Mercantile Coffee & Feed — Restaurant in Nicholasville

First impression was promising: a large open space, a menu with all the standard third wave drinks. Mercantile did not live up to this impression.

The cortado I got had an unpleasant burnt taste. I would give the baristas the benefit of the doubt and attribute it to the beans that were used. My metric for patronizing a coffee establishment is: if they can't make coffee with their multi-thousand dollar machine that is at least on par with what I can make with minimal effort on a $150 manual espresso machine, then they have no business operating said machine.

As for the space, it is filled with insipid kitsch: throwaway fiction on the bookshelf, a "but first coffee" sign on the wall, Cracker Barrell-style jumbo checkers on a rug board.

I always hold out hope for Nicholasville entrepreneurs to build something that can be a cultural hub for the city, and turn Nicholasville into something other than a hollowed-out bedroom community. I've been to all of the revolving door of coffee shops (Main & Maple, J's Place, etc etc) some of them have had a decent product and have made valliant efforts in fostering community, but have all ultimately failed. When I come to Nicholasville I always stop in to whatever the new, soon-to-fail coffee shop is. And it is almost always a different shop than the last time.

It's not impossible for small towns near an urban center to support a decent coffee shop—Much smaller Wilmore, for example, has accomplished this! This one hasn't. Mercantile might capture a small, niche crowd of people not accustomed to good coffee, or people for whom the convenience of having a workspace near their home is enough to bear mediocrity, but it's not what Nicholasville needs: a small town place that gives a reason for students, young professionals, and work-from-home folks to not drive to Lexington.

It's going to take a lot of effort, creativity, and community involvement to make a coffee house that is viable in Nicholasville. Based on my experience at Mercantile, I don't think the folks behind this shop are up to the task. That might change, but I'm...

The space is large and beautifuly done. The ambiance is an easy 5/5. They place nice soft music not too loud and it’s quite pretty.

I’ve now either came and hung out or got to go coffee six times and each time I’ve ordered a mocha. The location is so good and the parking is easy so I really want to like this place.

But if you order a mocha, there is either no chocolate at all (it is a latte) or there is a small amount and it’s all in the bottom never stirred. Also, the baristas are running I circles with everyone doing everything. Ideally you’d have one person pulling shots and it would be more like an assembly line, like every other good coffee shop in the region. But unfortunately, they seem to run around somewhat chaotically and it results in a significantly longer wait. It’s rare that it takes less than thirty minutes to get a coffee for my wife and I. Even when they’re not crazy busy!

A few places id recommend more in the area if you are willing to drive:

Drinklings Mono’s Coffee Roasters Kenwick Table Manchester Coffee House

It’s a real shame that a lack of well trained barista is going to ruin such a pretty space.

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Update: I’ve since learned that the day I had such a bad experience the owner had three separate baristas call in, so it was an unusually horrible day. I’m literally back right now and have learned that they gave most phenomenal breakfast sandwiches and even get their ham from Fitches IGA in Wilmore.

I’ve amended this review from 2 stars to 4 stars because they still do have a quality control issue with their coffee. But the place is lovely! Kid...

When I tell you I stumbled into my dream coffee shop, I mean it. I googled coffee near me and parked and got transported to a cozy and inviting place. The space is large but had nice seating areas all over. The menu is right there so you can figure out what you want without feeling anxious or rushed at the counter. They have hot homemade sandwiches that feed your soul as well as your stomach. I purchased the sausage, egg, and cheese on toast with Vermont Cheddar. chef's kiss I also found out I like Gregory Alan Isakov as it was playing beautifully at the perfect noise level. And to top it all off, the staff were super nice and accommodating. I wanted to recreate the dreaded corporate "S" brand's discontinued Toffee Nut latte, and they were so sweet about it and wanted to figure it out too. (I recommend butterscotch + hazelnut!) This coffee blew the chain out of the water, as rightfully expected. I had a moment to sit and enjoy the atmosphere and I wanted to figure out when I could come back again and show it off to friends. I also left with a cozy T-shirt that was for sale in the shop inside as well. I don't think I want to go anywhere else...