A great cup of coffee can be the beginning of a good morning, a reason to catch up with a friend, or an excuse to linger a little longer. Across Aroostook County, independent coffee shops have become gathering places where locals know the baristas, visitors find a warm welcome, and a cup of coffee comes with a little more personality.

In 2026, voters chose their favorite places to grab a cup, with three independent Aroostook businesses taking the top spots in the Best Coffee category.

1st) Ruska Coffee

In Caribou, Maine, Ruska Coffee has become much more than a place to grab a cup of coffee. It is a neighborhood gathering place where thoughtful food, quality ingredients and genuine hospitality come together. This is the second year in a row that Ruska Coffee has been named Best Coffee in Aroostook, earning an impressive 186 votes in the 2026 Best of Aroostook Awards.

Customers often point to the care that goes into everything served at Ruska. The coffee is a favorite, but so are the breakfast sandwiches, fresh lunch offerings, baked goods and creative drinks. One local reviewer praised the quality of the ingredients, while another called the drip coffee and lattes exceptional. That attention to detail is part of what makes Ruska special. Whether you're stopping in for a quick breakfast before starting your day, meeting a friend for coffee, or sitting down for lunch, there is a sense that the people behind the counter genuinely care about what they are serving.

Ruska has also become part of the energy returning to downtown Caribou. Its warm atmosphere and independent spirit make it the kind of place where a coffee shop becomes part of the community itself.

With 186 votes, Ruska Coffee was once again the overwhelming choice for Best Coffee in Aroostook.

2nd) Hub Coffee

In Presque Isle, Maine, Hub Coffee lives up to its name as a gathering point for the community.

With cozy couches, plenty of seating and a welcoming atmosphere, Hub Coffee gives people a place to settle in with a carefully crafted coffee, meet a friend, get some work done or simply enjoy a quiet start to the day.

Coffee lovers have plenty of choices, from espresso drinks and lattes to cold brew, nitro coffee and drip coffee. The shop's chai has also developed something of a following, with customers calling it one of the best they've ever had. Fresh pastries and baked goods make it easy to turn a coffee run into breakfast or a leisurely morning.

What really stands out about Hub, though, is the feeling of an independent coffeehouse. Friendly baristas, a comfortable atmosphere and space to linger make it feel less like a place you simply stop at and more like somewhere you belong.

Hub Coffee earned 101 votes, making it the second-place winner for Best Coffee in 2026.

3rd) The County Co-Op and Farm Store

In Houlton, Maine, The County Co-Op and Farm Store is the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and stay awhile. Located in a historic storefront in Market Square, the shop has the feel of an old-fashioned general store with a cozy, artsy personality all its own.

The shelves and freezers are filled with products from Aroostook County and Maine, including local meats, honey, maple syrup, produce, coffee, pickles, hot fudge and other Maine-made favorites. The Co-Op also serves lunch, pastries and coffee roasted by Carrabassett Coffee Company, making it an easy place to stop for a cup and a bite while exploring downtown. More than a store, the Co-Op has become part of the heartbeat of Houlton's Historic Market Square. It's a place where locals grab their morning coffee, visitors find something made close to home, and a quick stop can easily turn into a conversation with a neighbor.

With 36 votes, The County Co-Op and Farm Store earned third place for Best Coffee in the 2026 Best of Aroostook Awards.

2026 Honorable Mentions

Listed in order of popularity among voters

• Book and Brew Cafe — Houlton, Maine
• Salted Butter Farm — Sherman, Maine
• Brenda's Restaurant — Sherman, Maine
• Red Devil Roast — Fort Kent, Maine
• Tim Hortons — Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou, Madawaska, Maine
• B&E's Morning Rush — Patten, Maine
• Homestead Lodge — Oxbow, Maine
• Lotus and Leaf — Hodgdon, Maine
• Nordic Espresso & Pastries — Madawaska, Maine
• Two Rivers Lunch — Allagash, Maine
• Porter's Family Restaurant — Island Falls, Maine
• Brookside Inn — Smyrna Mills, Maine
• Mile One Nutrition — Fort Kent, Maine
• Rodney's at 436 Main — Presque Isle, Maine
• Bradly's CITGO — Presque Isle, Maine

"Best Coffee" is just one of eleven categories awarded by Aroostook County Tourism. Click here to see the full results of the 2026 Best of Aroostook Awards.

Aroostook County Tourism (ACT) is the Destination Marketing Organization of Maine's Aroostook County. ACT is comprised of a 12-member volunteer board who work to promote all of Aroostook County and invite visitors to find their own Aroostook adventure through marketing.

Best of Aroostook is a fun way to highlight Aroostook County and no prizes are given. Method: winners are announced for the top three organizations per category and the other organizations in that category are recognized as honorable mentions. As is tradition, the honor system guides the rules for voting as "Aroostook's Best" is meant to be a fun way to recognize the gems in the Crown of Maine. Vote and act respectfully. Votes were accepted between January 1, 2026 and March 24, 2026, lists published in April of 2026.