I have been wanting to try a banana pudding latte since I first heard about them recently. I thought the concept sounded a little weird, but when I saw it on the special menu here, I had to go for it. I was NOT disappointed! The banana flavor was spot on, like a true banana. Not like the typical artificial banana flavoring you'd find in a candy. It was sweetened just enough and topped with little vanilla wafer pieces. We were only inside for a short period of time, but this was a really cute place with comfy seating and a calm, quiet vibe. Staff were friendly and efficient. The only thing that could have made my drink better would have been more ice, but then I would have less of my delicious beverage, so I can't really complain. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Banana pudding latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Dripolator Coffeehouse was exactly the kind of Sunday morning stop we needed as we rolled east out of Asheville. Yelp pointed us here and as usual, the algorithm absolutely nailed it. We arrived at around 7:15 am and were greeted by two regulars hanging out front with their dogs, which meant that Mrs. K. got her morning dog fix before we even made it inside. That set a great tone for a good day. The welcome inside was warm in the small town way that feels genuine instead of forced, just easy smiles and a quick hello as I ordered. It was rather quiet when we arrived but the folks seemed to start pouring in as we sipped our coffees. My cortado was excellent even if it was in a paper cup. Mrs. K. was happy with her latte which is the proper test. We lingered a bit, enjoying the quiet and watching Black Mountain wake up around us before getting back on the road. A great little stop just off I-40 and a perfect start for the day. Five stars! [Review 540 of 2026 - 4635 in North Carolina - 25722 overall] read more

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Recommend by some servers at a local restaurant we were excited to try The Dripolator. Honestly, meh. The cold brew was the worst of the three coffee houses we tried during our stay. The funky monkey I had was okay, but very little coffee taste and way too much banana. Staff felt like we were bothering them with our order around 2pm. Plenty of seating to sit and hang out for a bit. I'd give it another try, just not the cold brew. read more

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Small but cozy coffee spot that unfortunately had no room for us that day. So we got everything to go. Cortado was classic and smooth - not sweet. Americano was well balanced. Parking lot adjacent was nice. Quick service. Lots of remote workers here. read more

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I have to confess that the name Dripolator didn't sound like a place with a hip coffee house vibe. I was very wrong. What a terrific find in Black Mountain. First off, atmosphere. Cool, welcoming with a splash of funky. Loved it. Staff. Incredibly friendly and helpful. My wife likes a real matcha green tea latte and what she got was perfect. Made to the sweetness level she likes (not too much) and the barista delivered it while making sure it was to my wife's liking. Very attentive. Coffee. I am a latte guy, no sweetener just good ol fashioned milk. What I got was robust yet incredibly smooth. A great cup of coffee. We did not try their baked goods. That will be next time, because when we find ourselves in the area again, Dripolator will be a must. read more

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Came here on a weekend morning for some Coffee and smoothies. The cashier was extremely pleasant and helpful. Patiently took our order with a smile. The berry smoothies were delicious and not overly sweet. The pumpkin spice latte was perfect... not too sweet and had strong fall spices. Would definitely come here again if in the area. The inside is also cute and welcoming. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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Cute cafe with lots of charms and a wonderful selection of coffee drinks and such. There's a parking lot next to it and some on street parking. There's a bar by the window to sit and chill or they have different couches and other seating available. There are some bakery items such as bars, coffees, bagels, etc. They did have gluten free options. Very friendly staff in such a welcoming and inviting space. Ordered the Butter Coffee (MCT & butter), iced Americano, and a Lemon Bar latte. Everything was great, but let me just make you aware that if you are a lemon lover of any sort get the Lemon Bar latte. It is absolutely amazing. It's like drinking an actual lemon bar. Not sure what kind of wizardry went into this concoction but kudos to whomever holds that magic. We will be talking about this for quite some time. Worth a drive if not local and if you are, we are jealous! Stop by for a lovely experience and pop a squat. Relax, chill, or even do some work in the cafe. read more

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Nestled in the extremely walkable downtown Black Mountain is the ever so quaint Dripolator Coffeehouse. It's a great place to pop into before shopping the local area, to spend some time (and get a quality drink) while waiting for your reservation at a different restaurant, or to spend some time while working on your computer or meeting with a friend. The inside of the coffeehouse is small with limited space, so be mindful of your surroundings when you bring your littles inside. Luckily my little was in a Velcro phase of life, so they did not wander and bother others. There are many different seating areas to support different party sizes, but it's still small inside so I would not recommend bringing in a large group. There's a bathroom in the back of the coffeehouse. We got a juice box and a cappuccino. I was impressed that even in my little disposable cup they took the time to create art with the milk foam. It's the little touches that go a long way. I was able to enjoy this cappuccino as I waited for my food at a nearby restaurant, and it made the experience all the better. I will come back here when in the area next year. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

