Canal Coffee Company — Restaurant in Morganton

At the time of my arrival I was the only patron. Empty parking lot. Empty drive through. I elected to park and walk to the window. As I got to the window a car sped up to the drive through and was waited on first. Not how I'd have handled it but fair enough. Whilst I was waiting, 3 more vehicles entered the drive through, all of which were waited on while I was left standing in the sun. Even better. Now sweating, I attempt to order a cold blended drink with flavor added to it, only to be informed it is universally impossible. Life as we know it would cease to exist if they added a shot of flavor syrup to my blended drink. We would all simply be erased from existence for this heresy. Not that they do not have the physical capability of holding a cup under a small plastic pump nozzle atop a bottle of artificially raspberry flavored liquid diabetes. All of these required components existed. Simply that the cosmic overlords prevented this action, even under the offer of additional monetary compensation.

Anyway, melodrama aside, I left. It's not that difficult of a concept. I refuse to pay for overpriced coffee that can't even be made the...

Great coffee and friendly staff. I ordered a bagel with cream cheese and was bummed out to see that the cream cheese was on the side instead of on the bagel. I unfortunately hadn’t noticed that the bagel was prepared this way until I tried to enjoy it at 70mph on the highway. Needless to say, driving and trying to apply cream cheese to a bagel at high speeds is a rather risky activity and I hadn’t noticed the school bus full of college softball players cruising beside me. I accidentally side swiped the bus which spun my car out of control and ultimately tipped the bus! Thank goodness no one was hurt. I would return to this location, but I do hope the staff will consider adding cream cheese to the bagel for to-go orders. A shmear on a bagel May save a a few shmeared lives.

Follow up: That bagel wasn’t...

The coffee is better than much or most of what you'll find around here, and the employees do well, but the food is par at best. Lots of processed and preserved flavors and textures. 2 Stars for the atmosphere, and that charitability stems from the workers being kind and quick. Otherwise, the only seating is outdoors, limited, and right next to the road. Good for something quick on the road, especially since the coffee isn't the disappointment I've come to expect with most places; even...