Vanuatu Coffee Roasters

Still my favorite coffee place in RI! I love the taste of the coffee, which is flavorful like Starbucks but smoother. Mmmmm. I know I have posted my love for this place before, but every time I come I am always surprised at how yummy it is!

Vanuatu just celebrated their one year anniversary, and I’m really happy that they’ve made a place for themselves. The brother & sister team that own and run this place are so friendly. They take the time to get to know each customer whether it’s just what you taste preferences are for coffee or who you are as a person. Then when you return, they remember you.
I can tell that there is a lot of love and passion behind this place. The space is also inviting and airy with large photographs on the wall of the island of Vanuatu, cozy chairs by the entrance, and small tables along the back.
My favorite thing I’ve had here so far has been the breakfast sandwich. The coffee has been okay and I wasn’t a fan of the sandwich I had.
I’ve heard the baked goods are great, so those will be next on my list.
Overall, this is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Sunday, 1:00 PM.
Quickie:
* Drink quality
++ Friendly staff
+ Hygiene
+ Turnaround
And then???
Vanuatu Coffee Roasters is just getting started. We’re looking forward to seeing its improvement.
**********
Got my drank on:
1. Iced latte
— Roast aroma was lost in the dilution.
Constructive comments:
*Option to compost

If you are a Joe guzzler, a bean juice fanatic, a coffee freak, and absolute java junkie, this place is for you. When you walk in, the smell of the brew instantly intoxicates you. The staff if over the top passionate about java. The guy owns acres of land in some far off country, has the beans grown just for them, and serves it up in his own Atwells Ave shop. I’ve had the best this country has to offer, and have enjoyed espresso in the streets of Florence too, and I’m tellin’ you this place is KILLER!

Great Place, clean, and very respectful. I went there for a coffee and I was not sure what exactly I want!!! They helped me to find my best choice, they gave me a sample of their own freshly brewed coffee and it was great. Also the coffee cake was awesome. I would definitely try that place again.

What a fun little coffee shop in the heart of federal hill, where you would least expect it. The brother and sister duo that own this place were thrilled to explain all about their coffee and give us a tasting of each blend. They were funny, passionate, and really proud of their product. Each blend that we tried was smooth and unique, and our bagel sandwiches weren’t bad either.
The Rhody is a pre made iced coffee with some dairy and a touch of sweetener. It’s the fan favorite, and I thought it was delicious but a bit too sweet for my taste.
We will be back, and hope to bring others by to support this local gem.

This place was my official headquarters while we were looking at apartments this past Saturday. The place was welcoming and the people were über friendly. I had the white hot chocolate which was good and not too sweet and Nivaldo had tea and cappuccino. I think we went in around 4 times throughout the morning and never felt like we were overstaying our welcome. There’s good wifi as well!

I was disappointed by the coffee. I thought it would be at the same level as many of the other great coffee shops in Providence, but it fell short. I’ve had a better egg and cheese at McDonald’s. The egg was over cooked and after one bite, I peeled the top layer off to see if there was any cheese on it because I couldn’t taste it. I won’t be back. I’m bewildered by the five star rating.

Jimmy gave us an awesome coffee demo. It did all of us well as it convinced me of the superiority of their product. I get the feeling that knowledge of their incredibly unique and delicious coffees will soon spread far and wide. Comfortable environment. EXCELLENT, personable and friendly customer service. Bought a bag of beans on my first visit! Glad to have this business on the west end.

