Easilyyyy has become a top 3 favorite, and I have to go at least once a week…read more NOTHING has disappointed me here at Blue Mountain. My favorite order is the iced strawberry ceremonial matcha and fruit tart. I have also tried their iced Dutch latte, their strawberry cloud and a variety of their baked goods. Everything is always absolutely perfect. This is the best spot to get work done, catch up with friends, or for a quick coffee run. The inside is absolutely beautiful and serene. You can even see their cold brew and roasting through a window. Make sure to get their stamp card loyalty as well! I believe 10 stamps gets you a free drink of your choice! Love that they are open til 8PM, though I wish they were open a bit later.

I've been a regular at this café for a while, but my recent experience was extremely disappointing…read more I placed my order with the Asian woman at the counter -- who I later learned could be the owner -- paid for it, and waited. After 45 minutes with no update, I finally asked about my drink -- only to find out they had completely forgotten my order. Waiting 45 minutes for a simple drink is already unreasonable, but being blamed for bringing it up was even worse. They didn't offer a free drink or even bring the drink to my table after realizing the mistake. Instead of apologizing, the staff member (or the owner) who took my order walked away and ignored me. Another employee stepped in, apologized, and made the drink, leaving it nearby for me to pick up. About 30 minutes later, the original staff member(who could be the owner) approached me and, speaking quietly in Korean, told me it wasn't her responsibility to remember my order because I hadn't ordered any pastries. She also claimed their system prevented staff in the back from seeing orders--an excuse I later learned wasn't true. This means that all other staff don't know the order and still manage to fill the orders in the back when we place them. The way she spoke, switching to Korean and keeping her voice low, seemed intended to appear polite to others while implying that I should accept her illogical talking, while wasting my time there. I don't see the point that the owner is making that when she didn't apologize for her mistake, and instead deflected blame onto me while treating me like I was in poverty, since I didn't order pastries. Not everyone likes the old, stale pastries they have. But other workers are so understanding and great people, though. Overall, the interaction felt dismissive and unprofessional, and I left feeling gaslit and disrespected despite being a loyal customer.

Ordered their online 4-pack gift box for a variety of whole bean coffees. Enjoyed the various…read moreoptions particularly the low acid coffee option. I have yet to visit their local store.

