Are we feeling a little foggy? We can "fix" that. Right this way... This is a celebration of coffee, coffee roasters and coffee houses that can be found in what we will call for this post 'Greater Greenville', what the locals consider within the near orbit of 'Greenville proper'. Rest assured you are never far from a boost of brown when you are in our zone. Fair warning: after this excursion you may end up with a serious buzz, an insider's swagger, updated sense of hipster style, bags of goodies and gifts, extra piercings, ink, dreads, dye and possibly a man bun to help you vibrate all the way home.
Let's start, ironically, with the far northern outpost which is actually called Due South!
Due South is an industrial, hip café and roastery, roasting on the premises, that can be found in the new art enclave of Taylors Mill at 250 Mill Street in Taylors.
They are open later than most (heaven bless them) Mon - Thurs: 9 am - 9 pm, Fri - Sat: 9 am - 10 pm, and Sun: Noon - 7 pm. They often host special foodie events and have live music so check their Facebook page for updates.
A Leopard prowls the town of Travelers Rest just north of Greenville and her den is at 27 South Main Street, The Forest Coffeehouse.
Leopard Forest Coffee Company roasts daily in Marietta, SC, just aways up the highway from Travelers Rest and the coffee can be enjoyed, among many other places, at The Forest. The café is spacious and calm, usually filled with students reading. It's proximity to the Swamp Rabbit Trail has its counter bustling with cyclists throughout the day. Outdoor seating to watch the world go by. Mon - Sat 7 am - 6 pm, Sun 10 am - 5 pm.
The Swamp Rabbit Café and grocery is now darn near a legend here after only a handful of years on the scene. It can be found at 205 Cedar Lane but is also accessible directly from the Trail itself.
They offer a menu of local eats and treats, organic and locally sourced produce, groceries and baked goods, AND they host many special events, AND offer cooking classes! Open Mon -Fri 7:30 am - 7 pm, Sat 8 am - 6 pm, Sun 9 am - 6 pm. If you are in town for more than 24 hours it will be hard NOT to wind up here.
Heading southward down to the heart of Greenville we come first to Methodical Coffee.
Opened only in the last year, their almost zen approach to coffee has caught on and Methodical is growing exponentially, adding a roastery that will be in operation a stone's throw from the cafe any day now.
Located in One City Plaza at 101 N. Main, many a business meeting is held here over yummy baked goods, and you may also rent their elegant space and patio for private gatherings.
Enjoy the sophisticated ambiance at Methodical, Mon - Fri 7 am - 6 pm, Sat 8 am - 6 pm, and Sun 8 am - 5 pm.
There's something brewing down below! Almost across the street from Methodical and down some steps is a place that Greenville's movers, shakers, artists and others have made into an institution. Coffee Underground, literally in a basement space at 1 East Coffee Street (not even kidding - how cool is that??) starts to crank early, so get in the queue and prepare to move fast.
Open and roasting for over 20 years, they also offer full breakfast, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, smoothies, milkshakes, fraps, beer, wine & cocktails. As if that weren't enough they have a theater space adjacent to the cafe area where many a cool happening can be enjoyed.
Put your ear to the 'Ground Mon - Thurs 7 am - 10 pm, Friday 7 am - 12 am, Saturday 8 am - 12 am, Sunday 8 am - 10 pm.
Turning a little bit south down Main to 11 S. Main we come to Port City Java. A bit of a chain with 32 locations but roasting in Wilmington NC and right on the Main drag.
Of note is the back patio which can be a lovely respite from a busy day in Downtown Greenville. Mon - Thurs 6:30am - 7:00pm, Fri 6:30am - 11:00pm, Sat 7:00am - 11:00pm, Sun 7:00am - 7:00pm.
At the top of Falls Park before you get to the bridge, grab a cup and a gourmet, custom blended cone at the Spill the Beans! This place smells scrumptious! Lots of space indoor and outdoor, and waterfall views. Sweet! 531 South Main Street, Mon–Sat 6:30 am – 11:00pm, Sun 1:30pm – 9:00pm.
Down, down, farther south we go to the new kid on the block and closest to the Swamp Rabbit Inn - Bex Cafe and Juice Bar!
A cozier corner cafe you could not find and we're partial, as we can roll uphill and right into it with minimal effort. Great organic coffee, delicious healthy eats, like breakfast sandwiches and creative smoothies, it makes our little neighborhood complete!
In case you're not sure where you are, West End Coffee Roasters has a West End Coffee Shoppe at 1o21 South Main. On the way in between Zanti Yoga and Fluor Field ballpark... you get the picture.
The coffee is roasted just a bit farther south of town with an array of single origin, fair trade, blends and flavors like Toasted Carolina Pecan for retail or wholesale purchase. You could say they are pouring far and wide!
If the coffee cafes of Greenville had a lantern rouge, The Village Grind would be it, our last stop on the crawl. Are your teeth clattering yet? Have we used the term cute? cozy? hip? stylish? The Village Grind is all of these, also relatively new and kinda tucked away too.
At 1263 Pendleton Street, near the offices of Town Magazine, the shop has been through several hours extensions as more folks begin to find their way to Greenville's growing arts district. So far, and hopefully subject to even further extension... Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sat 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. The Village Grind is one of those places that makes you feel cool just settling into the décor. Of course the coffee, supplied by Due South, and munchies from the Swamp Rabbit Cafés baker are indeed a collection of some of the best Greenville has to offer its visitors and so a perfect spot to end our romp.
I hope this little post offers some help on where to get your jump start, your motor running, your cockles warmed and your hippity hopping while in Greenville. Just a few of our many "perks". See you soon! We'll have coffee.
--Ppppppppercy
