A bit of a sterile environment which I wasn't a huge fan of, but this place knows coffee. I got a cappuccino and my husband got a drink with espresso, mint and honey which was ridiculously good. I'm pregnant and asked if they had decaf espresso. They do not, but the barista was very accommodating with suggestions and basically just ended up making me a weaker version of a regular cappuccino. All in all, good experience, and I would love to try some of their other concoctions on future visits. read more

highly recommended we visit this coffee shop while in town which we did. The coffee was good but I think it tasted like any ordinary coffee. My wife got the lavender latte which she thought was good, just not great. read more

I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it. They have the best cold brew iced coffee I have ever had. Most often it is too mild and chocolate-like in flavor for me, but their version has the kick and zing I crave. It's only a few blocks from King St, but away from all the hustle and bustle. Their lavender latte is also A+ read more

This coffee house is in a fun place to explore. The coffee was great. I had tea and my friend had a lavender latte. The barista was super nice and gave several suggestions on where to eat in town. The atmosphere was a perfect hipster hangout. read more

Tucked away close to College of Charleston, The Black Tap is a cozy little coffee shop with unique drinks and pastries. I ordered a cappuccino (which was the best one I have ever had) and my boyfriend had a cold brew coffee (also delicious). They have growlers to take home their cold brew and we saw several people doing this. There are several different simple syrup flavors that are made in house that you can choose from, a lot of people enjoy the lavender latte which is next on my list to try! For the price, you get a wonderful drink that isn't like anything you could get at your local starbucks. Check it out! read more

Second State Coffee - Cappuccino - delicious! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Awesome vanilla latte and iced tea! Staff were great even under pressure of peak times!

Definitely some of the best coffee in our town if not the best. We buy the beans at my work and I like their heavyweight blend. Its super bold but still smooth with hints of spice and citrus acidity. The spot on Wentworth is comfortable and clean. Lots of peeps always in there grinding away on their laptops and iPads. I've only had 1 latte from here so cant speak much about the "drinks" but they do seem super popular. Great service every time I go in. read more

Went for a run this morning and passed by this place. Off the beaten path and cool vibe. Iced coffee was wonderful and paired with nutella banana pastry was out of this world! read more

I tried the lavender coffee based on other Yelpers' advice. It was definitely different and interesting, but I had to slip sloowly because it was very rich and sweet. I love the glassware they serve coffee in - give yourself a few extra minutes and order for here instead of to-go! Stick around for awesome music (they were on a 90s kick when I was there) and to get some work done - the clientele are very friendly and don't mind sharing a table or an outlet. read more

In my opinion, the location of this store is very out of the way from downtown and it's not a place you would be able to go to if it was not your planned destination. If that is a problem for you make sure to keep that in mind. Upon arrival you walk into the aesthetically pleasing ambiance in which is 'black tap coffee' , a little getaway from busy King Street and the surrounding neighborhood. The gentleman working seemed to be the only employee at the time and unfortunately, we didn't really get a greeting. (This is not a big problem but it tends to be a turn off for me) My group had a tall order for just one barista so Service was slow but I am not going to be quick to say that the store's service is not good. I ordered the mint julep drink in hopes of a new, interesting drink but unfortunately I didn't think it was worth the $4 that you pay to have it come in a very tiny cup, the flavor was not my thing or quite frankly, anyone in my groups taste to be honest. (I would skip on this fancy drink) I thought I'd give the store a second try so I ordered an iced lavender latte before leaving and let me tell you, this was the redeeming factor for this review. If you're like me and like 'different' drinks then skip on the julep and order the lavender. Overall, I'll remember to keep this in mind on my next trip to the Holy City! read more

Great vibe. Great coffee - I had the black julep which is honey, mint, and coffee shaken and it was super unique and refreshing. If you're patient It doesn't take TOO long to get seating tho It was quite crowded. Worth It! read more

A delectable little shop. Finding myself in the heart of downtown CHS and in need of some good coffee, I stumbled upon the Black Tap - which proved serendipitous. Not only did they furnish me with some lovely cold-brew, but also an especially nice, chilled-out atmosphere, with the cozy dining room and distressed, barebones decor. There, nestled among a predominantly college-age crowd of fellow loungers, I proceeded to spend a long, luxurious lunch hour, just sipping coffee with a good book as a drowsy rain teased the outside world - priceless! And the place even had a bathroom, too. Overall: a glowing experience and zero complaints. If the winds ever blow me back that way, I'll be sure to return the Tap for a second helping. Much thanks to everyone who runs this coffee shop. Keep up the good work :D read more

I love the place more than the coffee! Its a tiny little hole on a street most unexpected but its absolutely adorable! I find myself there every few months with one of my cool Bahamian friends. They always make a cool design on my lattes and that makes them so much better :) It's a nifty little place! Check it out! read more

Definitely my favorite coffee shop in Chas! Lavender latte is to die for.. strong but lavender is subtle. Also, the chocolate croissant they have is divine... Interior design is great also. It is simple, peaceful but good vibes all around. The service is great and you can always tell the baristas are hustling but making sure they make quality coffee for you! read more

Love, love, love. Delicious coffee, kind and gracious staff, and great atmosphere. I love that I can bring my dog here and just get some work done in a peaceful setting. Must visit for any coffee lover. read more