VOLCANICA 7/5/24…read more EAST AFRICAN COFFEE STATUS & OUTLOOK Based on the USDA's latest outlook, Africa accounts for 11-12% of the world's total coffee production, including 10.5% of the Robusta crop and 12.5% of the 23/24 Arabica crop. There are 54 countries in Africa, but only about a dozen produce coffee. While Ethiopia accounts for most of it, the high-quality specialty grade Arabica coffee production is limited to 6-7 East African countries, including some very small countries with problematic histories. Located in the equatorial coffee belt, East African coffee benefits from ideal coffee growing conditions, including volcanic soil, high altitude, climate, access to fresh water and tradition. Conscientious processing, disciplined coops and dedicated smallholder farms also play a role. Coffee is a subjective topic and while good coffee can be found throughout the equatorial belt, the acid rich East African coffees are recognized as the world's most distinctive. The traditional varieties and grade from Ethiopia (Yirgacheffe) and Kenya (south-central highlands) are particularly noteworthy and often compared. While some would include 100% authentic Kona (miniscule production, hard to get & subject to fraud), the best Tanzanian and the crazy expensive Geisha (Panama & elsewhere) among the best, the coffee from Kenya and Ethiopia is widely viewed as the world's most consistent, distinctive and recognizable. Regardless of source, it is important to note that countries producing the most distinguished specialty coffee also produce average or worse coffee. In a way, East African coffees are like finalists in a beauty contents, it's hard to pick the winner. The contest is also dynamic, i.e., this year's crop winner could be next year's loser. While the demand for specialty coffee continues to grow, small coffee farmers have been burdened by an exploitive value chain. Living on a few dollars a day, Africa's small coffee farmers have had little incentive to produce the low yielding crop. If impoverished farmers do not get a bigger piece of the value chain's pie, higher prices and a shortage of high-quality coffee seem likely. FINDING REPUTABLE RETAIL ROASTERS When purchasing country of origin coffee, the quality will vary by crop year, terroir, region, sub-region, botanical variety, grade, processing, storage, logistics, roast and freshness. Excluding effective auctions, higher prices may not guarantee a better tasting coffee. Storage and freshness are key because coffee does not age well. Indeed, assuming the flavor has not been compromised by logistics and storage, fresh green coffee has a 6-12-month shelf life while fresh roasted whole bean has a 30-day window. As the importer of these potentially fine coffees, IT IS THE RETAIL ROASTER WHO DETERMINES THE QUALITY AND FRESHNESS OF OUR COFFEE. Finding a reputable retail roaster with good customer service, a good menu of single origin coffee and consistency is a Herculean task. Given the limited shelf life, always looming new crop and roaster inconsistency, the ongoing journey never ends. Organic, free trade, direct trade, sustainable, certified, relationships and consistent buying all make sense, but coffee that shoots the lights out on the cupping table is really what the specialty coffee game is about. While there are exceptions, roaster websites are not generally well developed or organized and many do not disclose all the information required to make an informed purchase, including the origin, roast, ounces per bag, processing, etc. Some lack contact information while others fail to follow up on inquiries. Many also use a poor choice of colors and fonts that make the websites difficult to read. Fortunately, many roasters specializing in East African coffee provide more detail and organized information, including the granular source, varietal, processing, roast and roast date. Blends are being hyped by roasters and while they might be relevant to coffee drinkers, they are not very relevant to coffee lovers that already know what they want. Affordability is another issue because there are high-quality single origin coffees that are affordable and offer real value. Indeed, many blends are priced higher than good single origin coffee. VOLCANICA EAST AFRICAN COFFEE: As Good As It Gets Volcanica is currently offering nine East African single origin coffees, including the Kenya AA (Nyeri Hill Estate), the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and the Tanzania Peaberry (Nitin Estate, Ngorongoro Crater). All are washed and roasted light or medium light. In addition to being among the highest quality East African coffee on the market today, they offer real value. Indeed, Volcanica's 16 oz pricing is less than what many of their competitors are charging for 12 oz. Volcanica's website is also developed, organized and provides granular details appreciated by coffee lovers. JBC has also done a good job with their website development and disclosure. I have chased

PURIST PERFECTION A rare +++ EDIBLE...WHERE have you been…read moreall my LiFe! On the outer edge of sprawling Atlanta burbs and of course in an unassuming strip-mall is where this gem is. Inside, is a small artisan coffee roaster who sells perfected coffee. The name, Belux represents owners' names, Ben and Lucy. They specialize in small batch ROASTING and PROPERLY BREWED COFFEE. They sell light to medium beans and serve ONLY coffee here...no food nor over sugared coffee disasters. I had a dopio and Ben kindly added a spoonful of foam for me. It was the most fragrant shot I've ever had. I fell in LOVE. Definitely the best coffee I've had in a couple of years! Belux speaks coffee. This is the only purist coffee retailer I'm aware of in Georgia and am so thankful, albeit 45 minutes drive. Also, they are the only one to offer Gesha outside of a special event. Belux is planning to open their second location in Roswell in July :-) MY RATINGS - - - Inhumane - - Disgusted - Don't bother = Missed the Mark + Good ++ Better +++ EDIBLE...WHERE have you been all my LiFe!

Beautiful coffee shop. A little small with a counter to…read moreserve about 6. Very personalized service Don't stop by if you are in a rush, come to sit and enjoy the process and learn a bit about the coffee and the owners. Prices were a bit high but you should know that based on the coffee your choose. It's a place to go for a quiet date or to impress someone. We preferred the Panama Emerald Geisha coffee @$26 a cup.. and shared it. It was fantastic.

