ACMB’s San Antonio Coffee Guide

San Antonio’s coffee scene has exploded since ACMB’s first coffee round-up in 2015, and an update was long overdue! We know you can never replace the fast-food of coffee, good ol’ reliable Starbucks, but San Antonio has become a coffee-drinker’s dream! Check out our top picks:

Bakery Lorraine (306 Pearl Pkwy., Ste. 110, San Antonio, TX 78215; UPDATE: Two additional locations in San Antonio: The Rim—17503 La Cantera Pkwy., Ste. 108, San Antonio, TX 78257; and Medical Center—7338 Louis Pasteur Dr., Ste. 201, San Antonio, TX 78229; and NOW in Austin!)—Amanda’s pick: latte, straight up, no flavor, no sugar. I think most of us coffee drinkers can agree: the better the coffee, the less sugar and flavoring it needs. Coffee not your thing? That’s OK. Bridget recommends the tea and, of course, the pastries! (And who can go to Bakery Lorraine and NOT get at least a macaron?)

Barrio Barista Coffeehouse (3735 Culebra Rd., San Antonio, TX 78228; closed on Thursdays)—Barrio Coffeehouse has a San Antonio twist and serves local favorites. This place has a cozy feel, personal TVs in each booth, and live music at night. Plus, their frequent buyer’s card looks like a Lotería card!

Berry to Bean (3900 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 78209)—Aside from great coffee, espresso, and fresh juices, Berry to Bean usually has a variety of vegan treats, and trivia or latte art events.

Brown Coffee Co. (two locations: 1702 W. Kings Hwy., San Antonio, TX 78201; and 1800 Broadway, Ste. 1131, San Antonio, TX 78215; W. Kings Hwy. location closed on Sundays; UPDATE: This San Antonio staple has added two additional locations: M–F at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, and a weekend pop-up next to Steel City Pops.)—Brown Coffee Co.’s Broadway location also offers café-style food and is open seven days a week.

Café Martinez (7302 Louis Pasteur Dr., Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78229)—Coffee with an Argentinian flair!

Cafezihno (15861 IH35 North, Selma, TX 78154)—Don’t live near any of “the Loops”? That’s OK—Cafezihno brings the Brazilian take on coffee all the way to Selma. Their specialty? The Cafezinho, the Brazilian way to coffee: Two shots of espresso with simple syrup.

Commonwealth Coffeehouse (118 Davis Ct., San Antonio, TX 78209; closed Sundays; UPDATE: Hemisfair location open seven days a week: 611 Hemisfair Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78205)—The original Commonwealth location and French pastry chef already stole my heart, and then they added the Hemisfair spot. Both are adorable and great for bringing out-of-towners due to their chicken runs, herb gardens, and proximity to all the San Anto tourist hot spots.

Cuppencake (22211 W. IH-10, Ste. 1111, San Antonio, TX 78257)—Do you live outside “the Loop”? Cuppencake Espresso Bar and Bakery is located between San Antonio and Boerne and offers a vast array of coffee and bakery items. 

Don Martin’s Coffee (540 S. Presa St., San Antonio, TX 78205; closed Mondays)—In addition to serving coffee, Don Martin’s offers Pan Dulce, sweet paletas, select craft beer, wine and sodas, and great murals perfect for selfies!

Emily’s Place Coffee Shoppe (100 N, Main St., Cibolo, TX 78108)—Another spot for those of you who live a bit off the beaten path. Emily’s offers a variety of fun specialty drinks, and the New Yorker in me loves that they have cannolis made to order.

Espressivo (502 W. Mitchell, ​San Antonio, TX 78204; closed Sundays)—Serving Coffecionado Coffee, which is roasted locally, Espressivo mobile typically set up in the Lone Star District, but they also can provide coffee catering for events!

Estate Coffee Company (1320 E. Houston St., A101, San Antonio, TX 78205)—Check out their coffee-infused cocktails and follow their mobile concept, Sweet Pea, on Instagram.

Folklores (5007 S. Flores St., San Antonio, TX 78214)—Southside’s long-awaited coffee shop Folklores serves up whimsical coffee drinks and is heavily involved in the local community with Small Business Saturdays, open-mic poetry, and story times. 

