A first cafe is something special. A second cafe, your bold next step. But when a company gets a bit of scale beneath their feet, each new cafe offers the ability to deepen the design language and environmental world building, to grow the relationship between a coffee company the communities it serves. In Charlotte, Night Swim Coffee’s seventh location is small but mighty, but with eye-catching details and intentionality aplenty. Let’s learn more!
The 2025 Build-Outs of Coffee is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, Ceado, and Dona.
As told to Sprudge by James Yoder.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
We are a roasting and cafe business that started in opened in 2021, the result of merging Not Just Coffee and Undercurrent Coffee, two specialty coffee brands in Charlotte. This will be our seventh cafe under the Night Swim Coffee brand!
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
This will be our smallest cafe at only 600 square feet. It is on the ground floor of one of the newest luxury apartment developments in the Southend neighborhood. The design is timeless and modern. Green tiles and terrazzo counters, with black steel details. There will be a passthrough window for customers to pick up their drinks from outside. With approximately 20 seats or so, we envision this as more of a to go spot to grab a drink and wander the rail trail or visit other neighboring businesses.
What’s your approach to coffee?
We have a simple approach to our menu, but focus on quality ingredients, all of our coffee is thoughtfully sourced and roasted on Loring roasters at our nearby roastery. We use a North Carolina dairy farm called Homeland Creamery that produces some of the best quality milk I’ve ever tasted. We strive to be approachable and and deliver exceptional hospitality along with exceptional coffee.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
Our standard lineup includes a La Marzocco Linea PB, Nuova Simonelli Mythos Clima Pro grinders, Mahlkönig EK43, and a Curtis brewer.
How is your project considering sustainability?
Across our business we partner with a Charlotte-based composting company to compost most of our organic material. We try to minimize waste and make that a part of our business culture.
What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?
We opened May 27th with a Grand opening on June 8th!
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?
Our friend Matt Renning of Tenon and Tailor built the beautiful window bar with white oak and a black steel frame.
Thank you!
Photos by Blake Pope
The 2025 Build-Outs of Coffee is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, Ceado, and Dona.
