Waking up just got a little easier with the opening of two new coffee shops near downtown San Antonio. Whether you live north or south of downtown these new spots should satisfy your caffeine cravings and more. If you haven’t been to the new spots, let me break down the experience you can expect. Throw a wrench into your daily grind and try out both of them.
White Elephant Coffee
White Elephant, a hidden Southtown gem located in a powder blue warehouse on South Presa Street, is filled with warm colors and that great coffee smell, the kind of place that makes you want to hibernate there for the rest of the year. I spoke with the owner, Jose Carlos De La Colina, who said, “We wanted to play around and find the true potential of coffee.”
- Inhouse roasting
- Currently featuring beans from Kenya, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
- Warm atmosphere with a speak-easy feel.
- In-house cold brew (10 hour process).
- Located in a warehouse in Southtown (1415 S. Presa St.).
- Open 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday.
The Fairview Coffee Bar and Grub
A quaint neighborhood boutique with a serious attitude when it comes to coffee. There is a ’50s inspired decor, and a small food menu that includes vanilla bean waffles and assorted baked goods.
- Beans from Michigan-based Populace Coffee roaster.
- Plans to self-roast starting this month.
- ’50s and ’60s atmosphere with an espresso machine named Lucille.
- 10-plus years experience in the business.
- Located off of North Saint Mary’s Street near the San Antonio Zoo (3428 N. Saint Mary’s St.).
- Open from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. seven days a week.
*Featured/top image: Head Barista Dorian Arcos uses a custom wooden Slayer branded espresso machine. Photo by Scott Ball.
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