My go-to coffee shop when I'm in Chapel Hill, visiting from California. Iced maple latte (12 oz, not the 16 oz because the 16 oz has too much milk in it for my liking). Their cold brews are very good as well. Con Panna if you're need that little something extra in the afternoon (would ask for extra Panna). read more

Super cute coffee shop with excellent baristas. Enjoyed everything we had and will be back next time we're in town. - Lavender Orange and Pistachio muffin - warm and delicious - Hot Lavender Vanilla (half / half) Latte - Amazing! Perfect temp, smooth and nice balance of flavor. - Salted Coconut Caramel Latte - Good, I liked the lavender vanilla better, but that's more my flavor profile. read more

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We were in Chapel Hill for a concert and stopped by this coffee shop before and also the next day. It's in the same parking lot as the venue and we had no problem finding parking each day. There's a mix of youn college students and older local who frequent this spot. The staff is professional, not super bubbly or friendly but they get the job done. The tables and spaces are mostly communal and some are more comfortable than others. The coffees were awesome every time. I'm not from this area and didn't know that they provide a living wage to their employees so you can't tip. More places should be like this. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

I'm so happy to have found this place. I loved the iced lattes but also enjoyed hanging out there. People all seem engaged with each other either for work or personally. There is also a spacious outdoor seating area. read more

Got the iced coconut salted caramel lattes- hand to God has got to be one of the best coffee's I've ever had.

Saturdays are now my day to explore local coffee shops, and today's choice, recommended by a great friend was Gray Squirrel! It's located technically in Carrboro on Main Street, but most would say it's in Chapel Hill within walking distance to Franklin Street. It's located in a very busy area with a parking lot, but it shares it with about 5 other businesses, so you may end up parking in the surrounding area. There's a Hampton Inn next to it with a parking garage as well. It was a gorgeous Saturday and almost all the outdoor seating was taken, and there's plenty!! There's tons on indoor seating as well. It's a pretty nice sized space and they're expanding next door. I ordered within minutes of arriving and I'm so glad I did. There ended up being at least 15 people behind me all of a sudden. I had the salted coconut caramel latte & an apple cider muffin. Both soooooooo good! Both were perfect, not too sweet. Their whipped cream isn't your ordinary whip cream, so it's a must have on top of on your coffee. They have their whole beans for sale to brew at home and they were restocking while I was there as they sell quickly. A lot of people were working on their laptops or just hanging out. It's certainly a cool place to just sit and enjoy your coffee, hot chocolate, tea or soda!! read more

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The whip on the salted caramel coconut latte was heavenly. The staff were so nice and we got a sample size coffee bag to brew at home read more

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Disappointing espresso. I had been here a few years ago and remember loving their espresso. I just went back. The burnt taste is still in my mouth from a espresso. No notes; just plain bitter taste. Not coming back. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Cappuccino and a half way gone macchiato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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The barista acted bothered to take our order He unenthusiastically pointed his finger at us when he was ready for us to order with an eat shit look on his face. Our whole group thought perhaps he was having a bad morning but it seemed like the rest of the employees would rather be anywhere else but there. Weird vibes. Coffee was decent though so I guess it wasn't a total bust ‍ read more

I wanted to try a new coffee spot so I came here. Great location with ample parking. They offer some bakery items and of course an array of coffees. I ordered a latte and the last mixed berry morning bun. You ordered at the counter and sit while you wait. They have tables and bar like stools by the windows. The morning bun was delicious. I did not take a pic of it. I ate it too fast, lol! The latte was good, but unfortunately not great. It was mostly coffee and not enough milk. It drank like a shot of espresso. It did come with a beautiful heart though. I did take a pic of it. read more

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this place was confusing to me? The seating situation was odd. I ended up on like these big "giant step" kind of stadium seats, which was ok for a bit, but uncomfy long term. Its busy--very busy when i went--and they got through the line fast, but i wasnt impressed by the drink quality. For my americano, the barista filled the glass half up with water, then added espresso and ice? This meant it was really watered down--based on some internet research, this is in fact an acceptable way to make an americano, but in my own experience as a barista, we always did ice first, then espresso, then more ice and finally water--this tastes waaayy better imo, as it the drink is quite cold, and espresso is more concentrated (will become less so as ice melts, of course). Anyway, the long and the short of it was that i felt like the drink i got was about at the level of dunkin donuts. Shrug. Maybe its just not for me, idk, seems like lots of other pol like this place. Maybe their specialty stuff is better? read more

I thought this place was cute right in downtown Carrboro. Seating inside and out made for a welcoming feel. Service was friendly and they served several versions of baked goods. I was a bit turned off by the steep prices, but the latte was decent enough. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Truly wish I still lived in the Triangle so I could spend more time here. A great work space, the right amount of noise/music/body-doubling to get things done! The coffee and the food was also amazing, as were all the members of the staff I interacted with. Huge bonus, they're part of a collective that pays employees fair wages! I so wish more of the service industry did this! read more

