Humphrey Street Coffee has rocketed to near the top of my favorite coffee shops. I know they've been roasting for a while, but only when they opened a full-time shop did I make it over. This is the real deal. There are four coffee places within a few blocks of each other, and although they sell fine coffee, I never cared for the vibe or the ethos of the others.
But Humphreys is outstanding in the same way the The Well is. They not only provide a good product, but they use it for a good cause. In the case of the well, they donate some of the funds to bring clean water to impoverished areas in the world, but at Humphreys, they're training young people the art of business and service. All profits go towards this endeavor, and although I'll never criticize a business for making a profit, it's nice to see a company decide to give back.
The environs are great, too. Open, bright, and well lit make it extremely inviting. Clean tables, comfortable seating, and excellent wifi makes it a place you're not going to feel pressured to get in and out.
The coffee is well-worth the experience. Yes, teenagers are actually making your beverage, but they are no worse than any other coffee shop in the area. They are attentive, know their recipes, and appear to be aware of the processes of coffee making. One of the baristas is walking around talking to customers, which make it very personable.
I've been to most of the coffee shops in Nashville, and the lack of pretentiousness, clean and welcome environment, and good coffee makes this a must see if you like good coffee and a nice place to drink coffee, hang out, and support a good cause.