When people think of Idaho, they usually think of potatoes. It is the Potato State, after all. But the charming river city of Boise has so much more to offer than just spuds. Boise has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States over the past five years, and its coffee scene is expanding right along with it. With a surge of new craft coffee spots, the City of Trees is offering fresh takes on where coffee is headed in 2025.
This updated list builds on our original 2019 guide and reflects how much the local coffee landscape has changed. Although it’s not always recognized for it, Boise is very much a city with river life on the mind. The Boise River winds right through downtown, and most of these shops are just a short walk from its natural beauty. One of the best ways to enjoy them is to grab your favorite drink and take a stroll along the river’s lush greenbelt trails.
Slow by Slow
With a rotating coffee selection sourced from craft roasters around the world, Slow by Slow always has something new to offer. Located right in the heart of downtown Boise, it’s just steps from the lush green stretch of Julia Davis Park and the Boise River, or a short walk to the pedestrian-only 8th Street Grove. It’s about as centrally located as it gets.
Beyond offering one of the best pour-overs in town, Slow by Slow is at the forefront of Boise’s growing craft coffee cocktail scene. The team is expanding into the neighboring building this year to grow their coffee bar, which has already featured inventive drinks like a thyme latte and a juniper fizz. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable about the current roasters and coffees available, so don’t be shy about asking questions.
Push & Pour
Founded by professional skateboarders, Push and Pour has become a cornerstone of Boise’s coffee scene, especially at their location along the river at the edge of downtown in Garden City’s arts district. Brennan Conroy and Lucas Erlebach grew up in the Boise area before moving on to careers in skateboarding. When they saw the iconic building in Garden City go up for sale, they felt a new calling and decided to bring together their passion for skate culture and coffee. Push and Pour was born.
The shop is decorated with retro skateboards and soundtracked by hip-hop classics. Their on-site roastery delivers the full specialty coffee experience, whether you’re sipping a pour-over of their Ethiopia single origin with notes of dried apricot and brown sugar or an espresso shot of their Colombia roast rich with baker’s chocolate and mango.
Push and Pour now has three locations across Boise, but the Garden City spot offers the most immersive experience. It shares space with a street taco restaurant, making it easy to spend the day there. Grab a coffee, walk along the Boise River, watch surfers at the 36th Street Wave (yes, Boise has surfing), and circle back for tacos. It’s a full-day experience built around great coffee, great food, and local energy.
Disciples Coffee Roasters
Disciples Coffee Roasters is an organic-focused roaster, offering their own line of coffees roasted in house. Cryptocurrency is accepted as payment for your drink of choice here, in case that’s your thing, and if you’re a cold brew fan, this is your spot. Here you’ll find an innovative menu with options like kegged hibiscus tea, a Vietnamese coffee inspired cold brew available hot or cold from the tap, and their signature Foglifter—a hot nitro coffee mixed with two shots of espresso, a slice of grass-fed butter, and a touch of vanilla sweet cream.
Disciples is a great place to meet up with friends or hunker down for remote work. Located just off Chinden Boulevard in Garden City, it offers plenty of seating and a unique take on Boise coffee culture.
Pine Coffee Supply
Originally hailing from Wyoming, Pine Coffee Supply opened its second location on the edge of downtown Boise in 2023, nestled between the hip North End neighborhood and the artsy downtown strip near the popular Neurolux concert venue and its attached record store. It’s the perfect stop for a more laid-back stroll outside the usual downtown bustle.
Pine takes pride in its sourcing and roasting, focusing on bright, fruit-forward coffees full of flavor. The Boise shop is sleek and modern, turning a simple coffee run into an experience. With two of its four walls made entirely of glass and plenty of wood accents, the space is filled with natural light and warmth. Indoor seating is limited, but the outdoor area offers plenty of space, including two fire pits for cozy hangs.
In addition to excellent pour overs and silky espresso shots, Pine serves standout signature drinks. Try the Espresso Tonic, a refreshing shot of espresso over tonic water, ideal for summer, or the Head in the Clouds, a whimsical drink featuring butterfly pea flower, lavender, milk, honey-infused cold cream, and a garnish of orange zest and cinnamon.
Form & Function Coffee
From & Function is truly a coffee staple in Boise. As one of the earliest third-wave coffee shops to open in the city, it continues to deliver on quality. Just a couple blocks from Slow by Slow, it’s also centrally located downtown. Walk a block south and you’ll find yourself at the Boise Zoo, or head a few blocks north to reach the Capitol building.
From & Function’s ethos is that coffee is an art form, and they strive to perfect the entire process from sourcing to roasting. This dedication is evident in their research lab tucked away at the back of the shop, where you can see resource books and various roasting and brewing methods on display, many of which are available for purchase in the shop.
There is ample seating inside, including an upstairs canopy-style area that offers a full overhead view of the coffee bar, giving you a bird’s eye view of your pour-over being prepared. Be sure to try their seasonal drinks featuring house-made syrups, like the pistachio mocha or honey lavender sparkling lemonade.
Ricky Adams is a freelance journalist and publisher of Gentle Fawn Publishing based in Boise. This is Ricky Adams first feature for Sprudge.
