Come Together Over Coffee

Get Caffeinated

Words by  Jessi Devenyns Photos by Shelby Bella & Ashley Haguewood

East Austin is fueled by coffee. Whether a latte before work, an afternoon pick-me-up, or a shot of caffeine for a late-night deadline, caffeine seems to find its way into nearly every part of the day. But not all coffee is created equal. Some search for a like-minded community; others have a fascination with the process of roasting beans. Whatever the reason, the local caffeine-fueled establishments provide a diverse map of sips and hidden gems that will resonate with a variety of personal preferences and keep Austinites coming back for more.

LeverCraft Coffee Bar

The mechanics of pulling a cup of espresso are what originally lured Eric Mann away from his job at Ducati and into the world of coffee. After forging a relationship over Ebay with an Italian purveyor of vintage coffee machines, Eric began experimenting with varying pressures, differing water purities, and finally trying to dial into the ideal roast for coffee beans in his pursuit of a good cup of coffee. It did not take long for this experimentation with the components of coffee to lead him to roasting his own coffee–first in a one-pound mini roaster and now in a two kilogram roaster that sits in his back shed.

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Best 24/7 Coffee shop:
Bennu Coffee

There is never a bad time to visit Bennu. This late-night institution serves up a legendary menu of mochas topped with homemade whipped cream that patrons can sip while reclining in a hodgepodge of furniture with friends or plugging into the digital world with one of the outlets that dangle from the ceiling.
2001 E. MLK Blvd.
bennucoffee.com

Best Coffee Art:
Corona Coffee

Green tea swan under a saffron moon? Perhaps a unicorn latte? Whatever the image, the latte artists at Corona Coffee can probably serve them up in a coffee drink made with handcrafted syrups and elegant espresso. There is also a gift shop for those who want to take home some art instead of just sip it. 1215 Corona Dr.
coronacoffee.co

Best Coffee Shop on Two Wheels:
Flat Track Coffee Roasters

Put pedals to the metal or to the pavement and head to Flat Track where BMXing, road cycling and motor sports are all encouraged in tandem with coffee drinking. Okay, perhaps park the bike first. Then don’t forget to enjoy a lovingly-crafted cup of Jo before grabbing a pound of their locally-roasted coffee to go.
1619 East Cesar Chavez St.
flattrackcoffee.com

Greater Goods Coffee Co.

Khanh Trang discovered good—some would say great—coffee in Utah. Up until that point, she drank coffee for practical reasons. Her ‘aha moment’ happened when the coffee she ordered didn’t taste like coffee. Khanh elaborates, “It wasn’t bitter. It wasn’t so dark that I had to do stuff to it. It was smooth. There was a lot of nuttiness to it.” At that pivotal moment, she began her quest for the perfect cup of Jo.

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Best Asian Coffee House:
Sa-Tén Coffee & Eats

It turns out that both matcha lattes and classic cappuccinos go well with Japanese toast. But so do Lemon Ginger Matcha, Charcoal Detox Lattes, L’Orange Cortados, and Tiramisu Cappuccinos. At Sa-Tén, drinks are presented with an irresistible aesthetic that is clearly derived from the Japanese art of plating. Everything is thought out, all the way to the tenmori, or the final touches.
916 Springdale Rd., Bldg. 3, Ste. 101
sa-ten.com

Best Coffee Shop to Work:
Cuvée Coffee

Cuvée is a roastery and coffee bar that encourages tinkering. Whether it’s a work project or a widget-activated nitro cold brew can, innovation and inspiration have reigned supreme in this open-plan coffee shop since 1998. Since a bag of beans and face-to-face conversation are frequently the preamble to great ideas, be sure to visit this Eastside staple for an infusion.
2000 E 6th St.
cuveecoffee.com

Best Coffee to get a Buzz:
Buzz Mill

With no closing hours and a neighborhood-centric vibe, Buzz Mill peddles both kinds of brews for all occasions. Additionally, the coffee shop focuses on giving back to the community through various volunteer events that take place within two miles of the coffee shop. Fans can also join the Lumber Society, which is akin to boy/girl scouts for adults where members learn basic survival skills.
1505 Town Creek Dr. & 5012 E 7th St.
buzzmillcoffee.com

Flitch

In a community dotted with coffee shops on nearly every corner, Erica Foster shares the secret to success: slow and steady wins the race. “We’re not trying to outgrow ourselves too fast. We’re trying to take things step by step,” says Erica, owner of Flitch coffee shop. Flitch is an unassuming trailer with a graveled patio that is generally full of faces of all ages and descriptions. Although the patio is now sprawling with seating, the project started out as a bare-bones concept with one picnic table and the drive to create a community through caffeine.

