I take my coffee pretty seriously. By that I mean I’m insufferable. I’m one of those people who will Google the nearby coffee shops before booking a hotel. I will pack my own beans, brewer, scale, and hand-cranked grinder if the options aren’t up to par.

But one of the most striking things about traveling in American cities in recent years is how rarely I have to resort to such extreme measures; independent coffee shops serving quality brews can be found pretty much everywhere.