Wait times are insane . My advice is use the app and wait downstairs for your to go. Cold coffee is really good . Acai bowl is good. The granola is spectacular. Would love to know if they make it themselves or where to get it . read more

I visit here every summer when my family goes to Ocean Isle Beach. The coffee is always good and the service is fast. I haven't tried too much of their food, but it looks good. My only complaint is that I wish they were open later. read more

we're 5 days into a week stay in sunset beach and i'm so sad we didn't try drift sooner! truly one of the best coffee spots we've ever been to throughout our travels. my husband ordered a caramel latte and before finishing it, he wished he ordered a second! i ordered a summer special, the mango coconut coolie, and it was so delicious. the food was equally as impressive. we ordered a veggie burrito and the drift burrito, the portions were large and the flavors were incredible - i especially loved the veggie burrito. our toddlers shared a yogurt bowl and smoothie, both bursting with flavor and freshness. if we don't go back this afternoon, we'll for sure be back in the morning! read more

Great coffee spot right in the heart of ocean isle beach! Excellent avocado toast and great atmosphere. There was a long line at 1030 on a Tuesday but it went by fast. I would suggest ordering ahead if you like to do that! I will be back! read more

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This will be short since we just stopped in for beans. We've got a super-automatic espresso machine that really needs a dry bean. I asked what they had that was dry and the baristas didn't know. Apparently they sell something they've never seen. Not super great from a customer service stand point. Anyway, the coffee was a medium roast and indeed dry. Made up a good espresso shot! read more

Do not go to this so called restaurant. It has the worst customer service. When they mess up your order, they refuse to fix it. The coffee was supposed to be iced, but it had no ice and it was completely watered down. The coffee was disgusting and they said "that's how it comes." The inmates in prison get better coffee than this place. Save your money, make your coffee at home. read more

Wow, I did not expect such a great little coffee shop at a small beach town! Very good standard coffee (espresso is great, did not try drip). But their weird and cool speciality drinks is where it's at! I've tasted the lavender mocha and the coconut latte, both were great. They have a good cold foam as well for a nice topping to their iced coffee. Totally an unexpected gem. They also take covid seriously unlike all the surrounding restaurants! All the people behind the counter had masks, and masks were enforced inside the building! Great job guys! read more

Karter made a perfect Carmel Cappuccino both times I've stopped by this vacation. Also, the staff is so kind! Would definitely be a regular if I lived nearby. Drift kind of looks like a hole in the wall by the outside, but the inside is super cute and clean. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - a cup of coffee on a counter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

I only had the smoothie but I legit paid $6.94 for it and that's crazy! The staff wasn't the normal overly excited people you usually see at coffee shops, maybe it had been a long day but I thought that was kind of odd. We sat in the shop and worked for a bit and it had a great vibe and I was digging the music for sure. It was hot as heck in there but what do you do when you are right on the beach? Couldn't figure out if they had WiFi or not so I used my own hotspot. All in all, just ehhh. The drinks they were making looked pretty legit so I can appreciate that. It looked like they knew what they were doing. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - My almost $7 smoothie. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

This was just ok. It's a coffee shop. There should be some fresh baked goods. It was dank , a couple of what looked like old pieces on the case. Needs to think about the fact that folks need a little more read more

Drinks and food I ordered were good and it is in a very good location. It is a little small on the inside and often crowded in the summer but there is some outdoor seating. read more

