3 Cups

A Little Slice of Heaven
January 19
I finally discovered 3 Cups on Saturday and as I walked in the door, I instantly feel in love. This is my kind of place… coffee, tea, and wine. Walls lined with bottles of wine, tea served in petite white pots with a little sand timer, and of course coffee and all its myriad of preparations. The atmosphere was warm and vibrant. I really liked the art on the walls. There are tables scattered throughout the shop with a few high top tables along one wall, intimate table for two, a large table for a group of friends ready to share a bottle of wine or study for a big test.
My husband, Andy, and I were delighted to walk in during a free wine tasting of red wines from Loire Valley. Andy and I just spent out 20^th anniversary in Loire Valley so it was a bit nostalgic as well as fun to reminisce about our trip. An older couple already in the middle of the tasting saw us scoping out the situation and the scooted over to make room for us to belly up to the tasting bar. A friendly group of people. We tasted 6 wines with prices ranging from $ 14.99 to $ 27.99 per bottle. After the tasting we browsed the shelves of wine. We were impressed with the depth and breadth of the wine collection. Also I thought it was a fantastic idea that many of the wines had descriptions and other pertinent info printed on paper so that you could take a copy home with you. It’s useful for novice as well as experienced wine drinkers. I had a great conversation about champagnes with one of the 3 Cups staff. She was very knowledgeable and easy going. They offer a Champagne called Grongnet and it is a spectacular value priced at $ 32. It could easily sell for $ 60. This Champagne even impressed by French friend who is quite picky about Champagne.
Andy ordered an Americano and I had a skinny latte. The barista was very friendly and helpful giving us descriptions for several of their sweet offerings. I went for the chocolate doughnut hole while Andy picked out a chocolate croissant. The doughnut hole was more like cake when I sliced into it… not really dry but a little bit crumbly and not too sweet. The sugar coating lent a nice sweetness to it. Andy’s croissant was divine… super buttery, light, and flakey with a ribbon of dark chocolate inside. Both desserts went well with the coffee. The beans come from a roaster in Chicago and according to the barista, they are very meticulous with the sourcing of the beans. My latte was good, smooth and mild. I was glad to find some honey, a bottle of organic wildflower honey from Whole Foods, along side the other sweeteners. However, I favor dark roast, more full-​bodied, robust beans like local roasters, Counter Culture or Joe Van Gogh. To me, 3 Cups beans were close to Larry’s Beans.
This place really resonated with me… it was comfortable and relaxing and I liked the buzz of it. I look forward to future visits.

3 cups is great. I usually don’t get super excited when I go into a café that serves beer and wine in addition to coffee (I’m a do one thing and do it well kind of guy), but I got pretty psyched when I found they pour Intelligentisa branded with the 3 cup logo on the bag. You can’t really go wrong with Intelli. And even though I’m not a big drinker, they did have an impressive selection of beer and and wine (besides the point, I know). Anyways, I opted for the sulawesi on V60 and was not disappointed. Low acidity and a a full, round mouthfeel with subtle chocolate notes and a full body, a perfect cup to sit and chill with after swinging around at Triangle Rock Gym and scampering through Whole Foods on a free sample rampage. The pour over was executed nicely, no hints of over extraction and it was nice to see that even though they were kind of busy, the barista didn’t turn her attention away from our cups. They guy at the counter was super nice as well and cool to talk to and compare notes with about different cares while we waited for our cups. Plus they have a slammin’ selection of chocolate, both local and further afield (Mast Bros win) so long story short we were psyched to be there, especially after the disappointing experience we had at Crema that morning (here’s my review so you don’t make the same mistake I did by going there:
. Seriously, horrible).
Oh, plus they have outside seating. It was beatiful outside and I got to pet a puppy. It was awesome.

This place is awesome.
Very cool scene, great coffee selection, and very nice staff.
Biggest question is: caffeine or wine?

It seems like there are 4 cups here: coffee, wine, tea, and beer. I’m confused: O
But seriously, this is a nice place. They have free wifi, but no plugs (probably to dissuade people from lingering too long). That being said, I was able to hang out, drink two of these cups (coffee and beer!), and was able to do so in a nice, friendly environment.
Also there’s a Unilocal check-​in offer right now for half off a café drink (so coffee and tea).

coffee/expresso/tea…what everyone else said (it’s darn good)
Really nice spot to hang and enjoy some expresso with that friend you haven’t seen in a while. Not so great, however, for work requiring laptops as there are zero outlets.

Best coffee in Chapel Hill, hands down. And the teas are my newest addiction for home (Jasmine Dragon). Love the wine tastings on Saturdays and always leave with a few bottles. They were selling black truffles one day when they had a champagne tasting… it doesn’t get any better than that! The owners and staff are super friendly, down to earth, and will go out of their way to be helpful. The location is super convenient, but the strip center is in need of an extreme makeover. Grab a bar of Mast Brothers chocolate while you’re there!

