An excellent coffee shop requires a combination of high-quality coffee, a welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional customer service. Its success depends on skilled baristas who are knowledgeable and friendly, a comfortable space with amenities like Wi-Fi, and a menu that offers variety beyond just coffee.  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 in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. I arrived at the City of Salem Farmer's Market parking lot, which is adjacent to the back entrance of Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea. And parked my Lexus there after reading the sign that one could park there for 2 hours free, Mondays through Saturdays 6AM - 6PM. After entering through the back door, I noticed that there was a small private dining room there and a hallway with its wall full of paintings from local artists for sale. The hallway lead to a wooden furniture with display shelves with the Coffee Shop t-shirts, mugs, and bags of coffee grains for sale. The environment was comfortable and welcoming, created through elements like clean spaces, good lighting, and appealing decor of artworks for sale from local artists. Their granite counter and very nice pastries display cases gave the place an elegant look together with its original hardwood floors. I waited in line in front of the ordering counter until it was my turn to order. I was welcomed by friendly and professional staff, who were very knowledgeableabout their products. I young lady who took my order and a young gentleman who served my coffee. I ordered a Breakfast Plate with two fried eggs, over easy, four bacon strips, and a white toast with butter. And to drink a Mocha Coffee. The young gentleman who made my coffee recognized me from when I did a review of their Downtown Roanoke location, and made me feel at home. The cook in the kitchen did an awesome job cooking my eggs over easy, (just the way I like them), and the four strips of bacon, even though they were very skinny and for that reason shrank somewhat. The medium Mocha Coffee was amazing. Someone who I believe was the Caffee Shop manager was very kind and helpful, and brought the plate to my table. After enjoying my food I went back for something sweet and ordered one of their Cinnamon Rolls which were made in-house. It was one of the best cinnamon rolls that I've ever had. I finished drinking my Mocha Coffee while enjoying the cinnamon roll. In conclusion, I had an extraordinary dining experience there, and highly recommend this Coffee Shop for breakfast, lunch, or even for an afternoon snack. Everything about the place was wonderful. But above all, their customer service was exceptional. read more

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I stopped in here to get a vanilla latte to go. The girl behind the counter was cheerful but her countenance changed when I didn't give her the tip she was expecting. I asked for an extra shot of espresso but I don't think she gave it to me as I didn't taste it. The place is very hip and had tons of seating. They are in the historic district so it was nice place to go to. I would go to this place again if I was in the area. read more

Great coffee. Cool vibes. Staff is very nice. We've been twice so far and the service was faster than expected.

I absolutely love going to this place. I buy my looseleaf tea here and it is always fresh and very delicious. I love the variety of coffees and teas that they have the food is really good as well. The staff is so nice and friendly. The owners are very knowledgeable about the coffees and teas. They talk about them with passion. The atmosphere is very nice. Relaxing. Plenty of parking in the back. read more

I've spent most of my life silently searching for the perfect bean, the perfectly brewed cup of coffee, the cleanest, smoothest grind, the best water, all combined with an expert filtration system. Mill Mountain Coffee has exceeded my expectations and delighted my palate with a rare and pleasant surprise. Although they have quite a variety of distinctive varieties and blends offering something for everyone, my test all over the world is just a cup of house blend mixed with a little cream. This levels the playing field and truly defines the best of the best. They give good advice here. Tell them what you like and let them pick the brew and enjoy. I don't know what their secret is, but this coffee is out of this world! Come in, sit down, listen to tunes and enjoy. read more

I popped in to do some work after a hike nearby. I ordered a small latte and a cinnamon roll. The cinnamon roll was really good, but the latte was more like a cappuccino extra foam. It was still pretty good though. Staff was very nice as well and I can appreciate the free wifi. read more

Strong delicious iced coffee. Lots of good breakfast menu items beyond baked goods. Spacious seating area. Chill Sunday morning vibe. read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Cinnamon bun muffin and large iced coffee. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salem, Virginia

The service at this place is top tier. They make one of my favorite coffees. Classic coffee house- drinks far better than food. Solid option when I'm in the area! Rustic and early 2000s feel on the interior. Cozy! read more

Excellent. Coffee, muffin, beautiful building. Downtown Salem. Professional service and easy parking. Note to Mill Mountain, embrace the building, an outside opinion is that it could feel a little more homey if there was more lounge furniture (armchairs, sofas, etc.) read more

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

The afternoon coffee stop at Mill Mountain was great as usual. The coffee always tastes fresh and the cupcake was moist with awesome, sweet icing. read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Chocolate cupcake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salem, Virginia

