September 29 is National Coffee Day. I have to admit, it’s my early morning go-to, right after feeding the dog! There’s nothing quite like gathering your thoughts, watching the sunrise and enjoying a hot cup of coffee.

A Cup Full Of Memories

Growing up, I remember my grandmother making percolated coffee on the stovetop, long after electric coffee makers were the craze. She said it was better that way, brewing slowing on the stove, all the while watching for the coffee to start bubbling up against the clear-glass top. It was the perfect breakfast companion.

Breakfast Cooking On The Stove. Photo: Lance Mellenbruch.

With coffee shops on practically every corner these days, it seems pervasive. However, there are some U.S. cities that rise to the top when it comes to data that looks at indicators of strong coffee culture, like the number of coffee shops/houses and cafés per capita or the average price-per-pack of coffee. That’s exactly what WalletHub recently did with its 2018 Best Coffee Cities in America report below. After checking them out, keep scrolling for some great recipes to go with that coffee!

The Top 10

1. New York City
2. Seattle (go figure!)
3. San Francisco
4. Portland (one of my early favorite coffee cities)
5. Los Angeles
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Chicago
8. Miami
9. Boston
10. San Diego

For a full list of the top 20, visit WalletHub here.

Just The Facts

In addition to identifying top cities, the study also uncovered some interesting coffee facts.

• Tulsa has the lowest average price for a pack of coffee (Honolulu was the highest)
• Fremont, Calif. had the highest annual spending on coffee per household (Cleveland was the lowest)
• New York City had the most coffee shops, not Seattle (Laredo, Texas was lowest)
• Portland had the most coffee and tea manufacturers per square root of population (San Bernardino, Calif. had the lowest)

Square root? Well, WalletHub is a financial organization after all…And now for the recipes!

Swedish Cardamom Coffee Cake

Swedish Cardamom Coffee Cake. Photo: Paul K. Logsdon.

This recipe is shared by Grandma’s Swedish Bakery at Rowleys Bay Resort in Door County, Wisconsin. Recipe here.

Door County Cherry Pie

Door County Cherry Pie. Photo by © Johnny Autry.

An upper Midwest favorite featuring delicious Montmorency cherries. Excerpted from The Lake Michigan Cottage Cookbook © by Amelia Levin. Used with permission from Storey Publishing. Recipe here.

The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich

Roni Proter Makes The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich.

Guest Chef Roni Proter shows you how to create the Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich. Puff pastry, coated with egg wash and salt, topped with freshly cooked sausage and eggs, a little avocado and cheddar cheese. See the video, with recipe link, here.

Learn How To Make Your Own Cold Brew

Making Cold Brew Coffee. Photo: Steve Henke for Cambria Style Summer 2018.

Smooth with a bight, non-acidic flavor, brewed slowly over time. It’s easier to make than you think! Tips courtesy of Cambria Style Summer 2018. Get the tips here.

Enjoy National Coffee Day!