The Ankeny Brief
Ankeny might have the most competitive coffee scene per capita in Iowa. There's a drive-thru on seemingly every corner, plus a handful of genuinely good local cafes. Here's the field, whether you want a 90-second drive-thru or a slow Saturday morning.
Dutch Bros is building its first Ankeny shop at 315 NW 36th Drive, part of the chain's first wave of Iowa stores across the Des Moines metro. No firm opening date has been announced yet. We'll flag the day it opens in the weekly Brief, since it's the most-watched grand opening in town.
The Ankeny Brief is a free weekly email with new openings, deals, and what's happening around town. We watch so you don't have to.
Main Street Cafe & Bakery isn't just coffee, it's the single highest-rated spot on our whole Ankeny restaurant list (4.7★), with from-scratch baking and a proper breakfast. The move when you want a cup and a plate.
New coffee shops open in Ankeny constantly. Tell us the one we should add and we'll feature it in the weekly Brief.
It depends what you're after. For a fast drive-thru, 7 Brew is the current go-to. For a sit-down local cafe, Porch Light, Cafe Diem, and Smokey Row are the favorites. And if you want coffee and breakfast, Main Street Cafe & Bakery is the highest-rated spot on our list.
Dutch Bros has a shop under construction at 315 NW 36th Drive in Ankeny, part of the chain's first wave of Iowa stores across the Des Moines metro. As of mid-2026 no firm public opening date has been announced. We flag the opening day in the weekly Brief; it's one of the most-watched grand openings in town.
Not yet. It's under construction at 315 NW 36th Drive and coming soon. We'll flag the day it opens in the weekly Brief; it's the most-watched grand opening in town.
Porch Light Coffeehouse in Uptown, Cafe Diem, and Smokey Row in The District are the sit-and-stay cafes, comfortable spots to read, work, or catch up with someone.
Plenty. Porch Light, Cafe Diem, and the Blue Bean & Twisted Bean espresso bars are all local, alongside Iowa-based Smokey Row.