DIVERSITY DEFINES THE COFFEE SCENE IN SAN ANTONIO
WORDS BY MEREDITH KAY
Photo by Minutiae Coffee
Legend states that the discovery of coffee can be traced back to Ethiopia, where a goat herder noticed that his goats would become uncharacteristically energetic after eating the cherry-like berries from a particular tree that grew on the plateau where his goats grazes. He then reported his observations to a local monastery and the monks decided to brew the berries, creating a drink that would keep them alert during their long hours of evening prayer.
By the 15th century, coffee was a staple in Arabian homes, and local coffee houses began to emerge in communities across Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey. These coffee houses became central gathering places where patrons could socialize, exchange news and information, enjoy local entertainment, and commune with their neighbors. It began to spread to the rest of the world as pilgrims discovered it along their travels across northern Africa and Persia toward the city of Mecca.
Coffee was introduced to America by the Dutch in the mid-1600s, and it’s reported that the first coffee house was opened in New York City in 1697. This tantalizing elixir quickly became integrated into the American lifestyle and pioneers made sure to pack plenty of coffee for their journeys west.
Andrea and Keith photo by Minutiae Coffee
Today, coffee has claimed its own culture, creating a robust economy for growers around the world, roasting experts, and coffee house owners. From your local, neighborhood coffee shops, to the giant multi-national corporate conglomerates, coffee has become big business, and everyone has a different opinion about what they consider to be an excellent coffee experience.
Thankfully, San Antonio is certainly not lacking in its coffee options as many local companies have taken this obsession to the next level by creating different types of coffee house atmospheres to appeal to myriad personalities. From downtown warehouse spaces and pop-up coffee trucks to cozy coffee shops as far west as Helotes, coffee culture has taken the Alamo City by storm and there is something in a cup for everyone.
One of the O.G. coffee roasters in San Antonio is Pulp Coffee, founded by James and Liza Mireles in 2015. James brought 20 years of experience in the coffee industry to his roasting endeavor and after nearly 10 years of roasting Pulp coffee exclusively for wholesale to the industry, you can now experience the art of Pulp Coffee’s passionate roasting process with a coffee tasting at their roastery and urban retail location on Chestnut Street downtown on the near Eastside. Constantly expanding, the company also offers coffee education and industry consulting, along with coffee equipment sales. James and Liza state their mission is “to elevate the coffee journey for enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike by fostering a community that appreciates the artistry and authenticity in every pour.”
Photo by Ambassadors Coffee
Across town, in the tight-knit community of Helotes, The Cracked Mug offers a cozy space to work, meet friends or business associates, or to just unwind among the shady oak trees at the Shops at Old Town Helotes. Duane and Donna Wells bought the quaint neighborhood coffee shop seven years ago. Neither of them knew a thing about coffee, but their careers in customer service served them well. Donna says, “We didn’t change a thing at first. There was an excellent staff already in place, and they trained us and taught us everything we needed to know.”
They made gradual changes as they got to know the community, incorporating fresher ingredients into their breakfast and lunch menus and partnering with other locally owned businesses to enhance their offerings. They source fresh bread and cinnamon rolls from Spread the Loaves, located just a few steps outside their front door, and they feature fresh custard from Meadows Original Frozen Custard for their delicious affogato.
The Cracked Mug couple has also created the perfect alliance with Keith Schorr, owner of Minutiae Coffee, a small batch roaster also located in Helotes. Schorr and his wife, Andrea, source their coffee beans directly from carefully selected farmers in Brazil, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Costa Rica, and they alter their roasting process depending on the plant source.
Schorr states, “Small farms have better soil, and they incorporate organic and regenerative farming processes, that rarely include pesticides, producing cleaner plants. Minutiae Coffee strives to honor the farmer and the work and care they put into growing their crops, and we try to incorporate the same level of dedication to our roasting process as well.”
Coffee Bag & Latte photo by Pulp Coffee
Taking coffee to the metaphysical level, you’ll find that Ambassadors Coffee on the far Northside offers a unique gathering place to fuel your spiritual side and satisfy your coffee craving. Brenda and Rodrigo Zurita felt a calling to serve the San Antonio community, and this led them to open Ambassadors Coffee in January of 2023. The coffee shop is an integral part of the Tectonic Center, a purpose-driven co-working space where, according to Brenda, “People can work, learn, and grow so that together we can make an impact on the world around us.”
Like many of the finer coffee houses in town, Ambassadors features locally roasted coffees from What’s Brewing, San Antonio’s longest running coffee roasters. The coffee serves as a catalyst for fellowship, allowing people to come together and congregate over something comforting and familiar. The center offers communal spaces to work, study, and gather with other fellowship seeking individuals, as well as memberships, conference room rentals, and a large event space known as The Great Room.
Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect cup of java, looking for a cozy place to work, or trying to find a coffee house that fits your personal vibe, our richly diverse city has a place for everyone. Other coffee shops worth mentioning include Local Coffee at the Pearl for their fantastic iced mocha and affogato; CommonWealth off of Broadway for their cappuccinos, and nosh options; Halcyon for their simple syrups and late night vibe and downtown’s Kapej for their Mexican-inspired coffees and accompanying scratch-made pastries.
As for the java, order it black, or fancy it up with flavor and foam, just make sure you support your local coffee shops, purveyors, and roasters, because it will always taste better when the folks crafting your coffee care about how it tastes as much as you do.
About the Contributor
Meredith Kay has called San Antonio home for over 30 years and is an incurable foodie with an insatiable case of wanderlust. She is constantly looking for her next adventure, and easily makes friends with everyone she meets.
