I was exploring Lynchburg over the weekend and stumbled upon Troublemaker Coffee, tucked right into the heart of a charming local toy and book store. Walking into what felt like a beloved community institution and finding serious third wave coffee inside was one of those delightful surprises that make travel worthwhile.
I ordered an oat latte and watched the barista work a gorgeous La Marzocco machine with the kind of confidence that comes from real skill. You can always tell when someone knows their equipment, and this crew clearly does. The espresso pulled beautifully: rich, balanced, with that syrupy consistency that signals fresh beans and precise extraction. They use Oatly, which is hands down the best oat milk for coffee. It steams to that perfect microfoam consistency and has the richness to stand up to good espresso without overwhelming it. The latte art was almost too pretty to disturb.
The result? Absolutely delicious. Smooth and creamy, with the espresso cutting through just enough to remind you this is coffee, not a milkshake. It’s that ideal balance that’s surprisingly hard to find, even in cities with competitive coffee scenes.
But what really won me over was the atmosphere itself. Surrounded by books and toys, with the gentle ambient sounds of a well loved local shop, Troublemaker offers something increasingly rare: a genuine third place where you can settle in, read, and just breathe for a while. The servers were fantastic, warm and attentive without hovering, checking in at exactly the right moments.
I was also glad to see they sell Slowpoke sourdough loaves. Clearly they know quality when they see it.
It’s the kind of spot that makes you wish you were local. If you’re visiting Lynchburg, bring a book, order that oat latte, and give yourself permission to linger. Troublemaker will make it worth your while.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sandi Peery
My husband and I stopped in for the first time to grab some sandwiches for lunch. The menu is fantastic with lots of options for everyone. We got the Kind of a Reuben and the Grandma's House which we both inhaled. We will absolutely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeremy Keesee
I recently discovered Troublemaker Cafe and couldn't be more impressed. KILLER sandwiches, both in design and execution. I love the fact they don't offer ingredient substitutions, showing pride in the flavor combinations they've created. On top of that, having the wisdom to stock Dirty chips shows the kitchen knows what they're doing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Macy Wilson
Some of the best coffee I've had in a long time! I got an iced caramel latte with oat milk. Perfect level of sweetness with the coffee! I can't wait to come back 😋
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wesley Brewer
Great sandwich. Will be back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Miranda Thomasson
Very hip and clean space inside of the cutest bookstore in town. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful with me and my friends babies (who were definitely making a mess). They had a great play area for the boys to play with trains while we enjoyed our delicious cardaMOM lattes 😜. I enjoyed the lightweight sandwich but ate it to quickly to snap a pic. Highly suggest this cafe for anyone who enjoys a nice spot for good coffee, food, and ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maria Niechwiadowicz
So thrilled about this new sandwich and coffee joint! The sandwich menu is unlike anything else in Lynchburg featuring freshly sliced deli meats like prosciutto and mortadella. They also serve breakfast all day long and throw a great espresso bev.
Every staff member I’ve encountered has been so friendly!
Go get you some grub!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sydney Ray
Stellar drip coffee and avocado toast perfectly balanced. Such a welcome addition to the Burg.
Amanda McDaniel
There's not really a specialty sandwich shop in Lynchburg so this one is a STELLAR choice. Being inside Givens is a bonus fun trip for me, b/c Givens is my favorite place to go in town other than home. My partner and I went and split two sandwiches and both were outstanding. Excited to try the rest of the menu and the staff there is incredible. Also, Thank you for having hours that mirror the store and not just sitting dead and making those of us regular givens customers wish we could get a hot drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Benjamin Cowgill
Great new restaurant inside Givens Bookstore. So many delicious sandwich options that I had trouble choosing just one! Currently they have their breakfast options and sandwich menu all day.
Excited to make my way through the menu (: their coffee is great, and the Sandwiches are fantastic! So far we've tried the Kitchen Sink, Lunch Pail, and the Heavyweight. Everyone is super kind at the counter, and the owner made a point to check on us and see how we felt about everything. Great addition to Givens, to Lynchburg as a whole. Hope they stick around (:
Ben Givens
Troublemaker cafe just opened inside of Givens Books Little Dickens. Such an amazing addition to the bookstore. These guys know food and have an amazing menu of sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches and great coffee. I got the “Kitchen Sink” which was delicious. Melt in your mouth pastrami and the perfect medley of flavors. My wife got the “Lightweight” which she loved as well. So excited to see a new Cafe here and strongly recommend giving it a try. Cant wait to try some other sandwiches on the menu. They all look delicious
I was exploring Lynchburg over the weekend and stumbled upon Troublemaker Coffee, tucked right into the heart of a charming local toy and book store. Walking into what felt like a beloved community institution and finding serious third wave coffee inside was one of those delightful surprises that make travel worthwhile.
