Houston’s 16 Best Coffee Shops — Where to Find Your Perfect Cup

Montrose May Be the City's Coffee Epicenter, But There Are Worthy Shops in All Sorts of Neighborhoods

BY Gabriela Izquierdo // 11.25.20

Houston is a foodie’s dream, but it’s also a low-key caffeine addict’s paradise. There are interesting, distinctive coffee shops all around the city and new ones are constantly popping up. It can be hard to decide where to get a perfect cup of Joe, latte, or cold brew. But no more. This is your guide to the best Houston coffee shops.

1. The Cuppo Coffee & Tea

8805 Jones Rd Suite A-110
Jersey Village, TX 77065

The Cuppo Coffee & Tea shop has a cozy dining room in Jersey Village.

While it’s only a little over a year old, The Cuppo Coffee & Tea has quickly become a favorite. Cuppo offers house classics like its Cuppo Joe (hot), Cuppo Jane (iced), Vietnamese iced coffee, matcha and turmeric lattes.

The Jersey Village shop also has a great ambiance. There’s local art on the walls and an almost Parisian-style dining area. Cuppo is a nice place to hang out. And if you’re looking for some sustenance, there are hearty toasts and smoothie bowls.

2. Barbarossa Coffee

9222 Louetta Rd Suite 106
Spring, TX 77379

Turkish coffee poured into a cup at Barbarossa Coffee Roasters.

Known for all of the unique ways it brews its coffee, Barbarossa is a great place to experience elevated brews. Options include Turkish coffee, Chemex, Siphon, Aeropress and more. With the recent opening of a second location in Tomball to go with its Spring original, Barbarossa seems committed to giving the suburbs some worthy coffee.

3. Common Bond Cafe & Bakery

1706 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77006

Beautiful latte art from Common Bond Bakery.

Perfect for when you need more sustenance than just a cup of coffee, Common Bond brings topnotch bakery options. It’s  great for brunch or just a mid-afternoon treat yourself pastry. Common Bond’s counters are almost always full of fresh-made options.

A must-try? The massive flavored croissants. They come in chocolate, almond and pistachio.

4. Giant Leap Coffee – Uptown Park

1135 Uptown Park Blvd
Houston, TX 77056

Giant Leap's Uptown location is almost as open as outer space.

One small step for man in the right direction is the trend of coffee shops working to support and enhance the neighborhoods they call home. Giant Leap is determined to do that with both of its locations in Uptown and East End.

The community-oriented shops serve up local Amaya coffee and pastries from Tlahuac.  The yet-to-open East End location will serve as a hub for local events — and Giant Leap owner and founder Logan Beck hopes to draw University of Houston students, too.

5. Agora

1712 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77098

Agora's bar top is as cozy and warm as the rest of the coffee house.

Perfect for a late-night work or study session, Agora is a Montrose staple for good reason. The cozy, two-story coffee shop is open until 2 am and serves up some great brews (caffeinated or alcoholic) and great vibes. The coffeehouse’s walls are full of art, there’s plenty of seating indoors or outdoors, and there is even a jukebox.

6. Tout Suite

2001 Commerce St
Houston, TX 77002

A hot latte and Tout Suite's industrial-style dining room.

Tout Suite serves up locally roasted Greenway coffee which pairs perfectly with its extensive pastry and brunch menu. Grab a latte and macaroon to-go or sit down in the industrial-chic dining room to get some caffeine-assisted work done. Or catch up with friends in the airy room.

7. Cafeza

1720 Houston Ave
Houston, TX 77007

Latte art and homemade churros from Cafeza in Houston.

Inspired by Barcelona and Buenos Aires cafes, Cafeza is a vibrant coffee shop with live music and homemade churros. The fact that it’s in the First Ward makes it even more unique. This is a shop that wants to be part of its community.

Need a recommendation? Try dipping the homemade churros in a Café con Leche while sitting at the bar top. Cafeza is also a perfect spot for a coffee date. It regularly has live music in non-coronavirus times.

8. Boomtown Coffee

242 W 19th St
Houston, TX 77008

Boomtown's menu includes pretty lattes and huge croissants.

Boomtown Coffee specializes in small-batch roasting with shops in The Heights and the Understory food hall. For a high-quality cup of coffee, order any of the specialties such as the Crüd (cold brew, espresso, chicory, vanilla and cream). But if you’re really in need of a pick-me-up, the Johnny Cash (drip coffee with an espresso shot mixed in) is the way to go.

