Need caffeine before an early flight? If you're flying through Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), you may want to drink it before you arrive. A 2026 study by travel site Upgraded Points ranked CVG the worst of America's 50 largest airports for coffee, with an average Google review score of just 2.00 out of 5 across its three coffee spots. For contrast, the winner, Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, scores a respectable 4.03.

That's a strange result given how busy CVG is. The airport, located in Hebron, Kentucky just across the Ohio border, is the main commercial hub for the Cincinnati area and handled 9.2 million passengers in 2024. It offers nonstop routes from Los Angeles to London, and in 2026 it added new direct flights: Southwest to Austin and United to San Francisco.

So what's the problem? For starters, there's no Starbucks at CVG. The main option is Dunkin', with locations in Concourse A and Concourse B — and reviewers aren't kind. One complained of waiting 15 minutes for black coffee; another said their cup was 'just milk with maybe a splash of coffee.' Beyond Dunkin', travellers are limited to Einstein Bros. Bagels, which has a slim coffee menu, or grabbing something from fast-food outlets like Wendy's. Illy vending machines are dotted around the airport too, which is admittedly the same budget-friendly backup offered at the top-ranked Hobby Airport.

There's a decent workaround if you're staying in the city: Deeper Roots Coffee, often cited among the Midwest's best sit-down coffee shops, has a location at Findlay Market, one of Cincinnati's historic food landmarks.

It's not all bad news for CVG passengers. A separate 2026 study from Travel Bulletin found the airport has one of the shortest TSA security waits in the country — an average of just 5.9 minutes. So while the coffee may disappoint, you'll be at your gate fast enough to hunt down a better cup elsewhere — or at least grab a vending machine Illy without stress.

For travellers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you're a serious coffee drinker connecting through Cincinnati, plan ahead. Get your caffeine fix downtown before heading out to Hebron, lower your expectations at the Dunkin' counter, or lean on the airport's surprisingly quick security lines and settle in with whatever you can find.