Freshly Brewed

It seems like everyone in Tallahassee has a favorite coffee shop. There are plenty of options, after all, and each has a different personality as unique as the people who love them. Choosing the place you’ll frequent feels almost like a rite of passage. This past year, three new coffee shops with different approaches to style, service, and sips opened their doors—three strong candidates for a new signature spot. 

Photos Courtesy of Patchwork Coffee

Patchwork Coffee

Near the Williams building on Florida State’s campus sits a 95-year-old building once part of the Episcopal University Center. Ruge Hall is a true historic location—vintage to the point of eccentric and homey in the way only hardwood floors and wainscoting can be. Through the double doors and to the right, Patchwork Coffee’s bar and kitchen hum.

Patchwork opened in 2025 with a mission to bring people from all backgrounds together for the shared love of the coffee bean. All are welcome under this historic roof. 

To the team at Patchwork Coffee, every step of the coffee-making process is carefully curated and mindful of the world that surrounds us. Their beans are ethically sourced, their cups and lids are environmentally friendly, and the unique flavors contained within—like this spring’s Lemon Dream Cold Brew or Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble Latte—can’t be found anywhere else in town. 

“Different by design” is what Nate Russell, owner of Patchwork Coffee, strives for. 

“When I went to Florida State, I had a coffee roasting project,” Russell says. “I dedicated that project to direct sourcing, [which means] finding importers who care about the farms they source from and creating a connection with those people.” 

While Russell doesn’t roast his own anymore, at Patchwork, Russell says he is dedicated to sourcing beans of the same high standard, and that quality is passed along in every sip. 

Photo courtesy of Mugshots Coffee and Tea

Mug shots Coffee and Tea

Walk down Gaines Street, and you’ll find another new campus-adjacent addition, Mug Shots Coffee and Tea.
A feeling of freshness and faint, familiar music bouncing off the walls greets you when you walk in. New paint and a new community: Already Mug Shots’s future as a CollegeTown hangout spot seems bright. 

The seasonal menu is best described as colorful. When I visited, Mug Shots was slinging the “First Date,” a strawberry chai latte; “Better Than Revenge,” a banana bread latte with banana cold foam; and “Something Different,” a white chocolate raspberry macchiato. Of course, the shop also provides your classic coffee brews, tea selections, and pastries. Anything you’d want from a little corner coffee shop, Mug Shots has. 

Photo courtesy of Outboard Coffee Company

Outboard Coffee Company

For the morning birds and all-nighters, Outboard Coffee opens bright and early for those in northeast Tallahassee. Connected with DEEP Brewing on Centerville Road, Outboard serves both coffee and brunch for its local neighbors.

Their building is open and spacious—a high-ceilinged restaurant transformed into a welcoming space equally suited to breakfasting solo or gathering with a group. 

Whether you’re a Tallahassee native or a curious traveler, Outboard Coffee’s greatest strength is its distinct feeling of Southern hospitality. You’ll be surrounded by rich food, fresh air, and a strong coffee. While less of a work-and-linger third space, Outboard Coffee Company fills out the profile of unique restaurant spaces in the upper Tallahassee area. If you find yourself rising with the sun, you may find this spot bustling along with you.