What’s better than some tasty coffee?

Tasty coffee with a story! In all seriousness, there are a handful of cafes in the Fargo-Moorhead area that serve more than just a cup of good joe, they’re giving back to communities, uplifting voices, and working to make a positive impact in the valley.

Let’s give these establishments a little love and learn what they’re all about!

Learn about some local coffee shops that are more than what they appear!

1. Hope & Coffee

This gem of a cafe is a part of Soul Solutions in Fargo Recovery Center, which offers comprehensive treatment and recovery support for substance use disorders. How do you mix coffee and recovery, you ask? Simply by creating a safe space for those two things to meet.

The creation of Hope & Coffee of Soul Solutions was inspired by the original Hope & Coffee cafe located in Pennsylvania. The original coffee shop was founded to help with the normalization of recovery and to provide a safe, welcoming environment for those in recovery and the general public to merge. With the same mission, Fargo’s Hope & Coffee’s communal space promotes recovery by opening its doors to many, whether they are in recovery or not. They host a variety of events like crafting or open mic nights, and you’ll find the Recovery Bookstore inside the shop. The menu features both food and coffee drinks, just as tasty as you’d expect!

Did you know?
There are SO many things to do at Hope & Coffee. Head out to one of their many weekly events like karaoke or open mic nights, or check out what art-centric classes they are offering this month! Maybe you’re looking for some new locally made goods—don’t worry, they host different vendors all the time, so you can snag a coffee and some awesome handmade stuff!

What goes best with coffee?
A good book, and Hope & Coffee has that too. Make sure to stop by and peruse the Recovery Bookstore located right inside the coffee shop!

Hope & Coffee has a loyalty punch card for you!
It’s free to get one and far too easy to fill. Plus, every Tuesday you can get a double punch for every specialty drink you order! A great reason to grab a friend or a family member for some catch up over coffee—stop in today!

Location is a bit tricky, but once you visit—you won’t forget it. If you’re heading south on 38th St SW (the frontage road west of the I29 southbound exit to westbound I94), you’ll turn right into the parking lot at 1801. The large yellowed, brick building has some signage out front for the recovery center, but the door on the west side of the building to Hope & Coffee can be easily missed so make sure to look around the corner from the front!

The shop operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. So, next time you’re craving some caffeine, try a new spot and you just might find your next favorite.

soulsolutions.org/hope-coffee
Facebook | /hopeandcoffeefargo
Instagram | @hopeandcoffeefargo

2. Red River Coffee Company

One of the longest-standing coffee houses in the Red River Valley, Red River Coffee Company was established in 1985, marking over 35 years of serving up some good coffee. How does something as simple as a coffee shop withstand that many years of success? You might think it’s that type of business that just never runs out of business, but it’s also one of the most competitive service industry areas. There are anywhere from 25-35 or more coffee shops in the FM area alone, not including other specialty drink spots, or spots that offer other things but also serve a mean cup of joe. So, again, how has Red River Coffee Co. done it?

While we may never truly know the answer to this, we’ll speculate—the menu hosts freshly made, organic items, from good classic coffee to a Red Bull soda. It’s led by talented, experienced women; in fact, it has been owned and operated by four generations of women in its time.

A cafe with a histor-ay! Check it out!

1985: Doris Keltgen Bower opens Red River Coffee Co. in Page, ND, marking the start of a local coffee legacy.

1998: Robin Jack purchases the business, moving the shop to a strip mall on 13th Avenue in West Fargo and later introducing a coffee cart in the FARGODOME.

2015: Jessica Arneson takes ownership and relocates the shop to its current home on 52nd Avenue in South Fargo.

2023: Katelynn Smith becomes the fourthgeneration owner, proudly continuing the nearly 40-year tradition of Red River Coffee in Fargo.

Did you know?
#freecoffeefriday is hot at Red River Coffee Co.! Every Friday, Red River Coffee Co. delivers a free paper box of coffee to a business who enters to win. All you have to do is put your business card with your contact name, phone number, and address in the jar at the front of the store and you can win some fresh brewed coffee for the crew on Friday morning!

As you’ll find with most successful businesses in the FM area, service industry or not, Red River Coffee Co. is very involved with the local community. They feature products from many local artists in their shop, supporting and promoting local talent and goods. The art and goods are rotated often, giving a featured spot to a variety of local artists all the time.

