BRAKEMAN’S COFFEE & SUPPLY
APR 22
I cannot give you my first impression of Brakeman's, as this Matthews spot is an old favorite. It’s just down the street from the library where I once worked, and practically in my current backyard. The white brick house it occupies has had many lives in the 30+ years I've known it, including one as a hair salon, and most memorably to my childhood self, a fancy tea shop.
The glass sun porch always makes for an inviting prospect, as does the collection of tables and chairs in the small front courtyard on sunny days. Situated on North Trade Street (one of two intersecting thoroughfares in historic downtown Matthews) it's an ideal parade and people-watching spot. For less noise and more tranquility, the back patio is the perfect space, all dappled light and soft sounds of the fountain.
Brakeman's has a variety of seasonal drinks that they announce via their social media pages, but their Lavender Latte and Chai - both menu staples - are standouts. They also partner with a rotating selection of “featured roasters,” which gives patrons the chance to try a variety of local and specialty coffee providers. The danish and muffins are fairly generic, but I always snag a piece of the Cookie Butter Banana Bread by Whisk + Wood if it's available when I visit.
Everything about Brakeman's shows a space that has not only become a community third place, but one that was designed with that purpose in mind. Their website calls it “slow coffee culture,” and you can find their “slow manifesto” in the front room that speaks to the importance of people over things and quality over expedience. On a busy Saturday morning when the line stretches out the front door, the atmosphere is one of neighborhood conviviality. Couples and families stop for a cup of coffee on their way from the Matthews’ Farmers Market, and on weekdays, the crowds are replaced by remote workers with their laptops, students with their books, and moms with their strollers.
So, in the words of Brakeman's founders: stop by and slow down.
The Relevant Details:
Brakeman's Coffee & Supply
225 North Trade Street, Matthews, NC
https://brakemanscoffee.com
Open Mon-Sat