Every day, people in the U.S. drink over 400 million cups of coffee, making us the leading consumer of the beverage in the entire world. You may simply brew a cup at home or grab it on the way to work from a nearby drive-thru, but the best coffee experiences come from spending time in a local coffee shop. Spend your mornings at one of the following Virginia coffee shops to savor a cup of freshly brewed Joe while you relax in their carefully curated lounge areas.
Lamplighter Coffee Roasters—Richmond
Lamplighter brought world-class coffee to Richmond in 2009, and since then they have expanded, now brewing at three locations around the city. They use ethically-sourced coffee beans from around the world to craft delightful caffeinated creations, from a simple cup of plain coffee to espressos, cappuccinos, and pour-over coffees. Pair with something off their menu, which includes lots of creative vegan and vegetarian options, for a complete breakfast or lunch.
More Richmond Coffee Shops:
Black Hand Coffee
Shockoe Espresso
Can Can Brasserie
Perk
Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea—Roanoke
Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea in Roanoke roasts in-house to create some of the freshest, most flavorful cups of coffee around. Canisters built into the walls of the coffee shop store the roasted beans while simultaneously allowing the beans to act as a décor element. The café offers an array of customized coffee drinks as well as a full breakfast and lunch menu. If you can’t get enough of Mill Mountain’s coffee, you can also buy bags of their roasted bean selections to brew at home.
More Roanoke Coffee Shops:
Sweet Donkey Coffee House
Little Green Hive Coffee & Smoothie Bar
Cups Coffee & Tea
Black Sheep Coffee—Harrisonburg
For a steaming cup of coffee in downtown Harrisonburg, stop by Black Sheep Coffee in the historic Ice House building. The shop serves up coffee from local roasters, including Red Rooster in Floyd, Mudhouse Roasters in Charlottesville, and Lexington Coffee Roasters in Lexington, turning these locally bought beans into a bevy of traditional coffees, espressos, and pour-over coffee beverages. In addition to coffee, Black Sheep offers an assortment of teas and baked goods made from grains ground in-house.
More Harrisonburg Coffee Shops:
Artful Dodger
Greenberry’s Coffee Co.
Shenandoah Joe
Restore Community Coffee—Lebanon
When you visit Restore Community Coffee, you’ll quickly discover that the hot brews are far from their only purpose. This coffee shop focuses on bringing community into the café, acting as a meeting place and venue for the locals. The comfortably decorated interior is the perfect place to relish your morning latte, and the afternoons and evenings are often filled with community-centric events and live music performances. And, of course, they make incredible coffee for every taste, whether you prefer French press, lattes, or iced coffee beverages.
More Southwest Virginia Coffee Shops:
The Black Water Loft—Floyd
Honduras Coffee Shop—Stuart
The Local—Irvington
The Local brews locally roasted, organic beans into a variety of coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, and more for the delightfully quaint town of Irvington on the Northern Neck. On sunny days, the café’s patio provides a refreshing and beautiful venue to sip your drink while you experience the small town charm from a sort of “front porch” vantage point. Fresh baked muffins, bagels, and parfaits round out the breakfast menu, and for lunch the cafe offers a selection of soups, salads and sandwiches.
More Northern Neck Coffee Shops:
The Art of Coffee in Montross
The Daily in Warsaw
Java Jacks Café in Tappahannock
Lexington Coffee Roasters—Lexington
Award-winning Lexington Coffee Roasters in the Shenandoah Valley roasts, brews, and even educates visitors on the complex nature of coffee. They regularly offer free tastings of their freshly roasted coffees (check the website’s schedule) and teach patrons how to brew a great cup of coffee from the comfort of home. While many cafes focus on turning a profit, Lexington Coffee Roasters looks to inspire others with their obvious passion for well-crafted coffee.
Mudhouse Coffee Roasters—Charlottesville
Mudhouse serves fair price, fair trade coffees sourced from all over the world, including farms in Central & South American, Africa, and islands in the Indo-Pacific region. They even have their own coffee farm that they opened in Panama, which allows them to learn more about the art of coffee while ensuring the quality of the beans. There are three café locations in the Charlottesville area and one in nearby Crozet providing Mud House fans with easy access to their incredible brews. The owners know almost everything there is to know about crafting an impeccable cup of coffee, both earned their certifications as licensed Q Graders, a sort of “Coffee PHD” given by the Coffee Quality Institute.
