18 Essential Coffee Spots in San Antonio, and Why You Should Drink at Them

Catch Up with a Friend on a Comfy Couch

Olmos Perk
5223 McCullough Ave., (210) 492-1104
Photo via Instagram / olmosperk

Take in the Latte Artists

Local Coffee at the Pearl
302 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 118, (210) 248-9133, localcoffee.com
Photo via Instagram / thepowerfulplay

Drink This: Latte (obviously)
Whoever said you shouldn’t play with your food obviously hasn’t seen the latte art at Local Coffee. Make Local Coffee your stop for an afternoon pick-me-up after enjoying some shopping and playing at the Pearl. You can get your art and caffeine fix by ordering a smooth, frothy latte. There’s no telling what kind of latte art skills your barista — likely a contender for the monthly Thursday Night Throwdowns — is going to whip out. Don’t forget to get a couple of pics before sipping on this cup of coffee to capture the magic of a perfectly poured tulip, rosette or fern.
Photo via Instagram / s.a.foodie

Drink This: Cappuccino
There’s a lot to love at this Olmos Park coffee shop. The quintessential neighborhood coffee shop, it’s got something for everyone from private working spaces to friendly staff to a living room decor that’s the perfect environment to sit down with a friend and catch up on life. If you’ve got a lot of catching up to do, you can order one of their breakfast or lunch items and stay a while, or just enjoy a delicious cappuccino to sip on.
Photo via Instagram / olmosperkcoffee

Take In Poetry and Chisme

Barrio Barista
3735 Culebra Road, (210) 519-5403, barriobarista.coffee
Photo via Instagram / barriobarista

Drink This: Iced horchata latte
Though currently closed for renovations (you’ll have to get your barbacoa grilled cheese fix at Sabina’s Coffee House in the meantime), Barrio Barista is home to chill digs and coffee by local roasters What’s Brewing. Stop in for spoken word when the shop reopens after February 14.
Photo via Instagram / s.a.foodie

For Coffee on the Go

Mila Coffee
2202 Broadway, (210) 929-3678, facebook.com
Photo via Instagram / milacoffeesa

Drink This: Horchata iced coffee
At Mila, Marco Antonio Lastra services the Midtown area and the cycling crowd with Tweed Coffee out of Dallas. Try a splash of horchata made using Mexican vanilla.
Photo via Instagram / milacoffeesa

Hill Country Caffeine

Wander’n Calf Espresso Bar & Bakery
523 8th St., Comfort, (210) 802-9403, wanderncalf.com
Photo via Instagram / wanderncalfcoffee

Drink This: Cuban
A jaunt to the Hill Country doesn’t mean you’re SOL when it comes to quality coffee. Housed inside the 8th Street Market, Wander’n Calf should be your go-to for pour overs, lattes and more. And their private labels beans, available in 8-ounce and 1-pound bags, are roasted in San Antonio.
Photo via Instagram / wanderncalfcoffee

For Inventive Coffee Mocktails

Estate Coffee Co.
1320 E. Houston St., Suite A101, (210) 667-4347, estatecoffeecompany.com
Photo via Instagram / estatecoffeeco

Drink This: Pour over
This itty-bitty shop on the city’s Near Eastside is still a destination to some, but for coffee connoisseurs, Estate is a coffee playground known for its in-shop roasted beans and creative specialty mocktails such as the cold brew shandy with locally made lemonade and Topo Chico or the coffee Old Fashioned complete with bourbon barrel smoked simple syrup.
Photo via Instagram / estatecoffeeco

Do it for the ’Gram

Espressivo Coffee
317 Probandt, (210) 560-4669, facebook.com
Photo via Yelp / Sadia K.

Drink This: Latte
Though the exteriors and interiors of this coffee shop bucks the posh, stark all-white-everything trend followed by most shops, they’re home to a casual patio, and two baristas itching to create. Stop in for colorful lattes, and stenciled foam over single-origin coffee.
Photo via Instagram / espressivocoffeesa

Transition into Happy Hour

Rosella at the Rand
114 Houston St., (210) 595-1410, rosellacoffee.com
Photo via Instagram / rosellatx

Drink This: Menta Be
Available from 4 to 7 p.m., the happy hour at Rosella pushes you to put that laptop away and take in your surroundings. Grab a $6 cocktail, take in your metropolitan life and enjoy this iced coffee-fueled minty concoction.
Photo via Instagram / rosellatx

For Coffee on the Go

Sweet Pea by Estate
1203 S. Alamo St., instagram.com
Photo via Instagram / sweetpea_by_estate

Drink This: Honey lavender latte
Over on Southtown, the 1965 Mobile Scout “Sweet Pea” is staffed by the same folks you’ll find at Estate Coffee Co. Grab a honey lavender latte, made using their own locally roasted beans on your way to work. For the perpetually busy, these guys are lifesavers.
Photo via Instagram / sweetpea_by_estate

You Won’t Need Earbuds Here

Cafe Martinez
7302 Louis Pasteur Drive, Suite 101, (210) 231-0095, cafemartinez.com
Photo via Instagram / cafemartinezsanantonio

Drink This: Tazón de Campo
The proximity to the UT Health Science Center makes this spot the young, and hip coffee shop of your dreams. Inspired by the Argentine tradition of a community-centric environment, this spacious gathering place is the perfect place to come to find out what the kids are drinking these days. Try one of the Argentine menu items like the Tazón de Campo: an extra milky latte great for sipping on while you listen to their carefully crafted playlist. No need to pop in your headphones at this place.
Photo via Yelp / Jerry J.