CUPs

With all the turmoil in the city these past few days, I was glad to be able to spend some time and money on the west side. CUPs Coffehouse and Kitchen is a cute little spot in Hollins Market — not too far from Pennsy and North and right in the middle of the neighborhoods where I have been working. I love love love Hollins Market, and used to go regularly when I worked full time on the west side. These guys are amazing, and exactly who I want to support at this time in this city, as they are offering job training and skills to local young people.
These guys take pride in their work — proudly serving local Zeke’s Coffee and serving quality food. There menu isn’t extensive, but there are several choices that should please everyone — wraps, bagels, breakfast items. I opted for the chicken chipotle bowl. A cute little corn tortilla bowl filled with spinach, corn, black beans, chicken and topped with cheddar cheese. The highlight was their own chipotle sauce that I drizzled on myself, since I took the bowl to go. Get here, join forces, support local business and support our young people.

The food is good and the seating is comfortable, and it’s a good community-​oriented organization, so it’s certainly a good place to stop in for lunch. The staff are always very nice. In the past, the coffee wasn’t very good, as other reviewers (and my review, formerly) have noted, but it’s way better now.
The layout/​seating really aren’t suited to getting work done (i.e. with a laptop), so I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a coffee shop to work from. There is a back room but it’s a bit crammed.

A very cute coffee shop in a not so cute area. The ladies working were very pleasant and genuinely made me smile while conversing. Unfortunately, the coffee was the weakest cup of coffee I’ve ever had. It was a huge disappointment given everything else that was so good.

I was visiting town for a job interview and stayed in one of the houses on S. Arlington.
Because this place was about 30 seconds away from where I was staying, I decided to check it out.
They have a pretty wide selection of drinks here. The prices are decent. $ 1.50 for a small cup of coffee. They have a breakfast menu from 7AM to 11AM. At 11AM, they start serving lunch.
The coffee is nothing to write home about. Pretty dilute. Bland.
The food here, on the other hand, is excellent. I had a breakfast burrito. The ingredients are super fresh. Made to order. You get to pick a tortilla. Went with sundried tomato. It also had avocado, tomato, and peppers. Egg is soft and a bit sweet, which is something I’m not very used to but tastes great nonetheless.
Great jams. I’m talking about the background music. I don’t know the ladies here were playing pandora or spotify, but it was a great list of tight R&B — both old and new. Ciara, Lauryn Hill, Monica, R. Kelly, and etc.
Oh yeah, the service is great. The ladies here are super nice.

CUPs has been around almost a year, and I’m very thankful to have it on Arlington St. I’ve always received friendly service, and I love that they serve Zeke’s Coffee, which is locally roasted. Their prices are very reasonable and the space is put together very nicely, making it a good place to catch up with a friend or have a small meeting. In the back, they have computers for general use as well as free wi-​fi, further making it a great asset to the community. They offer a nice variety of both cold and hot drinks, and they also put on community events throughout the month.

I have been to CUPS probably half a dozen times. It is a very charming neighborhood café. My favorite thing about CUPS is that it is a community coffee shop which provides employment to youth in the neighborhood and hosts various events for children and neighbors. They usually have yummy desserts and offer daily specials. They brew Zeke’s which is delicious. I went there once to study and it offered a quiet and tranquil place. If you are in Hollins Market, check out CUPS!

I love CUPs Coffeehouse!!! The staff are friendly and polite, the founder’s really cool, and the food and drinks are DELICIOUS! The coffeehouse is really cute, with comfortable tables and chairs. CUPs has a book shelf with free books to take, or to make an exchange («take a book, leave a book» style). Breakfast is served until 10:30 am, and lunch is available at 11:00 am. Calling orders in ahead of time is welcomed. Some of the food and drinks are named after locals who double as regulars, like the «Sir Richard» (chai latte with shots of espresso), and the Jess Veggie Wrap (a fantastic breakfast sandwich). CUPs also has free internet access. WIN! There are 2 rooms in the back, and the front room is really large, and has some easy chairs. CUPs stands for «Creating Unlimited Possibilities», as it is actually a nonprofit doubling as a coffee shop. The employees are at-​risk youth and are given job skills training and other enrichment opportunities. Read about it on the website, or ask Holly, the founder. The prices are great, also, and CUPs has a frequent buyer card that leads to free coffee! They also brew and serve Zeke’s Coffee. I highly suggest visiting!!! Accessible by bus, foot, Orange Charm City Circulator, and by car. The neighborhood has $ 0.10 p/​h parking available– amazing!!!