Discovering the Best Coffee in Riga: A Surprising Twist

A Finnish Coffee Enthusiast on a Mission

If you’re a coffee lover visiting Riga, you’re in for a surprise.

As a Finn, coffee isn’t just a drink—it runs in our veins. Naturally, my first mission in Latvia was to hunt down the best coffee in Riga. I tried lattes and cappuccinos at trendy cafes and international chains. Yet, my unexpected discovery came not from these hotspots, but from the humble corner stores and supermarkets around the city.

From freshly brewed cups at Rimi to iced coffee at Circle K, this guide explores why Latvia’s corner store coffee culture is a hidden gem. Coming from someone who’s Finnish (although let’s be honest, we’ll drink just about anything as long as it’s strong and dark to power us through the day), these affordable and surprisingly delicious finds will completely change how you think about coffee!

The Search for Great Coffee in Riga’s Cafes

When I arrived in Latvia, I kept trying the lattes and cappuccinos from the different cafes in Riga. There’s many to choose from, from independent places to international coffee chains (interestingly enough, the UK brand Costa Coffee has a few locations in Riga, but Starbucks hasn’t made an appearance yet – and the great people of Reddit seem to agree that long may it stay that way in the Baltics). 

If you are in the Old Town, these can be quite expensive, and having tried about 5 different places, the taste didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Until one day, I noticed the unassuming takeaway cups the owner of the hostel brought in every morning. Not to sound too dramatic, but that day changed everything for me.

The Best Coffee in Riga Is… from Corner Stores?

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the best coffee I can have in Latvia is actually from the chain corner stores! And not just corner stores, but there’s a coffee machine in literally every single supermarket, too. 

Yes, you read that right. Forget high-end cafes; the real gems are hiding in plain sight—at Rimi, Cirkle K, and Narvesen. These chains might not scream “specialty coffee,” but the taste, convenience, and price will blow you away.

Why Latvia’s Corner Store Coffee Stands Out

So let’s dip right into it.. teehee.

Unlike Finland’s roadside coffee stops (looking at you, ABC and Neste 👀👀), where drip coffee sits burning on a heater for hours (and this is the reason I ignored anything similar here in Latvia for too long), Latvia’s corner stores offer freshly ground coffee brewed to order. 

The machines are consistent, and the flavour is shockingly good. Plus, they’re everywhere—literally every supermarket and corner store has one.

Here’s a quick breakdown of my top 3 places to get coffee in Riga (also applies to the rest of Latvia!):

1. Rimi

Rimi is a supermarket chain that has shops ranging from hypermarkets to small Rimi Expresses dotted around every corner. And every single one I have seen will have a similar coffee machine.

Rimi takes the crown for affordability. They serve one size, but you can spice up your drink with free syrups (yes, free!). Recently, they’ve started offering oat milk as an option, which is a win for the environment and people like me, who prefer a rounder taste in their coffee. 

Pro tip: Join their loyalty program and download their digital loyalty app (you can get this one without a Latvian phone number!) to rack up free coffees: every 6th coffee is free! (As a side-note: Latvians seem to love loyalty cards, you get really good discounts if you have one!)

Sometimes they will also run promotions to offer baked goods or snack bars for free with your coffee, so get that Google Translate out and check what they are offering!

Price: 1,99 € + 0,04 € for the cup

2. Narvesen

Narvesen is your one-stop shop for coffee and public transport tickets in cities like Riga and Liepaja.

They offer two sizes for coffee, and the variety of drinks is quite impressive – you can choose from different flavoured coffees or macchiatos on the coffee machine display. It’s slightly pricier than Rimi, but if you’re already picking up your tram or bus tickets, the convenience factor makes it worth it.

Make sure you scan the QR code by the machine and sign up for their loyalty program: it’s an app and you don’t need a local phone number. 

You get a free drink after a certain number of purchases, and even a coupon for the first drink free! (I sadly noticed this only after I had already paid and left the first time.) They also seem to have ice coffees from the same machine, but I haven’t given those a try yet.

Price: 2,20 € for small, or 2,50 € for a bigger size.

3. Cirkle K

Cirkle K is a chain of rest stops that delivers quality coffee with some added perks: syrups, iced coffee machines, and—wait for it—whipped cream! It’s a bit pricier than Rimi, but the three size options and extra customization make it a close second favourite for me. 

There’s one literally downstairs from the place I’m staying at in Riga, so it’s my go-to place for my post-run coffee fix in the mornings (although in 2025 one of my resolutions is to spend less money eating out…).

The sad thing? You can’t get their loyalty card without a local phone number.

Paying for Your Coffee Like a Local

Ordering coffee in these spots is easy, even if you don’t speak Latvian, because you operate the machine yourself. Most machines have visual guides, so you can’t go wrong. The pictures will show you the different ratios of milk, coffee and foam so you can make an educated choice even if you are not too familiar with the different coffees. 

However, the cashiers might test your language skills by asking which coffee you’ve chosen. My pro tip? Confidently reply with “latte” or “cappuccino” to whatever they say and smile like a local (they don’t actually smile that much…).

Of course, this strategy backfired for me once. My proud moment of confidently paying for my coffee crashed when Rimi introduced oat milk in the machines, and the cashier asked (in Latvian) which milk I wanted. Cue my confused face when “latte” wasn’t enough to reply. Lesson learned: it’s always good to know a few key phrases or words!

Closing Thoughts: For A Quick Coffee Fix, Skip the Cafes

If you’re visiting Riga and on the hunt for quick coffee, you can skip the overpriced barista-made lattes. The best coffee in Riga isn’t where you’d expect—it’s hidden in plain sight in corner stores and supermarkets. 

Of course, there’s a time and place for the traditional cafes in Riga too, when you want to sit down and watch the world go by, or when you have your laptop with you and a deadline to crush. I do have some favourites for this too, and so keep your eyes peeled for a new article in the future!