For some time now I have been driving by this coffee & tea shop, and today I decided to take the road less traveled, Starkey Road, and pay this place a visit. And what I found completely amazed me, and exceeded my highest of expectations. After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, near Tanglewood Mall, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. The Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea on Starkey Road in Roanoke, VA, is a former bank that was converted into a coffee shop by Blake Construction, a company that also handles many of their projects. This location opened in 2012, after the original downtown Roanoke store was established in 1990 by founder Dave Johnson. The Starkey Road location featured a unique renovation, including turning the old vault into a walk-in cooler and adding a drive-up window.  When I entered the Coffee Shop today, I was attracted by its magical cozy ambiance and by the fine lines and curves of its renovation architectural design. Known for its artisanal coffee blends and curated tea selections, I was also impressed with their menu, that besides freshly baked pastries, also included a nice egg variety plates for breakfast and creative sandwiches for lunch. The place offered a cozy retreat for coffee enthusiasts. College students could take advantage of their Free WiFi to research and write their reports using their laptops. Friends could meet there to spend quality time talking to each other. Entrepreneurs could use the place to brainstorm business ideas over a cup of savory coffee. Art enthusiasts could view the artists display works, and even purchase one to add to their collection. When it was my turn to make my order, I approached the counter and a bright and friendly young lady took my order. I ordered a breakfast plate with two fried eggs over easy, bacon, and white toast, with a large Mocha Coffee to drink. The cook did an excellent job cooking my food, just how I had asked it done. At the entrance there was a Community Bulletin Board with different announcements and advertisements. I happened to find one for this year's performance of the Nutcracker at the Burgland Center, which I had been wondering about when ticket sales were selling. In conclusion, I highly recommend this coffee shop, not only for its great coffee and tea, for its food menu, for its exceptional customer service, and cozy atmosphere, that together make for an extraordinary dining experience. read more

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Over the top incredible service. My mom and I are frequenters, and I get a large PSL every time I come through Roanoke! They hands down have the best out there, and always the perfect light ice temperature lattes. Today, we had a little explosion (matcha everywhere...) and yet the baristas immediately came to help and mop and made a new one before he even finished mopping. HUGE shoutout Dakota for your sweet demeanor and all your help!!! read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Pumpkin latte & matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

This was our first visit to this café, which had been recommended to us. The weather outside was a cold, heavy downpour. Two of us entered the café to place an order while the driver remained in the vehicle. At the time, one employee was preparing beverages and another was cooking. No one acknowledged our arrival, and the seating area was dark. We waited at the counter, but the beverage employee, who was wearing a headset, greeted and took an order from a drive-through customer who arrived after us. We were not addressed at all. Believing the location was short-staffed, we decided to leave and order through the drive-through instead. While exiting, the driver noted that multiple drive-through customers had ordered and left during the time we were inside waiting. At the drive-through window, we were greeted immediately and our order was taken without delay. Our beverages were delivered promptly, followed shortly by our food, which the cook brought directly to the drive-through window. However, no employee returned to hand us the food, despite the order already being paid for. Notably, the employee who delivered our beverages was the same person we passed when leaving the café earlier. Given the weather conditions and the delay, I went back inside to ask for our food. I was told it was still being prepared. I explained that the food had already been delivered to the drive-through window and that we needed to leave due to road conditions. Only then did the employee go to the drive-through window. I called the driver to circle back and pick me up so we could finally leave. For balance, the food itself was tasty, and the beverage was good, though it was noticeably too sweet for our preference. Unfortunately, the inconsistency between in-store and drive-through service, lack of acknowledgment upon entry, and unnecessary delay overshadowed the quality of the food and drink. read more

Starkey Mill Mountain: Thank you so much for a great morning; every morning. I have been coming for years and despite my mood you guys ( Jay, Kelsey and Brooke) are always ALWAYS a friendly face. Also you know my and my husband's (his is more bougie) orders. read more