Cortado is huge. Good coffee. Recommend. Service is quick place is small mom and pop place hissed…read moreoff the corner so it's a nice quiet place to grab a great cup of coffee. Small food menu and pasties but it's the coffee that shines here.

What a hidden gem!! This small family ran café is my favorite place to get coffee by far. They…read morewarmly greet every customer and also recognize if you've visited before. There is seating inside so you can work remote comfortably or also catch up with friends. I didn't order food yet, but everyone that came in before and after me did and it made me regret not getting something to eat but that means I'll try next time

We love Red Bean. Not only is a small business but the staff takes pride in their craft and they…read moreare very friendly. There is a decent amount of seating with a big conference style table, some bar chairs at the window and sofas for a homey feel. The bathrooms are clean and bright. My favorite drink in cold weather is the S'Mores latte that comes with a massive charred marshmallow on top. The chai and boba drinks are consistent as well. They roast their own coffee which is delicious. Grab a beverage and stay a while or peruse cute downtown Jasper.

Red Bean is the coolest. Space, coffee and the barista's are just awesome. I love all the big…read morewindows with the natural lighting with nice comfy seats to relax and enjoy your brew. Also good work space and strong WiFi. The roasted aroma when you first walk in sets the stage for a tasty experience. Freshly ground beans make for a smooth rich tasty cup of java. My barista was so cool, friendly and fun to talk with. I wound up going with the Carmel Macchiato and it was the best. A great place to enjoy a cup or take it to go and stroll the downtown streets of Jasper.

Their beans make a great cup of coffee but even better is their care and concern for people. They…read moreshowed great love to me as I ducked in almost at closing time. I mentioned that I needed to purchase the coffee today because my husband was having surgery tomorrow and I'd be close to home for a while. The men who were working asked if they could pray for us. I was encouraged and strengthened. Thank you!

I'm going to say this as plainly as possible--this is the quintessential coffee shop. Not just in…read moreDuluth. Not just in Georgia. Anywhere. I've traveled all over, had coffee in cities people romanticize, stood in lines at "famous" spots--and nothing hits like this place. Nothing. This is my daily go-to, and every single time I walk in, it delivers the exact same feeling: calm, grounded, present. The moment you step inside, the vibe is immediate--peaceful, welcoming, almost humbling. There's a rhythm to it. No chaos, no ego, just people who genuinely care about what they're doing. And that shows in everything. The team behind the bar? Phenomenal. Not just friendly--knowledgeable. You can ask anything, and they'll walk you through it without making you feel out of place. It's not transactional, it's collaborative. They actually involve you in the process, like they want you to understand and enjoy what you're drinking, not just buy it. And the coffee... this is where it separates itself. Whether it's hot, iced, something classic, or something you didn't even know existed--they're never afraid to push boundaries. They experiment, they refine, and they absolutely deliver. Your palate will expand coming here. You'll try things you didn't expect to like--and end up loving. What's wild is this:The feeling I get grabbing a coffee here is the same feeling I've had standing in Little Havana, getting an espresso from Versailles. That same energy. That same emotional connection. That same "this is exactly where I'm supposed to be right now" moment.

This place is always packed!…read more I can't even remember the first time I visited cafe blue but I remember I purchased an iced americano. The cafe is located in a shopping center with shared parking. I love the name and the aesthetic of this place. The staff is always really kind and patient. You definitely don't always get that kind of treatment at local coffee shops. I have tried their Einspanner and can confirm it's my favorite! The tuna smash (not pictured) was so tasty! I love the sourdough a the flavor profile of the tuna. I ate the entire thing so fast. I definitely recommend. The menu consist of a few items and they have a lot of sweet treat options available. I have my eye on the basque cheesecake! Final Verdict: if you haven't visited, you must try! I feel like the prices are worth it considering the quality that goes into their products. I would recommend looking at the menu ahead of time, because they do get busy.

