They had a drink called the Black Julep - it was espresso with honey and mint shaken with ice. It was like happy hour, but better! It's a special order and won't be on the menu - just mention it to the barista! Hubby took my parents and I on a coffee tour. Needless to say my dad and hubby were high on caffeine all day. This spot was my favorite. read more

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

This place - hmmmmmmm If I could walk to this location without having to park I think i would love it more- so if you're a college kid who can walk here it's perfect! Inside there is like no seating so don't count on that- I had to wait for a group to leave to claim some space and they have little flat pancake pillows for you to sit on- meh. We ordered coffees and a quiche- they forgot about the quiche completely until we reminded them twenty min later- awkward! The iced coffee was good . I don't recommend for business meetings but if you're a college kid it's fine! read more

the BEST coffee in charleston! i've tried other places but always come back here because they never disappoint. from the beans they use to the perfect balance of espresso and milk--AMAZING! read more

Second State Coffee - hot latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I grabbed coffee here with some colleagues in the morning on a weekday. I got there around 7:15 and was one of only two people. By 7:45, there was a lot more activity in the cafe, but it was still serene! I really love the aesthetic of Second State; the rustic wood and plants with clean lines makes it feel warm yet modern. There's a decent amount of seating for a smaller space but without making the cafe feel crowded. For coffee, I got an oatmilk latte with vanilla. First of all, I was so excited that they had oatmilk to begin with! It is still difficult to find in a lot of coffee shops these days, but more places are starting to offer it. Secondly, the vanilla was the right amount. It was not too sweet at all (a real feat), just enough to give the vanilla flavor without much added sweetness. The barista was friendly and helpful, and he did a great latte art heart on my latte. I definitely would come again! read more

I have been to the store in downtown Charleston and in Mt. Pleasant several times each. I am always disappointed in their drip coffee which they vary day to day between the beans they carry. All are usually on the bitter or sour side and all are lighter roasts. Maybe I just don't get the light roast, very expensive, single source coffee trand. The coffee is not smooth balanced and mellow like say Estuary on Johns Island. I'm also partial to Central and South American beans and medium roasts. Second State is more about African roasts which are fruity tasting to me. read more

I was unimpressed with Second State Coffee, I was looking for a place to work on my laptop and enjoy a cup of coffee. I went on a Monday morning around 10 am. The place was so crowded, I walked in and knew there wasn't going to be a place to sit. I walked up to the counter and had to wait for someone to ask my order even though there was no one else in line. The lady was not very friendly. The menu on the wall said an iced coffee was $3.50, but when the coffee rang up, it ended up being $5 and it was just an iced coffee, no add-ins or anything. I was not happy with my visit. read more

The BEST latte I've had in Charleston!! The vanilla latte was so smooth and creamy, not a single bitter note!! It was seriously amazing!!! My biggest complaint, I wish the coffee was triple in size. It was that good I could have drank 3 cups easy!! We will definitely visit again!! read more

Upon entering the smell was amazing. Very cute place. The coffee was delicious! I mentioned it was my first time to the establishment, after having read about it in the City Paper. The barista seemed annoyed that I didn't realize there was only one size. He just seemed like he wanted me to go away. Love to try local shops, but probably won't return here. read more

I have an obsession with lavender so any time I see that it's an option on a latte, pastry, etc. I'm ordering it. I had the LAVENDER LATTE, and it wasn't too sweet! My biggest fear is that if I order a drink and it's obnoxiously sweet. Latte was great, service was good, and the space was very inviting. ENJOY! read more

Great location. Natural light spills into modern rustic interior. Friendly staff, welcoming, chatty and kind, genuinely try to connect and be attentive of your experience. Beautiful coffee. They are skilled at making espresso, skilled at extracting good flavor and steaming milks to nice textures and temperature. Shared some coffee knowledge and some of their personal stash of coffee they are enjoying. Would recommend to all level of coffee drinkers or those just looking to get some work done. read more

This place is really hip and grunge I like it a lot. They are very knowledgeable on their coffee and diet friendly staff. Very efficient system and coffee is given quickly. They also have some super cute pastries and snacks if you're looking for a quick bite. Additionally, they have milk alternatives such as oat, almond milk, etc. read more