There are long standing tendencies on the part of staff to show targeted disrespect toward customers. The new thing is relational aggression. counter staff will speak like a child to a customer or touch hair, mouth or hair and set off mimicking behavior of customers. I used my phone to record a taunting counter person exaggerating facial rubbing for a minute after I pointed out that it was unsanitary. I showed this to the GM and was told not to come back. A local public school student committed suicide after being a target of relational aggression. This is political in motivation typically. another observation is that it is done to harmless others who would no engage in this toward their perpetrators. this invites consideration of a dark psychology. my name in Tim Jeter. I live in Roanoke. my Facebook handle is Tim Hampton. respond to me if you have a different take. read more

I love trying different/small coffee shops when I travel. Glad I stopped at this place. The coffee was delicious and the turnover tasted like it was freshly baked. read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Peppermint bark latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Every time I'm in town visiting family, I try to always make a stop here. The coffee and food is really good. This season's specialty latte is very tasty - Bee Berry Latte (blueberry honey latte). read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Really cool coffee shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Coffee beverages are great but the customer service is horrible! It's so sad that when we come to spend money at a local business it feels like we're "pulling teeth" to order. read more

Had a quick cappuccino at this quaint coffee shop in Roanoke. Cap was on point! Not too expensive either for a 16 oz size, probably close to $3.50. Lots of study space, WiFi, pastries. Seems like a great place for a quick pit stop or if you need to actually get work done. I'll be back! Pros: Coffee Price Cons: Wish they did sandwiches and/or wraps, as I was dying for a snack that wasn't a large pastry! read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - the interior of mill mountain coffee and tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

This is easily the least appealing store for me, of the three we've been to. LIKED: - Free WiFi - Silence (also a dislike because a bit of soft music might've made it possible for me not to have to hear every conversation the staff were having way back over at the counter) - Outdoor seating and own parking. DISLIKED: - Minimal service. Nothing terrible, just the bare minimum of taking orders, taking payment, then delivering orders. Nothing more, nothing less. - Overpriced smoothie, especially compared to the other two locations. Smaller cup sizes and higher prices just don't make sense to me. I'd go back, but only if I really must. read more

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The staff asked me how my day was and I answered honestly. Told them I had been better. It was a heavy day. They did more than take care of me, they gave me hope for a better world. Love being able to meet here and get great coffee. read more

Mmmmmm! I think this location is relatively new - as I had never been to it before - I like the location on Starkley Rd near the Buffalo Wild Wings and Ben Gui Sushi with tons of parking and a drive-through window. Met two of my girlfriends here last weekend for a birthday dinner date. I had the sweet Snow Monkey Plum Tea of the day and it was AMAZING. Like I had a refill and then I went and ordered some so I can try to make it at home. I ordered a vegetarian wrap, my friend the chicken pesto panini, and my other friend the Avocado BLT. We all enjoyed our meals and all had the sweet tea mentioned above. YUM. Plenty of seating, interesting decor, some goodies for sale. You can buy coffee and tea and they have a large food menu with sandwiches, salads, snacks, sweets and tons of coffee. They have art on sale hanging on the walls and old coffee sacks as the chair upholstery. read more

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The girls are so sweet and the atmosphere is perfect for studying. I lost track of time and accidentally stayed past closing and the girls were so sweet letting me know that they had closed 15 minutes ago. Highly recommend going! Plus their food is amazing read more

For $6 (almost $7) a latte, the coffee could be better. For a local establishment, the customer service could be A LOT better. That said, there are lots of tables inside and there's always a good amount of people. There needs to be some changes before I would become a regular. read more

Great service and flavor! With only one employee working, I received the best chai latte of my life in under a minute. There was a huge line and they delivered stellar service, even handling an extremely rude and out-of-pocket customer with grace. In addition, this is a wonderful atmosphere for studying or a chat. I highly recommend this coffee shop. read more

Downtown Roanoke location. Great coffee. Great building. Great staff. Alex was very friendly and fast. Love the hospitality.