The ordering and waiting area was too crowded, the menu was much more limited than what we saw on-line, and the "grilled cheese" that they prepared for our daughter had barely-warmed (solid slabs of) cheese on toasted like 12 grain bread, which was the only bread option and NOT a hit - she hates seeds. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - "Grilled Cheese" - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Exactly what this little beach of Ocean Isle needed. They have been here since March and I'm expecting them to be a local jewel for many years. We ordered a bunch of stuff but our favorites were the triple berry smoothie and their signature iced black amber, no it's not a brew, but it is served in a pint glass! The black amber is a mildly sweet smooth coffee drink. Yes it's a little pricey at 5 bucks but you get a good amount for your money. The smoothie was a gorgeous shade of purple and has a nice texture and taste. We also got a cappuccino, which the art on top was beautiful, but it needed another shot of expresso for our taste, but that's a personal thing. Otherwise the taste is great. We got a blueberry muffin which had a great taste but it was a bit dry, which could be that we didn't get here until 2 in the afternoon. So maybe if you buy it earlier it may be better. Also the ham and cheese scone was a nice treat and something I've never had before. I always thought of scones as sweet and not savory but this one opened my mind up to new possibilities. The service was quick and the guys running the place seem like they are trying their best. The location is great and you can't beat a cup of joe that's not a Starbucks! We will be back, maybe in just a few hours! - update, we stopped in a couple days later to have another blueberry muffin around 10:30am and it was perfect. Nice and moist with a sugary top and a hint of lemon. Of course we got another black amber too! read more

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Absolutely stunning ambiance. As you walk in you are immidietly drawn towards the rustic apparel section featuring several eco friendly brands that produce top notch relaxation clothes. After browsing to your hearts content you make your way over to the friendly barista's and order any drink you could think of. I got the caramel macchiato because I'm kind of basic, and let me say... I am blown away. Their coffee and service are reason enough to return the next day for your morning joe. Would highly recommend to anybody seeking beach or vacation apparel as well as an absolutely delicious afternoon snack. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Banana muffin, cold brew with sweet cream and caramel macchiato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Super cute and tasty spot for a solid coffee and quick breakfast. A few vegan options on the menu (which is harder to find in OIB than I expected) included the avocado toast (lots of toppings and the bread itself was fabulous) and a breakfast bowl (with no egg) both were delish! There was also a chia pudding and an açaí bowl, which I didn't try but they looked tasty. I'd recommend ordering ahead if you can, the wait on the coffee in the mornings can be up to 15 minutes. Will definitely be back! read more

Somewhat overpriced. The line was extremely long, but moved quickly so it wasn't too bad as long as you've got time to kill (which most people on vacation do). The wait for your food after you order is what really causes the backup. I paid $13 and some change for an iced vanilla latte and an avocado smash to which I added chorizo. Kinda pricey, but hey, it's trendy so I get it. I watched my latte being made. It had no foam and in reality it was actually a macchiato but whatever. At the end of the day it was tasty enough. The avocado smash was extremely bland. I'm so glad I added the chorizo or there would've been no flavor to be found anywhere. The chorizo itself was kind of weird. I expected it to be crumbled but it was actually in a strange diced shape that I've never seen chorizo exist in before. When I first looked in the box, I actually thought it was wedged tomatoes for a moment. The bread was either too thin or not toasted enough but it was soggy and limp. The description said the smash comes with e.v.o.o.. It REALLY did NOT need it. It was so greasy that I had to sit it on top of a bed of napkins to prevent the bread underneath from becoming any soggier than it already was. The avocado smash's saving grace was the pumpkin seeds which brought the crunch that should've been provided by the bread and gave it the texture it needed to save it from being a soggy pile of bland mush. TL;DR: Food and coffee was good...enough. I'd return but only on payday and only if I've got an hour on my hands. And I'll definitely try something other than the avocado smash if I do. read more

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the food is amazing!! i advise everyone to come try drift if you are in OIB. the workers are all very kind and the service is great. try the bodega sandwich is such a flavor filled choice along with any other drink read more

Stumbled upon Drift while attending a wedding in Ocean Isle. Returned daily during my stay. Drift is a trendy, but welcoming space tucked away on the second floor of a small beach-side hut. The food and the coffee were both surprisingly fantastic for a coffee shop hidden in a sleepy little beach town. Both the Flat White and their Cold Brew coffee were completely on point. What impressed me even more were their healthy yet flavorful breakfast options. Tried their Turkey & Avocado Sandwich, the Acai Bowl, and their Instagram-worthy Avocado Smash. Each item on the menu was made with fresh ingredients and tasted great. Truly a diamond in the rough. Would definitely return if I were to ever find myself near OIB. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Instagram-Worthy Avocado Smash - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

