Simpsonville’s First Ever Coffee Shop

The first things I noticed immediately after walking in were the smells of freshly brewed coffee and the cacophonous sounds coming from the people drinking it. As the early morning light shined in, the atmosphere was warm and earthy. With the aesthetic containing many different types of wood and greenery, the coffee shop felt very homely and welcoming. This Saturday, I went with Jade Pichierre, another staff member at The Ram Page, and we each tried various things on the menu. If you are not a fan of coffee that’s overly saturated in sugary syrups, Coffee Exchange Co. is for you. The natural flavors are potent as the various spices travel across your taste buds. The crepes were fluffy and light, while the contents inside (whether it be strawberries and chocolate or fresh vegetables and cheese) were undeniably flavorful. 

Exchange Coffee Co. was established in 2014 and is located in the heart of downtown Simpsonville. “The owners started it in 2014, in like fresh markets and stuff, serving coffee and crepes. And then, they started in this building in February in 2014”, Dallas Carol, the current manager, states. He says they are also looking to expand to more locations in Simpsonville. 

Moving on to the bread and butter of the questioning (literally and figuratively), I asked Dallas what the fan favorites were on the menu. He goes on to say, “So, I would say for crepes, that’s Pepper Jack Smack. That one’s bacon, egg, and cheese, just a good breakfast. As far as our baked goods go, that’s probably our lemon blueberry scone; that one’s just the most popular. And then, for drinks, just any kind of latte.” My curiosity got the better of me as I asked what his favorite item on the menu was. “Umm… I really like the Veggie Crepe. It changed my life after discovering it because I didn’t try it for a long time. I was just like, “veggies!?” you know? And then, probably just like a cold brew for coffee. Any iced coffee is my favorite.” I then asked Dallas about the type of customer service one would expect when coming to Exchange Coffee Co. He says, “I mean, it’s something we definitely take a lot of pride in. I view ourselves as Simpsonville’s first ever coffee shop and hopefully, people can feel at home here”

After this, I asked the final and single most important question of the interview, which was: “Why should students and faculty of Hillcrest High School visit THIS coffee shop?” And the response was, “Well, we’re not too far away, for one. Umm… I think we’re a good study spot. You can bring your homework, and there’s free WiFi. We can keep you caffeinated.. And yeah! It’s a good spot to study and hang out, maybe do a little of both!”

Taking into account Exchange Coffee Co.’s multitude of fresh flavors, coupled with their dedication to satisfying their customers, I fully encourage the people of Hillcrest Highschool to go and spend a morning at Exchange Coffee Co. They are Simpsonville’s first-ever coffee shop, after all.