I recently found this shop, as I'm new to the area. I discovered that I LOVE LOVE LOVE their coffee the first time I went, however the staff wasn't too friendly. I decided maybe she was having a bad day. I went back a couple days later and received even worse service. It's a coffee shop. The vibe should be inviting, welcoming and relaxing. Sorry to say, I will not go back. read more

First time I came here the worker was super rude. Obviously having a bad day but should be left at home. Didn't listen to my order or double check. Gave me the wrong size. Coffee wasn't very good. And was very rude throwing stuff around and arguing with his co workers. read more

I do not recommend customers to mill mountain coffee, not because of their quality of food and beverage, but because of the cruel treatment of their employees. Coming into Mill Mountain Coffee, you are greeted by several young adults who are clearly in high school/college. The manager, Devon, is consistently rude to these young employees on several occasions when i had visited. He uses mean, inappropriate words with staff, ignores comments of pest problems at the establishment, and is extremely unprofessional on all accounts. My thoughts go out to all these amazing young men and women working at mill mountain and dealing with their tyrant of a manager. read more

After 5786468 times of being disappointed with them I fell compelled to write a review. They can't multitask or get the drinks right so I just get plain coffee now read more

Only gave Mill Mountain a one because the White Chocolate with Carmel tasted like regular coffee, plus the cashier forgot our order and there was only one car ahead if us. read more

While everyone has different experiences depending on mood, employee, or food, my experience was great! Their espresso cooler is my go-to every time! Perfect blend of sweetner and coffee. Their food is very good! The turkey-bacon-ranch sandwich is so good. I've had one of their salads because of a recommendation from a friend but for the life of me I can't remember what it was, something with avocado, but I can't forget the taste! Yummy! I do have to say that the Mill Mountain in Salem is larger and has comfy couches and the menu is easier to get around, so I prefer going there. The one near bdubs doesn't have couches, but it does have a cool, modern, and friendly atmosphere. I'd say the Salem one is a hangout/chilling spot, and the one near bdubs is more for working on homework and having a formal lunch with friends, but I love both. Service has always been up to par with me, so that is a big plus! read more

I have been coming back here on a fairly regular basis. At first, I was told I could get a refill on an Americano. Then they said it was only on the the black coffee. So I decided only black coffee. I received a refill for a couple of visits. This time they are saying it has to be on the "mug for here"!! They really need to make y my mind. read more

More like a cafe than a coffee shop as have a full breakfast menu plus sandwiches. Regular tables and not a single comfy chair in site. Do have outlets to charge your computers. Both breakfasts sandwiches were good but a bit pricey as almost 6 dollars for egg cheese with meat. read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Sausage egg on English muffin - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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20 mins for a cup of coffee. I was stuck so I couldn't leave, but watched 4 or 5 customers be able to escape. When I finally got my coffee? It was like warm at 8am. I gave this Place another chance and I regret it. Unfortunately Starbucks doesnt have these kinds of issues and their coffee isnt over roasted to the point of burning. Let's move on to the cup I purchased, I asked for 2 or 3 sugar. I got a cup of coffee that had bo less than a half cup of sugar in it. So after waiting 20 mins for the cup of overpriced coffee, It was undrinkable. I think if they actually hired people who knew what they were doing, theyd get somewhere. But... they hire teenage girls who dont really know how to do their job. I guess it's a wage thing. Either way, this Mill Mtn is the worst. Do yourself a favor and just goto Starbucks read more

Good coffee but the staff was pretty rude. No "good morning", they didn't even ask what I would like. Just kind of gave me a blank stare until I ordered. Probably won't be back. read more

12:30 on a Sunday afternoon. No lines,6 people in the dining area. one of the chillest places in the hot august day. Burnt coffee, (decaf) sticky tables and crunchies all over the floor. Gnats whizzing overhead keeping us ( 2 diners) cool. Sorry, but my Mr. Coffee with Wal-mart g.p. grind is a better buy @ $3.00 a cup. It may be the place to grab a cuppa and then go tackle the A.P. trail, but I will wait six months to try again. The Nautical Review: 2 of 5. lots of potential but it is what it is, millennial meeting spot with _ effort involved. read more