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5 stars! Wonderful! Yay Black Tap! Needed a nice place to shack up for some remote work for a couple hours and found Black Tap. What really drew me in though was the flavored lattes - I had never heard of that so wanted to try it out. Black Tap is in the midst of College of Charleston's campus and housing (I think,) so there are lots of students that come in and out, or stay to do work as well. There's wifi, but I used my own hotspot. The inside is illuminated by natural light and light washed wood tables. There is plenty of seating on 3 of the 4 walls with plenty of outlets to charge your devices, as well as a large, communal table in the center of the cafe. They have a large, single stall restroom for customers that is also really clean. I ordered the brown sugar latte ($4) and a banana and nutella turnover (warmed up and also ~$4) to stay. The brown sugar latte is exactly what you'd expect if you put brown sugar in a latte, but don't think that's a con - it was delicious. Really great coffee choice. The turnover wasn't as packed as I expected, but that's probably for the best. Still downed it pretty quickly. The staff was cordial and delivered my order to me where I was sitting, which I didn't expect. Black Tap is an excellent choice to take your coffee to go or to stay a while. Their lavender latte is supposed to be really popular, so I should have gotten that, but will definitely stop in next time I'm in Charleston. read more

Second State Coffee - Brown sugar latte and a Nutella and banana turnover - unreal good combo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Got two bags of coffee for vacation and absolutely adored them! Also got some iced coffees that were divine! Will definitely be back

I recently moved from a city with a very vibrant coffee scene. Since the move, I've searched for a go-to roaster for both drip and espresso. At this point, I've tried half a dozen bags of beans from various roasters in Charleston, and Second State has been the best. They are my go to for good, quality whole beans read more

I love this second state location. There's seating for about 10 + a long table that can fit probably 16ish more- the layout and ambiance of the place is really neat. The greenery at the counter adds a nice touch. Try the brown sugar latte - my go-to order. A friend of mine also got a non alcoholic coffee cocktail which was fun to watch them make in the shaker, came in a cute small cup, and was a refreshing iced coffee mix. I want to try their Banana Nutella Turnover and Quiches next as well as take a bag of grounds home for a treat. Enjoy the lovely visit that is Second State Coffee! read more

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It's Saturday morning. You're walking to a spa to enjoy a morning of relaxation. What do you need? Coffee of course! Second State Coffee was located half way in between our house and the spa, so we stopped by to grab a drink and a snack. I just had to get the lavender latte, and the flavor was heavenly. I also shared a slice of quiche with my friend and enjoyed the texture and flavors immensely. Note that the coffee shop is small, so as it was primetime on a Saturday morning (aka 9:30am), there were not a lot of open seats in the shop. However, do note that no one seemed to be waiting around or in need of a seat while we were there. There was just a continuous stream of people in and out! read more

First of all, I will say that parking was the worst. Once I found a spot, I was exhausted. lol. But walking in, I could tell the effort was worth it. What a cute place! I saw the reviews where everyone said the lavender latte was the thing to get but I still had my mind set on a vanilla latte. That is until an actual Yelp friend insisted on the lavender latte. So....I cringed and ordered it. I dont like flowery or floral drinks or smells (unless it's real flowers). Hot, cold, sparkling...floral notes are not my favorite. But GUYS. The lavender latte is not that. One sip had me wondering...why was this latte the most beautiful latte I've ever tasted? The complexity...I never thought I would think "complex flavors" as I drank or ate something. But it was divine. The latte was something so smooth and interesting...I can't even really describe it. Thank you, my Yelp friends. I also ordered the Black Julep. Honestly, not my thing. I felt bad as I told the barista I didn't care for it. But he recommended adding some milk to it to even it out and voila! A delicious iced drink. He really was an awesome barista. I'm already planning my next visit. Forget the difficult parking....I'd park my car 15 blocks away if it means another lavender latte! :) read more

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With a need for a caffine kick to get me through a confrence call, I hit up Black Tap for an early morning brew. I love that you can walk around in Charleston - so I got DEM steps in and headed over from my hotel. Admittedly it was a little farther than I thought, but once again, og got DEM steps in, so it's all good. I ordered an iced brown sugar late to go. And I wish I had ordered it warm, cause it was a little chilly on the streets of Charleston that week. I'm just so wired to order iced lattes. Regardless, it was EXCELLENT. Very well done, and just the right amount of sweetness. The staff here was friendly - and quick. The space was well lit and full of folks clanking on keyboards or chatting with friends. Reading Brett N's review - I'm pretty stupid for not ordering the Black Julep. I will when I return back to Charleston sometime in the next 10 years. read more

