Needing a caffeine kick? Looking for a spot for a quick snack and to relax with the fam? Catching up with friends? Wanting a place to “escape?”
Visit Watertown gives 605 readers a look at the latest and greatest coffee shops in the area.
Drip Coffee & Baked Goods
“As crazy as it sounds, it kind of started as a joke about opening Drip [Coffee & Baked Goods],” said owner Tawni Smith.
Smith talked to her sister-in-law, Katie, about the concept when a building had been developed in Lake Norden. One day she went for it, and with Katie’s help they got it up and running.
“As time went on, I thought it would be fun to have one in Watertown as well, and we heard of a location [on 11th Street SE] that would work great, so we started that and it’s been a crazy-fun journey,” recalled Smith.
Three-and-a-half years later, they love taking care of their customers with coffee drinks like a Shaken Espresso or a Drip Shaken, Refreshers like Cloud Nine or a Huckleberry Finn, or “non coffee drinks” like a Dirty Soda, Matcha, or a Pink Starburst.
Smith says the customer go-to is the Drip Latte, which is a white chocolate vanilla breve.
Food-wise, Drip’s Copycat Cookie is one of the top selling food items, which they bake in house.
“We serve them warm and gooey,” said Smith.
Save the Date
April Ladies Night @ Drip | 6:30 p.m.
Follow them on social media for the evening’s craft and other announcements.
Other food options include baked items like Cinnamon Rolls, Chocolate Croissants, Scotcheroos, and Cinnamon Chip Scones, or heavier options like Avocado Toast or a Breakfast Sandwich.
“We can make any drink you like; it doesn’t have to be one on the menu,” said Smith.
Guests can grab their order to-go via a drive-thru window, DoorDash, or they can come inside and hang out. Each location has a children’s area with books for people to come in and read or take home. There are also games for both families and friends to enjoy.
“I think it’s a great place or opportunity for people in the community to get to know each other,” said Smith. “It’s not in such a rushed environment. Most people come to a coffee shop to relax and visit, which is a great reason to come and connect.”
Check out events at Drip, like Ladies Night. A recent evening included a craft (painting a mini plant pot) and a medium drink with exclusive access to the spring menu.
The seasonal sips are Petal Kiss, Spring Rain, Honey Lavender Latte, and Blackberry Bloom.
Drip also hosts pop-up coffee shops, and has a third location opening in May in Brookings.
“We love constant improvement and strive to be better every day,” said Smith.
order.dripos.com/Drip-Coffee // Facebook: Drip Coffee // Instagram: @drip.coffe.e
Gather Coffee Co.
Gather began in 2017 in downtown Watertown on East Kemp with the goal of creating a welcoming place for people to connect over great coffee.
Olivia Orthaus took ownership of the popular spot in November of 2025 and slowly began brainstorming and implementing changes, while keeping the heart of the business the same.
“We’ve refreshed the shop, expanded the menu, and leaned even more into our identity as a community gathering place,” said Orthaus.
Phase One of the refresh included rebranding as Gather Coffee Co. with a new logo.
While changes are afoot, menu favorites still remain like their highly-praised Chai (spiced or vanilla) and their signature muffin, The Elvis—a banana bread muffin infused with oats, honey, and peanut butter.
They also carry Black Hills Bagels, which are frequently ordered as sandwiches. Orthaus’s favorite is the New Yorker Sandwich with three strips of bacon, cheddar cheese, and a schmear of Pimento Cheese, which can be ordered with a bagel or gluten-free wrap.
Gather Some Goodies
Enjoy other popular baked goods.
Banana Bread Cream Cheese Sandwich
Bananas Foster Muffin
Biscotti
Blueberry Lemon Lavender Scone
Chocolate Banana Bread Cream Cheese Sandwich
Raspberry Orange Dream
Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie
Orthaus’s favorite drink is the Caramel Maple Iced Latte with marshmallow cold foam.
“We also have our own roastery for our coffee and sell it for retail, which allows us to focus on quality and create drinks that truly start from the bean up,” said Orthaus.
The “cozy, creative, and welcoming” coffee shop was designed with different spaces in mind, including a children’s area and secluded sections. It’s so cozy, in fact, people sometimes stay for two meals.
“We often have people come in, get a coffee and a scone, and then two hours later they’ll have their work done and order a bagel sandwich to-go,” said Orthaus. “You can hang out for a long time, and we want you to!”
The community has been very supportive of the new ownership, and recently the Downtown Collective hosted the first Toast of Downtown at Gather Coffee Co. for the relaunch and kickoff.
“So many people showed up and have been showing up,” said Orthaus.
Stay tuned for Phase Two.
order.toasttab.com/online/gather-122-e-kemp-ave // Facebook: Gather Coffee // Instagram: @gathercoffeecowtnsd
Breakout Coffeehouse & Escape Rooms
Victoria Hennen’s father had talked about opening an escape room business for years.
“One day I finally said to him, ‘Dad, if you want to do this, I’ll do it for you—and it will be awesome,’” she said.
They shook hands on it, and that was the beginning of Breakout Coffeehouse & Escape Rooms.
Hennen and her 17-year-old son jumped into the process together designing rooms, building puzzles, and creating the space piece by piece.
“Today Breakout has become a place where people solve puzzles, enjoy great coffee, and spend meaningful time together,” she said.
The vibe at Breakout is warm, welcoming, and just a little mysterious.
