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There are not many things in life that give me as much pleasure and satisfaction as going to a coffee shop. The cafe ambience, the jazz or lo-fi playlist in the background, the smell of roasted coffee beans, are all things that make my days a little more enjoyable. Since I’ve moved to Austin I’ve discovered tons of coffee shops during my time here and there’s still tons more I want to try. I’ve really been trying to buy coffee from small business coffee shops lately and there’s no shortage of them in the city. Lately my roommate and I have been going to about one coffee shop a week to study/pretending to study while we gossip. The following coffee shops are all within a 15 minute drive from campus and have been my favorites so far and I highly encourage visiting every one.
Lucky Lab Coffee
If you aren’t familiar with Lucky Lab, do you even go to UT? Lucky Lab Coffee Co. is an iconic local Austin Coffee chain and we are lucky enough to have three locations right here on campus. Two of the locations can be found right off Speedway in the GDC and JGB buildings (you lucky STEM students) and their Flagship location is in West Campus on San Antonio St. Their coffee is always delicious and their pastries and food options are exceptional. One thing I love about Lucky Lab is they always have a seasonal specials menu with tons of new and creative drinks to try. And while I am lamenting the loss of their winter Campfire Sweet Cream Latte, their Spring menu just dropped and I am dying to true their new Coconut Almond Cold Foam Cold Brew and Blueberry Matcha Lemonade. Beyond their amazing drinks, their Flagship location is one of my favorite study spots on campus. While the inside is small they have tons of surrounding outdoor seating, but be warned, Lucky Lab is very popular and seats fill up fast, as they should. The whole dog theme that Lucky Lab has is also so wholesome and I love getting to see people bring their dogs around for a free treat. The customer service is always amazing and even without the incentive to complete my Lucky Lab punch card to get a free drink I will always come back to Lucky Lab.
Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
I recently went to the Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors location on Airport Blvd for the first time and it did not disappoint. There’s two locations in Austin and both are about the same distance from campus. The inside is fairly small but there’s still plenty of seating and tables to whip out your laptop or notebook to get some good studying done. When I went they were playing Frank Sinatra piano music that was so nice I didn’t feel the need to use my headphones which I often do. There’s a green and brown coloring they have for the interior that was super cute and there’s small plants dotted around the whole cafe, along with a lot of nice natural light from their large windows. I loved that they had the environmentally conscious offer to give you real glass cups if you dine in (which tbh somehow makes your drink taste even better). The drink menu isn’t extensive but it has all the basics so if you’re looking for simplicity this place has got you. Their matcha was amazing ,especially with a pump of vanilla syrup, and according to my roommate their chai (who’s a self declared expert) was great and had the perfect amount of cinnamon.
Bennu Coffee
Bennu Coffee is another Austin staple coffee and study spot that I absolutely adore. There’s three locations in Austin and the one I frequent is located in Highland but there’s one even closer to the UT campus on MLK. I first went to Bennu in a desperate attempt to finish my final essay for a Lit class last semester and I definitely wasn;t the only one. The place was packed with students. Some sat around large tables finishing up group projects, some in Bennu’s cozy couches and chairs, and I felt very lucky to get a small table for my roommate and I. While the cafe has all the classic coffee and tea options you could possibly want, most unique thing about Bennu are their specialty mochas. Despite these drinks being absolutely delicious they also have the best literary inspired names. There’s the Pride and Prejudice, the Poe inspired The Raven, and my favorite, and the drink that got me through my American Lit essay: The Great Gatsby. All the Bennu locations are also open 24/7 making it the perfect late night study spot. As someone who struggles to stay up past 12am I’d have to pass on a late night mocha but for any night owls out there, Bennu is the place for you.
Mozart’s coffee roasters
If you’re looking for a fantastic location in a cafe, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters is the place for you. Situated right on Lake Austin the amazing view of the water is unbeatable. This is a cafe where I’ll always choose to sit outside rather than inside. The abundance of picnic tables and multiple decks means they can host a whole lot of people, which is often necessary considering the amount of events they hold there. There’s always a concert or club gathering happening and you can find their schedule on their website. There’s also their famous Annual Holiday Light Show they have every winter season. In a Mozart’s Holiday Light Show – Austin article the coffee shop boasted “some of Austin’s favorite local musicians, a photo booth to capture your memories, and endless rivers of hot chocolate, tea, and house-roasted coffee.” Beyond the flashy events Mozart’s hosts, their drinks and especially their vast array treats are worth a drive even without the ambience. They also have super cute merch including shirts, coffee cups, stickers and more sold in their store to show your Mozart pride.
Excerpt: There is no shortage of coffee shops in Austin but here are a few of the best.