Friendly employee. Interesting selection of food items. Good coffee flavors. I had an iced brown sugar latte. It was smooth and not too sweet. I will say that if you like Starbucks, you won't be satisfied with their espresso flavor. Chocolate chip cookie was ok. Nothing special. Blueberry muffin was pretty good. The muffin part had great flavor and there were blueberries throughout. Blueberry vanilla? scone. Not my fave. It was a good scone but just not my favorite. read more

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

Their shakerato is a nice kick of sweet concentrated coffee flavor. It's an espresso with simple syrup mixed in a shaker with ice and poured into a teeny tiny cup. It's good if you just want a quick coffee fix, but let me reiterate this it is very small. The atmosphere here was also really nice - good for studying/working, which is what many of the people seemed to be doing. read more

Not too far off the beaten path and near the College of Charleston is a great coffee shop called Black Tap Coffee. Outside, the coffee shop appears unassuming. Inside, the coffee shop is bright, inviting, and filled with the delicious smells off fresh coffee. They offer pour overs and some espresso drinks. Other Yelp reviews pointed me in the direction of the lattes. I decided on the lavender latte which was quite good. Not too sweet and the floral notes from the lavender didn't overpower the coffee. I could actually used a bit more sweetness but overall a well made cup of coffee. Everyone was friendly and they had plenty of places to sit and work. My only regret is that we visited it on our last day in Charleston. Definitely a great coffee spot in the city. read more

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

Excellent coffee shop in Charlestown. Enjoyed a perfect latte. It is on a smaller street and you have to look for it... Very nice place.

This is a tiny or some may say "intimate", high quality no frills coffee shop. Minimal menu and not much in the way of decor, but serves up some fresh and tasty eats. I had the Rooibos Peppermint Tea over ice and it was exactly what I expected from a peppermint tea. I also had the Blueberry Lemon-Curd scone. This scone was deliciously sweet and buttery. The lemon was subtle and the blueberries paired well. Final Thoughts: Nice spot to study or write your next novel while sipping on a cup of joe. read more

Second State Coffee - Blueberry Lemon-Curd Scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Best coffee in Charleston, and it's not only my personal opinion but every local I spoke to feels the same way. You cannot go wrong with your choice of coffee... I always start with black coffee and it is delicious. Got ice as well and few coffee drinks... love it all. Pastries are good, and service is great. Spot is cute and they have two outdoor tables. All around love it read more

Cute modern-country interior but the coffee didn't do it for me. Got a pour-over and their famous brown sugar latte, and neither me nor my guy cared for our drinks. Service was brusque and vaguely irritated. I like the lending library by the drink station, and there were plenty of outlets to plug in and get some work done. Maybe the guy was new or having a bad day, but we threw half our drinks away. read more

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The flooring alone had me. Whitewashed, natural grain... how I do love wood floors. That aside, Black Tap would be my coffeehouse of choice in Charleston. While I give kudos to Kudu, I seriously love the lack of bustling student life, ample seating, minimalist decor and quiet coolness to the space. The musical curation is one to admire as well; The XX, LCD Soundsystem and Crystal Castles all happened during my hour-long stay. Where buzz-worthy brews are considered, Black Tap features the ever so artisan pour over method and even features coffee specials of the day. On my particular visit, I opted for the booze-free shaken coffee cocktail that arrived expertly concocted with honey, mint, and black coffee. No milk or cream in this bad boy. Great space to grab a serious coffee and cram in a little work or studying. read more

Second State Coffee - Julep: a shaken coffee cocktail, all buzz no booze. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Adore. Such a lovely, bright and open setting to grab some coffee and a goodie. The white space paired with the windows letting the sunshine it make a perfect backdrop for some delicious coffee. I adore lavender so as soon as I read "lavender latte" in the reviews, I was sold. It delivered. It had just a touch of lavender and I enjoyed it thoroughly. We split a nutella filled croissant and it was very tasty. There wasn't much room to kick back and relax to get some work done, only some tables set up in the middle and on the walls. We lucked out and scored a bar seat right at an open window to enjoy the nice breeze coming in. If I lived here I would make this my relax coffee spot or post up spot to get some work done solo (free wi-fi, yay!) but not a great co-working spot as it's a little tight in grabbing a spot together when it's busy. read more

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

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We enjoyed amazing cappuccinos and drip coffee at second state! I loved the vibe inside with lots of working space and dogs lounging while their humans enjoyed breakfast. This was the best coffee we had in Charleston during our visit! read more

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

Delicious! My brother had the iced mocha, my mom had the iced latte, and I had the iced matcha. The matcha was really good and had nice flavor which is a big win in terms of matches - most taste like sweet grass but in this matcha you could clearly taste grapefruit and some spices it was so yummy! read more