We enjoyed relaxing over coffee at the Dripolator this afternoon! Friendly service, good coffee, and relaxing atmosphere! read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Service and ambiance went well, as it was instant. I got a GF strawberry oat bar, which was crumbly but delicious. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - GF Strawberry Oat Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Great spot for coffee, tea or a baked pastry. The lemon poppy seed was full of flavor. The oat milk latte was creamy and hot. Comfy seats and clean. Oat milk and soy available. read more

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Hands down the absolute best coffee shop in town. Baristas are knowledgeable. Vibe is relaxed. Thank you for being our go-to for Cubanos and Chai! read more

What a quaint coffeehouse! Loved walking there in the morning and taking in the Mountain View's. The food was good (the stuffed croissant was on point) and the coffee was delicious! Next trip to Black Mountain, I will stop in again! read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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Very cool coffeehouse near the center of downtown Black Mountain with a nice lounge area of leather modern cushy seats and other table seating to do work, collaborate with people, or just engage in conversation. They have a lot of freshly baked goods and solid coffee drinks for order. For my money, the mocha frappe was cold, refreshing, and satisfying that took me back to having the ice cream based drinks when I was a kid. This place is a knockout for good coffee and vibes. read more

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What a fun place. Be sure to check out their current specialty coffee they have "dripolated" for the day. So much better than your typical chain coffee shop. Looking forward for o going back next time we are in town! read more

Top notch baked goods of brew varieties like this chocolate almond financier, or a striped raspberry croissant for starters. Service was fast and friendly on Labor Day. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - I got my favorite a dirty chai latte and I'm on my way to Apple picking so I thought this was a premonition of good things to come lol - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

My daughter and I drove up to the Dripolator, after a snowy day here in Arden. It was an easy drive and worth it. The ambience was warm and inviting with chairs tables and couches placed all around for easy seating. It had just snowed and we were surprised at how many people came out. It was really crowded and that made it more fun. We all just sat around and chatted. The service was as fast as they could go. There was only two people there and they were working hard. Each time they were very friendly with each new client. The coffee was delicious and the ambience was great fun. It's a delightful place to go and just sit and relax with its warm and inviting atmosphere. It was very crowded that morning, but that made it more fun. It was even prettier in Black Mountain. But the roads were very clear making it easily accessible. We love Black Mountain, and the Dripolator coffee shop. read more

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Was in town for a ladies retreat and stopped in for an afternoon pick me up. I didn't want anything too sweet, so I asked the barista's opinion. She recommended the killer bee, and it was perfect! Just sweet enough without being overpowering. I really liked the vibe of this shop. Super laid back and serves up a quality iced latte. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Killer Bee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Cute coffee shop in the heart of the most adorable small town in America: Black Mountain. The shop was warm, homey and super chill. The coffee was perfect for the 30 degree weather. We had a cappuccino and Chaider (chai and apple cider). The espresso in the cappuccino was strong and had great flavor -- just how I like it. The Chaider was a seasonal drink and so glad we got it. The chai and cider was unexpectedly delicious. I would never have thought about combining these drinks, but the spices really worked well together. read more

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We love "the Drip!" If my wife and I are going out for coffee in Black Mtn, this is where we go. The coffee is always excellent, the staff are very friendly, and it's a great place to hang out or get work done. We love their specialty drinks. I like a hot mocha and my wife always gets an iced caramel latte with oat milk. Their baked goods are also great! Most are made fresh. We were there on Wednesday and watched the muffins being delivered by who I can only assume is the owner. If you need coffee, head over to the Dripolator now! read more

Parking isn't too hard to get a spot at. Every time we visit we end up trying a new coffee shop and then this one. We threw away some local coffee from another place and immediately came here. Ordered the Ron Weasley special which I believe was orange mocha and it's incredible. The cinnamon honey latte is amazing and my husband loves the funky kinky frappe read more

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Cute area, adorable shop, pleasant staff and interesting menu. Grabbed the "Honey Bee." read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Decided to give Dripolator another chance and had a much better experience than the last time I came. The lattes and baked goods were pretty good, although I wished that they had offered to warm them up prior to serving them. Still no almond milk sadly - but they do offer soy and oat milk as non dairy options. I am glad that I decided to give the Dripolator another chance! read more

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Delightful little coffee spot that I thought I'd try but actually happen. So it was a nice surprise. Super cozy and busy inside. Probably because it was a weekend. They have some comfortable chairs and great seating arrangements that lead to the opportunity to work individually or meet with a small group. The coffee was incredibly fresh and delicious. I wish they had given me a discount for bringing my own cop, or at least rinsed mine out. It had a little residual coffee in it and could have used a quick cleanse. The pastries seemed incredibly fresh and delicious. They had a huge variety of gluten-free options. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

I love the coffe and baked good! I go there several times when I'm in Black Miuntain.

