Bordertown Coffee

Atmosphere: 8/​10, cozy with varied seating, could use some more fresh air though. Cappuccino: good, about average for a campus café. Espresso (in a milk drink): 68/​100, dark blend from a local wholesale roaster, balanced, no burnt flavor. Pricing: reasonable (~$ 3 for a basic 12oz drink). Speed/​quality of service: seems fine, unmemorable in a good way. Food options: yum.

This shop is my absolute favorite on campus. The ambience is warm and cozy; I love the fireplace and historic feel the shop carries. Plenty of tables to study or have conversation, and it’s never too loud.
They have a great tea selection, and I especially love the vanilla almond black tea. I’m not one to get pastries at a coffee shop, but I usually cave for their banana or pecan bread. The prices are reasonable. I’d rather spend the same amount here than at a chain shop that doesn’t have half of these selections. Employees are welcoming and kind. The only downside is that it’s closed on the weekends, but it’s understandable because people live upstairs. Overall, I will always suggest this shop when grabbing coffee/​tea with a friend :)

This place is great! Fun atmosphere. Love that it is an old frat house. Friendly staff and good coffee! Convenient location.

Good coffee, interesting vibe to the place too. Varied seating… high tables, card tables, window seats, couches, Wing chairs. Beamed ceilings. Off the beaten path by 50 yards or so, but worth the trek.

Great study spot with strong internet and stronger coffee. Delicious Americano and fresh orange poppyseed bread. Alternative rock playing moderately loud. Great coffee house ambience.

The chai was great and the environment was even better. It’s a beautiful old house converted into a great space with many beautiful, ivy covered windows. Enjoy!

Their chai lattes are very tasty, and there’s something about sitting down in that historic building that feels incredibly collegiate.
I just wish they stayed open later, and on the weekends.

Old fraternity house turned into a nonprofit coffee shop.
The staff is great. Prices are reasonable. The food and coffee are both pretty good.
The environment is very cozy, and makes a great study and date spot.

I am always looking for a quiet place to work/​study that has good soup and good hot beverages. This place hit the mark. Soft music that you can talk over, good lighting, comfortable chairs, lots of tables. I had the split pea soup which was very good. My beverage today is a Chai Tea Latte — also very good. It’s in a really cool old mansion; could be easy to miss if you don’t know what you are looking for. I didn’t give it 5 stars only because the silverware is plastic and the bowl and plate were badly chipped. I will be back and will tell others. PS. Pay for parking.

Love the service here, so friendly. Their seasonal lattes are great, as well! Food is just ok, but a cheap and fast lunch option when you are in a pinch.

When Espresso 22 went away we started going here. The sandwiches and soups are decent, the pastries quite good and the baristas are competent. It’s a locally owned place that does its bit for the community which is a plus.

Bordertown is so cool. The building is a refurbished fraternity house that most people just pass by without a second thought. They serve an amazing mocha and their banana bread was delicious too. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly; not cold or standoffish like in some of the other coffee shops around Dinkytown.

This place is great! The staff is always friendly and seem genuine. The coffee shop is in a very cool old mansion, and has a decently sized seating area with free wifi to sit and chill or to do some homework. The drinks I’ve ordered have always been very tasty, and have typical coffee shop prices. Nothing is too expensive. Bordertown also has a great selection of coffee shop treats and lunch specials. It’s my favorite place around the U to go to a quick coffee fix!

Definitely not your typical café; I nearly walked by this place that looks like an inn out of a book. Cute outdoor lawn chairs sit outside for the beautiful summer weather. I ordered a soy Aztec Mocha, and it’s definitely one of the best caffeinated drinks I’ve ever had (especially since soy rarely tastes this great). The indoor seating is great with variety; perfect for sitting around and working all day (I enjoy the window seats), or curling up with a book in couches by the fireplace. A good amount of outlets are available, along with free WiFi. All in all, a very enjoyable place to be.

