Ramblin Joe’s Coffee is Memphis-based, the public-facing retail arm of Ugly Mug Coffee Roasters, whose coffee bar at Perkins Extended and Poplar has been an East Memphis landmark for many years. After opening locations in Lenoir City and Nashville, Rambling Joe now has opened a location at Sam Cooper Boulevard and Tillman in the historic Black neighborhood of Binghampton, just east of the Broad Avenue Arts District. Its location is along the main corridor that suburban residents use to commute into the city, and is a welcome addition to a neighborhood that is being renewed and redeveloped.
Although the location seems primarily geared to drive-thru traffic, there is a small but inviting indoor space with tables and chairs, as well as an outdoor patio that will be quite in demand as the weather cools for fall. Like the East Memphis location, the Binghampton store offers hot, cold and frozen coffee drinks, but also whole beans, ground coffee and K-cups to take home.
On my recent visit, I was on a break from work, and stopped in for an iced coffee and a breakfast sandwich. My drink choice was a salted caramel cold brew, which had just the right balance of sweet and salt and coffee, and was quite refreshing on a hot day. For eats, I chose a bacon egg and cheese bagel, and was delighted with a little spicy kick, as they apparently use peppered bacon on their sandwiches. There was nothing fancy about either, just simple goodness. And the pleasant surroundings made Rambling Joe’s a great place to unwind. It is definitely a welcome addition to the Binghampton community.
Rambling Joe’s Coffee
2956 Sam Cooper Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38112