Coffee and Trees – Episode 5: Due South and Southern Magnolias

Coffee and Trees – Episode 5

Due South and Southern Magnolias

Introduction

In this episode, we’re heading Due South — both literally and figuratively. We’ll visit Hampton Station in Greenville to review an old favorite of mine, and then we’ll turn our attention to a true Southern icon: the Magnolia grandiflora, also known as the Southern Magnolia. Big blooms, glossy leaves, and a southern charm that harkens back to earlier days.

☕ First Up: Coffee ☕

Due South Coffee Roasters – Hampton Station

Our 10-Point Coffee Shop Review System

Every shop we visit gets scored in ten categories across three areas:

Menu

  1. Beans
  2. Drip Coffee
  3. Pour Overs
  4. Espresso Drinks
  5. Non-Coffee Options
  6. Food

Location & Atmosphere
7. Vibe
8. Seating

Workability
9. Work-Friendliness
10. Parking & Access

Each category is rated on a 10-point scale and averaged for a final score out of 100.

Due South Coffee Roasters Scorecard

Overall Score: 84 / 100
(Average of all ten categories: 83.9, rounded to 84)

Category

Score

Beans

9.6

Drip Coffee

9.0

Pour Overs

8.6

Espresso Drinks

8.9

Non-Coffee Options

8.0

Food

7.9

Vibe

7.4

Seating

7.0

Work-Friendliness

9.5

Parking & Access

8.0

 

 

 

Overview

Due South Coffee Roasters opened its doors in 2013 in the old Taylors Mill, and that’s when I discovered them. It became my go-to work spot for years, and I was genuinely disappointed when they left. Their newer home in Hampton Station is nice and still very work-friendly, but I have to admit—I miss the old Due South. It was at that Taylors location that I first encountered Geisha coffee.

Very few coffee varieties can turn a casual drinker into a would-be connoisseur after a single sip. You read those bag labels—“chocolaty and nutty,” “grapefruit and strawberry”—and try to convince yourself you actually taste those flavor notes, but in the end it all just tastes like coffee. That was me, until a barista at Due South handed me a limited roast of Geisha. It wasn’t cheap, yet for the first time in my life every tasting note rang true. I could taste each flavor, and it was delicious. I was literally stunned.

My curiosity was immediately piqued. What made this cup different from anything else I’d had? What’s with this specific variety of tree, and why is it so much better? How was it roasted to preserve all that flavor? That cup—and those questions—shifted my whole perspective on coffee and coffee shops.

Gesha coffee—often spelled Geisha—takes its name from the Gesha Mountain region of southwestern Ethiopia, where the variety was first identified in the 1930s. These trees demand high elevation, stable climates, and meticulous care; even then, they yield little and are prone to disease. As conditions changed, Gesha struggled in Ethiopia until a grower at Panama’s Hacienda La Esmeralda noticed the similarities between the Panamanian highlands and Ethiopia’s mountains and brought a few seedlings across the Atlantic on a hunch. It was tough going, but the trees eventually thrived. In 2004 they entered a Gesha lot in the Best of Panama competition and quite literally stunned the judges. Since then, Gesha entries have scored consistently high, wowing tasters with their vibrant floral aroma, tea-like body, and complex flavor profile. That prestige comes at a cost: seedlings can be pricey, and auction lots have fetched hundreds—even thousands—of dollars per pound. For farmers, it’s a gamble; for drinkers, it can be a revelation.

Due South doesn’t always have Geisha roasts on hand, but when they do—snap them up. I’ve tried the same variety from other roasters and often come away disappointed. It’s not just about sourcing great beans; you have to know how to roast them, too. Geisha is delicate and unforgiving, and getting the best out of it takes skill. Due South nails it every time.

Moving away from Geisha but still speaking of Ethiopia, shortly after they opened, Due South introduced a blended mix called “Night Train.” This blend combines the deep chocolate undertones of Brazilian beans with the bright, berry-like sweetness of Ethiopian beans, resulting in a coffee that’s high in caffeine but also incredibly rich in flavor. It was amazing. Since then, they’ve rebranded it as “Waxwing,” and it remains my favorite bag of coffee. This medium-dark roast promises tasting notes of baker’s chocolate, strawberry, and a creamy finish—and that’s exactly what you get. It quickly became my go-to gift bag for friends and family, and time after time, people come back asking, “Where did you get that coffee? That’s the best cup I’ve ever had!”

