Austin takes coffee seriously. Here are the independent shops worth knowing.
The icons:
- Houndstooth Coffee (multiple) — Austin's specialty coffee standard bearer. Single-origin pour overs, excellent espresso. The baristas know their craft. Not the cheapest but consistently the best.
- Fleet Coffee (East Side) — Tiny shop, big flavor. The cortado is perfect. Good pastry selection. The patio is a productive workspace.
- Cuvee Coffee (East Side bar and roastery) — They roast their own beans and the nitro cold brew was one of the first in Austin. The bar also serves beer and wine.
The neighborhood favorites:
- Jo's Coffee (South Congress) — Famous for the "I love you so much" mural. The actual coffee is decent, not mind-blowing. You go for the SoCo experience.
- Mozart's Coffee Roasters (Lake Austin Blvd) — The lake views are stunning. The coffee is good. The pastries are homemade. Best patio in Austin.
- Radio Coffee & Beer (South Manchaca) — Coffee shop + beer garden + food trucks + live music. The most Austin concept possible.
For remote workers: Fleet and Houndstooth have the best WiFi + workspace setup. Radio is good if you want outdoor space. Mozart's is beautiful but the WiFi is unreliable and it's more of a destination than a workspace.
Source: Austin coffee community, personal visits, @austincoffee Instagram
Houndstooth is expensive but the quality justifies it. I've tried every specialty shop in Austin and Houndstooth is consistently the best extraction.