11 September 11-17, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | Full of Beans The best Miami coffee shops to lock in and work. BY NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR I t seems like everywhere you scroll on social media these days, it’s “lock in season.” The buzzy new phrase, also known as the “Great Lock In of 2025,” is taking social media by storm. It’s all about hunkering down, cutting out distrac- tions, and grinding toward your goals before the year ends. Forget waiting until January to get your life together — this is about abso- lutely crushing the last few months of 2025 with laser focus. And in a town like Miami, that is known for its distractions, there’s no better place to map out your goals in peace than at the city’s best coffee shops. The right café or coffeehouse can make all the differ- ence between spiraling on your phone and actually sending that email, finishing that project, or outlining the plan that changes everything. From the unexpectedly chill Surry Hills Coffee in Little River/MiamiShores (where you somehow feel cooler just by being there) to the ever-reliable Café at Books & Books in Coral Gables, these spots are designed for maximum productivity and minimum dis- traction. Whether it’s Brewing Buddha Cafe & Arthouse in Pinecrest with its house-roasted beans and art-gallery energy, Grou Coffee + Cowork for the coworking warriors, or clas- sics like Panther Coffee and Pasión del Cielo, these are the places where Miamians can set- tle in, sip strong, and get serious. Consider this your guide to the best coffee shops in Miami to lock in and finish the year like a boss. Brewing Buddha Cafe & Arthouse 8219 SW 124th St., Miami 786-842-3342 brewingbuddha.com Brewing Buddha in Pinecrest is part coffee shop, part art gallery, and part zen den, making it one of the most unexpectedly in- spiring places to hunker down with a lap- top. The brothers behind it roast their own beans and even craft their own syrup fla- vors, so your coffee always feels one-of-a- kind. It’s a true locals-only gem, perfect for when you need peace, creativity, and caf- feine to flow all at once. The Café at Books & Books 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables 305-448-9599 booksandbooks.com Tucked inside Miami’s most beloved indie bookstore, the Café at Books & Books is where productivity meets romance-novel vibes. Between the historic Coral Gables set- ting, the divine menu (hello, grilled cheese and tomato soup), and the low hum of book lovers around you, it’s a lock-in dream. You’ll leave with your work done and a new stack of books to distract you later. Café Demetrio 300 Alhambra Cir., Coral Gables 305-448-4949 cafedemetrio.com As Miami’s oldest coffeehouse, Café Deme- trio is basically a masterclass in how to create an atmosphere that keeps you glued to your seat, with its beautiful wooden interiors, tall windows, and charming courtyard. The ex- tensive coffee menu runs from no-nonsense espresso to caramel lattes, giving you plenty of fuel for your focus. Add in decadent brunch options like huevos rancheros or a Monte Cristo, and suddenly “locking in” feels like self-care. Crema Gourmet Locations Across Miami cremagourmet.com Crema is where locking in meets conve- nience, with locations around Miami and an all-day breakfast and coffee menu that never misses. The vibes are clean, modern, and bus- tling, but not overwhelming, which makes it easy to stay on task while people-watching between sips. Plus, the Wi-Fi is reliable, and the matcha latte will keep you in the zone long after your cold brew runs out. (Warning: this spot can get busy, so if you have ADD, look elsewhere on this list.) Emissary 3308 Mary St., Coconut Grove emissarycafe.com This Coconut Grove newcomer brews Counter Culture coffee that’s so smooth, it makes tackling spreadsheets almost enjoy- able. The space itself is airy, mellow, and modern, the kind of environment where you forget time exists until you realize you’ve finished half your to-do list. Between the breakfast sandwiches on Flour & Weir- doughs brioche and the Grove locals drifting in after yoga, you’ll feel locked in and like part of the