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Cool Beans Coffee Company
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Vegetarian Coffee & Tea, Vegetarian [Edit]
1217 College StColumbia, SC 29201
(803) 779-4277
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 12 am
Sat-Sun 9 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
29 reviews for Cool Beans Coffee Company
Review Highlights
"The upstairs and downstairs area, the books, the board..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...little coffee place right next to the horseshoe at USC."
(in 4 reviews)
"Lots of studiers in deep study & casual chatter."
(in 4 reviews)
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Stacie H.
Front Royal, VA
12/30/2011
When I was stationed at Shaw AFB, SC I would come down to Columbia almost everyday. My friend Joey and I would have what we call Coffee Dates and would always grab lunch and coffee at Cool Beans. I have since moved away, but long for this place.
This is a quaint little coffee shop close to the college campus. Parking is kind of a pain in the butt sometimes, especially while school is in session and in the afternoon. I always get a turkey sandwich, pasta and a coffee. I use the frequent visitor card and would always get a free coffee. Depending on the weather outside I would usually always grab my lunch and coffee and go across the street to the campus horseshoe and have a picnic.
The staff is always nice and polite. They are very happy and upbeat. When my order was wrong either by their fault or my own the staff was very happy to correct the order for me. That made me extremely happy because they definitely live by the "customer is always right" way of being.
When family and friends visited me on base I always took the time to take them to Columbia, SC for Cool Beans lunch.
Highly recommended and just in love with the atmosphere. -
Review from Jaime P.
11/12/2011
I travel a great deal for my job, so when I need a place to grab some healthy food, a pick me up AND do my work.
Cool Beans was a great match for me. I was able to get delicious and healthy food as well as some coffee and wifi! The only draw back was that this is on the college campus and parking (I went during the daytime on a Wednesday) was a nightmare.
There was plenty of seating (upstairs and downstairs) and I saw many folks stopping by for to-go food.
I would recommend this place for someone who has some time to stop and just relax and enjoy the afternoon - as well as for someone who is on campus and needs a quick drink or snack.
I would not recommend this for kids - too many people studying (screaming children would have annoyed the crap out of me) and I do not recommend this place for people who need a quick bite to eat and are DRIVING... only because you spend 7 minutes parking, there goes your quick bite!
Over all - great place to check out... If I lived in Columbia, I would go here for a small game night with friends and breakfast! -
Review from Sharon R.
Columbia, SC
1/31/2012
Coffee is fantastic! Perfect atmosphere to get some writing done on a weekday afternoon.. if you can find a seat!
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Review from Solomon W.
Austin, TX
7/1/2011
I stopped in for a joe-to-go and a muffin on my way down to Charleston, and I was really happy with the items I got. The vibe was low-key, and I thought it was very customer-service driven. Definitely fit for a college town.
The carrot raisin muffin was moist and very flavorful. The decaf was hefty in flavor and provided a good (faux) boost to my night-time drive.
If you are in the area, which is pretty much where you will be when in the uppity area of Columbia, head on over for a brew if you want a pick-me-up. -
Review from Taylor T.
Duluth, GA
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I adore Cool Beans. I come here almost everyday to study or get my homework done. The environment is great and it is the perfect setting for a cute college coffee shop. They play great music all the time and it's just the right environment to get your stuff done without being so bored like the library can be. Not to mention, all the drinks and food are great. I particularly recommend the Perfect Canadian. Parking sucks a little, but overall a great place!
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Review from Swetha G.
1/16/2011
I'm super happy to find out Kitty owns this place! I used to work with her at Courtyard Cafe when Jay was the owner of both Cool Beans and Courtyard, now she bought the place from him! She was great to work with and I am happy that she now runs Cool Beans, which is a wonderful coffee house in Columbia.
I went to Cool Beans last night after a 10 year gap (it's been a while) and it's just as good today as it was when I was a college student.
The baristas are beautiful and friendly. And do a great job!
The coffee IS superb.
But best of all, they still serve AMAZING dessert! If you haven't had it yet, try their peanut chocolate pie, it's delish!
I love that they still accommodate vegetarians and I'm looking forward to sampling the different veggie entrees off the menu :) -
Review from william r.
Dallas, TX
10/6/2011
I only had espresso.
The beans were either old or way over-extracted. Gotta give them credit for a clean space though a typical college-shabby-study-all-night kind of place. Also, they make a real macchiato, although the espresso quality meant they probably should have drowned it in milk, ice, carmel, and whatever else that big chain throws into their cups. Really nice staff here.
Really nothing fantastic going on here to warrant the exuberant ratings from others. Come here to chat and study. -
Review from Gabrielle C.
