Having a cup of joe from a local coffee shop on Lake Superior is a caffeine whimsy dream, and you can fulfill it right in the town of Superior at Empire Coffee.
A local coffee shop in downtown Superior that offers more than just a variety of coffee experiences from Wisconsin coffee roasters and Minnesota coffee roasters, they also provide an artsy ambiance that’s sure to reel you into an enjoyable coffee break.
Whether you’re ordering online and grabbing a coffee on the go, or you’re taking a beat and settling in for an afternoon of pleasant coffee time, this is a local coffee shop you don’t want to miss out on when you’re dawdling about downtown Superior.
“Such a great coffee shop, and a safe spot for folk of all walks of life. The coffee is delicious – highly recommend the lavender latte, any of their hot teas, OR if you’re feeling spicy you should get their espresso over ice with some heavy cream or half and half, it’s good enough to drink just like that – and the environment is so welcoming. Particularly queer-friendly, which is always good. Go here! It’s great.”
– Mitchell G ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Empire Coffee | Affordable Gourmet Coffee
When a coffee/tea lover travels on Lake Superior, they’re a bit spoiled by all of the fantastical local coffee shop options sprinkled throughout the towns along Lake Superior. And as a fellow coffee/tea enthusiast myself, I love that for us. There’s nothing better than supporting a local business while you’re on an adventure!
So, the question surfaces: what is it about Empire Coffee that sets it apart from other local coffee shops in Superior WI? Well, hang onto your mugs and scones because I’ve been waiting to get into this coolness.
Imagine a coffee shop that offers a plethora of coffee options on tap, like a local brewery. Expect instead of Ales and IPAs that come running out of the waterfalls of the tap nozzle, it’s delicious coffee from Wisconsin coffee roasters and Minnesota coffee roasters! Sounds too good to be true, right? What kind of local coffee shop would offer a welcoming, cozy, and artistically calming ambiance with plenty of seating and even a communal game shelf? Whelp, your coffee dreams have been granted because Empire Coffee is just that place.
Their coffee blends on tap change weekly, so you can always expect something new and fun if you’re up for giving your tastebuds a caffeine exploration from coffee roasts all over the country. Such a gourmet experience sounds like it may pinch your wallet, but rest assured that this local coffee shop has its customers in mind with fair prices and excellent flavors.
The awesome folks at Empire Coffee love what they’ve created so much that each latte is served with a latte art heart, and the service speaks for itself. Be sure to share your Empire Coffee experience with them by tagging them on Facebook or Instagram in your coffee pics and using the hashtag #JoinTheEmpire! We love a good pun.
My first visit to Empire Coffee was incredibly pleasant. Walking inside, I could feel the artistic pulse of the downtown culture by the local artwork decorating the space and the vibe of it all, and I also felt relaxed and eager to order a drink from the delightful aromas I was taking in the moment we entered. (Spoiler alert: the oat milk latte, my go-to, was perfect!)
I was in the lovely company of On Lake Superior’s very own Corey and my dawdling husband, Matt. Together, we got our warm drinks, which were cozied up in their coffee sleeves, and we took a seat around a few extremely comfortable chairs that had a darling view of the local artwork displayed on the walls and enjoyed the good coffee vibes.
We exchanged travel stories and talked about the adventures we wanted to have and places we wished to check out in Duluth while we were in town. It was the perfect coffee shop to sit down and chat, and I was also imagining myself taking my laptop and setting up shop for the day at a table nearby if I had lived in Superior myself. Truthfully, I dearly enjoyed Empire Coffee, and I look forward to scooting my little coffee junkie self down there again whenever I’m visiting Superior.
Empire Coffee Menu
Of course, we can expect coffee to be on the menu, but let’s see what else this delectable local gem has to offer! Who doesn’t love to have a little treat next to their cup of joe?
I’d also encourage you to follow them on Facebook and Instagram so you can be updated on any interesting menu changes or events. Plus, it’s fun to see the behind-the-scenes of a downtown coffee shop’s hustling and bustling environment. It may even make you feel a part of its ongoing journey as you get to witness it grow right on your feed!
Let’s get into what drinks are offered. That’s mighty important, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with their wide variety. Keep in mind, too, that their on-tap coffees change weekly!
Drinks | Coffee, Tea, & More
Hot Drinks
- Americano
- 12 oz $4
- 16 oz $4.30
- 20 oz $4.60
- Breve
- 12 oz $5.50
- 16 oz $6
- 20 oz $6.75
- Cappuccino
- 12 oz $5
- 16 oz $5.75
- 20 oz $6.50
- Latte
- 12 oz $5
- 16 oz $5.75
- 20 oz $6.50
- Chai Latte
- 12 oz $4.70
- 16 oz $5.50
- 20 oz $6
- Mocha
- 12 oz $5.25
- 16 oz $6
- 20 oz $6.50
- Dirty Chai
- 12 oz $5.25
- 16 oz $6
- 20 oz $6.50
- Red Eye
- 12 oz $4.60
- 16 oz $5
- 20 oz $5.50
- Coffee on Tap
- 12 oz $2.75
- 16 oz $3.15
- 20 oz $3.50
- Hot Tea
- 12 oz $2
- 16 oz $2.25
- 20 oz $2.50
- Hot Cocoa
- 12 oz $3.60
- 16 oz $4
- 20 oz $4.50
- Steamer
- 12 oz $3.60
- 16 oz $4
- 20 oz $4.50
Cold Drinks
- Americano
- 16 oz $4.25
- 20 oz $4.75
- Latte
- 16 oz $6
- 20 oz $6.50
- Mocha
- 16 oz $6.15
- 20 oz $6.70
- Dirty Chai
- 16 oz $6.15
- 20 oz $6.70
- Frappes
- 16 oz $7
- 20 oz $7.75
- Chai Latte
- 16 oz $5.50
- 20 oz $6
- Iced Coffee
- 16 oz $4
- 20 oz $4.25
- Iced Tea
- 16 oz $2.90
- 20 oz $3.60
- Italian Soda
- 16 oz $4
- 20 oz $4.25
- Smoothie
- 16 oz $6
- 20 oz $6.75
- Cold Press
- 16 oz $5.75
- 20 oz $6.50
Check out their menu online to take a peek at optional extras!
