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Shortwave Coffee

4.2 (41 reviews)
Closed 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

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!

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 :)

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.

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!

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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23 days ago

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Murad M.

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1 month ago

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Murad M.

Thanks for stopping in and leaving a review, Bob!

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5 months ago

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3 days ago

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6 months ago

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6 months ago

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Murad M.

Thank you for stopping in and sharing your experience!

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7 months ago

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11 months ago

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2 months ago

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7 months ago

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8 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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4 months ago

Great neighborhood place with a nice atmosphere. Enjoyed the cardamom latte based on other reviews and a pastry.

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Murad M.

Thanks…Bud!!

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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Murad M.

Thanks Cindy!

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Elegant shop. Bright open room with mid century feel. They brew a good cup of coffee.

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Murad M.

Thank you! Love to hear that you had a great experience!

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

Good grass roots coffee shop. Line can be long with a good wait. Good neighborhood place to grab joe.

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Lovely pastry and service. The coffee was delicious and it is a smaller place but some comfortable seating available.

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3 years ago

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Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Shortwave Coffee

Review Highlights - Shortwave Coffee

I love the bright, cozy vibe in Shortwave!

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Curioso Coffee Bar - Tons of seating options!

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4.7(32 reviews)
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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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Pinball machines galore!

Thesis

Thesis

4.7(6 reviews)
2.3 miUptown

I wanted to love this spot, but it ended up being a bit of a miss for me, though not without some…read morebright spots. The coffee itself was excellent. The miso cortado was delicious and really stood out, and they have a great variety of specialty drinks. The service was also extremely kind and welcoming, which I genuinely appreciated. That said, the space didn't quite live up to the hype. The location felt a little unfinished. Minimal decor, unfinished flooring, and no truly cozy seating made it feel less like a place you'd want to settle into for a while. While they encourage people to linger and don't offer Wi-Fi (which I respect), the ambiance doesn't quite support that intention. It felt more like a quick in-and-out stop, even though that doesn't seem to be their goal. The atmosphere was chill, with vinyl records playing in the background, which was a nice touch. I just wish the overall design and seating matched that relaxed, stay-awhile vibe. Great coffee and kind staff, but the space itself didn't fully align with the experience I was hoping for.

So glad this place is on Yelp now so I can rave about it!…read more I came in the day after it opened and was super impressed that everything was already running so smoothly. They have a lot of super intriguing drinks that I can't wait to get back and try, but I had to have the black coffee for my first stop. They only do pour overs and mine was great. And so were the beans I took home. It's really nice to see a coffee shop that cares about their beans more than syrupy drinks. The shop itself is small but has some nice seating options. One thing to note is that they don't have WiFi so this place isn't really meant for the work from home crowd. I can't wait to get back here

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Thesis - Green Room. Yum.

Green Room. Yum.

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Backstory Coffee Roasters - Bloomington Central Station - Pastries

Backstory Coffee Roasters - Bloomington Central Station

4.2(37 reviews)
5.0 mi

I didn't realize that Backstory opened up where Fiddlehead Coffee was a few years back. The…read morelocation is not far from the MOA nearby many apartment buildings. There is some street parking as well as some paid ramps. I came in on a Saturday morning around 10AM. By then, it was busy, but I was able to still find a seat. The staff were kind and I think as pleased with the number of drink options as well as pastries - gluten free, too! I enjoyed a seasonal lemon bar latte (yum!) and a gluten free banana chocolate chip muffin. I will likely be back. The coffee is great, the parking situation is just a bit weird.

It's funny how poor customer service completely changes your attitude towards a business you used…read moreto enjoy. I used to live in the area and when the small coffee shop opened I was so exited to have that in our community and was happy to support them - even if some coffee beverages were top dollar. I was in the area today, and decided to stop in since I no longer live in the area and wanted to enjoy a good brew. Unfortunately, the experience I had left me leaving with a bitter taste in my mouth - and it wasn't from the coffee. I thought it goes without saying, but when a customer greets you, you should greet them back, not just stare. It would be even better if your staff would greet each customer first - make them feel welcome. Maybe I'm a millennial channeling boomer energy, but for years I'm noticing the customer service disappearing from a lot of businesses. I love that connection, but I'm understanding that some people see only a paycheck and skid by with minimal customer service and that is the new way. I don't plan to visit this establishment again. I wish the barista with star tattoos would have put in enough customer service energy that she did with her impeccable makeup.

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Backstory Coffee Roasters - Bloomington Central Station
Backstory Coffee Roasters - Bloomington Central Station - Seasonal Sweet Danish (left) & Ham and Cheese Croissant (right)

Seasonal Sweet Danish (left) & Ham and Cheese Croissant (right)

Backstory Coffee Roasters - Bloomington Central Station - Entrance

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Five Watt Coffee - Cold press - light bodied yet very flavorful

Five Watt Coffee

4.5(362 reviews)
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I found a miscellaneous gift card to Five Watt after cleaning out a junk drawer at home, so I made…read morean effort to check it out! I'm so glad I did! Street parking is available for this small little shop. It took me a second to find it after my GPS told me I had arrived, but I promise it's there! The interior is quaint and intimate, full of groups conversing and sharing a cup of joe. The barista was friendly and I could tell spent quality time making my latte! I went with a seasonal latte and it was impeccable. They have inventive, yet refined specialty and rotating flavors that really impressed me. I don't see bitters as an ingredient too often, but loved the options here. I'll absolutely be back to check out more!

First time at Five Watt. I was just trying to find somewhere with a good matcha that was somewhat…read moreon my way to school. Had to get a green drink for St. Patty's Day. There was easy street parking right outside the shop, which was nice because I was running a little late. Cute classic coffee shop vibes inside. Barista was super friendly, kind, and quick. Ended up getting the "Shamrock Shake" special because duh St. Patty's Day! Was a fun little surprise that they had a themed drink. I LOVE when people get into themes and holidays. The drink itself wasn't my favorite, but that's because it had mint in it and I am not a huge mint in my drinks person (unless it's peppermint tea), so that was totally on me. I just got too excited about themed drink. But besides the mint it was good and huge! Price is a little steep and they charge extra for alt milks, which is fair but always a bummer for my lactose intolerant ass.

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Five Watt Coffee
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Interior

Shortwave Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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