Chapel Hill has its share of local coffee, and it took a while — nay, nearly a year — to find my jam. But when I was spending time at home over the summer, I found myself drifting to 3 Cups on many a drowsy afternoon. This is truly a top-​notch coffee and tea establishment. The wine store atmosphere is serene; the folks are friendly; and they, above all, they know how to make a mean cup of coffee. In addition — for tea drinkers like myself — they have a decent tea list and serve it, appropriately, by the pot.
For the final straw that makes this my favorite coffee joint in town, they happen to be located next to Great Harvest Bread Company, which means WARM cinnamon buns on Saturday mornings. HEAVEN.

The most sublime iced coffee experience. Liquid love over ice. Nice baristas who smile and chat.
A shame about the loss of seating space taken over by some nice designer beers.
Love the nibbles of bakery delight (a tad expensive but exquisitely made).

Finally experience 3 Cups last weekend, and it was divine. As we had never been there before, our barista was really friendly and helpful. I had a vanilla latte (the vanilla syrup is homemade, and so good) and bf had an iced coffee (I stole a sip or two and it was delish.) Of course, I couldn’t walk away from that counter without trying one of their almond (or was it hazelnut?) biscuits, so that was a tasty treat, too.
Now that we know where this is located, I’m sure we’ll be back! I loved sitting at the high table looking out the window.

They now have WiFi and honey! One star nearer to perfection!

I’m not a coffee-​drinker, but I am a tea-​drinker (and a wine-​drinker, but not on this particular afternoon), so it was nice to find a place with a good selection and ample parking. The primary issue is the dearth tables and chairs, so be prepared to share a table with another patron. Once you’ve got a spot, the environment is calm without being so sedate that you worry that you might drift off while others eye your seat.

I really wish I could say I love this place, but my experience was disappointing. I placed an order for some wine on ⁸⁄₃₁. A week or so later, they contacted me and said one of the wines was out of stock but they would be getting more in a few weeks — so we agreed to wait to ship until the wine was in stock and the weather was cooler.
On ¹²⁄₂₁ I received a shipment, which did not include the wine that wasn’t in stock at the time of the order — and one of the wines was the incorrect vintage. I called and spoke to someone and they said the head of the wine dept was with a client and would call me back in a few minutes, but I didn’t hear back. A couple of weeks later, I received the 2 additional bottles — but again, the vintage was different than what I ordered.
Might be a great place to go and have coffee, tea or a glass of wine, but can’t say I would recommend ordering wine from them.

I’ve tried almost every coffee shop in the Chapel Hill/​Carrboro area and 3 CUPS is the absolute best! The workers know their coffee, wine, and tea. I never knew espresso could taste this good. Now, that I’ve tried it, nothing else compares.
They have free wine tastings on Saturday that I hear are wonderful. I hope to make it to one in the near future!
You can also buy wine, coffee beans, and loose leaf tea in the store. Some have said it is expensive, but honestly it is not much more (or the same price) as other venues. Plus the quality is much better here.
The only downfall is that they aren’t open Sunday which means I can’t get my wonderful 3 CUPS macchiato fix. ;) But, alas, I’m sure the workers need a day of rest.

I’m afraid I can’t say much about the coffee or wine as I rarely drink either, but I am a big tea drinker, and this place is wonderful for tea. Often at coffee places the tea is a bit of an afterthought with a poor selection that comes in bags, but this place has a wonderful selection of loose leaf teas. I much prefer black or green teas over «herbal tea» and 3 Cups has a wide variety for me to choose from! I usually get a small (if we’re in a rush) or a large (if we’re in the mood to sit and chat for a while) teapot with a friend. You’ll get a timer so you know how long to let your tea steep.
Besides the teas, I’ve enjoyed pastries from Scratch bakery and sandwiches from Neal’s Deli here– yum! If you’re in an indulgent mood, their drinking chocolate is intense and delicious. There’s a nice selection of assorted food products you can take home, like some tempting dried pasta and couscous. The staff has always been helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Parking is more than plentiful. They have a very nice, clean bathroom, painted a lovely warm colour. I’d recommend signing up for their e-​mail newsletter as they often have special events like wine tastings or visits from a sausage wagon (seriously, yes, a sausage wagon with sausages made from locally produced meat).
So why the missing star? For me, it’s the ambiance– I prefer my coffee shops to be a place where I can hang out for an afternoon, reading or working. As others have mentioned, there aren’t any superbly comfy chairs or couches to lounge in for hours. It’s definitely a different atmosphere from Driade, Open Eye, or heck, even Starbucks– more of a place to meet a friend, savor a good drink, then move on. But really, that’s not so bad, and this place doesn’t feel as college-​y as a lot of the other coffee shops in the area.

My favorite spot in Chapel Hill for press-​pot coffee!
Their coffees are delicious and their wine selection is great also, and very reasonably priced.