neighborhood. Grou Coffee + Cowork Locations in Coral Gables 786-703-9183 groucommunity.com Grou doubles as both a specialty coffeehouse and a coworking space, which means it’s lit- erally designed for lock-in season. Powered by locally roasted Per’La beans and fueled with fresh-baked pastries instead of sad pre- packaged muffins, the caffeine hits harder and the snacks taste better. Bonus points: the affogato is a reward-worthy treat once you’ve crossed that last item off your list. Macondo Coffee Roasters 820 SW 20th Ave., Miami 786-860-5515 macondocoffee.com On Calle Ocho, Macondo Coffee Roasters is pure Little Havana soul, a neighborhood sta- ple where the beans are roasted in-house and the vibe is as rich as the cafecito. The café feels like a love letter to Colombian coffee culture, making it an inspiring spot to sit, sip, and lock in. Between the strong espresso and the energy of Calle Ocho outside, you’ll feel fueled to finish whatever’s on your plate. Magdalena Coffee + Houseplants 321 NE 26th St., CU-04, Miami magdalenacoffee.com Magdalena is cozy, artsy, and full of charm, making it the kind of hidden gem where locking in doesn’t feel like a chore. The menu leans creative, pairing bold coffee drinks with an intimate, European-style café setting that’s perfect for long writing sessions or lap- top marathons. If your version of focus comes with a side of aesthetic inspiration, this spot delivers. Panther Coffee Locations Across Miami panthercoffee.com Panther is the O.G. of Miami’s coffee scene. With beans sourced and roasted by hand, and locations sprinkled across the city, there’s no excuse not to get your grind on. The energy here is buzzy but focused, like a creative hive where dead- lines somehow don’t feel so scary. Whether you’re in Wynwood, Coconut Grove, MiMo, or South Beach, Pan- ther is the lock-in spot that feels as quintessentially Mi- ami as a cafecito at 3 p.m. Pasión Del Cielo Coffee Locations Across Miami pasiondelcielocoffee.com Pasión del Cielo is the ulti- mate lock-in spot because it takes coffee as seriously as you take your to-do list, offer- ing beans from nearly every Latin American country, each ground to order for maximum flavor. With a menu stacked with everything from espresso to coladas and even playful frappés, there’s a fix for every stage of your grind. Best of all, its Coral Gables lo- cation keeps the caffeine flowing late and even delivers, making it impossible to come up with excuses when it’s time to buckle down and get things done. Suite Habana Café 2609 N. Miami Ave., Miami suitehabanacafe.com Suite Habana is sleek, stylish, and Michelin- recommended, which means locking in here feels more like a luxury than a grind. The house roast is smooth and balanced, the café con leche is spot-on, and the minimalist space inspires focus instead of distraction. Plus, knowing even Joe Jonas is a fan makes it feel like the coolest place to answer emails in Miami. Surry Hills Coffee 8226 NE Second Ave., Miami 305-456-6787 surryhillscoffee.com Surry Hills in Miami Shores/Little River is a Sydney-inspired café that blends specialty coffee with an Australian-style brunch, mak- ing it one of the best spots to hunker down and focus. The cozy, welcoming vibe makes it ideal for remote work sessions or cramming for that last-minute exam, and if you’re brave enough, you can even set up shop outdoors. Pro tip: skip the glued-down old movie seats and grab a window perch, a communal table, or a bistro high-top for maximum comfort while enjoying fresh, made-to-order bites. Vice City Bean Locations Across Miami 305-726-8031 vicecitybean.com Vice City Bean is for the design-savvy lock-in crowd with industrial chic interiors, Madcap Coffee beans, and housemade nut milks for your latte. It’s the kind of space where the cre- ative energy is contagious, perfect for when you need to brainstorm, write, or crank out a project. With vegan snacks, pastries, and even dog treats, it’s also the rare place where your pup can join you for productivity hour. [email protected] ▼ Café Brewing Buddha Cafe & Arthouse photo There’s no better place in Pinecrest to work at than at Brewing Buddha Cafe & Arthouse.
