homemade syrups. We stayed and worked on our laptops for awhile and felt welcome the whole time. Free WiFi, enough tables and outlets for working on things, games people can play, street parking, and friendly service. It's also right across from Patina so you can do some shopping afterwards :)

Aaron S.

First and foremost the coffee here is great. I've usually done a pour over and have always been impressed. The shop itself is a nice place with a variety of good seats and fun art on the walls. Definitely a coffee shop worth a visit!

Ordering counter
Jean G.

Staple coffee shop with great vibe, cozy ambiance, and peaceful lighting. We got the dirty chai and it was amazing. The service was quick and pleasant. Would definitely recommend!

Mykenna C.

Very yummy and cute little place. Busy and not too loud as there were sound breakers on the ceilings. The workers were great when helping select a coffee and explain a few of their other little items up front. I enjoyed my coffee very much. It did seem a little dirty in there but it is also an older build which could also be the cause.

I want to like Shortwave. They put thought into it. The coffee and ambiance are above average. It's in a good location for when I have to burn time in this part of Minneapolis. The service is earnest... but often barely competent, and therein lies the issue: half of my visits have had a new person who doesn't quite know how to make the drinks or handle the obligations, but not for lack of enthusiasm. It seems like an issue with onboarding and training. Still, I'm willing to keep trying but I won't put it in the upper echelon of Twin Cities coffee spots. 3.5 stars.

a hand holding a cup of coffee
Cindy D.

Nice coffeeshop located in South Minneapolis. I made a quick stop here, so I could grab iced dirty chai with almond milk. It was very good, with an espresso. I chatted a little bit with the owner, very nice guy, and he did mentioned this was their 4th coffeeshop in the country. I would definitely come back and stayed longer.

Open space

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Reviews are generally positive. People highlight the quality coffee and specialty drinks, cozy inviting atmosphere, and friendly helpful staff.

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Cute shop - the owner (I think) was super friendly and went out of his way to make sure he was making my dry cappuccino the way I liked it.

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Ask the Community - Shortwave Coffee

Review Highlights - Shortwave Coffee

“I love the bright, cozy vibe in Shortwave!”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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Curioso Coffee Bar - Tons of seating options!

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4.7(32 reviews)
2.4 mi•CARAG, Uptown

I ended up at this coffee bar after a little digging. I learned that Curioso Coffee Bar's approach…read moreto sourcing beans was shaped by the founder's time in Panama, where he roasted his own coffee using beans sourced directly from local producers and sold at his café. I know firsthand that coffee is king in Panama, so I figured anything inspired by their incredible coffee culture had to be worth trying. I visited Curioso on an early Sunday morning and immediately found it special. Not just for its coffee, but for the ambiance, service, and overall vibe. Curioso is a large, welcoming space that's part coffee bar, part brewery. I was immediately impressed by the variety of entertainment for all ages: arcade games, pool tables, dart boards, a skee-ball machine, board games, and even claw machines. Seating options are abundant, from cozy couches to tables and high-tops. There's a toddler play area and a library filled with books for all ages. The space feels family-friendly and is warm, welcoming community gathering space for all. I noticed flyers for free community events Curioso hosts, like Sunday Morning Yoga and Tuesday Trivia nights. The service was equally warm! The barista, although managing a busy Sunday morning solo, took her time to explain coffee options, highlight weekly specials with her own recommendations, and describe the pastries in partnership with Fruit & Grain and Bagels from St. Paul Bagelry. Oat milk is the standard for all their drinks! (Which I loved) We tried two speciality lattes: the "Butter Luck Next Year" (iced) and the "Blue Ribbon Peach Pie" (hot). Both were exceptional! Strong, robust, and delicious. Alongside, we also enjoyed an "Everything" handpie and a "Blueberry Lemon Curd" pop tart. Both pastries were out of this world delicious! I loooooved this pairing. I'm a sucker for savory, so the "Everything" handpie reigned supreme for me. Although I don't have a fur-baby (yet), I would like to include that Curioso is fur-friendly. I'm looking forward to returning several more times!

I visited Curioso recently as part of my 'Sip Scouter' coffee passport book…read more Knocking off just one star because the barista didn't know anything about this coffee passport book (but also giving them benefit of the doubt as they may have been new) and it seemed to take a bit for my drink even though the place was empty. I ordered one of their seasonal specials--the banana cream pie latte. It was very good. The ambiance was OK. Smaller seating area and located in a strip mall. Although my drink was good it wasn't necessarily something to write home about. I might come here again if in the area and in need of a coffee, but probably not a place I will necessarily seek out.

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Curioso Coffee Bar
Curioso Coffee Bar - Pinball machines galore!

Pinball machines galore!

Curioso Coffee Bar

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Backstory Coffee Roasters - Iced coconut creme latte- very tasty!!

Backstory Coffee Roasters

4.5(169 reviews)
5.2 mi•North Loop
•$$

My little nephew loves to come here when he comes to visit me. He always wants to go to this coffee…read moreshop that looks like a library. The interior is very spacious with natural lighting. Their large espresso latte comes with four shots of espresso. My little nephew likes to get the hot chocolate with one shot of espresso. He usually only takes a couple sips and then he gives the rest to his parents lol. This place is located in the lobby of an apartment building. There is no parking lot. It is all street parking only and very rarely do I ever see a street parking spot open. The streets in the area are always always full of cars so it's best to walk here if you are in the area.

Rating 5 stars on the interior alone! JK (kinda)…read more I came here on a Sunday morning around 9:15 to grab a quick coffee before meeting a friend for brunch. I wish I had come earlier so that I could have enjoyed the interior! Very impressive and wins the award for the most beautiful/impressive coffee shop decor/interior I've seen}! It's a former warehouse so the ceilings are really tall, yet its not one of those modern/minimalist warehouse type spaces. They've really done some cool things w/ the interior to make it more welcoming and there were a lot of people here enjoying their coffee & conversations, etc. I was interested in the fall seasonal menu as I'm a sucker for anything fall/pumpkin, etc. I got the pumpkin butter flat white, which comes in a small and cute 8 oz cup (and you can still get it to-go). I enjoyed it a lot! Definitely recommend for the vibes but the coffee as well :)

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Backstory Coffee Roasters - Inside of coffee shop

Inside of coffee shop

Backstory Coffee Roasters - Interior of Backstory Coffee and their iconic fireplace with their plant wall

Interior of Backstory Coffee and their iconic fireplace with their plant wall

Backstory Coffee Roasters - So cute!

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So cute!

Shortwave Coffee - coffee - Updated October 2026

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