We got there right before 8am and it wasn't busy yet. (It got busier when we were leaving) loved the decor/ atmosphere. It was very clean. Great tasting breakfast. Friendly service. I would definitely go back. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

We enjoyed everything from the moment we entered to the moment we were handed our food. The staff is friendly and knows everything about coffee and customer service. read more

Nice atmosphere. Good service. Avocado toast was really good. Offered nice add ons and the bread was a nice thick sourdough which I always like. The chia fruit cup is so good. I have had it two mornings in a row. read more

Drift coffee is a must try if in the area, it has a good selection of coffee and great littLe menu for breakfast and lunch. The staff was very friendly and made us feel right at home! Thanks again! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

We stumbled by this place and glad we did. I tried their avocado toast with chorizo on top and really enjoyed it! Kale salad here was also awesome. Had crisp light flavor. Coffee wasn't out of this world but it gets the job done. read more

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Delicious coffee and breakfast. Great service and fast! I'd love to see more of these instead of Starbucks

Always delicious! Cool space, smooth coffee, tasty foods and kind service! I'm a local but I need to make my drive over the bridge more often to enjoy a cappuccino at the beach! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Not what I was expecting but still pretty good. This coffee shop is on the second floor of a small strip of shops. They have a few tables inside and some outside on a patio so you can bring your dogs. They have a small selection of sandwiches and many different coffee and smoothies to pick from. I had the Turkey Avocado Sandwich. This was a pretty small sandwich for the $9 price tag. The flavor was good but the amount of turkey was disappointing. I opted for a side kale salad which was very good. My wife had the salmon smash that she liked but also seemed to be a little light on the toppings in it. For $9 sandwich I would expect more. I had an iced coffee that was very satisfying. This place was playing old punk music which is always fun and unexpected. I would return for a drink but not the food. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Turkey Avocado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Every time we come to sunset/ocean isle, we go here to satisfy my coffee fix! I really enjoy simple, good quality coffee and Drift hits that spot. Their menu is extremely simple, this definitely isn't a place that has crazy lattes or frappes. What they do offer is very good. I typically get a cold brew or drip coffee, and both have been very good. They have a very simple food menu, too. I haven't eaten there recently, but when I went here last year I remember the scone being yummy. While the food and coffee is good, it is pretty expensive even for the quality. You don't have much options even when it comes to the size of your drink and you could easily end up paying $7-10 for a drink. It also can get very busy here and is not a very large space, so it may feel a little crowded to try to stay and eat. All in all, despite it's size and cost this is a great place to grab some quality coffee before venturing to the beach! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Just an iced cold brew with some cream. I bought a cute souvenir mug, too! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

I went here for brunch today and it was great! I love the atmosphere and food! I ordered an ice coffee and an açaí bowl! Great flavor! It was delicious and I can't wait to go again! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Açaí bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

It was really cute inside and menu seemed pretty intensive! Right across from the beach. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Iced golden latte. Super good and refreshing if you like ginger & turmeric! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Very good coffee. Much more balanced flavor than other coffee shops near by. Nice espresso taste and flavored drinks aren't too sweet.

This is my absolute favorite coffee shop on OIB! The staff are always friendly, the coffee and food are delicious, and it's easy to park and go in. I did not preorder online, but it looked liked it was a popular option! There is limited seating inside and on the patio, but you can also sit underneath the deck! read more

This place is a disaster needs to figure out their service, 30-50 minutes for a single latte is not going to fly. We arrive at 10am on Friday and there are 5 baristas huddled next to a single espresso machine with no real plan, process, etc. Chaos. We tried this place twice during our stay and it was the same both times. 30-50 minutes for a coffee, mediocre food. Chaos. I even tried ordering ahead and it's a cluster, I've been sitting next to a weird unattended half opened downstairs closet garage. When I go upstairs the baristas keep yelling to everyone to "go downstairs." read more

