My family lives on the island so I've been coming to Drift for years. It's a bit pricey, but you can tell they use high quality ingredients and whoever curated the menu put a lot of time into it. The avocado toast, the veggie breakfast burrito, the coffee cake, the smoothies, and the iced black amber are my go to's and they never miss. The service is quick, even though I know they get crazy busy during the summer. As someone who understands service/cafe biz, I will always give leniency to workers who are busting it during high volume seasons. The people who don't understand that a wait will be expected when you have one good coffee shop on an island that hosts thousands of people every summer are dense. Be kinder to your service workers, people. The most recent time I visited Drift, I was excited to try the Acai bowl. After I ordered, I was told that unfortunately they were out of Acai. They refunded my money and I ordered a smoothie instead. I was ready to pay for my smoothie when the employee told me the smoothie was on the house since they were out of Acai. Great customer service. I've been visiting Ocean Isle since there were rinky-dink water slides in operation across from what is now Drift. It's been wonderful to see a successful, quality coffee shop on the island. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Strawberry banana smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

We chose Drift based on Yelp reviews and the menu choices available. It's a little coffe shop with a limited, but thoughtful, menu. The coffee was a good, bold brew. Mr. And I both ordered the market bowl. Quinoa, sweet potatoes, avocado, tomato, and a spring mix w a fried egg on top. It was beautiful! Then we bit into it. The sweet potato was barely on the brink of being frozen. The Quinoa was also cold...not just room temperature, but ice-cold! Avocado was way too cold as well. So, you can imagine what this did to the beautifully cooked egg... yep - turned it cold in a heartbeat. Really off-putting to bit into. Mr. went back inside and asked if they had a microwave to heat it up and the 'workers' just said that was they way it was supposed to be. Mr. tossed the entire thing in the trash and simply said "well, it's disgusting". You would think there would be a simple offer to heat it up, or some kind of remedy for the situation. They didn't give a crap. I'm pretty sure they flipped us the bird on the way out. Nice. read more

Staying at a nearby hotel in Ocean Isle with terrible morning coffee, what a joy to get outstanding iced lattes at Drift Coffee, smooth and bold. read more

Cashier was pleasantly, my order was ready and no one said anything. Overheard my name when a guy asked if the order on the counter was for him. The person making sandwich is definitely not a morning person. Food lacked flavor and was smashed together. A little pricey for what you get. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Me and my dad were searching up good breakfast and coffee places and we came across drift the service, atmosphere, and drinks were amazing but while I was eating my avocado toast I found a brown hair in my food and I have blonde hair and the avocado and eggs were also kind of flavorless. Would not recommend. read more

They have plenty of outdoor seating in the top patio. The food was great and tasted good! The banana nut bread with fruit was very tasty. I also ordered a special coffee and it was really good as well. The only issue was we ordered a side of ham for our dog for a treat. We received one slice of ham that you would get from a grocery store...not what I expected for 3 bucks or so. Otherwise a great spot for breakfast and a coffee! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Banana nut bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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Breakfast sandwich was good. Coffee was mid. The staff is kinda stand off-ish. Definitely very small and packed but I guess that is to be expected from a vacation spot. read more

A little dissatisfied with our trip to drift today. I had never been but my partner recommended it mostly for the coffee. I went with the breakfast burrito which was a big let down, the avocado was completely browned and the lady at the register told us that it was completely normal as they salt and put lemon on avocado as part of their prep. I understand that avocado browns rather fast but this felt like it was a couple of days old. It left the burrito tasting off and me wishing I had never ordered it. My partner ordered the chia pudding which was very pricey for what it offered and what I thought was rather bland. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Breakfast Burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

We ordered the avocado smash, market salad, coffee, and cappuccino. The staff were friendly and helpful. The info in the restaurant says Drift was established just over 10 years ago. We just visited two other beautiful and clean coffee shops in New Bern prior to our stop here. It's apparent that the owner has not spent time keeping the restaurant up to date. It needs a deep cleaning everywhere and an update. We're happy to pay the price for fancy coffee drinks and whole foods, but the atmosphere should match and it is sorely lacking. There are shelves piled high with miscellaneous filthy items in the hallway and there was hair all over the bathroom. The floor under the refrigerator looks like it hasn't been cleaned in years, not months. Unfortunately we wont be back to Drift despite the yummy food and drinks and I won't be recommending it to friends. Hopefully the owner will pour some love back into his/her business soon. I hate writing negative reviews but feel the need to be truthful for others looking for a great coffee spot. read more

WE LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT DRIFT! Excellent breakfast burrito. Dreamy chia pudding to-go. Latte = 10/10. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Great pastry and healthy options, excellent choice of coffees . The line was long but fast and there was a great deck to relax on

This is a great spot to get coffee, and grab a bite to eat in the morning. The service was quick, friendly and responsive. Our breakfast burritos were very yummy. The burritos were good but I expected a larger one considering the price, but it was good. The cafe has seating inside and outside. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Drift Breakfast Burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