Waxwing isn’t Due South’s only blend though. They also have:

They also offer steeped single-serve coffee bags, which make great travel companions.

Menu

Having great beans absolutely improves everything on the menu—and Due South has great beans. Their core offerings are solid across the board, and they also roll out some clever seasonal drinks throughout the year. Food-wise, they serve a small but thoughtful selection of breakfast burritos and pastries. One major bonus: they have ice cream, which means you can order an affogato—espresso poured over ice cream—which is, quite literally, one of the best things ever.

Location & Workability

 

The Hampton Station location is clean, simple, and on the smaller side—not really a group hangout spot. The roasting happens in the back of the shop, and it definitely feels more like a roaster that happens to have a café, not the other way around. The priority here is roasting. The vibe is busy, even when the café itself isn’t crowded. That’s mostly due to the roasting operation, which can get a bit loud at times—but to me, it just sounds like a big industrial sound machine. Not distracting, just part of the character.

 

One downside: the chairs aren’t the most comfortable. After a little while, you’ll probably want to stand up and stretch. Still, it’s a reasonably work-friendly space that rarely feels packed. Parking is generally easy, though there’s a short walk from most spots. Just be aware of their hours—they often close before 3 PM, which can be a bummer if you’re looking for an afternoon workspace. Also worth noting: Hampton Station sits just beyond a frequently used train track. If a train’s blocking the road (and it often is), getting in or out can be tricky.

 

 

Overall

Good place to work and get a good cup of coffee but a better place to get a bag for a friend to roast at home.

And now…On to trees!

 

Tree Talk: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Nearly every time I see a Southern Magnolia, my mind goes to the paintings and stories of the old South. Their glossy leaves, massive white blossoms, and towering form make them both unmistakable and unforgettable.

A Bit of History and Literature

There’s a ghostly charm to Southern Magnolias—beautiful, yes, but also heavy with memory. Towering and timeless, with dark glossy leaves and luminous white blooms, they often feel like living monuments from another era. In the antebellum South, they were planted alongside grand homes with wide porches and tall columns, becoming symbols of wealth, refinement, and permanence. But that beauty is inseparable from the history it grew alongside.

It’s very possible to romanticize the “Old South.” For many, it was an almost idyllic place. But not for all. These trees stood silently as enslaved people labored in their shade, as fortunes were made and lost, and as war swept through the land. Today, they still line courthouse lawns and old estates, their blooms like pale ghosts—elegant and fragrant, yet bearing the weight of what once was, the good and the bad.

To me, Southern Magnolias don’t just represent Southern charm; they reflect the South itself in all its complexity. These are legacy trees—beautiful, stubborn, and impossible to ignore—and well worth planting.

And I’m not alone in that feeling. Magnolias have featured prominently as literary symbols:

Basic Facts

Their wood was once prized for furniture due to its workability and attractive grain, and their flowers have inspired everything from perfume to poetry.

Growing and Caring for Southern Magnolias

Before planting one, make sure you have the room — these trees don’t stay small.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Maintenance Tips:

Placement Tip: Don’t plant too close to structures — surface roots can cause damage over time.

A Note from Dill Tree Care

Southern Magnolias are spectacular, but they aren’t for every yard. We’ve seen more than a few that were planted too close to a house or stuck in a tight spot. Ten years later, the tree’s pushing on foundations and eating rooflines for breakfast.

If you’re thinking about planting one — or you’ve already got one that’s becoming too much — we can help with:

In Conclusion

If you’re looking for a tree that brings Southern charm, shade, and a whole lot of personality — Magnolia grandiflora is hard to beat. And if you’re looking for a great bag of beans, head over to Hampton Station and grab a Waxwing Blend from Due South Coffee Roasters. Brew it at home and enjoy!

Till next time — drink good coffee, plant good trees.

— Zac Johnson
Dill Tree Care

Sources

Coffee Section:

Tree Section:

• • Clemson HGIC: Southern Magnolia Care

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