Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters, St. Croix

When you wake up in your St. Croix vacation rental, nothing’s better than sipping the best coffee on the island. VI Coffee Roasters has, hands down, the most flavorful coffee drinks to be found anywhere on St. Croix. And that’s not just my opinion; that’s the opinion of just about everyone in Christiansted, as you’ll discover when you ask around. In fact, that’s exactly how I found this coffee shop, by asking some locals where I could get a good cup of java. Judging by their sophisticated coffee beverage selections, you’d think you’re in some specialty coffee shop in Seattle or Boston. But you can get the same or better right here on the island. Lots of the locals stop in here for coffee on their way to work and for lunch. They open up at 7 AM sharp, seven days a week, so there’s plenty of time to come in, enjoy one or two cups and then make your way to the rest of your activities for the day.

VI Coffee Roasters is also a cafe, and it would be a shame to pass on any of their menu items, like their homemade cookies and pastries. They also have a little gift shop area, where you can buy souvenirs to take back to your vacation rental or back home on the mainland.

Our Experience at Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters

VI Coffee Roasters is located on King Street in Christiansted, very near to Caroline’s and Cream & Co. ice cream shop. You’ll find it on the end of the King Christian Hotel, near the docks. The inside of the shop is very aesthetically appealing, which only makes this more attractive as your first stop in the morning. It’s incredibly spacious inside, with a gorgeous hardwood ceiling with recessed lighting. I love to order my coffee at the “bar” and then flop down on the oversized leather couch with my beverage and my book. There are lots of cozy and comfortable seating areas, from soft chairs that you just sink into, to bamboo chairs and large tables for bigger groups, and even some stool seating. The feeling is like a big open design that you might find in an island hotel lobby, with lots of tropical plants and tropical murals on the walls. It’s honestly a great place to come and just grab a latte and a guava pastry and relax mid-day as well. They don’t close until 6 PM, so you’re free to lounge around as long as you want. You might even meet a new friend here. Both locals and tourists come here, and most tourists become regular patrons after the first sip of coffee. By the way, it’s no small thing to note that the place is air-conditioned, something you’ll appreciate when strolling the cobbled streets in summer!

Finally, the scent of VI Coffee Roasters is amazing, because they roast the beans on the premises all day long.

The Menu:

While VI Coffee Roasters is definitely a coffee shop first and a cafe second, you can definitely make a meal of their menu items. I’ve become quite fond of their Belgian Street Waffle, which I usually get to go with a latte in the afternoon. They also have crazy good, sweet pastries, which I’ll get into in a bit.

Beverages:

First of all, VI Coffee Roasters actually supplies many of the best restaurants in the area, so you know it’s excellent just because of that. But the way they approach coffee is simply exquisite. They roast the coffee beans in small batches in-house, and make speciality blends from local plantations on St. Croix, in the Caribbean and other exotic locales. The names alone will draw you in. Names like Tanzania Berry, Rocky City (which is their own private blend). They serve hot and cold beverages, including lattes and smoothies made with fresh berries. If you love Starbucks, VI Coffee Roasters is going to be a welcome sight, but I have to say I think this place is far better than any Starbucks I’ve ever visited. Last time I checked, Starbucks didn’t sell lavender lattes!

Pastries:

Warning: Don’t go here if you’re on a diet. You will not, I repeat, will not be able to resist getting at least one pastry or cookie. They are so gorgeous, especially the little mini cupcakes. My advice is to get a bag of pastries, a bag of beans and bring them back to the rest of your crew back at your vacation rental. Your friends and family will love you for it!

Shop Souvenirs

They have a cute turquoise bookcase against one wall, where you can browse for souvenirs or bags of roasted coffee to bring back to your vacation rental. I’ve stocked up in the past on coffee to bring back to friends in the States and they’re always asking me to get more the next time I’m on St. Croix. They also have t-shirts, tote bags and hats, plus some unique things like a coffee bean face mask. I haven’t tried that yet, but I can see one in my future!