Want a pastry or some quiet? Here’s a Columbia coffee shop for any situation
When weighing where to grab a cup of joe, you might consider many factors.
Do you plan on getting work done and need a quiet space? Are you meeting a Bumble match for coffee? Maybe you’re just craving some really good food?
And when you’re weighing all these decisions, it can be hard to know which coffee shop is best to fit your needs for the day. And as Columbia continues to add cool places to fill up on caffeine (Lazy Daisy Coffee Co. opened in Forest Acres in July, Greenville’s Methodical Coffee is aimed to set up shop in the BullStreet District this fall and pop-up shop Godspeed is set to open in Five Points), the choice of where to head might only get harder.
Here’s a guide to help you decide which coffee shop to head to based on a myriad of factors.
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments.
Coffee: Curiosity, Drip
While there’s been some slight changes at Drip (729 Saluda Ave.) in Five Points since longtime owner Sean McCrossin sold the business to another coffee shop owner (namely the Wi-Fi is faster, but most of the back-room records are gone), the coffee shop has held onto its beloved beans. I’ll admit I’m not a huge coffee drinker, but the Counter Culture beans out of Durham, N.C., are highly regarded in the coffee community and Drip has a variety of options to choose from.
When Greg Slattery, a co-owner of Curiosity Coffee Bar (2327 Main St.), attended his first coffee tasting while on a date, he wasn’t much into coffee at all. Now Slattery alongside his partner, Sandra Moscato, runs this North Main coffee bar and their attention to detail shows in their pours. The coffee shop teams up with the 1000 Faces Coffee roastery out of Athens, Georgia to curate a selection that spans a variety of regions and roasts. The shop also packages and sells its own canned nitro cold brew.
Specialty drinks: Piecewise, Godspeed
Maybe you’re someone who prefers a drink with syrups, cold foam or whipped cream over a simple cup of black coffee. With a rotating list of seasonal drinks, Piecewise is a good option for something a little more than just coffee. The coffee shop has two different locations — one near Five Points at 2824 Devine St. and the other in Cayce at 2001 State St. The Co-Jo, a mocha flavored cold brew topped with vanilla cold foam, is my preference.
Though it’s not open quite yet, Godspeed Coffee (747 Saluda Ave.) will be one to watch when co-owners Kailey Cunningham and Roger Caughman bring their sips to the former Starbucks space in Five Points. The pair, who worked as baristas at Drip, left to run a pop-up coffee shop last year and slung fun, colorful drinks with quirky names that resembled what you might see in a cocktail bar. The “Movin’ to the Country” drink mixed Sprite, peach and lime with matcha and was topped with a peach candy ring.
Food & pastries: smallSUGAR, Curiosity
Sarah Simmons brought accolades and experience in New York City kitchens when she moved back down to South Carolina in the mid-2010s. Alongside partners Aaron Hoskins and Elie Yigo, the James Beard-nominated group operates a number of popular restaurants including Il Focolare and City Grit. smallSUGAR (709 Gervais St.) is their cafe concept in the Vista that offers delectable bakery staples and light lunch fare. The loft-y, tucked-away space is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day.
With a few straight-forward breakfast sandwiches, pre-made meals and a good amount of vegan options, Curiosity gets points for both variety and quality. When I’m in the mood for a sweeter breakfast treat, I grab a banana chocolate chip muffin. It’s filling, full of sugar and it’s vegan. The coffee shop serves its bites on plastic baskets lined with paper designed to look like a daily newspaper, though, so it’s possible I’m a little biased because of that.
Getting work done: Indah, Piecewise Coffee
Reliable Wi-Fi, ease of access to outlets and a quiet environment are all things I consider when deciding what coffee shop to work at. Indah (2238 Sumter St.) in Cottontown is quiet, mostly populated by small groups doing Bible studies and folks working on their laptops. There’s a conference room space in the back that tends to be quieter and more empty if you need to make a quick phone call. With enough outlets and no major issues with the shop’s Wi-Fi, Indah presents a great space for knocking out work.
Piecewise Coffee fills a similar niche. With its two locations, I’m partial to the Cayce spot as it’s got more space to spread out compared to Devine Street. However, both have plenty of seats with access to outlets and I’ve never had issues with internet there. Both coffee shops tend to be quieter, populated with folks reading or working.
Quieter: Second Wave Coffee & More, Azalea Coffee Bar
Tucked away off of S.C. Hwy 6 in Lexington, Second Wave Coffee & More (529 S. Lake Dr.) is a hidden gem if you’re looking for peace and quiet. The coffee shop itself is small, but offers comfy seats and a handful of used books to parse. The shop has a handful of tables, some couches and armchairs and covered picnic tables for sitting outside.
A little more central to downtown Columbia, Azalea Coffee Bar (2700 Devine St.) also offers a quiet respite from coffee shops that can sometimes feel suffocatingly loud. The vibes at this woman-owned coffee shop are friendly and warm, thanks to the pink aesthetic and flowery murals.
Meeting someone else: Cool Beans, Loveland Coffee
In business for just shy of three decades, Cool Beans (1217 College St.) is the quintessential University of South Carolina coffee shop. Obviously, college students go to lots of different coffee shops, but with its proximity to campus right across the Horseshoe, Cool Beans is often the go-to for students. This doesn’t mean it’s not a great place to meet up with a friend or a first date. The upstairs spot is filled with mostly two-top tables and has a handful of free card games to borrow and play.
Go just outside the downtown to visit Loveland Coffee (7475 Carlisle St.) in Irmo. Its large, open space, along with a more intimate upstairs area and outdoor seating, is often filled with folks sitting down for coffee and catching up. The spot is open every day, which the exception of Sunday, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
