Get Your Fix at Austin's 11 Best Coffee Spots

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Get Your Fix at Austin's 11 Best Coffee Spots

You’ll be going to a lot of dive bars and eating lots of barbecue in Austin. Best have your coffee spots figured out beforehand.

If you're visiting Austin, odds are you'll be going to a lot of dive bars, eating lots of barbecue, and seeing a lot of live music, all of which will probably leave you wanting a little boost the morning after.

That's why we've also included a bunch of very reliable coffee spots in our MUNCHIES Guide to Austin where you can go to knock back the tastiest and most legal of uppers. From nitrogen-infused cold brews to elite (not elitist) roasters to killer grilled cheese, these cafes have what you need to get yer morning fix.

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Cuvée: One of the roastery pioneers in Austin (opened in 1998), Cuvée's flagship store is housed in an open warehouse space. Approach the minimalist six-sided bar (the machinery is Modbar, so it's hidden below the counter) and order your drink to your liking (down to the local Mill-King milk preference). Be sure to give their signature "Black and Blue" a try; the nitrogen-infused cold brew on tap looks more like a frothy Guinness than your run-of-the-mill iced coffee. You can also buy it via can to beat the Texas heat when you can't even leave your house.

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Patika: After opening this coffee shop in a trailer downtown in 2010, Andy Wigginton and Nick Krupa found a permanent home for it in a former pawn shop on South Lamar. With mid-century walls made of Texan limestone and polished concrete floors, Patika has become a touchstone for South Austinites. The original trailer is now under the shade of the pecan tree on their outdoor patio, where they serve up delicious avocado toast, breakfast bowls, and one killer grilled cheese (though only Thursdays through Sundays).

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Fleet Coffee: Mention Fleet to a neighborhood regular and watch a warm and fuzzy feeling overcome them; it's due to the fact that the slight but well-designed space has some of the most charming caffeinated beverages this side of the Rio Grande. Their Sandia combines Juiceland's Recovery Punch with iced coffee, bitters, and mint, while the Instagram favorite "Saturday Morning Ritual" marries Fruity Pebbles–infused milk and espresso, served with a Fruity Pebbles treat on the side, naturally.

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Houndstooth Coffee: Working at Houndstooth has become a right of passage for many of the well-trained baristas in town; it's one of the first joints in the city where coffee was proudly "crafted" rather than "poured." It's the barista's barista place (their logo is a fedora, after all). With locations in Rosedale and Downtown, Houndstooth is always abuzz with loyal customers who return for their well-balanced espressos, usually made with their house roasted beans from Tweed in Dallas.

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Radio: Radio has quickly turned into a local haunt for the South Austin community. Local singer/songwriter Jack Wilson came home after living Seattle and touring the US, bringing back his love of coffee and beer to a spot where Old Austin is rapidly disappearing. The day crowd is just as lively as the night crowd, but if you go when it's light out, stop by Tacos Veracruz, a truck on site that serves some of the best tacos in town.

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Caffe Medici: Medici's five locations across Austin run the gamut stylistically, from a charming Clarksville craftsman to a former location used in the film Slacker. Thankfully, all churn out some of the most consistently satisfying cups of caffeine in the city, which is why the company continues to expand. Medici is also one of the few places in the city that opens at 6 AM for the early birds who need to get their fix.

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sister: What started out in a tiny trailer outside the former Rosewood Collective (an incubator for female-owned businesses) has moved into the same space as Las Cruxes boutique and Farewell Books. A coffee shop, local artists showroom, and event space that offers occasional workshops, this is a place to pass multiple hours.

To see the rest of the best cafés, bars, and restaurants that Austin has to offer, check out the MUNCHIES Guide to Austin.