Java Joints: Roanoke Times
Posted: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 9:03 am • Nona Nelson | Special to The Roanoke Times rtfridgemagnet@gmail.com
I am a certified, bona fide coffee lover. My sentimental journey of Roanoke this week would not be complete without a few stops for a little latte.
Now I do love Starbucks (I have the app on my phone that makes paying for my skinny caramel macchiatos a breeze) and I have been known to frequent Mill Mountain, especially when in Salem, but there are a couple of local java joints that are near and dear to me.
When I am wandering downtown, I have to stop at 16 West Church and pay a visit to Amy Tuggle at Little Green Hive. Her bistro is a coffee shop and so much more. Besides serving Red Rooster coffee from Floyd, she offers up smoothies — with protein if you like, and I do — for those of us that are into that sort of thing.
She also carries house-made scones and Roanoke Bagel Company bagels.
The service is always great (Thank, Monet, for helping me translate a Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte into something even better yesterday) and it’s conveniently located to everything downtown. If you haven’t tried it, you really should.
Now if I happen to be over in Grandin, nothing matches the charm and fun of CUPS.
You gotta love a coffee shop where you can store your own coffee mug to use when you visit.
Besides great coffee drinks, CUPS also offers food (I tried a havarti pimento cheese dip there yesterday that might be the best friend a cracker could ever have) and smoothies.
The vibe is friendly and homey and the decor is kitschy, and I must admit I love a place that pays tribute to my fashion icon, Tim Gunn, Spy vs. Spy (via bobbleheads), the Three Stooges and Albert Einstein.
After enjoying a fully caffeinated iced latte at both Little Green Hive and CUPS yesterday, I was pretty sure I could fly.
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A Day in Roanoke.
• from the blog THE GREEN CUPBOARD • October 11, 2014
While looking for parking downtown we came across another coffee shop, Little Green Hive. I ordered an affogato. which is a scoop of ice cream with an espresso shot poured over top. How am I just now finding out about these treats!! It was fantastic. They too used Homestead Creamery and another local roaster, Red Rooster.
The barista was so nice and had the cutest style I think I have ever seen.