A Washington, D.C.-based coffee brand is opening its first coffee shop in Charlotte
A Washington, D.C.-based coffee brand is opening its first brick-and-mortar location in Charlotte.
Hilltop Coffee owners Joy Shiver and Rashad Hart, who have operated a mobile coffee cart in the nation’s capital since 2021, will have a soft opening of their shop in the Mallard Creek area on March 3.
“We have deep roots all over the Carolinas — including Charlotte — and we’re excited to open here,” Shiver told CharlotteFive.
The pair met as freshman at Howard University in 1996, lost touch for decades and started a business together after reconnecting in 2021. “We were able to pick up where we left off and explore something new,” Shiver said. ”I’m the coffee lover. I’ve always loved the warmth and security of coffee shops — going in to see your favorite barista and smell the coffee — it’s a great way to start your day.”
Expect coffee, cold-pressed juices, espresso drinks, kombucha, loose leaf teas and matcha on the beverages menu. The shop’s coffee will come from a few local roasters, including Enderly Coffee Company.
“We really value local and want to inspect roasters,” Shiver said. “For teas, we search for the highest quality. We pay attention to the region they are sourced from and try to offer as many organic teas as possible.”
In the D.C. area, the honey lavender latte and the peach matcha latte have been among Hilltop Coffee’s best sellers. As far as tea flavors go, the Guangzhou milk oolong and Anguilla blue have been fan favorites. “Everyone should have access to a great cup of coffee — with a barista that pays attention to every little detail,” Shiver said. “I hope that I have a head full of gray hair by the end of this.”
Don’t forget the food
Hilltop Coffee will also offer breakfast and lunch — think pastries, sandwiches, paninis, smoothie bowls and wraps. Scones are central to the breakfast menu — cranberry orange, cinnamon, and cheddar and chive among them. “The cheddar and chive scones are more like Red Lobster’s cheddar bay biscuits,” Hart said. “They’re delicious.”
For lunch, be on the lookout for the Carolina smokies sandwich — small smoked sausages on a croissant — and the mini Maryland crab cake sandwich on a brioche bun.
“I get frustrated when I can’t find healthy food options in certain parts of town,” Shiver said. “So we’ll have some healthy options, as well.”
The team also plans to offer weekend brunch with hopes of adding a mimosa bar soon. “I’ve been inspired by Charlotte’s food scene and can’t wait to join,” Shiver said.
Building community one cup at a time
When Shiver and Hart met on the campus of Howard University in 1996, neither was concerned with the logistics of opening a coffee shop. Current events, politics, and parties were on their minds — and the majority of their news came from The Hilltop, Howard’s student newspaper.
“This was in the ‘90s before everything was digital,” Shiver said. “I used to love grabbing a copy of The Hilltop on the way to the metro station and reading it on the train.”
The Hilltop was co-founded by Harlem Renaissance legend Zora Neale Hurston in 1924. “We wanted to honor (Hurston’s) gift to Howard and recognize the place that brought us together,” Shiver said. Aptly, they decided on the name Hilltop Coffee.
Much like Howard brought the two together, they hope their coffee shop brings others together. “We want to add value to the community,” Shiver said. “We want people to come and feel welcome — to provide a safe and welcoming place where people can come and get a cup of coffee.”
Shiver plans to host tea blending classes to let customers blend their own teas. And the shop will help the community learn how to compost coffee grounds. Add Hilltop Coffee to your list of new spots to try.
Hilltop Coffee
Location: 10227 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262
Instagram: @hilltopcoffee_
This story was originally published March 8, 2023 at 6:15 AM.
