Durham, North Carolina is the home of Project Caffeinate. It’s also the home of a few prestigious names within the industry and a growing list of excellent places to grab a coffee. As new roasters and shops pop up with increasing frequency in Durham, one shop — and its founder — has watched that scene develop around it over the last decade.
For our first edition of Places We Love, we decided to feature Triangle Coffee House — a joint that embodies our favorite elements of cafe culture and of our hometown. It’s also a really great place to get a coffee.
Details
Address: 3109 Shannon Rd Bldg 3, Ste 101, Durham, NC 27707
Website: trianglecoffeehouse.com
Roasters: Larry’s Coffee, Cxffeeblack
Why We Love Triangle Coffee House
We’ve been getting our fix at Triangle Coffee House since it was at its first location on Ninth Street — adjacent to the Duke University campus for the unaware. Now, in its second iteration smack dab in the middle of Durham, the shop continues to provide everything we’re looking for in a coffee spot.
The People
Everything that makes Triangle Coffee House what it is traces back to its owner, Jermaine Bantum. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Bantum moved to Durham 13 years ago. As he settled into the Bull City, he found a home at the original Triangle Coffee House on Ninth Street, which was owned by another person at the time under the name Ninth Street Coffee House.
“I used to take my daughter to Ninth Street dance and hang out at the coffee shop,” said Bantum. “I fell in love with the culture, and that ultimately led me into getting into the coffee space.”
Bantum became an investor in Triangle Coffee House and eventually took over ownership of the business. Since then, the cafe has become a hub for people from all corners of Durham’s diverse population. Bantum told us this is his favorite thing about the shop.
“It’s the people, man,” he said. “We just have a very broad and diverse customer base and local supporters, which I love. I’m able to connect and meet with people that as a guy from Brooklyn, New York, I probably would never interface with anywhere else in the world.
A big reason for that welcoming atmosphere is, of course, Bantum himself. Triangle Coffee House is a reflection of his easygoing, friendly vibes, as are the other workers who mind the shop. It’s clear this is a place for people by design.
“Just having that broad diverse audience that comes into Triangle Coffee House, and being able to all coexist and mingle together — that’s what I enjoy the most,” said Bantum.
The Coffee
Triangle Coffee House more than holds its own among the many excellent places to get a coffee in Durham. That inclusive vibe extends to the coffee served here. Sweet treat lovers will find all their favorite concoctions on the menu. But espresso purists also have a home at Triangle Coffee House, thanks to expert baristas that keep their shots consistently dialed in.
Larry’s Coffee just down the road in Raleigh serves as the main supplier for Triangle Coffee House. The venerated roaster is a stalwart of the local coffee scene for good reason, and Bantum and his crew make sure the brand is always well-represented.
You’ll also find featured roasters in rotation at Triangle Coffee House. Recently, the shop was serving up a few selections from Cxffeeblack in Memphis, TN.
The Space
Few coffee shops are able to pull off what Triangle Coffee House does: function as a true multipurpose space and do all of it well. The large footprint, division of space, and variety of seating options make it possible for the shop to serve as a place to catch up with a friend and a place to get some work done. We are also required to report that there is a couch inside and that it is indeed comfy.
The shop also features an enormous outdoor space with an abundance of tables and chairs. That makes it an especially sound option for enjoying a little fresh air with your latte.
It’s also worth noting the location of Triangle Coffee House. While many of Durham’s renowned coffee shops are in and around the downtown area, Triangle Coffee House is located in an area that locals know as “South Square” due to the mall that used to occupy the space decades ago.
This area is central to Durham and the Triangle at large, making it a convenient stop for workers and students throughout the region. It’s also a part of town that holds a lot of sentimental value for locals.
Despite these advantages, there just aren’t many places to get a good cup of coffee in that part of town. Thankfully, however, there is now at least one.
Triangle Coffee House: A Place We Love
Fantastic coffee. Flexible spaces. Convenient location. An owner you hope to run into whenever you come in. Triangle Coffee House is a coffee shop built for people. As that seems to be getting harder and harder to find every year, we’re thankful to have this place in the city we call home.
