Chantal Barlow, Contributing critic
Recently, the city of Wilmore welcomed its newest business, a modern yet rustic specialty coffee shop called Drinklings. The outside of the building is painted a light blue, featuring black and brown accents. Inside the heavy black doors are wooden floors, exposed brick walls and open ceilings with beautiful wood rafters. Wooden booths and tables are attached to the walls on one side, and on grey metal tables throughout the shop sit small white flower pots holding succulents. More plants hang in macramé plant hangers, dangling in the windows.
Drinklings existed long before its coffee shop space opened on Main Street. Owners Randy Hardman and Andrew Eberhart have been roasting and selling their own beans locally since January 2017. I tried their beans back when they first started selling them by the bag but was not too impressed, simply because there was nothing particularly memorable about the roasts I tried.
Since the shop’s opening, however, I have tried the Sumatra roast as drip coffee, which features notes of cocoa and tastes like a bar of earthy dark chocolate. I enjoyed this roast more than other conventional drip coffees I have tried in the past, both from Drinklings and other coffee roasters.
Upon attending the coffee shop’s grand opening (which was packed) on Saturday, March 16, I ordered a plain cappuccino to get a baseline for Drinklings’ espresso quality. I was pleased with the balance and smoothness of the espresso and the perfect blend of foam, milk and espresso, tasting just as a cappuccino should. I found myself eager to try more of the menu offerings. Thus far, I have found every drink delicious (my favorite is the lavender cappuccino).
Drinklings roasts its own beans in-store where customers can see, giving patrons an inside look at the process their coffee undergoes, which is a unique undertaking for almost any new coffee shop. Another unique thing about Drinklings is that it shares its space with a small boutique called The Olive Branch.
On shelves and tables lining the walls rest stunning handmade ceramic coffee mugs, vases, vintage clothes, pillows and other assorted goods.
The boutique features the work of many local artists and entrepreneurs who rent the space to sell their merchandise.
One concern that I voiced to co-owner Hardman was the shop’s hours of operation. Currently, the coffee shop is open only until 5 p.m., meaning that neither the HICCUP nor Drinklings is open from 5-7 p.m. during the week. However, Drinklings is open on Sunday afternoons from 1-5 p.m., and Hardman assured me that they plan on extending weekday hours within the coming weeks.
I wish Drinklings had been here when I started at Asbury. I had heard whispers over the past few months of Drinklings Coffee and Mugs, the overarching business and plans to open a coffee shop in Wilmore; I did not expect it to open before I graduated. Nevertheless, I plan on enjoying it for the last few months of my senior year.
Top three drinks to try at Drinklings:
- Lavender Cappuccino – This cappuccino has just the right amount of everything — espresso, foam, steamed milk and a fun spring flavor.
- Hot Chai – Drinklings make its loose-leaf chai tea mix in-house with no chemicals or preservatives. This warm drink is perfect for a rainy day.
- Cold Brew – The cold brew is smooth, caffeinating and refreshing for a hot summer day!