I came upon Gray Squirrel Coffee Company after reading reviews on Yelp. The staff were friendly and helpful when answering my questions about their menu options. I ordered a latte and a chocolate chip cookie. The cookie was chewy and soft. It paired great with my latte. The latte was smooth. I would definitely order these two menu items again. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Came here for a couple hours or work and a coffee. A lot of seating options and staff was friendly. Had an almond milk latte and the rosemary scone. The coffee was amazing, just how I like it. The scone was not so great but overall I loved the place. read more

Drip coffee is excellent. Espresso is strong and bitter in good way. My wife liked her flavored latte but gave me the following instructions and then she really loved it: iced salted coconut caramel latte, no whipped cream, light ice, add a shot You could also get a small one to increase the coffee flavor instead of adding an extra shot as I believe they use the same number of shots in the small one as the regular read more

Gray Squirrel is consistently good. Baristas are always kind and accommodating, coffee is always good quality! I'm very picky about my lattes: not too milky, not bitter, just the right amount of sweet. I think Gray Squirrel always nails this! Great space to work in, too. read more

IMO, a coffee shop is defined by its ambiance, and Gray Squirrel does a fine job here, enough to earn its stars, but not anything truly outstanding. The staff were kind and met expectations. The food and coffee options are satisfying, though neither extensive nor truly outstanding either. It's a solid place to sit and do some work, perhaps even people-watch a bit in its expansive outdoor seating area. While it deserves a spot on the rotation for being an independent coffee shop with some good vibes, it doesn't quite reach 5 stars for me. read more

I have mixed feelings about this place and overall I left underwhelmed. Yes, the place is cute and industrial style goes well with "come study at this cool hipster coffee place" idea. Lots of seating, but also lots, and I mean LOTS of students on their laptops which I guess is not surprising since the campus is so close. Staff seemed friendly too. They also sell some coffee accessories and gear, it's a nice touch and seems like a must have for any cool kid place these days. They also don't have classic flavor options like vanilla or caramel, but rather interesting options like honey-rosemary and maple, another attempt to be different yet I feel like it's just another must-have for a place like this. My main gripe was the drinks and the value. It's expensive. Latte with flavor runs at $6. Add a buck more for milk alternative. Relatively small size too. We ended up trying hot maple latte and iced London fog. Latte was good, I'll give them that, but it had just a tiniest hint of maple. Like... if someone handed it to me and never said anything about flavor, I would have never guessed it's there. I personally don't like sugary coffee and this is 100% not the case here, that said flavor was lacking. London Fog, on the other side, fell completely flat. Did not like it at all. Classic version usually comes with vanilla, they instead use lavender syrup. So it tastes like milk with notes of earl gray and tiiiiiniest hint of lavender. It just doesn't blend well together into a drink, in my opinion. Also it may seem silly, but one thing just stood out to me. So much attention is paid to logo, accessories, customized merchandise for sale like t-shirts and hoodies. Yet drinks are served in plain, non-branded plastic and paper from probably Costco or Sam's club? Not what I expect from a place like this. But that's me nitpicking at this point. Like I said above, I just didn't enjoy the drinks. read more

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One of my go-to study spots! It's convenient bc it's so close to campus. I love study spots close to schools since there are other students and it motivates you! My favorite from this place is their honey rosemary latte as well as burnt honey rose latte. They make their own syrups from scratch and you can definitely tell. My favorite in their bakery section is their earl grey and lavender cookie (I always get it) and their rosemary street scone--and it's beautiful bc it has a Carolina blue sugar glaze on it! Ample seating but limited charging if you end up sitting close to the windows. The outdoor area is wonderful to wowhen it's a nice day out. read more

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Good coffee but good luck finding a seat! About 12 people all on devices taking up every table. I mean yeah there were seats if you want to sit right across from somebody writing a paper or whatever their doing? Yes I know it's not the coffee shop's problem but it's annoying to not be able to sit down in the place with your friends because of this awkwardness. Oh well I guess I'll try to find a coffee shop that's not a study hall. read more

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I had a take out order for a group of 9 and they were helpful with handy carry out cup holders.

Atmosphere: Gray Squirrel has an industrial interior with plenty of stool seating and natural lighting. However, the shop is often busy on weekends, so it can be hard to find seating or a quiet area to work. There's ample seating outside, which would make for a great spot to enjoy a nice Carolina day. Service: Our barista was friendly, and our drinks came out quickly! Food: We ordered a Flat White and an Iced Maple Latte. The Flat White was delightfully light and foamy, with a pleasant coffee flavor still present throughout the drink. We couldn't really taste the maple flavor in our Maple Latte, but it was still smooth and not overpoweringly sweet. Overall: Gray Squirrel is a Chapel Hill/Carrboro favorite, and lots of people seem to enjoy working here or catching up friends. The drinks are solid, and the overall atmosphere is welcoming and lively! read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Flat White, Iced Maple Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Was in town and in need of a coffee. Walk inside and it's modern/industrial design. There were a few patrons scattered inside and a few on the patio outside . I'm a plain coffee person , I don't like many specials ones. The staff person was great , as I ordered just "a regular coffee. Asked if I needed space for cream and how much space did I need. The cookies caught my eye too , so I ordered a chocolate chip one , they also had oatmeal raisin that looked good. They do not take cash, this is a plastic card store only. I made my way to the coffee creamer and added what I wanted and a cover to go. The coffee was warm , not hot but an ok temperature and the cookie was divine. read more

