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    Vessel

    4.7 (39 reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Vessel Photos

    VESSEL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Vessel

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    Salted maple matcha
    Monique J.

    This was the cutest coffee shop that I stumbled upon through TikTok! It was very arts and crafty which is good for the creatives. The two coffees that I got were the Granny Smith latte and the salted maple matcha. The Granny Smith latte was a 8.5/10 and the salted maple matcha was a 4/10 due to the grassy taste. Still would recommend this shop though.

    Iced salted maple matcha latte
    Andrea A.

    I've been meaning to try Vessel for ages and finally got the chance to do so! It's such a cute, under-rated coffee shop in Durham imo. I got the iced salted maple matcha latte, which is a fall seasonal special, and it was absolutely delicious- probably a top matcha I've gotten in the city. I will say space is the biggest limitation here: if you're wanting a space to camp out & get work done, you'll need to come pretty early in the day to snag a spot. Service is super friendly and fast. There's a lot of street parking. If you're artsy, they have like an art corner and lots of events, advertised on their Instagram. I could totally see myself becoming a regular here- 10/10 would recommend!

    Sweta S.

    I was excited to check this place out. Unfortunately, I was a bit underwhelmed. The cortado was bitter. In addition, we ordered a pastry or cinnamon roll. On the box, there are directions to warm it up. She said her microwave was not big enough to warm up the rolls that they sell.

    The new owner's favorite iced coffee from Chicago. Available to try

    We were there for the day of the re-opening of EverLou as Vessel Café. We had never come under the café's previous ownership, as we only discovered the place when we heard about the re-opening. I like their coffee a lot, the art on the wall, the welcoming atmosphere... The fact that the coffee is far from the Downtown is awesome because the atmosphere is calmer. The place is charming. They used Dark Matter Coffee from Chicago in one of their iced lattes and it's pretty good and original. The Peach Cobbler Latte is a nice signature summer drink; we got it iced, with oat milk, because it's hot outside. There's a part for people who want to draw and you can buy art supplies. We will be back here often.

    Iced Toffee Oat Latte and a Hot Gingerbread Latte
    JJ C.

    Atmosphere: EverLou is a small coffee shop with a minimalistic menu and seasonal offerings. Their interior is clean but has limited seating. We also love that they're dog friendly! Service: Our barista was friendly and gave us recommendations for her favorite seasonal drinks. Despite being the only person working at the counter that particular morning, she made our drinks quite promptly! Food: We ordered an Iced Toffee Oat Latte and a Hot Gingerbread Latte. The Toffee Oat Latte wasn't that flavorful or unique, and had more of a generic "sweet" coffee taste to it rather than a toffee flavor. Unfortunately, the Gingerbread Latte did not have much of a gingerbread "spicy" flavor and tasted more like a plain latte. We felt that the Toffee Oat Latte and Gingerbread Latte could have had a lot more potential and left us with a mediocre coffee experience. Overall: We really wanted to love EverLou, as we had heard great things about the shop and loved the idea of it being an oat milk based shop. However, the drinks did not impress us, and we felt that our drinks weren't worth the price. We hope to give EverLou another try but with lower expectations.

    a muffin and a cup of coffee
    Hannah M.

    Everlou is one of my favorite coffee shops to frequent in downtown Durham. The staff is the sweetest, their coffee is delicious, and the shop is extremely dog friendly! Not only do I love it, but my dog Wally is a huge fan as well. They have pup cups and treats available for dogs and a lot of dog events. They have seasonal specials as well as creative weekend specials several times a year. Their signature drink, the toffee oat latte, will always have my heart! They are open 7am-4pm daily which is great since some places are closed on Sun/Mon in the area.

    Great atmosphere inside EverLou
    Harrison L.

    Always love going here! They are dog friendly so my pups can come in with me. I love their cereal milk lattes!

    Such a cute spot!
    Jessica H.

    Yay! A brand new coffee shop in a very up-and-coming part of downtown. Located right down the street from the original Salt Box location, there is plenty of street parking right around the corner from the shop. I tried the iced toffee latte (house-made, dairy-free syrup!) and it was delicious! My husband got iced coffee with a flavored syrup, which he also loved. This is the cutest spot! Staffed by experienced and passionate baristas, EverLou is the kind of spot you'll want to make a part of your daily routine. I can't wait to visit again!

    Cute coffee shop
    Scott J.

    Great new coffee spot in Durham! I love that it is dog friendly, which is super hard to find. Worked remotely for a few hours and enjoyed the coffee. Plus they've got some great pastries.

    Iced Chocolate orange and Cinnamon Toast Crunch lattes
    Connie W.

