Salvation Coffee: A CBD-infused Break from the Bubble
If you’re looking to change up your normal morning coffee routine, Salvation Coffee is the place for you. Located on South Church Street, Salvation Coffee is Burlington’s newest local and family-run coffee shop. Since it opened six months ago, Salvation has become a hot spot for members of the Alamance County community and Elon University students alike. I sat down with Jim Young, the owner of the shop, to talk about what makes Salvation’s coffee so special.
As a service-disabled veteran, Young created the coffee shop to serve as a safe haven for veterans of all ages. The coffee shop serves laid back vibes with its’ antique, rustic furniture--including a baseball scoreboard that reads “coffee.” Veterans oftentimes feel socially isolated, so Young wanted to create a space where they can mingle with other people going through the same tribulations while feeling like a part of the community.
Another aspect that makes Salvation Coffee unique is its CBD-infused coffee blends. Before my visit, I had only seen CBD products sold in coffee shops around my internship office in New York City last summer, so I was excited to learn more about Salvation’s new CBD brew.
Images via Salvation Coffee Co. website: https://www.salvationcoffeecompany.com/
Jim Young said that coffee blending started as a hobby for him, and he created the blend of Mexican coffee beans and CBD oil after he saw the benefits of CBD in his own life. CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a phytocannabinoid that naturally occurs in the marijuana plant. Unlike another phytocannabinoids such as THC, CBD does not produce the “high” effects that are commonly seen with marijuana use. Studies show that CBD can provide relief for chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation, depression and skin diseases (projectCBD.org). While medical marijuana isn’t legal in North Carolina just yet, the sale and use of CBD oil is. Along with serving the blend in store, Salvation sells the infused coffee beans and they are flying off the shelves. Young believes that everyone from veterans suffering from PTSD to Elon University students who are feeling stressed out can reap the benefits of his CBD coffee.
Maddie Harris is a junior at Elon who frequents Salvation Coffee. Her go-to order is iced CBD-infused coffee with milk and sugar. “The drink doesn’t taste any different from a normal ice coffee,” Harris says, “but I’m able to feel super alert and surprisingly calm at the same time. Caffeine can sometimes make me jittery and anxious but I feel like the CBD blend counteracts those effects and sets me off on the right foot for my day.”
Along with the CBD blend, Salvation sells pastries from local bakers. All of Salvation’s coffee is roasted in house and the roasted blends sold are from Mexico and Ethiopia and came from sustainable and traceable farming practices. Young says their coffee prices are on the higher side, but says that this allows him to pay his employees fair wages. When you buy products from Salvation Coffee, you’re supporting a local business that gives back to the Burlington community. Enjoy the stress-free, no-frills environment while sipping on CBD cold brew at Salvation Coffee the next time you need a break from the Elon bubble.