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Charlotte coffee shop ratings

  • Writer: Audrey
    Audrey
  • Feb 8
  • 3 min read

Updated: Mar 9

Updated March 9


I’m trying every coffee shop in Charlotte to find the ones you can’t miss. At each spot, I’m rating a popular specialty latte, a black coffee, and the ambiance/vibe on a scale from one to ten. These ratings go towards an overall score that determines the ranking of all 36 shops I’m trying. Additionally, I’ll take note of their food selection, parking situation, and their remote work space to provide more details and determine the best shops for each category.


Here’s how I rate them for the purpose of overall ranking:

DRIP COFFEE AND SPECIALTY LATTES

  • 1= Bad, won’t even finish it 

  • 5= Average, would drink again but wouldn’t go out of my way

  • 6= Good, enjoyed it but it wasn't anything spectacular

  • 8= Delicious, but there was something missing or something that could be improved

  • 10= No flaws, perfect cup of coffee that I would go out of my way for and recommend to others


VIBE

  • 1= Awful ambiance, bordering on scary or uncomfortable

  • 5= Standard, clean but without much personality, flair, or any special aspects

  • 10= Impeccable ambiance, full of personality, would stay all day if I could


At the end of my journey, I’ll name the “Best” in each of the following categories:

  • Best overall (determined by numerical ranking)

  • Best specialty drink (determined by numerical ranking)

  • Best black coffee (determined by numerical ranking)

  • Best vibe/ambiance

  • Best parking situation

  • Best for remote workers

  • Best for coffee dates

  • Best food selection


Without further ado, here is the full list of coffee shops (in alphabetical order), their ratings, and a bit about my experience at each one.


  • Specialty latte: $7.25 for a 12oz banana bread latte – 9/10

  • Black coffee: for a $5.00 12oz pour over – 8/10

  • Vibe: 7/10

  • Overall: 8/10


  • Specialty latte: $8.00 for a 12oz “Rose Hips Don’t Lie” latte – 7/10

  • Black coffee: $4.00 for a 12oz drip – 7/10

  • Vibe: 9/10

  • Overall: 7.7/10


  • Specialty latte: $6.75 for a 12oz cake pop latte

  • Black coffee: $3.00 for a 12oz drip coffee – 5/10

  • Vibe: 5/10

  • Overall: 5.7/10


  • Specialty latte: $8.25 for a 12oz peppermint mocha – 8

  • Black coffee: $3.25 for a 12oz drip coffee – 7

  • Vibe: 5/10

  • Overall: 6.7/10


  • Specialty latte: $7.00 for a 12oz amaretti latte – 8/10

  • Black coffee: $2.50 for a 12oz drip dark roast – 7/10

  • Vibe: 10/10

  • Overall: 8.3/10


  • Specialty latte: $6.50 for a 16 oz “Maple Mistletoe” (maple marshmallow) – 8/10

  • Black coffee: $3.50 for a 16 oz drip coffee – 6/10

  • Vibe: 10/10

  • Overall: 8/10


  • Specialty latte: $7.75 for a 12oz Mexican mocha – 9/10

  • Black coffee: $3.50 for a 12oz drip coffee – 8/10

  • Vibe: 9/10

  • Overall: 8.7/10


  • Specialty latte: $5.20 for a 12oz “Sumaq Latte” (brown sugar cinnamon) – 10/10

  • Black coffee: $5 for a 16 oz drip – 6/10

  • Vibe: 7/10

  • Overall: 7.7/10


  • Speciality latte: $6.75 for a 12oz sugar cookie latte — 7/10

  • Black coffee: $3.00 for a 12oz drip coffee — 5/10

  • Vibe: 8/10

  • Overall: 6.7/10


  • Specialty latte: $7.50 for a 12oz brown butter sage latte – 8/10

  • Black coffee: $3.00 for a 12oz drip coffee – 7.5

  • Vibe: 10/10

  • Overall: 8.5


  • Specialty latte: $6.50 for a 12 oz cherry mocha – 6/10

  • Black coffee: $3.25 for a 16 oz drip – 6/10

  • Vibe: 7/10

  • Overall: 6.3/10


  • Specialty latte: $6.10 for a 12oz strawberry mocha – 5/10

  • Black coffee: $3.30 for a 12oz drip coffee – 4/10

  • Vibe: 6/10

  • Overall: 5/10


  • Specialty latte: $8.00 for a 12oz "Cinnamon Toast Crunch" latte — 10/10

  • Black coffee $3.25 for a 13 oz drip coffee — 8/10

  • Vibe: 6.5

  • Overall: 8.2


  • Specialty latte: $5.80 for a 12 oz “CandyCane Forest” (peppermint mocha) – 9/10

  • Black coffee: $4.50 for a 12 oz pour over – 7/10

  • Vibe: 8/10

  • Overall: 8.3/10



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