Friday Fives: Top 5 Favorite Charlotte Coffee Shops

This week is full of new starts and big ideas! Monday I shared Part One of a new series, and every Monday (until the story is done, anyway) I’ll share the next part of the story. I love our love story, and I can’t wait to share it with you all!! But that’s on Mondays. Why am I talking about this on Friday? Because today (and probably some other Fridays, too) I’ll be sharing another series called Friday Fives. This is to give you a chance to get to know me a little more. I’ll share favorite things and things I’m loving and, well, basically anything you can put into a list of 5. 😉

I’ve made no secret of my love of coffee, so I thought, “What better way to start off a new series than with coffee?” (Hint: the answer is that there’s no better way to start a new series than with coffee.) So, today we’re kicking off my first Friday Fives with:

My 5 Favorite Charlotte Coffee Shops

Yummmm lattes!

Honorable Mention: The People’s Market

Come on; you didn’t really think I could actually narrow it down to only five, did you?? Ha! Anyway. This is a really cool spot in the Dilworth neighborhood. The reason I’m giving it honorable mention rather than placing it in the top 5 is because it’s a whole market which includes a coffee stand, a sandwich shop, along with some locally-made frozen dinners and treats. They also have a wine area and host all sorts of fun events throughout the week. So, I love coming here to edit or respond to emails because it’s a cool spot. It’s just a little different from the coffee shop atmosphere. 🙂

5 Smelly Cat

Ahhh, NoDA’s local coffee shop and roastery. It’s so good, guys! The coffee is delicious, and the atmosphere is exactly what a coffee shop should be! It was my go-to when we lived in NoDa, and it’s still a spot I love to visit when we’re on that side of town. My favorites are their lattes or, if I’m really wanting to indulge, their blended iced lattes.

4 Amelie’s

If you can’t image going to a coffee shop and not getting a pastry then Amelie’s is the place to go in Charlotte. A French Bakery whose original location is also in NoDa, Amelie’s is best known for their salted caramel brownies and macarons. They now have 4 Charlotte locations as well as a 5th location in Rock Hill. They’ve also recently expanded and added an Atlanta shop! My favorite treats here are the Cafe Marcotter (basically a salted caramel latte–I always get mine half sweet) and their Quiche du Jour. You can’t go wrong with the pastries, either, though. 😉

3 Queen City Grounds

QCG is another in-house roaster, and their coffee is delicious! Their location is very trendy and cool with plenty of seating, big windows, and cool chairs. Located in Charlotte’s Fourth Ward, it’s an easy walk from the 7th Street Station of the Lite Rail. In addition to wonderful coffee drinks they also boast a pastry case full of decadent goodies, many of which are vegan. I highly recommend the lemon-blueberry vegan donut. They also sell kronuts a couple times a week and homemade vegan poptarts a couple times a week, both of which I’m impatient to try.

2 Parliament Espresso Co

This had to be in my top 5 because they make one of the best iced lattes I’ve ever had! Truly, I’ve managed to get my coffee sweetener to just a touch of maple syrup at home or a half-sweet latte from a coffee shop, but Parliament’s iced latte was the first I ever drank–and enjoyed— completely unsweetened. I don’t know what it is, but their coffee just has the most delicious flavor! Not too acidic but still bold and rich. It’s so good and was my first post-race treat after running my half marathon back in November! They have locations in Charlotte, Miami, New York, and Philadelphia. I don’t know how little Charlotte got to be one of the 4 cities with a Parliament Espresso Company, but I am not complaining!!

And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for:

My Number 1 Favorite Coffee Shop in Charlotte

1 Not Just Coffee

Not Just Coffee is truly the best coffee in Charlotte, and, considering the way they live out their tagline of “Love People Not Just Coffee” they’re a truly wonderful place to visit, too. These guys have espresso down to a science. There’s no random pouring of milk or pumping of syrup or willy-nilly heating of water. They carefully weigh out the espresso, water, milk, and syrup separately and heat it to the most perfect temperature. In so doing, they create espresso drinks that look like art, taste like perfection, and are backed by the science of espresso to come out just like that every. single. time. My favorite drink is a half-sweet iced vanilla latte (with house-made syrup!). And, as if that’s not enough, the atmosphere is unparalleled. The baristas are kind, compassionate humans who care about the person ordering their coffee. With 5 locations around Charlotte, you’re sure to be able to find one that isn’t too far away. And, even if it is far, I assure you it’s worth the drive!

Some days you have to create your own joy–and a walk in the sunshine past apple trees in full bloom with an iced latte from Not Just Coffee and my two best girls is an excellent way to do just that. 🙂

Any other coffee lovers reading? What’s your go-to coffee shop, and what makes it your favorite?