I have to admit this place is declining fast. Dilworth Coffee was good enough, but the new ownership seems to make one baffling decision after another, trying to turn the place into an iterative Starbucks-esque mediocre coffee place. This has been heralded by signage that uses clip art instead of the adorable chalk art they had, taking out a good 2-3 tables of seating to put the cash register in a new place that makes NO sense, and generally a less warm place to sit and enjoy.
In addition to this, the employees often are rude. My friend and I have a new term for getting a chai latte that isn't their new masala chai: "chai shamed." Essentially every time I order a chai latte that isn't the new flavor we have gotten snotty comments about how it's not a "real" chai latte, or "oh. Hm. You...want the powder? Really?" Yes! That is the point of having options. I don't happen to like the masala chai, and don't like being shamed for it. Also, it can be a real crapshoot if they get the order right at the register.
Charlotte doesn't really have a big coffee "scene" so if I want to walk to a coffee shop my options are limited and so Dilworth Espresso is saved by its own location.
Anyway, pretty disappointed in the changes lately. I just can't understand why local places in Charlotte want to seem less local and more like Applebee's. Sigh.