Creative coffee drinks, warm atmosphere, sandwiches were meh. Pleasant service, though be patient, labor shortage = new employees. read more

have bought from them for years; more familiar with the Electric Rd [I remember Starkey location] store, but stopped here a couple weeks ago, enjoyed an exceptional club sandwich for lunch. didn't know they had such an extensive lunch menu; bought 2.5 lbs beans, too. Mr. Brandon took great care of me--even bringing me a freshly brewed house serving of hot coffee to enjoy with my sandwich! great products, excellent service, and really enjoyed what was an unusual treat [for me when on the road] to have lunch at the lovely downtown Salem, VA, location of Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea! would heartily recommend! read more

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

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This being my first time in this part of Virginia, I had no idea this was so close to a college. Well, it was pretty clear who their main clientele was the moment we walked in, and we liked the vibe. As those super high ceilings! - Liked: free wifi, plenty of seats, casual and strangely comfortable (given the size) vibe. - Good: razzmatazz smoothie (frozen fruits used, but I'm just glad they use actual fruits), chocolate chip cookie, bathrooms (could be cleaner, but forgiven since it was close to end of day). Service, while quick, wasn't necessarily friendly, but rather 'mechanic.' Again, forgiven because the staff might have had a really bad day. We'd definitely go back, and perhaps even try their food. read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - 24oz razzmatazz smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salem, Virginia

What an awesome coffeehouse. The latte was delicious. The entire place smelled like fresh ground coffee and the food menu was well priced. We had the breakfast BLT. It was straightforward and tasty in a no nonsense kind of way. read more

Good food, great coffee, but I could hear a staff member being reprimanded in the back very aggressively by what sounded like a manager and it made me very uncomfortable. read more

Coffee is okay. So is the food. But the store in Salem could use a really deep clean.

Great coffee shop. Very historic building with conveniences all around. Coffee selection is great. Pastries and breakfast taste good. Staff is quick to take orders and kitchen gets food out promptly. Greta place just to relax and sip your coffee. read more

Espresso in my cappuccino was Starbucks level burned and drip coffee was the same. Cute atmosphere, nice employees, breakfast sandwich was the highlight by a long shot. There's better coffee in the area. Vegetarian friendly! read more

Locals obviously know that this is a great coffee shop. We were glad to find it just a few minutes from I-81. Excellent coffee (they are happy to do a cortado even though it isn't on the menu). Excellent sandwiches (try their grilled cheese with twist if you like your guacamole spicy). Excellent service. read more

We stopped by on our drive up to NY to grab a quick bite for breakfast. Street parking and private lot in back of building, too. Clean interiors and bathrooms. Rustic small town feel. Large space with plenty of tables for chatting or doing work. Large menu with vast coffee, tea, and smoothie choices. Pastries available as well: the normal like scones, muffins, cinnamon buns, etc. They were almost all sold out when we showed up. My fiancé got the cinnamon bun and it was warmed up to serve. He loved it and said the flavor was perfect. I was simple and just had a bagel with peanut butter. Also warmed up and toasted to serve. Busy inside, with a line of customers front cashier knew most of. Friendly staff. Will keep in mind for when driving through again! It's nice to stop and support a local facility. And it seems to be one of a kind in the area. read more

First time in the city of Salem... happy to find this cute coffee shop downtown. Some Street parking was available, parking lot in the back too! Plenty of seating inside during the time of our visit. Lots of options for drinks: Plethora of coffee bean options. Tried their strawberry smoothie and was not disappointed. Purchased two pieces of cake from their display (coconut and chocolate) pretty good although a smidge pricy. They also had t-shirts and coffee cups for sale. Rustic feel to the place, tall ceilings. read more

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Sometimes, their iced lattes are good. Most of the time, they don't bother mixing the ingredients, and it tastes awful. It's annoying.

Food great. Atmosphere great. Came in at 12 for brunch with family and one of the workers is rude every time we come in. She never smiles, she is always extremely short with customers when ordering, and talks to them like they're stupid. The blonde girl with the circle tattoos on her arm. Just 0 customer service. Disappointed cause we love mill :( read more

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea - Biscuits and gravy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salem, Virginia

Stopped as we were traveling through on our way to DC. Love to find local coffee spots. Food was fine; not fantastic but good (fried pickles were delish!) Ambience is great; good place to study or hang out. Many options for coffee: hot, cold, breve, plenty of syrups to choose from. Would definitely come back for the coffee! read more

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Not great coffee, iced americano had so little ice that it was melted by the time it was handed to me. Got a cup of ice to go. Not good quality. Their espresso station behind the counter was dirty and a disaster as well. Not from the area but I would assume better coffee can be had elsewhere in town. The place as a whole is not very clean and doesn't really have that great of a feel when you walk in. read more

