By Bakio · Last updated · Independent. No paid placements.
Salt Lake City's coffee scene has quietly become one of the Mountain West's most interesting, fueled by a mix of longtime local roasters who've been doing this since before third wave was a term, and newer operations pushing into single-origin geek territory. The Ballpark neighborhood leads the charge with 11 coffee spots, followed by East Central and Rio Grande with 8 each—these aren't just cafe clusters, they're neighborhoods where you can actually walk between multiple solid options. What separates SLC from other mid-sized specialty markets is the price accessibility: most local roasters sit comfortably in the $16-22 per pound range, undercutting coastal competitors without sacrificing quality. The scene skews practical rather than precious—lots of approachable blends alongside the washed Ethiopians, and roasters who aren't afraid to offer a proper dark roast.
The Salt Lake City scene at a glance
- ●Pricing here is genuinely accessible—under $5 per 100g is common, not a budget tier
- ●Local roasters still prioritize blends heavily, not just single-origin rotations
- ●You'll find more Central American coffees (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico) than most coastal cities
- ●The city supports 11 roasters with online retail despite Utah's unique alcohol/caffeine culture
- ●Ballpark has become the de facto coffee neighborhood with 11 venues in one area
- 1
Salt Lake Roasting Co
23 coffees tracked·avg US$4.45/100gThe largest selection in the city with 14 coffees in rotation, Salt Lake Roasting Co runs a solid lineup of organics and Fair Trade offerings without charging the usual premium. They're all over the classics—washed Costa Rican, washed Ethiopian, organic Colombian—executed cleanly at prices that make them an easy daily driver. This is the roaster you recommend when someone wants reliably good coffee without having to think too hard about it.
Editor's pick
Try the Ethiopia Washed FTO for $19.95—classic floral Ethiopian profile with Fair Trade certification at a price that undercuts most competitors.
- 2
Rimini Coffee
22 coffees tracked·avg US$4.58/100gWith 10 offerings weighted heavily toward blends, Rimini Coffee leans into drinkability over terroir fireworks. Their MILANO and MAGNIFICENT 7 blends sit in that versatile medium-roast sweet spot that works for both drip and espresso, while CANYON shows they're not afraid to go lighter when the coffee calls for it. Pricing hovers consistently around $19-20 per pound, and the focus on named blends suggests they're dialing in repeatable profiles rather than chasing seasonal micro-lots.
Editor's pick
Try the MILANO for $19—a medium roast blend at $4.19 per 100g that gives you espresso-friendly versatility without the usual blend upcharge.
- 3
Millcreek Coffee Roasters
15 coffees trackedMillcreek runs a tighter, more curated lineup of 7 coffees including some genuinely interesting origin choices—Timor-Leste doesn't show up on most American roaster menus. They're not chasing the lightest roasts or the fanciest processing methods; the Broadway Blend goes dark, the Ethiopian stays straightforward. It's a neighborhood roaster approach: consistent offerings you can count on, with the occasional rotation to keep things from getting boring.
Editor's pick
Try the Ethiopian for $20.95—a clean, approachable take on Ethiopian coffee without the natural-process funk that divides people.
Currently in stock
- 4
La Barba Coffee
10 coffees tracked·avg US$4.02/100gLa Barba swings for complexity with their Single Origin Set and natural-process Ethiopians, positioning themselves at the higher end of the local market. That said, their pricing structure is all over the place—you can get their House Blend in bulk for under $1 per 100g, or pay $27.52 per 100g for their curated single-origin set. The Ethiopia Alo Bona Zuria Site in the 5-pound format represents serious value if you're committed to a coffee, though that's a lot of beans to work through before they go stale.
Editor's pick
Try the Ethiopia | Alo Bona Zuria Site in the 5lb format for $22.87—natural process Ethiopian at $1.01 per 100g is legitimately cheap, assuming you can drink it fast enough.
- 5
Temple Grounds Coffee Company
12 coffees tracked·avg US$5.62/100gThe coffee names here—Revelation Roast, Outer Darkness, Worthy Bourbon—give away Temple Grounds' Salt Lake City roots with a wink at LDS culture. Behind the names sits a compact 4-coffee lineup focused on medium and dark roasts, with a bourbon-barrel aged Colombian that's either going to intrigue you or send you running. At $5.64 per 100g they're on the pricier end locally, but the 340g bag size keeps total outlay reasonable if you want to experiment.
Editor's pick
Try the Worthy Bourbon for $19.17—a bourbon barrel-aged Colombian that's either a fun experiment or a bridge too far, depending on your tolerance for coffee stunts.
