Coffee is Their Craft
After nearly two and a half years of brewing on the move, Trade Craft Coffee Roasters has found a permanent home. Their new brick-and-mortar café now stands on old U.S. 1 in Southern Pines, taking over the space that once housed Frankie’s. “I really get to expand our coffee offerings and what we can do,” says owner Chadwick Wahinekapu. His goal for the space is to really lean into what craft coffee is all about with different brewing methods, specialty beans and homemade syrups. “Something we do a lot of other places around here don’t, is serve espresso with a sparkling water. It’s a palate cleanser,” he says.
While they don’t plan to ever open a kitchen in the coffeehouse, pastries are on deck from The Midnight Sugar Lab, a home baker out of Vass. Gluten free and vegan options will be available. They are also looking to have food trucks park on the property for breakfast. “Small businesses should be supporting other small businesses,” says Chadwick.
They still to bring the truck to various farmers markets in the area and plan to expand further into the Triangle. For now, it’s all run by Chadwick, his wife Danielle and their son, Zane.
He wanted to bring some of that Pacific Northwest coffee scene to the area. “Coffeehouses are meant to be in a neighborhood as a gathering place. I didn’t want it to be a big open space that felt impersonal,” says Chadwick. One of the benefits of the location being a literal old house is that there are multiple rooms so you can find a cozy corner for a conversation or a spot to work.
The name Trade Craft and the decor in the back rooms of the house are an ode to Chadwick’s time in the Army, both in 10th Special Forces Group and Ranger Regiment. It’s represented all the way down to the paint color in each room.
One of the things Chadwick is most proud of is his variety of espresso, with lighter and darker options. “Customers can really explore and learn what they like,” he says. His selections will vary seasonally, depending on when different coffee regions around the world begin harvesting. He’ll also happily explain the difference between various roasts. “It’s important people understand the difference between specialty coffee and bulk. So much goes into it.”
Now that he has the space, Chadwick plans to host a couple classes each month on things like different brewing methods, cupping, etc. “It’s not about how expensive your equipment is,” he says. “It’s about knowing what to do with it.” Trade Craft also stocks a selection of coffee brewing equipment for purchase, from basic pour overs to outdoor brewing methods.
When it comes to knowledge, Chadwick can’t get enough. He attended the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston earlier this year, has multiple certifications and is working on a certification to train others. His end goal is an entire campus dedicated to sustainable coffee practices, roasting and barista training.
Other refreshments to note include the cold brew which is also available as a nitro; Italian cream sodas; specialty teas plus a chai blend made by The Timeless Teacup; a lion’s mane and turmeric powder latte and, one of their most popular drinks, “The Bleeding Heart.” You can expect to see homemade kombucha in the spring.
“America is a coffee drinking country,” he says. “Even though we can’t grow it here (minus Hawaii), it’s part of the American Dream.” You’ll still see the OG truck at various farmers markets but you can stop into the coffeehouse Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn something new.