Mill coffee is a nice place to study if you have an xfinity account. Their own free WiFi is kind of shoddy so I never actually used it. The coffee here is delicious and unlimited for a cheap price. The food selection is wide and the service is fantastic! I've been here so many times to study and have been happy with my visit every single time. Their sandwiches are delicious and the baristas made me feel welcome every single time. There's a huge parking lot outside and this place is open early and closes late. There are plenty of tables close to electrical outlets and a nice sofa next to the window. Most highly recommend for anyone looking for a nice place to study! read more

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Such a cute coffee shop! Staff was friendly and helpful. Great atmosphere, and great coffee :)

I'm in town for one day because my son is attending a soccer camp at Roanoke College. This coffee shop is fine. I had a decent latte this morning with almond milk and coconut. I came back for lunch since there's WiFi and wanted a soup and sandwich, or salad and sandwich. I am a vegetarian. I was told no soup on the weekend. I was also told I couldn't get half salad and half vegetarian sandwich. The "1/2" only applies to the meat sandwiches or so that's what I understood the girl behind the counter to say. The salad is fine read more

I was walking down Main Street and worked up a little sweet tooth. Popped into Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea. Everyone was so nice. I am new to town so I asked about the area. I looked over the sweets case and settled in on their cookies. They looked delicious. I told the employee I like fresh baked soft oatmeal raisin cookies. She suggested I try their cookie similar. I believe it was apple with cranberries. IT. WAS. AMAZING. soooooo good. Loved the seating options. I liked the comfy leather couch with a view out the window onto Main Street. Also they had some beautiful art work that I believe someone said was done by someone local. I don't drink coffee but I WILL for sure be back here many many many more times. read more

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Salem store. Boo ... They need people here who act like the customer counts. Or maybe have 2 people working the counter. Or maybe hire people that get things done quickly. Murphy. read more

Stopped and got a quick cofffee this morning before going to the Salem Farmer's Market and forgot how good this place is. Used to be a frequent customer in the mid-late nineties. Not much has changed. Great coffee with all options. Baked goods and laid back atmosphere. Prices are reasonable as well. read more

I am here often because I live nearby and I have been coming long enough to know what to order when. Muffins and regular coffee are safe. Lunch and breakfast can be great and well prepared or it can truly suck. It all depends on the day. Since you are the only store in town you have the businesss. For now. If you get competition, you are in trouble. Maybe Hire people who give a damn, and bring some staff up from Roanoke. Service and food quality is highly dependent on your staff, and your staff is very unpredictable. You do need to have trustworthy people in charge. It feels often feels like no one is very interested in what's happening in your store in Salem. Tonight it is cold out and the a/c is on full blast. Mentioned that I'm freezing. Girls at the counter stated "We're hot! We've been working!" Too bad for a regular customer. read more

Nice place when you are on the longest trip, had their iced mocha with extra espresso and homemade lemonade. They made best lemonade. I had to ask to add more espresso. The lady didn't charged me, thank you! read more

Guess these folks don't mind people who Allie g out of here IN DROVES this afternoon....obviously grossly understaffed for Old Salem Days!

Great place to stop and have a bite to eat and a cup of coffee with many varieties to choose. So much better than Starbucks. Friendly staff and excellent sandwiches and salads. Easy on and off of I-81 too read more

I have visited the roanoke location . I like the roanoke location . This Salem location not so much . First impressions mean so much , and I won't visit this location if I can avoid it . Floors , rugs , tables , counters all very visibly dirty . The dirty dishes were stacked high and in the bin by the trash the entire visit . We visited at a slow time as well . Tea was served well , the coffee was fine and temped ok . Bakery item I ordered was delicious however. read more

Great local coffee shop with fresh coffee and tasty baked goods. I have never had a meal from here but I'm sure its great. Quck service. Parking is parrell on the street and behind the building. Near the Farmers Market so be sure the check that out. Not a lot of seating so if its crowded take your coffee and walk a few blocks to the campus Roanoke College. Beautiful landscaping and lots of benches to relax. read more

Skip Starbucks - best coffee reasonable prices and no snotty feel. Open relaxing environment to have a coffee and cake ! Must try the cake, very good! Would have given 5 stars if it the tables and floors where cleaner ! read more

After visiting the other Mill Mountain Coffee locations in Roanoke, I was very disappointed by this Salem location. Although they have great coffee to start with, the cappuccino I had mediocre at best and the rest of the food was stale. The oatmeal was dry and barely cooked and the scone was definitely a day old, despite it being a Saturday morning and a high traffic time. I expected so much better from a local chain of coffee shops which otherwise seems to value its customers and to put out good food and drinks. read more

One of my favorite coffee shops. I frequent the daleville one and love that one but this is one was great too! Consistently good lattes and scones! read more