Halcyon Coffee | Bar | Lounge (1414 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78210)—Located in the Blue Star District, Halcyon makes for a perfect daytime outing with the kids (they offer five types of hot chocolate and board games!) and a great date night pick. Halcyon has a full menu, including brunch, Happy Hour Monday through Friday, and is open until 2:00 A.M. every day. If you’re like me, a night out will most definitely include a cup of coffee, especially if I’m expected to stay up past 11:00 P.M. Halcyon’s coffee and cocktail menu kills two birds with one stone!

Indy Coffee Co. (7114 UTSA Boulevard, Ste. 103, San Antonio, TX 78249)—Truly dedicated to the art of coffee, Indy offers not only specialty drinks, but also breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Just The Drip (24188 Boerne Stage Rd, San Antonio, TX 78255)—Located in the The Point Park food truck park, Just the Drip serves coffee brewed from Quantum Coffee Roasters and occasionally The Art of Donut confections. They will soon be offering the San Antonio spin on an affogato: the Paletaccino!

Kings Cross Coffee—This veteran-owned coffee and espresso truck is usually found in Schertz or Cibolo, but you can check out their location schedule to see where exactly they’ll be. They even come down to Lackland Air Force Base!

La Taza Java Coffee House (Brook Hollow Shopping Center, 15066 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78232)—UPDATE: A neighborhood favorite under new management, this gem features local bakers and serves Katz Coffee out of Houston. 

Local Coffee—This local favorite, also known as Merit Coffee, has expanded to seven locations, with one in Austin. Find the closest to you here. Inga’s pick? Hot chocolate. Mine? A cortado!

Mila Coffee  (2202 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78215)—Mila is still fairly new but has already become a San Antonio favorite. The owner is known not only for his award-winning latte art, but also promotes social bike rides.

Mildfire Coffee Roasters (UPDATE: One location, 15502 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX 78248)—Mildfire Coffee Roasters offers in-house roasted coffee and is self-proclaimed as the “okayest coffee” and least hip coffee shop in San Antonio. If you’re overwhelmed by all the beard wax, leather aprons, and succulents, give Mildfire a try.

Olmos Perk (5223 McCullough Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212) UPDATE: Olmos Perk is under new ownership and still open seven days a week. Now offers nitro coffee, breakfast and lunch, baked goodies, and also provides free wi-fi access and private study stations.

Paramour (102 9th Street, Suite 400, San Antonio, TX 78215)—Paramour boasts a beautiful and extensive coffee and tea menu with a beautiful view of the city served every day until 4:00 pm. Perfect for bringing visitors or friends, Paramour also turns into a swanky bar at night.

Philoçoffee (606 W. French Pl., San Antonio, TX 78212)—This coffee shop may look familiar to you; it occupies the space formerly known as Press Coffee. In addition to a wide range of coffee, tea, and other beverages, Philocoffee proudly serves What’s Brewing Coffee Roasters coffee and pastries, snacks, and sandwiches from Boss Bagels, The Bread Box, and Scratch Kitchen.

Pulp Coffee Roasters (503 Chestnut, San Antonio, TX 78202)—If you want to see what Pulp is up to, follow them on Instagram.

Press Coffee (UPDATE: New location—4035 Broadway St., San Antonio, TX 78209)—Located in the Boardwalk on Broadway, Press is ideally situated next to the Witte Museum, just down the street from the Botanical Gardens and The DoSeum. Press still offers coffee, lunch, or an afternoon snack with locally made goodies from The Bread Box, Annie’s Petite Treats, Bakery Lorraine, and Mother Culture.

Revolución Coffee & Juice (Two locations: 7959 Broadway St., Ste. 500, San Antonio, TX 78209; and 300 E. Houston St., Ste. 105, San Antonio, TX 78205)—With two key spots in Alamo Heights and downtown San Antonio, Revolucion Coffee + Juice provides Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters coffee, cold-pressed juice, homemade nut milks, acai or pitaya bowls, and other healthy food options that are made fresh daily in-house.

Rosella Coffee (UPDATE: Two locationsRosella Coffee, 203 E. Jones Ave., San Antonio, TX 78215; Rosella at the Garden, In the Sullivan Carriage House, 555 Funston Pl., San Antonio, TX 78209)—Although Rosella technically has three locations, the Jones Ave. and Garden locations are more focused on coffee than Rosella at the Rand. Rosella also serves alcohol, so it makes for a great daytime stop or casual date night.

