Coffee shops (Columbia, Spartanburg, Sumter: houses, college, organic)

[lauren76]

I'm going to be moving to Columbia this summer and was wondering if there were many (or any) locally-owned coffee houses - good places to have a cappuccino and study, etc. I'm moving from Boston, and besides the local adoration of Dunkin Donuts, we aren't much of a coffee shop town. I hope to find this in Columbia. Thanks!

[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.

[Columbiadata]

There's Cool Beans on College Street between Main and Sumter; House Coffee on State Street just across the river from downtown Columbia; Starbucks in Five Points, in the Vista and in the Sheraton on Main; and Nonah's in the Vista, just to name some downtown area shops.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

This may be asking a lot, but does anyone happen to know if there are any coffee places in Columbia that roast their own beans?

Starbucks is fine, but nothing special, and I try to avoid it for a number of reasons. Still, they have alright coffee, and I'd sooner get my coffee there than, say, McDonalds.

A local spot would be better, especially a place where they serve fair-trade (and maybe even organic, shade-grown) coffee. A place that does all of this AND roasts the beans locally would just be out of this world, but I'm prepared to settle for less.

[lauren76]

Great news about the coffee shops. I don't think it's asking too much for a place to get locally roasted beans. I make my own espresso so that would be icing on the cake!

[lauren76]

ånd yes, there is a Dunkin on every corner in Boston...we love DDs but Bostonians are not interested in sitting around for 2 hours while drinking lattes. Glad to hear Columbia is more chilled out in this way.

[Ceezer]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

This may be asking a lot, but does anyone happen to know if there are any coffee places in Columbia that roast their own beans?

I don't know if any of the shops themselves roast, but last I looked, there were no roasters in Cola. Sumter, Spartanburg, Chaz, etc. Earth Fare distributes for some of these.

I'd sooner get my coffee there than, say, McDonalds

Funny you mention that, since McD's is supplied somewhat locally. They get their beans from S&D in Charlotte.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Ceezer

Funny you mention that, since McD's is supplied somewhat locally. They get their beans from S&D in Charlotte.

Interesting. I didn't know that. However, S&D is a pretty big, industrial roaster with very few fair-trade coffee options. I was looking for something a little more local. In Chicago, for example, you've got companies like Intelligentsia doing sourcing and roasting locally, as well as specific coffee spots doing small batch roasting on site. It makes a big difference. If I can get a cup of coffee within a week of it being roasted... that's good stuff.

[Intergalactic]

What is the name of the replacement for Jammin' Java?

Is Adriana's in Five Points‎ good?

[Columbiadata]

White Mule (named after a type of alcohol of some sort) and yes.