I’m going to be honest, I don’t exist before I have my coffee. Literally, sometimes I go through the day (until 5 p.m.) so caught up in working that I forget to eat anything…but I do make sure to make myself French Press at 8 a.m.! Needless to say, I love coffee. I get extra shots in my Chai; grind my Guatemala beans from Whole Foods fresh every morning and when I’m in between meetings I go out to get another caffeine fix. What are my favorite spots to satisfy my caffeine tooth, you ask? Check out the list below.
Avoca Coffee
Southside – Fort Worth
Sip on: Espresso or the Yama Tower
Munch on: Dude Sweet Chocolate
Boasting coffees from countries around the world, like Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Ethiopia, Avoca takes coffee seriously. This place goes as far as roasting the beans right next to the coffee shop. A quieter option, this shop has a garage-like vibe and usually is filled of students studying and cramming for finals. Childhood friends Jimmy Story and Garold LaRue are the masterminds behind this operation. For those who don’t venture over to Fort Worth often, Mudsmith apparently serves their coffee right here in Dallas.
Crooked Tree CoffeeHouse
Oak Lawn/Uptown – Dallas
Sip on: Spicy Chai with a shot of espresso or any of the handmade brewed coffees
Munch on: Zenzero Banana Bread
Going to Crooked Tree is like going to your best friend’s house in college. With mismatched furniture and a living room vibe, it’s one of my favorite spots to grab coffee. I may be biased, as I met the love of my life on the comfy blue couch here, but hey – it has tasty coffee from a local Oak Cliff roaster, a chill atmosphere and a super nice staff. The people here also make a point to support the local art and music community by hosting a rotating array of artists and live musicians.
“We put a lot of thought behind how we brew our coffee and we try to be really intentional about our process and our different methods,” said bar-back Dagny Sanson.
Mokah Coffee Bar
Deep Ellum – Dallas
Sip on: Cappuccino or Macchiato
Munch on: Chocolate Croissant from Empire Baking Company
“Mokah is more than a coffee shop that’s in Deep Ellum; it’s a coffee shop that’s for Deep Ellum,” said manager Amy Nickell. “We are here to provide a creative and comfortable place for the community. We partner with a local craft coffee roaster, Tweed Coffee, to provide excellent coffee to our Deep Ellum neighbors.” The friendly staff at Mokah Coffee Bar is passionate about two things: good coffee and people sharing what they love through music, art and conversation. There are lounge shows featuring live music in their eclectic living room area, along with various nightly events. Smack dab in the middle of the cultural epicenter that is life in Deep Ellum, Mokah is a great place to hang. Make sure to check out the art gallery, that features emerging artists from across the globe.
Mudsmith
Lowest Greenville – Dallas
Sip on: Iced Toddy or The Cortado
Munch on: Hypnotic Donuts every Monday or a classic croissant
If you’re looking to camp out for a few cups of coffee, post up on your laptop and people watch – Mudsmith is the place to be. The brainchild of Brooke Humphries, the business savvy chick behind Barcadia, Acme F&B and It’ll Do Club, this hip industrial coffee joint nestles itself along Lower Greenville right across from Trader Joe’s. With a killer playlist in motion and a staff that looks like they came straight from the streets of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, N.Y., this hip joint is getting a lot of local buzz because of its delicious coffee, craft beer, wine and addicting pastries.
Oddfellows
Oak Cliff – Dallas
Sip on: Cuvée Coffee Black & Blue or Kalita Wave
Munch on: Oddfellows Ding Dong
This poppin’ Oak Cliff establishment not only is a coffeehouse but a full-service restaurant (which is a whole other story). The brews and espresso are extremely consistent and always compelling. The friendly staff is seriously dedicated to a good cup of brew and the spot hosts public coffee tastings and a fancy espresso machine called the La Marzocco Strada.