Brakeman's Coffee & Supply

Absolutely loved this coffee shop. Good luck finding parking if its busy. My son and I enjoyed the many options and fun decor throughout the shop. It was a great spot to study or hang out with colleagues. The service was fast and efficient. The vibe is definitely a cool spot. Lots of things going on in there. There are shirts as well and good healthy options too. Right off the main road we parked in the back and walked through the old house setup to the front to order our drinks. Option to sit outside as well.

Coffee run was on top of our itinerary when we went to Downtown Matthews and there was a “Fall for Matthews” event that day. Since Brakeman’s is situated right in the heart of downtown, there was already a long line by the time we got there. It had been on our must-try list but never got the chance to until that day so I didn’t mind lining up. Husband had a latte and I had chai (w/ double choco chip muffin) - we were both pleased with our hot beverages as well the friendliness of the staff. We liked that aside from sofas & tables, there were also bar seats inside the shop, seating areas on the front lawn and even on their patio. Their coffee is locally sourced from Davidson, NC. I love supporting local/small businesses and was delighted when I found that out from their website. ✨ We look forward to going back! ☕️

Very cute convert place! The line was way way out the door to the sidewalk, a good marker of hype on a Saturday morning. The (I assume) owner also came by to make sure the line people were satisfied, offering coffee. The two lattes I got (Queen Bee and Wildflower) were great. Great body and craft, not too sweet. Also please that it was not, in my opinion, egregiously expensive ($5 and $5.5).

I don’t get into Matthew’s very often but when I do, I go here! I had their seasonal Blueberry Truffle latte today and it was so delicious! Atmosphere is welcoming and the staff are always so warm. 10/10, no notes. Love this place!

WOW! Brakeman's Coffee & Supply. I have a lot of good things to say but, if I may be so bold, a few areas for improvement I'd like to point out, too. Let's start with the pros. I have never been dissatisfied with any drink I've gotten here (chai, tea, latte, steamer). They all came out quickly given the length of the line and were tasty! Yum, yum, yum. The lattes are a little milkier than I would like, but not everyone can handle their caffeine like me. Still, something to be aware of if you're particular. The baristas are always SO friendly, and they don't compromise on this even when there's a line, but they are still efficient, speedy, and streamlined. The layout is also just darling, and aesthetically the place looks good. The one thing I cannot stand for are these horribly unergonomic chairs. Brakeman's is not the only establishment that has these chairs and every time I'm left thinking "Why? Just why?" They are unanimously agreed upon to be so uncomfortable, and looking around people seem that way, too. You either have to sit super far forwards or completely sideways to avoid the metal bars cutting into your bum. Not fun, especially after sitting in it for more than a few minutes. The establishment warrants doing work here, so people wanting to do so for a few hours flock to the converted church pew: the only semi-comfortable seating option. Sadly, this accounts for just four seats, so it becomes a bit of a turf war, which I hate to see happen regarding such a Godly seating option. My only other note is this name... "Brakeman's Coffee & SUPPLY?" What are these so-called supplies? A Brakeman's mug or tee? Seems like a stretch to me, but maybe it's just due to by superior mastery of the English language that I find fault with this. An alternative explanation is that I am simply not seeing where the coffee supplies are, which is equally, if not more, possible. Keep up the fantastic work, but maybe look into slowly changing the seating options. And please, Brakeman's Coffee & Supply, do not get discouraged by my suggestions. It is only because I want to maximize your potential that I say such things. - Shannon McGuire

Great cafe for some nice coffee and pastries. The place has lots of sits to do your work and get your remote work done. The place is very nice and the staff are also very nice.

Fun place & great customer service! We got the Ticket Please (one chocolate, one caramel) wished it was more espresso flavored, but it was good. Two shots of espresso seem muted with the ice cream base, but that makes sense. May add another shot next time! Chocolate chip cookie at the register was a hit with our youngest! Love the atmosphere & the outdoor seating is beautiful!

Calling only went to a voicemail, but other than that, I only have positive things to say. I ordered a carafe of coffee for a business meeting and grabbed some baked goods as well. The first one to try the coffee (from out of town) immediately said it's good after the first sip. I tried the sweet potato muffin and it was delicious.

Amazing! If anyone ever visits Downtown Matthews, this is a must-try coffee spot. It's built inside a good sized house, and everyone there is so kind and fun to talk to. There's a lot of seating on the inside, and the decorations really sell the atmosphere. The coffee is super affordable and made with love. Will definitely be coming back!

