You voted for Charlotte’s best coffee shop, so we decided to try it for ourselves.
As an intern at CharlotteFive, my leg is constantly shaking from the excitement of the day — not because I am an over-caffeinated workaholic. And no, I’m not addicted to caffeine, I can stop drinking coffee whenever I want.
Recently, The Charlotte Observer’s KJ Edelman and I went to Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop in South End. This isn’t just any coffee shop — this is the best coffee shop in the Charlotte area, the 2022 CharlotteFive Reader’s Choice contest.
Here’s more about our adventure:
ABOUT BITTY & BEAU’S: The coffee shop is known for offering job opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its original location opened in January 2016 in Wilmington, and it has since expanded to over 23 locations in 12 states. Charlotte’s location opened on Camden Road in 2021.
SETTING THE SCENE: So there I was, walking in 90 degree heat, wishing I had an iced coffee in my hand and a cool place to escape the angry sun. I saw the Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop sign and basically sprinted to the door.
I walked in and was immediately hit with a breeze of cold air and the smell of coffee being made. After I recovered from the heat, I made a beeline to the cash register where Kyle, the barista working the register, greeted me with a big smile on his face.
What better way to cool off from the heat than to drink a nice cold-brew coffee. Although the cafe was busy, Kyle took time to suggest a second coffee: an iced mocha latte. Before you ask, of course I ordered two: You told me it is the best coffee shop in Charlotte.
The cafe was filled with the buzz of conversation and the homey vibe only a local cafe could provide. Here’s what KJ and I tried:
Drink 1: Cold Brew
What do you think of when you think of a cold brew coffee? I think of fellow Gen Zers, who are running late to class but need their daily dose of their favorite ice cold caffeinated beverage. Picture TikTok star Charli D’Amilio.
For KJ, this drink gives off coffee snob vibes, which I wholeheartedly understand. These types of coffee drinkers know exactly where each bean came from and how it became the drink they are currently consuming.
As the coffee expert I am, at first sip I was able to discern each bean, where it came from and when it was picked. I’m just kidding, I know nothing. “It tastes like a coffee,” I said.
Personally, I enjoy my coffee with two shots of French vanilla syrup, four pounds of sugar and eight cups of milk. When I say two shots, imagine the “two shots of vodka” video clip that went viral on Vine.
Drink 2: Iced Mocha Latte
For my second drink, I got an iced mocha latte. Yes, I am a strictly iced coffee kind of gal. I do not care if it is 30 degrees outside and my fingers are blue, I will have my iced mocha latte with whipped cream.
When the first drop of chocolatey goodness touched my tastebuds, my eyes lit up as the caffeine immediately sent dopamine to my last two remaining two brain cells. This drink was better than the iced mocha latte I get at Starbucks.
Drink 3: Cappuccino
KJ made the executive decision to have a cappuccino as his second drink. When I think of cappuccino, I think it’s the go-to drink for locals and tourists alike at sidewalk cafes in Italy (just don’t order one after lunch!). “I think cappuccino is the quintessential coffee,” he said. Let’s not skip over how KJ just said the same thing about his cold brew.
So there he was, holding a freshly brewed, hot cappuccino (you know where this is going, right?). KJ burnt his tongue. While he, for some reason, did not expect this to happen, I would have bet $5 and all my BTS merch on him burning his tongue.
Overall Experience
As the basic girl I am, I usually head for my nearest Starbucks when I want a coffee. However, I may now decide to head to Charlotte’s Bitty & Beau’s to enjoy my caffeinated beverages.
The staff was inviting, friendly and so excited to hang out with us. I particularly enjoyed drinking the iced mocha since it is one of my go-to drinks and has this unique chocolatey-coffee taste that I very much enjoyed.
If you have not been to Bitty & Beau’s, stop by one day. Order the caffeinated drink of your choice and wait for your card to be called. Finally, shoot us an email and tell me your favorite coffee shop.
Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
Location: 1930 Camden Rd. Suite 236, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
This story was originally published September 16, 2022 at 5:15 AM.
