Disclaimer: only came here once - though, would come here more often if I lived in the area! Loved this coffee shop. They have a wide space, which is always a plus for me when it comes to coffee shops, with shared table seating, a couch, bar seating, and outdoor seating. You have plenty of choices! As some other folks have noted, their drink menu is pretty limited, but they do it right! Look behind the counter for some neat coffee "gadgets." They don't have a food menu besides 3 or so different pastries. I came here a little past 7am on a Wednesday and there were already a couple of people there. I stayed here for a few hours, and most people came in for coffee to-go; they looked like regulars - probably because they know the baristas perfected the art of coffee. Literal "art of coffee" because the latte art is On. Point. Oh, also want to note that they added a power strip to help with anyone's energy needs :o) ALSO, they have board games and jumbo jenga - always, always a good sign. read more

It's a great coffee place. Easily on par with some of the best in the San Francisco/Bay Area and that's not too surprising given the experience of the founder. If it's busy, just get your coffee and continue on. Otherwise, I've found Shaw happy to discuss what they're up to. Their new location makes his place even better! read more

The coffee here is excellent, and I am picky about coffee. There's lots of room and tables to spread out and study. My favorite part is that the owner pays employees above a living wage so that tips are not needed (or taken.) It's a more sustainable model for people working in food service. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Amazing atmosphere and even better coffee! The baristas were charismatic and despite the limited parking I 100% recommend. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Great coffee shop and a great place to hang and work. The coffee I had was fantastic.

If you're here for the actual coffee, 5 stars. It's quite perfect. And the space is very airy, and pretty. But, if you're like me, and you come to coffee shops for ambience and a space to chill out, this is not the place you want to be. First off, it's SO COLD- my nose was ice, and i was dressed warmly, and still quite uncomfortable to the point where I left after moving around and trying to find a comfortable spot for 45 minutes. Second, both times I've visited here, it felt like the antechamber to a concert hall- if there are more than 5 conversations happening at the same time, the echoes make it sound like a hundred people. And even if you don't mind the noise, you should expect to wait at least 15 minutes for your drink. The first time I was here, I ordered a simple latte... 20 minute wait. The second time, a maple latte... 15 minute wait. And when I politely asked at the counter if my drink was coming, I was told, without being actually told, that I was being impatient. But the thing is, it's so loud in there that you can barely hear if your drink has been called out, so it's not unreasonable to think that after a 15 minute wait you've might have been missed... but i can see how a barista always having to explain for long wait-times is going to get aggravated with customers after awhile. I would think that if I was the owner, I could save everyone a lot of frustrations if I considered adjusting customer expectations, or getting more help. And by turning the temperature up. read more

Great place to grab a cup of coffee and sit and study. Gray Squirrel is located where Yesteryears brewery is and can be easily overlooked. They have cute wood tables and couches for seating. It's pretty small, so it's hit or miss if you can grab a table to study at. There aren't many outlets either and most of the seating is not near them. They have a simple drink menu, but they do it well. I was happy to see that they carry almond milk but a little bummed that they do not have any flavored syrups. They have a small bakery menu, but I wouldn't bother with it (I had a subpar madeleine that I did not finish). I wish I hadn't discovered Gray Squirrel so late because I no longer need a good place to study but if I did I would come here! read more

I love their coffee! I got a lavender latte the last time I went in and it was excellent! They were also extremely covid safe which I really appreciate! read more

I live in Nashville, and I have tried every coldbrew coffee in all of Nashville, and I can say their Kyoto coldbrew is better than anything I've had at Nashville or any other coffee shop in Nashville or Durham. I also coldbrew my own coffee at home, and experiment with different roasts, brew times, grinds, and brewing methods, so I do not give this review lightly. If I lived in Chapel Hill, this would be my coffee place. The coldbrew is smooth and chocolaty, without any hint of smoky or sour flavors commonly found in coldbrew. read more

I was in town visiting from Charlotte NC and read about this coffee shop. Thought i'd give it a try. It was easy to find, large free parking area out front. I ordered an iced mocha. My coffee was very good. The folks behind the counter were friendly and i received my order in a timely manner. There was a very small selection of pastries of which were unimpressive. Nice, shady outdoor seating as well. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

This place is super cool and hipster, and if I were an avid coffee drinker I'm sure I would have loved it. It has a central location in downtown Carrboro with a good amount of parking nearby. They serve a couple of pastry items in addition to their drinks. There were a lot of people posted up in the shop doing work, and plenty of people who seemed to be regulars. I came here super excited to try the oat milk latte. This is one of the only places in the area that has them (that I have found), so kudos to them for having the oat milk! I wasn't a huge fan of my latte, as I think it needed a packet of stevia. After adding the stevia, it had good flavor and I enjoyed my coffee (and I appreciate that it wasn't so hot that I burnt my mouth!), but I got really bad jitters from the coffee. It must be strong! Definitely a place for coffee lovers to stop by and enjoy. read more