I'm a sucker for cute coffee shops and this is definitely one of them. I loved seeing the decor inside they had an old School coffee machine and they also have walking upstairs was a neat experience. They also had an area for the kids to draw with chalk and play board games which is wonderful and a seating from front to back of this shop was incredible! It was definitely busy when we came but I understand why this is such a great place to read or get work done and just enjoy a nice drink and great atmosphere. Now we did have a couple issues with our coffee orders, the Queen bee lacked flavor and so did the Queen of hearts it didn't taste like anything special. The matcha however was good and then espresso muffin was a no go unfortunately it was dry. But I would come back to try something else for sure.

Brakeman's offers a range of specialty coffees with an impressive variety of seasonal flavors. The quality of coffee is good, and it's a pleasant spot for a caffeine fix.They also have a selection of pastries that are pretty average. Service is fast and friendly. The interior is nice and cozy, making it an inviting place to enjoy your coffee. However, it's worth noting that finding available seats can be a challenge any day of the week. Many people come here to work, which can be a drawback if you're hoping to enjoy coffee with a pastry inside. There's a small possibility of finding seating, so keep that in mind. If you're interested in coffee-related merch or packaged coffee to enjoy at home, you can find it here. They offer a selection of cute merchandise like hats, totes, and thermo cups, and coffee beans for purchase.

Do you like a smooth sweet but not too over the top coffee? Brakeman's Honey Bee Latte is for you! I am sure their other drinks are fab but this is the drink I purchased a minimum of 5 times in my weekend sun the greater Charlotte area. Even when the place was busy, the baristas kept their positive and upbeat attitudes about them. It made the experience that much better. Plus, you have cute items and decor to view if you have to wait for your coffee which doesn't happen often given how quick the baristas are.

Because I like to stay on a positive note, go to Starbucks. Muffin - dry. Tried two different types. Coffee- not good enough to not throw out

I love this cafe! Great for doing work/studying. Homey vibes. The coffee is always on point.

Never had a bad latte here. Lavender latte with oat... cannot go wrong! Their pastries are top notch too!

I saw a friend post about their seasonal Cookie Butter Chai and drove here to get one two days later. I actually had a gift card too so it was the perfect opportunity to use it. They were super friendly and when we had 29 cents left after our gift card, they just said not to worry about it. Our drinks were ready quickly and were the perfect temperature to drink right away--very warm, but not burn your tongue hot. There was a perfectly delicious hint of cookie butter and the chai was delicious. It wasn't the overly sweet stuff you find at a lot of places. You'll find a spicy, flavorful chai here. I'll definitely stop by again sometime!

It's nice to finally see a spot that sheds some light and love on railroad workers and their critical place in the creation of our great country. The coffee is also good and I love the atmosphere.

I usually get Iced Vanila Latte and Great Pumpkin Latte(seasonal menu) with Oatmilk. Today, I got the Iced Slow-Berry Matcha Latte with Oatmilk. WOW! It's fresh and tasty :) The Berry flavor and Matcha tea taste go well together and the Berry flavor is not too strong, so it does not lose the Matcha tea taste. And I highly recommend Great Pumpkin Latte for everyone who likes Pumpkin :)

I love Brakeman's coffee shop. It's so cute inside, great outside sitting areas. The coffee was awesome, the service was great. I would highly recommend if you are in Matthews to stop by. You will be happy you did.

This is my favorite local coffee shop! This location is great, the interior is quaint and cute. There are so many nooks to unwind, work or play. They also have a seasonal menu that changes and I absolutely love the staff. They are always so patient and kind even with a fast moving line to the door. Highly recommend to anyone. Lavender latte is my go to.

Cute coffee shop, way bigger than it looks. Outside seating in front & a porch in back as well as seating inside. Was there on a Thursday morning & it was busy, lots of people working on their laptops as well as people just enjoying their coffee. I got a cappuccino & it was very good, I'm still wishing I would have tried their frozen espresso pops, damn, such a great idea & I bet it's so good and refreshing. The place is cute & homey and the staff was nice & friendly.

