1. Cocoa Cinnamon, Durham

Three locations across Durham serve a traditional cup of joe as well as café drinks and teas with intriguing spices and add-ins like rosewood and cardamom, molasses, or even macadamia nut milk. For instance, you could enjoy a salted honey latte with nutmeg and a touch of black pepper. 

The coffeehouses are also widely known for their drinking chocolates, such as its Las Leyendas de los Guerreros Quetzalcoatl, which includes vanilla bean, cinnamon, clove, milk and hot chocolate. Coffee beans are from Little Waves Coffee Roasters, which offers coffee subscriptions at its online store. 

2. Folks Cafe, Wilmington

Although the building is unassuming on the outside, inside this café on the outskirts of downtown you’ll find a warm and inviting atmosphere where you can settle in with a good book or have a leisurely conversation with friends.

The café uses house-roasted organic and free-trade coffees, homemade syrups and flavorings. Savor a café au lait, a latte, a cappuccino or another of the café’s coffee drinks. The menu offers a range of empanadas, including corn and cheese, beef, and chicken, as well as satisfying sandwiches and vegetarian dishes.

3. Grind AVL, Asheville

Superbly steamed lattes and a mission to empower Black businesses and culture in Asheville make Grind AVL a must-sip in the mountains. Want to add a shot of flavor? This coffee shop offers an assortment, including caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon and toasted marshmallow. You’ll also find a lineup of seasonal drinks, including strawberry-lavender lemonade and pomegranate green tea. 

In 2021, Grind AVL was named the third-best coffee shop in North Carolina by Strange Carolinas in its Best of NC Awards.