Ultimate Guide To Greensboro's Best Coffee Shops | Boat Basin Cafe (2024)

As the third most populated city in North Carolina, Greensboro is a vibrant hub known for its engaging arts scene, rich history, and most importantly for us today, its diverse and dynamic coffee culture. For a coffee lover navigating Greensboro’s coffee scene, this local guide won’t leave you wanting.

Ultimate Guide To Greensboro's Best Coffee Shops | Boat Basin Cafe (1)

The Greensboro Coffee Culture: An In-depth Overview

The cradle of coffee culture in Greensboro can be traced back to the late 1980s. It was then when the first coffee boutiques started offering locals a warm, home-like environment, enabling them to indulge in their daily cups of Joe. Since then, the tapestry of coffee shops in Greensboro has grown delightfully complex, with each cafe bringing its unique charm to the pot.

Imagine an array of intimate coffee shops, fitted with cushioned sofas perfect for long conversations, places stimulating creativity with local art lining the walls, all wafting with the rich, intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Or picture yourself outside, luxuriating in an artistically constructed latte, as you immerse yourself in warm conversations with friendly locals and passionate baristas.

Recently, backing for local coffee roasters has soared. This has spurred the trend of locally sourced coffee shops in Greensboro, showcasing not only their rich varieties but also their commitment to a sustainable coffee industry in the city.

Traditional brews undoubtedly remain a popular choice. Yet, over the years specialty coffee in Greensboro has been making waves. From exotic pour-overs to nitrogen-infused cold brews, the city’s coffee scene is pushing the boundaries of your average steaming cup of Joe.

Best Coffee Shops in Greensboro (No Particular Order)

1. Tate Street Coffee House

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With its touch of old-world charm, Tate Street Coffee House has entrenched its position as one of the best coffee shops in Greensboro. Decked out in rustic decor, it offers a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, inviting you to savor fair-trade coffee to the strumming tunes of live music. It’s no wonder the place is a much-favored haunt for students and local artists.

2. Green Joe’s Coffee Co.

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Step inside Green Joe’s Coffee Co., and you enter an elaborate operation of not just serving coffee, but crafting it. Always busy crafting the finest grounds, their in-house roasters make what many rate as the best specialty coffee Greensboro has to offer.

3. Common Grounds

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As much as the name sounds simple, Common Grounds is anything but. Here you can lose yourself in the irresistible taste and aroma of coffee and pastries, be soothed by jazz nights or marvel at the indoor garden.

4. A Special Blend

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Coffee here comes with a pinch of goodness. A Special Blend fills your mugs with coffee while filling the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with employment opportunities. An injustice corrected, one cup at a time.

5. Northern Roots Coffeehouse

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True to its name, Northern Roots Coffeehouse lets authenticity seep into everything it has to offer. From friendly service to simple yet scrumptious coffee and pastries, they promise to keep your coffee dreams rooted in sweet reality.

6. Union Coffee

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The new kid on the block, Union Coffee has asserted its rightful spot in the Greensboro coffee scene. Thanks to its industrial, Instagrammable design, along with its robust, well-brewed coffee, this place recently made the headlines.

The Specialty Coffee Experience in Greensboro

At Green Joe’s Coffee Co, they take coffee quite seriously. Every bean is hand-selected and roasted to perfection on-site. All to create the best cup of specialty coffee Greensboro locals have grown to love.
Union Coffee, on the other hand, pours all their creativity into extraordinary latte art and innovative specialties, which has earned them a reputation among the locals and coffee aficionados alike.

The Personal Touch: Meet Greensboro’s Best Baristas

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The heart of every coffee shop lies behind the counter. These are the baristas who make the magic happen. And at Common Grounds, the baristas serve up smiles, coffee, and deep-rooted passion, honed through years of experience. They play the role of your unofficial coffee consultants, sparking conversations about different beans or the perfect pour methods, which leaves you walking away not only with your coffee but also with a piece of their craft.

Work and Relaxation: Greensboro’s Coffee Shops with Wi-Fi

If you’re looking to sip on coffee as you tap away on your computer, don’t worry, Greensboro’s got you. With robust Wi-Fi and ample workspace, places like The Green Bean Coffeehouse and Northern Roots Coffeehouse are perfect.

Family Time: Family-Friendly Coffee Shops in Greensboro

Entering Cheesecakes by Alex is akin to walking into a sweet paradise. Fluffy, delightful cheesecakes, coupled with a variety of kid-friendly beverages, make it one of the preferred family-friendly coffee shops in Greensboro.

Greensboro’s coffee shops have something for everyone-a perfect brew, a warm ambiance, good company, and memorable experiences. They’ve become havens of solace for many a coffee lover, where conversations abound and memories are brewed-over a cup of Joe.

