By Arianna Auber
Two of Austin’s favorite beverages — coffee and beer — are practically essential in this on-the-go town. Coffee gives us the boost we need during the day, while beer helps us wind down in the evening.
Fortunately for us, many local coffee shops have solid beer programs, and many bars and breweries in the area have coffee featured prominently on the menu. Here are 10 of those places, representing the best that Austin has to offer.
Cuvee Coffee Bar
You probably know this East Sixth hangout from one of its many times in the news, thanks to the now resolved #crowlergate, but it’s worthy of notice for its drinks as well.
Cuvee Coffee (which got its start in 1998 as a purveyor of expertly roasted coffee) makes, among other caffeinated products, a killer nitro cold-brew — available in cans, guys — and hosts regular beer events with many local breweries. 2000 E. Sixth St., cuveecoffee.com.
WhichCraft Tap Room & Bottle Shop
The second location of Austin’s first entirely craft beer-focused bottle shop (no wine or liquor here) expanded to Mueller last year and added coffee and draft beers (often, those that aren’t also in bottles or cans, like Zilker Brewing’s 2nd Anniversary IPA). 1900 Simond Ave. Ste. 200, whichcraft.com.
Spokesman Coffee
Recently opened in the hip multi-use complex the Yard off South Congress Avenue, Spokesman has an in-house coffee roasting program — which kicked off with a toddy on tap — and brings in draft beers from local breweries.
The renovated warehouse space is a marvel in other ways, too: mainly the larger-than-life wall art from a local painter, who covered nearly every inch of space with eye-catching characters. Study ’em while you drink. 440 E. St. Elmo Rd., spokesmancoffee.com.
Radio Coffee and Beer
Local musician and former Seattle resident Jack Wilson recognized the need for a South Austin coffee shop and opened it with his father to offer Seattle’s Stumptown coffee, mostly Texas beers and regular live music nights. And did we mention the divine Veracruz All-Natural taco truck is on-site? 4204 Manchaca Rd., radiocoffeeandbeer.com.
The Brew & Brew
The name says it all — the East Austin coffee bar from brothers Grady and Matt Wright and their friend Matt Bolick puts equal attention on both coffee and beer.
In fact, you can order an actual Brew & Brew, a snifter of beer accompanied by a cortado, an espresso cut with warm milk (it’s not technically on the menu anymore, but each of the servers have their own takes on it). Good luck picking the beer: The selection is one of the best in town. 500 San Marcos St., thebrewandbrew.com.
Thunderbird Café & Tap Room
Originally strictly a coffee shop like its sibling, Thunderbird Coffee on Manor Road, the Koenig spot added a beer program in 2014 with more than 30 local taps alternating between local favorites and national brands like Uinta and Stone Brewing. 1401 W. Koenig Ln., thunderbirdaustin.com.
Lazarus Brewing has both a coffee and beer program and, earlier this year, even made a coffee golden ale called the Jolted Phoenix using its own beans.
Lazarus Brewing
Down the street from Cuvee, the East Austin brewpub serves up coffee, beer and tacos for the early birds and night owls alike, opening earlier than most breweries do. Have an espresso in the a.m., relaxing in the patio under a gorgeous stained-glass roof, and a beer like the Promised Land Honey IPA in the p.m. Tacos at all hours, of course. 1902 E. Sixth St., lazarusbrewing.com.
Red Horn Coffee House & Brewing
Cedar Park residents rejoiced when this brewpub opened with house-made coffee and beer two years ago. (So did I: I named it one of 2015′s four best new hangouts.)
Head brewer Zack Gardner continues to make some of the Austin area’s best beers, such as the More Better Milkshake IPA, and the coffee program from Jared Hill isn’t too shabby, either. Red Horn’s cold-brew is on tap at several local bars. 13010 W. Parmer Ln., Ste. 800, redhornbrew.com.
Buzz Mill Coffee, off East Riverside Drive, looks like an old general store and indeed serves a variety of items, including coffee, beer and house-infused liquors.
Buzz Mill Coffee
A stuffed beaver pokes out from the end of the long log-laden bar at this 24-hour coffee bar, just one of the Buzz Mill’s many nods to owner Jason Sabala’s love of lumberjacks and the Pacific Northwest. Here, you’ll also find a constantly rotating draft list, coffee from local roasters and even house liquor infusions. 1505 Town Creek Dr., buzzmillcoffee.com.
Apanas Coffee & Beer
Now with two locations — one north at the Domain, one south on South Congress — Apanas (named after a Nicaraguan lake) offers coffee farmers ‘double fair trade’ for their delicious beans. The south location also has 20 taps for beer. 11501 Rock Rose Ave., Ste. 118; 1007 S. Congress Ave., Ste. B11. apanascoffee.com.
Originally published by Austin-American Statesman, 06.13.2017, under a Creative Commons license.