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    Gray Squirrel Coffee

    4.2 (207 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 7:30 pm

    Gray Squirrel Coffee Photos

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    GRAY SQUIRREL COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Gray Squirrel Coffee

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    Sourdough pretzel, autumn spice latte, apple muffin
    Elizabeth S.

    The Apple muffin was so good, especially considering it's gluten free. I can't remember the last time I had something gluten free that was so moist. The sourdough pretzel was so soft, just slightly too salty for me. Coffee was okay but not the best latte I've had. Was refreshing to try an autumn spice vs just pumpkin spice, but I wouldn't get it again.

    Dana R.

    We were in Chapel Hill for a concert and stopped by this coffee shop before and also the next day. It's in the same parking lot as the venue and we had no problem finding parking each day. There's a mix of youn college students and older local who frequent this spot. The staff is professional, not super bubbly or friendly but they get the job done. The tables and spaces are mostly communal and some are more comfortable than others. The coffees were awesome every time. I'm not from this area and didn't know that they provide a living wage to their employees so you can't tip. More places should be like this.

    Jaime S.

    Saturdays are now my day to explore local coffee shops, and today's choice, recommended by a great friend was Gray Squirrel! It's located technically in Carrboro on Main Street, but most would say it's in Chapel Hill within walking distance to Franklin Street. It's located in a very busy area with a parking lot, but it shares it with about 5 other businesses, so you may end up parking in the surrounding area. There's a Hampton Inn next to it with a parking garage as well. It was a gorgeous Saturday and almost all the outdoor seating was taken, and there's plenty!! There's tons on indoor seating as well. It's a pretty nice sized space and they're expanding next door. I ordered within minutes of arriving and I'm so glad I did. There ended up being at least 15 people behind me all of a sudden. I had the salted coconut caramel latte & an apple cider muffin. Both soooooooo good! Both were perfect, not too sweet. Their whipped cream isn't your ordinary whip cream, so it's a must have on top of on your coffee. They have their whole beans for sale to brew at home and they were restocking while I was there as they sell quickly. A lot of people were working on their laptops or just hanging out. It's certainly a cool place to just sit and enjoy your coffee, hot chocolate, tea or soda!!

    4oz whole bean coffee
    Elea T.

    The whip on the salted caramel coconut latte was heavenly. The staff were so nice and we got a sample size coffee bag to brew at home

    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 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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Latte

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    9 years ago

    I love this place. Beautiful venue and amazing coffee. Worth the wait if there is a line.

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    11 years ago

    OMG! coffeegasm .. so glad i have access to coffee this good in Chapel Hill

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    10 years ago

    Fine coffee shop with WiFi and plenty of seating. Cold mocha with no coffee (so basically chocolate milk...) that I got was good.

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    7 years ago

    Excellent coffee. Really nice roasts on their beans and they pull great espresso drinks.

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Coffee has not tasted so good in such a long time. I have found a new guilty pleasure and it's called the Kyoto

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    10 years ago

    Overpriced and underwhelming. If I'm paying that much for drip coffee I expect it to wow me. It did not.

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    10 years ago

    Excellent coffee. They truly care about craft coffee making and I really appreciate that. Great place to work and hang out.

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Best coffee I have ever had. They have a limited menu, but each item of coffee is distinct and made so that you can taste the difference.

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    Page 5 of 6

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    The Meantime Coffee - Coffee in snow outside

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    The Campus Y is a resolute part of the Carolina community. It supports students by providing:…read more1. coffee and pastries 2. scholarships and extracurricular engagement 3. jobs 4. food (food pantry) and more. It is also a beautiful space and at Meantime, specifically, the baristas are so wonderful. Across the countless coffees brewed, student scholarships, food pantry, organization grants, and everything else, the positive impact and importance of the Campus Y on campus is immeasurable. I urge students to continue to advocate for the Campus Y. Use its space, spread the word, buy some coffee/pastries. Recently, I've been especially enjoying macadamia milk in coffee. I also quite enjoy the asiago cheese scone, when my mood requires one- the taste is sweeter than one might initially expect from a cheese scone. The pastries are sourced from Ninth Street Bakery.

    This is hands down my fav café in Chapel Hill. It's completely student-run and a nonprofit so all…read moreof their money goes right back into the Carolina community. They fund scholarships, student orgs, grant opportunities, and more. Also, all their products are sustainably sourced and you can see a ton of cool details surrounding their environmental impact in their annual Impact Reports. 10/10 recommend!

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    The Meantime Coffee - Ham and cheese croissant. during the right time of the year, chipmunks will come up to you and eat the flakes that fall off each bite.

    Ham and cheese croissant. during the right time of the year, chipmunks will come up to you and eat the flakes that fall off each bite.

    The Meantime Coffee - Menu, December 2024

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    Menu, December 2024

    Gray Squirrel Coffee - coffee - Updated October 2026

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