Best and Worst Coffee in US Airports Revealed

by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 11:30 AM ET, Tue April 21, 2026

A study by Upgraded Points has identified the best and worst coffee experiences for travelers in U.S. airports.

The study analyzed Google Reviews for 475 coffee shops across the 50 largest airports in the U.S., ranking major hubs based on average ratings, coffee shops per 10,000 daily passengers, and coffee venues per square mile.

"A quality cup of coffee is a nonnegotiable ritual for many travelers," said Keri Stooksbury, editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points in a statement. "Our study is shedding light not only on the airports with countless options, but the ones with exceptional ratings as well."

The Five Highest Rated Airports for Coffee

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)- Average rating: 4.03. Houston’s HOU takes the top spot with the highest average coffee rating in the study, landing about 37 percent above the overall average. Though it doesn’t have biggest coffee footprint, with only 5 qualifying spots, it clearly makes those options count.
Kahului Airport (OGG) — Average rating: 4.00. Kahului comes in a close second with a 4.00 average rating. Though it has just two coffee spots, Maui’s main airport shows that a smaller selection can still leave travelers with a solid cup before takeoff.
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) — Average rating: 3.83. Pittsburgh takes third place with an average rating of 3.83. It also ranks sixth for coffee shops per 10,000 daily passengers, making it one of the stronger all-around performers in the study for both quality and access.
Miami International Airport (MIA) — Average rating: 3.56. Miami lands in fourth with a 3.56 average rating. Among the top five airports, it offers the largest coffee footprint with 12 qualifying coffee spots, giving travelers more options without sacrificing quality.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) — Average rating: 3.53. RDU rounds out the top five with a 3.53 average rating. It is perhaps the most balanced airport in the study, pairing strong coffee ratings with the second-highest number of coffee shops per 10,000 daily passengers.

The Five Lowest-Rated Airports for Coffee

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) — Average rating: 2.00. CVG lands at the bottom of the study with the lowest average coffee rating in the country. Its three qualifying coffee spots averaged just 2.00 out of 5.00, putting it more than two full stars behind the study leader.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) — Average rating: 2.08. LaGuardia ranks second-lowest for coffee quality, despite offering plenty of nearby options. In fact, LGA leads the entire study in coffee shops per square mile, showing that more coffee counters do not always translate to better coffee.
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) — Average rating: 2.13. STL places third-lowest with a 2.13 average rating. With just four qualifying coffee spots, it lacked enough strong performers to lift its overall average.
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) — Average rating: 2.23. Fort Lauderdale packs in 12 coffee spots and ranks fourth for coffee shops per square mile, but the reviews are far less impressive. Its low rating suggests travelers may find convenience here, but not necessarily a memorable cup.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) — Average rating: 2.32. Chicago Midway rounds out the bottom 5. It ranks third in the country for coffee concentration per square mile, yet still lands among the lowest-rated airports overall, reinforcing that convenience and quality do not always travel together.