The story below is 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.
Troutville’s One Love has an extensive menu, including seasonal items. They spotlight local vendors and occasionally host events in their space. One Love gets their beans from First XI Coffee, a regional business with locations in Bedford and Buchanan. First XI’s mission is to support their local sports clubs in their fundraising and assisting coaches.
Second Café’s Charlie Claus proclaims that “we love coffee and we love taking care of people.” The people in question include those hanging out and working, families, and individuals popping in for quick service. Claus believes that, while they don’t neccessarily do anything different from other local establishments, everyone there is doing a great job, indicating that that is the foundation of their success.
Little Green Hive owns three locations: Downtown Roanoke, Grandin Village and Daleville. They feature fair-trade, organic and locally roasted coffee, and strive to make each location a space where all people feel welcome. The Hive is all about supporting community, including partnering with SARA (Empowering Survivors of Sexual Violence).
Asher’s can be found at their brick-and-mortar location along with local farmers’ markets and other mobile events at places like Black Dog Salvage. Their lineup of 17 coffees sourced from all over the world includes mushroom coffee, unique because it is made with ground coffee rather than the standard instant coffee found in commercial mushroom coffee products. You can also try a flight of coffee and learn about coffee and the roasting process.
Albemarle House Bakery and Coffee Shop is part of a larger business that includes The Carriage House, Cork and Cater and Shannon D. Cox, Attorney at Law. The coffee shop serves Gladheart products, and makes all of their sauces, syrups and baked goods in house. The space is large and suitable for working, meeting or hanging out while enjoying your order. Albemarle is ideal for business meetings or working remotely.
Bean Bliss Coffee Bar in downtown Salem has a “rustic, homey vibe,” curated by owner Crystal Bowles. She sources her beans from Gladheart and uses them to create monthly specialty drinks that have become Bean Bliss’s biggest sellers. Having just opened in January of this year, Bowles was surprised by how quickly she developed a base of loyal customers.
Running Latte offers both a drive-up window as well as a walk-up window. They opened in 2024 and quickly found their niche; they mainly serve customers shopping at the adjacent mall, as well as people passing by on Electric Road. Their busiest hours are 7–10 a.m. with some spurts in the afternoon. They specialize in coffee beans from Italy and all natural syrups.
Cellō Coffee House and Café also sees a lot of activity in the morning hours, but is popular at other times depending on what else is going on in downtown Roanoke. Owner Joe Migdadi sells international, imported coffees, including Greek, French and Arabic, and boasts that he is the only local purveyor of Turkish coffee. Be sure to grab one of their homemade pastries to go with your coffee. Migdadi asserts that “homemade makes a difference.”
Brew Initiative is usually found at their site on Franklin Road, but as a mobile food truck, they are often off-site at events. They serve a wide variety of coffee drinks, including the hard-to-find Mazagran, a combination of sweetened iced espresso and lemonade. Brew Initiative opens early, but check their socials to know where they’re located.
For a coffee-fueled work space, go to Little Green Hive, Chris’s, One Love, Abide, Second Café or Albemarle.
For quick service on the go, try Cellō, Brew Initiative, Altar or Running Latte.
For unique offerings, check out Asher’s, Chris’s or Cellō.
For a learning experience, stop at Asher’s or Gladheart.
Be sure to check each establishment’s website or socials for hours and menu.
The story above is from our November/December 2025 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!