Find a new twist on the classic gourmet cafe at Tínto Cafe and Provisions, the newest storefront to open up on John Street, just steps away from King Street and Marion Square. Husband and wife duo Carolina and Kevin Jewett hope to bring a cross-cultural cafe to the peninsula, along with some classic pantry staples and locally familiar baked goods. “We are super excited to bring this new concept to Charleston and the revitalization of John Street,” said Carolina.
Tínto extends from a family history of coffee in Charleston — as well as a history of owning small businesses. The Jewetts bought Belgian Gelato Cafe on Vendue Range in 2019 and rebranded it to Tínto y Crema, a coffee and gelato joint, in 2021. Using the longtime family business as a foundation, they decided to branch out again, Kevin explained. “For us, this is an opportunity to share. … I was embraced by Carolina’s family, when they moved here they brought their culture with them and started roasting coffee.”
Carolina’s parents, Francisco and Caroline Davila, founded Coffee Roasters of Charleston in 1991 and were some of the first to bring small-batch specialty coffee to the area after immigrating to the United States in 1985 and eventually settling down in South Carolina.
“Growing up as a French-Hispanic girl in Charleston, I dreamed of opening my own business on the peninsula one day,” Carolina said.
The resulting vision is Tínto Cafe and Provisions, a European-style storefront with a variety of offerings for any kind of craving. Charcuterie boards are the central focus of the cafe with a deli case that displays options to build your own cheese board to either enjoy on-site or take away. A thoughtfully curated cooler full of wine and beer options makes Tínto a one-stop shop for the perfect midday break or evening aperitif.
Additionally, the cafe also provides Belgian gelato, an ode to Tínto y Crema. Kevin explained, “the idea is that there is something for everyone.”
However, Charleston fans of baked goods may be most excited to hear that the couple has been working with David Schnell, the former owner and head baker at Brown’s Court Bakery, to create baked goods to sell at Tínto — including the locally loved chocolate chip cookie. “We’re really excited about getting to learn everything from David,” said Kevin.
The location is a true mix of European and Latin American cafe culture, just as Carolina intended. At a soft opening event, she explained the meaning behind the name of the cafe. “I was born in Colombia …. [where] ‘tínto’ is a little espresso, a little coffee. In Argentina, where my mom is from, ‘tínto’ is a glass of red wine. So it’s beautiful! You have the wine and the coffee–”
“–And all the things that go well with wine and coffee,” Kevin enthusiastically added.
With a rich offering and fresh design, Tínto is a cafe that would blend in on the streets of Paris, Buenos Aires or Charleston. Tínto is open from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
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