Black Mountain-based coffee roasters to open café in South Asheville, its 3rd
ASHEVILLE - A coffee shop and roasting company’s latest strategic move to caffeinate Western North Carolina will take them into South Asheville.
In July 1999, Amy Vermillion founded The Dripolator in Black Mountain. Now, Vermillion and her business partners Chris Bolick and Joshua Valdes are amid a business expansion that’s brought the café to Candler and soon into Asheville.
This summer, The Dripolator ― also known as The Drip ― will open at 20 Gala Drive, Suite G-101, in Gerber Village near Publix.
The business owners realized they could fulfill a need in the community while filling the cups of new customers.
“The dream was South because there’s just not a lot once you get past Biltmore, Biltmore Village there’s not a huge coffee scene and even getting out to Hendersonville,” Valdes said.
The Dripolator South is projected to open between mid-May-July.
It will offer many of the same menu items, like traditional and signature coffee and espresso-based drinks and other beverages and fresh baked goods, that customers have come to love at the Black Mountain and Candler cafés.
The Gerber Village store will have a roll-up garage door that opens to the patio, two designated parking spots for quick order pickups, and other details in the planning stage.
The partners are considering how to incorporate new design elements while maintaining consistency and staying true to the business’s core, Valdes said.
“There’s something about a small coffee shop, especially our coffee shop. It’s beautiful. So, how do we recreate that?” he said.
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Sips at The Drip
The Dripolator is named after a type of pour-over coffee maker that was widely produced during the art deco era, Vermillion said, which was the inspiration behind the business’s art deco interior and logo designs.
Many of the younger clientele aren’t familiar with the dripolator, she said, but that was part of the appeal.
“Younger generations are going to come to coffee houses no matter what,” Vermillion said. “How do I appeal to an older generation? I chose a name and theme that they may recognize from their childhood. Also, it’s different. People don’t know what it is, so they have to ask or research. It’s worked for us.”
A dripolator is displayed at the Candler store for those curious to see one in person.
It’s been more than 20 years since Vermillion opened the first café at 221 W. State St. in Black Mountain.
The support generated at the flagship café has aided the company’s recent growth.
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“Black Mountain has sort of been deemed the ‘Front Porch of Western North Carolina’ because it’s kind of the first town you hit as you come up Old Fort Mountain,” Vermillion said, referring to the stretch of the mountain between Black Mountain to Old Fort. “The Dripolator has been called ‘the living room off the front porch of Western North Carolina.’”
The secret to success: “It’s a commitment to quality. It's a commitment to serving really good beverages,” Vermillion said.
It’s also about creating a welcoming environment.
“As we’ve grown and as we continue to grow, there’s something special about the Black Mountain store — the original Dripolator,” said Valdes, who worked at the Black Mountain store as a barista in 2013 before becoming business partners with Vermillion in 2021. “It’s undeniable when you go there. There’s something about the building, the presence when you go inside, the warmth — it feels like when you think about a classic, beautiful small town coffee shop. It really embodies that.”
In February 2022, The Dripolator opened at 909 Smokey Park Highway in Candler.
The Candler location, formerly Rejavanation Café, offered two things that the Dripolator team desired, a drive-thru and the space to operate an in-house roastery.
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Since 2008, The Dripolator has roasted its own coffee beans ― imported green coffee beans ― which are used across its locations. A large window welcomes guests to watch the process from the café dining room.
Candler is where the café’s in-house bakery is based. It supplies the other stores.
“We are excited about the roasting space. There’s a lot we are looking to do and explore with roasting,” Valdes said. “At the end of the day, it’s important that we love our coffee and people love our coffee and that we’re happy with it.”
Menu highlights
The bakery menu features items including quick bread, bagels, brownies, cookies, quiche and seasonal treats.
Currently, breakfast sandwiches are offered at the Candler location only.
On the drink menu, Cubano is a bestseller, made to be a little bit salty and sweet with sea salt and raw sugar. It’s also made with creamy half and half as opposed to milk.
“The fat mixed with the espresso and the salt and the sugar I think it the best combination ever. We sell a lot of Cubanos,” Vermillion said.
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The Killer Bee is a latte infused with honey and cinnamon that’s served hot or cold.
“The Killer Bee might be the most ordered beverage at Dripolator,” Valdes said. “It’s simple but that combination is a classic and it shows. People love it. Iced, hot, it doesn’t matter.”
The Salted Caramel Latte, made with caramel sauce and a touch of sea salt, is described by Valdes as the “chef’s kiss.”
Vermillion recommends the Golden Milk Latte, too.
“It’s awesome, too, because it’s healthy,” she said. “It’s your classic golden milk mix which is organic turmeric and black pepper and a little bit of salt and cinnamon and ginger so it’s really warming and good for you.”
Balance is key when it comes to the beverage menu, Valdes said.
“We want to stay away from super sweet, overly sweet beverages. We like to pay homage to the classic espresso,” he said.
The Dripolator, a Living Wage Certified business, is hiring. Apply by emailing dripolatoronboarding@gmail.com.
The Dripolator
221 W. State St., Black Mountain
Hours: 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
909 Smokey Park Hwy, Candler
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Opening at 20 Gala Drive, Suite G-101, in South Asheville in summer 2023
Info: For more, follow on social media at facebook.com/thedripolatorcoffeehouse and on Instagram at @dripolatorcoffeehouse.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Black Mountain's Dripolator to open new coffee shop in South Asheville
