Coffee in Cary and Apex
The 8 coffee shops that local best-of lists name most often. We read 7 lists from local papers, magazines and food writers, counted who shows up, and link every one.
The list
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Sweet Talk Cafe
Beaver Creek Crossings cafe for Vietnamese coffee with sea salt cream, croffles and bingsoo.
Named by WRAL, Best coffee shops in the Triangle (updated Sep 29, 2023) · The Line (The Assembly), 3 breakfast pop-ups to try in Cary and Apex, readers' picks (Nov 13, 2025) · Raleigh Realty blog, 10 Best Coffee Shops in Apex, NC (May 22, 2026; a realtor's blog)
Coffee Studio
Small shop on the edge of Downtown Cary Park; This Is Raleigh praises its flat white.
Named by This Is Raleigh, Locals Guide on Things to Do in Downtown Cary (Dec 19, 2025) · Raleigh Realty blog, 10 Best Coffee Shops in Cary, NC (May 28, 2025; a realtor's blog)
Esteamed Coffee
Nonprofit coffee shop on Academy Street that trains and employs adults with disabilities.
Named by This Is Raleigh, Locals Guide on Things to Do in Downtown Cary (Dec 19, 2025) · Raleigh Realty blog, 10 Best Coffee Shops in Cary, NC (May 28, 2025; a realtor's blog)
BREW Coffee Bar
Downtown Cary coffee bar in the Cary Theater building since 2016, served in real ceramic mugs.
Named by This Is Raleigh, Locals Guide on Things to Do in Downtown Cary (Dec 19, 2025) · Raleigh Realty blog, 10 Best Coffee Shops in Cary, NC (May 28, 2025; a realtor's blog)
Mission Market
Part cafe, part gift shop from the Apex Outfitters founders, pouring Counter Culture coffee with acai bowls.
Named by This Is Raleigh, Guide to Downtown Apex, NC (Jul 27, 2025) · Raleigh Realty blog, 10 Best Coffee Shops in Apex, NC (May 22, 2026; a realtor's blog)
Cultivate Coffee
Downtown Fuquay-Varina roastery and cafe that roasts its own beans in house.
The Mill
Main Street coffee, beer and wine bar where families and friends gather all week.
Notes Coffee House
Coffee shop inside Rock N' Roll High School that mixes coffee and music; a pick for artists and musicians.
Named by Raleigh Realty blog, 10 Best Coffee Shops in Apex, NC (May 22, 2026; a realtor's blog)
How this list is ranked
Each place gets a point for every recent local best-of list that names it: readers' choice results, local papers and magazines, food writers. Review-site top tens count half. Newer lists break ties. Nobody can pay to be on it. When reader votes come in, they count too.
Think we missed a place? Tell us which list named it and we'll recount.