Original Article From TheScoutGuide.com

For many, one of the most highly anticipated parts of the morning routine is that first cup of coffee. And while visiting a favorite neighborhood coffee shop certainly has its charms, sometimes you just want to brew a cup in the comfort of your own kitchen. To help coffee enthusiasts make the most of that experience, we asked The Scout Guide editors to recommend their favorite locally roasted options that just happen to be available for shipping across the country. Read on to up your coffee game and bring a little extra flavor to your morning cup—and to find out where to get your caffeine fix while visiting a few of our scouted towns. Looking for a great local coffee shop near you? Find one in The Scout Guide Directory.

COFFEE SHOP/ROASTER: Lelu Coffee
LOCATION: Siesta Key, Florida
WHAT THEY DO: Lelu began on Siesta Key, Florida, as a walk-up window selling espresso, bagels with cream cheese, and carrot cake made from the family recipe. That small walk-up window has transitioned to a thriving business—now ethically sourcing coffee beans from women growers and global independent farmers, while locally roasting and wholesaling coffee.
WHAT OUR EDITOR SAYS: “When you buy locally roasted coffee you’re putting money into the hands of people who create relationships and community globally, one farm at a time. You’re consuming a higher quality bean, which produces an irresistible aroma and flavor profile,” explains Nikki Logan Curran, editor of The Scout Guide Sarasota, Anna Maria to Boca Grande. “LeLu and the master roaster create direct farmer relationships, importing a higher quality, cleaner bean, and producing diverse flavor profiles. By buying direct you are guaranteed a fresh roast within the week it ships!”

Read the full article HERE or pick up a bag/cup at Classico, Marmalade Surfside, The Overton , Rise & Nye’s and other Lelu Coffee Partners!

COFFEE SHOP/ROASTER: Coast Roast Coffee
LOCATION: New Orleans, Louisiana
WHAT THEY DO: Coast Roast Coffee prides itself on getting coffee back to its simplest and freshest form. Their beans are roasted on antique coffee roasters with traditional roasting techniques, quickly delivered to their shops, and brewed up fresh.
WHAT OUR EDITOR SAYS: “These beans taught me how to drink coffee black,” says Taylor Morgan, editor of The Scout Guide New Orleans. “I feel like that says enough!”

COFFEE SHOP/ROASTER: Honest Coffee Roasters
LOCATION: Huntsville, Alabama
WHAT THEY DO: As a leader in Huntsville’s third-wave of coffee shops, Honest’s baristas serve up approachable, easy-drinking, coffee-forward pairings with house-made syrups and equally fresh food options. Honest’s beans are roasted in nearby Franklin, Tennessee, and they offer beans to order as well as subscription services. Just as approachable as the menu is in-store, Honest baristas can advise at-home consumers on how to best brew the beans in their preferred methods at home, from espresso to pour-over to drip.
WHAT OUR EDITOR SAYS: “I love the Honest all-season blend called Dual Axes because it is smooth and approachable, just like the shop itself, and can be produced in any of the at-home methods. And, you can always contact the shop and talk to the head baristas to get some advice on how best to refine your method of brewing (espresso, pour over, etc.), to get your desired cup of coffee in your own kitchen,” says Dawn Pumpelly, editor of The Scout Guide Huntsville. “That’s a level of service and knowledge that you can get from a local shop!”

COFFEE SHOP/ROASTER: Local Coffee House & Eatery
LOCATION: Aspen, Colorado
WHAT THEY DO: It’s a little known fact that coffee grown at higher elevations yields a denser bean, leading to a more concentrated flavor profile. Further, roasting coffee in higher elevations leads to a more delicate roasting process, resulting in “magic in a cup.” While you can’t export the elevation, Local Coffee is now offering coffee subscriptions, which means those near and far can get a little bit of that local magic.
WHAT OUR EDITOR SAYS: “Whether you’re looking for the first cup of the day or an afternoon pick-me-up, this locally roasted coffee—available in sustainable packaging in downtown Aspen and shipped nationwide—does not disappoint,” says Amy Groom, co-editor of The Scout Guide Aspen.

COFFEE SHOP/ROASTER: Aromas World
LOCATION: Williamsburg, Virginia
WHAT THEY DO: Aromas was first created in Williamsburg on Father’s Day in 2000 with the intent to offer an inviting retreat for meeting with good friends and discussing events of the day with diverse visitors from around the world. The owners’ goal has been to complement visitors’ experiences with the best available fresh roasted Arabica bean coffees, which are available for purchase online.
WHAT OUR EDITOR SAYS: “Aroma is the release of the flavorful compounds from coffee through the air. Like the name of the business, Aromas World Coffee is strong and flavorful with every brew that is made,” says Sara Harris, editor of The Scout Guide Williamsburg & The Chesapeake Bay. “Try the Aromas Signature House Brew, a rich blend of coffee from Ethiopia, Sumatra, and Guatemala that is roasted and brewed to extract maximum flavor from the highest quality of coffee beans.”