Savannah Coffee Roasters
Face of Coffee
Savannah Coffee Roasters
Meet Lori & John – The origin of coffee in Savannah dates back to more than a century ago, when Edgar R. Morrison founded The Savannah Coffee Company on Bay Street in 1909. Eventually, the name was changed to Savannah Coffee Roasters when the first store opened inside the Oglethorpe Mall in the eighties. Today, owners, John and Lori Collins are taking Savannah’s coffee culture into a new era, while upholding the standards of the delicate roasting process that has endured for more than three generations.
Originally from Australia, Lori followed her dreams to the Coastal Empire in search of a location where she could open a café, and although she was not a coffee drinker at the time, one taste of the fresh Savannah Coffee Roasters brews and Lori was hooked. She purchased the company from owner, Hayden Banks, and began operating as a wholesale business from a small roasting warehouse located in East Savannah. Lori realized her goal of expanding the business in 2013 and acquired the 8500 square foot building formally occupied by the Kutchey Auto Parks Store and Warehouse on Liberty Street. Collins invested a significant amount of money and time to transform the once disused building, about to be demolished for town houses and offices, into the modern bistro that now stands in its place. This accomplishment earned her the Savannah Economic Development and Renewal Authority’s Golden Broom Award in 2015.
Guests to the café are invited to observe the process onsite at the roastery, where John can be found creating signature blends such as, Moon River, Captain’s Choice and the house favorite, Good and Evil Blend. Coffee isn’t the only thing that is offered at the café and diners can also enjoy a gourmet menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to fresh baked breads and pastries. The Morrison Room, located on the second floor is the perfect venue for private parties and on Friday evenings, the space is transformed into a live Murder Mystery Theater. Lori and John have also recently added catering to their long list of endeavors, providing food for weddings, luncheons and events including, the Faces of the South Anniversary Party.
The Collins’ newest venture is the welcome addition of a second Savannah Coffee Roasters location inside of the Jepson Center for the Arts on Telfair Square. Open for lunch, the sister location provides the perfect alternative to most of the noisy and crowded downtown haunts and ushers in a new phase for the business.
“No wonder there is something magic about the effects of a cup of good coffee. It has gathered to itself the glory of Southern suns and the mystery of
tropic nights.”
– Editor of Simmon’s Spice Mill, “The Poetry and Romance of Coffee”
215 W Liberty St, Savannah, GA savannahcoffee.com 912.352.2994