    Cute little coffee shop with a nice variety of coffee classics and seasonal drinks! I got an iced Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte and my friend got an iced chocolate orange latte. The Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte is so fun and unique -- they soak Cinnamon Toast Crunch in oat milk and make a latte using that milk! If you love lattes that are on the sweeter side, definitely try this one. I'd probably ask for a little less syrup next time, but otherwise it was everything I've ever dreamed of. :-) I tried a little of the chocolate orange latte as well, and it looked like there were some chocolate chunks in there, which is always fun. It's not nearly as sweet as the CTC latte if sweet coffee isn't for you. There were 2 outdoor tables, as well as a few indoor ones and some armchairs. Overall, such a cozy and inviting place to relax and enjoy some good coffee!!

    Joy C.

    I really can't say enough good things about EverLou Coffee! I love that they default to oat milk and that they have special seasonal and weekend menus that are filled with unique and delicious latte flavors. Their staff is always super welcoming and friendly to everybody and if you're a dog person, you will love all the excited dogs that come to visit with their owners. My favorite part about EverLou is that they often partner with great organizations to raise awareness and support for important causes that benefit the wellbeing of humans and animals. Great coffee. Great vibes. Great people!

    Counter area
    Glenn G.

    At some point I fear that Durham might hit a saturation point of coffee shops, especially near the general downtown area (Beyu, Oak House, Jetplane Coffee, Cocoa Cinnamon, etc.), not to mention bakeries and other shops that also offer coffee. Anyway, I'd rather support local establishments than chain coffee places any day. The vibe is here is more open and bright with open spaces and colorful artwork as opposed to somber and studious, although it looks like you are welcome to sit and study as well. Check out the artwork in the bathroom for a smile, especially if you like animals. The staff were very friendly and we enjoyed our chai and mocha drinks. Looks like they also have some rotating specials like flavored lattes (toffee, cinnamon crunch, etc.). They are charity-minded and also participate in the Shop Local Durham card program. I wish them much success.

    Banana crème pie latte

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    10 months ago

    Great community vibe. High quality. Creative coffee and tea options. Local flavor. LOVE art and game options to keep me off my laptop!

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    2 years ago

    I love that the default milk is plant milk! So nice to not need to get a massive up charge for it. Delicious coffee and great service.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great coffee and great environment to get work done in a quiet environment. Will be back for more coffee!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Randomly stopped by for a coffee and loved it :) the drink was delicious and the ambiance was so nice and friendly!

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    Always great coffee. Friendly service. Well-behaved dogs and all genders are welcome. Milk and its alternatives are automatically available.

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    Aaktun Coffee & Bar

    Aaktun Coffee & Bar

    4.4
    (166 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    English: TL;DR: Beautiful atmosphere, fantastic coffee and…read morefood, thoughtful modern Latin flavors, amazing breakfast/dinner spot, and Fernando, the manager, is awesome. We've been to Aaktun in Durham multiple times for both breakfast and dinner, and it's honestly become one of our favorite spots. I'm Peruvian and grew up with Peruvian cuisine, so seeing lomo saltado -- a classic Peruvian dish -- on the menu immediately made me happy. Having also grown up in Mexico and lived in places like Miami, I really appreciate what they're doing with the menu: a modern, delicious take on Latin flavors that feels creative without losing what makes those cuisines special. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful. You walk in thinking it's a stylish little coffee shop, then head toward the back and the whole place opens up -- gorgeous bar, tropical touches, cozy alcove seating, really cool vibe. One time we went with friends for a special dining experience they were offering, and it was excellent. The food, drinks, and whole experience were made even better by Fernando, the manager, who has always been incredibly warm, helpful, and accommodating. Highly recommend Aaktun for breakfast or dinner. Still haven't made it there for lunch somehow, but at this point we'd be shocked if it wasn't great too. Spanish: TL;DR: Lugar precioso, café y comida excelentes, sabores latinos con un toque moderno muy bien logrado, y Fernando, el gerente, es increíble. Ya hemos ido varias veces a Aaktun en Durham para desayuno y cena, y sinceramente se ha vuelto uno de nuestros lugares favoritos. Soy peruano y crecí con la cocina peruana, así que ver lomo saltado -- un plato clásico peruano -- en el menú me hizo muy feliz. Además, habiendo crecido en México y vivido en lugares como Miami, me encanta reconocer cómo integran sabores latinos con una propuesta moderna y de fusión. Se siente creativa, diferente y sobre todo riquísima. La atmósfera además es espectacular. Entras pensando que es una cafetería bonita y acogedora, pero luego caminas hacia atrás y el lugar se abre por completo: un bar hermoso, detalles tropicales, mesas tipo alcove... una vibra buenísima. Una vez fuimos con unos amigos para una experiencia especial de cena que estaban ofreciendo y la pasamos increíble. La comida, las bebidas y toda la experiencia fueron aún mejores gracias a Fernando, el gerente, que siempre ha sido súper amable, atento y servicial. Recomendamos muchísimo Aaktun para desayuno o cena. Todavía no hemos ido para almorzar, pero honestamente nos sorprendería mucho que no estuviera igual de bueno.

