Coffee is an enigma. It can be swigged in a thoughtless gulp or sipped and savored. The 2025 CultureMap San Antonio Tastemaker Awards nominees for Best Coffee Shop - our "wildcard" category this year - know that the slower approach is the antidote to the most humdrum days. All have made the everyday staple extraordinary.
It’s a jittery job to consider the contenders, but we’re wired to name the winner at our annual Tastemaker Awards ceremony, coming to Briscoe Museum on April 10. And we’re pleased to offer Early Bird pricing to those who are keeping alert.
Drink a cup of joe, then purchase tickets for a discounted $60 for general admission and $99 VIP (which includes perks like early admission and a dedicated bar). Prices increase after March 12, and the shindig always sells out.
Now, sit back and relax. Maybe spend a few moments reading our special editorial series or spend the afternoon checking out some new San Antonio spots. You’ll probably need another latte for the drive.
Here are the 10 nominees for Best Coffee Shop:
Bright Coffee
There’s no doubt that the name of this Blanco Road coffee house evokes a certain amount of morning pep. But whatever time guests visit, the perky one-syllable moniker still applies. The cheerful studio space is flushed with light, allowing houseplants to thrive. If the sunshine doesn’t kickstart your mood, there’s always the 24-hour steeped cold brew.
Folklores Coffee House
Though the logo riffs on The Exploited’s familiar skull and mohawk, the Beacon Hill and Government Hill locations of this shop show none of punk’s surliness. Instead, it focuses on the movement’s individuality and penchant for DIY. The interiors are lived-in, filled with band posters and a graffitied skateboard decks. And drinks like the pistachio matcha latte undeniably have an edge. But owners Tatu and Emilie Herrera have a softer side, helping their community anytime there’s a need.
Gravves Coffee
As far as we know, Glenn Danzig was never a barista. It’s still easy to imagine him brooding over latte art at this St. Mary’s Strip-area shop. Owner Mauricio Cruz takes the doom-metal aesthetics seriously, from the all-black interior to murky drinks like the pandan-based Forest Dweller. Even the pastries keep the goth vibes going. A frequently served toaster pastry is covered with matcha goo goo muck.
Early Bird Coffee
After gaining droves of early fans at a food truck, Jamal and Sydni Abed opened a Huebner Oaks brick-and-mortar in 2022. The shop has maintained a loyal following through bespoke service tailored to each customer’s palate. The flavor add-ons, featuring intriguing profiles like rosemary lavender, Earl Grey, and clover honey, are the wrapping on the present.
Estate Coffee Company
Made for digital nomads, this minimalist Dignowity Hill hangout has few distractions other than scattered plants, a few artworks, and a permanently parked Honda motorbike. The real vroom-vroom is the coffee: single-origin, fair trade, and locally roasted. Few local coffee shops have so much zip. Only the speediest racers can arrive at the spot before the baristas have completed their online orders.
Mila Coffee
No espresso drink has been maligned as much as the vanilla latte. Apparently, one’s go-to order of coffee demands a slew of accessories, from Uggs (they’re back!) to a pair of Eras Tour tickets tucked in a Coach tote. The wider culture no longer sneers at “basic,” and neither should you. Mila’s Mexican vanilla latte, available at both the Broadway and Make Ready Market outposts, is a superbly balanced concoction that makes any day better — in or out of a Stanley tumbler.
Press Coffee
The greenhouse wall, the brown paneling, the magazine rack tucked between two club chairs. The only thing missing is an ‘80s sitcom mom plying guests with Dunkaroos. The nostalgic vibe not withstanding, the coffee is rooted in today. A raspberry pecan cold brew is of the moment at the original Broadway location or its more contemporary Castle Hills sibling.
San Antonio Gold
Before Starbucks metastasized, there was a time when only the coolest kids made your daily Americano. Things haven’t changed much at this Southtown haunt. Need a playlist that approximates the highs and lows of a four-cup binge? One of Gold’s employees has done the work for you. How about a deep dive into anime before San Japan? Yep, the baristas have Letterboxd recommendations too. Need a wardrobe update? Look at the staff's baggy jeans.
Theory Coffee Company
Sure, the view from this coffee truck is uninspiring — a jumble of beige convenience stores, office buildings, and overpasses. All the yowza comes from the product, superb espresso drinks made with small-batch beans and artisan milks. Still, props to Theory for putting out its line of orange barstools. Owner Mark Vollmer Jr., a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, surely knows the value of a little citrus.
What's Brewing Coffee Roasters
Roger Chbeir opened San Antonio’s first commercial coffee roaster in 1979, long before third-wave coffee became the best way of waking up. As the story goes, no local beans met his standards. It’s a no-nonsense approach, one that prioritizes taste over perky neon signs. His two sons, now running the business, keep the exacting tradition alive. And, c’mon, there’s pinball!
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The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is brought to you by The Yuengling Company, Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water, PicMe Events, Audio Visual Consultations, and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, Culinaria.