Food | Breakfast, Sandwiches, & More!
There’s something for everyone who comes hungry at Empire Coffee! From salads, sandwiches, flatbread options, and even breakfast dishes, you’re bound to find something that strikes your fancy.
Take a look at their online menu and see what stands out to you! Better yet, check out their Instagram and see all of the delicious goodies they post, too!
“Founded on November 6, 1854, Superior, Wisconsin is known for its location on Lake Superior, beautiful waterways, big ol’ forests, good people, great food and lots of fun.”
– Travel Wisconsin
Where Is Empire Coffee?
Empire Coffee can be found at the heart of downtown Superior, Tower Ave, nestled in with plenty of other Superior gems, such as Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing, Superior Waffles, The Pottery Burn Studio, Games Then And Now, local restaurants, and more! There’s plenty of dawdling that can be done in Superior!
Empire Coffee Address
1204 Tower Ave, Superior, WI 54880
Empire Coffee Hours
Monday – Saturday: 6 am-6 pm
Sunday: 8 am-3 pm
Empire Coffee’s Local Coffee Vendors
As mentioned before, Empire Coffee offers a new and exciting blend from a variety of coffee roasters weekly. That’s an incredibly cool quirk to this chill coffee spot. Let’s take a look at some of the coffee roasters that have had their blends offered on tap before!
Coffee from Wisconsin and Coffee from Minnesota: these Wisconsin coffee roasters and Minnesota coffee roasters each have their own hygge impacts on their communities and beyond, and it warms my little community-loving heart to see that all of these local businesses are intertwining.
I absolutely love hearing the stories about local roasters; each one has its own beginnings and missions. I’m going to share a snippet from each of their websites, but I’d encourage you to click on their headings and learn more about them! I’ve been enjoying taking in all of this rich caffeinated history.
Backroads Coffee | Hayward, WI
“Although the name of the roasting business has changed [Midwest Roasters], Backroads Coffee remains steadfast in our approach. We continue to only source high grade specialty coffees from around the world, we roast each coffee in small batches using our tried and true roasting techniques, and we are proud to serve and offer our delicious coffees at our coffee shop, our online store, or through any of our amazing wholesale partners. We look forward to what lies ahead and the future of this growing industry. Our goal is to always continue learning, perfecting, and providing the best product and service you, our amazing customers, can ask for.”
– Backroads Coffee, About Us
“While buying the green Arabica beans from a small local roaster, we began experimenting with the art of roasting at home for a few years. The love of this craft triggered our desire to start a roasting company. In 1990, we created Alakef Coffee Roasters in the basement of an old school by the lake in Duluth, Minn. As demand for our specialty coffees grew, so did our need for employees and a new building. In May of 2000, Alakef Coffee moved into our current home on Superior Street in Duluth.”
– Alakef Coffee, About Us
City Girl Coffee | Minneapolis, MN
“City Girl Coffee is not just a cute company with cool colors and a chic look. We are a sustainable and responsible coffee company who is working to bring awareness and equality to the women of the coffee industry. We source as much of our coffee as possible from small, women owned or managed farms and co-operatives, and give a portion of every sale back to the organizations that support the success of women in their country of origin.”
– City Girl Coffee Co, About Us
Backstory Coffee Roasters | St. Paul, MN
“Backstory Coffee Roasters is a Saint Paul roasting company established in 2014. Our coffees are sourced from relationship-focused producers and importers who share our values of caring for people, seeking excellence, and cultivating a passion for quality and a commitment to working in harmony with the earth.
Our mission: we aim to cultivate deeper connections between people by sharing our love of delicious coffee.”
– Backstory Coffee Roasters, About Us
Each of these Wisconsin and Minnesota coffee roasters has a remarkable story behind their missions, blends, and love for bringing people together with a delicious cup of coffee. After reading these stories and learning more about coffee from Wisconsin and Minnesota, it means even more when you go out of your way to support a local coffee shop.
I always feel so inspired after I’ve read the backstory of a coffee roaster, a coffee shop, a bookstore, or really any local gem! And it also makes me crave some coffee; good thing we went over the menu options, huh?
What a lovely trip down coffee lane we just took! From learning more about the cool and unique offerings of Empire Coffee located in downtown Superior to exploring the caffeinated depths of Wisconsin coffee and Minnesota coffee, we sure learned a lot. I think this calls for a much-deserved coffee break!
Be sure to check out your local coffee shop gems that are on Lake Superior, and tell us all about it on our Facebook Groups On Lake Superior and Loving Life “On Lake Superior”, we’d love to see you there!
Enjoy your cups of coffee with the ones you love, and remember to have an adventure whenever you can. Adventures come in all sizes, locations, and experiences, and I hope you find some on the great Lake Superior.
