What a lovely hidden gem in town! I tried their banana milk cold brew and would recommend it to anyone coming as it was delicious. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere is perfect for working or studying. As someone who lives in the neighborhood, I can't believe I haven't been here sooner! read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - Banana milk cold brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Last weekend I explored this coffee shop bookstore, basically an urban legend concept in most cities these days. The place is wedged at the edge of a neighborhood that backs up to one of the main city streets. I believe I saw about six parking spots total in the gravel parking lot. ZOLA's coffee menu is a unique blend of spiced lattes and especially sourced beans. There's just a couple breakfast bar type food items to choose from. After looking over the menu a few times, a barista stepped out from behind the coffee bar and started talking with me about the menu options. I tried the cumin latte which definitely peaked my mind. I then explored the diverse selection of used and new books in the space. Most of the reading selections were unknown to me, a rare experience. I picked up a journal on women's spirituality. There is something for everyone at ZOLA's. read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - entrance - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Love this place! All my favorite things in one; book/stationary store, coffee shop and they sell pottery. Coffee was delicious :) I cannot wait to come back when I am in town. read more

Unique take on coffee. Beans roasted on site. The uniqueness is not just in the roasting. But something they did way before roasting on premises. Taking spices and not just stuff in a jar.... Spices, real spices ground up by hand. With care. The Turmeric Root Cinnamon Latte yup, you heard me... real root. I think they take great care and consideration with other ingredients as well. They have increased their seating (sadly shrinking the book space by a bit) but happily increasing the QUALITY of beans and baristas sorely needed in this area of Wilmington. Yay! read more

Spiciest chai I've ever had. So good! And if you're looking for even more of a kick, try the Moroccan latte or coconut cayenne latte. Hubby got a cardamon latte are really enjoyed it. They also sell locally made goat milk soap. They share a space with Pomegranate books so take a browse through while you're waiting and buy some greeting cards or books! read more

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Very nice service, small coffee area. Everything seems to be very clean and healthy, all natural products. Chai is very spicy! read more

If you're like me and two of your favorite things are good ol' fashioned books and coffee, Zola is the place for you. And let's talk about creativity: "Coconut Cayenne Cappuccino"? First off, great use of alliteration. :) Secondly, the drink smooths you out with its coconut sweetness and then gives you a kick with the pop of cayenne. Bravo! read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - Zola main room and brewing station with bookshelf of books, bags of coffee beans. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Best coffee shop in Wilmington! I was hesitant to leave a review because I don't want this place to get too overcrowded ;) Quiet place to sit down and study, or read a book from the attached bookstore. The menu is unlike anything else, there's something for everybody. Their team makes a mean latte and they roast their own beans in house, which by the way are deliciously fresh. I only wish they stayed open longer! read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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stopped in here to read some of my book and ended getting a dirty chai. it was absolutely delicious but the whole menu looked great. would definitely recommend this little hidden gem read more

Fantastic pour over coffee roasted just this week. I also got a great gluten free oatmeal raisin cookie to enjoy. The wifi was fast and I was able to work for a few hours before traveling back home to Charlotte. read more

Very good coffee. Had pour over but many selections on the menu. The barista was happy to explain their coffees and the in-house grinding process. Would have been a 5 star if there was something to eat, muffins or bagels. read more

First time here; love that they do their own roasting and the Kenyan I had today was luscious! Helpful folks there and the attached book shop provides plenty to do other than play with your smarter-than-me phones. Some yummie looking goodies offered as well; all-in-all a really good place that will get more of my business. read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Tried this place because the menu looked super unique. Goats Milk Mocha- WOW. Tastes as good as it sounds. Super creamy! I can't wait to come back and try more of these unique drinks. If you are looking for a change of pace from your boring old "caramel latte" this is the place!!! read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Omg best coffee shop in town I'm Visiting from airzona and it's the best! And the Thai late was epic highly recommend read more

Epic coffee shop/bookstore! Fantastic coffee that is all roasted onsite. Wonderful baristas and owner. Love the homemade chocolate for the Mochas!! read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - the interior of a coffee shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Phenomenal. Simply the best coffee drink I've ever had. Their drinks are truly crafted. You have to start with the Almond Butter Clove Latte OR Coconut Cayenne Cappuccino read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - Almond Butter Clove Latte Karas Kustom Orange Bolt - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

At ZOLA now, on my second latte. If you love fresh ingredients and lots of flavor like ginger, saffron, turmeric, almond butter, clove (or lots more!) then this coffee shop is for you! It's attached to a book shop with a great selection of new & used books. There's plenty of seating, quiet space, outdoor patio, and cute interiors as well. The staff has always been very pleasant, helpful, and accommodating. read more

It's been awhile since I have been able to get here, but try to when in town. Love the goat milk chocolate ...and such great attention to detail. I love the options as I have lots of allergies and had more than one milk option I could try in the coffees. Hidden gem read more

I come here almost twice a week and it's worth it! Love the kiddie corner and the atmosphere along with the owners. It's a little pricey but it's also a local business so supporting a great coffee shop is worth it. read more