I'd give a solid 3.5. Would give a 4 though service seemed a bit slow. I waited 15 minutes for my Americano because the baristas were making 3 lattes. Kind of crazy how long it took. Luckily, I was in no rush. The space itself is absolutely beautiful. Large room with natural light, high ceilings, wooden tables, and attached to a brewery. What else could you really want? The cafe has limited food offerings, just a few pastry items (though there is a great pizza place next door). The coffee itself was tasty but hard to judge on an Americano alone. They were marketing a maple latte which sounded delicious for next time, or even the hand made whip cream drinks. read more

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For sure the best coffee in the triangle. No debate there. Staff is always awesome and the coffee is great. Highly recommend the mocha with the espresso whipped cream. If you are in town, you gotta stop in! read more

How does a coffee shop not do pour overs? I was told it is because they like their coffee the way it's roasted so they don't see pour overs as necessary. What? The whole point of a pour over is that it gives the optimal extraction of flavor from the beans! Even Starbucks does pour overs. read more

Knowledgable and friendly barista, a minimalist menu, and excellent coffee that's roasted in house = an instant pick-me-up! If I'm ever awake enough, I'll remember to take a picture of the beautiful latte art. Something about that extra effort just makes me feel like a VIP on even the coldest mornings. It shares a space with Yester Years, which I think is quite genius, and means that on the weekends I can study all morning and then throw my books in my car before grabbing drinks with friends. #winning at grad school? read more

On the plus side, the food is good, but it's pricey, and the location doesn't work as well as a work place as other establishments (it's way too quiet in here!). So in general it's fine, especially if you want a really quiet place to work. read more

Great coffee! Sincerely. I only wish the girl at the counter has been nicer to me and my little girls. Come on...just a little smile? I totally get it, maybe she was having a bad day. She was on the machine when I asked which blend would be good for an espresso machine; She responded. I then distractedly said "ok, awesome, um" (glancing at the names on the bags to locate one) and she literally cut me off mid "um" curtly with "I'll be with you in a minute" (in a tone that meant "Please stop talking. I'll help you when I'm done". (I'm a mom, I know the tones). When I placed my order, I asked if I could get just a little less milk in my latté (I just like my lattés less milky in general); Her response was, (without a smile), "Our lattés only come in one size, We don't shorten them". I just said OK, and thanked her, shut my face and drank my coffee. The latté was great though and I told her so! I hope your day gets better barista lady. read more

Stopped in for a hot chocolate, ended up having a pleasant conversation with one of the employees. He was very knowledgeable and allowed me to ask questions about everything on their menu. They even have espresso whipped cream.. yum! I will definitely be back again to sit and try the Con Panna! Something to note: they cannot accept tips since they are part of the Orange County Living Wage.. which means all of the employees can actually survive on their wages. Bravo! read more

Great coffee, great space, uneven staff. The cashier was extremely curt, failed to make eye contact, and copped major attitude. Maybe she was irritated that she was in Carrboro instead of Silver Lake? As a person who seeks out independent coffee purveyors wherever I go, I rarely encounter this, even at say Intelligentsia in Venice Beach which I visited last month. If this were pervasive, I'd find another spot in the area. Though I'll give Gray Squirrel another try given the coffee and space. read more

Probably one of the best cold brews I've ever had. The Toddy is excellent for those who add milk to their iced coffee. Yummy!

The coffee here is amazing! I ordered the Kyoto less than a week ago and I've come back several times to relive the experience. Impeccable iced coffee! The space is great too. Tasteful lighting--a rare find. Perfect for studying. I'm excited that this is now my go to coffee shop. read more

Long lines and good espresso and coffee. Cute foam art. Nice seating space. Seems like a college study zone. Lots of great parking. Have alt milk option. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Their nitro is the best I've ever had. Even drinking with half&half won't outshine its flavor and aroma.

Excellent service but -- the Cold brew was not my favorite and the madeleines from ninth st bakery sold today were stale.

