I hate coffee.
It’s Election Day, so after voting I decided to head over to a new-to-me coffee shop. I hate coffee, but I’ve always wanted to be a “coffee girl”. The aesthetic of enjoying an overpriced drink while getting some work done was always appealing to me. Trying to do work in my sorority house is just a little distracting, so I decided to switch up my routine and get out of my room. I got in my car and drove over to Piecewise Coffee Co. in Cayce, which is a 5 minute drive from campus.
Photo by Brynn Burke
I shamefully walk up to the counter and quietly say to the barista, “I hate coffee. What should I order?” She gives me a kind smile which was relieving and begins to list off some menu items that might work for me.
I don’t know very many coffee terms, so I took a leap of faith and ordered the sweetest drink they offer: The '“Smo-Jo”. A marshmallow cold brew with a mocha cold foam. The Smo-Jo gave me high hopes, but just in case the barista ensured me that she would make me a new drink if I didn’t like the one I ordered. How nice is that?
After scoping out the shop for a table, I decided on a half-booth table for two. One seat for me, and the other for my backpack. Piecewise is very aesthetically pleasing, and has the perfect coffee shop vibe. Huge windows make for perfect natural, warm light. It’s a perfect temperature, cozy without being too hot (I also hate being cold). They offer big tables in the back for outdoor meetings, and a few tables outside in the front.
Photo by Brynn Burke
I liked my seat because I could see everything. Couples in cute fall outfits, college students using the day off to their advantage, and that one old man who is probably internally complaining about how much his drink cost. And then I heard my name called, which was crazy because no one ever pronounces it correctly.
Maybe it was my positive experience with the barista, the copious amounts of sweet foam, or the overall good vibes, but I really enjoyed my coffee. As I write this, I’m on hour two of sitting here in Piecewise sipping on my coffee and being 10x more productive than if I would have stayed home and worked. Consider this your sign to get out of your apartment or dorm and study somewhere new. Thank you to the barista who made me enjoy coffee so I can live my dreams of being a coffee girl.
Check out Piecewise next time you want to switch it up. They have food and pastries, Kombucha, and unique coffee/non-coffee drinks. The wifi is fast and the regulars are nice (they helped me find the wifi password). Not to mention, there’s plenty of parking which is rare in the Columbia area.
