Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2007 > January > 11 > Entry
A whole lotta jo to go
Drinks: A week to go, and only a dozen or so spots to visit for our 10,000 coffee shops double XL issue. The last few days, we visited 13 (+ 1).
Cedar Perk. 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd., Cedar Park. 257-7088.
The name says it all. The place echoes the host town and its surviving country feel, despite the modern strip mall outside. In the back, there’s a shipping nook and gifts for sale. In the front, widely spaced tables and an out-of-place hearth. In between, chipper service and more than serviceable fare.
Daily Grind. 16238 RR 620 North. 388-0607.
Unexpectedly, high design elegance right in the middle of North Austin’s maze of tollroads and older highways. Sleek decor softened by comfortable furniture leads to a counter packed with goodies and manned by an amiable staff. You’d expect this in an urban center, not the ‘burbs.
Coffee Nut. 203 Railroad St., Buda. 295-3252.
You won’t have trouble finding this place, right next to the railroad tracks in downtown Buda. Once inside, you’ll browse through the eclectic selection of (very) used books and enjoy the hospitality of the family that also runs the pizza parlor across the street. The coffee and conversation were good enough for me to linger on a busy day.
Coffee Pot. 129 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos. (512) 396-1689.
San Marcos is home to some ambitious restaurants. This is its ambitious coffee spot, with towers of coffee beans, cafe fare and enough room for a small squadron to spread out. Located on the town square, it’s rarely empty of students and courthouse types.
Tantra Coffee House. 217 W. Hopkins St., San Marcos. (512) 558-2233.
Psychedelia meets Eastern mysticism in the dark red house near downtown San Marcos. A definite post-hippie aura surrounds the domestic setting — actually furnished like a home in some rooms. You could meditate here, while nipping at your drink, or socialize on the broad, old-fashioned porch.
Jo on the Go. 312 University Drive, San Marcos. (512) 353-4880.
Students and teachers must love this place, right across the street from Texas State University. Right in. Right out. A few tables if you really want to linger in the L-shaped strip next to a textbook store. And why not? The coffee is decent and the company can be bracing.
Mochas & Javas. 700 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos. (512) 396-5282. 102 Wonder World Drive. (512) 353-5282.
While Jo on the Go is the place to hit for caffeine if you’re late for Texas State University class, this joint relaxes you with high ceilings, elbow room and the usual blend of laptoppers and loungers. The furniture is mix-and-match, but the coffee and atmosphere would motivate repeat visits. (Parking is a problem at the LBJ location.)
Jitters Espresso Company. 14201 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley. (512) 847-6101.
Aw, come on in. Join the family of chipper baristas at this locally owned — and popular — Wimberley establishment. They know their espresso and offer tempting edibles as well. A small second room is decorated with paintings, while the main area is bright and cheery.
Wildflower. 105 Henson St., Wimberley. (512) 847-5110.
This once was a full-service cafe. Now it’s a yellow hut behind a larger building on Texas 12. Still serves fair-trade coffee and snacks, but now only through drive-through — or walk-up — service. A shaded picnic area awaits the passerby who chooses the latter.
Maui Wowie. (number?) Ranch Road 12, Wimberley. (phone?)
This place is so new, it doesn’t appear in most directories. (Hence the question marks above.) We stumbled on this smoothie-and-coffee chain in the parking lot of Brookshire Brothers in Wimberley. Unavoidable associations with powerful pot aside, this health-conscious place is ready to serve the ever-increasing tourist trade in this growing town.
Coffee Dog. 1412 W. Texas 71, Bastrop (512) 303-2244.
Blink and you’ll miss this spot on Texas 71 west of Bastrop, near the turn off to San Marcos. But it’s worth the screeching brakes. A tall stack of tender pastries dominates the narrow shop. Coffee is served promptly and one may either linger at one of the cafe tables or saunter out to the tables overlooking 71.
Green Chai Cafe. 601 Chestnut St., Bastrop. (512) 308-0177.
At first, it seemed this weathered building perched above the Colorado River came with too much character. But then we tasted the succulent quiche and sipped the carefully brewed coffee. Prepared right in front of the customer, this mini-banquet convinced us to return any time we can pretend to have business in Bastrop.
Scooter’s (Bastrop). 1907 Chestnut St., Bastrop. (512) 321-9000.
Not affiliated with the chain that is budding all around Austin, this unpretentious coffee house also serve substantial food. The surroundings are casual, the staff is warmly inviting and an array of coffee drinks awaits the patient visitor. (Sour note: My apple scone was cardboard dry.)
Zoombaz. 8100 Burnet Road, Austin. 459-9896
We zoomed up to this cute coffee hut, stranded as it is in a sea of asphalt, but later found out that freelancer Parry Gettelman — who is helping with this story — had already covered it. So, instead of a description, we share a photo of the good-sport baristo.
I used to have hair just like that. No, I mean, just like that. And I was that thin. (Sigh.)
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Michael Barnes
Comments
By Valerie
January 12, 2007 7:22 AM | Link to this
Just what exactly is a shipping nook? It brings up all kinds of possibilities?
And for all your readers, yes you did have hair just like that and yes you were that thin. But I don't ever remember seeing you work the drive through window-only register #3.