| Austin has been known for its individuality for decades. | | | | District, lies Austin Java's third store location on the first |
| Though the chain stores and restaurants are slowly | | | | floor of City Hall. Austin Java beat out 25 other local |
| creeping their way in from the edges of Austin's | | | | establishments vying for the slot, with its wide variety |
| sprawl, still many independently owned shops blanket | | | | of breakfast, lunch and dinner options- definitely a |
| the heart of the city. Coffee shops in Austin truly | | | | standout in the coffee shop business, when food |
| capture the essence of what the city is known for- a | | | | options can be limited to a muffin or prepackaged |
| friendly, laid back atmosphere, where one can feel a | | | | breakfast taco. |
| sense of community by joining their friends or making | | | | South Austin is the heart and soul of the coffee house |
| some new ones. | | | | community. Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse promotes |
| As Austin is a college town, coffee businesses thrive | | | | togetherness and a place for community action and |
| around the university, keeping students alert while | | | | people watching, like their website says it was, "in the |
| cramming for upcoming exams. Though | | | | prefranchise days." They offer an all vegetarian menu |
| Quackenbush's held court on the Drag directly across | | | | to accompany a cup of joe, and several nooks to |
| from UT, they relocated with a slight reincarnation in | | | | gather or seclude, both inside and out, just off the |
| the heart of Hyde Park with Quack's 43rd Street | | | | banks of the creek. |
| Bakery. Hyde Park is home to a large student | | | | As the coffee shop of the swanky San Jose Hotel on |
| population who enjoy not only the delightful coffee, but | | | | South Congress, Jo's Coffee offers more than the |
| Quack's large lineup of desserts and baked goods, | | | | coffee drinks and sweets available from the open air |
| which can be found distributed to other shops without | | | | stand. The Rock N Reel happens every Thursday |
| an in-house bakery. | | | | evening, with a themed pairing of music and movies, |
| Spider House also plays host to students from an old | | | | and Sundays bring the Sinners' Brunch with live music |
| renovated house overlooking Hemphill park, just north | | | | and South Austin Speedballs, a three dollar longneck |
| of campus. Though the inside is very cozy, the large | | | | beer and coffee combo. |
| outside decks of the Spider House see a lot of action, | | | | Further down South Congress lies Ruta Maya, possibly |
| especially in the evenings when live DJs and bands | | | | the king of the coffee houses. Housed in one of the |
| play nightly, and the cheap drinks and free movie | | | | repurposed World War I aviation buildings, Ruta Maya |
| screenings only add to their popularity. | | | | seems sprawling compared to other shops. The space |
| Though Little City just closed its campus location, its | | | | is needed however, as Ruta Maya is upholding the old |
| downtown location is going strong. Located on | | | | tradition of the coffee shop as the "Penny University"- |
| Congress Avenue, Little City is the obvious coffee | | | | a common area where, for the price of a cup of |
| shop choice for those who prefer a little local flavor to | | | | coffee, one could be educated by other customers |
| that of Starbucks (which is located directly across the | | | | with experienced backgrounds. Today, for the price of |
| street). Little City serves up a wide variety of coffee | | | | a cup of coffee (now more than a penny), Ruta Maya |
| drinks, and over 15 whole bean blends from around the | | | | offers yoga, tai chi, environmental awareness classes, |
| world, and if the diner is lucky, certain nights they serve | | | | and a single parent resource network, allowing |
| up low priced entrée and wine combinations with | | | | Austinites to come together, enjoy each others' |
| some good people watching from inside the shop or a | | | | company, and keep the bonds of the community |
| small sidewalk table. | | | | strong. |
| South of Little City, in the middle of the Second Street | | | | |