Since this web site began, I’ve been trying to compile a complete list of noteworthy roasters and retailers.
The specialty coffee movement in Texas is growing faster than ever, and I’ve been busier than ever at the same time.
Net result, the list is out of date, with no hope of one man single-handedly bringing it up to current status of where we find the specialty coffee industry in our state today.
I’m Asking For Your Help.
The two links below go to the lists of retailers and roasters (respectively). If you visit, love, own, manage, or work in a specialty coffee retailer or specialty coffee roastery, we want to hear from you. I am based in Lubbock, moved from Dallas in ’01, and can in no way vouch for everyone, despite my best efforts, in regards to the best spots to visit in all parts of the state. So, PLEASE, check the lists below. The easiest way to respond, is to simply leave a comment. If you are the owner, manager, or roaster, and you’d like to be featured, we can do that too.
Asking for even MORE help
(Love coffe? Love to write? Live/work in Texas?)
This web site has, for the most part, been written by myself (Jason Haeger). I have tried to get others on board in the past, but no dice. People who are willing are generally too busy, and people who have the time are generally unwilling.
This site was built to be a grounds for everyone who matters in the specialty coffee industry in the state of Texas. I have been accused of this whole project being selfishly motivated in the past. (which is true, if you consider wanting to be able to find a good cup of coffee anywhere in the state to be selfish) This site has also been listed on blog lists as the blog of a roaster! (this was long before I ever started roasting on top of the fact that it is by no means that)
The Story
A few years ago, I was solicited by a roaster in Phoenix, AZ. He said he was recently chosen as the “Official Roaster” of a web site called Arizona Coffee. He asked me if I would be willing to write something for their site. I was more than happy to. I loved to write (still do), had a budding passion for all things coffee, and jumped at the opportunity. I wrote a few articles, most of which were well received.
The site was a HUGE part of the organization of the first barista jam in Arizona. I went to the jam in Tucson in 2006, and saw how many people were eager to learn about all things coffee, and how many people were interested in building a community around it. A lightbulb went off in my head, and I saw the good that could come of a web site like Arizona Coffee.
I thought it would be fantastic to have a Texas Coffee equivalent.. just for our state. TexasCoffee.com was already claimed by Duncan Coffee, so the domain name became tx-coffee.com, and the title would be Texas Coffee People, inspired after my experience in Tucson: a community is always centered around the people involved. I wanted to get other contributors involved, like I had been involved at Arizona Coffee.
I know how things are moving here in West Texas, and I have seen Austin go from one admirable shop to so many that I have a hard time keeping track with the coming of Cuvee Coffee, whose home base used to be Houston. Houston has been on a steady rise in quality with Catalina Coffee, Tuscany Coffee, and the roasting outfit Fusion Beanz. San Antonio has Brown Coffee Co. Dallas has a newly growing scene as well, with Pearl Cup, Cultivar, Oddfellows, and a few that I know I am missing.
Long story short, I can’t do it all on my own. I never wanted to do it all on my own. This web site isn’t just for me. This web site is for all of us. If you are willing to write for the Texas coffee community, please consider becoming a contributor.
Thanks for helping turn Texas Coffee People into what it was always meant to be!
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I saw this on Arizona Coffee about a week ago and thought folks would want to know.
Elixer Coffee has been sold, and is being relocated to Austin. I spoke with the previous owner who informed me that the new owner has had experience before. He also told me that he hopes to see what they started continue.
The most interesting aspect to Elixer’s brand image is their Studebaker truck.
I’m not sure when the move will happen, but I will do my best to keep you updated when it does.
You can also keep an eye on their website to see if they announce it when the move is made. Since Tucson is to Arizona what Austin is to Texas in many ways, I suspect that the brand will make a good fit for its new community.
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- Jobs: Looking for work in Austin
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We received an email from Mills Duncan of the Duncan Coffee Company with this interesting idea.