Super friendly staff, wonderful/life saving cold brew coffee, and great ambience (super clean, peaceful noise levels, bright and airy space). I've been here a few times for meetings and, as long as it's between you and one or maybe two other people that are mindful of noise, it's quite comfortable. It's pretty close to the college and enough blocks away from King St. to feel distanced from all that movement but still be within minutes. Did I mention life saving cold brew coffee? read more

As someone visiting from San Francisco, I appreciate the excellent quality of the hipster coffee. The pastries were excellent. The space was bright and inviting. read more

Too slammed on Sunday morning I guess. I ordered a poor over and it was undrinkable. Too crazy in there to make it worth going back in for my $4. Waited almost 20 minutes for it too. All the reviews are great so I'm guessing they just had a rough day. read more

Stayed in a rental just a few blocks away and this was my go to for my week in town. REALLLLLY solid coffee as well as attentive and quick service, great place! read more

Friendly, calming and high-quality coffee in a terrific location. Appreciated the subtle flavors in my light-roast pour over, and the lattes were terrific. read more

THE place for mind blowing coffee. Black Tap is far and away the best coffee I've ever had. So good we had a second round. Try the lavender iced latte or the brown sugar iced latte. Super knowledgeable and friendly baristas will guide you to the coffee of your dreams. Just south of the College of Charleston. read more

Great coffee. Small space but doesn't feel cramped. Seats are uncomfortable but I still put their sticker on my lap top.

I liked the vibe of Black Tap - laid back, friendly service, flavored water on tap. The coffee I had was good. Staff was knowledgeable and answered a few questions I had about the different drinks/coffee options. read more

Passed through here on a trip to Charleston. Really laid back upscale vibe. Had to grab the enormous rice crispy cube. If you come here try and grab a seat on the porch. read more

Wow, I didnt expect how good it was. The place is super nice, the coffee is incredible. 5 stars.

This is a lovely coffee shop off the tourist path. Brewed coffees are pour-overs using Counter Culture coffee. The lavender latte is fantastic. We also tried the black julep cocktail, which is excellent. The barista was super-friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend this place for coffee lovers. read more

Second State Coffee - Barista action shot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This is the best coffee I found in Charleston. It's a beautiful store with great coffee. Serving Counter Culture Coffee in a variety of ways (pour over, cold brew, etc.) it is the most authentic coffee shop experience in the city. It's bright with natural light and provides plenty of space for individual or group work. Not to mention a ton of outlets! read more

Calm and cool atmosphere. Really enjoyed both the dark roasted pour-over and the cold brew. It was interesting to read the tasting notes for the coffees available--my first time seeing that with so much detail. read more

Starting at 3 star default +1 for calm environment -1 for sour expresso -/+0 for the taste of lavender latte +1 for cucumber water read more

Best latte in town. The lavender latte is incredible - not too sweet, and an unexpectedly good complement to the espresso. Relaxed environment and great coffee. read more

Great service. Adorable atmosphere. The black tea iced was a little weak but still refreshing. My husband's pour over and Italian soda were exactly what he was looking for from this local joint. read more

We love this place. The mint julep coffee is divine. Overall great experience close to colonial lake

Awesome little coffee shop in downtown Charleston! The atmosphere is simplistic yet classy. No frills, just coffee. They have an iced coffee tap and fill iced coffee growlers what a great idea!). They make their own flavorings in house- the brown sugar is awesome! They offer minimal selections but a good product: three types of pour over coffee, a handful of lattes, and a few iced coffees. This place is for serious coffee drinkers not socializing. The owners were very friendly and offered advice on their personal favorites. Just a cool place to get your caffeine fix! read more

Best coffee spot in town!!!! Atmosphere is perfect, and the baristas are accommodating and friendly. Lavender latte, brown sugar latte, and cold brew coffee are my favorite. The teas are great too! Free wi-fi, pour-over coffee, good music. Overall awesome experience every single time!!! read more

Daaaaag. Best cappuccino I've ever had, the sort which makes you realize what a cappuccino really means as a beverage. It's not just an arbitrary point on the scale from black coffee to milk. Perfect balance, absolutely no presiding flavor from poorly pulled shots or poorly steamed milk....if you're looking for a cappuccino to taste what a cappuccino's supposed to taste like, go to black tap, and then judge all other cappuccinos based on your experience. Fairly priced considering the prowess on deck behind the bar, and in fact, a bargain. Pour over was ace as well. Wasn't wild about the cold brew sample I had, but it sounds like they're still experimenting. Fine interior, unpretentious, friendly, wowowow!! read more

Very friendly staff much like the rest of Charleston. Amazing coffee. I had the hot brown sugar latte and my wife had an iced lavender latte. They were awesome! Don't hesitate to ask for recommendations the staff was very helpful read more

Great coffee place and I can see why it is #1 in Charleston. Espresso was top notch - wonderfully bitter, great flavor. Inside of the shop was totally cool - rustic wood tables & benches. Folks working there were super-nice. Keep it rolling, Black Tap. read more

Too much for too little. The sizes are small, but they are charging large prices. Staff was not as friendly as the reviews state. Maybe it cause it was my first time in, but they seemed more interested in talking to a couple friends who came up in stead of taking my order. My latte tasted horrible because he made a triple latte and I had ordered just a regular with a raw sugar. He added simple syrup and called it a day. Not going back. read more

Really enjoyed Black Tap coffee. We had a nice breakfast with our dogs joining us. Definitely another vouch for the lavender latte.

Hidden coffee gem of charleston! Delicious coffee and tea, also be sure to try the ham and cheese croissant-top notch!