Coffee Cove

Austin roastery debuts all-day coffee and cocktail lounge on South Lamar

This Cuvée location draws guests to newly opened hotel residences at The Code.

Photo courtesy of Cuvée Coffee

An Austin-based craft coffee company is celebrating the opening of its new all-day coffee shop and bar with an open house next weekend, August 15 and 16. Cuvée Coffee is now open at The Code (2323 S. Lamar Blvd.), hotel residences that opened in March in the Zilker neighborhood.

The new coffee bar will serve espresso and cold brew in the morning, and in the evening offerings will switch to wine, local beer, and craft cocktails. Guests will find it in the building's lobby lounge, making it easily accessible for anyone, whether their destination is within The Code or anywhere else around town.

$Cuv\u00e9e Coffee interior South Lamar$ The warm interior is ready for evening cocktails.Photo courtesy of Cuvée Coffee

Founders Mike and Rashelle McKim will attend the opening event to meet guests and talk about the business over wine and charcuterie boards by Bat City Boards.

Visitors can try a complimentary small drip coffee or nitro cold brew, a press release says, plus samples of the frozen cold fashioned cocktail. The first 50 oat milk drinks will be free, thanks to oat milk brand Minor Figures. Cuvée and some of its brand partners will also be giving away merch. All-day happy hour pricing and validated garage parking will entice crowds to stick around.

On the regular menu, guests can expect classic espresso and creative nitro cold brew beverages, espresso martinis, and other cocktails that update well-known drinks like the Paper Plane.

$Cuv\u00e9e Coffee interior South Lamar$ Another look at the unique interior space.Photo courtesy of Cuvée Coffee

Cuvée started in 1998 and has been creating its own direct trade network since then. That means that the company works with farmers themselves, rather than a series of middle men, often resulting in a higher-quality product, single-origin flavors, and sustainable relationships with suppliers. The business offers beans from Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, El Salvador, and some blends. A monthly roaster's choice sets buyers up with rotating surprises.

Cuvée is open at The Code from 7 am to 8 pm Sundays through Wednesdays, and 7 am to 10 pm Thursdays through Saturdays. Parking validation is available in the building's garage, with an entrance off Bluebonnet Lane.

Barbecue News

Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue to close after 9 years in Pflugerville

Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue/Facebook

Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue stayed open for two and a half years following the loss of late pitmaster John Brotherton.

A well-known Pflugerville barbecue joint is planning to close its doors soon. Braedon Brotherton, son of the late pitmaster John Brotherton, appeared in a video on August 2 explaining that August 30 "might be" the last day of business at Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue. The written caption presents a firmer announcement that it "will be" the final day.

The written post listed a few reasons for the closure: economic pressures including the "outrageous cost of beef," plus poor parking options at the strip mall. It did not cite the 2024 death of John Brotherton as a factor, but both the written post and the video thank customers for supporting the business after his passing.

Fans of the restaurant already knew it was struggling, since the team publicly asked for help in January 2026, mostly in the form of increased visits during a slow period. The post also references that period as the start of an ongoing period of struggle, during which no solution really stuck.

Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue started in 2017 as a partnership between the pitmaster and Kelly Gerry, owner of Black Iron Eats.

Texas Monthly taco editor Daniel Vaughn praised the collaborative sandwiches — Brotherton's smoked meats and Gerry's flavor-stacking capabilities — as "some of the most creative barbecue sandwiches in the Austin area." Vaughn still listed Brotherton's as one of the best barbecue joints in the Austin area as recently as 2025, and it was an honorable mention on the prestigious top 50 list.

Customers are encouraged to stop by before the final day at Brotherton's, since the business will probably get crowded and may sell out.

"To all of our customers: thank you so much for all of your support over the last nine years," the post says. "Especially after the passing of John Brotherton, you continued to show up and show us so much love. If it wasn’t for you guys, we wouldn’t have been able to make it this long. To the great city of Pflugerville, thank you for welcoming us with open arms and allowing us to become a staple of this community. We’re forever grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey."

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