More Charlottesville Coffee Shops:
C’Ville Coffee
Shenandoah Joe’s
Grit Coffee Bar & Café
Hopscotch Coffee Shop & Roasters—Winchester
Browse through the old-school vinyl selection at Hopscotch Coffee Shop & Roasters as you enjoy a cup of some of the finest coffee in the area. Coffee is roasted on site and artisan brewed to order, creating a customized cup of coffee that results in a perfect moment of caffeinated bliss. They sell a variety of coffee-making merchandise, as well as their whole-bean coffees and breakfast pastries from local bakeries.
Demolition Coffee—Petersburg
The restored warehouse building that houses Demolition Coffee echoes the architecture of Old Town Petersburg, hinting at the city’s growing rebirth. Choose from a wide selection of coffees, espressos, flavored lattes, and blended coffee drinks, made from Richmond’s Lamplighter Coffee beans. Order your caffeine with one of their breakfast items or a homemade treat sourced from just down the street at Buttermilk Bakery. The coffee shop also has a full lunch menu and a spacious patio area for dining in warmer weather.
Swing’s Coffee Roasters—Alexandria
Swing’s Coffee Roasters in Alexandria has been part of the region’s culture for 100 years, roasting and brewing fresh coffee for Northern Virginia residents since 1916. They have several locations in the area, but our favorite is the Del Rey neighborhood spot, which serves pour-over coffee, espresso, and cold brew drinks made with ethically sourced beans carefully selected from regions around the world. The building has an industrial feel, utilizing concrete floors, large glass windows, unfinished wood, and unembellished hanging lights for a rustic yet warm tone.
More Northern Virginia Coffee Shops:
Grounded Coffee Shop—Alexandria
Elmo’s Coffee Pub—Alexandria
Market Salamander—Middleburg
Rappahannock Coffee—Arlington
Dolce Coffee House—Leesburg
Middleburg Common Grounds—Middleburg
See More Coffee Shop Recommendations from Visit Alexandria.
Zazzy’s Coffee House & Roastery—Abingdon
Zazzy’s combines a bistro-style café, roastery, bookshop, and art gallery all into one charming location. They produce their coffee using fair trade and organic coffee beans, adhering to their own strict guidelines that result in only the finest selection. Sit down and get comfortable with a book while you indulge in a freshly brewed beverage, and if you get hungry, walk just a few steps next door to Balkan Bakery, known for their authentic European pastries and desserts.
Cape Charles Coffee House—Cape Charles
Housed in the restored Cape Charles Bank that dates back to 1910, the Cape Charles Coffee House hints at their grand beginnings with original tin ceilings, a grand staircase, art deco chandeliers, and paneled walls. Order their signature drink, the Café Cape Charles, along with your breakfast or lunch, and finish it all off with one of the delicious dessert options. If the weather permits, lounge on the patio to enjoy the Eastern Shore air, or grab a seat in the dining room upstairs, where you can savor your coffee as you peruse work by local artists.
More Eastern Shore Coffee Shops:
Machipongo Trading Company
Three Ships Coffee Bar & Roastery—Virginia Beach
Three Ships Coffee Bar & Roastery resides in a beautiful brick building a short walk from Virginia Beach’s oceanfront, with a stark black and white color scheme that allows the coffee to be the star. The café roasts their coffee beans in-house before turning them into world-class brews. You can’t go wrong with the flavor-infused coffees or espresso options, but the cold brew coffee is the most raved-about beverage here. Pair with a homemade biscuit made with hearty ingredients, or a sweeter treat like the Nutella Hand Pie.
More Virginia Beach Coffee Shops:
Lynnhaven Coffee Company
Java Surf and Espresso Bar
Belvedere Coffee Shop
Aromas—Williamsburg
Aromas is a full scale coffee shop and restaurant, serving full breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with their all-day café menu. They roast the coffee beans on-site for the freshest coffee possible, and also serve loose-leaf teas and fresh-baked desserts throughout the day. In addition to being a café and restaurant, Aromas acts as a live entertainment venue, featuring local bands, open mic nights, and various other community events on a weekly basis. Bring your friends and family when you visit Aromas if you are looking for an immersive experience rather than just a simple cup of coffee.
More Williamsburg Coffee Shops:
The Coffeehouse
When you’re in the mood to indulge in the best cup of coffee around, where do you like to go? Share your favorite Virginia coffee spot with us!
© pkeppel for Virginia's Travel Blog, 2017. |
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Post tags: cafes, coffee shops, Virginia restaurants