Updated September 2026 · by Mount Pleasant Scoop
The short answer: Brown Fox Coffee on Simmons Street won Best Locally-Owned Coffee Shop in the 2026 Best of Mount Pleasant reader poll, with Metto Coffee & Tea and Tidal Grounds as finalists. Second State and Cooper River Coffee Roasters roast their own beans, Lodi Coffee has a drive-thru, and The Washington Cafe has a lounge built for working. This guide sticks to local shops, not the national chains.
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At a glance
Coffee shop | Best for | Area |
|---|---|---|
Brown Fox Coffee | The reader-poll winner, walk-up window | Simmons St, off Coleman |
Second State Coffee | House-roasted beans, pour-over | Shelmore Blvd and Oyster Park |
Metto Coffee & Tea | Early mornings, patio | W Coleman Blvd |
Tidal Grounds Coffee | Open latest | Hwy 41 |
Vintage Coffee Cafe | Coffee with a full breakfast | Simmons St, off Coleman |
The Washington Cafe | Working remotely | McKnight Rd |
Cooper River Coffee Roasters | Beans roasted in-house | Ben Sawyer Blvd |
Owlbear Cafe | Board games and coffee | Riviera Dr |
The Front Porch | Coffee plus ice cream | Carolina Park |
Lodi Coffee | Drive-thru | N Hwy 17 |
1. Brown Fox Coffee: the reader-poll winner
A small coffee shop with a walk-up window, a patio and a case of baked goods, a block off Coleman Blvd. It doesn't publish its hours online, so check before you go.
Where: 307 Simmons St · Order: a latte from the window and something from the pastry case
Awards: Best Locally-Owned Coffee Shop, 2026 Best of Mount Pleasant.
2. Second State Coffee: house-roasted beans
The local roaster, formerly Collective Coffee Co., runs two Mount Pleasant cafés. It roasts its own beans and makes its pastries in-house.
Where: 766 S Shelmore Blvd (near I'On) and 1410 Shucker Circle, Suite 1107 (Oyster Park) · Open: daily · Order: a single-origin pour-over, or its own cold brew
3. Metto Coffee & Tea: the early opener
A Coleman Blvd fixture since 2006, with a patio, pastries, sandwiches and catering. It opens at 6 AM Monday through Saturday.
Where: 354 W Coleman Blvd · Open: Mon–Sat from 6 AM, Sun from 7 AM · Price: Cortado $3.90, Spicy Ginger Latte $5.10–$5.60 · Order: the Spicy Ginger Latte
Awards: Finalist, Best Locally-Owned Coffee Shop, 2026 Best of Mount Pleasant.
4. Tidal Grounds Coffee: open the latest
The late-day pick on Hwy 41, open until 7 PM Monday through Saturday, with a breakfast menu of croissants and burritos.
Where: 1039 Hwy 41, Suite 200 · Open: Mon–Fri 6:30 AM–7 PM, Sat 7 AM–7 PM, Sun 8 AM–3 PM · Order: a pour-over and a breakfast croissant
Awards: Finalist, Best Locally-Owned Coffee Shop, 2026 Best of Mount Pleasant.
5. Vintage Coffee Cafe: coffee with a real breakfast
A family-owned café serving Methodical Coffee, with a full food menu of waffles, açaí bowls and avocado toast.
Where: 219 Simmons St · Open: daily, 7 AM–4 PM · Price: latte $4.50, chai latte $5 · Order: a latte and the Apple Cider Donuts
6. The Washington Cafe: the spot to work
Opened in November 2025, serving Counter Culture Coffee and Gullah Geechee baked goods. The Post and Courier reported a lounge side designed for remote workers and small meetings.
Where: 1111 McKnight Rd, Suite 201 · Open: Mon–Fri 7 AM–3 PM, Sat 8 AM–3 PM, Sun 10 AM–3 PM · Order: a dirty chai and a Charleston chewie
7. Cooper River Coffee Roasters: the roaster's espresso bar
A small roastery off Ben Sawyer Blvd that roasts everything in-house and runs an espresso bar open to the public. You can also buy bags of its beans to take home.
Where: 1303 Ben Sawyer Blvd, #5 · Open: Mon–Sat; check hours before you go · Order: an espresso drink, plus a bag of beans
8. Owlbear Cafe: coffee and board games
A board game and puzzle café that also pours beer and wine, good for a rainy afternoon or a low-key meetup.
Where: 1964 Riviera Dr, Suite J · Price: drip coffee $3.50, Owlbear Elixir $6 · Order: the Owlbear Elixir (shaken oat-milk espresso with agave and cinnamon)
9. The Front Porch Coffeehouse and Creamery: coffee plus ice cream
A coffee bar and ice cream shop at The Bend in Carolina Park, with a café food menu, wifi and a patio.
Where: 3510 Park Ave Blvd · Open: Mon–Fri 7 AM–5 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–3 PM
10. Lodi Coffee: the drive-thru
A drive-thru coffee shop on N. Hwy 17 serving coffee roasted in downtown Charleston, open from 6 AM every day.
Where: 1518 N Hwy 17 · Open: daily, 6 AM–4 PM · Order: the Baller Breakfast Burrito and a cold brew
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Coffee in Mount Pleasant: FAQ
What is the best coffee shop in Mount Pleasant, SC?
Brown Fox Coffee at 307 Simmons St won Best Locally-Owned Coffee Shop in the 2026 Best of Mount Pleasant reader poll. Metto Coffee & Tea and Tidal Grounds Coffee were the finalists.
Which Mount Pleasant coffee shops roast their own beans?
Second State Coffee, which roasts on its own roaster and has two Mount Pleasant cafés, and Cooper River Coffee Roasters on Ben Sawyer Blvd, which roasts everything in-house.
Is there a coffee drive-thru in Mount Pleasant?
Lodi Coffee at 1518 N Hwy 17 is a local drive-thru, open 6 AM to 4 PM daily. The national chains have drive-thrus in town too.
Where can I work on a laptop in Mount Pleasant?
The Washington Cafe on McKnight Rd has a lounge side designed for remote workers and small meetings, and The Front Porch in Carolina Park lists wifi and a patio.
Which coffee shops open earliest and stay open latest?
Lodi Coffee opens at 6 AM every day and Metto opens at 6 AM Monday through Saturday. Tidal Grounds stays open latest, until 7 PM Monday through Saturday.
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Updated September 2026. Awards come from the 2026 Best of Mount Pleasant reader poll. Menus, prices and hours come from each shop's own website, menu or ordering page, or local news coverage, as of September 2026. Hours change, so check before you go.