Coffee shops (Columbia, Irmo, Lexington: subdivision, live, moving to)

[Ceezer]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

It makes a big difference. If I can get a cup of coffee within a week of it being roasted... that's good stuff.

Oh, you don't have to tell me. I used to home-roast several years ago and have been thinking about getting a quick & easy setup to start again.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Ceezer

Oh, you don't have to tell me. I used to home-roast several years ago and have been thinking about getting a quick & easy setup to start again.

Then that settles it. Let's all meet at Ceezer's for a cup of joe.

[mrjake]

I come from Woburn Ma,moved here in 05 Igo to macdonalds great coffee I live in lexington Starbucks is to high almost 3 for a large reg Ice coffee ,Red

[sojay]

I can't believe nobody mentioned Immaculate Consumption on Main, just south of the Senate, across from Miyo's.
They roast their own beans (fair trade). I'm an espresso purist, and after trying many mailorder companies, settling on Barrington as my favorite, I find Immac's espresso very competitive, as long as it's freshly roasted and ground just before brewing.
The espresso they make can be quite good (a lot better than the big chain's), but it's hit or miss depending on who's making it.
They have a very nice interior, conducive to hours of hanging out. Good place for business and casual meetings also. Exotic decor, great world music playing most of the time, never too loud.
Their bakeware is incredible. Their apricot almond scones are the best scones I've had, period. Ginger oatmeal cookies also... mm.
Their lunch sandwiches are also incredible. The best ingredients...
Only problem, they close at 6pm and no wifi. Outdoor area is limited to 3 tables.

The Starbucks in Five Points has a nice outdoor area. The coffee sucks, though. Nice for cold drinks.
I second Cool Beans as a good study place. Clintele mostly students and faculty. Coffee is fine if you're not a coffee snob like me. Good soups, open till very late.

[LexingtonDad]

That is one fine review sojay. I hope you keep posting on here, especially when it comes to food and drink. I love to learn about new (and even not so new) places and their offerings.

Thanks for the rundown.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by sojay

I can't believe nobody mentioned Immaculate Consumption on Main, just south of the Senate, across from Miyo's.
They roast their own beans (fair trade). I'm an espresso purist, and after trying many mailorder companies, settling on Barrington as my favorite, I find Immac's espresso very competitive, as long as it's freshly roasted and ground just before brewing.
The espresso they make can be quite good (a lot better than the big chain's), but it's hit or miss depending on who's making it.
They have a very nice interior, conducive to hours of hanging out. Good place for business and casual meetings also. Exotic decor, great world music playing most of the time, never too loud.
Their bakeware is incredible. Their apricot almond scones are the best scones I've had, period. Ginger oatmeal cookies also... mm.
Their lunch sandwiches are also incredible. The best ingredients...
Only problem, they close at 6pm and no wifi. Outdoor area is limited to 3 tables.

The Starbucks in Five Points has a nice outdoor area. The coffee sucks, though. Nice for cold drinks.
I second Cool Beans as a good study place. Clintele mostly students and faculty. Coffee is fine if you're not a coffee snob like me. Good soups, open till very late.

Why do I always forget about Immaculate Consumption? It is only 3 minutes from my office.

[lagoon7]

Originally Posted by LexingtonDad

There is a nice selection of privately owned coffee shops all over Columbia and a decent dusting of Starbucks too. My SIL lives in Boston and when she visits she maps out all the shops and tries as many as she can get too. Funny you mention Dunkin, they must be all over Boston because that is the only place she says she can get coffee at home.

A decent dusting? I think there must be only about 4-5 here. I don't think Columbia is a big coffee city.

[LexingtonDad]

Originally Posted by lagoon7

A decent dusting? I think there must be only about 4-5 here. I don't think Columbia is a big coffee city.

I'm not much of a coffee fan so I really don't pay much attention. But I have to wonder what Starbuck's puts in their coffee. When my stepson is home he will get up in the morning, walk past our coffee pot, get in his car and drive to Target so he can pay Starbuck's $4 for a cup of coffee.

And he wonders why he can't seem to save any money.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by lagoon7

A decent dusting? I think there must be only about 4-5 here. I don't think Columbia is a big coffee city.

4 or 5 Starbucks? More like 12.

[PeggyV]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

4 or 5 Starbucks? More like 12.

What about Caribou (sp?). Are there any in the Columbia area? When I lived in the Charlotte area I used to go there all the time. The coffee is much better than what you get at Starbucks.