Between Friends Coffee Shop and Café Creating conversations over coffee

Looking for a place to sit and have a cup of coffee, maybe even have a little something to eat? Then, look no further than Between Friends Coffee Shop and Café. Like the name, that is how the coffee shop came to life between two friends. Friends and owners Victoria Hawkins and Jaimie Miller opened the shop on Aug. 1.

“Jaimie and I actually both had the idea of opening up a coffee shop,” said Hawkins. “The funny thing is we were talking about it over coffee. I threw the idea out there first and then she shared that she had a similar idea. So, we just went for it and here we are.”

“I always wanted to open a restaurant but knew I couldn’t handle a full fledge one right now,” said Miller. “I love to cook and bake, so really the coffee is Victoria’s expertise while the food is mine. We both felt like this was something the community needed. With help from family and friends, our idea came true and it’s all ours.”

Hawkins and Miller became friends more than two years ago. Though over the years, they both said looking back they had a lot of mutual friends. The two met through the middle school ministry they each help teach at Southside Baptist Church. After the two shared their mutual idea of opening a coffee shop, they began discussing what they envision of the atmosphere.

“We definitely wanted everyone to come in, feel invited and welcomed,” said Hawkins. “Kind of like a second home. We purposely don’t have a drive-through because we want people to come and join in on the conversation. No worries, I believe we are fast at getting the orders out, but we live in such a fast-paced society that we need to take a little breather here and there.”

Between Friends offers house drip coffees and specialty coffees such as lattes and frappes. Hawkins said their coffee comes from Beth Cleveland, who is the owner and local coffee roaster of Cleveland Organics. She also said it is all fair-trade organic coffee. Some of their signatures include the Pablo Neruda, which is a caramel brown sugar latte and the Langston Hughes, which is a chocolate peanut butter latte made with real scoops of peanut butter.

“All of our signature drinks are named after our favorite authors,” said Miller. “Victoria and I are both writers and we love to read. We thought it would be fun and unique, plus it’s another conversation starter.”

“It’s funny when I go to the library now for new book recommendations, I automatically start thinking of a drink I can create after the author,” said Hawkins, laughing.

“A lot of people have the problem of choosing between their favorite author and flavor,” said Miller. “We even have a bookshelf with some of the authors’ books that people can read while they drink their coffee. Aside from coffee, we also offer teas, and milkshakes.”

Another unique thing about Between Friends is the menu of food and pastries. Miller said they carry a few staple items every day but for the most part, it’s different every day.

“That’s what I love most is having the freedom to make something different each day,” said Miller. “For example, yesterday we made hot chocolate brownies. We do offer soups and sandwiches. One famous item is our chicken salad, which is made by my 93-year-old grandmother. It’s her own homemade recipe, and it is really good. Another popular item is our maple pecan scones; those sell out fast. Again, it’s another fun thing to see what’s new daily.”

The shop is open Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hawkins said they also from time to time host public events in the evenings on the days they are only open until 2 p.m. The shop can also be rented on those days for private events such as birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, church bible studies and more. Hawkins said they have also hosted book clubs and book signings.

“We don’t see people as customers, we see them as friends,” said Hawkins. “Our slogan is ‘Coffee is better between friends.’ Not only is it better here, but it’s better when you share it.”

“We are here and again we invite everyone to come try us out,” said Miller. “Everything is fresh, real ingredients, nothing is ever pre-made and it’s not fast food.”

The shop is located at 1080 Highway 96 (Suite 100), Warner Robins, GA 31088. For more information, visit www.betweenfriendscoffee.com or any of the social media pages such as Facebook.

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