Ahhhh coffee. The precious, aromatic, lifeblood that courses through our veins. Iced coffee season may be slowly slipping through our sad, stubborn hands but hot coffee season is there waiting where we left it last year, so eager to warm us, caffienate us, and fog up our glasses. If you're on the hunt for a new seasonal favorite or want to branch out past the typical gas station or fast-food offering of coffee, you may want to try a local coffee shop. There are approximately 24,000 coffee shops around the country currently and plenty of them are found right here in the Indianapolis area. Take an afternoon to visit the ones that peak your interest and see if you don't find something new to enjoy all season long. Coffee and the shops that sell it can often come with their own culture, so if you're fairly new to the "coffee world" here is a glossary of terms and drink descriptions to help you get started. Enjoy!

1. Bee Coffee Roasters Named Indy's Best Coffee Roaster they have two locations in Indianapolis and are dedicated to the craft of roasting and brewing the perfect cup of coffee.

2. Cups Coffee With three locations in downtown Indy to choose from and tons of menu items, this shop is sure to impress. Check out their website for the full in-house menu.

3. Milktooth This impressive shop boasts one of the first ModBar espresso machines, which eliminates the "curtain" that many baristas work behind and offers customers an up-close look at the crafting of their drinks. Their hours are 7am to 3pm and they are closed on Tuesdays.

4. Strange Brew This unique coffee house is located in Greenwood and offers tasty espresso drinks as well as vegan baked goods. With its friendly baristas and friendly atmosphere, it's a great place to meet a friend, read a book or grab something to drink while you're out running errands.

5. Coffeehouse Five

Greenwood's only "for-benefit" coffee house, has an impressive menu as well as a cozy atmosphere. It uses organic, certified fair-trade coffee beans and pastries baked fresh in-house daily. They give 10% of their proceeds to local food banks and focus on community-based, family strengthening programs. Head to their website for a full list of menu items and more information for what they're all about.