The first place you offer to meet a date: a coffee shop. The spot you keep coming back to during slow days working from home: a coffee shop. The de facto venue for life updates between busy best friends? You guessed it.
Austin isn't beating any of its hipster allegations, so residents might as well embrace them at the city's many cool coffee shops. Sourcing transparency, live music, underground art, cocktails, and more all revolve around the almighty paper to-go cup in this city, and we're out to find the best of the best.
The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards nominees for Best Coffee Shop range from grungy to pristine, but they all have a strong identity and of course, great coffee. This 2025 "wildcard" category embraces what makes Austin great on a day-to-day level.
Only one revered café can walk away with the coveted trophy at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony and signature tasting event on May 8 at Fair Market. Meet our 10 nominees below, and consider scheduling some time to make a visit and experience the top notch coffee for yourselves.
Readers can see all of the Tastemaker Award nominees here and learn more about them in our special editorial series leading up to the big event.
A limited number of Early Bird tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $60 for general admission and $99 for VIP (includes early access to the event and a dedicated bar). Prices will increase April 10. Grab your tickets now, because this party will sell out — just like it does every year.
Better Half Coffee & Cocktails
A delicious latte is our main focus when we walk into this coffee shop, but Better Half also impresses with its lineup of alcoholic beverages and food offerings. This all-day café shares a parking lot with Hold Out Brewing, providing plenty of space for Austin folks who aren’t within walking distance downtown.
Captain Quack's Bakery and Coffeehouse
Excuse us if we can’t focus on the coffee at Captain Quack’s; there’s just so much to see. This hybrid space pairs locally roasted Wild Gift Coffee with a full bakery, a cocktail bar, and a soundstage. The snacks are enough to entice locals in, but jazz performances, live band karaoke, free movie nights, stand-up comedy, board games, and more make it a party.
Cosmic
Sometimes when Austinites say we want coffee, we mean “I want to sit in a beautiful urban garden.” That’s where Cosmic delivers. The Pickle Road location is a homey oasis, and the newer Cosmic Saltillo is one of Austin’s coolest examples of repurposed industrial architecture. Both are nationally recognized wildlife habitats…and oh, yeah, the coffee and cocktails are good, too.
Desnudo Coffee
This Instagram-worthy coffee trailer has gained acclaim for its savory-sweet miso lattes, made with in-house roasted coffee beans sourced directly from small farms. Desnudo’s dedication to working with coffee farmers and promoting sustainability through soil conservation are just a couple of the admirable efforts that make this coffee shop a beloved Austin staple.
Epoch Coffee
However you pronounce it, this 24-hour college favorite on North Loop is many Austinites’ tether to reality during study sessions, remote workdays, and friendly catch-ups. Besides the coffee roasted both in-house and by partners, Epoch offers a robust tea selection, a cool artist residency program, and excellent bathroom graffiti. The outposts are worth a visit, but the original is where it’s at.
Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
Some coffee shops lead with vibes; others lead with beans. Figure 8 could pull off either, but it’s chosen the latter. Austinites can spend some real time on Figure 8’s website, learning about coffee regions from Brazil to Ethiopia. Or, they can just relax in the semi-secluded, unfussy space and let the coffee fanatics behind the bar handle it.
Houndstooth Coffee
Whether you’re taking a quick work call or hosting a book club, Houndstooth is a versatile venue for connecting with others with a carefully made drink in hand. Guests who are energized by natural light and minimalist aesthetics are in the right place here. There are five different locations in Austin for locals to satiate their thirst for coffee, as well as three cafés in Dallas.
Proud Mary Coffee
Despite its meteoric rise from Australia to Austin, Proud Mary has maintained an approachable attitude (alongside fancy plating) in the tech-driven City of Weird. Its semi-concealed location on South Lamar also gives it a “hidden gem” feeling where patrons can sip on their drinks while nestled in the shade of several large trees.
Radio Coffee & Beer
Community isn’t a cliché at Radio, between weekly bluegrass nights, trivia, markets, and much more. The original location on Menchaca Road never gets old (in fact, with each passing year the South Austin charm grows), while the newer Radio/East continues raising the bar with mini festivals that only locals know about. Even the smaller, brand-new Radio Rosewood passes the vibe check.
Spokesman Coffee
Spokesman’s three locations adjacent to climbing gyms and fitness centers aren’t just convenient coincidences. Athletic Austinites will often spend their time at this coffee shop to tame post-workout thirst and hunger pangs, reveling in a punchy cold brew or a refreshing matcha latte. You’ll find Austinites hanging out for the atmosphere while eyeing the iconic black and white murals.
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The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored by The Yuengling Company, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Hornitos, Texas Beef Council, PicMe Events, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds benefits Central Texas Food Bank.
