Drip Drop Coffee Shop literally began as a dream for owner Darron Hinton. Photo by Imani Khayyam.

Darron Hinton, owner of Drip Drop Coffee Shop (100 E. Capitol St., Suite B, 601-398-2318), has loved coffee all his life. He dreamed of starting a shop where he could enjoy making drinks and interacting with morning commuters seeking a cup of joe on their way to work. In Hinton's case, "dreamed" is literal, as the vision for his community-friendly coffee shop literally came to him in a dream.

"When I first decided to open a coffee shop, I was initially going to look into buying a Cups franchise," Hinton says. "I had a dream that I was behind the counter of a coffee shop full of artists painting in the shop and a live band playing music. I looked out a window and saw a sign that said 'Drip Drop Coffee.' I called my brother the next morning and asked him to look into that name. He said no coffee shop with that name existed. I took that as a sign that I had to go in my own direction and set up a shop (of) my own with local artists and music in mind."

Hinton's vision is taking shape at Drip Drop. The work of local artist Brailynne Corr covers the walls. Corr loves to come in Fridays at lunchtime and draw on her easel, then hold a sketch out of a hat for all customers present and give her print to the winner. Roger Leonard Long, a local portrait artist, is planning to teach art classes in the shop on Saturdays. Drip Drop also hosts local musicians Baby Jan and Chad Perry every other Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The shop offers specialty blends such as the Tornado, made with white chocolate and Irish cream, and the Holy Grail, made with dark chocolate, French vanilla and hazelnut. The shop also has smoothies, pastries, paninis, wraps and pasta, all made fresh daily.

Drip Drop Coffee Shop is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.