Hot Shots III. Coffeehouse Roundup in Springfield

Caffè latte is an Italian coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. The Italian form means "coffee and milk", similar to the French café au lait, the Spanish café con leche. Latte is American shorthand for caffè latte. Ordering a latte in Italy will get you a cup of warm milk.

If you learn just one thing, let this be it: espresso, is pronounced just like it is spelled. Never say eXpresso again.

If you are new in town, seek out the local coffee shops. It's easy to strike up a conversation, you already have coffee in common. Locals can give you the scoop on the best affordable restaurants in town, not the overpriced tourist sites.

Several coffee houses have started selling oatmeal. It's not bad if you like instant oatmeal. Plus there is the added bonus that you can feel virtuous all morning, just by ordering the heart healthy oatmeal.

The Coffee Houses: Fog City, The Hub, The Buzz

Fog City Coffee

1300 E. Battlefield Road Bld. A
, 417 882-1701
, Hours: 
6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday 


If you use the drive-through at Fog City in Freemont Center, then it is accessible. It is a drive through coffee bar, although there are a few indoor seats and outdoor seating.

This coffee spot is a drive-through coffee and sandwich shop (an offshoot of San Francisco Oven.) Fog City is the name of SFO's house brand of coffee. Free Wifi.

The menu - includes the usual assortment of coffee beverages, smoothies, salads, sandwiches and wraps. What I like about Fog City is that they use Ghirardelli chocolate like Chocolate Raspberry Cappiccino and White Chocolate Cherry Sundae. Good smoothies.

The Hub

Coffee and Bicycles. Their coffee menu and bike repair price list are on the web page Mon – Fri 7:30am to 8pm, Saturday 10 am to 6pm, Closed Sunday. 811 N. Boonville, Springfield Mo, 65802, 417-862-0670

Even if you are not a bicycle owner, give this coffee house a try. They have a few baked goods, but their stong suite is good coffee well made by knowledgable staff. If you know coffee, then you know Intelligentsia.

The Mission at Intelligentsia Coffee is “to provide our customers, staff, and community with an unparalleled and complete coffee and tea experience in an environment steeped in understanding, knowledge, skill, service and mutual respect.” Mission accomplished. I just like the feel of this old building. Did the Hub find a great place, or did this place find a great Hub?

The Buzz

1360 E Republic Rd,Springfield, MO 65804, (417) 881-4442

We tried the chicken salad sandwich, ham, cheddar, and roasted apple sandwich, both very good, with the freshest ingredients. You will swear your grandmother works here, because The Buzz sells the best carrot cake.

Most Springfield restaurants sell good coffee, like the Panera chain. Panera has all the typical coffee house beverages and a familiar menu no matter where you travel. My favorites are the fresh salads and a rotating menu of soups. The thing that stands out is the service. They have a knowledgeable and downright pleasant staff at every Panera.

If you see a Folgers coffee pot in a reastaurant, you should not be dissapointed. Unless the pot has been sitting there for some time. If the coffee is bad, ask the waitress to take it off your bill. Don't pay for bad coffee. A fresh cup of Folgers is a great finnish to any meal.

Have you found the best barista in town? Leave a comment.

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Hot Shots I. Coffeehouse Roundup in Springfield Missouri

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For more information about Springfield - More about Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau