There’s something undeniably magical about a cup of coffee — the way its aroma stirs us awake, its warmth cradles our hands and its presence invites us to pause. To help you make the perfect, local cup from home, here is a full round-up of independent, small-batch and specialty coffee roasters in the Coastal Bend area.
Driftwood Coffee Co.
What started in a garage on Driftwood Place in 2013 has grown into a roastery, coffee shop and coffee bean subscription service. Driftwood features namesake roasts from Mexico, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Brazil and unique combinations of several to make Beach House (house blend) and Midnight Drift (espresso blend). Purchase whole-bean or ground coffee bags or a subscription online or in-store. 4703 S. Alameda st.
Kilates Coffee
This local female-founded roastery offers high-end, specialty coffee, sourcing only the most refined and exceptional beans available in the market. With a focus on exotic flavors and aromas, the roasts combine extremely fragrant notes of fruit, honey, bourbon and even rose. Purchase a subscription or individual bags online or at local retailers like Cabana Pantry. kilatescoffee.com
Rockport Coffee Co.
The Meinhausen family comes from a long line of coffee roasters and landed in Rockport in 2004 to start roasting for the Coastal Bend. South American, Central American, African and Indonesian coffee beans get roasted to form blends like Texas Thunder, Guatemala Antigua and even a Buttered Rum blend. The company offers a variety of specialty beans using the family’s own perfected method of timing, temperature and taste. Purchase beans at Rockport Coffee or online. 7759 5340 TX-35, Rockport
Adelphos
The coffee truck that quickly became a local favorite offers limited quantities of small-batch specialty coffee beans. On any given day find a Colombian roast with tropical notes, an exotic SL28 bean in its Honduras variety or an espresso blend made with Ethiopian and Sumatran and Guatemalan beans. Grab a bag at the coffee truck and follow online to see new and limited-time offerings. 4706 Everhart Road
Cafe Latina
As its name suggests, Cafe Latina infuses its arabica roasts with the flavors of Latin America. The Cafe de Olla roast is reminiscent of the popular beverage, with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, dark brown sugar, anise and clove. The Dulce de Leche flavor gives hints of caramel, and the Texas Rum variety is a slightly spiced roast with buttery undertones and notes of caramelized sugar. Purchase a bag or subscription online. cafelatina.net
Hester’s Cafe
Walk into either location of Hester’s Cafe and find its signature coffee roasts on tap. A few popular varieties include Hester’s Best, a medium-bodied house roast; Snickerdoodle, a light roast with notes of cinnamon and hazelnut; and German Chocolate, a dark roast with notes of chocolate and coconut. 12-ounce bags of whole bean coffee can be purchased at the Six Points location or online. 1714 S. Alameda & 3812 S. Alameda
Grind Coffee
Uptown’s newest coffee shop, focused on quality over quantity, features an exclusive blend of beans roasted at Driftwood Coffee and sold under the Grind brand. “Starter Fluid” has notes of chocolate and berries with an extremely smooth finish. Grab a bag in-store and enjoy it via its menu of espresso, Aeropress and pour-over methods. 615 N. Upper Broadway #140
Roots & Spores
This small-batch, fair trade, specialty coffee brand offers three roasts ranging from light to dark, each with its own unique flavor notes. The “Dawn Patrol” light roast has notes of blueberry, lime, black pepper and walnut, the “Pinnacle Peak” medium roast adds strawberry and malic and the “Dark Side” features chocolate and roasted almond. Whole bean bags are available at Grind Coffee and the GROW Local Farmers’ Market, and subscriptions are available online. rootsandsporescoffee.com
Saigon’s Civet Cafe
This coffee shop and cafe roasts small batches of Arabica and Robusta coffee bean varieties from Vietnam. The single-origin Vigo Robusta is a bean with a higher caffeine content and less sugar than its Arabica counterpart. This variety is generally more bitter and full-bodied. The house blend, Charisma Arabica, has a smooth finish with fruity and sweet notes with a lighter taste. Both varieties can be purchased whole bean or ground, in-shop or online. 2222 Airline Road
