By Griffin Nelson
Photos by Jane Kortright
NOLA Coffee on Highway 1 in Warrenville is a new local favorite. Originally a cold brew cart, owner Mallory and husband Jake Adkison started selling at local markets to help fund the future adoption of a child from Liberia.
A long-time lover of coffee, Mallory received the unfortunate diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease in 2020, which forced her to stop her daily habit. She noticed, however, while visiting family in New Orleans, that the Big Easy coffee didn’t seem to affect her digestion.
Originally a French concoction, the nutty flavor of chicory coffee became popular in Louisiana during the Civil War. As it turns out, coffee brewed with roasted chicory root creates a more balanced beverage — one easier on the digestive system, allowing Mallory to continue drinking her favorite brew.
“[Not having to give it up] helped me with my diagnosis,” says Mallory.
When the subject of adoption came up in 2021, Jake built Mallory a cute coffee cart to help with the funding. The couple worked as much as they could and eventually, the growing business outpaced the capacity of the cart. Mallory and Jake saw an opportunity to further serve their hometown.
“We put the shop together in six months. It was insane, but I’d do it all again if I had to,” says Mallory.
NOLA’s convenient location between Augusta and Aiken is ideal for locals, but the drive-through and easy online ordering have also made it popular with commuters.
Traditional coffee and espresso-style drinks are available, with the New Orleans roots running deep in favorites like the King Cake Latte, the Big Easy and even beignets made in-house and covered with powdered sugar. Both beans and teas are sourced from local roaster Ubora, known for excellent and reliable quality.
The beloved Butterfly Blue tea is another customer favorite and it is used in the Blue Garden to create a latte with lavender and vanilla syrups for a lightly sweet blend, wonderful as iced or hot.
The best part of having a retail location is the space to host events. NOLA has pop-ups in collaboration with other small businesses, and the cute coffee shop is available for private parties. The interior is ideal for birthdays, showers and more.
With a team of hardworking staff, unique and fantastic drinks, and a beautiful space to be of service to their community, NOLA Coffee is here to stay.
Seen in the October 2023 issue of Augusta magazine.
