A Cary coffee shop was just named among the top 10 cafés in the US. Here’s why
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- OnDeck ranked Esteamed Coffee No. 6 among women-led U.S. cafés.
- Esteamed is a non-profit coffeehouse offering jobs to people with disabilities.
- The cafe opened Dec. 2020, started with 18 workers and holds a ~4.9 Yelp rating.
A Raleigh-area café with a heartwarming cause ranks among the best woman-owned coffee shops in the nation, a recent analysis says.
The OnDeck report, published this fall, looked at more than 12,500 women-owned small businesses across 431 U.S. cities. It identified spots in the café category with at least a four-star Yelp rating, then ranked them based on customer rating and review volume. All data was collected in September 2025.
Esteamed Coffee in downtown Cary landed at No. 6 on the Top 10 list of women-led cafés with an overall 4.92-star rating, according to online business lender OnDeck.
The non-profit coffeehouse offers employment opportunities to people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.
“We envision a world where adults with disabilities have access to meaningful work and social opportunities while being respected, represented, and fully integrated in every local community,” Esteamed Coffee’s website says.
Local love for Esteamed Coffee
Esteamed Coffee opened its doors in December 2020 with the mission of employing individuals with disabilities. Co-founders Angie Hudson and Tamara Lapsley started with just 18 workers and have grown the business into “a warm, inclusive space” that welcomes everyone, the cafe’s website says.
It was one of five North Carolina cafés named on Yelp’s Top 100 Coffee Shops in the U.S. list back in September, The N&O reported at the time.
“This recognition really belongs to our community,” Julie Walker, executive director at Esteamed Coffee, told the N&O. “It reflects what’s possible when women lead with empathy and build spaces where everyone is valued.”
The coffee shop boasted a 4.9 Yelp rating and nearly 100 customer reviews as of Tuesday, Feb. 10. Featured menu items include hot tea, coffee, specialty lattes and nitro cold brews. There are also light bites including cookies, muffins and croissants.
Here’s what customers said they enjoyed the most, according to Yelp:
- “Not only is the vision amazing, but their coffee was great. It was piping hot, came with the whipped cream, and the aroma of the chai tea latte was nutty and spiced. It was perfectly balanced and not overly sweetened!” — Rosie N. from Apex, North Carolina
- “The cottage was bright, welcoming, and bustling. As we waited in line, an employee greeted us, presented the menu, and answered our questions. The walls around us were adorned in beautiful paintings. The line moved at a steady rate and soon we were enjoying our drinks and pastries at an indoor table.” — Jillian S. from Cary, North Carolina
- “Great location in the heart of downtown Cary. The inside and outside of the cafe is super cute and super clean. The staff was very welcoming, helpful and friendly. There is plenty of seats to enjoy your cafe drinks and pastries.” — Tania N. from Holly Springs, North Carolina.
What are the highest-rated women-owned cafés in the US?
These coffee shops led the pack among women-owned cafés, according to OnDeck:
- Risky Business Palm Springs Cat Café / Palm Springs, Florida / Rating: 4.94
- The Golden Scoop / Overland Park, Kansas / Rating: 4.93
- Apelu Island Cafe / Norfolk, Virginia / Rating: 4.93
- Ray & Al’s / Galien, Michigan / Rating: 4.92
- Crumpets / Rochester, New York / Rating: 4.92
- Esteamed Coffee / Cary, North Carolina / Rating: 4.92
- Black Box / Dearborn, Michigan / Rating: 4.91
- Rainbeau Jo’s / Kauai, Hawaii / Rating: 4.91
- Odd Birds / Hilton Head, South Carolina / Rating: 4.89
- La Vie Always Latte Cafe / Norfolk, Virginia / Rating: 4.89
Esteamed Coffee
Location: 114 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511
Cuisine: Coffee shop
Instagram: @esteamedcoffee
This story was originally published February 11, 2026 at 11:55 AM with the headline "A Cary coffee shop was just named among the top 10 cafés in the US. Here’s why."