I used to love this place. I still want to but the service and drinks (I order iced coffee drinks and my kids usually get smoothies) has been disappointing the last few visits. They always seem to be out of things that a coffee shop should have (like heavy cream or half n half). I went in a few days ago to give it another try. I ordered a cold brew and asked for a splash of heavy cream. I asked before I ordered my drink if they had the cream, the gal at the counter said they did, so I ordered my drink. After I paid and waited for them to decide who was going to "make" my drink they informed me they no longer carry heavy cream. That was a big time disappointment. For the price of an iced coffee I would like it to taste the way I like (which is rich and creamy- half n half does not provide the same vibe). My daughter ordered a smoothie (strawberry banana) during this same visit and it was very weird tasting. It came out SO fast (within a minute of ordering) and tasted like it was straight from a slushy machine. (Meanwhile, I waited for over 10 minutes for my cold brew. Literally just needed pouring into a cup) was not busy in there. Everyone was chit chatting behind the counter with each other. For the price of their items, I expect better. From prior experiences (year + ago) I know they are capable of being great but I have not had that experience the past several visits. (We have a house and are here every month and its been a steady ongoing issue) read more

The food is great every time I come I get the açaí bowl it's great.The service is great they serve you correctly and there is a fridge at the bottom to keep the cold stuff cold it's underneath the store.The ambiance is great coffee shop vibes. read more

The hours are never accurate online. This is now the second year I have tried to come during off season and the hours were not correct on Google or their website. It sucks when you are trying to support local but local places never have normal hours or at least correct hours posted. read more

Stopped in on the way out of town for a last meal before we left out. Wonderful coffee and fabulous, healthy breakfast sandwiches. Only complaint is that they were out of forks which made eating our open faced sandwich super messy since it had an over easy egg. Would've been simple enough to run out and pick up some forks at a store. Overall a wonderful experience though and we will return for sure. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

The man who was working was super nice. The strawberry banana smoothie was delicious. The vibes in there are also fantastic. Nice to sit in there and cool off on a hot day. read more

Ocean Isle Beach is an odd place. There is clearly an incredible amount of wealth, but there are so few places for people to spend their money on this side of the bridge. And with that said, Drift could probably just phone this in and they'd have a gold mine on their hands. But instead, they've got their atmosphere, service, and product all completely at their best. If you're coming from the city and missing some caffeinated creature comforts, Drift will push all of your buttons. Highly recommended, and such a relief to find in this strange place called Ocean Isle. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - THUMBS UP FOR THE BODEGA BREAKFAST SANDWICH. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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Best coffee shop around! The iced mocha is to die for. Great service everytime as well!

Love this place! Coffees are always delicious and their baked goods are yummy as well. Never had their sit down breakfast but it is always packed no matter the location we've gone to! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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Great coffee shop at the beach! It does get a little crowded because it is a small space with not a lot of indoor seating so just keep that in mind. But hey, if there is a line that means it's good right!? And it is!! We came here a few times during our week beach vacation. I really liked their cold brew and breakfast burritos. I tried two different versions. Both were great. I would definitely come back when I'm in town. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Ice coffee and breakfast burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Eve and Lily made the best chai ever! the caramel latte was amazing! aesthetic is BEAUTIFUL and the way they get customers in and out of the shop is crazy good. it's a busy place but I can see why because the food is amazing (I suggest the granola bowl!) read more

The coffee was good, the location was convenient but the service was terrible! If you aren't friendly or don't enjoy being around people, maybe you should find another job. The young lady taking our order & the person making the coffee were both extremely rude! We will not be back! read more

Horrible service and my food had literal plastic in it. I ordered an açaí bowl and the açaí must've come in a plastic bag. I went to the counter to mention it and showed them what I had spit out from my bowl and she agreed it was the plastic from the açaí. She even said someone complained of the same thing earlier. Besides that, all she said was "we'll have to look into it" and continued making her drink. She didn't even stop making the drink while I was talking to her. I honestly wasn't looking for a discount or refund but the fact that she admitted this wasn't the first time TODAY, couldn't stop what she was doing to simply act like she cared what I was even saying, and then was very dismissive and unsympathetic was a huge turn off from this place. Definitely wouldn't recommend and won't be going back. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Plastic in my açaí bowl. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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First time visit, during the summer of Covid. Masks are required, there's a plexiglas shield between the staff and patrons, marked in/out egress lanes on the floor, limited outdoor seating with tables/umbrellas, and they offer order ahead via their website. We ordered iced lattes, a banana bread, and ham/egg/cheese sandwiches on multigrain toast. Staff was super friendly and kind to our boys with special needs. As far as our experience with the menu items, I recommend the iced lattes, but I'd skip the sandwiches. One had a half an egg, the other had two, it wasn't very flavorful, and the bread wasn't very toasted. Perhaps the bakery items or açaí bowl is a better choice. I'd come back for mire coffee though! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Outdoor seating under the umbrella - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Stopped in to grab a smoothie and a sandwich and was pleasantly surprised. Currently there is outdoor seating available which has plenty of shade and even a tiny view of the ocean which was nice. The service was friendly and efficient as well. The menu is pretty simple but covers the basics, and there are plenty of options for vegans, vegetarians, and those looking for healthy fare. I ordered the smoked salmon sandwich. It comes grilled, on whole wheat bread, with egg and cheese. It was delicious. The smoothie I had was also really good. My husband had a grilled cheese and iced coffee that was really enjoyable as well. Not sure how long this place has been here as it had been my first time back to the island in about six years but it's a great addition and I will definitely be back in the future! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Smoked salmon sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

