There’s two things you should know about me. I love Jesus, and I love coffee. I’ll always be down to go grab a cup of coffee, especially if it means we get to check out a new shop! I was born and raised in Charleston, so over the years I’ve had a chance to try most of the coffee the city has to offer. Charleston boasts of a wide variety of coffee shops, each one unique and special in its own way. I have developed a list of some of my favorite cafés in Charleston below, and I highly recommend that you go give them a shot. Whether your looking for drip coffee, espresso beverages, a bite to eat, or just a place to get work done or meet someone, hopefully you’ll enjoy these local coffee fixtures just as much as I do!
The Rise – Downtown Charleston
The Rise is a coffee bar located on Wentworth Street, which is close to the heart of Charleston’s iconic King Street. I like this shop because of its small, streetfront location. Their menu is relatively simple, featuring quality crafted espresso beverages like their English Caramel Toffee Latte (my personal favorite), which I enjoy pairing with one of their delicious, baked-daily pastries or bagels. But the best part is located just behind a door at the back of the coffee shop. As you step through the door, you are embraced by a warm, distinctive lounge belonging to the Restoration Hotel. This space boasts of leather couches, a fireplace, and plenty of spaces to get work done while enjoying the elevated atmosphere of the Restoration.
Second State – Mount Pleasant, Downtown Charleston
Second State Coffee is appealing to the cultured coffee drinker for multiple reasons. While you won’t find the volume of flavored lattes you’d expect to get at Starbucks, each beverage is hand crafted with a particular attention to detail that you won’t find at many other shops. Their seasonal specials are well-crafted, and you can’t go wrong with their standard espresso beverages either. Watch as your barista hand-grates spices on top of your latte, or artfully anoints your cappuccino with frothed milk. Furthermore, Second State boasts of three locations across the Charleston area, making accessibility to their coffee just a little easier. Each location varies in size and ambiance, making each Second State experience a little different than the other (in a good way). The Johnny Dodds location features a full kitchen with delicious food and plenty of seating, while the Downtown and Ben Sawyer storefronts offer quieter, more intimate spaces. Finally, if you’re like me, you like to rep your favorite coffee brands. I have found Second State’s merch to be unrivaled in the Charleston area, and I already have a hat and travel mug to call my own!
Seacoast Church Café – Mount Pleasant
Seacoast Church has set the standard for an innovative, elevated church experience in the Charleston area for over 35 years, and their in-house café is no exception. Boasting of high ceilings, plenty of open space, hand-crafted espresso beverages, delicious food, and a friendly staff, Seacoast Café offers a unique and memorable coffee experience at an affordable price. I particularly like their seasonal offerings, which are rotated monthly to welcome in the next season. And you can’t go wrong with their Ultimate BLT or ham and brie croissant. I find Seacoast Café to be very productive for meetings or simply knocking out some assignments. Whether you’re looking for a place to connect with others or just want a lively space to get some work done, this shop will leave you with a smile on your face, joy in your heart, and a quality beverage in hand.
Harken/The Harbinger – Downtown Charleston
Harken and The Harbinger are sister coffee shops both located Downtown Charleston. Each one offers an incredibly unique and memorable experience, with an intimate, vintage ambiance that will draw you right off the street and into a historic Charleston structure. Not only is their coffee exceptional (note Harken’s rare orange La Marzocco espresso machine), but each shop features a wide variety of delicious pastries and plates, many of which are friendly for those with dietary restrictions. Every ingredient is well thought through, generating invigorating flavors that are unmatched by most coffee shop food offerings in the area. I recommend Harken’s spiced vanilla latte coupled with one of their house-made biscuits (if they haven’t run out yet…they’re that good!). Or try the Harbinger’s Grasshopper Toast with a cup of their coffee. The only way to go wrong at Harken or The Harbinger is to not go at all!
Brown Fox Coffee Company – Mount Pleasant
Brown Fox Coffee Co. revolutionized the coffee scene with its opening in 2015, becoming the first walk-up coffee shop in Mount Pleasant. Recently, they opened other locations in Saint Andews Church (right down the street) and a coffee cart in Murrell’s Inlet. This shop is the place you want to be if you’re looking for flavored espresso beverages (think lattes, frappes, etc.), and portion sizes are relatively generous compared to other shops in the area. Furthermore, Brown Fox’s seasonal offerings stand out as being some of the best in Charleston, like their Cadbury Egg Latte around Easter. I particularly like this shop because of its connectivity to the outdoors. You can enjoy a cup of coffee in their outdoor courtyard, or go for a walk in the surrounding historic Old Village of Mount Pleasant with a delicious beverage in hand. Looking for another reason to visit Brown Fox? Mabel Mae’s, a local gluten-dairy free bakery, has a pop-up here weekly, and their signature creations are second to none (and that’s coming from someone with no dietary restrictions). They are at Brown Fox on Wednesdays this month from 8-noon.