5 Coffee Shops Worth the Drive in Northern Indiana: Part 2
If you've been around The Kindred Compass for a while, you know I will happily plan an entire day trip around a good coffee shop.
But for a coffee shop to truly be worth the drive, there needs to be something special about it—a cozy atmosphere, a memorable drink, or even better, a charming downtown, antique store, or local shops nearby that give you an excuse to make a whole day of it.
After sharing five of my favorites in Part 1, I'm back with five more northern Indiana coffee shops that are worth adding to your next road trip.
1. Kitchen Cupboard Coffee | Shipshewana, Indiana
Tucked inside the Davis Mercantile building in downtown Shipshewana, Kitchen Cupboard Coffee immediately feels warm and inviting.
Soft lighting from table lamps, leather couches, wood accents, greenery, and high-top seating overlooking downtown make this the kind of coffee shop where you'll want to settle in for a while.
I ordered a cappuccino with flavored syrup, and it was both beautiful and delicious.
What makes this stop especially worth the drive is everything you can do after your coffee. You're already inside Davis Mercantile, so spend some time browsing the shops before heading outside to explore downtown Shipshewana. Add lunch, a buggy ride, antique shopping, and an ice cream stop, and you've easily turned your coffee run into a full day trip.
Make a day of it: Read my full Shipshewana day-trip itinerary here.
2. Main Street Roasters | Nappanee, Indiana
A Friday morning in Nappanee calls for two things: good coffee and antiques.
I stopped at Main Street Roasters before meeting my friend Katie to look at a potential antique booth space at 1874 Found Goods, and this coffee shop was buzzing.
Exposed brick, cozy seating, an upstairs area, and a display case filled with baked goods give it that classic coffee-shop atmosphere I love.
My iced Americano with cold foam was so good and exactly what I needed before helping Katie decide whether she was ready to start her antique booth adventure.
If you're looking for a coffee shop in Nappanee, definitely put this one on your list. Afterward, explore the downtown shops or head over to Coppes Commons, one of my favorite places in the area to spend a few hours shopping and eating.
Make a day of it: Read my full Nappanee day-trip itinerary here.
3. Dreaming Tree Café
Sometimes you find a coffee shop that makes you want to cancel your plans and stay awhile.
Dreaming Tree Caféis one of those places.
Grab a cappuccino, find a cozy corner, pull out your book, and enjoy a slow morning surrounded by one of the prettiest coffee shop interiors I've discovered. They also have a delicious looking food menu.
This isn't just a grab-your-coffee-and-go kind of place. It's somewhere you'll actually want to sit, relax, and enjoy your drink— if you’d like to make a day out of it you can drive over to nearby Jefferson Pointe and spend the day shopping at stores like Old Navy, Trader Joes, Sierra and Marshals to name a few.
Make a day of it: If you are more interested in antiques, read my full Fort Wayne day-trip itinerary here.
4. The Filling Station | Berne, Indiana
The Filling Station is a bustling local coffee shop with a large menu and plenty of fun specialty drinks.
Along with classic espresso drinks, you'll find more unexpected options like a Cold Brew Float and Frosted Lemonade, plus sandwiches if you're hungry.
But here's what makes Berne especially worth the drive for me: it's also home to Cuckoo + Co. Antiques, one of my favorite antique stores I've discovered recently.
Coffee followed by a few hours of treasure hunting? That's my kind of day.
Make a day of it: Read my full Berne and Decatur antique-shopping itinerary here.
5. The Grove Coffee Collective | Warsaw, Indiana
I stumbled across The Grove Coffee Collective in downtown Warsaw and was pleasantly surprised to discover that they don't just have great coffee—they also have a small collection of antiques.
Coffee AND antiques?
Basically my dream combination.
After grabbing your drink and browsing the vintage finds, spend some time exploring downtown Warsaw or make the short drive over to Winona Lake.
The Village at Winona is one of my favorite places in the area, with local shops, restaurants, beautiful walking paths, and plenty of places to slow down and enjoy the day.
Make a day of it: Read my Winona Lake day-trip itinerary here.
Final Thoughts
One of my favorite things about discovering a great coffee shop is finding everything else around it.
A coffee stop can turn into an afternoon of antique hunting, wandering through local shops, finding a great lunch spot, or discovering a small town you might never have visited otherwise.
That's exactly what these five places offer.
So grab a friend, pick a coffee shop, and make a day of it. Sometimes the best little road trips start with nothing more than deciding where you're getting your morning coffee.