I have tried a lot of coffee in the area but this is absolutely the best. The espresso is awesome and servers are always kind. I go every time that it fits in my schedule, and such a pretty location. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Such a pretty spot! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Coffee: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Space: 4 The peeps at Drift work really hard to do a lot with a little. The space is small but they impressively pump out orders as quickly as they can. I ordered an espresso and iced americano. The espresso was pleasant... earthy but fruity enough to be enjoyable. It wasn't a Kona profile, which I was thankful for. I recommend you download the app and order ahead if you're pressed for time or don't want to wait. They're quite effective with the small pickup window below the shop. I applaud the team for keeping their cool and not shooing away vulture-esque customers that hover at the bar, glaring at the baristas as they wait on what they perceive as the most important order of the day. Bravo. read more

great service love the coffeee , Jakya fixed our drinks and literally was the best drinks + a very sweet server ,use to not order anything when I was w family but she definitely made me wanna keep coming . read more

We had the chia bowl and lattes. Nice people too. Menu also has avo toast and other good take out breakfast read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

food is so over price and is not very good. also 8 dollars for the yogurt and granola and you get barely any yogurt it's actually sad how much food they give you with how expensive it is. read more

Long lines but fast service! We drove from Holden beach for Mother's Day. I just wanted to try this place. The sandwiches were delish, the coffee was perfect (love they have df options), and smoothies and chia seed pudding was great too. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Almond milk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Turn left before you get to the round about and it's half a block down on the right. It's on the second floor and easily visible coming from the causeway. Parking is just past Drift, on the side street. The only way to the place is up stairs. I saw no handicapped parking or elevator. Once up the stairs, just walk straight ahead. There is also a wine place up there with much better signage, but there is a lighted open sign next to the door. As you walk in you'll know you're in a coffee shop. There are nice warm wood accents and seating is not crowded together. There is a comfy couch in the back. The menu, both for coffee and food, is limited. The coffee consists of the basics. Flavorings seem to be limited to almond milk, vanilla, and caramel. I had their house coffee, described as "a medium roast". I'm more used to getting a description of the origin from coffee houses. It was decent with slight bitterness and a medium body. The food menu has unique offerings. I had the banana bread, with ricotta cheese, walnuts, and honey. It was sweet, but not cloying. The ricotta added depth and the banana bread base was very nice. Definite banana flavor with a nice bready backbone. Overall a nice experience. Access is limited for those with limited mobility. The coffee stands alone without a lot of add-ins. The food menu has some unique items executed well. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Banana bread, ricotta cheese, walnuts, and honey - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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My order is NEVER ready on time. I understand the common problem of lacking staff, but there have been AT LEAST 8 people in there working each time I've been. I make sure when I order to give a reasonable amount of time for the workers to leisurely prepare my food while doing the others, but I have never had my order ready at the assigned time. So very frustrating. I always enjoy my food once I finally get it- but mine as well add 15-20 mins to the time it's supposedly "ready". Not ok!! read more

we're 5 days into a week stay in sunset beach and i'm so sad we didn't try drift sooner! truly one of the best coffee spots we've ever been to throughout our travels. my husband ordered a caramel latte and before finishing it, he wished he ordered a second! i ordered a summer special, the mango coconut coolie, and it was so delicious. the food was equally as impressive. we ordered a veggie burrito and the drift burrito, the portions were large and the flavors were incredible - i especially loved the veggie burrito. our toddlers shared a yogurt bowl and smoothie, both bursting with flavor and freshness. if we don't go back this afternoon, we'll for sure be back in the morning! read more

Do not go to this so called restaurant. It has the worst customer service. When they mess up your order, they refuse to fix it. The coffee was supposed to be iced, but it had no ice and it was completely watered down. The coffee was disgusting and they said "that's how it comes." The inmates in prison get better coffee than this place. Save your money, make your coffee at home. read more

Wait times are insane . My advice is use the app and wait downstairs for your to go. Cold coffee is really good . Acai bowl is good. The granola is spectacular. Would love to know if they make it themselves or where to get it . read more

I visit here every summer when my family goes to Ocean Isle Beach. The coffee is always good and the service is fast. I haven't tried too much of their food, but it looks good. My only complaint is that I wish they were open later. read more

This will be short since we just stopped in for beans. We've got a super-automatic espresso machine that really needs a dry bean. I asked what they had that was dry and the baristas didn't know. Apparently they sell something they've never seen. Not super great from a customer service stand point. Anyway, the coffee was a medium roast and indeed dry. Made up a good espresso shot! read more

Great coffee spot right in the heart of ocean isle beach! Excellent avocado toast and great atmosphere. There was a long line at 1030 on a Tuesday but it went by fast. I would suggest ordering ahead if you like to do that! I will be back! read more

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