Your weird order comes with a remake guarantee at this Charlotte cafe
You’ve probably driven by a million times without ever noticing it. Located inside of a historic house on East Boulevard, Backyard Brew is Dilworth’s best-kept secret. It’s a family-run coffee shop with a walkup window and an exceptionally friendly barista who encourages guests to order things that err on the side of weird.
“Whatever kind of bizarre order you want to come up with, never, ever fear it,” co-owner Tariqu Khalil, “TK” for short, said. “Order it.”
If you don’t like your drink, don’t sweat it. Backyard Brew is not your average coffee shop; it has a unique policy called “drink insurance.” If you order something that you don’t like, TK will happily remake it or even create something entirely new, customized to your palate. According to him, “you know what you don’t like, but you never know what you might like,” so take a risk.
Backyard Brew is owned and operated by TK; his brother Ryan, also known as the “Tailor of Flavor;” their father, Abraham; and their uncle Badr. Together, the family has created a space where forming connections with guests through customized coffee is paramount.
“Our goal is to try to make people’s days better, because the world already does a lot to everyone,” Ryan explained. “We want to add net value to individuals rather than take it away.”
Ryan and TK are first-generation Americans from Palo Alto, California, where the original location of Backyard Brew still operates today. Their father immigrated to the United States from Jordan, and their mother from Germany.
“I took German engineering and Arab hospitality, and I kind of put them together to create this concept that we serve and live by,” Ryan said.
Ryan is the stoic face behind the operation, responsible for creating many of the unique flavors seen on Backyard Brew’s signature menu, hence the nickname “Tailor of Flavor.” TK, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. Unlike your stereotypical, snooty barista, TK is warm, outgoing, approachable — and he never forgets a face.
“Names are a little bit harder, but faces I always remember,” TK said.
His friendly demeanor is infectious — it’s not something you can always get from a chain coffee shop: soul. Sometimes, just for fun, he’ll give out miniature duck figurines with each coffee he sells that he calls “lucky ducks.”
Since opening last year, Backyard Brew has become a community hub for the historic Dilworth neighborhood — think “Cheers,” but as a coffee shop instead of a bar.
The outside of Backyard Brew is unassuming and quaint, there’s a few lawn chairs and a small walk-up patio — it’s easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. Inside, a bucket of colorful markers sits on the counter, encouraging customers to create. The white walls are filled with scribbles, artwork and quotes, all contributed by patrons — there are no blank spaces here.
“My favorite moment is when I see somebody who’s older, and I ask them, ‘When was the last time you drew on a wall?’ Then I watch the sparkle come back in their eyes as they remember being in high school. And they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, we carved our name into a tree or a bench.’ I say, ‘OK, today’s gonna be the most recent day that you did it.’ So I encourage people to try and change things up a bit. Live life a little more,” Ryan said.
When ordering, guests can stick to Backyard Brew’s menu, which features original creations like the ever-popular Pistachio Baklava Latte, or customize a drink with TK or Ryan’s assistance. Before making your drink, they’ll ask you what you like, what you don’t like, and what you might be curious about trying, then create something completely customized to your taste.
“We make drinks custom-tailored to each individual,” TK explained. “Every drink made is considered ‘one of one,’ as each person is unique, so the drinks are made specifically to their palates and taste buds.”
An important part of the personalization process boils down to individual sweetness preferences. Backyard Brew has strayed away from the traditional use of store-bought syrups, opting instead to make everything in-house using only natural ingredients. This approach allows guests to choose the level of sugar in their drinks.
“We just use spices, herbs and extracts to season the drinks,” Ryan explained. “So we can make a vanilla latte with no sugar or as much sugar as you would like.”
Besides coffee, Backyard Brew also offers rotating small bites, such as Jordanian Pancakes — a delicious blend of pistachios, sea-salt and cardamom with a house-made Jordanian rose water syrup over the top.
Ultimately, what Ryan cares about most at Backyard Brew is creating a space that empowers guests to think outside the box, all while serving delicious coffee crafted with authentic ingredients.
“Out of 1,000 people, if I could inspire one person, I’m happy,” Ryan said.
Backyard Brew
Location: 1218 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Cuisine: coffee, small bites
Instagram: @backyardbrew___
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This story was originally published July 22, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
