How CoffeeSpots works
CoffeeSpots is a specialty coffee guide built on one principle: coffee people know where to drink coffee. Not algorithms, not reviews, not paid placements.
How spots are found
We ask baristas, roasters, café owners, and other coffee professionals a simple question: where do you actually drink coffee when you're not working? Their answers become our leads. We don't accept submissions from marketing teams or PR agencies.
How recommendations work
Every spot on CoffeeSpots was recommended by at least one coffee professional. We track how many independent recommendations each spot receives — that's the "Coffee Person Proof" count you see on each profile. More recommendations from different people means stronger consensus.
What Coffee Person Proof means
"Recommended by 3 baristas" means three separate coffee professionals independently named this spot. We don't reveal who — the focus is on the consensus, not the individual. This is the closest thing we have to a trust signal, and it's earned, not bought.
How CoffeeSpots checks spots
After a recommendation comes in, we verify the spot. We look at the coffee program, the space, the commitment to specialty coffee. We check that it's a real place serving real specialty coffee — not a chain with a good Instagram presence. If it doesn't meet our criteria, it doesn't get published. No exceptions.
What cafés can update
Cafés can help keep their profiles accurate. If your hours changed, you moved, you switched roasters — tell us and we'll update it. Cafés can also submit photos for consideration. What cafés cannot do is change their recommendation count, edit the editorial descriptions, or influence whether they appear on the guide.
What Verified Profiles mean
A Verified Profile means the café has confirmed their listing is accurate and has agreed to keep it updated. It's a signal that the information is current — not an endorsement or ranking boost. Verified or not, every spot earned its place the same way: through independent coffee professional recommendations.
The editorial firewall
CoffeeSpots does not accept payment for listings. There are no sponsored spots, no promoted cards, no "featured" placements. The guide is editorially independent. If a café is on CoffeeSpots, it's because coffee people recommended it and it passed our checks. That's the only path in.
How spots can be updated, paused, or removed
Spots are living profiles. If a café closes, changes ownership, or significantly changes its coffee program, we update or pause the listing. Anyone can suggest an update — you don't need to be the owner. We re-check spots periodically and after significant changes.