Legacy of beloved Warner Robins coffee shop lives on in cookbook

WARNER ROBINS — A local business recently closed its doors but opened a new chapter by publishing a cookbook filled with recipes that built its legacy. 

After 10 years of serving the community, Between Friends Coffee officially closed its doors on June 13. It was a literary-themed cafe located on Highway 96. 

The pair in turn announced on July 7 the release of “Between Friends: The recipes that wrote our story.”

It is a collection of their drinks, desserts and breakfast items. Miller said every popular café item is in the book, like the broadway bagel burger. 

“Everything comes with a story. (We included) the recipe, photos that were never released to the public. After 10 years we had thousands of photos. We just felt like it was time to release those and hopefully keep our legacy alive,” she said. 

Miller said they wanted the memories to go into people’s homes. 

“For 10 years, people came into our home so we wanted to give it back,” she said. 

When the cafe first opened in 2017, they were the first independent coffee shop in the area. Now, there are about five throughout the city. 

The rise in food cost and rent is what eventually led to Between Friends closing, Miller said.

“It was just time. We had a beautiful 10 years, and now we’ve pivoted to focus on our other companies and our families. It’s bittersweet,” she said. 

The owners still keep their social media updated. Since announcing the release of their cookbook, people have been sending them photos of them cooking with their kids or making their iced coffee in the morning. Miller said it has been cool to see their reactions and being a part of their homes. 

“We were not prepared for the popularity of it and that’s been really exciting,” she said. 

Hawkins and Miller plan to still be involved in their community. They will host book signings and have a booth at the 10th annual Middle Georgia Lit Fest in February 2027. This is an event the duo also founded. 

“It’s going to be bigger and better than ever,” she said. 

Now, Hawkins and Miller are dedicated to their publishing company, also called Between Friends which was also established in 2017. Miller explained they work internationally with authors, but local authors are their priority.

Their café received a lot of attention from authors due to its theme. Miller said they would come in and ask if they could put their books on their shelves. As a published author herself, she would offer them advice. 

“We decided to help a few friends along the way and then it just grew, which was really neat,” she said. 

Between Friends: The recipes that wrote our story is available to purchase on Amazon and at My Grandma Empanadas, located at 120 South Armed Forces Boulevard. 

To continue keeping up with Between Friends, visit their Facebook page.