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Gray Squirrel Coffee

4.2 (199 reviews)
Open 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Gray Squirrel Coffee Photos

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GRAY SQUIRREL COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for working
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Gray Squirrel Coffee

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Cappuccino and a half way gone macchiato
Wilkins A.

Disappointing espresso. I had been here a few years ago and remember loving their espresso. I just went back. The burnt taste is still in my mouth from a espresso. No notes; just plain bitter taste. Not coming back.

View from inside
Y C.

I wanted to try a new coffee spot so I came here. Great location with ample parking. They offer some bakery items and of course an array of coffees. I ordered a latte and the last mixed berry morning bun. You ordered at the counter and sit while you wait. They have tables and bar like stools by the windows. The morning bun was delicious. I did not take a pic of it. I ate it too fast, lol! The latte was good, but unfortunately not great. It was mostly coffee and not enough milk. It drank like a shot of espresso. It did come with a beautiful heart though. I did take a pic of it.

Cappuccino
Jennifer D.

I thought this place was cute right in downtown Carrboro. Seating inside and out made for a welcoming feel. Service was friendly and they served several versions of baked goods. I was a bit turned off by the steep prices, but the latte was decent enough.

Iris R.

I came upon Gray Squirrel Coffee Company after reading reviews on Yelp. The staff were friendly and helpful when answering my questions about their menu options. I ordered a latte and a chocolate chip cookie. The cookie was chewy and soft. It paired great with my latte. The latte was smooth. I would definitely order these two menu items again.

Burnt honey rose latte
Emily O.

One of my go-to study spots! It's convenient bc it's so close to campus. I love study spots close to schools since there are other students and it motivates you! My favorite from this place is their honey rosemary latte as well as burnt honey rose latte. They make their own syrups from scratch and you can definitely tell. My favorite in their bakery section is their earl grey and lavender cookie (I always get it) and their rosemary street scone--and it's beautiful bc it has a Carolina blue sugar glaze on it! Ample seating but limited charging if you end up sitting close to the windows. The outdoor area is wonderful to wowhen it's a nice day out.

Inside
Ivan S.

I have mixed feelings about this place and overall I left underwhelmed. Yes, the place is cute and industrial style goes well with "come study at this cool hipster coffee place" idea. Lots of seating, but also lots, and I mean LOTS of students on their laptops which I guess is not surprising since the campus is so close. Staff seemed friendly too. They also sell some coffee accessories and gear, it's a nice touch and seems like a must have for any cool kid place these days. They also don't have classic flavor options like vanilla or caramel, but rather interesting options like honey-rosemary and maple, another attempt to be different yet I feel like it's just another must-have for a place like this. My main gripe was the drinks and the value. It's expensive. Latte with flavor runs at $6. Add a buck more for milk alternative. Relatively small size too. We ended up trying hot maple latte and iced London fog. Latte was good, I'll give them that, but it had just a tiniest hint of maple. Like... if someone handed it to me and never said anything about flavor, I would have never guessed it's there. I personally don't like sugary coffee and this is 100% not the case here, that said flavor was lacking. London Fog, on the other side, fell completely flat. Did not like it at all. Classic version usually comes with vanilla, they instead use lavender syrup. So it tastes like milk with notes of earl gray and tiiiiiniest hint of lavender. It just doesn't blend well together into a drink, in my opinion. Also it may seem silly, but one thing just stood out to me. So much attention is paid to logo, accessories, customized merchandise for sale like t-shirts and hoodies. Yet drinks are served in plain, non-branded plastic and paper from probably Costco or Sam's club? Not what I expect from a place like this. But that's me nitpicking at this point. Like I said above, I just didn't enjoy the drinks.

Latte
Andy B.

Good coffee but good luck finding a seat! About 12 people all on devices taking up every table. I mean yeah there were seats if you want to sit right across from somebody writing a paper or whatever their doing? Yes I know it's not the coffee shop's problem but it's annoying to not be able to sit down in the place with your friends because of this awkwardness. Oh well I guess I'll try to find a coffee shop that's not a study hall.

