On my days off, you’ll find me at a coffee shop. It’s a great way to start the day! While I have my regular haunts that are popular and older, such as BREW, Morning Times, Sola, Black & White, and Benelux, quite a few new places have opened recently, some not-so-popular shops that should be, and some fantastic coffee shops in Raleigh and the Triangle beyond Raleigh that are worth a visit in 2025!

Press

Since opening in 2024, Press has rapidly become an important fixture in the downtown Raleigh food scene. People love the crepes at Press. They have both savory and sweet styles to try. And of course, their locally roasted Counterculture beans make the coffee a go-to. But people absolutely go crazy for their atmosphere!

Press has a European café vibe that can’t be beat. As it is an essential aspect of a café in both Europe and Raleigh, they have plenty of outdoor seating! During the upcoming beautiful spring days, head over there with a book to sit outside and enjoy your morning coffee. Located at the end of downtown’s Glenwood South District, it’s pretty much a straight shot down the street from Camden Carolinian.

Photo courtesy of Drew Swinford - Front door of Press in Raleigh

Beow’s Books & Brews

I just discovered this café last fall, and it has rapidly become one of my favorite places in town! Not only do they make an excellent cappuccino, but they also have beer, wine, and some of the best sandwiches in town; I recommend the Treebeard! Their staff are some of the friendliest you’ll find, they’re always happy to have a conversation about any interesting topic.

The "books” part of Beow’s Books & Brews means they have an onsite bookstore stocked with them. They have books about history, religion, politics, philosophy, various genres of fiction, and more. If you have kids, they have a small kid’s section for them to play while you read. If you live at Camden Overlook, they’re just up the road from you on Creedmoor Road.

Heirloom

If you’re looking for an experience at a unique coffee shop, look no further than Heirloom in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District! Its sleek design is inspired by East Asia, and so is its menu. They have fantastic lattes, using locally roasted beans from Little Waves. They also offer teas such as jasmine and oolong, and their food options include mochi donuts, char siu pork, and other Eastern-style dishes.

Although Heirloom isn’t a brand-new shop, having opened in 2018, I’ve found many people haven’t been there even if they know about it. Stop by here for coffee, breakfast, and selfies with your friends!

Drift

Drift is a café that does not originate in Raleigh; they come from Wilmington, NC and have several locations in that area and one in Chapel Hill. In 2024, they set up shop at Ridgewood Shopping Center located between Camden Asbury Village, Camden Manor Park, and Camden Carolinian. They brew Black & White coffee and are known for good coffee, but the big draw is their food menu. Plan a brunch date for pancakes, egg benedicts, smash burgers, and even plenty of vegetarian-friendly options!

Milo’s Café

Less than a five-minute drive away from Camden Westwood, you’ll find the most unassuming little coffee shop. Milo’s Café opened in 2024 and is one of the cutest places you can go to for a morning coffee. Aside from their Lavazza brand coffee, they have avocado toast, pastries, crepes, sandwiches, and more. If you’re driving too fast, you may miss their small sign so don’t be afraid to slow down, park in their gravel parking lot, and go sit at a table or on the comfy couch. Have a cappuccino for me!

Cocoa Cinnamon

Cocoa Cinnamon is the place to be in Durham! It isn’t new but if ever there was a coffee shop worth the drive, this is it. They have three locations and work directly with Little Waves Coffee Roasters to provide a local flavor. At their Lakewood location, you can get churros, but my favorite location is the one downtown in the Old North Durham neighborhood near Durham Central Park.

It is one of the most unique places you’ll visit. I recommend sitting on the patio, reading a book, and relaxing. If you want to make it a good long trip, go to Kings Sandwich Shop right across the street (a restaurant that opened before the end of World War II) for lunch. Hang out for a few hours reading at Cocoa Cinnamon. Then go to play games and have a few drinks at Boxcar, a barcade with a location in Raleigh but the one in Durham has some of the best outdoor seating in the Triangle. It’s only a five minute drive or a 25 minute walk from Camden Durham, I recommend the walk to enjoy the historic, but ever growing, downtown Durham.

Courtesy of Drew Swinford - Seating at Caffe Driade in Chapel Hill, NC

Caffe Driade

What can I say about Caffe Driade? It’s not just coffee, it’s a trip to take in itself. If you like coffee, baked goods, and finding the perfect wooded oasis in the middle of a busy area, then this is the place for you. You’ll love it. If you’re making this a trip to Chapel Hill, like I did, then you may want to make a day of it.

I enjoyed Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen, which is a 15-second drive from Caffe Driade you should stop on the way there. Then after you’re done at Caffe Driade, hit up just about any place on Franklin Street, an essential hotspot in the Triangle, to see some classic Chapel Hill fare. If you like Caffe Driade and Chapel Hill so much that you’d want to live near it, Camden Governor’s Village is for you!

Remember what Gertrude Stein said: “Coffee is more than just a drink; it’s an experience,” and people in the Triangle know it. Coffee shops are popping up all over the Triangle, but they aren’t opening fast enough to accommodate the people looking for a good local coffee.

WalletHub ranked Raleigh at the 39th best city for coffee in America, Charlotte at 44th, Durham at 71st, Winston-Salem at 87th, and Greensboro at 91st for 2025 so clearly this is a huge state for coffee!

They also ranked Durham as having the lowest price for a cappuccino on average in America! Coffee is taken seriously here and is a big part of local culture.

If you’re moving to the Triangle (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area) soon, learn more about our culture here!