Best Coffee Shop: Cool Beans Coffee Co.

Year after year, Cool Beans Coffee Co. captures the heart of the Carolina community.

This year’s Best Coffee Shop, Cool Beans is located just steps away from USC’s historic Horseshoe. Open daily until 10 p.m. Cool Beans offers a home away from home for Columbia locals and college students looking for a peaceful study spot.

Located on the upper level of a renovated house, the coffee shop’s exterior is humble yet welcoming. Inside, between walls covered with works by local artists and shelves full of board games, all of the shop’s regulars sit planted in their favorite nooks, and it’s hard not to feel at home in Cool Beans.

An extensive menu of drinks and light foods ensures something for anyone’s taste. For a little pick me up, try the Perfect Man, a double shot breve with Irish cream. If coffee isn’t your speed, you can just as easily enjoy a smooth hot cocoa, tea or Italian soda. If you’ve worked up an appetite for a Southern classic in between classes, try the grilled pimento cheese on focaccia.

While the business keeps a low profile, its presence is felt strongly in the community. Student organizations frequently partner with the business to conduct percent nights and other fundraising events. At its Wednesday open mics, Cool Beans hosts a range of poets, singers and artists who bring life to the already vibrant character of the shop.