PennyCup Coffee Co. - Asheville, NC

Attraction: PennyCup Coffee Co.
Location: Multiple locations across Asheville, NC
Industry: Coffee Shop
Website: https://www.pennycupcoffeeco.com/

What happens when revolutionary 17th-century British coffee culture meets North Carolina mountain brewing expertise?

You get PennyCup Coffee, Asheville’s homegrown roaster that’s quietly building a coffee empire one perfectly pulled espresso at a time.

With a nod to the penny universities of the 1800s, we are a place for coffee, community, and curious conversations, and this philosophy runs deeper than their carefully crafted marketing—it’s baked into every cup.

Established in 2014, PennyCup has grown from a single roasting operation into five strategically placed cafes across Asheville, each offering the rare combination of watching coffee beans being roasted on-site while enjoying some of the most accessible third-wave coffee in the region.

You’ll discover that their small-batch approach doesn’t just create exceptional coffee… it creates an experience where every visit feels like stumbling upon your neighborhood’s best-kept secret.

Coffee Highlights & Signature Roasts

The R.A.D. Specialty Drink: With its mix of raw sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne, the R.A.D. specialty drink provides a zing unlike any other. This isn’t your typical coffee shop gimmick—the sweet heat perfectly balances two espresso shots, creating a wake-up call that’s both gentle and invigorating. You can customize it with alternative milk options like oat or almond milk, making it accessible for various dietary preferences.

Mexican Chiapas Coffee: Used as the base of their signature cold brew, this whole bean, fresh roasted coffee has hints of lemon, fig, and almond within its rich cocoa base. A nutty aftertaste gives every sip a wonderful finish, helping you look forward to the next. What makes this particularly special is that you can buy it by the pound in one, three, or five-pound bags, allowing you to recreate PennyCup magic at home.

Pour Over Experience: The barista informed me how many minutes the pour over would take, then delivered it to me at the table instead of just setting it on the bar. This attention to detail transforms a simple coffee order into a personalized brewing ritual, where you’re treated more like a guest than a customer.

Cold Brew Excellence: If you prefer to have all the coffee brewing done for you, pick up a mini growler of their signature cold brew and keep it in the fridge. When it is empty, you can bring it back for a refill time and time again. This sustainable approach lets you enjoy their smooth, less acidic cold brew while reducing waste.

Light Roast Aromatics: My most recent cup was so floral and fragrant that I momentarily thought I’d gotten a tea blend instead – a ton of the original coffee flavor remains with their light roasts. Their roasting expertise really shines in these lighter profiles, preserving the unique characteristics of each bean origin.

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Food & Bagel Menu

Lox Bagel Sandwich: Upon splitting your bagel in half, they smother it in cream cheese, and then pile high the smoked salmon, onion, capers, and tomato. Available on plain, everything, asiago, cinnamon raisin, or egg bagels, this isn’t just breakfast—it’s a proper meal that could easily satisfy lunch cravings.

Housemade Granola: It all starts with a generous helping of their fresh granola, prepared and baked in house. Then, they add yogurt or steamed milk, as selected, and top it all off with sweet berries. This wholesome option provides the perfect balance of texture and sweetness without being overly heavy.

Fresh Bagels & Cream Cheese: You’ll find their bagels consistently fresh with generous portions of cream cheese that don’t require you to ask for extra. I had the Tulsi tea (yum!) and excellent day old banana bread, showing that even their day-old baked goods maintain quality and flavor.

Daily Baked Goods: I frequently sample their tasty baked goods (ask what they are if you have allergies, since they’re rarely labeled). The rotation keeps things interesting, with items like spicy chocolate cookies and cinnamon rolls making regular appearances.

Atmosphere & Multiple Locations

River Arts District Experience: This is in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC. It is one of four cafes that they own, but this one is special because you can watch (and smell the wonderful aroma of) them roasting and grinding their coffee. The sensory experience of hearing beans crack and smelling that fresh roast aroma creates an authentic coffee shop atmosphere that chain stores can’t replicate.

Merrimon Avenue Vibes: It’s a long, skinny building with simple geometric designs on the coffee shop walls, a bench seat on each wall, various small tables and high tops, and a community table in the front. This utilitarian design focuses attention on what matters—good coffee and comfortable spaces for conversation or remote work.

Dog-Friendly Environment: Also doggie friendly to those well behaved furry family members. You’ll often see locals with their well-mannered companions enjoying the outdoor seating areas, adding to the community feel.

Wi-Fi & Work Spaces: Yes, free wifi and almost always an open seat. Remote work experience was great. No shortage of outlets to plug your laptop into and fast Internet. Unlike many coffee shops that become overcrowded, PennyCup’s multiple locations mean you can usually find a comfortable spot to work.

Other Considerations

Excellent Value Pricing: You’re getting coffee the quality of Pollen and Cooperative Coffee but at a fraction of the price – the caveat being you have less single origin options to choose from and whole bean options START at a lb. For a lb of Ethiopian Guji(my personal recommendation), you pay the same as you would 12 ounces of Cooperative’s Levity or 10 oz of Rowan’s Encore. This makes PennyCup one of Asheville’s most accessible premium coffee options.

Early Bird Hours: One of my favorite features is that they choose to be open seven days a week by 7 am. While many coffee shops don’t open until 8 or 9 AM, PennyCup consistently serves early risers and remote workers who need that morning caffeine kick.

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Single Barista Service: One mental note to prepare for is that many of the PennyCup locations are frequently staffed by one staff member. That’s one intrepid barista handling every drink, bagel, and whole-bean coffee order. They are usually multitasking when I come in, and the best approach is to be patient and have something to fiddle with. This isn’t a flaw—it’s part of the intimate, neighborhood coffee shop experience.

Multiple Convenient Locations: They have a shop located right near where my kid goes to preschool and one that is perfectly located on a downtown walk that we frequently take on the weekends. With five locations spread across different Asheville neighborhoods, there’s likely a PennyCup within reach of wherever you find yourself.

Bulk Coffee Sales: Really, you’re not going to get more accessible or affordable “third wave” type coffee than here. It’s my go to for buying in Bulk – they pack and seal the coffee right in front of you. You can watch them measure, pack, and seal your beans fresh, ensuring maximum freshness for your home brewing setup.

Free Delivery Service: PenncyCup has amazing beans. I source the beans for the coworking space I manage from Morgan and her team. The Mexico Chiapas is on point and they have great customer service. And get this, they deliver for free! This makes them an excellent option for offices or anyone wanting regular coffee delivery.

PennyCup Coffee Co.
📍 Multiple locations across Asheville, NC