Times are tough especially for coffee houses. I would like to help out by offering a program to all interested coffee shops to “Pay what you think is fair” for our Farm to Market Fair trade coffees. Perhaps any interested party could e mail me and suggest a price they might want to pay and I will get as close as I can (restraints of our accounting system) ex if someone wants to pay $4.00 a pound and the lowest setting was 4.25 we would go with the 4.25. COD or credit until they establish credit.
This was such an interesting and ethical (of sorts) approach, that we had to pass it along.
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- Duncan Coffee Company: Houston, TX
- Panther City Coffee is closed… and selling their wares.
- Texas Coffee People Logo Contest
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Opening Bell Coffee - Dallas, TX
I received an email over the weekend letting us know about Opening Bell Coffee from Pascale. He writes,
Hi guys! Love your website and would like to be listed as a coffee retailer in Texas. We are actually celebrating our 6th year in business on March 15 
We have 2 locations in Dallas, TX! Thanks so much, Pascale
So, this is the first time I’ve heard of this place, but apparently they were voted Best Liquid Assets(2005), Best Coffee House(2006), and Best Atmosphere(2006) by the Dallas Observer, and Best Coffee House(2007) by D Magazine.
The Dallas Observer website has a description that reads:
Formerly Standard and Pours. What started as a yuppie coffee haunt in 2003 has turned into a pretty happening live music spot for acoustic bands and singer-songwriter types. Adding beer and wine didn’t hurt. New are DJs on Wednesday nights.
The description reminds me of what Ruta Maya was trying to do in San Antonio before they closed (I never did visit the original Austin location, so I can’t comment on that).
The have directions to their location, which you can find on their Website.
Opening Bell Coffee has been added to our List of Retailers.
Opening Bell Coffee (Southside)
1409 S. Lamar Suite #012 (Basement #012)
Free Parking on Belleview Street entrance
Dallas, Texas 75215
Phone 214.565.0383
Opening Bell Coffee (Mosaic)
300 North Akard #300
Dallas, Tx 75201
Phone 214-665-BELL (2355)
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The lack of posts, and the lack of activity here is directly related to the Christmas season.
Like many others, I left town to visit family. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! (or Hannukah)
I visited a few coffee houses on the trip, and was reminded of how much there is to do. Despite how awesome COE winning coffees and new gem-like discoveries are, and no matter how big of a splash they make, the wake never really makes it all the way to the heart of where it really matters: the average neighborhood coffee house.
They are almost always full of great people, and this is one of the aspects I loved when I first got interested in coffee.
So, if you find yourself traveling for New Years, good luck! Better yet, forgo the luck factor and bring your own coffee. (but don’t be afraid to try what’s around.. there are some undiscovered gems out there.)
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- The Texas Barista Jam
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- The Search for the Perfect Cappuccino: A Documentary.
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The Holiday Season is upon us.
With the coming of the holiday season (and maybe partially due to the progressing recession) many roasters, retailers, equiment suppliers, and other businesses have slashed prices on some items, put together money-saving package deals, and perhaps have start promoting holiday specials.
We at Texas Coffee People would like to help both the businsses as well as the consumers.
It can be difficult to find gifts for certain friends and family members, and coffee is always welcome in my house, and I am under the impression that great coffee is always a great stocking stuffer, and for the real coffee lovers, what better to pair it with than a new brewing, grinder, or storage gadget?
This is a call-out:
If you have any holiday specials going on, and you want to let our readers aware,
let us know!
We would like to put together a list of holiday specials and gift items as a resource for folks who may not otherwise be aware of your product line, specials, or have simply forgotten that your business exists when they are shopping this holiday season.
So, if this is something you think you would like to get in on, shoot us an email through our contact page (linked above) to find out about the details of this offer. This is the first year we have offered this service, and if it goes well, we’ll probably continue it again for the next year.
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!
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I received an email today from the folks at Coffee N Cream to let me know about the grand opening of their second location. (I didn’t know they had one in the works in the first place!)