I finally feel qualified to write a review about 3 cups after I have been there on 3 separate occasions, and each time I tried a different cup offering. The 3 cups in case you were wondering are coffee, tea and wine.
First visit, tried a glass of red wine. Can’t remember if it was Pinot or Cab, but it was quite impressive to my neophyte taste buds in regards to fine wine. The only qualm I had is the glass probably cost as much as two bottles of wine over at Trader Joe’s down the road. Also that night there was a food truck out front (Farmhand foods), and they served sausage in a bun which made for an enjoyable meal along with the wine.
Second visit I had the coffee… strong Columbian brew. I also nabbed a pastrami biscuit… very tasty. The lovely counter girl said food came from a nearby bakery… can’t remember which one. Good breakfast, except pricey.(Biscuit and coffee was over 6 bucks).
Third visit, I had a scratchy throat and was craving some green tea. I ordered a cup and the counter gentleman asked me what kind. I told him I wasn’t really sure and he could pick one. He said he had a Japanese blend in mind and rang me up. The cost was over 5 bucks. Yes over 5 bucks for a cup of tea. I tasted it and my initial reaction was «ewe, this taste like seaweed». By the end of the cup, I was more like «This is pretty damn good». It grew on me pretty quickly. Not sure if it was worth the 5 ½ bucks though.
Overall impression is that 3 cups is very classy and more geared towards the BMW and SAAB Yuppy crowd than the college student or working class schmoes like myself. It’s very pricey, so I probably won’t be a regular. They aren’t really striving towards lengthy visits either. They have very few tables, no couches, no Wi-​Fi or laptop plug-​in places.
3 visits, 3 cups, now on to going to 6 plates…

3^rd best coffee distributor in NC (second only to Krankies in Winston Salem and counter culture in Durham)
If you go, get your coffee french pressed. They have really good Ethiopian and Tanzanian coffees.
The coffee is a bit overpriced, but if you are stuck in the triangle with caffeine withdrawl why not
They also need to move this store, it is stuck in an ugly strip mall. If they moved it to a place where they had a back yard or private chilling zone this would be a much more appealing place to visit.
They also sell a lot of nice wines and chocolates for reference.

Does anyone read that blog, Hyperbole and a Half? My time at this wonderful coffee shop could totally be illustrated by Allie Brosh. However, since I couldn’t find a blog post of hers that was similar, I’ll do a story description.
I walked in today, hoping to get another coffee shop on my list of places to work from once in a while. Right when I walked in, I was in Monica’s playground wonderland. There is WINE! And COFFEE! And… cheese? They have cheese plates? And look at those pastries! Squeeeee! I thought I walked into a slice of heaven, and actually felt joy! The ambiance is awesome, the gentle music playing made me feel at ease, and the staff? Chatty, smiley, in a good mood. all the things you desire in a coffee/​wine/​shop. AND, I was offered a wine tasting! Oh sweet sweet victory!
While I was waiting in line, hugging my trusty portable system, I started looking around at the crowd. Not bad. some people tapping away on systems, a small group chatting. a person reading. I could be comfortable! Yay!
At last! It was my turn to order. I ordered a yummy jam cookie and a roast, and chatted with the cashier about the different coffee types, and joked about tasting wine before a workout. He signed me up on one of those nifty 3 Cup cards, and I was on my way!
«Wait!» I asked. «Do you guys have any power outlets that I can plug my system into? I’m almost out of batteries.»
My dreams were crushed like a grape in Napa as he slowly shook his head and said, «No. we don’t.»
As my heart silently broke, and I mourned passing of the spot that I was going to sit down and be productive. I had to ask to make that coffee to go.
Lesson learned, kids. No power outlets. Its a shame, too, because I could see myself being a regular. I will be back. oh yes. but it won’t be M-​F from 9 – 5.

It’s too bad that The Courtyard was controlled by 2 crazy people, that location was awesome.
This place could be inside of a methadone clinic and I’d still say it’s the best coffee in town. They mark roast dates meticulously — you can pick up a pound of beans that were roasted that morning.

If you want excellent coffee go to 3 cups. They pride themselves on being coffee experts… they also have tea, and goodies. I’ve only gotten the coffee and assorted baked goods, most (or all) of which are locally made!
In addition to their coffee, 3 cups hosts regular wine/​tea/​coffee tastings. I have only been to a blind wine tasting… which I think was in summer 2009. The wine was excellent and company was good. They send out regular emails/​updates about these events. I would highly recommend checking it out (note that these events are not free, but are worth it!)
My only qualms are that they don’t have tons of seating, have no wireless internet/​plugs for computers… sometimes that is a plus when you just want to read!
Also, there is a bit of outdoor seating. but it overlooks a parking lot – so it isn’t the best view.

Fair trade coffees, wines, teas, chocolates and farmer’s market cheeses, meats and preserve jar types.
With an incredibly knowledgeable staff in all of the above areas, you really can’t go wrong. They make drip coffee delicious again and keep it all new and interesting.
I think the only way they could improve is to kick out the bread company next door for seating and offer wi-fi…and merge shops with Loco-pops…mmmm!