Not Just Coffee at Atherton Mill is the South End flagship of Charlotte's specialty coffee brand, set inside a converted textile mill on South Boulevard.
Must order: A pour-over filter and a slice of bake from the case.
Tip: The mill conversion gives ample table space for work; weekday mornings are the quietest.
Address: 2000 South Blvd Ste 130, Charlotte, NC 28203
Suarez Bakery and Barra at Optimist Hall is Carlos Suarez's Cuban-leaning counter, with apple fritters, glazed doughnuts, cafe cubano and lunch sandwiches.
Signature drink: Cafe cubano
Order: A cafe cubano and an apple fritter; the cinnamon twist runs out fast.
Tip: Counter-order. Lunch sandwiches with house-made bread run from 11.
Undercurrent Coffee runs the Optimist Hall coffee counter on the first floor, with a single-origin filter programme and the food-hall's broader menu.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Order: A filter coffee and a Suarez Bakery pastry from down the hall.
Tip: The food-hall's vendor list is huge; pair Undercurrent's coffee with lunch from Bao and Broth or Botiwalla.
The Providence Road branch of Not Just Coffee is the Myers Park neighbourhood cafe, with a smaller footprint and the full Not Just Coffee filter and espresso.
Signature drink: Espresso
Order: An espresso and the coffee of the day; pastries rotate.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Park on the side street; the lot is tight.
Not Just Coffee on Park Road sits at the edge of Dilworth, a neighbourhood cafe with the brand's filter and espresso menu and a small patio for warmer days.
Signature drink: Cortado
Order: A cortado and the breakfast pastry of the day.
Tip: Easier to grab a seat than the Atherton Mill flagship. Bicycle racks out front.
Central Coffee Co. on Louise Avenue is the family-run Plaza Midwood neighbourhood cafe since 2009, a regular spot for laptops, conversations and morning.
Signature drink: Drip coffee
Order: A drip coffee and a baked good from the case.
Tip: Two outdoor benches out front, plus a small bookable backroom for groups.
HEX Coffee Kitchen at Camp North End is the roaster's flagship cafe and natural-wine room in Charlotte, the city's most-watched specialty coffee opening.
Signature drink: Pour-over filter
Order: A pour-over filter; switch to natural wine after 16:00 on the same counter.
Tip: The wine list shifts to a natural-wine-only programme in the evening. The brunch menu runs weekends until 14:00.
Suarez Bakery and Barra at Optimist Hall is Carlos Suarez's Cuban-leaning counter, with apple fritters, glazed doughnuts, cafe cubano and lunch sandwiches.
Signature drink: Cafe cubano
Order: A cafe cubano and an apple fritter; the cinnamon twist runs out fast.
Tip: Counter-order. Lunch sandwiches with house-made bread run from 11.
Undercurrent Coffee runs the Optimist Hall coffee counter on the first floor, with a single-origin filter programme and the food-hall's broader menu.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Order: A filter coffee and a Suarez Bakery pastry from down the hall.
Tip: The food-hall's vendor list is huge; pair Undercurrent's coffee with lunch from Bao and Broth or Botiwalla.
