I would consider myself quite the coffee connoisseur, always on the search for unique shops in the Gwinnett and Metro Atlanta area. While I haven’t counted up the sum total of coffee shops that I’ve visited, my camera roll is a testament to just how many caffeinated sips I’ve tried. For me, a coffee shop that stands out will usually have one of three things: an interesting backstory, a quirky atmosphere and delicious homemade syrups. With that being said, here are my recommendations of 5 coffee shops within 50 miles of Gwinnett that you should check out!
Mr. Tombstone’s Coffee Emporium
1087 South Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA
If you love all things Halloween like me, this is the place for you! This spooky shop embraces its creepy ambiance year-round with themed decor, housemade syrups and seasonal sips. A personal favorite of mine is their Temptation latte, featuring a rich cookie butter syrup. They also have skull-shaped muffins, the perfect bakery item to accompany your spooky sip.
Bizarre Coffee
440 Chambers St, Woodstock, GA
This coffee shop was founded by Sabrina Kaylor, an artist and digital marketer, along with her husband. Their artistic brand is vibrant, focusing on their “Good Mood Juice” slogan. As for their coffee menu, you’ll be impressed by their creative creations, like the Guava Goodness latte, featuring guava puree and almond syrup. It’s a fruity and delicious twist on a traditional latte experience!
Boarding Pass Coffee
106 Spring St SW, unit 140, Gainesville, GA
Creativity soars to new heights (literally) at this aviation-themed coffee shop! Inside, you’ll find seating that’s made from actual airplane seats along with immersive-style windows that will make you feel like you’re minutes from taking off! For coffee, you can’t go wrong with a classic brown sugar latte from this spot.
Postern Coffee
2421 Van Fleet Cir, Suite 124, Doraville, GA
Owned by an Asian-American team, this coffee roastery company shares its background through its unique coffee creations. Located inside Minhwa Spirits, you’ll discover a fun ambiance with rich green and brown tones. My personal favorite from their drink menu is the Coconut Ube latte, which comes with oat milk and features a housemade coconut ube syrup.
Alma Coffee
3448 Holly Springs Pkwy, Canton, GA
This organic farm-to-cup coffee shop has an incredible backstory. It was founded by Leticia and her husband, Harry Hutchins, who co-owns the business with Leticia’s father, Al Lopez. Al Lopez runs their family’s coffee farm in Copan, Honduras, harvesting coffee beans, which are then shipped to the Canton shop to be roasted and turned into delicious coffee. I recommend giving their Cherry Almond latte a try as it pairs perfectly with the espresso notes of the latte.