Black Sheep Coffee offers wide variety of coffee, uses fresh ingredients

Fresh dripped coffee, handmade pastries and a warm setting is exactly what Chance Eversole pushed for when he decided to open a locally owned business in downtown Harrisonburg.

Located in JMU’s Ice House building, Eversole opened Black Sheep Coffee four years ago. Aiming for something that he thought Harrisonburg lacked, Eversole opened the bakery and coffee shop in hopes of expanding coffee beyond chains such as Starbucks or Dunkin.

“I wanted to do something where we had everything right there and a nice place for people to come and hang out… [We] try to be a little friendlier, a little warmer, a little less cookie cutter,” Eversole said.

Eversole had previous experience with owning a business before opening Black Sheep Coffee, allowing him to be aware of what he wanted to provide for the shop in order to make it distinct.

“We have a wider variety than most coffee shops do. We try to have an option for everyone. As far as all of the baked goods, everything we do we make right in the back,” Eversole said.

Working at the coffee shop for almost a year now, Georgia Good finds this job to be flexible with her experience.

“I like that it’s not super micromanaging. I can choose what I bake, it’s pretty open ended,” Good said.

As for the actual environment she works in, Good enjoys the simplicity that comes with working at Black Sheep Coffee.

“It’s warm and friendly, it’s unique. [It’s] pretty laid back, but it’s quality stuff,” Good said.

Compared to other coffee shops in Harrisonburg, Eversole believes it’s the fresh ingredients and homemade recipes that allow Black Sheep Coffee to stick out. Eversole hones in on the fact that those who work at the coffee shop are able make things more unique and distinct compared to a basic pastry or sandwich. As for popular menu items, Eversole would have to give their cinnamon rolls credit for being highly favored, and, of course, their fresh coffee served daily.

“The bakers have free reign. They totally change things up all of the time, so it’s kind of whatever they feel like making,” Eversole said. “We try to do seasonality with what’s available as far as fruits and vegetables, so that’s changing as well.”

While Black Sheep Coffee isn’t the only place to locally serve coffee downtown, Eversole believes that the shop is constantly making changes to satisfy the customers’ needs. The wide variety of coffee choices allows them to serve more than just the normal cup-of-joe.

“It’s one roaster’s opinion of what coffee tastes good. We currently have five different roasters… here. If you don’t like one [coffee] you can try something else,” Eversole said. “We’re constantly changing things up and trying to have new and better things.”