Sorella Coffee
Review! Monroe, North Carolina // Coffee Shop // local gem
the ELEVATOR PITCH
When you meet Sorella Coffee for the first time, you’re meeting a woman’s woman who has an eye for a romantic whimsical style executed delicately and a heart for hosting. Between her cream smeg fridge, rustic farmhouse tables, exposed brick walls, and pastel pennant banners, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped to a retro chic English garden party made perfect with snacking cakes to go with your tea, craft coffee, and wildflowers in bud vases.
And that’s how the two sisters, Sullivan & Savannah, began the unofficial official #SmallTownRevival in their hometown of downtown Monroe… Before Sorella Coffee (Sorella is Italian for “sister”), there really wasn’t much of a reason to drive to Monroe if you lived in Charlotte proper. The commute was long (45 min?), and often through small, windy back roads… just for two blocks of storefronts whom didn’t make the trek necessarily worth it.
But Sulli & Sav, fueled by their passion for craft coffee, pursued their concept for a tenacious 4 years—purchasing what was Holloway’s Music Store in 2019 and transforming it into the Sorella Coffee shop we know now (grand opening August 2023!). What may seem like “just a coffee shop” seems to have completely turned Monroe from a “middle of nowhere suburb of Charlotte” to a destination that the grapevine is producing endless talk about. But Sorella Coffee didn’t only just do the small task of putting downtown Monroe on bucket lists! More importantly, she seems to have brightened the community around her with her positive beams of sunlight (this reel on social media is the perfect example of how third places are integral in joyful communities).
Sorella Coffee is *the* spot for studying, coworking, catching up, laughing, crying, reading, reflecting, loving life, hosting a retro chic English garden party (😝)… any and all the verbs you can think of! So whether it’s a bit of a drive or right down the street for you, Sorella Coffee is worth a visit.
What did we end up getting?
honest reviews on the food food 👇
Birthday Cake Latte: offered the month of August 2024 in honor of Sorella Coffee turning 1! My friend got it with half the syrup, so the flavor was mild but overall tasted like vanilla with not much “cake” vibes. It’s cute though! (rating: 6/10)
Vanilla Latte: good balance between espresso, milk, and syrup, would get this again! (rating: 8/10)
Iced Mocha Latte: the chocolate syrup was mild and subtle, with the whole drink coming off more milky than anything else. (rating: 6/10)
Ham & Cheese Pastry: (sourced from Wheatberry Bakeshop) great ham and cheese flavor, the pastry crust itself was also decent! I just prefer the croissant shape for a more even filling-to-laminated dough “bite experience,” but for a sourced-from-a-vendor baked good that isn’t made fresh, would get again. (rating: 7/10)
Banana Bread: (sourced from Wheatberry Bakeshop) super moist, and loved the generous amount of pecans on top. More light and fluffy than dense, so just keep that in mind when you order! Banana flavor was of average strength, not “barely there” but not very prominent either. (rating: 8/10)
the RÉSUMÉ
address // 107 S Main St, Monroe, NC 28112
operations // Monday - Saturday, 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Sunday, CLOSED
logistics //
free parking along the street
free parking lot at W. Talleyrand Ave. + S.. Stewart St.
amenities //
2 bathrooms, changing table available
family friendly (saw many young families with strollers!)
free public WiFi and outlets (especially in the upstairs loft)
semi-accessible—menus are printed and no wheelchair accessible option to the second floor, but table heights are accommodating and indoors are well-lit
plenty of indoor & covered outdoor seating available
pet friendly outdoors
they sell cute merch (designed by Sullivan) and memorabilia! (sourcing local small business, like Blank Ceramics mugs!!)
vibes // retro pastel garden chic?! (so #cottagecore) Everything cute & girlie 💕
menu //
beverages ($3.00 - $5.50): coffee (drip, cold brew, etc.); espresso (cappuccinos, lattes, macchiato, cortado, etc.), hot tea, chai, matcha, golden milk latte, hot chocolate
⭐ house made syrups
⭐ dairy-free milk options available (almond, oat)
viennoiserie ($4.95 - $6.00): variety of croissants (plain); danishes (ham & cheese, spinach & feta, cream cheese, etc.)
⭐ sourced from Wheatberry Bakeshop
baked goods ($2.75 - $6.00): cookies, scones, coffee cake, quick breads (banana/pumpkin, etc.), breakfast bars
⭐ sourced from Wheatberry Bakeshop, The Batch House
recs // I really enjoyed my vanilla latte, but the mocha was a little too milky for me; definitely go for the vibes though ✨
site // Sorella Coffee
~ cath!!
Banana bread is the best!!