A solid cup of joe in an impressively insulated cup that keeps your hand from burning without needing a sleeve. The staff is very friendly! The ambiance in the cafe is very relaxed and charming. Lots of natural light and local artwork on the walls for sale. read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Filthy floors, tables, and coffee prep area! Half n half dispenser appears to have never been cleaned. Coffee was thrown in trash- disgusting! read more

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What a gem of a coffee shop. It is spacious and clean and the aromas of the different coffees are amazing. We stopped in early on our road trip. We had the best dirty chai lattes and the front service counter was friendly and helpful. There are all different types of bean coffees for you to choose from. They even have pastries and breakfast items. Do yourself a favor and check these folks out. The coffee was delicious. Very impressed. read more

Great service. My pups are always happy to ride along to get a treat from the drive thru!

Two teenagers somehow didn't know how to make a turkey Reuben off the menu. Sandwich came with no saurkraut, and with ketchup with the thousand island dressing. I sent it back, and he brought back the same sandwich with cold saurkraut on it. So I just ordered something else. The floor in the back was littered with trash and boxes. Not going back for food again. read more

The staff here are always quick and attentive! They call out your order as soon as it's ready, and let me tell you I've never had a better cuppa. I like that they repurposed an old building and now it's a cool, modern hangout. It's been a daily morning stop for about 7 years now. I don't want to do the math on how many 55" TVs I could have bought with that money! read more

4 stars for location and ambience. This place is the true definition of a cafe. I am only giving it 3 stars for coffee. I find the ice coffee a tad bit weak, but it is cheaper than the average coffeeshop. read more

Who ever would have thought there would be all of these awesome places in Roanoke, VA? My friend recommended this place, they had a pretty ok tea selection and made food pretty quickly. I liked it and would recommend going back. I liked the set up too, it felt like it was trying to be a chain or almost a chain and kind of was. There is a drive through at this location too. read more

I love this place. I wish we had one of these in my hometown. Extensive sandwich and salad menu. A ton of flavored syrups and sugar free. Good coffee, pleasant decor. read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Ah-so many memories. This was the spot to go after a long day of high school academia. Close to home and convenient I have spent many long afternoons catching up with friends here. The menu is wonderful-excellent breakfasts (pistachio muffin is wonderful) and all day sandwich selections (love the California grilled cheese). The coffees are great too. Not to mention their espresso chillers (think ice cream smoothie) the perfect summer time treat. While I prefer the downtown location, the atmosphere at this location still feels like any coffee shop should. When I come back and visit Roanoke, I will surely be found on at least one occasion sitting in the window of the quaint Mill Mtn. Coffee and Tea. read more

This location - Starkey road - is the best! The live music on some evenings is just wonderful. They really impressed me when I asked for a flavored steamed milk for my toddler. They added just enough syrup and took the temperature of the drink to doublecheck it before serving it to us, and that made a great impression on me! Willing to accommodate moms and toddlers! They also have several high chairs there. Perfect! Well done! read more

In town for a day. Wanted local breakfast and coffee before heading out on a cold, snowy, and windy morning. Found Mill Mountain through Yelp. Nice breakfast menu with good selections for build your own sandwiches - included healthier choices like fresh egg whites, turkey, and grilled chicken. Large coffee and tea menu with seasonal specials. Food and coffee served piping hot by friendly staff. Quiet, upbeat 80s music playing in background and locals enjoying their Saturday morning. Free (unsecure) guest WiFi. Lots of parking, easy to find location. Super casual, laid back vibe. Only complaint - was an "eat in" order, but coffee was served in a Styrofoam "to go" cup - not very sustainable. read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Delicious coffee and friendly service. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Overall, great chain of coffee shops in the Roanoke area, but this is definitely my favorite location. Mill Mountain offers quite a few good roasts and displays them with full descriptions along one wall of this shop for all to read. The staff are friendly and brew the coffee well. The cooks in the back also serve up solid sandwiches and other typical coffee shop food. My only turn off here was the silence which can settle in at certain times throughout the food. I have stayed for a few hours at a time when working on projects and the silence gets overpowering in the lulls between the morning and lunch rushes. Nevertheless, the space is still nice and the coffee gets the job done! read more