Shotgun Coffee Roasters (1333 Buena Vista St., San Antonio, TX 78207)—Inside Warehouse 5 on the West Side, Shotgun proudly roasts and packages on-site and offers seasonal menus, espresso drinks, teas, breakfast tacos, and pastries. Their salted caramel sauce is crafted by their upstairs Warehouse 5 neighbors Wildflower Caramel Co., and all the rest of their syrups are made in-house.

Summermoon (Two locations: Alamo Ranch, 11831 Culebra Rd., Ste. 106, San Antonio, TX 78253; and 3233 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX 78212)—Since our first list in 2015, Summermoon has opened not one, but two “unplugged” coffee locations. Originating in Austin, Summermoon is a true Texan coffee experience; they roast their coffee with a one-of-a-kind hearth and with no electricity. It takes three people to hand-roast their coffee with Texas oak every day.

Theory Coffee Company (2347 Nacogdoches, San Antonio, TX 78209)—Shameless plug: The owners are the cousins of our very own ACMB Contributor, Candice! Their coffee is locally roasted in Austin from Wild Gift Coffee Roasters, and all their drinks are made using a low-temp pasteurized, non-homogenized milk from Mill-King out of Waco. They also offer lactose-free whole milk, oat milk, and almond milk and usually have some locally baked goodies.

Tripoli (322 Valley Hi Dr., Suite 105-106, San Antonio, TX 78227)—Most folks who work on Lackland are familiar with Tripoli, but this Mediterranean hot spot also has a cozy coffee section open Monday–Friday, 9:00 A.M.–8:00 P.M., and Saturday–Sunday, 12:00 P.M.–8:00 P.M. They offer locally roasted beans and baked goods, and you should definitely try their specialty, Caffe Arabia!

What’s Brewing Coffee Roasters (138 W. Rhapsody Dr., San Antonio, TX 78216)—They’ve been fresh roasting specialty coffee in San Antonio for nearly 40 years, but recently started offering coffee in their warehouse. They also have an insane pinball collection and have regular events and competitions!

White Elephant Coffee Co. (110 W. Carolina St., San Antonio, TX 78210)—Beans are roasted in-house, and you can watch the roaster in action. They also offer “Elephant Water,” made of Topo Chico, muddled fruit, and simple syrup.

Upcoming San Antonio coffee events:

January 5, 2019: San Antonio Coffee Festival

January 14–2o, 2019: San Antonio Cocktail Conference

Coffee & Espresso 101:

Affogato: espresso poured over vanilla ice cream

Americano: espresso with water (like a black coffee)

Breve: like a latte, espresso with steamed half-and-half or cream instead of milk

Café Au Lait: instead of espresso with milk, coffee with milk

Cappuccino: equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk

Cold Brew: Rather than brew the coffee with hot water, the coffee steeps for at least twelve hours in cold or room temperature water resulting in a smooth, cold coffee. Less acid may be easier on sensitive stomachs.

Cortado: espresso with equal parts milk and espresso

Cuban or Cubano: an espresso shot sweetened with sugar

Doppio: two shots of espresso (think “dos” or “doble”)

Drip Coffee: regular coffee that drips through a filter instead of being percolated

Espresso: like concentrated coffee syrup, ordered in shots

Espresso con panna: espresso shot topped with whipped cream

Latte: like a cappuccino, but with more steamed milk instead of foam (milkier)

Macchiato: espresso with a dollop of foamed milk

Mocha: basically, a hot chocolate with a shot of espresso

Nitro: Carbonated coffee

Pour Over: hot water is poured over coffee grounds and then allowed to slowly drop through a paper filter into either a cup or what looks like a glass beaker. The result? Super smooth coffee. Worth it if you have the time, but it takes about three minutes, so don’t order if you’re in a rush.

Ristretto: concentrated espresso

Is your favorite San Antonio coffee spot on the list? If not, tell us your favorite in the comments!

 

Amy
Amy was born and raised on the East Coast, but got to Texas as fast as she could! She has been serving in the U.S. Air Force for 18 years, half of which have been in San Antonio. Amy and her husband have two boys, ages 9 and 8, and they love discovering new San Antonio parks and restaurants! She’s still not sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but in her spare time, she's either working out or trying to convince herself not to eat pizza.