Guest Post Contribution by Taylor J of @cltjcoffeetour_
The craft coffee scene in Charlotte is booming – local coffee shops and roasters are popping up all over the city. Coffee shops are in our lives for a variety of reasons these days – working remotely, catching up with friends, visiting local pop-ups within the shops, grabbing an iced latte to start your day, etc. As a Charlotte coffee influencer, I’m here to tell you about all of the unique coffee shops that our city has to offer, and help you find your new favorite spot.
South End / LoSo / Dilworth
If you’re looking for…
A dose of kindness, check out Bitty & Beau’s right along the Rail Trail off of Camden Road. Bitty & Beau’s is now a nationwide chain that works to hire those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. You’ll always get a kind message written on your cup!
Breakfast & coffee, Sunflour Baking Company is the spot for you. The Dilworth shop is off of East Boulevard and a Saturday morning must-stop. Get your breakfast sandwich on a cheddar biscuit and thank me later.
Here are more shops to check out in South End / LoSo / Dilworth:
- Not Just Coffee (Atherton Mill & Dilworth)
- Wildroots Coffee
- Wooden Robot Coffee Bar
- Resident Culture
- Eight + Sand Kitchen
- Night Swim Coffee (LoSo)
- Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee
- Burr & Berry Coffee (Drive-Thru)
- Roots Cafe
- Lincoln’s Haberdashery
- Stable Hand
- Queen City Grounds (W Morehead Street)
Uptown
If you’re looking for…
Good conversation, stop by Evoke Coffee Co, located in The CLT Hub off of West Morehead Street. The owner, Joe, is always open to a meaningful conversation and ready to make a unique drink with his homemade syrups.
Coffee & seltzers, check out Queen City Grounds’ Church Street location. The space has just turned into The Landing at 4th Ward, and serves QCG coffee and Summit Seltzer seltzers.
Here are more coffee shops to check out in Uptown:
- Not Just Coffee
- Night Swim Coffee
- Waterbean Coffee
- Coco & the Director
- Community Matters Cafe
- Javesca Coffee
Plaza Midwood / Elizabeth / Midtown
If you’re looking for…
The best dirty chai, check out Central Coffee Co. With cozy vibes, friendly baristas, and one of my favorite iced dirty chais, you will not be disappointed.
A mouth watering breakfast burrito, you have to stop by The People’s Market in Elizabeth. The People’s Market Dilworth closed in early 2020, and fans (including myself) have been eagerly waiting for the new location to open up. Order a breakfast burrito with your morning coffee to enjoy in their new interior space.
Here are more shops to check out in Plaza Midwood / Elizabeth / Midtown:
- Giddy Goat
- Undercurrent Coffee
- Summit Coffee (On the Plaza)
- Waterbean Coffee (Midtown)
- Newly Opened Milkbread Plaza Midwood
NoDa
If you’re looking for…
Cats (yes, cats), make your way to Mac Tabby Cat Cafe. You can buy a pass to play with their adoptable cats and enjoy a coffee while you’re cuddling up with them. You may find yourself taking home a new furry friend.
Beautiful latte art, head over to The Hobbyist. I went to a coffee 101 class earlier this year and one of the speakers was a barista from The Hobbyist. They showed us their latte art and it was the prettiest I’ve ever seen.
Here are more shops to check out in NoDa:
- Smelly Cat Coffeehouse & Roastery
- Salud Cerveceria
- Summit Coffee Co (NoDa)
- Artisan’s Palate
- Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden
Wesley Heights / West Side / North End
If you’re looking for…
A place to start your Saturday morning, stop by Enderly Coffee Co. Enderly is a Charlotte staple and their beans can be found in many coffee shops and grocery stores. If you’re lucky, Shelves Bookstore will be hosting a pop-up at Enderly and you can grab a coffee AND a good read.
A grab and go spot, stop by the Cuplux coffee drive thru. Cuplux is quick and efficient, with two drive thru lanes and rotating seasonal drinks. This is a great option if you’re on the go, but still want to support local.
Here are more shops to check out in Wesley Heights / West Side / North End:
- Backdrop Coffee
- Not Just Coffee
- Dyad Coffee
- Toucan Louie’s
- Kokomo’s Coffee House
- Archive CLT
- HEX Coffee
Southpark / South Blvd / Montford
If you’re looking for…
A spot where you can bring your kids while enjoying your coffee, come to The Mad Perk. This coffee shop opened earlier this year in Madison Park. Along with delicious coffee and coffee-based cocktails, they have rotating performers occupying their stage each week. Some of the performers are kids-specific and will catch your child’s attention so you can grab a moment for yourself.