First time coming to Gray Squirrel. I heard great things from family and friends, so I decided to check it out myself. Great place to come hangout and catch up with friends. Also quiet enough to get some work done. This coffee shop doesn't have a wide range of food, but there is a great biscuit place right across the street. read more

Beautiful space to do work in on a Saturday afternoon in October. If you are a coffee snob, you won't be disappointed. Convenient (minus limited outlets) and very nice staff. The banana walnut bread I had there was pretty yummy too! read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Saturday afternoon when both the coffee and beer are flowing. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Coffee is great. Ordered a Con Panna, delicious espresso with a homemade espresso whipped cream. Oh my! The barista was very nice, he didn't mind explaining their coffee. Thanks!!! read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Con Panna! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

By far in my Top 3 coffee spots in the Mid-Atlantic. They measure the espresso and use top quality beans. Best spot in the Raleigh region as well. read more

Oh say it ain't so ... that I can get a terrific tasting coffee and the people that service it to me are not rude? And it opens at 6:30! Holly $! I love it! Here's to being wide eyed to the office on time! read more

WHYOB-DIP is as flavorful and smooth as Firestone's Union Jack but boasts extra abv. #5star read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Cool digs hip atmosphere - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

This is really 4.5 stars, but since I love this place and want them to do well and they are better than any other coffee shop in the area, I'm rounding up. They have the best espresso drinks in Carrboro/Chapel Hill area. Cappuccino's are delicious -- they are experts at steaming/frothing the milk perfectly to create a creamy, silky, and naturally sweet beverage, with just the right espresso to milk ratio. Their Americanos are also delicious and strong if you choose the "short" size, a consequence of the excellent espresso. The space is beautiful and the large tables are nice and much preferred to those tiny tables you find at some other coffee shops. It is a great place to work, read, play games, or just hang out. The main "con" (and why it didn't get 5 stars) is that, as others have said, the drip coffee is expensive for the size. Their "large" cup is really like a small at most other places, and should be at most $2.50. They should offer a larger size as well (say, 16 or 20 oz). The other drinks are also slightly more expensive than I would prefer, but I guess that's just the going price for craft coffee. With the exception of the drip, the other drinks are similarly priced to Cocoa Cinnamon in Durham. I would also like it if they had skim or lowfat milk as an option. I get that the drinks taste better with whole, but some people would prefer to skip the calories and have a slightly less perfect, but still tasty, drink. read more

I will thank this place in the acknowledgements section of my dissertation whenever I get around to finishing it. Spoiler alert. I have to finish it soon, and I'll likely finish it at Gray Squirrel. This is my favorite coffee shop in the area. They make great drinks, pay their employees a living wage, and the minimalist environment doesn't add additional distractions from my work (I'm looking at you, dessert case at Root Cellar). Their almond milk lattes are consistently delicious, as are the golden milk lattes. The latter option is perfect when I've already hit my small caffeine allowance for the day. My friends rave about the espresso whipped cream that floats atop the mochas. I wish they experimented with other options because I know they'd slay the game! Although I appreciate them not catering to the Instagram demand for pretty drinks that taste terrible. The employees are so friendly and welcoming (probably because they're paid a living wage--other businesses should take note.) The parking area nearby limits you to 75 minutes, but the lot by the Hampton Inn has a 3 hour limit. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Almond milk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

This place is has top quality coffee. The baristas know what they are doing. Lots of space to sit and hang out. Wish they had more food items. The reason why I am giving 4 instead of 5 stars is because of the lack of food items and it's kind of really pricy. They charge $1 extra if you want any other type of milk instead of regular milk. That's like a $6 latte. :/ . But great quality!! read more

Best coffee place in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. Beautiful indoor space, calm vibe and the coffee is consistently awesome. The baristas are always friendly and welcoming and never give any kind of attitude. Our favorite! read more

I would say they have some of the best coffee in the Carrboro/CH area. They get a lot of sunlight, and their patio is really nice during the warmer months. Their prices are a bit higher than elsewhere, but they pay their employees a living wage which makes it worth it. I stopped going as much though because it's always freezing there and they don't have any chairs with backs (just stools). Otherwise, I recommend it. I love their maple latte. read more

Absolutely the best tasting coffee around!! I am pretty picky about my coffee. They do not offer much in choices of milks. I believe it is only almond or oat milk. Anyway, had a Flat White with almond milk that hands down beat out Starbucks!! read more

The coffee here is really really excellent. It is on the pricier side, but it is worth it. Personally, I enjoy the iced coffee more than the cold brew (toddy), which is opposite from my usual, but the iced coffee is much cheaper so I'll take it! I enjoy hanging out there to work/study, but it can be hard to reach an outlet if you are at the lovely long wooden tables (free wifi!). Mixed reviews on the service -- some of the baristas haven't been super friendly, but some have been fine. read more

This is like Home. I got the toddy and a shakarado. Both were awesome. I would definitely go back. Only complaint was the wifi was super slow and this is a really packed place so you might not find any place to sit. But a very neat place to hang out, talk, study and enjoy coffee! read more

Great study space with good wifi. This is more personal preference probably, but I found that all the brews I tried had strong nutty undertones, which is my LEAST favorite flavor to detect in coffee. The space is really beautiful though. Also, their whipped cream is incredible. Their lattes are nice as well. Very hipster. read more

I love hanging out here and enjoying their coffee. I come in about 10 am and drink coffee until Yesteryears opens up and then switch sides and drink beer until close read more