    "Part Dos - Mostly great, with a few exceptions"…read more Food temp is major in my book. While many of the food options were hot, several were not, and I believe that impacted the overall dining experience. We ordered classic breakfast and jerk chicken lunch options. For drinks: Cappuccino and Mango Refreshers. The good: (1) Fried rice - which accompanied the jerk chicken (served hot). While simple, the slightly earthy and bitter (in the best way possible) from the braised/steamed baby bok choy perfectly accompanied the earthy mushroom, and complex soy inspired fried rice. So good - this could be a vegan or meat side entree unto itself - IMO. (2) Scrambled Eggs - If you enjoy large curds of gently scrambled eggs - this is for you. While we enjoyed the remaining options for portion size and flavor, we did note that the temperature was cool to mid - which impacted overall flavor. Jerk Chicken: we understand this is a jerk inspired interpretation. With that being said, the most interesting flavor was limited to the crispy skin. Perhaps the chicken was immersed in a salt brine and basted with a jerk flavoring? We loved the white (perhaps mayo based sauce), and accompanied pickled red onion. But baby, the food temp. Yucca fries - if you're unfamiliar - are the baby of a green plantain and white potatoes. While good, they were not hot. Maybe could have benefited from a unique sauce? Food service good. But the biggest miss was the cheese hash browns and Mango Refresher. Hash brown (cheese) room temp, and tough - Mango Refresher - too tart and not worth the cost. As far as ambience: Customers were Hip, sexy, multi ethnic , and included old and young. We loved our waiter. Overall, a little disappointing especially considering we loved our first coffee breakfast visit so much. Not sure if it was an off day or we just prefer other menu options. However, we'd definitely visit again! Brunch/lunch: 4.2

    Photos
    Iced autumn blaze latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny
    Iced autumn blaze latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny
    Jerk chicken
    Jerk chicken
    Iced dulce de leche latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny

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    Iced dulce de leche latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny
    Morning Ritual

    Morning Ritual

    4.6
    (27 reviews)
    8.4 mi

    What a great little find! On a freezing day outside of Raleigh, I stumbled upon this cozy little…read morecoffee shop! Trying to get a little work done, I was pleased to find a comfy couch, power and Wi-Fi- in addition to the incredible twist on a Mexican mocha and an absolutely insane bacon, egg, and cheese on there in house made biscuit! Greeted by the friendliest barista, I made myself comfy on the couch and watched her work her magic. My " not too sweet" mocha had beautiful latte art. I was actually a little sad as I reached the bottom of the mug. So I opted for a decaf refill, it was pure perfection. Do yourself a favor & pop in to make this place your morning ritual.

    I came in here for a coffee break from work. It is such a beautiful building and was even more…read morewow-ed! By the aesthetics in the inside of this place. They do have both coffee and food. I wasn't entirely in a coffee tasting mood but really needed a pick-me-up. They had the strawberries and cream latte as their special drink, so I went ahead and order this and the bang bang tacos. The strawberries and cream was super delicious and hit my craving just right. The bang bang shrimp tacos had a kick with the sauce, but incorporating pineapple was what gave this a 10/10 for me. It had a sweet and spicy flavor to it, which balanced these tacos to perfection with each bite. The employees behind the counter were extremely friendly. I recommend this spot for anybody who's local or traveling through.

    Photos
    Counter and pastries! - March 2026
    Counter and pastries! - March 2026
    Morning Ritual
    Outdoor entrance

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    Outdoor entrance
    Foster Street Coffee

    Foster Street Coffee

    4.3
    (121 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    A long-time favorite of mine here in Durham, particularly for anyone wanting a place to study. They…read morehave a ton of tables, free coffee refills, and lots of outlets. The lighting is good, the music is at an appropriate volume, and the seating is comfortable (particularly in the back room). During the weekends and on holidays they can be quite full (particularly during the school year), but generally speaking I can usually find a seat here. Baristas are friendly and competent. They are well-staffed, and even when there is a long line things come out quickly! There is also free parking available in the parking garage around the corner, which is certainly a bonus. My go-to here is simply an iced americano or coffee, but their seasonal drinks are also delicious. Can't recommend enough!