Second State Coffee - Mocha, iced latte, and iced match - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Very cute coffee shop. Great for doing work, chatting, or grabbing coffee and a snack. Dogs are allowed, so it's always a fun experience. read more

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

A more "modern", minimalist coffee shop downtown, Second State Coffee is no frills and simple. To some, that could certainly be appealing. However, I want to feel cozy in a coffee shop. The menu was sparse, and the decor sparser. It seemed very clinical to me. While my coffee was fine and the price was agreeable, I won't be returning. read more

Very cool coffee spot. This place would be right at home in SF. I was catching up with a long-time friend here and it was busy without being unbearably packed. The staff was very competent and friendly. If I lived locally, I'd love to frequent this anti-Starbucks. read more

I took my wife here for a coffee on her birthday. We both had pour overs and they were great. We really enjoyed the chill vibe of this place. It was great to sit down, chat, and enjoy some coffee. The location was convenient and the service was excellent. Zero complaints and looking forward to coming back. read more

Second State Coffee - Bar Seat - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This is hands-down the best coffee joint to pop up in Charleston. All pressed and made just for you each time. I'm here almost every morning before work at the office. Friday affogato's too, espresso with homemade heath & espresso. This place is also Square ready so you can pay with your smartphone, no wallet or receipt required. read more

Second State Coffee - Morning espresso with cucumber infused water. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Lovely little coffee shop near College of Charleston. When you walk in the interior is clean and bright while still being cozy. There are a decent number of tables scattered around the edges of the shop. You walk to the back of the shop to order from their marble bar. The baristas are friendly and knowledgeable. I didn't feel rushed which is extremely important. I settled on a lavender latte. It was my birthday and I was spending the morning catching up with my friend. We sat near one of the picture windows at a little rustic wooden table and chatted for an hour. The coffee was wonderful. Sweet but not overly so. Just the right amount of lavender, and the foam art was a lovely finishing touch! The ambiance is quiet and nice but there aren't many tables so you may not be able to sit every time you go. If I were still in college this definitely would be a nice place to study or write a paper. read more

Second State Coffee - A delicious Lavender latte on a cozy February morning - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Best coffee shop in town. Nothing else holds a candle to this place. The pastries are great and the quiche is outstanding. And more importantly the coffee is perfectly executed in a cool vibey spot. read more

We are in Charleston for a few days and were excited to check out Second State. We were running short on time so drove over there as fast as we could, but it took us a while to find parking. Once we found a spot, it happened to be right in front of the shop, so we were excited that we made it on time before they closed at 5. We walked up at 4:56 and their doors were locked. I worked in a coffee shop for years so I understand wanting to get outta there early, but if you say you're open until 5 then please stay open until 5. We wasted time trying to get to you. Wish I could give you 5 stars but didn't get the chance to. read more

I'm a barista, and this was my kind of place. Highlights: accessible street parking, savory and sweet pastries, almond and soy milk, pour over coffee, a tea selection, cold-brew on tap, growlers for your cold-brew, selection of 12oz. bags of coffee, Kalita 185 pour over dripper, other wares, daily newspaper, wifi Black Tap is a specialty coffee shop (and roastery) that is welcoming to the occasional latte drinker, black coffee downer, or cappuccino foam checker. I ordered the lavender latte that your fellow yelpers recommended, with almond milk (because I'm lactose intolerant). It was what I came for-- the lavender syrup complimented the espresso perfectly without sweetening the drink. The barista, Austin, warned me ahead of time that almond milk is more difficult to steam than others, and he still cranked out THE BEST STEAMED ALMOND MILK I'VE EVER HAD WITH A ROSETTA. Before I left, I ordered a drip coffee, their Huila, and Austin hand-brewed a pour over. I think that's standard. They use the Kalita 185 dripper. As expected, it was perfectly extracted and flavorful. I chatted with Austin while I was waiting-- he was friendly, thoughtful, and gave me suggestions on what to do in the city. If I'm ever in the area again, I will plan a stop here. This place is the real deal. read more

Second State Coffee - lavender latte with almond milk, which was the best steamed almond milk I've ever had, as proven by the rosetta - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I really wanted to like this place...but the service was less that stellar with what seemed like grumpy college students making/serving middle of the road coffee. We did however LOVE the baked goods! Wherever they get them from, they're doing that part right. read more

Good cup of iced coffee. Off the beaten tourist path (kinda). Friendly service. Nice ambiance. Sold. read more