New York, NY
8/23/2011
I LOVE Cool Beans. Cool Beans got me through college. The upstairs and downstairs area, the books, the board games, the cool music, the cheddar chicken wrap that will change your life, the varied and cozy seating, the fun local art on the walls, the friendly staff, and the 50 cent refills! For serious, Cool Beans is the college coffee place all other college coffee places aspire to be. I almost took a star off because the parking is crazy-limited, but it's right on campus so a lot of students will be able to walk here, finding a meter during the summer is no sweat, and anyway however stressed you get from finding a meter, once you get that cheddar chicken wrap down your gullet you'll forget you were ever mad about anything, ever.
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Review from Pat M.
Chicago, IL
2/21/2011
Bought a vanilla iced coffee while writing some letters. I liked the layout of how the orders took place upstairs and downstairs was a lounge for people to sit, do work, and drink coffee.
However, the lighting was pretty pour on the main floor and the coffee was a little overpriced $3 for the serving I was given 12oz. They also put too much ice into my drink. Great way to cut costs for them, but also a poor way to please the customer. Overall, the drink was excellent. No qualms on taste. Unique spot about average overall. -
Review from Matthew C.
Norfolk, VA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Chill place to get good food and coffee. Buy something every visit and support a local business. Great for studying, catching up with friends or just zoneing out with some good coffee.
-
Review from Mark i.
San Francisco, CA
+ 2 stars for the food - all three times I was here, it was fresh 'n' tasty. The hummus - if you like it mild, less lemon-y, this is your spot.
+ 4 stars for service. Kat and Rachel were engaging, fun, and most of all professional baristas when it came to getting my coffee order just the right - hot (or cold). -
Review from ananda z.
Augusta, GA
5/9/2011
The quintessential college coffee shop. Except maybe more so. Great coffee options. An Indian and Ethiopian and 4 others I can't remember. Tasty. Lots of studiers in deep study & casual chatter. And right in the middle of everything. I like Columbia.
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Review from Big O.
Columbia, SC
4/18/2010
Could very well be the best coffee house in Columbia but too many damn Wi-fi internet squatters.
I went there on a lazy Sunday with the wife to get some coffee and lunch (the sandwiches combo's are great). It is obvious 90% of the patrons are just squatting there for free internet as they are not eating or drinking. Dudes get a life.
So other than that negative this place is a true coffee house and has been so before coffee houses were cool. You are right on the USC horseshoe so that makes it nice for walking off your meal.
I had the curry chicken salad sandwich and it was very good. The pasta side salad is the kind you make in a box but still complimented the meal well and was only like $6 for the whole meal.
When I was in grad school at USC I used to get coffee from here all the time before Starbucks were so ubiquitous. -
Review from Matthew B.
Herndon, VA
11/30/2009
I stumbled on this place thanks to Google Maps after a day trip at the Zoo on the way back home to Northern Virginia. This place has it all, and if I lived in the area I'm sure I'd spend a lot of time there. Awesome decor in an old building, handwritten chalkboard menus, great prices, friendly staff, and, most importantly, great coffee. The tables are spread out over a few rooms (think old rooms in an old house) giving a very cozy feel to the place.
I'm assuming there's wifi available given the large number of laptops I saw. -
Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
9/25/2007 1 photo
Very cute coffee shop! It was sooooooooooo hot outside and so incredibly cool in here. Loved it. I think there were some people smoking inside... I can't remember if it was that or if it just smelled bad inside. I keep forgetting that not every state has the no-smoking-indoors law.
My blended coffee drink was actually on the bitter side.Listed in: South Carolina
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Review from Kelly R.
San Francisco, CA
2/18/2011
A quintessential coffee shop! Cool Beans is roomy, with two floors. They have excellent vegetarian sandwiches...and you if order a hummus wrap, it actually feels like a HUMMUS wrap rather than a thin layer of hummus with lettuce. They have an interesting array of beverages, including Italian sodas, and often have features like raspberry or peppermint white mocha. They even have a shelf of games.
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Review from Chris K.
Fort Mill, SC
4/1/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Great little coffee place right next to the horseshoe at USC!!!
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Review from Mostly S.
San Francisco, CA
6/26/2007
I've got a huge bone to pick with the wi-fi here. Hell, when you advertise your free wi-fi (and everyone knows that beyond drip coffee, good wifi is the biggest draw to a place) you better make sure it works.
Other than that, I guess the selling point of this place is it's huge list of specialty drinks. I like these. Hell, they do a very good mocha. Be wary dear customer, that there are two variations to this drink: The mochacino (the actual espresso +chocolate +milk) and the Holy Mocha (Coffee + hot cocoa + whipped cream). Why? I don't know. They have chocolate disks they give with their more expensive drinks. This is a good thing. Oh, there pastries are a fair deal to.
