Coffee Shop in the Heart of Matthews, NC

Slow Culture Coffee

At Brakeman's our mantra is Keeping Matthews Slow. The Brakeman's job on the train was just as it sounds... to safely stop a speeding locomotive. While the engineer became a cultural icon with promises to get us there faster, the Brakeman, tucked away unnoticed at the back of the train, got us there in one piece. When you walk through our doors, we hope to be the brakeman, intentionally slowing the speeding train of your life in the midst of a fast-moving day. In a frantic world of ever-faster speeds and instant information, we offer an opportunity to slow down. A chance to experience for a moment what we all know, that 'faster, harder, more' isn't always better. Come hop on our train for a slow moment with great coffee and good friends.

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Our Baristas (our Brakemen and Brake-women)

While our vibe loves the slow side, our baristas don't think the slowest part of Brakeman's Coffee needs to be the line.

We're proud that our bar runs as smoothly (and yes, quickly) as it can. Of course we hope you'll stay and relax for a while, but if you're on the go, we'll be efficient, knowing often the best brakemen have to think fast and act fast to do their jobs. We hope our art (each cup we present) is beautiful, tasteful, creative, fun and inspiring; we also hand it to you with the firm conviction that the humble spirit and smile that came with it is just as important and refreshing as the coffee itself.

Our Coffee Partners

Come on in to discover which coffee we've chosen this month.

We proudly partner with Haerfest Coffee of Davidson, NC. Toby at Haerfest has an impressive 30-year resume that is truly world class, and we've curated our Brakeman's Blend with them. Weekly deliveries ensure it's as fresh and personal as if we roasted it in our own back room.

Also, be sure to come sample our rotating feature coffees on drip (or take home a bag of beans) from roasters we've selected from around the country. Our team is always looking for creative and interesting offerings, knowing that anyone crafting fine coffee with love isn't a competitor, but a friend to be celebrated and shared with our customers.