When first realizing Bold Bean Coffee Roasters is based in Jacksonville, Florida, you might jump and call my opinion biased for choosing a coffee shop based in my hometown. That being said, after traveling throughout the United States and Europe and making an effort to stop at coffee shops in every town and city I visit, I have yet to find a coffee shop that serves better coffee than Bold Bean Coffee Roasters.

Bold Bean Coffee Roasters originally had three locations throughout Jacksonville but recently closed one of their branches last fall due to external circumstances. This coffee shop became a regular stop for me and was the perfect setting to sit down and do some work while enjoying a latte and freshly baked pastry. Each location used the surrounding area to inspire its design. The one at the beach incorporated ocean colors and neutral tones in its furniture. Another location near downtown Jacksonville included a brick wall and more urban-chic vibes, while the branch that recently closed used whites and grays to match the historic feel of San Marco.

With the friendliest staff, coming through their doors each time was a treat. Bold Bean Coffee Roasters partnered with a local bakery to provide customers with the freshest pastries and sandwiches each day. You knew just how fresh they were because they were first-come, first-served, and stopping by near the end of the day meant you had few options in terms of food. Additionally, the coffee shop served seasonal pastries to match the weather. So for the fall, I would enjoy a pumpkin chocolate scone, but for the spring, a strawberry vanilla scone would be offered.

Of course, what makes Bold Bean Coffee Roasters the best coffee shop is its coffee itself. There’s something so unique about the flavor that I have been unable to find anywhere else. From London to Dublin to Berlin to New York City, I have yet to find a coffee with similar notes and flavors as that of Bold Bean Coffee Roasters. One thing that makes Bold Bean Coffee Roasters unique is its hands-on partnership with coffee producers and processors in South America, Central America and Africa. Some of the Bold Bean employees even travel to locations in Guatemala, Ethiopia and Colombia to learn more about the coffee process, talking with agricultural specialists to learn the different factors that affect the taste of coffee.

If ever in Jacksonville, do yourself a favor and stop at one of the two Bold Bean Coffee Roasters’ locations to try some of the richest, boldest and most flavorful coffee to be found.

— Aoife O’Riordan, associate editor