Cute coffeeshop with a very unique menu! They even roast their coffee beans in house. It is awesome you can ask the roaster/barista how each batch suits your taste better, depending on how they are roasted. All the drinks that I have tried so far were delicious! Carob milk tasted like hot cocoa with actually adding any chocolate, and it was also not as sweet. Morrocan style coffee was a latte with chai spices. The warm spices was perfect for a cold, rainy day. If you are not too adventurous, the classic options are a great way to go. I have had the latte and Americano, and both were on point. read more

I'm here in Wilmington on vacation, I like to check out local coffee shops when I have time, I'd read through all the reviews, overall pretty much spot on, I ordered a pour over (Ethiopian)and it was excellent, very good tasting cup of coffee...it was strong and not weak or watery at all, staff member was Very helpful and friendly, Love to find shops like this around because where I come from I only get very corporate coffee shops which I have no interest in... I Love that Zola's roast their coffee on site ...that is fantastic... I bought a bag of their Ethiopian coffee and just made a pour over of it today and oh boy! it was fantastic! I'm pretty much a traditional and don't like a lot of fancy foo foo Stuff in my coffee, I've been to a lot of coffee shops But I'm not a super expert either but to me this coffee rates way up there, I will be buying another bag soon, I personally don't mind if a coffee shop is quiet or if it's loud and noisy too, My personal opinion if you demand that a coffee shop is to be absolutely quiet and you demand that...Coffee shops are not libraries or defined as quiet areas...I feel you can pick a park or go to the library if you absolutely demand that...just enjoy the atmosphere & have fun! read more

The Pros: cute space, creative menu of coffee drinks (try the almond butter latte!) and the guy working the counter was super friendly and accommodating The Cons: id come there seeking a quiet place to work...and it was, until the employees cranked the music waaay up and started talking super loud to one another/yelling over the music. I had on earbuds and I still couldn't concentrate at all, and I often work in the busy coffee shops of large cities. They seemed to have little to no awareness of the two customers there (me and another woman, seemingly equally frustrated). Overall a nice little place, but those running it should be aware of the customers experience. read more

Absolutely a hidden GEM of Willmington! They roast their own beans in store! Ah! LOVE THAT! Jaz I think was our server? Such a sweetie! If I wasn't moving state literally tomorrow, I would go back every single day! Keep on keeping on ZOLA! read more

Interesting place, connected to a book store. Limited seating. The latte was different but was good. Wanted to check them out. Nice people

So... I feel in the minority posting this average review amidst all other 5-star reviews, but I came here recently and was not very impressed. To be clear, the barista working and the bookshop owner were both extremely friendly and welcoming individuals. The service was great. The coffee... was average at best. My coffee companion and myself both ordered cold brew coffees. While he got a plain cold brew, I opted to switch it up a bit and add their house-made chocolate sauce to mine. The chocolate itself was great- rich in flavor without being too sweet. The problem was that the cold brew was so weak that I may as well have gotten a chocolate milk. Initially, I thought that this may have been the result of adding the chocolate to my coffee, but after trying the plain cold brew, I found that the issue was the coffee itself. Very, very weak and watery. Sadly, neither of us enjoyed the cold-brew here. As the other reviewers here seem to have been very satisfied, maybe we just got a bad batch? read more

This place is legit. Coffee snobs rejoice. I was stoked to find a place with a goat milk latte. The menu is great with dairy and non-dairy options of coconut milk, service is super quick and it's a quality espresso and coffee bean. There are a few tables inside the book store, a sweet little set up of tables on the front porch, and a big table under the big shade tree, and since it's attached to a book store, it is relatively quiet. I'll be back!! *updated review** this place has become my hometown, local favorite. I've been here at least a few dozen times now and had everything from their goat milk chocolate latte, to their in house ground spices in their Moroccan Style Coffee to the coconut cayenne latte. Their almond butter clove latte is pretty good, but I keep coming back to their Honey Cardamom latte, but with goat milk. I'm currently sipping their house made Kombucha since I ate a ridiculous amount of food earlier and have a stomach ache, but the one thing I haven't tried and am curious to will be the ginger tea latte since it will be legit ingredients. read more

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Great, unique coffeehouse, in Wilmington, NC. The operator (owner?) was very personable and took the time to help me by suggesting some very original coffee flavors. This place is tucked inside of an eclectic looking bookstore. It has a very hip style and is very comfortable. I arrived upon opening on a scorching hot day. I cannot imagine the experience if the place were more crowded, since there isn't a plethora of place to sit as there would be in some dedicated coffee houses. This isn't a problem. As I waiting for my second drink, which was a special iced Thai Tea, that the proprietor says is his own recipe, I was able to find a book that piqued my interest. A good book and some coffee. Life is GOOD! read more