Flat White, Iced Maple Latte
JJ C.

Atmosphere: Gray Squirrel has an industrial interior with plenty of stool seating and natural lighting. However, the shop is often busy on weekends, so it can be hard to find seating or a quiet area to work. There's ample seating outside, which would make for a great spot to enjoy a nice Carolina day. Service: Our barista was friendly, and our drinks came out quickly! Food: We ordered a Flat White and an Iced Maple Latte. The Flat White was delightfully light and foamy, with a pleasant coffee flavor still present throughout the drink. We couldn't really taste the maple flavor in our Maple Latte, but it was still smooth and not overpoweringly sweet. Overall: Gray Squirrel is a Chapel Hill/Carrboro favorite, and lots of people seem to enjoy working here or catching up friends. The drinks are solid, and the overall atmosphere is welcoming and lively!

the outside of the building
Christine F.

Was in town and in need of a coffee. Walk inside and it's modern/industrial design. There were a few patrons scattered inside and a few on the patio outside . I'm a plain coffee person , I don't like many specials ones. The staff person was great , as I ordered just "a regular coffee. Asked if I needed space for cream and how much space did I need. The cookies caught my eye too , so I ordered a chocolate chip one , they also had oatmeal raisin that looked good. They do not take cash, this is a plastic card store only. I made my way to the coffee creamer and added what I wanted and a cover to go. The coffee was warm , not hot but an ok temperature and the cookie was divine.

Latte with maple flavor

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11 months ago

I had a take out order for a group of 9 and they were helpful with handy carry out cup holders.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Staff lovely. Efficient. Good coffee. Comfortable seating! Very convenient to downtown carrboro.

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2 years ago

There is often a line but service is quick and friendly. Love the morning scones and treats. Lavender lattes are my favorite.

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3 years ago

Great local coffee place. I stop by at least once whenever I am in Chapel Hill for more than a day.

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Salvation Coffee

Salvation Coffee

(87 reviews)

$$

Walked into Salvation Coffee for the first time this year, but I've been here multiple times…read morethroughout 2025, so this isn't a one-off experience. Kept it simple--nitro cold brew and an iced Bear Claw with almond milk. First off, that nitro was clean as hell. Smooth, no bitterness, and the fact that it's naturally sugar-free without sacrificing flavor? That's a win all day. The Bear Claw was solid too--nice balance with the almond milk, not overly sweet, just easy to enjoy. And one thing I really respect--their whipped cream is always sugar-free. That's huge for me living a sugar-free lifestyle, and it shows they actually think about their customers. Best part though, out of nowhere, both the barista and I looked up and boom... line out the door. We kind of just looked at each other like "well damn," and honestly, good for them. That's what happens when you're doing things right. Even with the rush, everybody kept a great attitude. Customers, staff; just good people all around. That small-town Burlington feel is real here. Folks talking, connecting, or just chilling on the couch doing their own thing--no pressure, no weird energy, just a genuinely cool environment. And this place actually feels welcoming. Not that forced "too cool" coffee shop vibe you sometimes get. Just real people, treating you like a normal human being. That goes a long way. Also worth calling out... So their rewards program is legit. You get 10 points for every dollar you spend, and it adds up fast. I've already built up enough where I could knock about half off my bill if I wanted to. That's real value, not just marketing fluff. It's got that perfect mix of small-town vibe with modern convenience, and I really hope that never changes. This has been a consistently solid spot for me, and I'll keep coming back!

Honestly, I don't like leaving reviews like this, but after several visits with consistently poor…read moreexperiences, I feel I should leave my honest review. I've been to Salvation many times, and it used to be one of my top-recommended coffee shops in Burlington, NC. Unfortunately, not anymore. Customer service during my recent visits has been disappointing. The baristas often made me feel like an inconvenience rather than a customer. While there was one occasion when the person at the register was kind and welcoming. My most recent visit was the day after Christmas when I met up with my siblings, and the experience was especially unpleasant. The atmosphere was unwelcoming, customer service was poor, and the coffee itself was underwhelming. The espresso in my latte was barely noticeable. Worst of all, the music was extremely loud and filled with constant profanity, to the point that we felt uncomfortable staying inside and had to leave to meet outside instead. I hope this review is not taken in the wrong way, but I genuinely used to enjoy Salvation Coffee, but the decline in service, atmosphere, and overall experience has been noticeable and disappointing.

Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery - Banana pudding shortie - lifewithhanny

Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery

(53 reviews)

$

The cutest little coffee shop!! There's been a buzz brewing about this spot so we had to get out…read moreand check it out. Not a lot of parking out front so they allow parking next door at Kings gr but they kept a line of folks. Yes it moved, don't worry. Fresh pastry variety was quite impressive. The goodies were: Vietnamese coffee donut & creamsicle donut from Red Start bakery. An apple pop tart, & blueberry cheese danish also caught my eye. Yes I got them all. There was more but a guy gotta have limits. But I'll just they were mmm mmm good. I'll have to get the donuts again. There is limited seating, and a children's play area which was so cool. I'm hard pressed to not get my jolt of Java so I got a cortado with a drizzle of caramel for a little sweetness. LOVED the flavor, would've loved it if a little hotter. My son-in-law got the Mexican Coke, vanilla espresso. It was cold and amazing as per him. My wife's latte also needed to be hotter. I'll cut the barista a break as she was a one woman show.

Omie's is a small hidden gem in Durham. This place has the best truly espresso/coffee forward…read moredrinks in the triangle. You can tell the quality of the drink and beans Omie's is high quality as soon as you taste it. I absolutely loved their fun and creative seasonal menu. I ordered the pumpkin pie brown butter latte, and it was so tasty. Normally, I have to ask coffee shops to reduce the sugar, but this drink was perfectly balanced. In addition, Omie's sells baked goods to complement your drink. There was a selection of tasty treats to pick from. One of my friends got a HUGE cookie, which looked absolutely delicious. As a fair heads up, parking and inside seating areas are limited. However, Omie's has done the most to maximize the space to make it a cozy place to sit. Pro tip- there is a little more seating to the left of the bathrooms, and there are several comfy spots interspersed throughout. Come for the good coffee, good vibes, and lovely service staff. I definitely know that I will be back!

Full Bloom Coffee Roasters - Front entrance

Full Bloom Coffee Roasters

(147 reviews)

$$

Full Bloom Coffee Roasters sits on a quiet corner in Garner and has the kind of relaxed, welcoming…read morevibe that makes you want to stay a while. There's plenty of seating, and the menu offers a lot more than just coffee -- with options ranging from craft coffee to beer and wine. I ordered a cortado, which was exactly the late-afternoon pick-me-up I needed. I had to take it to go (never the ideal way to enjoy a cortado), but it was still well prepared and nicely balanced. I also tried one of their seasonal drinks, the Bee Stings Latte -- an iced latte with honey, ginger, turmeric, and a little cayenne kick. It was a really unique combination and surprisingly refreshing. The spice and honey gave it a comforting, almost restorative feel -- the kind of drink that would be perfect if you're feeling a little under the weather or dealing with sore joints. My wife ordered the Raspberry Beret, an iced matcha with raspberry purée and white chocolate. Her verdict: the best matcha she's ever had. Between the creative drinks, solid coffee, and laid-back atmosphere, Full Bloom is a great spot in Garner whether you're settling in for a while or just grabbing something on the go.

I arrived here 12:45pm on a Saturday afternoon after going on a walk with my friends…read more You order at the counter. You'll wait for your beverage but they will bring your food to you. For food, I got the Maple griddle which was very tasty. We were all wanting mimosas but they ran out of juice for mimosa so they were just giving champagne instead. My only complaint that I watched all my friends get theirs in beer glasses but mine came in a small container -__- I assume this may be the regular mimosa glass but I disliked the consistency and equality. They have indoor and outdoor seating. We sat upstairs, which was a decent sized area with great lighting and local art. Overall, it's a nice establishment in downtown Garner.

Gray Squirrel Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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