Des Moines, Iowa and the surrounding suburbs have many coffee shops. Anything from a franchise like Starbucks to small local coffee shops. I visited one of the many local coffee shops, Horizon Line Coffee, which opened in 2017. Since the coffee market is so competitive each shop must find a way to uniquely stand out from the rest. I looked at how Horizon Line Coffee has their own ways to be conspicuous in the highly competitive world of coffee. 

I am a coffee enthusiast and always looking for new coffee shops with unique aspects. I had heard of Horizon Line Coffee for years now but never took the time to visit. I decided it was finally time and took a solo visit to Horizon Line located on Walnut St B, downtown Des Moines. It is towards the back edge of downtown which makes it feel cozy and quiet while being close to the business of the big city.  

Parking was not ideal as the shop does not have its own parking lot. The only parking offered was meter parking. If you are anything like me, parallel parking can be quite the challenge on a busy day. And it just so happened that the day I visited 

was a busy one. Once I finally got the courage to parallel park, I went in.  

I was warmly welcomed by the staff the minute I stepped through the door. I walked up to the counter and both employees greeted me and asked what I would like. I told them this was my first visit, and they made suggestions and helped me decide what to get. 

I was indecisive about what to get because it all looked so good. They have all types of coffee drinks and can make pretty much anything you ask for. I ended up going with the classic vanilla latte which was $5.50. After I paid, the register screen said I got one star. I asked what a star meant and they told me that every transaction is one star and once you have ten stars you get $5 off your coffee which I think is a great deal.   

As I waited for my coffee, which took about four minutes, I looked around the shop. It gave a very comforting and welcoming vibe. 

They had lots of seating for studying and/or working. They also had a lounge area that would be perfect for a coffee date with friends. I liked the lighting as it was not too bright or too dark, which is perfect for studying.  

Right before I got my coffee, one of the employees told me about their Sustainability and Glass Reuse Program. Horizon Line believes that we should all play our part in protecting the planet and one way to do this is reducing plastic use. They also noticed that a lot of their customers were returners. Keeping those two things in mind, in 2019 they decided to fully use glass cups. If I bring my cup back when I visit, I get 25% off my coffee.  

I got my twelve-ounce glass of coffee and was surprised that they did not put ice in it. My coffee was not cold but not lukewarm either. It was a good temperature that I liked. I enjoyed not having ice in my coffee because the glass had a lid that screws off, so it was easier to drink from without ice. The coffee flavor was great, very smooth, and tasted authentic.  

Brynn Martin wrote a story about Horizon Line Coffee for the Viewfinder Magazine in 2019 called “On the Horizon.” Martin’s story gives information about the idea behind starting Horizon Line Coffee as she interviewed the owner, Brad Penna, and his business partner, Nan Ho. During Martin’s interview, Penna said, 

“I joke around with people and I’m like, ‘We have a super simple business plan,’” Penna said. “I’m like, ‘make excellent coffee and work to be nice to people,’ and it sounds so simple, but it’s like, some of the simplest things are always evolving, always becoming better.” 

I can confidently say I experienced both excellent coffee and kindness from the staff at Horizon Line Coffee. I recommend reading Martin’s story if you want more information on the background of the shop.  

I highly recommend Horizon Line Coffee to any coffee lover looking for authentic and comfortable coffee shops with amazing drinks. Trying new coffee shops is not only fun but can also bring you a new community while supporting small businesses. If you love coffee or are even looking for a new place to study, check out Horizon Line Coffee in downtown Des Moines.