Gold Medusa Coffee Co.

10/06/2026

We received a special message from the García Puerta family in Apía, from the San Agustín area—one of the communities hardest hit by the earthquake. Their children wanted to thank everyone who helped support the emergency relief fund and donated nonperishable goods.

We want to thank Imperial Mercantile & Outfitters , our fellow brothers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, the kind people of Kings Mountain, and everyone who contributed, shared the fundraiser, or kept Apía in your prayers. We’re also deeply grateful to Mr. Larry “Don Mono” for coordinating relief efforts on the ground.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but the worst is behind us. Thank you for standing with Apía and the families working to recover.

10/01/2026

Yesterdays surprise visit

while I was washing dishes, I heard someone call out, “Guzman!” I turned around and saw Jesse, a fellow machine gunner from 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines. I hadn’t seen him in years, so running into him was an incredible surprise.

Jesse and I were both part of the same machine gun team. We later deployed together in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Jesse went on to accomplish remarkable things in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I couldn’t be prouder of the courage and dedication he demonstrated along the way. It was great seeing you again, brother. Semper Fi

09/16/2026

👀🤦🏽‍♂️ POV: You accidentally make eye contact with the customer during a full-blown rush and now you’re both emotionally involved. 😂☕️

But in all seriousness, one of the hallmarks of a good barista is actually engaging with the people on the other side of the bar.

Yes, we care about dialing in espresso, steaming milk, and getting your drink right — but hospitality matters too.

So even when we’re 14 drinks deep… we see you. 👀😂

09/13/2026

09/03/2026

☕️ coffee nerds assemble 💪🏽

We’ve actually had several conversations about this right here in the coffee shop, but it’s one of those things most people never really think about:

the cup you drink from can change the way you experience the coffee.

The diameter and shape of the rim can influence how aroma reaches your nose and how the coffee is perceived as you drink it. And because aroma plays such a huge role in what we experience as flavor, the vessel itself can become part of the tasting experience.

Research backs this up. Studies using differently shaped coffee cups have found measurable differences in perceived aroma, sweetness and acidity, even when the coffee itself stayed the same.

So while we spend all this time talking about grind size, water temperature, extraction and coffee-to-water ratios, the cup may be the last variable before the coffee reaches you.

But now I want to know…

Is this just coffee people being coffee people and overthinking everything? 🤦🏽‍♂️😂☕️

Or do you have that one favorite cup at home that coffee just seems to taste better out of?

Tell me what you’re drinking out of. 👇

📍 Gold Medusa Coffee Co.
Inside The Imperial Mercantile
138 W. Mountain St., Kings Mountain, NC

🕰️ Tue–Thu: 7 AM–5 PM
Fri: 7 AM–6 PM
Sat: 8 AM–6 PM
Sun: 11 AM–3 PM

Interesting reads 👇🏼
The shape of the cup influences aroma, taste, and hedonic judgements of specialty coffee, Food Quality and Preference.
- Does the shape of a cup influence coffee taste expectations?, Food Quality and Preference.
• Assessing the influence of the coffee cup on the multisensory tasting experience, Food Quality and Preference.

08/29/2026

🎬🍂 NOW SERVING: THE GOLD MEDUSA FALL FEATURE MENU

This season’s menu is our tip of the hat to the building we call home—and an ode to its theatrical past.

Long before coffee was served here, this 1920s building was home to The Imperial Theatre—one of three movie houses that once entertained downtown Kings Mountain. This fall, we’re honoring those theatrical roots with five signature flavors, each presented like its own feature film.

🎥 NOW STARRING:

⭐ The Caramel Toasted Maple Pecan Latte
⭐ The Blackberry Chai Latte
⭐ The Banana Bread Latte
⭐ The Pumpkin Spice Latte
⭐ The Cookie Butter Latte

🎟️ CREATE YOUR FEATURE:

Every flavor can be made as a latte, chai, or matcha, then customized with your choice of milk, size, and whether you want it hot or iced. The drinks shown on each poster are featured presentations—not your only options.

All of our syrups are proudly made in-house with real ingredients, and every iced drink is topped with its own individually crafted cheesecake cold foam—made specifically to complement its signature flavor. Cold foams contain dairy.

Which one are you trying first? ⭐

☕ HOURS:

Tuesday–Thursday: 7 AM–5 PM
Friday: 7 AM–6 PM
Saturday: 8 AM–6 PM
Sunday: 11 AM–3 PM
Monday: Closed

📍 Gold Medusa Coffee Co.
Inside The Imperial Mercantile
138 W. Mountain St., Kings Mountain, NC
Imperial Mercantile & Outfitters

08/20/2026

🐻☕ 3D cold foam art!

Today’s canvas: cold foam. Today’s subject: this little bear. 🐻

Today’s temp: approximately surface-of-the-sun hot. 🥵😂

Would you be interested in learning how to create 3D cold foam art like this, along with latte art techniques like hearts, tulips, rosettas, and more?

👇 Drop “INTERESTED” in the comments if you’d come to a hands-on class at Gold Medusa Coffee Co. If there’s enough interest, we’ll put one together!

📍 Gold Medusa Coffee Co.
Inside The Imperial Mercantile
138 W. Mountain St., Kings Mountain, NC

☕ Hours
Tue–Thu: 7 AM–5 PM
Fri: 7 AM–6 PM
Sat: 8 AM–6 PM
Sun: 11 AM–3 PM

Come grab a cold drink!
Imperial Mercantile & Outfitters

08/17/2026

The work happening in Apía is only possible because people are willing to step up.

Our liaison on the ground, Larry “Don Mono” Leadingham “Don Mono” , has been helping us identify families in need, coordinate locally, purchase supplies, and make sure assistance gets where it’s supposed to go. And knowing Larry, I’m sure there have been moments when he’s reached into his own pocket just to keep things moving.

Larry — love you, brother. You have a huge heart, man. Thank you for being there when these families need someone the most. May God bless you tenfold for everything you’re doing. 🙏🏽🇨🇴

And to the Marines from my old unit who have supported this effort: guys, thank you. 🙏🏽 So far, 100% of the donations made through our GoFundMe have come from members of our unit. Years later, you’re still showing exactly what brotherhood means.

We’ve already sent funds to Apía for building materials, and we are continuing to identify urgent needs in the rural communities. Part of the funds will also be used to help purchase needed medications, with insulin currently being one of the priorities.

We are still accepting donations:
GoFundMe: link in our bio
In person: non-perishable food and essential items can be dropped off at the shop
Tips: every tip collected at Gold Medusa will be donated to this relief effort

A huge thank you to Imperial Mercantile & Outfitters for allowing us to use their space as a collection point for donated items. Their support has made it easier for our community here at home to directly help families in Colombia. 🙏🏽

This is what Stand With Colombia is about — people helping people, directly.

From North Carolina to Apía, Risaralda: thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, prayed, volunteered, or helped us reach someone in need.

🇨🇴 Stand With Colombia
Gold Medusa Coffee Co.