When you think of San Antonio, do you automatically think of coffee? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean that the coffee culture in San Antonio should be underestimated. Although the Alamo City is known for its record-breaking temperatures throughout the summer months and beyond, San Antonians are still known to enjoy a cup of Joe, or two, or three – hot, iced, or frozen to beat the heat. San Antonio Coffee: Where It All Begins San Antonio is home to a number of coffee roasters, including the aptly named San Antonio Coffee Roasters. San Antonio Coffee Roasters sets the tone by purchasing high-grade, top-quality beans for fresh roasting, in business since 1979. SA Coffee Roasters offers standard coffee roasts, along with a wide range of specialty beans that are roasted to order. These include Brazil Santos Full City Roast, Jamaican Blue Mountain Full City Roast, a regular or decaf Italian roast, and much more. Other notable San Antonio roasters include The Brown Coffee Company, in business since 2005. Brown offers prime fresh roasted coffee and professional coffee equipment for wholesale clients. Brown also stands out by offering Brew This! Workshops that cater to coffee consumers at all levels to provide a relaxed environment to discuss coffee-related topics and enjoy coffee cupping. San Antonio Coffee: Where to Drink Beyond behind-the-scenes roasters, San Antonio offers coffee lovers a long list of unique cafés, outside of cookie-cutter chains like Starbucks. For starters, the San Antonio coffee culture is best observed in a relaxing coffee shop like Candlelight Café – that also happens to serve beer and wine. Whether you’re in need of a glass of champagne, a shot of espresso, or both, Candlelight will fit the bill. Candlelight is a popular first-date destination in San Antonio for this exact reason. It provides a non-threatening environment for an initial meet-up, along with the opportunity to sit and stay a while to grab a bite to eat from the complete dinner menu that includes appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, and more. For a historic taste of San Antonio set in the traditional neighborhood of Olmos Park, locals flock to Olmos Perk. Olmos Perk is well-known for hiring the best baristas in the biz in a Cheers-like environment “where everybody knows your name.” Olmos Perk serves delicious coffees like Guatemala Antigua, Ethiopia Harrar, Kenya AA, and more. And as you may expect in a city like San Antonio, Olmos Perk also serves beer and wine to provide an alternative to the traditional bar scene. So what have we learned about the San Antonio coffee culture today, class? This southern city is no stranger to the love of fine coffee. If you’re looking for a place to grab a cup of Joe in the city, you’ll likely find a relaxed, hip coffee shop that will also serve beer and wine, if you’re so inclined. Bethany Ramos is a full-time freelance writer and coffee lover that co-owns her own e-commerce website, The Coffee Bump.