Somewhere trendy to bring your friends from out of town, Sumaq is your spot. With tons of natural light and greenery, you will 100% get an insta-worthy photo here. Sumaq also opened up earlier this year and brought South American flavors to Charlotte via their coffee and food menu. Order an iced Sumaq latte with oat milk – I promise you’ll love it!
Here are more shops to check out in Southpark / South Blvd / Montford:
- Summit Coffee (South Park)
- Amelie’s French Bakery (Park Road Shopping Center)
- Waterbean Coffee (Montford)
- Mugs Coffee
- Mocco Bistro
Concord / Kannapolis / Cornelius
If you’re looking for…
A book to go with your coffee, head to Editions Coffee & Bookstore. They have a huge coffee menu and tons of new and used books to browse, from all genres. If you stop by, you may want to cancel your plans for the rest of the day because I’m certain you will find a book to binge.
A coffee shop with its own roastery, visit Groundwork Common. Grab your favorite beverage and a bag of freshly roasted Verb Coffee beans to enjoy at home.
Here are more shops to check out in Concord / Kannapolis / Cornelius:
- Allegiance Coffee Co
- Press & Porter
- Public Grounds Coffee
- Sullivan’s Buttery
- Mac Tabby Cat Cafe
- Local Patriot Roasting Company
- The Percantile
- Willow Wood Coffee
- Willowbrook Grounds
Huntersville / Mooresville / Davidson
If you’re looking for…
Something new to try, The Daily Grind of Mooresville is your spot. Every morning they announce their daily special, and everyday it’s different. This is a great spot to step outside of your comfort zone and try new flavors.
A spot to work remotely, Main Street Coffee & Coworking is perfect for you. Downstairs has coffee shop vibes while the upstairs has work stations, and they offer three levels of membership. They have a location in Huntersville and Mooresville, so you can be productive no matter where you are.
Here are more shops to check out in Huntersville / Mooresville / Davidson:
- 77 Grounds
- Summit Coffee Co (Davidson)
- Defined Coffee (Mooresville, Huntersville, Denver)
- Good Drip Coffee
Coffee Trucks
If you’re looking for…
A friendly face, Detour Coffee Bar is a must stop! They pop-up all around the city and they release their schedule at the beginning of each week on their instagram (@ detourcoffeebar). Their seasonal drinks are a must order, so track them down and grab a pumpkin spice latte while you still can!
Here are more coffee trucks to track down around the city:
- Third Eye Coffee
- Avalanche Coffee
- The Morning Glory
Beyond
If you’re looking for…
The best merch, drive down to Waverly and hit Cafe Moka. This coffee shop is aesthetically pleasing and so is their merch. Their coffee menu is also incredibly helpful, showing you how light or dark your drink will be depending on what you order.
A spot to live out your small town fantasy, pull up a chair at Brakeman’s. Charlotte LOVES Brakeman’s Coffee, which is located in the heart of Matthews. They seek to provide a cozy, hospitable environment, and they do just that.
Here are more shops that aren’t included in the neighborhoods above to check out:
- Mugshots (Belmont, NC)
- Knowledge Perk (Rock Hill, SC & Fort Mill, SC)
- Tega Cay Coffee Co (Fort Mill, SC)
- Unwind Coffee & Tea (Pineville, NC)
- Burr & Berry Coffee (Indian Land, SC)
- The Wandering Cup (Belmont, NC)
- Mean Mug (Northlake Mall & Blankeney)
- Rock Hill Coffee (Rock Hill, SC)
- Wake Coffee Co (Mountain Island, NC)
- Forte Legato Coffee (Rock Hill, SC)
- Olive’s Mud Puddle (Fort Mill, SC)
- Rocky River Coffee (Harrisburg, NC)
- The Lights Cafe (Blankeney)
- Julia’s Cafe & Books (MoRa)
While I only highlighted a few coffee shops from each neighborhood, every single craft coffee shop in Charlotte has something to offer. I have been running around Charlotte for the past two and a half years posting about these spots and I have yet to be disappointed. If you’re interested in learning more about Charlotte’s coffee shops, give me a follow on Instagram (@cltjcoffeetour__). I’d love to offer you even more recommendations there!
About Taylor of @cltjcoffeetour_
I moved to Charlotte in July 2019 from Northern VA and I love every second of being here.
✨ My go-to coffee order is an iced caramel latte with oat milk
✨ I have two of the cutest cats in the 🌎, named Kitty and Sterling. You’ll see them on my instagram stories sometimes🐱
✨ My fave hobbies are reading (mostly thrillers), sweating at @sweatmethod, playing board games, and watching Reality TV
✨ I LOVE shopping local — coffee, restaurants, clothing, services, etc. And I always share my favorites on my stories.
✨ My current obsession is clay statement earrings!! My favorite shops for those are @sapphirehilldesigns and @maddogdesignco
✨ I recently got a new job and now work in project management for hand tools🔨