I can recall the the first time I stepped into Vanuatu back when it was just a fledgling specialty coffee shop. Sent on the recommendation of another Unilocaler, I remember sloshing through the dirty, wet snow covering the sidewalks of Federal Hill, and into a nondescript brick building that belies the modern interior of Vanuatu Coffee Roasters.
Right off the bat I can tell you that Vanuatu’s popularity is directly rooted in their sublime level of customer service and satisfaction. On my 1^st visit I met both Jimmy and Martha, who started the business, and learned about their mission, and where their coffee comes from. Jimmy does all the roasting in small batches on site.
Objectively, I think there are some things Vanuatu needs to lock down, but I will outline my impressions below.
Décor: Walking through the entrance is almost magical. Vanuatu’s décor is sleek and modern, offering a stark contrast to the grime and bustle of Atwells Ave. The real achievement though, beyond maintaining a clean working and seating area (that frankly many other Providence establishments could take a page from) is that the seating spaces are actually comfortable. I enjoy a modern aesthetic, but I can’t help but note that many places mistake pretty for comfortable. Vanuatu’s seating is appealing and ergonomic, sporting small tables and chairs in the back, and a cushy lounge area in the front.
Coffee: As a certified coffee snob this is the most important offering, and the topic at the forefront of my mind at a visit to any café. The concept of a single origin coffee shop is intriguing, but I am curious about the strategy in general, as a bad harvest seems like it could be ruinous for this kind of offering. Regardless, one thing that Vanuatu doesn’t have is bad coffee.
I’ve made a point of sampling a different kind of drink on each my visits. The overall verdict being, Vanuatu has a good product, but needs a little bit more finesse. I chalk this up to being new, and I have no doubt that their product will certainly get better and better over time.
If you’re just looking for a good cup of coffee, you’re going to be fine. 10 out of 10 times, I’ll tell you to choose a small business with a direct investment in their product, like Vanuatu over a Starbucks or D&D (blegh.) If you are going to sit down and analyze the spectrum of flavors in your coffee, this is where I think you may exercise some discretion.
My experience has been that the entire range of drinks is excellently crafted, but always notice a lingering bitterness at the end of each sip. This is prevalent across both espresso and pour over options, so I’m inclined to think it’s something that comes from the bean. Overall I’ve enjoyed all my drinks; I’d put Vanuatu at the top of the list for coffee on Federal Hill, but they have a ways to go to put a claim on all of Providence.
Pro Tip: The Rhody is their signature drink. To put it simply, it’s effing delicious.
Food: From what I understand Vanuatu offers a small selection of pastries and sandwiches. I haven’t had any, so I can’t comment on them, but I’ll update my review if I ever have the opportunity.
Service: I saved service for last so I could reiterate my earlier statement about Vanuatu’s popularity. Martha, Jimmy, and all their employees will go out of their way to make sure you are satisfied with your visit. I have experienced nothing but warmth, friendliness, and dedication during each of mine. Everyone there is very accommodating.
Vanuatu offers, espresso beverages, drip coffee, pour overs, bulk coffee beans, and a small offering of food. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop in. They are worth the visit.

Where do I begin. Ok so I have been a coffee drinker all my life starting with Starbucks absolutely love Starbucks. Sure I had my fair share of Dunkin coffee and other coffee places but Starbucks is my favorite and sure people complain about the prices and what not. Alright stop Starbucks you need to take a seat on the bench because there is a new coffee spot in my life and that’s Vanuatu Coffee Roasters on Atwells Ave in Federal Hill. If you know coffee like I do coffee places use coffee beans from across the world to make their coffee well Vanuatu is so special for their coffee it is so rare and the one and only coffee place of its kind in the country. You won’t find this coffee anywhere else it’s that good. Now I love iced coffee and caramel macchiatos and pumpkin spiced lattes. You haven’t had a pumpkin spiced latte until you went a tried one here. It is made homemade and so perfect so amazing best coffee USA. Their prices are similar to Starbucks but their coffee packs a punch that makes you put that extra penny to good coffee. Now let’s talk breakfast. If you want a good hearty breakfast sandwich to go with your coffee then go here. I got the basic egg on a choice of bagel and cheese and turkey sausage. Best breakfast sandwich ever. To top it off the staff is so friendly and so willing to help you out finding what coffee you want for the day and tell you the amazing history of their rare amazing coffee. I love the staff I love the coffee I love the food I love the location. I will be returning many times to come experience this truly eye opening express train to the coffee universe.

