Earthling Coffee and Espresso moving to West Asheville: What to know
ASHEVILLE - Brad Turner, also known as "The Space Cowboy," often wearing a cowboy hat, is wrangling up his coffee roasts and his space-themed drive-thru coffee shop to blast off to a new location in West Asheville.
This spring, the space-themed Earthling Coffee and Espresso is relocating from 867 Smokey Park Highway in Candler to 1110 Patton Ave., formerly a granite supply business.
The addresses may be only about four miles apart, but Turner believes the new homebase will make a world of difference for the business and city. Earthling Coffee and Espresso will be among a long stretch of commercial businesses, with corporate chains playing a dominant role.
"Asheville was super community, local-based and we've got a push of a lot of more corporate stuff here, but people are starting to see that and say, 'Hold on, let's make sure we're keeping things local.' It is critical for what Asheville stands for," Turner said.
On March 15, the Candler coffee shop will close. On April 6, the West Asheville site will make its grand debut, after a soft opening with limited hours and services beginning March 28.
The one-room structure is being renovated with a wraparound drive-thru line. No interior service will be available, however, Turner is considering adding a walk-up window and patio seating in the near future.
Turner anticipates that the new shop will still be convenient to commuters who visit on Smokey Park Highway, as they travel downtown and across the city along the heavily trafficked Patton Avenue, near Leicester Highway.
"Operationally, this is going to be a huge upgrade for what we're doing here," he said.
Earthling Coffee and Espresso's new and improved menu
Last June, Turner, of Johnson City, Tennessee, purchased the independent, small business, which included the Candler site, the Asheville Mall food court kiosk and a storefront in Brevard. Earthling Coffee and Espresso originally opened in 2019 .
As the new owner and operator, Turner has gradually rolled out changes, including revamping the brand to include a bright, simplistic logo design, while still leaning in to the business's fun, light-hearted, alien-centric style.
Earthling Coffee and Espresso's menu offers an assortment of beverages, starting with coffee and espresso-based classic and signature drinks with a wide variety of flavor options and continuing with energy drinks, teas, lemonades, Cosmic Coolers, baked goods and other light snacks.
Menu enhancements have included premium products and local partnerships, such as with Matcha Nude and Full Moon Tea Company, and in-house coffee roasts.
Turner's motivation to invest in Earthling Coffee and Espresso comes from the time spent in Costa Rica, where he learned to better appreciate coffee and the culture around it. In turn, he began to roast coffee, which is offered at the shops.
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A collaboration with Pisgah Coffee Roasters led to the creation of the Event Horizon, a Brazilian Arabica espresso. The Starlight, a light Tanzanian peaberry roast, was previously offered on the menu and has remained, though with different bean sourcing and local roasting. Turner's signature Starbound, a medium roast that is made of three bean blend from Central and South America, and Starfall, a Central American dark roast, are also offered as prepared drinks and for retail sale.
"The medium roast is my pride and joy that I built over the past few years. It's something that I have a staple in doing, and I fell in love with it," said Turner, who went on the say that roasting coffee beans was the inspiration for leaving his former corporate career and committing to the creation and perfection of more.
"I would put my coffees up against anyone," he said.
As opening day approaches, Turner shared gratitude for the Earthling Coffee and Espresso staff, who he said has been strong, focused and supportive, as well as the community of local suppliers, vendors and customers who've been a part of the journey.
"We're excited for where we're at. We're in a really good spot and we're going to bring something special to the area, and hopefully we can do it. It's all about what the people want; and I want to provide something special for them," Turner said.
Earthling Coffee and Espresso
Opening:April 6.
Hours:6 a.m.-2 p.m., daily; subject to change, with extended hours offered in the summer.
Info:For more, visit earthlingcoffeeespresso.com and follow on Facebook and @earthling.coffee on Instagram.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Earthling Coffee and Espresso relocating to West Asheville