I discovered Bordertown shortly after my internship started in Minneapolis this summer. It’s a little hard to find even though it’s directly across from my apartment as it is hidden inside an old frat house.
This is seriously one of the most beautiful coffeehouses I’ve ever been to. Some of the tables are arranged near windows where you can get work done while still getting sunlight. A very nice bonus for the summer time!
It’s worth finding this place. The only thing that I would change is I wish it were open on weekends in the summer time– but it’s very understandable that it’s not because I don’t think there are many U of M students around on the weekends in the summer. It would definitely help motivate me to study for my summer courses on the weekends though.
Also, great coffee. Pretty much crucial for a coffeehouse.
Try the Eye Opener with dark coffee for some pep in your step.

One day, I came into Bordertown for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner. A little obsessed? I think so. Over the past few months, this place has quickly become one of my favorite spots on campus, and definitely my favorite coffee shop.
Bordertown is an all-​around great place: perfect for catching up with friends over a meal, having a meeting, or getting work done (I’m jealous of people who can actually get their work done in cafes and coffee shops, I never can!) I love the variety of seating, from the small tables for two to the comfy couches where you can gaze at the great artwork on the walls. It’s always a fun time talking to the baristas when you order, and don’t get me started on the food! Whether it’s the phenomenal quiche, tasty soups, or fresh baked goods, I’m more than happy with everything I have had here. If you can, stop by when they’re pulling the scones/​muffins/​whatever out of the oven — I had a scone fresh from the oven, and no joke about it, it changed my life.
The only sad thing is that the quiche (and the majority of their food) sells out by 1pm, if not earlier. Get there early!

This is a haven for all Caribou and Starbucks haters!
Fresh homemade baked goods. Friendly non-​robotic baristas. Quiet. Warm. NOT Starbucks. Non-​corporate chosen music. Close to campus.
I am always happy when I leave with a cup of Border Town in my hands.
Favorite coffee shop within a mile radius of UofM.
End of review.

After betting with Sara W, we discovered that this place does, in fact, exist. At first look, it appears that this place is simply a creepy «open» sign in some fratboy’s bedroom! And it is actually a former frat… turned into a coffee shop! Although it used to be a frat, it does not smell like stale beer and dirty boys. (Which is a good thing!)
This is probably the coziest coffee shop around Dinkytown! A little less well-​known, with the home-​y atmosphere that many area cafes seem to lack. There are comfy chairs, high-​top tables, and individual tables with plenty of convenient outlets. Also, with a group of 4 or more, you can reserve their conference-​esque room for free! (Except during the lunch hour). Perfect for working on a group project!
I ordered their Cold Press Mocha (made with espresso instead of coffee) and it was delicious! Next time I am definitely ordering one of the baked goods or quiches that are made in-​house. They looked scrumptious!

Bordertown is by far my favorite coffee shop on campus. The music is amazing. So far tonight I’ve heard Sufjan Stevens, The Shins, Beatles, and even some Johanna Newsom.
The Chai is pretty darn good as well. The people here are mostly university students — and it’s really quiet. The staff that I’ve dealth with are amazing and very friendly.
I think most of the profits go towards charity, which is pretty cool too ;)

Bordertown is an easy-​to-​miss little coffee shop located inside a beautiful old frat house on a quiet side street. I stopped by for a cup of tea and a vegan cookie and was quite pleased.
For one thing, the place offers a variety of loose leaf teas, which is always a huge point in their favor (I loathe independent coffee shops that pawn off «Stash» or «Republic of Tea» prepackaged bags, which is a cheap and mediocre way to do things). They also have extensive coffee/​latte offerings.
I also had a vegan chocolate chip cookie ($ 1.50) which was excellent: this was definitely one of the best vegan cookies I’ve had in the Twin Cities, beating out anything you’d find at The Wedge, Hard Times, or Seward Co-​op (however, Common Roots and Seward Café do make excellent cookies, albeit with different styles).
Bordertown’s cookie (which was also their only vegan offering) is moist, sweet and substantial in texture and heaviness.
I went back a few days later and had a double chocolate chip cookie with fresh almonds ($ 2) that was also amazing: rich, soft and fresh.
However, the place’s hours are troublesome and the main room was a bit too bleak for my likes. The chairs and tables weren’t very comfortable or cozy and the noise level is too quiet (mostly because the acoustics of the room amplify even whispers). This might be a good place to study, but not to chit-​chat or hang-​out.