The story below is a preview from our November/December 2025 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Roanoke’s independent coffee shops serve up craft drinks, community vibes and learning experiences.
"Coffee is personal,” emphasizes Liliana Ponce, Assistant Manager of Little Green Hive. “People can ask for [it] any way they like.” Whether you prefer a basic brew or a complex concoction, there is a coffee shop for you. Locally owned establishments are plentiful, and each one offers their unique perspective on a cup of joe. Even when there is another café nearby, it is not seen as competition, since each one is brewing up something a little different.
Jacob Galbraith, owner of Asher’s Coffee Beans, explains, “I don’t see anyone local as competition. As a roaster, I want to work with other local coffee shops.”
Each shop has its own vibe, from quick, grab-and-go service, to a workspace where you can hang out for hours with a book or laptop. Many offer art to admire or purchase, and books, games and toys to borrow. As Madison Yount from One Love Coffee House elaborates, locally-owned shops have a different “atmosphere when you walk in … different from [corporate] shops.”
Gladheart owners Philip Hatter and Jayson Anuszkiewicz took over an existing wine shop in 2022 and added coffee roasting to the business, which is “substantially gaining ground,” according to Hatter. Gladheart specializes in light to medium roast (“light roast lets the nuances come out,” Hatter says) and does not offer flavored coffees. Purchase bagged coffee at the counter (and maybe get a “Coffee 101” lesson), or get your coffee by the cup at Altar.
Sisters Sarah and Amy Tromp originally operated Altar Coffee as a mobile coffee cart before setting up shop in Gladheart, having met Philip and Jayson and immediately felt their passion for coffee. “Not only do we all love the craft of coffee, but also the human connection that is built around it," Amy says. "The community we have brought in together has been truly incredible. ... We love seeing the shift in people when they first walk in versus when they leave. No matter how brief or long an interaction, we want people to leave feeling better than when they walked in ... we want everyone to feel valued and also have a tasty beverage in hand to take on the day."
Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Amy draws inspiration from her first coffee job and the creativity of big-city cafés. She focuses on every detail, from texture and color to quality ingredients, and often blends her love of coffee and cocktails. Their current seasonal favorite, the Appleton Rum Caramel Spice latte, features house-made syrups and Homestead Creamery milk for a smooth, flavorful finish. They source as locally as they can for all the house-made syrups, as well as offering Homestead Creamery milk for their lattes. "It makes all the difference in the drink, and we feel good knowing we're offering the best quality we can."
At Chris’s Coffee and Custard, you can find the standard café offerings, but their unique beverage is their affogato, made with espresso poured over any flavor of their homemade custard (vanilla is the most popular). Laura Billings, Special Abilities Manager, claims that “customer service, exuberance and love … it’s our employees that make the difference.”
Abide Coffeehouse owner Christy Rutrough opened her doors in April of this year, selling Rustic Ridge coffee and assorted retail items with a country store aesthetic. “Our biggest challenge is that we don’t have coffeeshop hours,” she says, being in a rural area and inconvenient for commuters going from Boones Mill to Roanoke. Instead, her clientele is primarily book clubs and Christian groups and “day-tripping shoppers” who enjoy perusing the shop while waiting for their orders.
Want to learn more about the unique personalities, collaborative spirit, and specialty drinks that define our local coffee shops? Check out the latest issue, now on newsstands, or see it for free in our digital guide linked below!
The story above is a preview from our November/December 2025 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!