My wife and I spent several days in Black Mountain before Easter. The Dripolator was walking distance from our Airbnb. We picked up the Righteous blend. This was the smoothest coffee we have tasted! I wished they shipped their coffee!!! We will definitely stop in next time we visit Black Mountain. Oh, and the service was fantastic too!! read more

Coffee is decent but cashier seemed annoyed by having yo do her job and answer questions. Likely a fluke so I'd try again to confirm but if you have a business in a tourist town ....expect tourists to ask questions! read more

If you read my reviews, you know I love LOCAL coffee shops and appreciate comfortable vibes, tasty food options and of course, great coffee. Check all the boxes Dripolator! read more

Great place. Great coffee. Great croissant. The place was hopping and the service was efficient. read more

Paloma Di Roma- refreshing and delicious I wanted to drink it all day- so excited for the first sip and left me longing for another. Not for you if you don't like a little unexpected bubbles- I drink Matcha and Kombucha pretty regularly- so I like fresh, unexpected, and earthy. Not into added sweetness to drinks and this definitely didn't overload with sweetness. Barista was friendly and the ambiance was calm. Definitely will pop-in anytime I'm in the area to check out seasonal offerings. read more

The OG WNC coffee house! Walking in feels like a vacation in the middle of your day. Superb coffee drinks, refreshing smoothies, and a plethora of baked goods await your visit. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Exterior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Locals always rank this coffeehouse either first or second each year. We chose this place based on a friend's recommendation and we were not disappointed. Time of visit was during the pandemic of 2020 and so restrictions by the coffeehouse were put in place. Nonetheless our orders were made to perfection and in a reasonable amount of time. Business was a slow steady during the time we visited. I chose the Cubano and on this cooler, rainy day, the espresso creation hit the spot. Had it been warmer, I probably would have ordered the Affogato. Right on the Main Street of the quaint mountain town, with a free parking lot right next to its building, the coffee is very accessible, and, it's located near a local university and nearby hiking trails. read more

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Service and ambience wonderful! Tasty drinks! The coffee bean has great flavor that they use!

Fun little spot in Black Mountain, easy walk in the middle of downtown and a menu that can't be beat :) We couldn't resist a chocolate croissant and it was well worth it along with the iced coffees! read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Carmelatto - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Great coffee, great muffin-type fare, great place to hang out and work or people-watch. Near Black Mountain's shops and a great way to start the day. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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Energetic, delicious, and fast. I pulled in off I-40 and got exactly what I was hoping for: a hand-crafted coffee drink (Cuban coffee in my case) made with care. Room was full and coffeehouse jumping. Not a place for study or work (at least not on a Saturday), but just right for a mid-afternoon recharge. read more

Stopped here on our way to Lookout Trail, stellar coffee, inside was homie with many students studying, and service was quick. Wish there was more seating outside, but views were great and would definitely stop here again! read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Outdoor seating - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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Since I can't drink coffee, I usually choose a coffee shop for its atmosphere and this one definitely has it...plus some excellent non-coffee drinks and treats. It was so darn cozy inside I visited 3 times during my trip. Highlight is the sipping chocolate they offer made with French Broad chocolate. Very rich and a lovely treat on a cold day. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - Interior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

We stopped in for a morning coffee before going on a hike in the mountains. The line inside was long which made me think this place must be excellent. I soon discovered the line was long because the orders were being handled super slowly. I overheard one couple talking about how it's always slow & the workers here don't have a good system for handling orders. When we finally got to the front to place our order, a person appeared behind the counter who apologized to us as she opened the cash drawer & proceeded to spend several minutes counting all the bills & coins. I was then able to order a hot killer bee which is a honey & cinnamon latte. The drink was warm but not hot. My son & his wife also ordered some baked goods & said they were excellent. read more

The Dripolator Coffeehouse - My latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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The Killer bee is so killer definitely recommend to anyone that comes. The staff is really helpful with telling me what everything is and what to have it's a nice environment to study very cozy . read more