    It's time for "second coffee" and my office for the morning, landing at Foster Street at around…read more8:30 am. Parking wasn't easy since I can't fit into a parking deck but a metered space opened up and I was able to jam into there. Warmly welcomed and my cortado was ready before I'd even finished plugging in the laptop. Strong coffee that had a deep flavor and I'd already had breakfast so I was able to resist the pastries. An hour in, another cup of drip was all I needed while I did the Internet thing. Foster Street is conducive to laptop but it did get a bit loud in there with the talking, the music and the sound of the espresso machine. But if you can handle all of that, it's ideal. I stayed about two hours this morning. [Review 943 of 2025 - 4346 in North Carolina - 24498 overall]

    Photos
    Order counter
    Order counter
    Mocha latte and chocolate croissant
    Mocha latte and chocolate croissant
    Modern open seating

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    Modern open seating
    Yonderlust

    Yonderlust

    4.8
    (18 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Very cute new coffee shop! They have a small lot and plentiful Brightleaf parking across the street…read more(although you do have to pay for that lot, and they aren't able to validate since they aren't technically part of Brightleaf). I got an iced decaf americano with vanilla, which was delicious and came in a glass since they knew I was sticking around. They have a lot of seating and the whole place feels bright, airy, open and clean. They also have a cute store on the left hand side of the space that sells outdoor clothing, shoes and gear. A welcome addition to the area!

    It took me more than a year of coming here to write a review for Yonderlust, mostly because I'm…read moresurprised by how much this place grew on me. Yonderlust is more than just a coffee shop--it's one of those spaces where you can easily spend an entire afternoon without realizing how much time has passed. It's a fantastic study and work spot: a mix of table sizes, plenty of outlets, and a relatively quiet, calm environment that makes it easy to settle in. It has solid coffee: Drinks here are consistently pretty good. I usually go for their Campfire Latte (a signature for a reason) or whatever seasonal syrup they're featuring, and their matcha latte is reliable too. It has actual, warm food: simple but satisfying sandwiches with enough variety to make for a perfect study snack or light lunch. I am often disappointed when coffee shops only offer cold pastries. It has entertainment: I love taking a quick study break to browse the shop's outdoor gear and clothing; it honestly feels a little like being transported to the West Coast for a moment (give me some Oregan vibes!). Service has always been quick and friendly. I wouldn't say any single thing here is the best in Durham--but together, it is special! There are many days when I find myself craving a few cozy hours at Yonderlust, followed by a quick dessert next door at Rose's.

    Photos
    Order and pickup counter, Dec 2025.
    Order and pickup counter, Dec 2025.
    Yonderlust
    Iced black sesame oat latte - lifewithhanny

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    Iced black sesame oat latte - lifewithhanny
    Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery

    Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery

    4.6
    (53 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $

    The cutest little coffee shop!! There's been a buzz brewing about this spot so we had to get out…read moreand check it out. Not a lot of parking out front so they allow parking next door at Kings gr but they kept a line of folks. Yes it moved, don't worry. Fresh pastry variety was quite impressive. The goodies were: Vietnamese coffee donut & creamsicle donut from Red Start bakery. An apple pop tart, & blueberry cheese danish also caught my eye. Yes I got them all. There was more but a guy gotta have limits. But I'll just they were mmm mmm good. I'll have to get the donuts again. There is limited seating, and a children's play area which was so cool. I'm hard pressed to not get my jolt of Java so I got a cortado with a drizzle of caramel for a little sweetness. LOVED the flavor, would've loved it if a little hotter. My son-in-law got the Mexican Coke, vanilla espresso. It was cold and amazing as per him. My wife's latte also needed to be hotter. I'll cut the barista a break as she was a one woman show.

    Omie's is a small hidden gem in Durham. This place has the best truly espresso/coffee forward…read moredrinks in the triangle. You can tell the quality of the drink and beans Omie's is high quality as soon as you taste it. I absolutely loved their fun and creative seasonal menu. I ordered the pumpkin pie brown butter latte, and it was so tasty. Normally, I have to ask coffee shops to reduce the sugar, but this drink was perfectly balanced. In addition, Omie's sells baked goods to complement your drink. There was a selection of tasty treats to pick from. One of my friends got a HUGE cookie, which looked absolutely delicious. As a fair heads up, parking and inside seating areas are limited. However, Omie's has done the most to maximize the space to make it a cozy place to sit. Pro tip- there is a little more seating to the left of the bathrooms, and there are several comfy spots interspersed throughout. Come for the good coffee, good vibes, and lovely service staff. I definitely know that I will be back!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Green Beans - Before roasting
    Green Beans - Before roasting
    Outside

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    Outside

    Vessel - coffee - Updated June 2026

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