COFFEE TALK
8 new indie coffee shops perking up San Antonio's summer
Karma Espresso Bar has opened a new brick-and-mortar.
Even as corporate goliaths like Tim Hortons taunt San Antonio with ambitious expansion plans, its independent coffee culture has never been stronger. A charge of locally owned shops are loading their slingshots with housemade syrups, spooky sips, and seductive sweets. These recently opened caffeine peddlers prove that when it comes to keeping Alamo City fueled, no one is as mighty as our neighbors.
Alondra’s Coffee
Did your brood act like absolute angels during a long trek through Brackenridge Park? Reward them with a visit to this recently opened coffee shop. The bakery case is brimming with sweet treats ranging from pan dulce to puff pastry hazelnut “sunrises,” and there are plenty of kid-friendly treats like strawberry shakes. Adults can go full octane with the espresso menu or nurse nostalgic lattes evoking lunchbox favorites like Teddy Grahams.
Bonjour Bakery & Coffee
This counter-service spot sells carefully crafted coffee, but notice it’s the second part of the name. The main attraction is a selection of sweets blending the traditions of France and Morocco. Yes, they use generative AI on their Instagram, a shortcut their pastries don’t need. The flaky mille-feuilles, msemmen (grilled flatbreads), and soaked semolina basbousa bel kista are the real deal.
Eternal Morning Coffee
If the name conjures up images of a weeping widow clutching strands of jet beads, you're not mistaken. This brand-new shop drew inspiration from Victorian rituals to create its moody vibe. As far as we know, there are no memento mori to remind AM patrons of their impending demise. Instead, the walls are filled with tapestries, cherubic paintings, and the occasional trailing fern. Velvet settees are scattered about should an apparition give you the vapors.
Karma Espresso Bar
Started as an Alamo Ranch trailer, this coffee concept has now grown to a chic brick-and-mortar in Stone Oak. The airy dining area is filled with ‘70s-inspired velvet chairs and globe fixtures — all in a zingy palette of sunset orange and royal blue. The sophistication extends to the menu, a mix of lattes flavored with passionfruit or banana-hojicha and solid classics like cortados.
The Morning Slasher
With concepts like Gravves Coffee and temporarily closed Brewjeria, San Antonio has a long history of turning things that go bump in the night into coffee houses that help you get bumping in the morning. The newest gets adrenaline flowing with seasonal lattes like the Candy Man with oat milk, cinnamon, and honey cold foam. Chug it in an all-black cafe, then run for your life.
Neko Coffee & Plants
While the plant part of this business is still a little spare, the drink menu is fully stocked with brown sugar shaken espressos, peach hojicha lattes, and something called a coconutcha refresher that is just fun to order. And they serve Japanese strawberry sandwiches on pillowy milk bread — just in case all those TikToks are giving you FOMO.
Pane and Salumi
If there is a reason to be jealous of Wemby, besides the $252 million contract and the Louis Vuitton threads, is that he gets to practice next door to this darling Italian coffee shop. In addition to serving lattes flavored with everything from taro to tiramisu syrup, it has a huge sandwich menu featuring intriguing panini such as the Numero Uno with porchetta and onion cream. The star center may not drink, but the spot scores some points with the rest of us by pouring affordable bottles.
Pink Coffee & Co.
Maybe you haven’t quite gotten over saying “Hi, Barbie” to everyone you meet. Maybe you need some extra oomph to juggle your career as a chicken farmer/ astronaut/ U.S. president. The new Universal City outpost of San Antonio’s poppiest regional chain will keep you going. Speed through the drive-thru (in a convertible Corvette, of course) and order drinks like The Drama, a white chocolate vanilla breve with an eye-opening six shots. Then, kick down the doors of the Mojo Dojo Casa House.