- 6
Jack Mormon Coffee
9 coffees tracked·avg US$5.14/100gAnother local roaster that isn't shy about the name, Jack Mormon focuses on Latin American origins—Mexico and Guatemala dominate the lineup. They offer unusual 57g sample sizes at $3 each, which is actually a smart way to try the Cuarenteño or Bella Carmona before committing to a full bag. The pricing on larger formats sits around $4.56-5.26 per 100g, keeping them competitive in the local market.
Editor's pick
Try the Cuarenteño for $3 in the 57g size—a Mexican washed coffee you can test-drive for the price of a latte.
- 7
Blue Copper Coffee
7 coffees tracked·avg US$5.39/100gA small operation with just 3 offerings, Blue Copper goes mysterious with their Redacted Espresso (origin unknown, roasted dark) and rotates their decaf sourcing rather than committing to one. The Bali Kintaman represents their single-origin play, though details are sparse. At $5.15-5.39 per 100g in 340g bags, they're positioned as a specialty option without quite giving you the transparency that usually comes with that price point.
Editor's pick
Try the Redacted Espresso for $18.33—a dark roast with an undisclosed origin that either respects trade secrets or leans too hard into the mystery angle.
- 8
Hidden Peaks Coffee & Roasting Company
7 coffees tracked·avg US$3.57/100gHidden Peaks is the value play in Salt Lake City—$3.51 per 100g for classic Central and South American coffees puts them a full dollar cheaper per 100g than most local competition. The Cowboy Blend dark roast and straightforward Costa Rican and Colombian offerings suggest they're aiming for accessibility over complexity, which at $15.95 per pound is a completely reasonable approach. Sometimes you just want dependable coffee that doesn't cost $20.
Editor's pick
Try the Costa Rican for $15.95—washed, classic profile, and genuinely cheap at $3.51 per 100g without tasting like a budget compromise.
- 9
URBAN SAILOR COFFEE
7 coffees tracked·avg US$6.34/100gUrban Sailor keeps it tight with 3 coffees, including a natural-process Ethiopian single origin and their Evoke Blend. The 284g bag size is slightly unusual (10oz rather than the standard 12oz), and at $6.34 per 100g they're at the upper end of local pricing. The light-medium roast on the Ethiopian suggests they're chasing brightness and fruit rather than trying to please traditionalists.
Editor's pick
Try the Ethiopian Single Origin for $20—a natural-process light-medium roast if you want the fruit-forward style that divides coffee drinkers into camps.
- 10
Caputo's Market & Deli
10 coffees tracked·avg US$3.74/100gCaputo's is primarily a specialty foods market that carries a small coffee selection, including limited-edition offerings like the Fossa Coffee Jasmine Crème and Hawaii-blend chocolate bars from Manoa. This isn't a roaster in the traditional sense—they're curating interesting products rather than roasting in-house. Think of it as a place to find the occasional coffee oddity rather than your weekly bag.
Editor's pick
Try the Fossa Coffee Jasmine Crème for $14.99—a limited-edition Ethiopian roasted by Fossa that you won't find at typical coffee retailers.
- 11
Purrfect Coffee Company
3 coffees tracked·avg US$5.19/100gThe cat-themed roaster with exactly 2 coffees, both called Live Long and Pawspurr but in different sizes and roast levels. The Ethiopian light roast runs $7.34 per 100g in a 227g bag, while the 5-pound dark roast version drops to $4.12 per 100g—a significant spread that suggests the bulk option is where the value lives, assuming you want a dark roast and can commit to 5 pounds of cat puns.
Editor's pick
Try the Live Long and Pawspurr Ethiopian Light Roast for $16.67—if you can get past the name, it's a straightforward light Ethiopian in an 8oz bag.
Also worth knowing about
- 12
Sumato Coffee Co.
6 coffees tracked·avg US$5.78/100g - 13
Carabiner Coffee
5 coffees tracked·avg US$6.30/100g - 14
Logos Coffee
4 coffees tracked·avg US$6.58/100g - 15
Bjorn's Brew
2 coffees tracked
See every coffee shop in Salt Lake City
Map of cafes, roasters, and specialty stores in Salt Lake City, with prices and quality scores.
Open the Salt Lake City map →Frequently asked questions
Who are the best specialty coffee roasters in Salt Lake City?
Top specialty roasters in Salt Lake City include Salt Lake Roasting Co, Rimini Coffee, Millcreek Coffee Roasters, Temple Grounds Coffee Company, La Barba Coffee. Each is ranked by independent quality data — expert cupping scores, awards (Cup of Excellence, Good Food Awards), and community reviews. See live ranked list at bakio.co/best-roasters-in/salt-lake-city.
How many specialty coffee roasters are in Salt Lake City?
Bakio tracks 83 coffee venues in Salt Lake City, of which 15 are specialty roasters with online retail. Updated regularly.
What does specialty coffee cost in Salt Lake City?
Specialty coffee in Salt Lake City averages around $4.97 per 100g (about $17 for a 12oz bag).