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Popped into this adorable place with a friend as she wanted coffee and a treat. The place is hopping and full of people chilling, eating, surfing, studying you name it. We were there at 2:00 ish and it was busy. I see why, they use top grade coffee and make their own syrups. The cookie was delish she noted and not too sweet. Great vibe and coffee house. This is a chill place to hang. read more

After the first visit, we went back the next day. Wonderful teas and coffee. I had a latte with oat milk and maple syrup and it was truly one of the best coffee drinks I've had. Wonderful flavor from the coffee. It was dark, bold, and not too bitter. Service was also great with a nice little design on top, see photo. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Latte with maple flavor - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Staff lovely. Efficient. Good coffee. Comfortable seating! Very convenient to downtown carrboro.

This visit was disappointing. I did like the spaciousness-ample seating, and the place had a good crowd when we came in. The barista we encountered wasn't friendly and impatient with us. Dirty chai had a good flavor but was slightly harsh since it was bitter. My maple latte also lacked sweetness, and the coffee was burnt-tasting. read more

We were out and about and looking for an adventure. This place had a lot of good reviews and looked like it had a lot of seating. I was sadly disappointed in everything this business had offered. There were very few options for different types of drinks. When we needed to take our drink on the road, we could not find any lids. There were so many people there that we had to fight for a seat. And when we did find a seat, they were the super uncomfortable round stools. But that's not it, they weren't even normal height, they were super short so your knees hurt. Do not recommend it ever. read more

This place is a staple for the Carrboro community. Incredible quality of coffee. Theirs are the only coffee beans we use at home, we do a coffee subscription of their main st espresso and it's been great. Our favorite orders are the lattes (maple, lavender, and white mocha) or an americano and sometimes a yummy baked good as well. Delicious house made syrups, they put lighter amt of syrup in their drinks which I really appreciate to let the actual coffee shine. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - White mocha, strawberry scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

I have had coffee on four different continents and hands-down, this is by far the best coffee as ever had! Go simple! A drip coffee with their homemade lavender syrup is the way to go! read more

Spacious cafe with a lot of outdoor seating, which was what I liked most about the cafe. The drinks were okay. The latte itself was very good, but anything flavored or with syrup (salted caramel or orange creamsicle) was very faint. Overall, I would still come back just to grab a drink and sit outside read more

I look for independent coffee shops whenever I have the chance. We were in Chapel Hill for a basketball game. Gray Squirrel was a nice walk from our hotel. The coffee was great and the service was efficient. read more

Great local coffee place. I stop by at least once whenever I am in Chapel Hill for more than a day.

There is often a line but service is quick and friendly. Love the morning scones and treats. Lavender lattes are my favorite.

REALLY excellent coffee, also beautiful presentation! The place gets taken over by college students using it as a study spot, so keep that in mind especially if it's around exam season. Good amount of seating, there's also outdoor space if it's a nice day. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

It was downpouring outside, so I almost didn't make the 30-yard trek from my hotel to grab some local coffee. I'm glad I eventually talked myself into the "journey," because Gray Squirrel is super cozy and nice! Much better than hotel coffee, I'd assume! My shoes were waterlogged within seconds of stepping outside, but the interior was warm and welcoming. I ordered a maple latte based on comments here (and because I realized I hadn't had a latte of any sort in eons), as well as a shortbread cookie for kicks. Both were ready quite quickly, and the latte art was a cute touch. Once I grabbed them from the counter, I chose a stool along the front window. There were plenty of other solo visitors, some working, others relaxing...as well as families and friends. It felt like a true community spot. I sat inside watching the rain for quite a while, and it was great to have a little alone time to recharge and prepare for the day ahead. This seemed like a nice shop, and I'd recommend it to folks passing through downtown Carrboro. read more

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Good coffee with an open and spacious layout. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They have some unique flavors like rosemary lavender and their autumn flavor with molasses and ginger. I kept it simple and I ordered a maple latte. I did want the maple flavor to be more prevalent. However, it had the correct amount of sweetness for my liking. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Barista - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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I love gray squirrel! They have some of my favorite coffee in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. I also love that they pay their worker's a living wage. If you like a spicy chai then I recommend trying a dirty chai latte. read more

Gray Squirrel Coffee - Iced dirty chai latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

When I'm at Gray Squirrel, I feel like I'm back home in Seattle. Delicious coffee, laptop monkeys, high prices, artisan water, sometimes cranky service but did I mention the delicious coffee and their pastries are on point AND they pay a living wage... I'll take the bad for the good - and the nostalgia. read more