MN’s Best! Central Minnesota Is Home To Some Great Coffee

Sunday marked the big reveal for who won a Minnesota Best award, which is run by the Star Tribune. The contest allows Minnesotans to nominate businesses to be named one of Minnesota's Best in that category, and once the nomination period is over, you vote on which business IS the best. If you are a fan of coffee, a Central Minnesota business ran away with both the coffee and coffee house categories!

Big News in Big Lake

Ember Coffee in Big Lake took home the gold medal in both the Coffee and Coffee House categories this year, which is a pretty big deal, especially when you think just how many coffee shops you see and pass when driving around during the week.

2025 marked the third straight year that Ember Coffee has won both the coffee and coffee house categories.

Ember Coffee is described in their online listing as having "coffee that is full-bodied, low acidity, and perfectly balanced" thanks to their "air roasting method".

In a note published on the business's social media, the owners, Elisa and Matthew, gave a heartfelt thank you to their fans, both new and old.

"We're stunned. Grateful. Humbled. And honestly? Just really moved.

This journey hasn't always been smooth — like many small businesses, we've had our share of late nights, hard calls, and crossed fingers. But through it all, your emails, your kind replies, your monthly orders, and your trust have kept us going.

Every time you make Ember part of your ritual, you're choosing more than coffee.

You're choosing a small, family-run Minnesota roastery that still packs and ships every bag by hand. You're choosing story over status. Quality over hype. Real over flashy.

And today, we just want to say: thank you!"

Serving more than award-winning coffee in Big Lake

The Big Lake-based business also took home the gold in 'Best Minnesota Made - Food & Beverage Products'.

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If you are interested in stopping out and trying some of the best coffee in one of the best coffee houses in Minnesota, you can find Ember Coffee at 450 Jefferson Blvd, Suite 1 in Big Lake.