North Raleigh/Wake Forest Coffee Lovers Unite

When I was a kid growing up in central North Carolina, I remember waking up on Sunday mornings to the smell of the coffee pot. It brewed every morning but there was something about Sunday that just made it smell extra special. I would always find my mom and dad in the living room drinking their coffee and reading the Sunday newspaper. I think that is where I learned to enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee in the morning. I don’t remember any “coffee shops” growing up. You either got coffee when you ordered breakfast  at the local restaurant or you brewed it yourself. These days however, coffee is everywhere and people have many different options to feed their cravings.  Obviously there are the big players in the game like Starbucks and Dunkin'. What you may not be aware of are all the great locally owned coffee shops to choose from.

With so many options to choose from, I decided to break it down into zones around Wake County and in this blog I am going to focus on the North Raleigh and Wake Forest areas. For residents in the N. Raleigh area, you have some terrific coffee shops. My favorite 3 are:

Sola Coffee located at 7705 Lead Mine Rd. Directly from the owners of Sola… "We are an all day cafe that provides a gathering space for the community to share conversation and build relationships over delicious food and quality drinks." That really sums it up. The vibe at Sola is great, its airy and lively and the variety of drinks is endless, not to mention a great full menu of breakfast, lunch and bakery items

Jubala Coffee located in Lafayette Village at 8450 Honeycutt Rd in N. Raleigh right off of Falls of Neuse Rd. Their mission from their website... “The customer experience inspires us. To the customer that wants to sip their espresso at the bar or the customer that needs a space for a group business meeting, we value your experience. To the customer looking for a weekend breakfast spot for the family or the customer wanting a cup of drip coffee to take on the road to work, we value your experience. We are driven by the quality of your experience—not just the product.” This is really spot on in my experiences there and can not say enough about the quality of their offerings and the inviting atmosphere that they offer.

Wake Forest Coffee Company located right in the heart of Wake Forest on White Street, you get the feel of stepping back into a time of a slower paced world and you are maybe able to escape for a little time. A more “traditional” coffee shop, they offer almost a dozen different varieties of coffee for you to choose from. Its a great place to go and meet with friends, have a small gathering or even an afternoon business meeting. They offer order ahead options if you don’t have time to sit a while and are in a hurry and will even bring it out to the curb for your convenience.

Stewarts Bistro is located in the heart of the Heritage community at 3652 Rogers Rd in Wake Forest. It is a true local favorite. “Stewart’s Bistro is your quaint destination for that ‘sitting down with a good friend feeling’ while enjoying one of our specialty coffees, gourmet espressos” Stewarts is a family owned business that has a very friendly and professional staff. They serve up awesome service, fantastic food and coffee you won’t forget.

Coffee has turned into more than just a morning drink but rather has become more of a way of life.  It is a lifestyle, a social outlet and a personal expression. The diversity of the Triangle coffee shops available to the public matches the diversity of the public itself. Explore your options and enjoy a  cup of this week. Cheers!!  

Chad Wingler

Chad@PeterKima.com

Chad.WelcomeToCarolina.com