I ordered an oat latte and watched the barista work a gorgeous La Marzocco machine with the kind of confidence that comes from real skill. You can always tell when someone knows their equipment, and this crew clearly does. The espresso pulled beautifully: rich, balanced, with that syrupy consistency that signals fresh beans and precise extraction. They use Oatly, which is hands down the best oat milk for coffee. It steams to that perfect microfoam consistency and has the richness to stand up to good espresso without overwhelming it. The latte art was almost too pretty to disturb.
The result? Absolutely delicious. Smooth and creamy, with the espresso cutting through just enough to remind you this is coffee, not a milkshake. It’s that ideal balance that’s surprisingly hard to find, even in cities with competitive coffee scenes.
But what really won me over was the atmosphere itself. Surrounded by books and toys, with the gentle ambient sounds of a well loved local shop, Troublemaker offers something increasingly rare: a genuine third place where you can settle in, read, and just breathe for a while. The servers were fantastic, warm and attentive without hovering, checking in at exactly the right moments.
I was also glad to see they sell Slowpoke sourdough loaves. Clearly they know quality when they see it.
It’s the kind of spot that makes you wish you were local. If you’re visiting Lynchburg, bring a book, order that oat latte, and give yourself permission to linger. Troublemaker will make it worth your while.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My husband and I stopped in for the first time to grab some sandwiches for lunch. The menu is fantastic with lots of options for everyone. We got the Kind of a Reuben and the Grandma's House which we
both inhaled. We will absolutely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I recently discovered Troublemaker Cafe and couldn't be more impressed. KILLER sandwiches, both in design and execution. I love the fact they don't offer ingredient substitutions, showing pride in the flavor combinations they've created. On top of that, having the wisdom to stock Dirty chips shows the kitchen knows what they're doing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Some of the best coffee I've had in a long time! I got an iced caramel latte with oat milk. Perfect level of sweetness with the coffee! I can't wait to come back 😋
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great sandwich. Will be back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very hip and clean space inside of the cutest bookstore in town.
The staff were extremely friendly and helpful with me and my friends babies (who were definitely making a mess). They had a great play area for the boys to play with trains while we enjoyed our delicious cardaMOM lattes 😜. I enjoyed the lightweight sandwich but ate it to quickly to snap a pic. Highly suggest this cafe for anyone who enjoys a nice spot for good coffee, food, and ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So thrilled about this new sandwich and coffee joint! The sandwich menu is unlike anything else in Lynchburg featuring freshly sliced deli meats like prosciutto and mortadella. They also serve breakfast all day long and throw a great espresso bev.
Every staff member I’ve encountered has been so friendly!
Go get you some grub!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stellar drip coffee and avocado toast perfectly balanced. Such a welcome addition to the Burg.
There's not really a specialty sandwich shop in Lynchburg so this one is a STELLAR choice. Being inside Givens is a bonus fun trip for me, b/c Givens is my favorite place to go in town other than home. My partner and I went and split two sandwiches and both were outstanding. Excited to try the rest of the menu and the staff there is incredible. Also, Thank you for having hours that mirror the store and not just sitting dead and making those of us regular givens customers wish we could get a hot drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great new restaurant inside Givens Bookstore. So many delicious sandwich options that I had trouble choosing just one! Currently they have their breakfast options and sandwich menu all day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Excited to make my way through the menu (: their coffee is great, and the Sandwiches are fantastic! So far we've tried the Kitchen Sink, Lunch Pail, and the Heavyweight. Everyone is super kind at the counter, and the owner made a point to check on us and see how we felt about everything. Great addition to Givens, to Lynchburg as a whole. Hope they stick around (:
Troublemaker cafe just opened inside of Givens Books Little Dickens. Such an amazing addition to the bookstore. These guys know food and have an amazing menu of sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches and great coffee. I got the “Kitchen Sink” which was delicious. Melt in your mouth pastrami and the perfect medley of flavors. My wife got the “Lightweight” which she loved as well. So excited to see a new Cafe here and strongly recommend giving it a try. Cant wait to try some other sandwiches on the menu. They all look delicious
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