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Zola is an adorable family-owned coffee house that really knows it's way around a coffee bean. Having recently relocated from the west coast, I've been searching for my go-to local coffee house. I found it today. I walked into a cozy, yet modern atmosphere. The presence of hundreds of well-chosen books made it feel immediately like home. The coffee roaster reigns beautifully right in the middle of the space! Chatting with the owner, I discovered that that do fresh roasts in house every week. I ordered a double espresso to try their choice Ethiopian bean. Perfectly prepared. You can read about their current selection from a classy black board in the roasting area. I was surprised they were able to procure beans from an African farm that utilizes natural processing. This is extremely rare, even in the "organic" circuit. I also tried the coconut cayenne cappuccino because, well, who ever heard of such a thing? I was very impressed. Just a touch of cayenne to offset the sweetness of the coconut milk, which was stellar. And best of all, you could still taste the integrity of the espresso. It wasn't drowned in sugar or syrups. Totally fresh ingredients! Highly recommend :) read more

Not big on coffee, but enjoyed my Organic Chocolate Mocha from this coffee bookstore. Friendly and original. read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The only good coffee in wilmington. Not joking. I have lived here for 4 years and the only coffee shop worth spending your dollar at in wilmington is this place read more

Cafe Zola is in a convenient location. This place is small with a welcoming rustic coffee shop and book store. This is a great place to work in a quiet environment. The staff is friendly and helpful. read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - Coconut Cayenne cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

I've been meaning to come here for a couple of years, especially since it's located so close to my favorite bike shop, Two Wheeler Dealer. Upon coming in out of the rain, it seemed like the store had a nice vibe, although there was only one other person in the building, the barista. One rather short pour-over cup of coffee later I left a bit disappointed. The coffee was quite expensive and didn't taste any better than my favorite brews at Grinder's just up the street. I don't think I'll be coming back. If you like a solid and somewhat expensive pour-over the maybe this is your place. read more

Absolutely, with out a doubt the best coffee and tea in Wilmington. The amount of work and detail that goes into every drink and ingredient is incredible. Best Americano, latte, hot chocolate, hand made everything is just ridiculous. Do yourself a favor and go! Try something different try the same thing you've been getting at another cafe and you'll be surprised how much better a plain old Americano or Mocha Latte is at Zola. read more

Paired with a quaint bookstore, this coffee shop has high quality and unique drinks that are freshly prepared.

Didn't expect to find a place like this. The shop is located in the corner of a fantastic family owned book store. I got a chance to meet the own and found him to be incredibly passionate about the art of brewing. read more

ZOLA Coffee & Tea - The shop is located in an amazing book store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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ETA: back in town and of COURSE dropped by to see what's new. Got the Maca root cayenne mocha with coconut milk. This is serious stuff. Seriously amazing, powerful, and delicious. Get yourself there now, thank me later. ------- Why aren't you at Zola's right now drinking an incredible, delicious, unique, top quality, amazing coffee? Seriously. Go. Now. Moroccan cappuccino blew.my.mind. Coconut cayenne cappuccino. What. More. Honey cardamom latte it's mine back off. Stop reading and go already! read more

I have been looking for a good latte for the last week as I am traveling from the Pacific Northwest and this is by far the best espresso in the Wilmington area. If you want a pour over, roasted beans or a latte this is absolutely the place to go. Epic was second place this week. It is housed in an adorable bookstore that is kid friendly and amazing. read more

ZOLA is amazing!!! They have the best vanilla cappuccino I have tasted. Stop by, visit the bookstore, and have coffee!

This cafe is a hidden gem inside Pomegranate Books. My boyfriend and I visited and it has such a calm, soothing atmosphere. The drink selection ranged from standard Italian espresso beverages to ones with a twist. The barista was so kind and informative, explaining how the drinks evolved as he tried different ingredients. I got the cappuccino made with spices and full fat coconut milk (the name on the board is better sounding) and my boyfriend got the club soda, espresso, and lemon juice. Very unique beverages. Also, the seating options are really nice. Go pick up a couple good books by local authors while you're at it! read more

BEST COFFEE IN WILMINGTON AND IN OUR OPINION, THE UNITED STATES! We're a band, we travel everywhere and coffee is a comfort to us when we are far from home. We've hit up the trendiest coffee and espresso spots in NYC, Seattle, Portland, Philly, LA, etc -- BUT THIS PLACE IS OUR FAVORITE. The most creative menu, full of exotic and unique recipes all either lovingly invented or tweaked to perfection by the owner, Manoul. This man is passionate about beverages and blends a love for flavor with science and culture to create truly unique coffee and tea experiences. He is warm -disarming even - and performs his magic behind the counter while making you his friend. This is not your usual pretentious coffee snob environment. Try the Moroccan Coffee, a tradition that he has personalized and nailed down! Or the Almond Butter Clove Latte - almond butter, espresso, whole milk, hand ground cloves, a touch sweet - comforting and complex! We have also enjoyed his Bulletproof Coffee (butter, coconut oil, pour over coffee + *cinnamon* to avoid blood sugar spike - an example of his personal scientific twist on a trending beverage), cold brew and pour over. All excellent, and surpassing all others that we've had elsewhere - AND reasonably priced. If you're a connoisseur, or if you love a great cuppa served with love and care, YOU MUST try Zola Coffee + Tea. And no, we weren't paid for this ecstatic review. We were vacationing in the area, and tried Zola per a friend's recommendation, and proceeded to return daily while on vacation. It's that good. Manoul is that good! GO! read more

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