I was looking for someplace to eat in this neighborhood. Actually was looking for a waffle house…read more But thought I would try something new and interesting. I was confused about how many cars were in the parking lot 10 AM and the place was actually packed. Must be a good sign. Wanted something for breakfast and a cup of coffee tried to figure out the kiosk to order a cup of coffee, but couldn't find it so I asked person behind the counter. This was the strange thing that a coffee shop does not have coffee. So I ordered a corn latte that was different. It was really really good. For food I ordered a bagel and lox plate. It came out really colorful and decorative. The stuff on top of the bagel was really good but since I'm from New York City, I give the bagel zero stars. If they changed where they sourced the bagels from it would be 10 of 10. Price was steep for what it was but it's the economy. Everything's expensive now.

If you're serious about your coffee, Alma Coffee is on another level. From the first sip, you can…read moretell this isn't your average cup--it's smooth, rich, and incredibly well-balanced without any bitterness. Every blend feels thoughtfully crafted, and you can really taste the quality and care that goes into sourcing and roasting their beans. What sets Alma apart is not just the flavor, but the intention behind it. Knowing that they directly support coffee farmers adds a deeper appreciation to every cup. It feels good to enjoy something that's both high-quality and ethically sourced. They also offer a great variety of flavors and profiles, so whether you like something bold and strong or light and fruity, there's something for you. Everything feels tailored, fresh, and consistently excellent. Honestly, once you try Alma, it's hard to go back to anything else. It's the kind of coffee that turns your daily routine into something you actually look forward to.

Loving this roaster. They have so much to choose from and it smells like heaven…read more Lots of creative coffees and the "bagged" coffee options are awesome where you can refill your container monthly, weekly, whatever you need. Cute outdoor space and they have local vendors come to highlight those businesses. What a great way to expand the community.

Super sweet staff and surprisingly busy!…read more I've been eyeing this coffee shop for a while and i'm so glad I went. The breakfast sandwich is SO GOOD, and i love that they offer a fruit of your choice for the side. Delicious coffee and lattes with a dreamy atmosphere. They also have a huge coffee roaster and plenty of books to read.

Night Sky Coffee Roasters is just what you want out of a coffee shop. I mentioned to hubby the…read moreother day that I wish Winder had a coffee shop and he remarked that there is one, it's just not on the main strip through downtown. So here we are and I'm so excited to have found this tad-bit hidden gem. My go-to is Decaf Vanilla Latte, hot or iced depending on season. Sometimes I'll try something new for whimsy but this is my drink. I react to caffeine but love coffee so I'm not chasing the caffeine buzz, the flavor matters. Here, the house roast hits! It's strong but smooth. This is what I want my coffee to taste like. I also got a cheese danish, which is perfectly flaky and buttery with just enough icing, sweet but not sticky sweet. Lovely accompaniment to go with the coffee. As busy as the shop was when we got here, our coffees came quickly and there was still plenty seating. It doesn't feel cramped at all.

I've ordered this iced coffee a couple of times before and it's always been great, which is why I…read morecame back again today after an appointment. Unfortunately, this visit wasn't quite the same experience. The drive-through wait was longer than expected, and the espresso tasted over-extracted, making the drink noticeably bitter. That said, the cold foam was still delicious and definitely the highlight. I'm hoping this was just an off day, because I've really enjoyed this drink in the past and would love to see it return to that same quality.

The brownie was $7, but it was HUGE. And it was delicious. It took James and me like 4 hours to get…read morethrough it. The vibes are so immaculate, the type of place you'd find in Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls reference). Also, the employees are SO SO SO nice; they play a great hand in the cozy environment. It is fall, so they have it decorated, and they have cornhole out for patrons to play. I see myself coming here to do work again. This place was really great. + I didn't take many photos because I came to do work, but I am anticipating that I will be back. Will update with photos when I do.