All those lovely tree-lined streets, and a magnificent skyline that looks nothing short of amazing when the sun sets and rises. This charming Southern city has beautiful weather, and a truly great up-and-coming food scene.
Speaking of which, there are some really great coffee shops and cafés in Charlotte, NC, and I can’t wait to tell you all about them!
I’m going to cover what I feel are the top 15, and give you a brief description of each and provide their address, and a link to their menu where applicable.
By the end of the article, you’ll be able to pick out which ones you’d like to visit. Such a great way to meet up with a friend, or even a date!
This was an easy number one for us, and that’s because it has been voted the best coffee shop in Charlotte, NC by about 800 readers of the Charlotte Observer.
They offer several blends of coffee, including Bitty’s blend, Beau’s blend, Sundance, and even a decaf roast. And of course, there’s a range of different lattes, frappuccinos and such to choose from, not to mention smoothies.
They have great specialty drinks, too, including a festive gingerbread latte, and a delicious peppermint bark latte. And the pumpkin spice latte is a popular one too.
It’s also known for being an employer of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, promoting social inclusion.
Adjacent to each of the cafés is a cat lounge where 12 cats roam free, and you are permitted to play, cuddle and pet them as you sip your coffee or a glass of wine!
You would be best advised to book your experience in the Mac Tabby Cat Lounge in advance. And if you take a shine to a particular cat, you can choose to adopt it!
And you’re also free to grab a guitar and play.
As for the menu, there’s some great coffee, some gluten-free and vegan treats, and some amazing healthy homemade smoothies.
What could be better than a coffee, than a coffee with a good book? That’s what this café has to offer because it’s also a used bookstore as well. And it has everything from bestsellers all the way through to rare and unique books, and all at excellent prices.
There are some really good breakfast and lunch options, including bagels, croissants, sandwiches, wraps and more.
This coffee shop is superb – it provides high-quality coffee and food that’s regionally sourced whenever possible. Their menu features crêpes, cakes, pastries, and even cheese boards as well.
It’s a European-inspired café and their sweet treats and other foods are made from scratch alongside a wide array of coffees, and an even wider array of loose-leaf herbal teas.
Despite this coffee shop’s rather upmarket decor and appearance, I can assure you it has a very welcoming atmosphere.
All of their coffee is USDA certified organic, and in addition to coffee, it also serves specialty teas, filled croissants, bagels and a range of sandwiches.
One of their most popular drinks is the cold foam snickerdoodle, which is to die for. And more recently they have introduced a new signature drink – a paradise iced latte, made with lavender and brown sugar and cold foam.
Now, this is a coffee shop that takes its coffee seriously! They have excellent baristas and coffee blends, and they serve every kind of coffee you can ask for. You can choose your preferred milk, and also throw in syrups that are all made in-house.
They also serve some amazing breakfast dishes. But it’s important to note that the menu does vary between locations. And the value for money is unparalleled.
This family-owned and operated coffee shop boasts not one but two locations in Charlotte, NC. And its USP is that its coffees are predominantly of single origin, which means you get the full flavor of the bean, and a more distinct taste.
You can buy their whole coffee beans by the pound or half pound, and if you want to enjoy your coffee on the premises, you get it at a bargain price. They also serve pastries, cakes, and more.
Undercurrent coffee is more than just a coffee shop – they have their own lab where their goal is to teach the art of making coffee.
They offer public classes and tastings, professional workshops, and 3 different levels of SCA barista and brewing certifications.
They provide exceptional and at times unique coffee, and their pastries are all made from scratch. They favor local produce and have a seasonally rotating menu. They also offer mobile ordering, which is very handy.
Queen city grounds is also an excellent place to grab a quick coffee!
The menu varies slightly between the different locations, with some locations having a larger menu than others. If you wish, you can order your food and drinks ahead of time for pickup.
Enderly Coffee is a family-owned, community-oriented small-batch coffee roaster. They offer superb handcrafted coffee, but what they are really known for are their works of compassion.
A portion of every purchase goes to support educational initiatives in the local area.
The stand-out feature of this coffee shop is that they specialize in producing hand-brewed, lightly roasted, fruit forward coffees.
It is locally owned, and offers what seems to be the most extensive range of beverages in the whole of Charlotte, NC, including espresso-based drinks, frozen lattes, 4 different hot cocoas, and a whole host of coffee syrups.
Address:
7416 Waverly Walk Ave. Suite H3, Charlotte, NC 28277
Community Matters Café is an extension program of the Charlotte Rescue Mission, which is dedicated to addiction recovery and helping sufferers gain real-world experience and help them integrate into society.
They offer artisan breakfasts, lunches, and of course, coffees.
If you haven’t got time to sit down for your coffee, why not take advantage of a coffee drive-thru? Cuplux offers drip coffee, a host of different lattes, baked goods, and more.
Address:
3115 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208
Wrap Up
I hope you’ve enjoyed browsing through my hand-picked shortlist of the best coffee shops and cafés in Charlotte, North Carolina. No doubt, you’ve already picked which one you want to try out first – enjoy!
My name is Dana Dupree and I am an avid coffee lover. Since I began college and realized what a heavy load writing majors took on, I have been a fan of the bean juice.
My job has taken me all over the US on book tours and press conferences, and my favorite part about the trip is exploring the best places to grab my cup of Joe.
