A Caffeine Lover's Guide to Charleston's Finest Coffee Shops

South Carolina
Written By Jordan Kiefer

During my first trip to Charleston, I knew every day was going to be packed with fun activities, beautiful sights, and of course, good food. Therefore, I made it a goal to try a different coffee shop every day of my visit, both to experience the Holy City’s unique caffeine scene and to stay energetic throughout each day. Here are all the coffee shops I visited and which one was ultimately my favorite.

The Archive

The Archive was created as a space to connect and unwind while surrounding yourself the best books and coffee. With a Dark Academia aesthetic, this place is all about creativity and imagination. The store has various events throughout the year, such as themed evenings, author signings, and poetry readings. In addition to their everyday menu, they have a rotating seasonal menu with limited edition coffee blends and hand-selected wines.

I absolutely loved The Archive Coffee & Bookstore. The coffee that I ordered, Breakfast in Bed, was delicious and I love that they have speciality drinks with literature and reading names (like The Scarlet Letter and Golden Snitch.) The Archive has a beautifully curated atmosphere with colorful shelves, comfy chairs, whimsical decor, and of course, plenty of books to browse.

Coffee Shop Information

  • ☕️ I ordered Breakfast in Bed, a chocolate chip pancake latte and it was so delicious!

  • 📅 Open Tuesday - Wednesday 9am - 8pm, Thursday - Saturday 9am - 9pm, & Sunday 9am - 6pm. Closed on Monday.

  • 📍 700 S Shelmore Blvd Unit 103, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

This wonderfully heartwarming coffee shop was founded by the Wright parents in 2016 to decrease the unemployment gap for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The cause is very dear to their hearts as two of their four children, Bitty & Beau, were born with Down syndrome. The family wanted to have a fun place where people with disabilities are given opportunities to work. Thus, Bitty & Beau’s was born as a human rights movement designed to help change the way people see others. In the years since the first shop’s opening, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has grown across 11 states with 18 shops employing over 450+ individuals, including Charleston.

I found this coffee shop when researching places in Charleston and knew I had to visit. It is a charming little coffee shop nestled in the heart of historic downtown Charleston. The employees were incredibly welcoming and I had a delightful conversation with one of them. The coffee is delicious as well. I love that the Wrights started this important coffee shop that has grown into a fantastic force for good. I cannot recommend Bitty & Beau’s enough!

Coffee Shop Information

Brown Fox Coffee

Unlike the other locations on this list, Brown Fox Coffee is a walk-up coffee shop rather than a sit-down cafe. Don’t let this deter you however as they have plenty of comfortable outdoor seating and free W-fi. They are located in Mount Pleasant, a town east of historic downtown Charleston. Brown Fox Coffee is a charmingly old fashioned joint that prides itself on serving fresh, locally-roasted coffee. The baristas are super friendly, their menu has a wide variety of drinks and pastries, and on a nice day, this would be the perfect place to drink your coffee while chatting with your friends.

Coffee Shop Information

Kudu Coffee

Located just off iconic King Street in downtown Charleston, Kudu Coffee is known for expertly brewed coffee, local craft beer, hand-whisked matcha, and curated wines. Kudu Coffee has a quaint and cozy indoor area along with a shaded, pretty courtyard. Either space is perfect for chatting with friends, working remotely, savoring your coffee, or reading a good book. If I lived in downtown Charleston, this would definitely be one of my regular coffee shops. As a bonus, Kudu Coffee is dog-friendly so four-legged friends are always welcome.

Coffee Shop Information

Second State Coffee

This was the first coffee shop I went to on my trip and it was well worth it. Second State Coffee is known for its cute, quiet, and welcoming atmosphere. This coffee shop sources traceable, high-quality beans from around the world and roast them to perfection in small batches to showcase each lot's unique character. The baristas were super friendly, the cafe was relaxing, and my coffee was flavorful. I highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area.

Coffee Shop Information

My Verdict

While I enjoyed every coffee shop on this list, I had two that were my favorites. Drinks wise, my favorites were the Cookies and Cream Frappe from Bitty & Beau’s and the Breakfast in Bed Latte from The Archive. Both were sweet, smooth, and of course, delicious. I love The Archive’s atmosphere and decor. As it is a combination of a coffee shop and bookstore, it is a place where I would spend all of my time.

Jordan Kiefer
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