PERC Coffee Roasters
1802 E Broad St, Savannah, GA 31401
PERC, the coffeeshop formerly known as Panther’s Eye Roasting Company, sits near a rail road track in a spacious brick building with an industrial heritage. It’s surrounded by a residential area. I considered trying out a downtown coffee shop, across from a gracious park, amid ancient cypress trees heavily adorned with Spanish moss, but I opted for a more industrial, edgy feel. They also have there locations in Atlanta and Tucker, GA.
Coffee:
I had their Columbian coffee, which they describe as a blend of strawberry and chocolate. It was a medium roast with a robust mouth and with a tasty swath of chocolate but I didn’t pick up on the strawberry. My cortado was served in a smoked Gibraltar glass, my preferred presentation, but it was slightly over frothed, resulting in a layer of textured milk at the top which is a little off. So it goes with the Cortado, easy to make, easy to miss. They make a number of signature coffee drinks and were featuring a “banana gram” coffee that featured a house-made banana syrup and gram cracker dusting on a lattes froth. It was the most common order and people raved about it.
Barista:
I had a pleasant conversation with the Barista, who also is an artist specializing in painting feet (human feet).
Vibe:
The exterior signage is cool, especially the color changing glow of their logo, an unusual level of detail that I appreciated. The interior is a large open space with bar counters along exterior windows with the interior largely comprised of rows of long, communal looking, wooden tables with padded bar stools. Presenting historical accuracy it feels very much like a repurposed industrial space made warm with beverage, bakery, a menu of various waffles, and hospitality. PERC is laid back, industrial chic, spacious, and comfortable. Their music was upbeat, funky, and had me Shazamming their featured artist during my stay, Neal Francis, who plays, “a revelatory blast of soul, R&B, and off-the-rails piano jams”. They house their roastery in the same building but it isn’t integrated into the consumer experience, save aromatic deliciousness. Their single, unisex bathroom was just fine.
Make You Better
There’s really not much to report here, but I do think a loungey seating area would be a warm touch, both for aesthetics and comfort. They have the space. It’d also be a win to visually integrate the roastery into the retail space.
While you have to venture just a bit outside Savanah’s leafy, moss-draped neighborhoods, PERC is a coffeehouse worth seeking out.
~ Clyde <3