Another rare 5 star review given from my stingy self. If you haven't read any of my other reviews, here's my disclaimer. Everyone starts off with 3 stars and this is a good score! I believe in keeping it fair and rating everyone equally on the following: courtesy of staff, taste of the menu, cleanliness, accommodations. So what's another coffee house a suburb of Charlotte, NC right? If you happen to be here in Matthews, NC stop by Brakeman's! Let's get to some details before you go... Parking: Depending on where you're coming from Brakeman's will come into view very last minute. From the front of the place there limited space but drive to the back and there is plenty of parking. In fact, if you never park in the back you might miss seeing their outdoor patio area covered in trees and the fountain. Seating: This is probably my favorite feature of the place. It's like a country cottage with corners and rooms transformed into comfy, intimate areas. Every corner is different- from classic leather chairs to cafe tables and metal bistro chairs...to benches. And every area is decorated with something explore. If you go past the register, look to the left and you'll see a small nook and the original stairs going up (when it was a house). This area was filled with local art (for sale) and 2 small tables. Perfect and tucked away from the busy traffic. Just enough background noise you would hear in any coffee house. Taste: I ordered something traditional because the basics of coffee have to be perfect to own a coffee house right? So I got a 16oz iced latte with 1 pump of vanilla. The coffee was delicious and strong- without being overly acidic. It balanced well with the Spiced Zucchini Muffin I also ordered (locally made I believe). Accommodations: gender neutral bathroom. They also have indoor and outdoor seating. Wifi also available! There were plenty of people with laptops up hanging out. I'll certainly be back to hang out longer. Courtesy: The young gentleman that took my order was very courteous and friendly. He was confident about my questions and relaxed. There's certainly a relaxed vibe. Maybe it was the soft jazz playing in the background. I'll back here for sure. Thanks you Brakeman's for a delicious experience!

Awesome spot to grab a coffee on the go or stay and relax/work. Friendly and welcoming environment! Always a great experience.

The best chai I've ever had! So spicy and hot. Love it with almond milk! And always such kind service.

I'm not on this side of town often, so I decided to see if there were any local coffee shops. I always try to visit local coffee joints when I am in a new town. I found this place via Yelp. Nice location, nice and comfy interior. Friendly staff. However, the drinks were not that great. Very small and over priced in my opinion. I had the lavender coffee. It was just OK. If I'm on this side of town again in the future, I'll stop by again and try something else from the menu. The only thing that I would take a star away for is, I feel they are overpriced. I know that all coffee shops are ridiculously pricey, but this place seemed to be a little bit higher than others. And I go to a lot of coffee shops.

Always stop in since it's so close to work. The baristas are nice and offer a good hospitable vibe.

It's always a delight when I can immediately take a sip of my chai latte without burning my tongue. That, and when I use a gift card to purchase said chai latte and have less than a dollar left to pay and I'm told to not worry about it. And at Brakeman's, that's the kind of service you can expect.

Absolutely cute shop that's cozy, bright, and clean. Very hardworking and friendly staff. Would have loved to try some of their coffee that smelled heavenly but they don't have heavy cream. Don't worry, they have oat milk and almond milk and I'm sure any other kind of milk to suit your dietary, emotional, or trend-seeking needs but no heavy cream with full fat that enhances the flavor of coffee--ya know, how millions of people consume coffee all over the world every day.

Such a cute, local place! Stopped by when visiting and so glad we did! Scrumptious pastries and delicious, unique drinks! I tried the apple cider chai tea, and it was fall in a cup! Will definitely visit again when in the area!

Popular spot due to location in a funky house on the main drag (St. John St.) in downtown Matthews. Offers great variety of seating options and environments, including: ~ Front terrace: Ideal for people watching. ~ Rear patio: Charming patio on paver stones adjacent to parking at rear of building. Has fountain and lots of birds flitting about. Seating is metal. ~ Enclosed front porch: My favorite spot for working due to hightop table with view. A few tables also available. ~ Front room: Has plush chairs and sofa, but can be busy with traffic since this is a popular spot and line is often 3-10 deep. ~ Upstairs: Seating for 4-5 at two tabletops. Too small to accommodate more than one group. If occupied, awkward for solo seating/work. ~ Base of stairs. Small seating area with comfy chair. ~ Back room: cool seating along counter facing Wall with really cool art from local school kids. Good for laptop work. Also a couple of tables. Tips: Relax: Usually just 2 working behind counter so be patient. Not a quick in and out spot. Parking: If parking in back is full, there is ample free park on street and at nearby public lot.

Went on a Saturday morning and this place was packed! Long line that we stood in. Spaces to sit were full. Ordered a couple lattes, iced great pumpkin & a couple muffins. Coffee wasn't anything special. The cinnamon rolls were dry. :/ Not good as I noticed they came from the Community Culinary School of Charlotte. It's obviously the place to go to on a Saturday morning - I guess cause it's the only coffee place in town?

The house blend was okay. I've been here twice, around 9:00a both times. Both times I had difficulty finding a place to sit. The space is small and the tables are placed where there's some space. People sit at a table and open their laptops which means no one else can sit there. I'm not against computer time but it doesn't take too many people to pack the place out. I'll search for another place to relax

Charming coffee shop definitely worth supporting! Several spots and wi-fi make it a great place to work out of.

