Turning our attention to Greenville, Coffee Corner tackled a few new cafes, starting with The Village Grind, and, oh boy, it set the bar high.
Starting off with the vibes, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more aesthetically pleasing location. Plants weave their way through the ceiling and corners, with gilded mirrors reflecting the shining skylight above the marble counters. Along with the beautiful array of couches, rugs and art, The Village Grind is a maximalist’s dream. There’s no denying that part of the appeal of a coffee shop is grabbing a good picture to post, and in nearly any direction you point a camera, you will get something akin to a Renaissance painting. If you don’t believe me, just check their Instagram. I can’t give them anything short of a 5 out of 5.
As for food, they have donuts. That’s it—just donuts. The donuts are pretty good; we had a chocolate frosted one and a peach glazed one, which definitely stood out, but there are only so many points I can allot to just donuts. Don’t get me wrong, they’re quality baked goods, and there is a variety, but it’s still all donuts. Additionally, knowing those of us who like our coffee sweet, it’s a bit hard to pair it with something so sugary. The best I can give them is a 3 out of 5.
Thankfully, their coffee options are far less limited. They’ve got plenty of interesting and classic flavors, most of which seemed to be made in-house, which is extremely impressive. I branched out and tried their orange cinnamon mocha, and it was about as interesting as it sounds. It’s not something I would see myself getting often, but it fits the maximalist vibe, and I certainly wouldn’t turn it down again. I do want to make a special mention of the solid workflow of the baristas; drinks came out quickly, were well textured, beautifully presented and just as ordered. If you’ve been a barista for any amount of time, keeping a massive crowd moving and happy is a feat worth respecting. Overall, their coffee gets a 4 out of 5.
