More Greensboro, NC Coffee!

My last post was about finding coffee in Downtown Greensboro, NC, and now I’d like to take you to a few local coffee spots throughout the rest of the city. Remember, no Starbucks or Caribou or fast food coffee establishments will be on my list. That’s because I believe (very UNscientifically) that every time a chain coffee shop sells a cup of coffee, it makes a sale that could have been made at one of our independent roasters and brewers. And for the independents, each and every purchase helps them keep their doors open.

Starting off, we’ll make our way west from Downtown to the Lindley Park neighborhood, where the area around the intersection of Elam and Walker provides everyone with something to love. Small independent restaurants, bars, and even a locally owned grocery with an iconic beer wall are packed into a very small radius. The local coffee spot is Common Grounds, frequented for its chill atmosphere, eclectic blend of people, and live music. Common Grounds is noticeably dog friendly, and oh yes, the smell of coffee is always in the air.

The College Hill neighborhood is our next destination. Because the Greensboro area is home to seven colleges and universities, coffee consumption is de rigueur. On the main drag near UNC-Greensboro and Greensboro College (Tate Street), you’ll find Coffeology and Tate Street Coffee. Coffeeology has a fine coffee menu and a short food menu, and the interior design reminds me of a small cafeteria. Coffeeology always seems to be open, and hard at work. Across the street at Tate Street Coffee, the cozy yet hip atmosphere seems much more about reading and professors and people-watching. And the coffee smells divine.

Sadly, we lost College Hill’s The People’s Perk last year and it will be sorely missed for its support of the arts, its tasty coffee, pastries, handmade artisan goods and remarkable owner-proprietor, Karen Archia (@scrappyunicorn). Losing this coffee spot was a powerful reminder of the importance of being a regular at the shops that we love.

Leaving Tate Street, head west on Market Street to a spot that has quickly gained popularity, A Special Blend. The coffee and ambiance there are cheerful and professional, and a founding mission there is to employ staff who have special needs. Each patron is given an identification tag when ordering, and mine this week said “HAPPY”. Tasting their mild, rich coffee, I was happy for sure!

Across town and up Battleground Avenue, local favorite Green Joes is located near some landmark big box stores in a shopping center, but don’t let that deter you! Green Joes has an industrial feel, but its spacious interior and comfortable chairs are very inviting. Quite a few tables are occupied by folks who are staring at their laptops, and it’s not too noisy to get some work done there.

Let’s go East(ish) now to catch the next three spots. Green Bean 2 at Golden Gate Shopping Center sells a lot of coffee and some small food items, and quite a few of the patrons take their coffee “to go.” Nearby, there’s the nicest family-owned spot at Revolution Mill, Cafe at Revolution, that also serves healthy fruit drinks and a range of grab and go snacks. Finally, and dear to my heart is Cafegency, the local independent coffeeshop that operates under the same roof and same ownership as a full service Nationwide Insurance agency. Owner Joe Fowler created the concept of combining the two businesses and it works well on the corner of Wendover and Church Street. Joe would want you to know that his coffee beans are organic and fair trade. I highly recommend the neat space for informal small meetings, as there are several semi private seating areas for convenience.

There is a wonderfully unique coffee spot that I should have included in my post about downtown Greensboro coffee shops. Manny’s Cafe, owned and operated by Manny and his mother Margarita Delgado, serves delicious Salvadoran and traditional fare that is fresh fresh fresh, and the cafe serves fabulous coffee, smoothies, and other to-go items if you are in a hurry. In addition to their cozy cafe they have a backyard garden where you can sit and eat. Did I mention fresh? Visit the cafe today, just two blocks east of South Elm Street, not far from Dames Chicken and Waffles.