Anytime I'm in Matthews I make sure to stop here! Their coffees great, the staff is friendly, but the parking isn't the best as there are limited spots.

Love the coffee! My only complaint is the wifi NEVER works! I go to coffee shops to work but can never work here due to that.

If you're looking for somewhere to sit or study in Matthews, Brakemen's is a great place for that. If you're looking for a good coffee, I'd suggest elsewhere

Great selection of specialty drinks and more standard coffee. Staff very friendly and helpful. Beautiful back terrace. Only negative was muffin had little flavor. The rest is highly recommended!

Cool place, great menu. Friendly staff and yummy products. I look forward to coming back again soon!

The cutest coffee shop located in historic Mathew's NC. They have indoor and outdoor seating perfect for a WFH coffee shop day. Since it was my first time here I asked the cashier with recommendations for an iced coffee she recommended the lavender latter or the queen bee latte. I went with the queen bee and it was delicious it had the perfect amount not to overbearing. Definitely will be back!

Came in for a quick caffeine pick-me-up one afternoon when wandering through downtown Matthews after grabbing some beers nearby. I had been wanting to check this place out for awhile since I'd seen it because it looked so cute, and quaint, and like it would be make a nice cuppa joe. Alas! I came in and it was pretty busy, waited in the long line, and the staff was really nice, making jokes and greeting people warmly as they walked up to order and calling out the drinks that were ready. I ordered a simple espresso as I figured a place like this would make a great one. Sadly, that was not my experience. My espresso was way too acidic to the point of being almost undrinkable and it was a little burnt. Not sure if they were just having an off day or if I got some leftover espresso from a previous order or what the deal was, but for the price and atmo and other reviews, I expected so much better and was so disappointed! Needless to say, I don't see myself coming back, at least not for awhile to get both the figurative & literal "bad taste out of my mouth". 1-star for the coffee but 4 stars for the service and decor. However, being the coffee junkie that I am, I should never like a coffee place's service & decor way better than their actual coffee (insert sad face here)

Phenomenal coffee drinks and friendly staff! The coffee drinks at Brakeman's are amazing. I have tried many fantastic drinks from the iced mocha, pumpkin spice latte and a cinnamon latte, all with almond or oat milk. The desserts are delicious--Barb's bars are my favorite. They get them from a local baker. Any flavor is good but the Reese's is my favorite!! Downtown Matthews has a wonderful place for social distance coffee!! Note: Before covid19, I loved inside seating and the old RR photos of Matthews. Now I prefer outdoor seating and they have been amazing at online ordering and the staff is wearing masks. Parking is small in the back lot so I suggest parking by the RR and walking to Brakeman's.

Great local coffeehouse. Wonderful to space inside or outside to relax or work remote. Important to support local business!

Currently one of my favorite coffee shop in Charlotte. It is a great place for coffee and chat with friends. The coffee taste great and the environment just awesome. It is clean and friendly customer service. If you looking for more local coffee place, this is great. Taste: 4 out of 5 Great taste on coffee drinks Environment: 4 out of 5 Great atmosphere to hang out Service: 5 out of 5 Friendly Value: 3.5 out 5 It is around the same with your major coffee chains

One of the best coffee shops around!! Awesome service with wonderful employees. I'm never disappointed when I go to brakeman's! Matcha latte is my favorite

Matthews used to be my old stomping grounds, but it has changed a lot recently (especially the downtown area). Brakeman's is a welcomed addition to the mix of beer temples, restaurants, and shops. I've been meaning to check them out for quite some time. The old house that Brakeman's is set up in is super unique and they've created nooks and crannies for you to enjoy a beverage and pastry or to meet up with friends. First impressions: Great front yard - there are tables outside and even a sun porch to sit out on. You walk in and immediately the place was packed with folks on their laptops and or having morning coffee with friends. There was even a friend that had a "happy birthday" balloon so that tells me its a great place to meet. The baristas were super nice... no names on cups here, you just hang around and wait for them to call your order out. There is even a back porch and an outdoor area out back. One side room had a ton of kids toys in it... so catering to all ages/groups. I had an americano and a chocolate pear muffin. The muffin was great! (also recommended by the staff)... the beverage I had was decent. I need to do some research where they get their coffee supplied from (since most coffee places do advertise special suppliers, etc). My one critique of the place was the parking... there is side street parking out front.... and a couple spaces in the back, but I think since Matthews is becoming more walkable, it shouldn't be as big of an issue to have immediate spaces near the building, but you can easily park across the street and walk over.