Nice atmosphere and great coffee but that's kinda the point, right? The people who work here are nice and the barista went so far as to remake my drink because he wasn't sure he stirred the mocha (I didn't ask or even notice!). Comfortable place, I recommend. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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I would give this location a five but I can't because Dean, the supposed owner of Splash, blocks customers trying to exit from Drift's order area. When you ask Dean to move his van he tells you he will when he is done doing stuff. He then tells you to back out if you can't wait. According to Dean he says what goes in the building because he owns half of it. Dean told me not to bother telling the ownership of Drift about it because they know him and would side with him. I call Drift Ocean Isle and got no answer after several tries, no one to pick up the phone. read more

Short Version: I am going to say 4.5 stars for Drift down in OIB. The service/staff is the differentiator that has me rounding up to 5 stars. Along with great coffee, tasty bites, and a nice atmosphere/vibe I say Drift should be a morning mainstay for trips down here. The Deets: On my most recent annual retreat to OIB, I wanted to try out Drift from a Yelp friend's review she recently posted (shout out to Rose L.). Not only did I get to stop by once, but twice this time and had a great visit to Drift each morning. What we found once we scaled the steps up to the coffee shop was very satisfying. Chris M. and I hit Drift early to mid morning these days (first day around 8am) and it was not a bad time to go. Even around 9-930am on the Saturday going out traffic day the crowd/line was manageable. Bonus, as I hate to wait and I'm all about some instant gratification. The line progressed pretty quickly. As we came in and settled into our queue, I got to appreciate the vibe and atmosphere here. Lots of wood, finished and unfinished, and simple but nicely done décor found inside, and there is a pretty nice area outside to enjoy your selection. Nice blend of hip/modern/simple all together. Lots of different areas to sit, ranging from a nice leather sofa area to typical stool and table setup. Some had their laptops, other gathered around in groups, so it's a good dynamic for whatever your needs are while getting some joe. The service was great, I mean from management down to the girl taking our order they all were positive and attentive but most importantly kept that line going well with a smile on their face. They already had memorized our first names and what we liked to drink from our first visit and got it right on when we were there the next day. KEEP IT UP GUYS, that's a differentiator! But how about that coffee, eh? Well I had some great coffee here, I enjoyed my latte very much. The bites I took from Chris M.'s ham and cheese scone were worth it also. Good experiences each day. They even have live music nights looks like from the little posted announcements seen, and I noticed a nice craft beer selection board as well (snapped a shot of it). For Ocean Isle Beach, this little place has it going on for a coffee shop. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Beer menu. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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First time stopping in. Iced cold brew was pretty good. Smooth. Friendly staff and pretty quick service. They handle the crowd well. I had the market bowl. Nicely done! Would love a little hot sauce or something to punch up the flavors. It's a very "clean" breakfast so I get not adding sauce. Really happy with everything today read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Breakfast market bowl. Yum! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Great tasting coffee! Ordered a plain latte and the sandwich of the day. The coffee was delicious and exactly what one would expect from a latte, strong espresso, good milk ratio, and stiff foam. The sandwich was also very good. Excellent bread, tasty spinach and cheese, and grilled to perfection. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere and friendly staff. I can't wait to return! read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Nice Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Nice addition to the OIB food and coffee scene. I really enjoyed my avocado smash breakfast with a poached egg. We even got to enjoy their open mic night on a Tuesday night while we were at the beach in July. read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Our breakfast goodies @driftcoffee_oib - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Excellent service + a great cup of coffee + perfect company = happy family The service was great. The gentleman working was very friendly, warm, and gave us come tips on where to go. The coffee (we had the pour over) was worth the trip! We will def be back!! *just went back- second day in a row-I thought I had posted but I guess I didn't!! Coffee and customer service was perfect again! our server today was also very hospitable. Apparently the owners are away on a coffee expedition (sounds like so much fun). It must nice to know that while away, those holding down the fort are doing an amazing job! Hope to be back to Ocean Isle Beach soon... read more

Drift Coffee and Kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Drift is a nice quiet little place to hang out. Not very commercial or touristy. I just got a latte there and it was good. I thought about the banana nut bread but it was $6 and a half dollars and that seemed a bit pricey. It looks like they also have a location in Wilmington. read more