Allegiance Coffee opens outside Charlotte during COVID with craft drinks, cupcakes
Allegiance Coffee in Concord opened its doors to the public in July during the chaos of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Owners Andrew and Amber Olafsson used their time in quarantine as an opportunity to dream, renovate, decorate and invent a space where people could gather and feel a sense of comfort within their community.
“To many, the smell and the taste of coffee is familiar, and when the whole world is in chaos, we need a place that feels familiar,” said Amber Olafsson, a Concord native. “It may be an unconventional time to open a new business, but it has been an adventure, full of the unexpected, and came at a time where I think our community needed it.”
Allegiance Coffee was a dream that found its roots in an empty parking lot during a COVID-style date night. The Olafssons have always shared a love for food and coffee, so much that they often find themselves planning vacations around the best coffee shops in town. When quarantine started in Charlotte, the couple toyed with the idea of starting their own coffee shop so they could combine their two passions for coffee and food to create a space that would bring people together. Little did they know that dream discussed on their car date night would soon become a reality.
All of Allegiance Coffee’s coffee is roasted locally but grown all over the world by Haerfest Coffee, a roasting company that was intentionally created to provide jobs for heroes, addicts or those with disabilities. The couple also designed their own custom coffee blends with owner Toby Foreman at Haerfest Coffee, which is only available at the coffee shop.
Specialty drinks include the Allegiance Latte, which is made using a “special sauce” to incorporate just the right amount of sweetness that brings out the natural flavor of the espresso coffee blend, along with an in-house blended cold brew and a frozen hot chocolate frappe.
While craft coffee is Allegiance Coffee’s bread and butter, the coffee shop also serves a variety of hot teas, chai tea lattes, coffee and non-coffee frappes such as frozen hot chocolates and orange cream freezes, flavored sparkling water and classic glass bottled soda.
In addition to delicious drinks, Allegiance Coffee has partnered with a few local businesses to serve a few treats, such as cupcakes and cannolis baked by Veni Vidi Vici Cafe in Kannapolis and breakfast baked goods sourced from Mossflower Abbey Farm in Locust. Lunch and dinner partnerships are also on the horizon.
Allegiance Coffee offers free WiFi and seating indoors and outdoors.
The coffee shop is meant to be a place where all feel welcomed and valued. The Olafssons’ mission is to provide delicious drinks and treats to their community all while providing a sense of comfort during a time where comfort is hard to find — where they can positively impact their community all while creating an enjoyable atmosphere and experience for anyone who walks in their doors.
“We picture high school students meeting here in the evening to study. We hope friends will start their day by gathering here every morning. We want small groups to connect weekly and do life together over a cup of coffee. We see mom friends bringing their kids and connecting over a few cupcakes. We envision couples grabbing a delicious espresso drink and dessert here after dinner,” Amber Olafsson said. “People were made to do life in community, and Allegiance provides the space for that to happen.”
Allegiance Coffee
1115 Old Charlotte Road SW, Concord
Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.,
Instagram: @allegiancecoffee
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 10:42 AM.