We ventured here recently and really enjoyed our coffee. The inside is absolutely beautiful. We were warmly greeted and our coffees (iced pumpkin latte with oat milk and iced vanilla latte) were ready quickly. We don't go to Matthews often but when we do, I will definitely want to return here.

Centrally located in downtown Matthews, this is a great place to meet a friend, have a work meeting or work on your laptop. Their coffee is great! Plenty of parking available in surrounding (public) lots. There are tables and chairs out front, smaller tables inside in the nooks and crannies of this older home and a great patio out back that has more tables and chairs and multiple umbrellas for shade.

I'll never go to Starbucks again. This place is amazing! Every drink I've had from here is on point. Iced caramel lattes, mochas, and now my new go to the "Ticket to paradise" iced tea!

Three stars only because the overwhelming word on the street is that the seating, ordering area and vibe is just getting tired. A great start and decent offerings but if the environment is uncomfortable, it just makes it ok. I think the coffee is good, I dunno... I just always look forward to getting out quick and drinking my bev in my car. Could be super cool, just not there yet.

My favorite coffee shop in Matthews! So cute and warm inside. They are one of the only coffee shops this way that are opened for seating and in perfect time for students. I come here to study and eat some snacks and have a good smoothie. Staff is helpful and sweet. Plenty of seating indoor and out and has a very cute vibe.

When this place first opened, I wondered what all the hype was about and decided to check it out myself. That first visit has made this place my weekly hangout spot! In my opinion, the best coffee shops have 3 things: great & affordable coffee, a relaxed atmosphere, and very friendly staff; Brakeman's succeeds at all three! Couldn't recommend this place more.

Love this little spot. Great outdoor and indoor spaces. The coffee is chef's kiss and the specialty lattes they have seasonally are fantastic. Try the patio in the back during spring and summer.

Ordered a chai tea latte and a vanilla latte to go on a Saturday morning. It was busy but service was quick given the amount of customers! The shop is located In a cute area with shopping in walking distance. Enjoyed and will be back again!

Much better experience than the visit my last review was based. Coffee is really good and this is a nice place to sit down and spend some time in conversation and sipping some joe. I see several folks sitting trying to work but I noticed this shop is t the typical quiet coffee shop. It's not loud but personally, I'd have a hard time focusing.

Neat coffee house. I've driven by this place and never noticed it was a coffee shop. I ordered an iced latte with almond milk. They used Torani syrups ( personally I prefer Monin syrups. The almond milk was from Aldi ( it tasted pretty good) I would compare it to Silk. The atmosphere is ideal for people working on laptops and hanging out with friends. They have a few pastries to eat. Would recommend. Parking could be an issue if it's busy.

This coffee shop has all sorts of space for working and chilling. Between a front patio, a back patio, a covered front "patio," and a kids room with toys, it has it all. There's coffee on tap, coffee in a cooler, and, on a hot day, cold mint kombucha. It's obviously a place for business professionals, parents with young children and high school study groups. Lots of space means lots of places to post up, take out the laptop, and get down to it. It was a busy place. There were two baristas working like crazy but the line was never ending. They looked a little flustered, but they were handling it like pros. The coffee shoppe is within walking distance of shops with collectibles, an Irish Pub, and a gelato place. Parking is a little tough. The driveway to the shoppe is really steep and there are marks in the pavement to prove the bottom outs are a normal occurrence. The actual parking lot in the back is pretty small. Everything is easy to walk to. Find parking around downtown and stroll on over this way.

I went here on an early Friday morning for coffee with my close friend. Everyone was so nice and there was plenty of seating even though a lot of people were around. I got a hot soy latte and it was very good. The cold brew was good as well. We stayed and chatted for a while and it was nice to see how great the staff was with the customers. There was a southern charm that I'm not used to at all and it was lovely. I'd love to come back the next time I'm in Charlotte for a coffee and to read a book.

Love this place! There's lots of cozy areas inside and out to comfortably spread out and relax or get your work done. The cappuccino and latte that my wife and I ordered were perfectly prepared, piping hot and delivered quickly with a smile by the two young men behind the counter. Oh yeah, both coffees were pretty tasty too. That's all good news for coffee lovers in Matthews because with the departure of Dilworth Coffee, they are the only game in town. I didn't try the baked items, but as is the case with most coffee shops (including Starbucks), they look as if they were an afterthought. It was raining the evening we went, I look forward to trying out the little courtyard outback with the flowing water feature in the corner. Will definitely go back.