This review was a tough one, so I’ll begin with a metaphor: Vanuatu Coffee Roasters is to 3^rd wave coffee culture as [yellow tail] wines is to wine culture.
Prestige wineries traditionally market factors like region, appellation, terroir, types of grapes, and awards, and increasingly, specialty «3^rd wave» coffee roasters talk about origin, farm, cultivar, process, elevation as well. Coffee talk has gotten increasingly complex, and similar to wine, many people seem to be turned off by the complexity, perceived snobbiness, and expense of «hipster coffee» or specialty coffee culture. In Providence, for a long time there were mainly 2 camps of people: those that drink Dunkin Donuts (WHY!) and those who do not. Then, just as [yellow tail] created a new market for affordable, straightforward wines with simplified options that people loved, Vanuatu comes into town and bridges the gap between the DD coffee drinkers and hipster coffee drinkers. Native Rhode Islander Jimmy is the scrappy, world-​traveling jack-​of-​all-​trades grower-​roaster-​entrepreneur-​owner who is so passionate about the coffee from Vanuatu, a place where the coffee industry is in its infancy, that he decides to bring it to Providence. Jimmy’s blog on Vanuatu’s website is a worthwhile, entertaining read, so I’ll spare the details here.
As for my own experiences, I’ll just run the numbers on Unilocal’s 1 – 5 star scale:
Visit 1 (1 star) — The drinks I had were a disaster, even the replacement drinks. I’m giving the benefit of the doubt that is was the barista not the beans itself, but the espresso, latte, and black pourover coffee my friend and I had were undrinkable. I was offered a refund but declined b/​c Vanuatu was brand new and the owner Martha (Jimmy’s sister) was so nice.
Visit 2 (3 stars) — The Rhody was the best drink I had so far. The drink had a straightforward coffee taste and had the flavor profile of a good Vietnamese coffee.
Service (5 stars) — Nice service and Vanuatu has a frequent guest coffee punch card (I love when coffee shops appreciate their regular customers!).
Atmosphere (5 stars) — Clean, convivial, welcoming. Has the happy freshly roasted coffee smell bc they roast on premises within full sight of the eating area.
Doing the math, Vanuatu comes to a 3.5. It’s hard to be too critical when Vanuatu is so new and there is so much to like about Vanuatu’s history and mission to create a new economy in a far flung land, so I’m glad I gave this coffee shop another chance after my disastrous first experience. I look forward to getting to know this scrappy small business better and would try them out again. Best of luck to Vanuatu and I hope they thrive, prosper and improve with time.

Put it on your bucket list!
Amazing experience from the moment you step in, from the first sip of your coffee, to your «so long» to this place!
Coffee, story, ambition, taste, friendship… Everything that will make you happy and make you feel special is all here…
Special thanks to Martha and Jimmy for this beautiful experience…

Had the black coffee here and it was slightly better than average. It did have bold flavor but I’d say not enough to make me a regular here just for black coffee. Other reviews raved about the rhody so I’ll try that next time. Service here is 5 stars though. The manager or worker is a very friendly and hilarious guy, professional as well. Inside, its real cozy with plenty of seating and tables to do work. I’d come back to try other things!

Vanuatu Coffee Roasters has been a welcome addition to the west side. On my first visit I was offered their signature cold-​drink, the Rhody, to sample. I was hooked. Do not let the light color of the drink fool you, it is no «extra extra». It sips like almost like black coffee with a hint of sweetness. I trust that their other selections are equally amazing but I cannot part ways with my new go-​to, the Rhody. They also have a talented baker that makes the best scones I have ever tasted– try the blueberry mango scone immediately. You won’t regret it.
Beyond the high quality product that is being served, what keeps me returning happily is the care devoted to the customer experience. The owner and operators, Jimmy and Martha, are consistent friendly faces. In the short time that we have become acquainted I feel that they have both made an effort to get to know me personally. One day in particular Martha saw me from across the street and had my «usual» small Rhody poured and ready to go by the time I walked in the door. Not only did she remember my drink preference but also proceeded to thoughtfully inquire about aspects of my life that I had previously shared. On the days that I am able to sit down in my favorite spot (one of their comfy leather chairs by the window) I have witnessed countless similar exchanges between Martha, Jimmy, and other customers where the personal touch was beyond evident.
Overall it is clear that Vaunatu prides itself in high quality product, a passion for coffee, cleanliness and building a strong sense of community within its shop.

