DeBeen Espresso

Located at 709 West Lexington Avenue in High Point, DeBeen Espresso offers coffee drinks, smoothies, baked goods, and gelato seven days a week. Beans and merchandise/mugs are available for purchase, there is outdoor seating, and DeBeen offers a loyalty program.

A long-runner in High Point’s coffee scene, DeBeen has something for everyone. The truly impressive selection includes the caffeinated and non-caffeinated alike, ranging from a simple cup to a nitro cold brew to any number of specialty drinks. I’m partial to the banana bread latte, but there are plenty of promising permutations. While I cannot speak to the baked goods, the coffee usually lives up to its promise.

That said, while some find the interior, laden with artwork and merch, to be endearingly quirky, it can also be a bit visually overwhelming, and pre-COVID, DeBeen was often not a quiet or relaxing space. Baristas are personable more times than not though you may occasionally encounter one who seems put out by having to make a beverage. Lastly, if you do not snag a parking space in front, the side/back lot can be dicey.

These points aside, DeBeen’s commendable assortment and loyalty offers present compelling reasons to keep coming back.

83 Custom Coffee

Located at 2112 North Main Street in High Point, 83 Custom Coffee serves coffee drinks, teas, and baked goods (from local bakeries) seven days per week. Special flavors rotate seasonally. There is a walk-up/takeout window as well as both indoor and outdoor seating.

Named for the Chevy pickup that it used to operate out of (and that still sits outside of its brick-and-mortar store), 83 Custom Coffee is a comfortable, low-key spot that offers some of the better coffee drinks in the area. The selection here is somewhat limited, and the coffee isn’t cheap, but chances are you will find a favorite drink. For my wife and I, the iced cardamom lavender latte currently holds the honors, especially on unpleasantly hot days. Past seasonal offerings (I seem to recall a Mexican mocha?) have usually been on-point as well, and the baristas have never been anything but polite.

If consistency and quality are what you value most in a coffee shop, 83 Custom Coffee may very well become your go-to.

Uncle Cheesecake

Located at 3800 Tinsley Drive, Uncle Cheesecake offers cheesecake and other desserts Tuesday through Sunday. Custom orders are available, flavors change daily, and the bakery offers specials (such as BOGO cupcakes and half price lemonades) regularly. A sister shop, Babycakes Gourmet, is located in Archdale.

Greensboro firefighter Daniel Gray and his wife set up shop in this spot off Hickswood Road a few years back and have attracted quite a following since. If nothing else, the assortment justifies the hype. Uncle Cheesecake offers cheesecakes (including keto-friendly), cupcakes, bites, brownies, cake pops, dessert tacos (!!), lemonades, and slushies in a variety of flavors, several of which (such brownie bottom choco strawberry cheesecake and cherry Cheerwine cupcakes) are rarely found elsewhere. Anyone with a sweet tooth may have a hard time making decisions here.

The cheesecake here is on the tangy side, which may surprise those expecting something sweeter. This actually allows the flavors of the toppings to shine, and in most cases the combinations work well. The cupcakes are more of a hit (the aforementioned Cheerwine) or miss (strawberry daiquiri – it sounds better on paper) affair, but the weekly BOGO nights are conducive to trying out different flavors.

Inside, the bakery has little ambiance to speak of, which is hardly an issue given the amount of takeout business during a pandemic. Of a potentially greater concern: the number of maskless folks (owner included) you may encounter in a smallish space (though in fairness, this may not have been reflective of their norm).

Alex Amoroso continues to hold the Triad’s cheesecake crown, but Uncle Cheesecake should not be overlooked as an alternative. A multitude of fun flavors and dessert options make it worth a visit.

The Cozy Cannoli

Located at 2701 Kirkwood Street in High Point, The Cozy Cannoli offers Italian-inspired cannoli, pastries, cookies and other baked goods as well as coffee drinks Tuesday through Sunday. Custom cakes are available, and the bakery offers a loyalty program as well as regular specials.

Owned and operated by a mother-daughter team, The Cozy Cannoli is a charming spot filled with delectable-looking desserts. Cupcakes, buns, rolls, bars, Italian wedding cookies, and tiramisu are among the well-displayed regular stock though cannoli are, of course, the featured attraction. You’ll find traditional, chocolate, and at least one featured (think limoncello or pistachio) cream flavor on any given day. Regular-sized or mini-shells are available and filled to order, so you know what you’re getting is fresh. They are best consumed quickly as the longer they sit, the more likely they are to get soggy.

At their peak, the cannoli here rate as good, especially for the area. The fillings aren’t one-note sweet, and the shells are crisp and flaky as they should be. For their part, the cannoli cupcakes taste like the real thing and are a steal on Friday BOGO deals. That said, I would hesitate to put The Cozy Cannoli’s offerings up against what I can find in New Jersey, but then again, my home state is a long way away. The Cozy Cannoli’s staff are usually friendly and patient as well.

A welcoming spot for tasty treats, The Cozy Cannoli is one of High Point’s better dessert destinations.