With so many new coffee shops opening throughout the Texoma area, finding something truly unique can be a challenge. But opportunities still exist. Travel to the northern edge of the Texoma area, to the small town of Kingston, Oklahoma, and you will find a shop that not only offers great coffee, but also an opportunity to peruse impressive rock and roll memorabilia and perhaps even meet genuine rock and roll royalty.
Greg Upchurch, the award winning superstar drummer for Three Doors Down, owns and operates Greg’s Rockin’ Goat Coffee. Many rock and roll fans will recognize Upchurch as the former drummer for Chris Cornell and Puddle of Mudd, and of course, Three Doors Down. What most people do not know is that Upchurch is also a coffee connoisseur. In addition to his incredible drumming skills, he makes an incredible cup of coffee.
After COVID and especially following the recent passing of Three Doors Down vocalist Brad Arnold, Upchurch decided to put his coffee making skills and knowledge to work with his brother and focus his efforts on creating some of the best coffee in the Texoma area.
What sets his coffee shop apart from most other coffee chains is that Upchurch is involved in every aspect of the coffee making process. This includes a partnership with a private coffee grower in Bolivia who ships fresh coffee beans directly to him. Most coffee shops purchase their beans from large distributors, so their coffee can have a similar taste. The coffee you drink here is different simply because no one else has access to these beans. In addition, Upchurch roasts the beans himself on site, giving him complete control over the delicate flavors created through precise roasting techniques.
At Greg’s Rockin’ Goat Coffee, you will also find another unique beverage. The shop offers what they call coffeeberry iced tea. Served over ice, this beverage has a naturally sweet and delicate flavor. It is high in antioxidants, polyphenols and vitamins C and E. Coffeeberries are the small red fruit that contains the coffee bean. Once the bean is extracted, the skins and pulp are dried and brewed into a delicious tea alternative. You will also find locally baked pastries and other traditional coffee shop favorites.
Inside Greg’s Rockin’ Goat Coffee, you will also discover an impressive collection of memorabilia Upchurch has gathered throughout his musical career. Gold and platinum records, concert posters, tickets, awards, tour photos and much more make this shop a destination for any true rock and roll fan.
Upchurch knows that many people will visit because of his rock and roll celebrity status, but he hopes his shop will also be visited for its hometown feel, great coffee and friendly customer service. If you get lucky, you may even meet Upchurch when you visit, and he is happy to share a tale or two from his years on the road.
When asked what his future holds, Upchurch says, “I was at a sweet spot when Brad passed. It was just like, oh, wow. That was a good punch, you know. I wasn’t ready to go out. But I mean, if that’s what God has in store for me, what He wants me to do, I can just move forward. I can’t take that step back. It doesn’t work that way. I am fifty four years old and I want to live where I am happy.”
You can visit Greg’s Rockin’ Goat Coffee at 109 Highway 70E in Kingston, Oklahoma, from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. You can also visit the Facebook page to place a mobile order.