Everything Is Sacred

Coffee in San Antonio

// January 9th, 2009 // Coffee

If you now much of anything about me, you know that I have a little bit of an addiction to coffee. Moving to San Antonio from small towns in Oklahoma (Claremore & Shawnee), there was a real shortage of good coffee shops to be found.  So when I moved to San Antonio, I was so excited to experience Starbucks.  Who doesn’t love the fact that there is always one near by when you need it and that the coffee is pretty good.  They also are pretty intentional on the overall experience within the stores… or at least they used to be.  Maybe I’m just over it, or maybe they really are going downhill.

So I’ve begun a new personal quest to research and try out other avenues to good coffee in San Antonio.  My most recent passion has been making espresso at home with my Ascaso Dream. (The pictures up top are from making coffee at home. That is my best attempt so far at making latte art. Christina’s homemade chocolate anise biscotti was the perfect compliment.) The natural progression, then, is the find the best espresso roast beans to make my coffee at home.  Right now, my absolute favorite espresso comes from Wildfire Coffee Roasters here in San Antonio.  They roast their own coffee in small batches at their single San Antonio and date every package so you know how fresh it is.  I am absolutely addicted to their espresso (and the rest of their roasts are great too).

That said, from a little research I have also learned of two other roasters in San Antonio that I have yet to try, but that are certainly on my list:

- San Antonio Coffee Roasters

From what I gather they are a supplier only, and don’t have their own shop.

- Kiva Coffee Roasters

They are technically located in Fair Oaks Ranch, but close enough to be considered a local roaster. They are small volume and I don’t think they have a shop either.

As far as actual coffee houses go, I’m compling a list to try and review. First, the places I have been to:

• Wildfire Coffee Roasters- I’ve already talked about their fresh roasted beans, which is what makes them a great place to go get a great cup of coffee.  The atmosphere is nice, but a little cramped.  They offer free wi-fi (a must) and attempt to foster community.  They even have their own facebook group.  Because of the small space, it is hard to concentrate away from the door traffic.  Still, it is worth a visit.
• Ruta Maya – I actually went to RM 1 time and did my own half-hearted mini review, but alas they have since closed their doors. RIP.  I know they were a favorite of many locals.
• La Taza – My favorite place to go and hang out right now.  They serve coffee from the aformentioned Kiva Coffee Roasters, and it is pretty good.  The atmosphere is what makes me want to keep coming back, though.  It just feels like home, and has lots of places to sit down and work, read, or talk.  They also offer free wi-fi. The owner was nice and let us shoot a part of a video for the past Christmas there.  Extra points.
• Sip Coffee & Espresso Bar – Sip is located downtown and is a nice place to drop by.  The coffee is ok, and the food isn’t bad either.  I don’t really ever feel the need to go out of my way to go to Sip, but if I’m nearby I’ll go.  They were really nice and let me shoot an Eastgate All-Access promo there with Chris, so they get points for that.
• Caffegio – This is one of my favorite meetings spots.  It is pretty wide open and has free wi-fi.  The coffee isn’t really that good.  Christina and I bought some espresso from them… don’t do it.  Not even close to fresh.  If that is what they make their espresso with, count me out.  I’ve never tried any of the food, so I can’t comment on that.

Next, the places I have yet to visit.  Feel free to comment and let me know if you know of someplace else I should check out.

• Olmos Perk
• Guadalupe Street Coffee
• It’s a Grind

That’s it for now, I’ll add as I figure out.  Coffee snobs unite!