Not Just Coffee — Restaurant in Charlotte

A true Charlotte gem — Not Just Coffee lives up to its name.

If you’re looking for a spot that feels equal parts modern workspace, weekend hangout, and culinary retreat, Not Just Coffee absolutely nails the vibe. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by an open, sunlit space with high industrial ceilings, exposed beams, plants, and minimalist decor that feels effortlessly cool. It’s bright, airy, and has that perfect “creative energy” — zone out with a laptop for hours.

☕️ Drinks I ordered their loose-leaf tea, and it was exceptional — rich, aromatic, and clearly high quality. You can tell they take their tea and coffee seriously. The brew came clean and perfectly steeped, not bitter or overdone. You’ll also see they have a solid coffee menu (batch brew, pour-over, cold brew, matcha, etc.) with plenty of milk options including oat and almond — they cater well to all preferences.

🍳 Food The Breakfast Sandwich was fantastic — perfectly toasted brioche bun, fluffy egg, savory sausage, and melted cheddar all balanced beautifully. It’s comfort food done right, but elevated. The brioche itself is soft, buttery, and rich — holds everything together without falling apart.

I also tried the blueberry pastry, and it might be one of the best café pastries I’ve had in Charlotte. Moist interior, crumbly sugar top, and just the right amount of real blueberries. Not overly sweet — it tasted homemade in the best way.

🌿 Atmosphere This place is designed to make you stay longer than you planned. Natural light floods the entire café through large windows, and every corner feels thoughtfully arranged — from tall bar seating to cozy chairs and greenery. It’s spacious but intimate at the same time. The soft indie background music and aroma of roasted coffee beans just tie it all together.

You’ll see people reading, studying, holding business chats, and just relaxing — yet it never feels loud or chaotic. It’s the kind of place that calms your mind while energizing your day.

💯 Overall Not Just Coffee isn’t just a name — it’s a statement. This place is a vibe. Great energy, thoughtful menu, professional but warm service, and aesthetics that make you want to come back every week. Whether you’re a local creative, a coffee purist, or just someone who appreciates quality food in a beautiful space, this café should be on your must-visit list...

In a word: overpriced. In more words: I went here as I was in the area looking for dog boarding. I thought I'd check this place out. It's called Not Just Coffee but after 2pm it is Just Coffee, and of course the other expected coffee shop fare like tea and muffins. So if you want anything that isn't "just coffee" and it's the afternoon then your hopes are dashed. But I didn't care too much and just ordered a latte. It was over 6 dollars after tax if I'm not mistaken. But the price wasn't that important to me as I assumed it would be a large (which I said in my order "a large latte") Well it was super tiny. The cup went in my hand and reminded me of that shot of Andre the giant holding a beer can. Except he was a giant and I'm 5 feet 8 inches tall. I asked "is this a large?" And he responded in a rather annoyed tone "it is all one size" which wasn't explained when i ordered a large size. Also for the price it is incredibly miniscule. On top of this I was "dining inside" and I was given a disposable cup. Why are they giving tiny paper cups rather than mugs. I looked around and every person had a paper cup inside. The latte was nothing special either. I hate Starbucks and I'd 100% rather go there than to this...

This is my regular coffee place, and they consistently serve tasty coffee and light breakfast meals. If you're in the area I'd highly recommend a visit.

I'd say their avocado toast is the best in town - definitely try it with the sundried tomatoes and onion. The granola parfait is great as well.

The baristas are friendly and actually know how to make coffee and espresso beverages. Service is generally quick. The atmosphere is really nice, especially on a day with good weather - they will open the big garage doors to open our onto the patio.

They have free wifi and plenty of seating so this is a great place to work for an afternoon or collaborate with colleagues.

It's also a great placefor hosting a small event. Because this is mine and my husband's regular coffee place, we decided to host an informal brunch the day after our wedding here. They were super accommodating and made sure we have everything we needed. It was very reasonably priced for renting a part of their space. We brought in outside catering and...