9. Retrospect Coffee Ber

3709 La Branch St.
Houston, TX 77004

Retrospect's home is an old 1920s gas station.

This little coffee shop is housed in one of Houston’s first gas stations — with the station dating all the way back to the 1920s. The refurbished building still holds nostalgic charm. And now, it’s home to Retrospect Coffee Bar’s lattes and crepes instead of gas pumps.

The centerpiece of Retrospect’s bar is a bright orange Slayer espresso machine, which helps to enhance the retro ambiance of the shop. This one’s a charmer.

10. Campesino Coffee House

2602 Waugh Dr
Houston, TX 77006

Coffee served in a jarrito and Chilaquiles from Campesino.

With murals along its large outdoor patio and cozy couches to lounge on the inside, Campesino Coffee House brings a lot to the table. Including a diverse food menu. The menu includes empanadas, chilaquiles and tacos.

Campesino makes for a unique brunch spot. Or if you’re in the mood for just a snack, some pan dulce and hot coffee are a solid go-to. It’s Montrose with a real Latin flavor.

11. Catalina Coffee

2201 Washington Ave
Houston, TX 77007

Lattes and muffins from Catalina Coffee.

Serving Amaya roasts, Catalina Coffee is the quintessential coffee shop delivering fresh brews and comfortable seating. Classic coffee drinks like drips and Café Au Lait are done perfectly at this Washington Avenue retreat.

Whether you need a bag of Amaya beans or a cappuccino to-go, Catalina has an online ordering option that makes it easy to order and pickup.

12. Siphon Coffee

701 W Alabama St
Houston, TX 77006

The siphon method looks like an awesome caffeinated science experiment.

For a unique coffee experience, visit Siphon to see what looks like a science experiment gone incredibly right. This Houston coffee shop uses the Siphon method, which employs halogen burners to slow-roast a fresh cup of coffee. The idea behind it is to bring out flavors that are hard to achieve through other forms of brewing.

Watching the flames and bubbles is fun and may even make you nostalgic for high school chemistry class. But the true treat is the coffee it makes. All of Siphon’s food menu comes from fresh, locally sourced vendors.

This is another Montrose shop. Sense a trend?

13. Inversion Coffee & Gelato

1953 Montrose Blvd A
Houston, TX 77006

You can find art at Inversion on the walls and in the cup.

Three words: coffee gelato, art. This modern coffee shop in the heart of Montrose is an airy and colorful spot to grab a latte and dessert. Inversion’s walls are decked out in local art and its rainbow drip windows make it impossible to miss.

The shop is full of light and plants, both indoors and outdoors. Inversion really is a plant-lovers paradise. The Houston coffee shop even hosts plant popups on occasion.

14. Antidote Coffee

729 Studewood St
Houston, TX 77007

Antidote's a colorful place and popular spot for crafts vendors.

The cool Heights coffee shop with a brick-wall interior and colorful umbrella clad patio is home to the must-try Cajeta Latte. The unique drink is made with caramel made from goat’s milk and tastes like dulce de leche.

Besides coffee, Antidote also boasts a beer and wine list with a number of local brews.

15. Black Hole Coffee House

4504 Graustark St
Houston, TX 77006

Map

The front awning of Black Hole Coffee House in Houston.

Sister shop to Antidote, Black Hole Coffee House brings a similar menu. Yes, that means the Cajeta Latte, too. However, these sibling shops have very different aesthetics.

While Antidote is airy and colorful, Black Hole is darker and very conducive for studying or working remotely. Or just brooding.

16. A 2nd Cup

1111 E 11th St
Houston, TX 77009

A 2nd Cup's pretty lattes pair perfectly with scones.

A coffee shop that’s making a difference, A 2nd Cup is a nonprofit. Its proceeds go towards helping put a stop to human trafficking. While spending money on a cup of coffee can sometimes feel like a guilty pleasure, there’s no need to feel guilt when buying a latte from this Houston coffee shop because your money is going to a worthy cause.

A 2nd Cup’s extensive menu includes unique drinks such as the Horchata (horchata and espresso) and the Mochanut (coconut and mocha). Its coffee is worthy, too.

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