Helen Coffee Shop Guide

Coffee in Helen is a short list, and that's a good thing: each stop has a reason to exist. Plan around the hours below, because the village shop that sits on the river doesn't open until 10.

Hofer's hours are for the bakery; the cafe closes at 3 PM on most days and 4 PM on Saturday. Hours can change, so call ahead when it matters.

JumpinGoat is the local roaster. Its website says it starts with 100% AA beans, with single-origin, organic and Rainforest Alliance lots, and sells flavored and non-flavored coffees, decaf, loose-leaf teas and K-Cups. Its Bourbon Infused Pecan Coffee and wine-infused coffees are listed in the shop.

The locations page describes two stops. The Nacoochee Village shop at 7086 S Main St is "on the river," so you can watch the trout swim with your cup. The Cleveland roastery on Helen Highway is where the coffee gets roasted, and it has a Mount Yonah view, mead tasting, live music on Saturdays and Sundays and a dog park called Millie and Junah's Playground.

Sweetwater has been keeping folks "Sleepless in Sautee" since 1995. It brews coffee and espresso made with Thanksgiving Coffee Company beans, pours tea blends and bakes pastries, cheddar biscuits and quiche in-house daily. Bagels and sandwiches, plant-based milks and local whole milk from Mountain Fresh Creamery are on the board, and the shop lists vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. It sits on GA-17 in Sautee Nacoochee, a short drive from Helen.

Hofer's pairs coffee with its stone-hearth-baked breads and pastries, and its cafe breakfast runs until 11 AM on Monday and Thursday and 11:30 on Friday to Sunday. Hoth Cafe on North Main, part of the Honey On The Hill shop, serves coffee, boba tea, pretzels and pastries, according to the Helen visitors bureau.

Take a to-go cup along the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway or toward Brasstown Bald, and see the breakfast guide for places that serve a full meal.