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Quality Brewing Attracts Blacksburg Loungers The Easy Chair Coffee Shop, located in the University Mall, has been serving the town of Blacksburg for 10 years. Russell Chisholm, one of the shop’s devoted founders, not only works as a barista, but also roasts all of the beans used in the shop. “We are constantly striving to improve. I believe you must start with the best green coffes available. Roasting in-house has taken our coffee forward in leaps and bounds,” Chisholm said. The Easy Chair brews a medium roast, a dark roast and a decaf on a daily basis. While the shop does not offer flavored beans, they do have a variety of flavored syrups which can be added to any drink of choice. “We discontinued flavored coffees because … the base beans for flavored coffees tend to be lower quality,” Chisholm said. |
The enticing aroma of coffee wafts around the busy shop as customers enter and exit. The shop’s atmospheric lighting and comfortable chairs make the environment warm and inviting. College-aged students, adults and children are scattered throughout the store, relaxing, chatting and drinking. This scene is a common occurrence in any of the coffee houses in Blacksburg. Although they all serve coffee and pastries, each shop is well known for different reasons. Some shops roast their own beans, others have live music and some even display local art. The one passion these coffee houses share, however, is the quest for the perfect cup of coffee.