12 Best Coffee Shops to Visit in Austin, Texas

Whether you’re in the mood for an elaborately flavored cold brew or a hot cup of java, there is no shortage of good coffee shops in Austin, Texas. The city is home to a plethora of independent coffee houses and local chains that serve up the classics as well as some delightful signature drinks. Explore our picks for the best coffee in Austin. 

1. Barrett’s Coffee 

Located in North Austin, Barrett’s Coffee is a spacious coffee house known for its knowledgeable baristas, home-roasted beans, and old school seltzer. Whether you’re looking to catch up with a friend over a cappuccino or simply grab a bag of coffee beans for home, Barrett’s Coffee is one of the best coffee shops in Austin. 

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Aside from its stellar cappuccino, Barrett’s Coffee has a signature drink you should absolutely try: the Chocolate Orange Blossom Latte. Originally launched as a holiday special, this fragrant drink has become a permanent fixture on the menu due to popular demand. 

2. Simona’s Coffee Bar 

With elegant decor and a sprawling garden patio, Simona’s Coffee Bar serves a great cup of joe along with fresh pastries in the morning before its transition to craft cocktails and snacks in the evening. The cafe/bar is part of the Colton House Hotel in South Austin, but it’s open to the public—you’ll find the entrance tucked around the back! 

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Simona’s coffee menu is fairly comprehensive, with everything from drip to oat milk cortados. For adventurous coffee drinkers, it also has signature hot drinks, like the Fig Fancy, a warming blend of espresso, fig cordial, caramel, and cinnamon. It’s a hug in a cup! 

3. Epoch Coffee 

Epoch Coffee is a locally owned chain with three locations in Austin: on North Loop, Far West, and in the Village. At the original location on North Loop, Epoch baristas serve coffee round-the-clock (literally, it is open 24/7) along with sweet pastries and savory bites in an eclectic setting. 

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Epoch Coffee roasts its own beans for drip coffee, cold brew, and its signature Iced Mojo. What’s an Iced Mojo, you ask? The recipe is an Epoch Coffee secret, but it can safely be described as a delicious, creamy, and sweet iced coffee. Cutting back on caffeine? Ask for a Half Mojo instead. You’ll get all of the flavor without the coffee jitters. 

4. Houndstooth Coffee 

With five locations in the city (and three in Dallas), you’re never too far from Houndstooth Coffee, one of the best coffee shops in Austin. The locally owned coffee chain has been brewing since 2010 and prides itself on its professional baristas and expertly pulled espresso. 

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Don’t expect to find any elaborate signature drinks on the Houndstooth Coffee menu. The cafe specializes in the classics—espresso-based drinks, cold brew, and filter coffee—and it does them perfectly. 

5. Codependent Coffee & Cocktails 

Just two minutes from the Austin Central Library, this stylish cafe/bar is the perfect spot for a casual morning meeting or happy hour drinks. In fact, Codependent’s whole concept is based on the Italian aperitivo culture, seamlessly transitioning from coffee to cocktails. 

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Codependent has a well-rounded coffee menu and uses beans from local roaster Greater Goods Coffee. Where it really stands out is its cocktail menu, which includes signature drinks like the Codependent, made from tequila, Spanish liqueur, and cold brew espresso liqueur. 

6. Civil Goat 

Though it now has two locations in Austin, Civil Goat’s original spot in Cuernavaca is really the GOAT. Literally, there is a pygmy goat living there, his name is Butters. Besides the adorable gimmick, the cafe is known for its sustainable brews and tasty breakfast. 

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Coffee lovers really can’t go wrong at Civil Goat. The cafe is known for sourcing quality sustainable beans from all over the world. We do particularly love its slow-steeped cold brew infused with nitrogen, served over ice or in a handy to-go can. 

7. Sightseer Coffee 

Bouldin Creek residents may have noticed a newcomer on South 1st, as local faves Sightseer Coffee Roasters opened their first coffee bar there in May 2024. Co-owners Sara and Kimberly are on a mission to make coffee sustainable and representative, and they source their beans exclusively from women producers and co-ops. 

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Snap up a Sightseer seasonal special while you can. The bar’s winter offerings include a spiced latte made from Medjool dates, agave syrup, and baking spices. Don’t worry if you miss it though: next year’s creations are sure to be equally delicious. 

8. Mozart’s Coffee Roasters 

Mozart’s Coffee Roasters has been an Austin favorite for 30 years. And for good reason. The cafe serves excellent coffee and homemade bites at its lakeside location, and frequently hosts live music events. It’s a buzzing spot that locals and visitors flock to on sunny days. 

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Once a year around the holidays, enjoy bottomless hot chocolate and coffee at Mozart’s Annual Christmas Light Show! While sipping on a festive beverage, guests can marvel at the twinkling lights and shop for goodies at the Bavarian marketplace. The event does sell out, so be sure to reserve a spot! 

9. Trianon Coffee 

Trianon Coffee is both a cafe and a coffee roaster, supplying high-quality beans to coffee shops and restaurants around the city. At its flagship cafe in West Lake Hills, Trianon makes a range of caffeinated beverages, from daily brews and pour-overs to espressos and lattes. 

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At Trianon Coffee, you’re guaranteed a hearty cup of joe regardless of what you order. Roasted in small batches, the coffee beans that make each cup are top quality and the baristas that make your drinks have coffee-making down to a science. Since their single origin coffee beans are the star of the show, we recommend taking a purist approach and ordering a traditional espresso or simple black coffee. 

10. Wright Bros. Brew & Brew 

Right in the heart of downtown Austin, Brew & Brew is a hip and casual spot to grab coffee, breakfast, and more. Open from 7:30 am until late, this cafe turns into a lively bar in the evening with popular happy hour deals. 

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A visit to one of the finest coffee shops in downtown Austin isn’t complete without trying the Morning Buzz. The cult classic consists of cold brew, a house-made honey-vanilla syrup, and oat milk on ice. The delicately sweet drink pairs perfectly with one of the cafe’s bagel breakfast sandwiches. 

11. Terrible Love 

Set up in an old boiler house off off Guadalupe Street, Terrible Love offers a delightful contrast between its industrial architecture and its plant-filled garden where you can grab an espresso in “quiet company.” Not a bad upgrade for a former coffee truck. 

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The hip Hyde Park hangout is a master of everything hot or cold, and its “TRRBL” latte is anything but. (That’s banana, chocolate, whip, and Nilla Wafers, if you couldn’t guess.) Terrible Love has also earned its reputation as one of the best matcha makers in the city. 

12. Try Hard Coffee Roasters 

This Central East Austin cafe opened three years ago and has already become a neighborhood hub. Enjoy a variety of coffee-based drinks inside, where a live DJ spins records, or outside on the green patio. If you’re hungry, Try Hard is best known for its savory breakfast tacos. 

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We recommend trying one of Try Hard’s signature drinks. Like the Legacy, a sparkling iced coffee with tangy lime juice and hibiscus coconut cream foam. It’s a surprising combo of flavors that ultimately really works! 

Love Austin? Check out Lakeside!

Interested in discovering more coffee shops in Austin and making this mocha metropolis your home? We’re here to help. Lakeside at Tessera is nestled in the heart of Texas Hill Country, right outside of Austin. Contact us to learn more about what our community has to offer!