In many ways, Charleston is a progressive food city, with some of the best chefs and restaurants in the Southeast, an emerging cocktail culture, and some respectable craft beer bars. What’s been missing during my 16 years of visiting the city has been a go-to specialty coffeehouse. That seems to have finally changed with the advent of Hope and Union, which John Vergel de Dios and Harper Poe opened in 2009 in Charleston’s Elliotborough neighborhood, with a name that references cross streets in the couple’s former Brooklyn neighborhood.
John Vergel de Dios and Harper Poe got pinned for their work in restoring a building that dates to the 1800s.
The coffee bar resides downstairs, at the back of the building, in a room with concrete flooring, and a back bar with reclaimed wood beams the owners painted white. Out front, the coffeehouse has a subdued, library-like vibe, with two-tops, communal tables and wood floors.
They carry Intelligentsia coffee, which was familiar, since that’s my neighborhood coffeehouse in L.A., but still a welcome sight (and sip). They grind and brew all beans to order, as they should.
They offered three different single origin coffees via 12 or 16 ounce pourover, with each option costing either $3.55 or $3.80.
Hope and Union was short on hours, since the College of Charleston was on break for the holidays, and their primary clientele was on vacation, but they didn’t skimp on effort, attention to detail, or flavorful coffee, which are all factors that will keep me coming back to St Philip Street.
Leave a Comment