They write,
Please come out N celebrate with Neighbors N Friends the Grand Opening of our newest Coffee N Cream!!When: Saturday, November 15, 7-10p (Come and go)Where: The Village At Allen 190 E. Stacy Rd, Allen TX 75002 (Hwy 75 and Stacy Rd)Live music featuring Nicole Conrad!We’ll be debuting some of our CNC Own Baked(tm) creations – fresh from our kitchen…a Coffee N Cream first! Cookies…banana bread…cupcakes…muffins, N more. Some yummy hors d’oeuvres too.We look forward to seeing you Saturday night!Warmly – Mary and John
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It seems that latte art is becoming more and more commonplace as more baristas take it upon themselves to master this decoration of espresso based milk drinks that seems to have become a phenomenon of popularity and a perceived mark of achievement. (whether this is true or not is quite debatable, and if you so choose to, you can debate it in the forums)
So, the poll is in place. What do you think? When you are visiting a shop, is latte art expected? If they are not pouring art, do you feel something is missing? Do you consider latte art a novelty not worth paying attention to?
Cast your vote, and tell us what you think. The poll can be found on the sidebar to the left of this post.
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As taken straight from the official Beatnix Myspace blog.
Beatnix Coffee House to Close Saturday
7/23/2008 / Waco, Texas
This Saturday, July 26th, will be the final day that Beatnix Coffee
House opens its doors to the public. A “Closing Bash” will be held,
featuring performances by local musicians.Beatnix’s owner announced on Wednesday the closing of the coffee house
and cultural venue at 1826 Lake Shore Drive, due to poor economic
conditions and lack of capital for expansion.Opened in 2005 by Penney Simpson, Todd Millerd, and Sandra Hapenney,
Beatnix quickly became known not only for its gourmet coffee and
sandwiches, but as a haven for poetry, art, and music. It was awarded
the Music Association of Central Texas’ Groovy Award for Non-Club Venue
of the Year in both 2007 and 2008.Simpson said “Beatnix has been my dream, and I had so many plans for it,
ways that it could be a gathering place and creative spark for Waco’s
culture. But it had to move and grow in order to survive, and our
attempts to find investors or purchasers for the business have all
proved to be dead ends.”Beatnix Coffee House will be open for normal business through Saturday.
On Saturday evening, it will hold a final “Closing Bash” at 6 pm, with
local musicians performing on stage for the last time.
Lack of capital for expansion? Was the business failing, or has it just been stagnant too long?
In any case, nobody ever likes to hear of a shop closing. As a coffee professional, I can’t help but be curious as to why it happens. Each case is different, and it’s often, though not always, due to failing financially. (or being marooned by the city *coughtpanthercitycough*)
What good is a Groovy Award if it can’t save your business? It must be defective!
Thanks to Badger for the tip.
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I received an email from Jonathan A. at White Rock Coffee letting us know about this place near the heart of Dallas.
Jonathan writes,
Just wanted to let you know about a new independent shop in the DFW area. Crooked Tree Coffeehouse opened about a month ago in Dallas’ uptown area, at 2414 Routh Street. It’s in a pretty “hip” area of town- a residential neighborhood rezoned for business. It’s nice to find a coffeeHOUSE in a big city. Cozy location, comfortable furniture, live music is very intimate but can get kind of crowded (no actual stage, just set up in the corner). The owners and baristas are VERY passionate about coffee. They make some great espresso drinks, and also serve your usual fare of teas, chai, smoothies and pastries. All of their coffee comes from a company in Colorado Springs called Bywell, and it’s all Fairtrade organic. You can find there website at crookedtreecoffeehouse.com.
Cool! The last time I visited a House converted into a coffee retailer was at Common Grounds in Waco.
Has anyone else visited this place?
Thanks for the heads up, Jonathan.
Crooked Tree Coffee House has been added to our List of Retailers.
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