For our first review of the semester, we traveled to Pendleton to try out a classic among Clemson coffee lovers: FreeHand Coffee. Located off of Main Street, FreeHand boasts an inconspicuous exterior that you could easily glance over. But if you know where to look, you’ll find a cute, flora-strewn cafe with choices galore.
As I said, from the outside, FreeHand is nothing eye-catching. Walking inside gets slightly more interesting, with a few seating areas and a strong white tile, wood and plant aesthetic that I find common in most coffee shops. The vibes in and outside on first impression aren’t mind-blowing, but I can say that the service was phenomenal, and I still managed to catch up with a friend and get some homework done. Overall, the vibes eke out to a 3 out of 5.
The food choices were fairly limited, with just a few classic pastries. I went towards the end of the day, however, and nearly all the pastries were dwindling, so they clearly sold well. After trying the cinnamon roll and a cranberry orange muffin, I can see why. Each was sweet with an incredible texture and didn’t last long on our plates. They certainly didn’t change the world, but I’d be happy going back simply for the muffins. Their food gets a 4 out of 5.
The coffee is, unsurprisingly, where FreeHand stands out. At the end of the day, cafes can only come up with so many specialty drinks and fancy names before they blend into every other decent cafe ad infinitum. But FreeHand does their recipes as well as they do their coffee. Each of the fall drinks they recently released hits the classic flavors and then some. Their cold brew is some of the best I’ve ever had, looking as beautiful as it tasted. After I’d finished and heard they also had boba tea, I immediately planned a second visit. FreeHand’s coffee is a 5 out of 5.
Cobb’s Coffee Corner is the subjective opinion of Senior Reporter Griffin Cobb. Rankings are based on three criteria: vibes, food and coffee. Griffin has rated all Clemson-based coffee shops and is currently reviewing cafes in the surrounding towns.
Coffee Enthusiast ‘23 • Sep 11, 2023 at 7:39 pm
Agreed! Freehand is hands down the best quality coffee for both espresso and drip in the Clemson area. The only place that comes close is 313 in Seneca. Still, the quality of coffee in Clemson is no where close to matching the quality in Greenville. My top picks would be Unlocked in West Greenville, Methodical at the Commons, and Bridge City Intersection in downtown Greenville. At Unlocked, you must try the pandebono and one of their pour over selections. Methodical has some of the best cold brew in the Upstate (try their cold brew slushie) and their biscuit with jam is incredible. Bridge City has some of the best seasonal drinks and also the best chai. Their grapefruit honey espresso tonic last season changed how I view espresso tonic and this season’s apple dirty chai is the moment.