The cups of joe you need to know — downtown Modesto’s best coffee shops
Food and bar crawls are a popular activity in downtowns across the United States, but what about a coffee crawl? With the recent opening of Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters, it became clear that Modestans love their coffee options.
Within the downtown area, there are at least nine dedicated coffee shops. Whether you like a classic coffee drink or opt for interesting iced varieties and sweet combinations, there is likely a perfect cup for even the pickiest of patrons.
Because trying nine coffee drinks in one day would send me into a jitters overload, I sought the help of my fellow reporters to try out a drink at each coffee stop and give you the skinny (latte) on what to sip.
Con Azucar Cafe, 1021 10th St., Unit C: Open since May, in the spot of the original downtown Starbucks, is Con Azucar Cafe. This vibrant and colorful coffee shop specializes in coffee drinks and conchas. We tried the Iced Mocha Mexicano Latte and the hot Horchata Latte. Reporter Atmika Iyer added a concha to her order, and she said it complemented the horchata flavors well — not too sweet but definitely flavorful. The Iced Mocha Mexicano Latte was like a Mexican hot chocolate coffee on ice, with notes of rich vanilla and cinnamon coming through. It was refreshing and delicious. The drinks were around $8 each for the medium size.
Pure Grind Coffee and Juice Bar, 1006 H St., Suite 1A: Tucked in an unassuming building with multiple businesses is Pure Grind Coffee and Juice Bar. Opened in June 2023 by Destinee and Edward Rubalcaba, Pure Grind brings variety and fun to the coffee scene with its unique flavor combinations and presentation. There are monthly themes and specials, but if you find one you like, Destinee said you can order it at any time. She suggested the Iced Banana Bread Latte, which comes with sweet cream soft top and a skewer with brûléed bananas. Visually, it was stunning, and the taste was mmmm-inducing. Destinee said they even have many unique drinks for kids, free of caffeine but full of fun. If you are unsure what to try, Pure Grind offers drink flights on weekends, allowing you to sample four of your choice.
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Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters, 1030 J St.: Sacramento-based Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters opened in February in the spot previously occupied by Preservation Coffee. Sisters Afsheen Kiran and Sonia Naz said they specialize in classic coffee drinks, focusing on the roast of their beans. Reporter Julietta Bisharyan tried the iced matcha offered on their spring menu, which also includes a banana bread latte, ultraviolet lemonade and a tiramisu latte. Bisharyan said she had never heard of matcha with peppermint, and though she was unsure the combination would be good, she said it was unique and reminded her of peppermint ice cream. “Color is a good indicator of the quality of the matcha; bright green is a good sign,” she said. The drink was around $8 for the regular size.
The Queen Bean Coffee House, 1126 14th St.: A coffee staple in downtown Modesto since 2005, The Queen Bean recently went through a major renovation and rebrand after it was purchased by Sam Pierstorff and Ruhi Sheikh in 2024. Reporter Kathleen Quinn was excited to try this spot and described it as a “kitschy artsy spot that leans heavily into the ‘Stars Hollow’ vibe,” which references the charming fictional town in “Gilmore Girls.” She ordered one of the signature drinks: the maple syrup cardamom iced latte. “If you cannot decide between a chai latte and an iced coffee, this is the drink for you. It would be too sweet with the maple syrup alone, but the cardamom balances it out,” she said. The drink was $7.25 for the 20-ounce size.
Penny University, 1202 J St.: Opened in 2023 in the former longtime Deva Cafe space, Penny University Coffee went from a pop-up to a permanent place. Reporter Dean J. Condoleo said the interior has a “relaxed, airy coffeehouse feel with high ceilings, warm lighting and plenty of natural light from the front windows.” There is a large pad outside for seating, lighted at night by stringed bulbs. For a first-time visitor, Condoleo said, the barista suggested the iced butterscotch latte. “The drink is smooth and slightly sweet, with a rich caramel flavor from the butterscotch that blends well with the espresso. Served over ice, it’s light and refreshing, with the sweetness balancing the coffee rather than overpowering it,” he said. The drink was $6.75.
Lucille, 1218 H St: “The vibe is a blend between the trendy, modern brunch shop and a French bistro,” reporter Trevor Morgan said of his visit to this adorable cafe. Opened in 2023 by Marissa and Wyatt Smith, Lucille is small but inviting. Morgan ordered the signature drink, The Standard, an iced shaken espresso with milk, brown sugar and simple syrup. “When I got the drink, it had a very light cream color to it. I was worried it would taste like an overly sweet, milk-dominant dessert as you’d find at Starbucks. But I was surprised, to my liking, to find coffee to be the dominant flavor. The other three ingredients were portioned just right to support it with notes of mocha, vanilla and hazelnut,” he said. The drink starts at $5.25 for the smallest size.
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Flora Cafe, 1101 J St.: Recently named Stanislaus County’s number one coffee shop in a poll in The Modesto Bee, Flora Cafe looks more like a European cafe than a hidden spot on the patio of Galletto Ristorante. Opened in 2025 by Hannah Souza, Flora serves up popular drinks including the cinnamon roll latte and matcha. Reporter Atmika Iyer opted for the hot vanilla lavender latte. “The coffee was really good, sweet and floral at the same time. I’m normally wary of an overpowering lavender syrup, but it was honestly one of the best I’ve tried,” Iyer said. She also appreciated the milk options of oat, almond and pistachio and remarked on the fireplace and ample seating. The drink was $7.25.
Starbucks, 906 J St.: Though our reporting focused on locally owned coffee shops, we included Starbucks, given its downtown location and drive-thru. Reporter Dominique Williams does not drink caffeine but wanted to get in on the crawl, so she chose the chain for its decaf options. “What I love about Starbucks is there are very few limitations on what drinks can be made without caffeine,” Williams said. She ordered the iced white chocolate mocha with strawberry cream cold foam. In customizing her drink to be decaffeinated, she learned that the price is lower than when ordered straight off the menu. “My order is: two shots of iced decaf espresso with a splash of milk, four pumps of white chocolate mocha sauce, and strawberry cream cold foam. If you order it this way, the drink is $5.30. If you order a grande ice white chocolate mocha with strawberry cold foam, it is $7.50,” she said.
