Coffee is a popular beverage in college—it not only helps students perk up before class, but also provides a perfect excuse to go off-campus. As leaves begin to change colors, it is the perfect time of the year to take your coffee outside and enjoy the cool weather. Fortunately, Greenville offers an array of unique local coffee shops for students to explore. We asked students on Instagram about their favorite coffee shops to learn more about what makes these local gems so special.
Most people are familiar with the popular Greenville and Travelers Rest coffee shops, but few have heard of Mountain Goat Cafe, just off Poinsett Hwy near downtown. Mountain Goat is an outdoorsy coffee shop and bar known for their reasonably priced drinks and collection of unique beers. Senior Morgan Goldsberry has made it her go-to spot because “the atmosphere is very open—it used to be a garage of sorts and on nice days they open the doors, let in the fresh air, and do a half-indoors half-outdoors set up.
Coffee Underground is a well known name among students. Located in the center of Downtown Greenville, it opens late into the evening on weekends since it hosts the Alchemy Comedy Club, a local improv and stand up theatre. Junior Alex Thompson loves Coffee Underground because “it is a cozy coffeehouse with amazing pastries” and “the price is around the same as Starbucks, but the quality is so much better.” Though Coffee Underground is known for its cozy and eclectic interior, it also has outdoor seating. In addition to being a great spot for coffee and dessert, they offer a large appetizer and sandwich menu along with a large selection of beer, wine, cordials and cocktails.
Another popular shop is The Village Grind located in Greenville’s West Village. The decor in The Village Grind is relaxing and adds a whimsical atmosphere. They also have a nice covered outdoor patio with WiFi access. Junior Emily Enlow likes The Village Grind because “it has a really nice vibe for studying or for just hanging out.” Along with their tasty coffee menu, they offer a constantly evolving pastry selection, featuring donuts every Sunday from Golden Brown & Delicious.
Students also love Methodical Coffee in three locations: One is the swanky modern downtown location, the outdoorsy Landmark Project and the more cozy spot at the Commons. Junior Blake Dickerson prefers the location at the Commons because it “has less traffic and a more inviting outdoor seating environment, which is a major plus because of COVID.” Lately, Dickerson has been “on the horchata cold brew grind, but their drip is always good when you need a quick, cheap fix.” Recently they have expanded their menu to include new pastries at the downtown location and a variety of food at the Commons location, making Methodical your ideal breakfast or lunch study spot.
Hampton Station houses fun restaurants, a brewery and Craft Axe Throwing, but it also houses the lesser known coffee shop Due South. Junior Emily Capeta chooses Due South because “of how bright and open it is. They have huge windows and there is so much natural light that comes in.” Capeta also noted that they are rarely busy and, since they are located in Hampton Station, there is plenty of outdoor seating. After a long afternoon of studying, you can walk over to White Duck Taco for a meal, making it a convenient and an efficient all-day study spot.
If you prefer to stay closer to campus, Treehouse Cafe is your ideal spot. Located in Travelers’ Rest, this quirky little art cafe offers complementary crayons and paper to doodle with, or you can pay for a canvas if you are in the mood to paint. Senior Zack Jones loves Treehouse Cafe because it “has plenty of options for meals, snacking and tea or coffee.” They have a few outdoor tables and have worked to spread out their indoor seating to make it pandemic friendly. Jones’ go-to order is “their bagel sandwiches and their seasonal drinks. I recommend anything with their lavender!”
One coffee shop no one mentioned in my Instagram poll is Liquid Highway on Pleasantburg Drive, my personal favorite local coffee shop during this time. This local coffee shop not only offers a wide range of coffee for a reasonable price, but it is also a drive-thru for those days when you do not want to brave a crowd to get your coffee. Sure, the Starbucks drive-thru can be tempting, but Liquid Highway is a great alternative where you can support local business. They also have a walk up window and a few picnic tables outside, making it the perfect place to study or have a socially distanced coffee date.
This past week I also visited a few of the lesser known spots in Greenville and highly recommend that you check them out if you are looking for a fun coffee filled adventure. A few of my personal favorites were Old Europe Pastries, Espresso 101 and Barista Alley. For anyone feeling trapped on campus or limited to the local Starbucks, these unique coffee spots are worth your time and money.
