Leopard Forest Coffee Co.

Posted November 6th, 2007 by hirevi

Background

International Award-winning Coffee in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Leopard Forest Coffee Co. is located north of Greenville on Highway 276, which is Main Street, Travelers Rest. We offer top quality coffee (has won international awards since 1999; please see CoffeeReview.com), which we bring in directly from our farm in Zimbabwe and roast on site in TR. Our farm has produced consistent, high-quality coffee for many years. In addition, we are always searching for superior coffees from other origins like Colombia, Nicaragua, Kenya and Sumatra. The growing seasons are different from region to region, and each season brings wonderful new coffees to discover. As we find them, we roast them fresh.

We also have a wide range of teas (loose and bags), smoothies and cold coffee drinks. In addition, if you're looking for unique gifts, we have great coffee and tea baskets (which you can create yourself), and we bring in fun items from Zimbabwe and South Africa, like baskets, cloth and toys.

The full Café menu is available to download from our website. Here are some highlights:
* Chicken Salad Sandwich or on fresh baked bread from Rocky Creek Bakery or salad greens
* Turkey Italiano Sandwich on fresh baked bread
* Daily FRESH Soups (often vegetarian)
* Salad Greens with choice of dressing
* Baker’s Bagels and fresh baked Muffins and Scones (tea time is fun in “The Forest”)
* Vegetarian and Vegan options
* Wheat-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and sugar-free options
This cafe is one of the best in South Carolina, and the top place to stop on your way to either Caesar's Head, Brevard or Asheville. Tuesday nights we have a laid-back open mic with fine local musicians, and every second Friday of the month we have a featured poet (published) read with open mic afterwards. On the third Tuesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. we host a community forum, too, where local government rep’s, business people and community members meet for a short presentation and discussion about what is going on in the area.

Keys to Success

Our international award-winning coffee is how we began, but our employees both in South Carolina and Zimbabwe are the true keys to our success.

Target Customers

Our cafe has something for everyone, especially the health-conscious, those with food allergies and anyone who wants something different than the normal small-town diner fare. Our menu changes seasonally.

Challenges Faced

Specialty coffee in the Southeast is growing, and we hope to be a great representative for our industry.

Where We're Headed

Our cafe is very important as a way to highlight and sample our coffee. But we hope to provide Zimbabwe's best coffees to as many cafes as possible throughout the U.S. Many cafe owners get their coffee from two or three different roasters, and we offer our Zimbabwe single estate coffee to everyone.