I wouldn't recommend the food, unless you're going for the 7$ special, with comes with coffee or tea and a side salad, making it fair decent. Actually, the sandwiches are pretty good, I guess I was dissapointed with a salad I got there.
Oh yeah, this place is the only one not filled with drunk people thats open till midnight. That's a huge draw for me and many other people. The best room for meeting people (barring that creepy guy with the mullet who's ALWAYS there) is the smoking room, if you can stand the smell (I actually like it). -
Review from Jessica B.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2009
Coffee houses are my havens.
I spend too much time in them back in Chicago, and when I visit family I spend some time in them to feel more at home and "in my zone."
This place is a very good place to do that. Free wifi, lots of seating, reasonable prices, chess, etc.
It's easy for me to read here and my mochas have always been good. -
Review from Therese F.
Bellflower, CA
12/10/2007
...Capitalizing, I suppose, on how popular it was to say "cool beans" circa 1999. How cute.
Let me preface this by saying I am not a coffee drinker, so you'll get no witty information from me on the coffee available here. However, the hot chocolate is outstanding. These folks have Ph.D.s in whipped cream placement. Great for a pre-class sugar rush. -
Review from Kaity J.
8/27/2010
Hands down, my favorite coffee place in Columbia. Great atmosphere, outstanding baristas. Very chill vibe. Great coffee.
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Review from Jason S.
Portland, OR
9/14/2009
Outrageously air conditioned and dirt cheap coffee. Cool Beans is inside of an old house near the capital building. The hardwood floors, numerous windows, rotating art displays and 80s music make for a cozy, alternative environment. Definitely friendly confines for college-aged kids who like to read and write.
Just inside of the entrance on the first level, there are a few usually empty tables and a bulletin board. This is more of a lobby than anything. Drinks and eats are upstairs. Also upstairs are three rooms of various sizes for sitting. The rooms are packed quite nicely with tables though not so packed that it is crowded. Smokers spend their time on the front steps downstairs from it all. WiFi is password protected but they'll divulge it to you if you require. The few times I have visited Cool Beans, internet was speedy and reliable.
The coffee is good and cheap. By good I simply mean that it's not gas station coffee and it's better than something you'd probably brew at home. I don't drink anything else so I can't speak to the specialty drinks, but there menu is extensive. Coffee refills cost just a few coins and there are plenty of food options if you get hungry (though the wraps and paninis are a bit pricey... $6+ for any foodstuff you order).
Tip for the cheap and/or broke: coffee is self-serve and refills are purchased by depositing fifty cents into a metal cup near the coffee carafes so if you're short for cash, just throw in a few coins for noises sake and get yourself a refill. -
Review from Jason H.
Longmont, CO
4/23/2007
A great grad student hangout that still serves food that you can enjoy on a business trip when you want to remember what it was like to spend hours in a coffee house with no other reason other than to talk to anyone who will listen. The food is good enough to satisfy and the coffee is good and inexpensive. For anyone with a laptop the wi-fi is still free.
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Review from para l.
Columbia, SC
5/27/2009
The best coffee house in Columbia; a perfect place to kick-it or read or whatever. Very tasty foods. Meat-crushers should score the BLT, but there are plenty of vegetarian options, and many worthy muffins, brownies, and so on. My only complaint is that they play fairly bad music, normally what sounds like some sort of yuppie-80s satellite station. They could AT LEAST play the local college radio station, WUSC. Overall, killer spot, just BYOTunes.
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Review from Simon T.
Columbia, SC
8/26/2009
Great vibe. Good coffee. No wifi... WTF?
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Review from Mark M.
Columbia, SC
9/24/2010
very cool setting to have a cup of coffee and relax many work on there computers it is near USC so it is a student oriented coffee shop also near the state house , so try it out if in Columbia and you like coffee
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Review from Erin A.
Seattle, WA
10/20/2010
Baristas are on point!! Food is some of the best I have had in this town. Try the curry chicken salad sandwich, it is simply amazing, seriously, amazing!!!! Can get crowded with studying students and yuppie artists, but that is what a good coffee shop is for, right? I love, love, love this place!
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Review from Greg T.
Ridgewood, NY
12/8/2006
Acceptable grad student hangout, close to USC. Food is decent.
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Review from Jen H.
Columbia, SC
10/31/2009
this is the quintessential coffee house. perfect for getting together with people to chat or read and study. great expresso drinks and pleasant fast service. the fantasia espresso drink is tasty but very very sweet. i love the "perfect woman". plenty of seating. the food is pretty good (mainly sandwiches on focaccia bread or wraps) with plenty of vegetarian options. music is at the perfect level- low enough for those that want to study but not so low that you feel uncomfortable having a conversation. there is a "non smoking" and a "smoking" room so be aware if you don't want to sit among smoke we all know being in a separate room doesn't really stop fumes. ps. the reported free wifi does not always work.