“We wanted the space to feel comfortable and inviting while also reflecting the curiosity and adventure that comes with escape rooms,” said Hennen. “One of the design elements I love most is the juxtaposition between the new and glamorous and old and well-worn. Throughout the space you’ll notice polished details alongside pieces that carry history and character.”
The coffeehouse and bistro’s most frequently ordered drinks are the Hayburner (salted-caramel toffee latte topped with homemade cold foam) and Sweater Weather.
“Sweater Weather holds a special place on our menu because it was the very first fall drink we ever released,” said Hennen. “It’s full of warm, savory, buttery, and gently-spiced flavors that capture the cozy feeling of the season.
It became so popular that it now lives on the menu year-round.”
Did you know?
Breakout also serves specialty wines and craft beers.
Seasonal drinks are a huge part of the Breakout experience, says the owner. Customers tend to rotate between new favorites like Shadow & Spice and returning classics like The Sheik.
Breakout also offers a fully gluten-free food menu with “creatively-crafted flavors.”
“Every recipe on the menu has been developed through years of testing, adjusting, and tasting until we felt the flavor and texture were exactly right,” said Hennen.
Guests can grab breakfast with items like Raspberry Baked Oats, Banana Cake with Cream Cheese, or French Toast Bake.
For more savory options, there are dishes like soups, the Toasted Italian Sandwich, pizza, Peanut Butter Blackberry Bacon, and more.
“My go-to order has always been our Creamy Tomato Bisque; I have it nearly every day,” said Hennen. “For a long time I paired it with our cheesy ciabatta, which is delicious, but recently I discovered something even better—pairing the bisque with our PB Bacon Berry.”
With the escape rooms involved, guests can experience Breakout in a variety of ways. Some come for adventure and sit down to decompress after a successful or failed escape to catch up on the clues, and others simply enjoy the coffeehouse side of things.
“Parents meet friends for coffee while their kids enjoy a gluten-free treat, or families drop in for a relaxed breakfast or lunch,” said Hennen. “We also host celebrations like staff parties, micro-weddings, bridal showers, and graduations, which adds another layer of connection to the space.”
Along with the escape rooms, Breakout also periodically hosts Murder Mystery Parties. Starting April 25, they’re launching bi-monthly play dates in partnership with Little Legends Party Co.—a party rental company including ball pits, bouncy houses, custom balloon dОcor, themed backdrops, and other scenarios.
At Breakout, they’re all about the experiences.
“Breakout is a place where people can slow down, reconnect, celebrate, laugh, and sometimes even experience a little redemption in the simple act of sharing time together,” said Hennen.
Breakout Escape Rooms
Book one of these themed rooms (all created in-house) to solve the mystery:
Circus Circus Carnival
Inheritance
The Gumgeon
breakoutcoffeehouse.com // Facebook: Breakout Coffeehouse // Instagram: @breakoutcoffeehouse
Backroads Coffeehouse & Lunchboxx
“I grew up on a ranch where long hours and hard work shaped who I am—but it wasn’t my dream. It belonged to someone else,” said Melissa Hericks.
After leaving to see “the city,” Hericks missed the calm, dusty roads and ended up returning close to home after raising her family and earning her degree. Her vision was to create a welcoming space rooted in hard work, heart, and community. She dubbed it Backroads Coffeehouse & Lunchboxx.
The coffee shop and bistro opened in 2019 after Hericks and her husband purchased the land and started building the year prior on 4th Street NE.
“Our motto is ‘Backroads: the fun begins where the pavement ends’—inspired by the farms and the local businesses that surround us and support us,” said Hericks. “Many items that hold these walls together are from local graineries, homesteads, barns, and new designs I created.”
Some of the most talked about drinks at Backroads are the Dubai Pistachio Gold and their cold brews. The Dubai Pistachio Gold is one of the newest drinks with house-made pistachio cream, topped with toasted Kataifi. Guests can order it as espresso or matcha.
“We have Flights offered as well, so our guests can sample from espresso iced/hot drinks, dirty sodas, or cold brew drinks,” said Hericks. “These are a hit year round.”
As far as the food menu goes, Hericks avoided fried foods, focusing on fresh, house-made items like Jo Jo’s Burrito, the Dakota Croissant, the Chipotle Rice Bowl, and the CranAlmond Chicken Salad.
Go Antiquing at Backroads
Along with merch, Backroads has a variety of antiques for sale.
“I typically gravitate toward the burrito bowl with all the condiments,” said Hericks. “Drinkwise I like our signature house-blend black coffee because I’m from that generation who still enjoys it.”
This spring the team is flexing their creativity and is entering into Mediterranean foods with Backroads Going Coastal—a Mediterranean Escape. Special menu items will include a Tuscan Turkey Melt, a Mediterranean Salad offered with Tzatziki dressing, and a Brie & Orchard Wrap.
Backroads also caters, and their space can be rented for events.
“There are events here to celebrate any occasion, family, or business meetings—or my favorite, ‘baby’s first outing’ at the Backroads Coffeehouse & Bistro,” said Hericks.
Backroads gives 10 percent off any bistro orders when they host your event (excluding beer and wine).
When it comes to seeing her vision come to life, Hericks finds joy in seeing people come together.
She said, “Since opening in 2019, we’ve seen the world go through a lot of changes, but one thing has remained steady—Backroads is a place where people know they belong.”
backroadscoffeehouse.com // Facebook: Backroads Coffeehouse // Instagram: @backroadscoffeehouse
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