West Texas, the land of dirt, cotton, and cowboys. You won’t find much water in this region, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get your coffee fix. Just south of the Panhandle of Texas lays Lubbock, home to a quarter million residents. And despite it being in the middle of nowhere, the coffee culture is as vibrant as the West Texas sunset and humble as the common man.
So if you find yourself driving through the US’ second-biggest state, I’ve got two coffee shops you should visit. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
SEE ALSO: 5 Reasons Cafés Are Perfect Places to Do Work
Why These Three?
While there are a lot – and I mean a lot – of good coffee shops in Texas, these three are on my list of personal favorites. With their unique styles, great service, and sensational coffee, they’ll help you to really get a taste of the Lubbock specialty scene. You don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to visit them.
In no particular order, here they are:
1. Gold Stripe Coffee
Nestled in the quiet mid-city paradise of Cactus Alley, Gold Stripe Coffee is the city’s newest specialty coffee shop. The two brothers behind this brand were previously managers at the two other places on this list, before deciding to branch out on their own.
It’s a simple but stylish spot. Crisp wooden walls, flooring, and bar stools cleverly contrast the shop’s highlights: the barista, the espresso machine, and the pour over brewers. Though the room is small, it’s packed with character.
With Gold Stripe still being a newer roaster and coffee house, all the emphasis is on the coffee. You won’t find any pastries or sodas here, and chai lattes are the lone non-coffee item. They use lactose-free milk and their SproBot espresso blend (Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Celinga Foge and Brazilian Mogiana Fazenda Raina) tastes like a mouthful of grapes.
Stylish and simple: Gold Stripe Coffee focuses on quality.
| Where: | 2610 Salem Ave Suite 5 |
| Atmosphere: | Full of character |
| Espresso Machine: | Astoria Divina |
| Grinder: | Mazzer Major |
| Coffee Offerings: | Espresso, cold brew, and Melitta |
| Roaster: | Gold Stripe Coffee Roasters |
| Food & Other Drinks: | Chai lattes, food soon to come |
| Retail Offerings: | Coffee beans and equipment |
Gold Stripe Coffee may be new, but they’re ready and waiting to serve.
2. Yellow House Coffee
Yellow House Coffee opened its doors in 2013 and quickly became a popular choice. The interior is comfortable and classy, with wood-top tables and colorful walls – despite the grey exterior of the building. The shop of the people, it helps out with a variety of local events, from farmers’ markets to meetings of small business groups.
As for the menu, it features several coffee and brewing offerings, as well as loose leaf teas, chai, and sodas. The hand-crafted vibe is strong here, and they make a variety of pastries, syrups, and specialty drinks according to the season.
Yellow House Coffee also partners with a local dairy to provide pasteurized, but not homogenized, milk rich with calcium and protein. It’s perfect for adding a touch of rich creaminess to espresso-based drinks. The best part of this café, however, is definitely the baristas: they’re not short of their coffee knowledge, or of warm smiles.
The grey walls of Yellow House belie a warm interior.
| Where: | 3017 34th St |
| Atmosphere: | Local and friendly |
| Espresso Machine: | La Marzocco Strada |
| Grinder: | Mazzer Major Electronic |
| Coffee Offerings: | Espresso, French press, V60, Clever, Chemex, AeroPress, and cold brew |
| Roaster: | Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters of Dallas |
| Food & Other Drinks: | House-made pastries, breakfast on Saturdays, loose leaf teas, chai, and soda |
| Retail Offerings: | Coffee beans, coffee equipment, and bottled sodas |
Yellow House Coffee, Lubbock, Texas – this café shows its local pride.
3. Sugar Brown’s Coffee
Sugar Brown’s is a relatively recent addition to Lubbock’s specialty coffee scene, but it’s already making a splash. A hub for artists of all varieties, local music and artwork are in no short supply on the weekends.
The coffee house’s high ceiling and wide room give the location an open, welcoming vibe. A double-sided long bar extends towards the center of the room, allowing customers a great view of the skilled preparation of their drinks.
There’s always a coffee on drip, espresso, manual brewing options, tea, chai, and several pastries made in-house. And though they are newer to the role, the baristas at Sugar Brown’s are well on their way to being slingers of incredible espresso.
Sugar Brown’s, made in Lubbock.
| Where: | 1947 19th St |
| Atmosphere: | Arty and inviting |
| Espresso Machine: | Astoria Divina |
| Grinder: | Mahlkonig Air K30 |
| Coffee Offerings: | Espresso, drip, V60, Clever, and Chemex |
| Roaster: | Gold Stripe Coffee Roasters |
| Food & Other Drinks: | House-made pastries, tea, and chai |
| Retail Offerings: | Coffee beans and bottled sodas |
Dillon, though newer to the barista game, is no chump when it comes to delicious espresso.
Gritty, bitter cowboy coffee may come to mind when you think of Texan brews. But while it’s true that at one point our hills, plains, and swamplands were home to horse-riding, hat-wearing, thick-accented men who enjoyed their coffee grounds with just a small side of coffee, the times have changed. And boy have they changed a lot.
The Lubbock coffee scene is growing dramatically, as more and more people are converted from their old coffee habits and welcomed into a warmer, quality-driven, coffee culture. Time spent in Lubbock demands a visit to these shops. You won’t regret it.
And if you have time, why not explore some of Lubbock’s other coffee shops?
Written by G. Oden. All photos by G. Oden except for the feature photo, which is by Scott W. Lang.
Perfect Daily Grind
All views within this article belong to the guest writer, and do not reflect Perfect Daily Grind’s stance
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