Summit Coffee
Review! Charlotte, North Carolina // coffee + baked goods // local "chain"
the ELEVATOR PITCH
Where to begin? Once upon a time, there was a coffee shop that opened in Davidson, North Carolina, with an artisan espresso game, a contemporary chic aesthetic, and a multitude of nooks for different third place experiences. Summit Coffee was (and still is) the apple of downtown Davidson’s eye, the go-to location for all occasions: students looking for a place to get work done, friends connecting over a treat, coworkers brainstorming creative solutions to difficult problems.
Before anyone could even blink, this single storefront has now grown to be a chain local to the southeastern United States, pervading all of Charlotte’s boroughs, and is now even toe-dipping into Georgia (!!).
What sets Summit Coffee apart from other local coffee chains (i.e., Waterbean Coffee) is that, even with multiple locations, they have not cut any corners in quality. Drink syrups are still house made, pastries are shipped from a central bakery in Davidson and baked fresh onsite, espresso drinks are consistently made well, aesthetics are still just as contemporary chic as before. The Summit Coffee team has managed to maintain a “local artisan coffee shop” feel at each of their locations without the need for a fairy godmother intervention nor a prince charming rescue.
Now onto a couple of the menu offerings…
Reviews on the sips pictured above: (ordered Fall 2023)
Tiramisu Cold Brew: this encapsulated the essence of a tiramisu perfectly. The texture of the cold foam on top sings an ode to the mascarpone cream that layers between soaked ladyfingers, an absolutely darling discovery when enjoying the beverage for the first time. A must-order for tiramisu fans! (rating: 10/10)
Reviews on the munchies pictured above: (ordered Summer 2023)
Butter Croissant: okay, for a coffee shop without an in-house bakery this is a pretty good croissant. Quite a bit of flakiness and structural integrity, but can tend to be bready with a chewy crust sometimes (all in all, inconsistent day-to-day). But, most definitely better than your average grocery store! (rating: 7/10)
Tomato Feta Danish: wonderful flavor and the savory filling was satiating. We got this toasted, which I would definitely recommend you do when you’re ordering any of the baked goods (rating: 8.5/10)
Reviews on the munchies & sips pictured above: (ordered Winter 2024)
Snow Day Latte: the flavor profile was surprisingly delicious. You can get it hot as well, but it’s more visually pleasing iced (rating: 8/10) Winter Spice Latte: essentially a pumpkin spice latte without the pumpkin… but with the same “autumnal” spices (rating: 6.5/10)
Ted Lasso Biscuit: (unique to the Summit Eastover location) cross over between a blondie and a shortbread cookie, an innovation I need more in my life! The turbinado sugar on top added a pleasant crunch that contrasted the “fudgy” blondie texture. (rating: 8.5/10)
Raspberry Almond Scone: really moist, almost gave off muffin top vibes? It wasn’t overly sweet, and while the raspberry flavor was muted, it added to an overall feeling that natural ingredients were used (rating: 6/10)
Big Bun: Summit Coffee’s Morning Bun—flaky dough with a subtle cinnamon-y sweetness. SO good heated up, so ask for that! (rating: 7/10)
the RÉSUMÉ
address // sooo many locations—check out their site for all of them. The location featured in the ELEVATOR PITCH and in the RÉSUMÉ is the original location (aka: “Basecamp”) in Davidson: 128 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
operations // Monday - Tuesday, 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM; Wednesday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday, 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Sunday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
logistics //
There are parking lots that offer free parking sprinkled throughout downtown Davidson, just be prepared to walk a couple of blocks
Street parking can also be free, just be mindful of the signs!
⭐We’ve historically parked next to the Parks Insurance Group on Jackson St., or directly on S. Main St.
amenities //
2 public restrooms
indoor & outdoor seating; and an upstairs area dedicated to those wanting to get some work done
free WiFi & outlets available
rewards program + app makes for easy tracking of your purchases
vibes // great for working from home, meeting to discuss business, or just to spend some quality time with someone!
menu //
beverages ($3.25 - $5.50): various coffees (drip, pour over, cold brew, nitro); espresso, matcha, hot chocolate, chai, hot tea
⭐drink syrups are house made
⭐non-dairy milk options available (& no surcharge!)
⭐dairy milks are from Homeland Creamery
⭐they roast all of their coffee in house in Cornelius, North Carolina
baked goods ($3.50 - $5.50): muffins, croissants, biscotti, cookies, etc.
⭐each location may have varying selections as they can choose to source from local bakeries versus from the bakery in Davidson, North Carolina
light bites ($5.00): avocado toast, yogurt parfaits, etc. (varies from location to location)
recs //
their seasonal lattes
if you order a baked good, ask to get it warmed up! The warmth elevates the eating experience instantly.
we love the Eastover and Davidson locations for their later hours
site // Summit Coffee
Other Locations
📍Summit South Park
⭐gets packed during the work day with corporate folks
⭐you can park in the garage located in the same building, or there is street parking available in front of Milk Cha Cha
📍Summit Eastover
⭐the owner’s wife bakes all of the non-laminated baked goods! She’s the mastermind behind the Ted Lasso Biscuit :)
⭐they have a parking lot right in front, but if it’s packed, street parking is easy to find
📍Summit Outpost
⭐on the campus of North Davidson College
⭐lots of open space, seating, outlets
💔no secure public Wi-Fi for guests, just a public guest Wi-Fi that was slow or didn’t connect (students have their own)
💔no easy to find free parking, we ended up finding spots in the Soccer Field parking!
~ cath!!
Pastries are the best!