It was okay. Went here on a Sunday morning for a egg & cheese and an iced coffee. The coffee tasted a little over roasted, a bit beyond what I’d call a «dark roast». Could have been better if it wasn’t roasted so hot, I think
The egg and cheese was also just okay. I got it on an English muffin with provolone. Egg seemed a bit overcooked since it was chewy. The cheese on there was quite tasty, but there wasn’t much on there. Fortunately, I had some hot sauce to save the egg and cheese.
Overall, with so much competition in providence for coffee I might not come back. Would be willing to try the espresso at some point.

Amazing coffee. Incredibly friendly owners. We stopped by today and used our Iced Coffee Challenge coupons. Jim and Martha seem so passionate about what they do. The coffee is so delicious I drank it black (unusual for me). Jim even let us try samples of a couple other coffees they have. We will definitely be back.

Had an iced coffee food fight certificate which made me stop in and I am so happy I did. I was immediately greeted at the door as they saw me walking. This place is really nice inside, they have been open about 6 months to date. The woman told me the story behind their business and was so passionate about the coffee they serve.
The coffee was phenomenal but then she gave me a same of the cold brewed iced coffee… AMAZING! I like coffee for the flavor so I add nothing to it and this coffee was strong and one of my favorites I have had. I also got an egg and cheese sandwich, they offer this on an English muffin or bagel, with your choice of cheese and meat (bacon, Canadian bacon, and turkey sausage). There were a few fresh baked pastries, tried the scone, it was so moist!
I am highly impressed with this coffee shop and I can’t wait to return. I love when you have people who are so passionate about their business and the product they serve.
So if you are looking for a strong coffee to get you going, this is the place to go!

A place where nobody dared to go
The love that we came to know
They call it Vanuatu
And now, open your eyes and see
What we have made is real
We are in Vanuatu
I want to strap on my roller skates and go to Vanuatu at every dang chance I get. Like Olivia Newton John’s character I am breaking the rules and falling in love with Vanuatu.
Here is something Atwells desperately needed. A coffee shop that wasn’t sketchy, was inviting, and doesn’t make you feel as though you are obligated to a crazy dessert to accompany your coffee. This is the type of place you can hunker down and work, or sit with friends for hours to chit chat. No pressure, and the perfect set up for lots of 1 and 2 top tables as you see from the photos supplied by other Unilocalers. Dark wood floors, a long serving counter, nice light walls, minimal distractions, this is the right mix for a coffee shop. So often they are draped in items to show their coolness, or in dark colors that might not be the best mood to work in.
The owner/​siblings so want to see this thrive on the Hill. I think they’ve realized to tap into the demographic of not quite hipsters, but not old Italians that the area can draw and is inhabited by.
The coffee? Well, for $ 2.50 I received a large hot coffee of the bold blend, that knocks the socks off of anything else in the area, and the coffee was not scalding hot. I was able to start sipping as soon as the cover was popped back in place. There is a really good earthy taste to the coffee, which, should be expected as it is fertilized by a volcano! I’m glad to have a much easier alternative to get to on saturdays and days I telecommute then crossing Broadway or having to hide my face as I go into the Dunkin within eyesight of my apartment.

First single origin coffee shop in RI? Total hit and why hasn’t something this organic yet come to Providence?! I went here with a friend and had never heard of it previously. We ended up trying Vanuatu just a week after their grand opening. They have only been open a short time but I feel this will be a hot coffee spot in Providence shortly.
Their coffee is ‘beyond organic’ with the beans being fertilized by a volcano! (Ask Martha or jimmy for the story– the owners who will be glad to share a conversation or a laugh with you). What they have created is a super modern and sleek yet inviting space filled with a great initiative to their products. They give back jobs to those in the community where they harvest the beans from.
All the blends I have tried are very earth but so full of flavor, this is the coffee to drink black because you do not want to compromise the flavor with any add ins! This is true delectable, authentic coffee. I was also able to try their signature iced drink — the ‘Rhody’ which I cannot wait to order in a warm summer day. A cold brew mixed with special creamers — it was simple delicious and strong I every right way that a cold brew should be. The staff and owners are a huge part of the phenomenal experiences I have had here. Keep it up Vanuatu!