Simple Merchant Coffee — Restaurant in Newport

Simple Merchant Coffee, nestled at 513 Broadway in Newport, Rhode Island, is a true gem for coffee enthusiasts and community seekers alike. From the moment you step into this cozy café, you're greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.​

The coffee here is nothing short of exceptional. As a multi-roaster coffee shop, Simple Merchant Coffee offers a thoughtfully curated selection of sustainably sourced beans, ensuring each cup is rich, flavorful, and satisfying. Whether you're in the mood for a classic espresso or one of their imaginative specialty drinks, you're in for a treat. Their commitment to quality extends to their food offerings as well, with delicious options like avocado toast and breakfast burritos that perfectly complement their beverages.​

What truly sets Simple Merchant Coffee apart is its sense of community. Located within the beautifully repurposed Sheffield School, now home to Innovate Newport, the café serves as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. The friendly and knowledgeable staff go above and beyond to make each visit special, fostering a welcoming environment that encourages patrons to relax, connect, and enjoy. They even host regular events, such as Magic the Gathering game nights on Mondays, bringing together enthusiasts of all levels for fun and camaraderie.​

For those who appreciate vegan options, Simple Merchant Coffee has you covered. They thoughtfully incorporate plant-based ingredients into their menu, ensuring that everyone can find something delightful to enjoy. ​

In summary, Simple Merchant Coffee is more than just a place to grab a cup of joe; it's a cornerstone of the Newport community. With outstanding coffee, delectable food, and a welcoming atmosphere, it's a must-visit destination for anyone...

Simple merchant coffee is more than your typical coffee shop; it’s a destination. I live 45 minutes away and go to SMC every Monday night to play magic the gathering. I convinced my friends who live 1:30 away to come as well every week. It is worth the trip. Occasionally at other stores I will play with people who are less that desirable to play with but not at SMC. I have never had a bad game. The people who show up are people I enjoy hanging out with. I often stay until 2am because it is such a good time, (the coffee helps with that as well!)

7pm every Monday about 30 people of all mtg skill levels show up. I have played and taught people who it is their first game and I’ve also played high power games. What ever you are looking for in a commander game you can find. Pioneer is popular as well.

Simple merchant coffee has packs as well as some other tcg accessories that are inexpensive. The best part is the raffle they do every Monday. By paying the $5 “commander tax” you get entered into it and Jordan raffles off packs and decks even whole booster boxes. I think the wheel might be rigged in my favor because I feel as if I always walk away with more than $5 worth of product.

The coffee is most excellent. My go to is the americano. I am normally a gas station coffee drinker but there is something about the coffee here that I want three a night.

SMC is a true hidden gem that I cannot recommend...

Put simply: if you like modern light roast coffee, you need to come here.

Cool building with a nice patio out front and some work/study space in the inside at the back. Nicely laid out.

Great menu of drinks - spied a shakerato and an aerocano (first time I've ever seen either of those on a cafe menu!) They source beans from many roasters. I asked how funky the rotating espresso was (it was a natural and the description looked a bit funky), which kicked off a great conversation with the owner, Jordan. He's passionate about coffee and helped me land on a washed Ethiopian instead, and a lavender aerocano to go. Yum.

After my drinks, I bought a bunch of La Cabra beans and a few others, as well as some tasty donuts. They also had a bunch of great equipment on the shelves, if you're looking to upgrade your gear and buy local!

They even opened early on Sunday, so I was able to get my fix a second time before the Folk Fest. Much appreciated. This time, I tried the batch brew; found it well dialed in, and a quite generous serving. (BTW, I ended up caving to curiosity and trying the funky natural - yeah, Jordan, you were right - it's funky!!)

Looking forward to coming back here...