Must Try Coffee and Drink Spots in Austin, TX

Think of this as a comprehensive guide to the must try coffee and drink spots in Austin, Texas. Personally, I don’t drink alcohol, and I’ve never really been much of a coffee drinker. However, with the recent boom of incredible Vietnamese coffee shops, Boba Spots, Mexican cafés, and unique drink concepts across the city, I made it my goal to find the best of the best in Austin.

This isn’t your watered down green matcha. This is the good stuff. So follow along if you want to hear more.

La Vi

One of the newer spots in Austin, La Vie, just opened downtown serving Vietnamese coffee drinks. We ordered an assortment of different drinks, but the ones that stood out the most to me were definitely the salted caramel Viet latte and the egg coffee.

I will say that I found the matcha a bit on the lighter side and wouldn’t recommend it at this point. However, they were in their soft opening phase when I visited, so that may have changed. Parking can also be a bit limited in the area.

Desnudo

Desnudo Coffee has established itself as one of the best coffee spots in Austin, Texas, with multiple locations across the city. They source their beans directly from family-owned farms in Colombia, focusing on quality, sustainability, and transparency. Beyond sourcing, they also work closely with these farms to support sustainable practices and help improve cultivation methods.

Along with their expertly crafted coffee drinks, I’m always a fan of their signature offerings, like the Brown Sugar Miso Latte and their matcha drinks. I especially appreciate how they note exactly which type of matcha is used, with the Uji matcha being my personal favorite. They also offer seasonal drinks, keeping the menu fresh and exciting. With multiple convenient locations across Austin, they are quickly establishing themselves as one of the city’s foremost coffee destinations.

Dame Cafe

Dame Café is a popular coffee food truck located in North Austin’s Arboretum area. They specialize in Mexican-style coffee drinks, with their Canela Latte topped with charred marshmallow foam for a unique twist. They source their beans directly from Chiapas, Mexico, and roast them themselves, ensuring high-quality, fresh coffee in every cup.

Mercado Sin Nombre

Mercado Sin Nombre is owned by a local Austinite specializing in Mexico City style pastries and sweets, as well as excellent coffee. Their horchata nitro cold brew is a favorite, and the atole cortado is a must try. They incorporate maiz into many of their drinks and pastries, making the beverages worth a visit on their own, with the pastries serving as a delicious complement.

ChichaSanchen

ChiCha SanChen is my go-to spot for boba in Austin, Texas. They have multiple locations and are considered by some to hold the “Michelin star” of drink awards. I particularly enjoy their osmanthus mango drink and their green tea. The tea is very high quality, with a strong, authentic flavor in every drink. I also recommend adding their coconut jelly, though their boba is excellent as well. Sweetness and ice levels are adjustable, and their “perfect sweet” level is usually just right. For fruit flavored drinks, I suggest ordering them with light sweetness.

Lau Lau

Lau Lau is an American Chinese owned drink shop located near North Austin and the campus area. They offer unique drinks like a Thai tea–matcha fusion, a mala latte, and Chinese five spice cortados. The shop is very engaged with the local community, participating in multiple fundraisers and charity events. The space has a lively, welcoming vibe, and they also feature home bakers selling Chinese-inspired pastries. It’s definitely worth a visit.

Caphe.In

Caphe In is Austin's premier Vietnamese coffee shop, located near the UT campus. Since opening, they have set a high standard for Asian style drinks in the city. Must try beverages include their addictive egg coffee, tiramisu latte, and high quality matcha drinks. Nearly every drink on the menu is excellent. During the summer, lines can get long, but visiting during off peak hours makes it much easier. Their fruit drinks are also very enjoyable, and most beverages can be customized with less sweetness or non dairy oat milk. Be aware that their coffee beans are higher in caffeine, so some may experience mild palpitations.

Frosty Fox

Frosty Fox has multiple locations and is known for high quality teas. Their lychee green tea is excellent, with a strong tea flavor that balances the sweetness of the lychee. Adding lychee jelly enhances the drink, and their panna cotta is a perfect accompaniment for anyone who enjoys a dessert with their tea.

Hecho Amano

Hecho Amano is a food truck located in Pflugerville, and it’s worth the visit. The owner is from Austin and creates Mexican/Japanese drinks while using proper techniques for drinks like matcha. Notable drinks include the MisoDoro latte, Piloncello guava limeade, and pear matcha.