Let me just say right at the start, I am not a super adventurous coffee/tea drinker. I know what flavor profile I like and I am often hesitant to try something too far off from what I know I will enjoy. So, I apologize that the drink I’m going to be referencing more often than not in this post is a chai latte. I know there is a whole wonderful world of amazing coffees at these different spots. Trust me when I say that I am slowly but surely testing the coffee waters by every so often ordering a very basic vanilla or mocha latte to start acclimating my palate and taste buds to enjoy and appreciate different coffee flavor profiles. Overall though, tea is my go to beverage. As many cliche decorative mugs say, it’s like a hug in a cup! But truly though, there is very little that I love more than a nice warm cup of tea on an overcast slightly chilly day. Or honestly any day. I might be singing the praises of the chai teas I try at the coffee shops mentioned below, but I also love earl grey, green, English breakfast and other more specific herbal tea blends like pomegranate green tea. I just love tea so much! Before I dive too deep, here are a few Austin coffee shops to check out! There will be a part two coming soon so be on the lookout for that!
1. Russell's Bakery
I love Russell’s not just because of their outstanding chai, herbal teas and coffee but because they have some great dairy free and gluten free food options. I have dangerously fallen in deep love with their gluten free lemon poppy seed bread. There is also a chicken tortilla soup and you can modify any sandwich on their menu to have gluten free bread if you are looking to get some lunch! Another really cool feature they have for their pastry case is a ‘yesterday’s bake’ section where you can purchase baked goods left over from yesterday for a reduced price. This is a great place to meet with a group of friends but you could also find a nice corner spot to sit on your own and get some work done if you need to. So good!!
2. Illuminate Coffee Bar
Illuminate is one of my all time favorite Austin coffee shops. It was one of my go to spots to grab a coffee/tea in high school and I still frequent it quite often. They have a consistently amazing chai latte that I absolutely love. The shop has the perfect ambiance so you feel comfortable having a quiet conversation with a friend or small group as well as just sitting and getting some work done on your own. They get some of their baked goods from Russell’s bakery (mentioned above) so if I’m feeling indulgent, I can treat myself to some gluten free goodness that is the lemon poppy seed bread. There are also other food offerings like gelato, tacos, and toasts/bagels in addition to some great granola bar options at their counter too if you need a quick snack!
3. Cuppa Austin
Cuppa is such a cool spot. The interior of the shop is made up of perfectly mismatched furniture that gives it a really unique vibe. Even their coffee mugs, if you order your drink with the intention to stay there and drink it, are mismatched and all the mugs are super cute and unique. They have a wide variety of drinks ranging from frozen blended drinks, smoothies, teas and coffees. I tried their chai of course and it was very very good. There was a small selection of pastries, including cinnamon rolls, kolaches, and muffins as well as tacos, granola bars, and prepackaged sandwiches. I think Cuppa lends itself to being more of a social gathering venue because of the volume of music and the way the seating is arranged with a central large table and couch seating in the back. But if you don’t mind a more lively vibe, you could definitely sit in this coffee shop for a few hours to get some work done. There is also a drive through which is a pretty cool feature if you are looking to get a quick coffee drink on the go. I will for sure be visiting Cuppa again!
4. Halcyon
I haven’t spent a whole lot of time here but the vibe, layout and decor of this coffee shop really stuck with me and made me want to go visit more! They have either a quick, walk up counter if you just want to order a drink or you can sit down at a table and order food to go along with your drink! I looked over their menu while I was ordering my drink and they have some really amazing brunch/lunch options available. Not to mention the chai I got there was amazing.
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