FAQs

Are there any vegan-friendly cafes in Greensboro?

Yes – Caribou Coffee and Thrive Coffee are popular vegan-friendly options.

Are there any coffee shops open late in Greensboro?

Some coffee shops like Common Grounds and Union Coffee have late-night hours.

Are there any drive-thru coffee shops in Greensboro?

Yes, many chains like Starbucks and Caribou Coffee offer drive-thru services.

Is there a Greensboro coffee tour to visit multiple coffee shops?

While there isn’t a formal tour, you can craft your own coffee journey using this guide to explore the city’s best coffee shops.

Ultimate Guide To Greensboro's Best Coffee Shops | Boat Basin Cafe (2024)

FAQs

What is the most ordered coffee in coffee shops? ›

So what are the Top 20 most popular coffee orders?
  • Americano: It is a diluted espresso with a much more intense taste. ...
  • Affogato: Adding an extra divine flavour to the coffee, it is a shot of espresso (or two) over vanilla ice cream. ...
  • Caffe Breve: ...
  • Café au lait: ...
  • Cortado: ...
  • Cappuccino: ...
  • Long Black: ...
  • Irish coffee:

What is the most profitable coffee shop? ›

The list is as follows:
  • Starbucks – $32.25 billion.
  • JDE Peet's Coffee – $9 billion.
  • PNRA (Panera Bread) – $6 billion.
  • Tchibo – $3.8 billion.
  • Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. (Lavazza) – $2.7 billion.
  • Tim Hortons Inc. – $2.63 billion.
  • McCafé – $2.42 billion.
  • Strauss Group – $1.8 billion.
Aug 10, 2023

What sells best in a coffee shop? ›

Pastries: A variety of delightful pastries such as pies, tarts, macaroons, muffins and cupcakes can enhance sales. Specially crafted coffee drinks: Offering specialized drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes. Syrups made in-house can be more appealing for guests while also letting you squeeze out more margins.

How do I order coffee guide? ›

The basic structure for ordering is as follows: size, flavor, coffee type, additions (milk, cream, sugar). Say you wanted to get a latte, you want it to taste like caramel, you can't have dairy, and you want it in a medium. You'd say: “I'd like a medium caramel latte with oat milk.”

What is number one coffee sold in America? ›

Folgers.

It is by far the leading coffee brand in the U.S. today in terms of ground coffee retail sales, which amount to more than twice those of its two nearest rivals, Maxwell House and Starbucks (No. 2).

What is the best coffee order for losing weight? ›

Black coffee is the lowest calorie choice compared to lattes or cappuccinos. A small number of recent studies also suggest green coffee may have health benefits, including helping with weight loss.

How much does an average coffee shop make a day? ›

The average turnover for a coffee shop can vary based on factors like location, marketing, and customer service. However, it's common for coffee shops to aim for a daily turnover of $500 to $1,000.

What do most coffee shops pay? ›

As of May 31, 2024, the average hourly pay for the Coffee Shop jobs category in California is $21.07 an hour.

Who are the biggest buyers of coffee? ›

Leading coffee importing countries worldwide in 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)
CharacteristicTrade value in million U.S. dollars
United States8,201.73
Germany4,121.38
Canada1,735.03
Netherlands1,554.62
6 more rows
May 22, 2024

What does "skinny" mean in coffee? ›

• Ask for “less whip” or “no whip” • Make it “Skinny:” Most handcrafted espresso and Frappuccino® blended beverages can be requested “skinny,” which means the beverage is made with nonfat milk, no whipped cream and a sugar-free syrup if available.

What is a long black with milk called? ›

Long macchiato – whereas a macchiato is an espresso 'marked' by milk, the long version is a long black with a proportional amount of hot milk. Due to the increased volume, there usually isn't so much froth, which is undoubtedly a good thing.

What is the most popular coffee to order? ›

In our findings, cappuccino is the world's favorite coffee drink. It is milder and creamier than straight espresso and comes in a larger cup. Still, espresso comes in second since it's made in a jiffy and quickly kicks in for a prompt energy boost.

What kind of coffee do most coffee shops use? ›

Most specialty coffee roasters use Arabica beans exclusively because they have a wider range of flavor profiles, but there is generally more caffeine in Robusta beans, and some roasters blend the two.

What is the most demanded coffee in the world? ›

The most popular coffee drink globally is the "Espresso." Espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans. It forms the base for various coffee beverages, such as Americano, cappuccino, latte, and more.

What is the most sought after coffee? ›

Kopi Luwak is the world's most exclusive (and most expensive) coffee. The main factor of its high price is the uncommon method of production. It is produced from coffee beans which have been partially digested by the Indonesian palm civet and then excreted. Yes, it sounds kind of gross, but not to worry!

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