In December 2023, local artist and sister of Owner Katelynn Smith, Alexis Sjurseth, painted a mural inside the coffee shop. You can purchase a print of the mural, which features a hand holding a mug of coffee but there’s more than just joe in that cup—you’ll see a little hub of people in a park-like environment, engaging, playing, and relaxing; a perfect representation of the FM community

To top it all off, they’ve got a delicious menu with fan favorites like pasta salad, housemade soups, and more. Visit weekdays from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

redrivercoffeecompany.com
Facebook | /redrivercoffeeco
Instagram | @redrivercoffee

3. Koda Koffee

When you think of banking and coffee, you might automatically think of plain, black coffee, maybe even a little burnt. Something that’s been sitting in the breakroom a little too long, or maybe it’s served in a styrofoam cup and its way too hot to even drink. Well, now that we’ve put that image in your head—throw it out the drive-through window, because Koda Koffee has reinvented what it means to serve a cup of joe at the bank.

Connected to the new KodaBank on 42nd Street in Fargo, Koda Koffee is a drive-thru and sit-down coffee shop with a menu featuring both coffee and espresso drinks, along with a variety of breakfast, lunch, and pastry items.

What’s sweeter? Koda Koffee is dedicated to making a positive difference in the community by contributing to local charities. This commitment to social good is a big part of their mission to provide outstanding products, genuinely friendly service, and of course, make a positive difference.

Like another on this list, some may be deterred from visiting this delightful find because of it’s entrance being a bit off the beaten path. But, again, have no fear, we’ll guide you there. There are two ways to get to the drive-thru and cafe entrance; first, you need to aim for Sienna Drive S. You can get there by turning off 32nd Avenue if you’re heading westbound, or by turning onto 31st Avenue S from 42nd Street and then onto Sienna Drive. Once you make it to Sienna, you’ll see a turn to get to the bank building, where, as you’ll see, Koda Koffee is conveniently situated on the corner of 42nd and 32nd.

Try the white chocolate raspberry scone or The Bison breakfast sandwich and make sure to ask about the seasonal drinks. Again, next time you’re looking to change up the regular, venture off the beaten path and try Koda! Don’t worry—you don’t need to bank there in order to get your caffeine fix.

A locally owned spot just tastes better, and it allows a few other freedoms too! Keep an eye on Koda Koffee’s Facebook for constant specials they offer. Whether it’s a free cookie with a latte one random weekend or a $1 coffee price for a few days—they are always springing new deals and offers for the community to take advantage of. But, you might see the deal one day and it might be gone the next, so enjoy it now!

Love Koda Koffee as much as me (doubt it)? You can buy their koffee and take it home to make! Choose between a regularly sized bad or a smaller, 2-ounce bag of beans to take and make at home! Enjoy the sweet sips of Koda in the comfort of your own mug!

kodakoffee.com
Facebook | /kodakoffee
Instagram | @kodakoffeefargo

4. Charlie’s Place… Coming Soon

Coming to the community in January 2025 is another locally owned and locally supportive cafe—Charlie’s Place. Setting up shop in Beyond Boundaries‘ new space in West Fargo, Charlie’s Place will function as a coffee shop as well as a mission-driven community space.

This unique café is part of a larger nonprofit called Art & Soul, founded in 2020. The goal of Charlie’s Place is to give adults with cognitive challenges the opportunity to showcase their talents and gain meaningful employment.

The coffee shop will employ individuals with cognitive challenges, providing them with training in various aspects of running a café. From making coffees, teas, and smoothies, to preparing breakfast sandwiches, soups, and baked goods, employees will learn hard and soft skills in a supportive environment. Aided by staff on hand as needed, the Charlie’s Place crew will feel confident in their roles.

Art & Soul is a nonprofit organization in West Fargo dedicated to supporting adults with disabilities by providing creative outlets and building a sense of community. Through activities like art classes, yoga, and dance, they build confidence and social engagement!

The idea for Charlie’s Place came from Founder Val Olsen’s experience with her son, Charlie, who has Down syndrome. Inspired by other communities offering creative outlets to adults with challenges, Val wanted to bring a similar experience to Fargo-Moorhead. The café offers not only job training but also a welcoming space where individuals can feel a sense of belonging and self-worth.

With plans to sell art created by its employees and offer art classes in the future, Charlie’s Place is truly the embodiment of “more than just a coffee shop”—it’s a space for creativity, connection, and growth!.

Keep up to date with Charlie’s Place on Art & Soul’s socials

Facebook | /helloartandsoul
Instagram | @helloartandsoul