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Most Inventive Coffee Drinks:
Fleet Coffee

Within the walls of this pocket-sized coffee bar are some of the most inventive caffeinated beverages in Austin. Try The Ritual, which is a churro infused cortado topped with a Mexican wedding cookie. Naturally, the staples are served too. So, if an eggnog cappuccino sounds like too much, Fleet’s simple espresso will also do the job nicely.
2427 Webberville Rd.
fleetcoffee.com

Best South American Coffee:
Café Nena’i

Sip and savor the flavors of South America at Café Nana’i where Elena Sanguinetti serves up cafecitos and hallmark hospitality. The café is filled with small nooks where patrons can be found nibbling on both sweet and savory pastries that redefine the breakfast game. Perhaps the best part are the espresso drinks that Elena pulls between conversations which are as powerful as they are flavorful.
1700 Montopolis Dr., Suite A
CafeNenai.com

Friendliest Baristas:
Revival Coffee

Revival coffee brings together good coffee and good people with good vibes. Its cozy, yet tasteful, décor complements the artisan beverages that baristas craft while they regale customers with facts about East Austin, local events, and insider tips. Plus, 10% of the business’s proceeds are donated to a local charity selected by customers.
1405 E 7th St.
revivaltexas.com

Cherrywood Coffeehouse

Cherrywood Coffeehouse is more than a coffee shop. It is a community that thrives seven days a week from 7 am. to midnight. Ryan Marks describes the one-room shop as a headquarters for real food and real company. “Our whole focus is to have a great place. If people want to come through every day, they can do their work, they can have their breakfast, they can have their lunch, they can bring their family. Just a comfortable place where you want to come,” he emphasizes. The atmosphere at Cherrywood is a little bit 20th century Austin, a little bit family-friendly, and a little bit neighborhood watering hole.

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Best Coffee Worth the Parking Hassle:
Cartel Coffee Lab

Located at the bottom of Arrive Hotel, Cartel Coffee Lab occupies a little nook where coffee is served to locals and out-of-towners, alike. Its busy corner location ensures that there is a continuous flow of company with whom to have a conversation. Their coffee is also available via a mail order subscription service for those who don’t actually live within walking distance and can’t be bothered to find parking.
1813 E 6th St.
cartelcoffeelab.com

Best Coffee shop Backyard:
Thunderbird Coffee

For those looking for some quality time in the sunshine while sipping coffee, look no further than Thunderbird Coffee. At the Manor Road location, not only is Vitamin D in ample supply, but so is caffeine. The locally owned café sells both single origin and coffee blends that, because they are direct trade, are ever-changing. So, stop by and see what is available. Try something new and maybe take home a bag to make sure when a craving strikes, there is a backup supply in the kitchen.
2200 Manor Rd.
thunderbirdcoffee.com

The Best Selection of Beans:
Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors

Coffee at Figure 8 doesn’t joke around when it comes to their beans. Although the vibe is as low-key as the crowd, this coffee shop has cultivated a high-brow assortment of roasters from all over the nation, including Texas-based Tweed and Wild Gift. It also happens to be a great place for music enthusiasts who are looking to catch a local band or relax to the sound of some LPs.
1111 Chicon St.
figure8coffeepurveyors.com

EASTside Tea Spots

Cup & Leaf Café

Find a wide variety of teas and an even larger library of information at Cup & Leaf Café where tea from all over the world (including an array of colors) is served up alongside a quaint atmos-phere and quality conversations.
1700 E 2nd St.
cupandleaf.com