Editor's Note: This article is part of a new online series launched in July 2023 by the City of Gainesville intended to highlight and promote must-try businesses in the area of the historic square in downtown Gainesville, Georgia. As the community continues to flourish and welcome new restaurants, retailers and service providers – especially within the downtown corridor – leadership wishes to introduce available offerings to residents and visitors alike ahead of their next trip to the City of Gainesville. Must-Try Monday features will be released weekly via gainesville.org and the @GainesvilleGeorgiaGovernment (City of Gainesville, Georgia) Facebook page. Be sure to "Like" and follow us on social media so you don't miss the latest and greatest about the Hospitality Capital of the World!
Meadowlark Coffee | 109 Bradford St. NE | Open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday + 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Sept. 18, 2023) – Should you find yourself on Bradford Street taking in the aesthetics and relaxed ambiance of downtown Gainesville, keep moving until you see the "Coffee" sign perched above the entryway doors to Meadowlark Coffee – you'll want to stop in.
Tucked away in a corner of the historic square is the intimately sized (437 square feet to be exact) coffee shop, which boasts bold, satisfying flavors in its specialty coffee, tea and pastries. Meadowlark Coffee takes pride in bringing the best brews from around the world to the Hospitality Capital of the World, plus fresh New York-style bagels, cinnamon rolls, cookies, muffins and more.
"We believe that coffee is the best way to bring a community together," states Meadowlark Coffee's official website. "... We can cater to a variety of needs whether you would like coffee for your office, a full espresso bar for your event or just a large order in advance. We can make great coffee accessible to you no matter what your needs are."
To owners JP and Sommer McKenzie, "coffee is a lifelong passion: a pursuit that is constantly evolving," the website states.
"Foundational to our days, coffee is where our journeys start," it states. "Our first sips, first moments, taking in the morning light, and when it is shared, it takes on a whole new meaning."
Learn the ins and outs of Meadowlark Coffee, what makes it a Must-Try Monday-worthy stop and why you should make it a destination the next time you're in downtown Gainesville by reviewing additional information below.
WHO
Meadowlark Coffee is owned by JP and Sommer McKenzie of Gainesville. JP began his infatuation with coffee through visiting shops across the United States with Sommer. "From our own adventures to touring as a musician, I was able to experience the coffee industry in a new light," JP states via the website. "While on tour, often times a trip to a coffee shop would be my only experience with a city. I realized that coffee was an exploration in sensory overload: the smells, the tastes, the noises of a bustling and intimate shop, the aesthetics, the friendliness of the people behind the bar. I couldn’t get enough." The McKenzies are proud to call Gainesville home and together have two children, Larkin and newly born Brecken.
WHAT
Meadowlark Coffee prides itself on offering specialty coffee, tea and pastries. While they serve your traditional drip coffee, hot or iced lattes and cappuccinos, the coffee shop's menu also features more elevated offerings, like "Morning Palomas," citrus syrup, grapefruit tonic and flash-brewed Columbian coffee; and "Golden Milk," a turmeric-, ginger-, black pepper- and lemongrass-infused Chai tea served with steamed milk. For the non-coffee drinkers, Meadowlark Coffee serves iced pineapple matchas, hot chocolates, London Fog lattes and more. And depending on the time of year you visit, savor one of their specialty beverages, like the springtime cinnamon cardamom capp or bloom latte, featuring flower syrup comprised of rose, lavender, jasmine and chamomile. Pair your handcrafted beverage with a fresh bakery item, like New York-style bagels, cinnamon rolls, cookies, muffins and more, and you're bound to have a good day.
WHEN
Get your Meadowlark Coffee fix every day of the week, from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. We won't judge you if you stop in multiple times a day.
WHERE
Meadowlark Coffee is located at 109 Bradford St. NE, Gainesville, at the corner of Bradford and Washington streets. Look for them behind Occasions Florist and across from Consuelo.
WHY
Meadowlark Coffee's goal is to highlight each flavor and experience of the coffee by sourcing the highest-qualities ingredients, the website states. "Of course, local is preferred; however, we want to make sure that we are finding the best possible ingredients to make each sip stand out," it states. The Meadowlark Coffee website proudly features a lengthy list of sourced ingredients, which includes Bellwood Coffee, Atlanta; Condor Chocolates, Athens; Noble Honey Company, Atlanta; and Valor Coffee, Alpharetta, to name a few.
HOW
JP McKenzie shares via the Meadowlark Coffee website he started working at a shop in Atlanta where he fell in love with tasting as many coffees as he could. "Our goal has always been to open a shop of our own, but our dream has always been to share that love with the people around us," he states. "When we moved to Gainesville, in North Georgia, we realized our community was underserved when it came to specialty third-wave coffee. We wanted to change that not only for ourselves, but for those we love." And the rest is history! Now, the customer's role is easy! Interested in seeing what Meadowlark Coffee is all about? Stop by and skim the menu for yourself or order online. Meadowlark Coffee also has an online merch store, and recently rolled out latte art classes – sounds fun, right!? Visit the website often to sign up for future classes.
PHOTO CUTLINE | The Meadowlark Coffee storefront, located at 109 Bradford St. NE on the historic square in downtown Gainesville. Find additional photos shared via the @GainesvilleGeorgiaGovernment Facebook page. (Images shared from Meadowlark Coffee's official Facebook page.)
