The Green Bean

greensboro has a specialty coffee scene that punches above its weight, quietly building a culture of sourcing-conscious shops across the city. the green bean on south elm street is one of the places locals keep coming back to. that stretch of elm has a kind of lived-in energy to it, and the shop fits into that without needing to announce itself. you don't have to go in knowing exactly what you want, the menu gives you room to figure it out. it's well regarded here, and that reputation has held. whatever draws people in, it keeps them. south elm in the late morning, a cortado in hand, is a pretty good argument for slowing down a tuesday.