Before heading back to Houston, I wanted to catch up with a good friend, so we decided to grab a cup of coffee near by her place and she suggested Houndstooth. I had been to the Congress location before - when I worked at the Capitol, but I hadn't been to this location! And, being a Houndstooth, the coffee and the service were good (very good cappuccino - I wasn't surprised), BUT...it's tiny! Tiny, tiny, tiny! So little seating! It was raining outside, so the tables out there were wet and there wasn't any available seating inside - we ended up getting our coffees to go and taking them back to her apartment! So - good coffee, good service, tattooed Brooklyn-ite looking baristas (just what you expect now in Austin), but too small, and definitely not enough seating! read more

I make a stop at Houndstooth whenever I possibly can for these reasons: Seriously yummy coffee, with a rotating menu of coffees and espressos. With a small (12 oz.) French pressed cup, I'm always caffeinated to perfection for the day! Open, airy space, good for working or meeting. Super friendly staff (careful, you might end up conversing for a while!) In a word, all the coffee shop basics to a T. The prices are commensurate with the quality (so, on the upper side), and you'll have to wait for your brew while it's done up fresh (french press or siphon- you pick!). But, these trifling downsides of Houndstooth are really just upsides in disguise. Win win! read more

I got to swing by Houndstooth and my experience was pleasant. The barista was really nice. He introduced us to popular drinks and gave us a rundown on what special was going on in the summer. I decided to play it safe with an iced chai, but my friend got the carbonated tea. I loved the 'feel' of the restaurant. The interior was clean and modern. Definitely coming back for some coffee next time! read more

Best espresso-based drinks in Austin, and some of the best in the country! I go there multiple times a week to get cappuccinos. Pros: -Best baristas. They will pour your coffee at the right temperature, give solid recommendations, and make fancy designs in your foam. Bonus points because they're very, very friendly and dress up on Fridays. -Best coffee sourcing. They are very serious about bringing in the best roasts. Tweed, Counter Culture, Handsome, PTs, Madcap, etc. Things to consider: -This space can be crowded on weekends and mid-mornings. -Snack case is limited to pastries, but Tacodeli is next door so you're only twenty feet away from tacos. -If you're looking to study with a group, go to Flightpath or Epoch. This is the type of coffee shop where you chat with a friend or get a fancy cappuccino to go. Love this place!!! read more

I stopped by Houndstooth one morning when I was trying to kill some time before a meeting and I enjoyed my time there. It was very relaxing, a typical coffee shop experience. I ordered the Jade Oolong tea, and it was great tea. The baristas were extremely informative, I had to order a drink for one of my friends and they gave me some great suggestions on what to get for them. I would definitely come back. read more

Yay I got TWO free drinks today! What a nice little surprise. So I'm really glad to have another coffee shop in the area...I know there are a lot already, but ain't nothin wrong with having a new place to hang out, y'know? And despite having nothing but an ugly view of the back of the Austin state hospital, this is such a nice place to hang out! My latte had some beautiful foam artwork in addition to being wonderfully smooth, and I enjoyed my pastry (from Bakerman's, apparently). The food selection is minimal at the moment, but I think that is actually a good thing, because sometimes coffee shops lose their focus when they start selling too much/too involved food. Anyway, I also got a peach iced tea, which was delish...I disagree with the reviewer who was upset about the iced tea situation here, but then my drink was free and I hardly ever get refills. The design of the place is really nice and clean, but there are no outlets anywhere, so it's not very hospitable for laptop users. Despite this, it's a nice place to hang out and read a book or something. read more

I don't think I'm hipster enough. Haha. I'm sure if you like to drink real coffee while working on your macbooks wearing hipster clothing, you'd like this place! read more

My friends think of me as a coffee snob. To me, I don't need coffee to function so I see no point in drinking it if it's not excellent. Does that make me a snob? Maybe, if that's the case, then they are definitely snobs here at Houndstooth. They take their coffee seriously and I respect that. I came here for the first time last weekend and tried one of their espressos, it was delicious. It had a deep and complex flavor and they were generous on the amount. The atmosphere was real chill too and service was great. They definitely have a new customer. read more

This is where clean hipsters descend, boasting not only mustaches, but groomed mustaches. A gaggle of designer types and wannabe designer types drinking designer coffee amongst a sea of MacBooks, it's hard not to laugh. For my friend, trapped in endless giggles as fedora after fedora walked through the door, it was too much. But the thing is, Houndstooth isn't pretentious, and the coffee here is really, really good. I've found all the baristas friendly, even as I ask them rather basic questions about coffee. What is a cortado? What is with the glass funnel thing? Also, they offer at least two types of espresso, which I appreciate. I guess having to choose my espresso makes me more aware of how it tastes. And I love the atmosphere. Contemporary fixtures and mid-century modern furniture. I want to own the arm chairs here. The espresso machine is particularly gorgeous, with the wood finishing on the sides. The result is a clean, bright feeling. This is not your dusty, cozy coffee joint, and I'm glad it's not. read more

If you are an iced tea drinker, this probably isn't the place for you. I was excited about a new local coffee shop in the 'hood and even more excited when I heard they were serving tea from The Steeping Room. I'd hoped to meet friends there (walking distance from home!) and introduce my coffee loving husband to it. I've been to Houndstooth three times this week. On my second visit I ordered a black peach iced tea. Despite much discussion between the three people behind the counter about tape on the pitchers signifying the iced drinks, I was given an iced coffee. Today, I finally got an answer to my question...will they offer free refills on iced tea? The answer is NO. I understand no free refills on coffee and hot tea. It's made to order so of course they aren't going to refill your cup but no free refills on iced tea, when it just has to be poured from a pitcher? Unheard of, regardless of the quality of the tea being used. $2.71 ($2.50 + tax) for a "large" (i.e. 24 oz.) to-go cup of tea is high but I'd be willing to pay that much on a very regularly basis if I knew that at least one refill was free. For you iced tea drinkers, check out Emerald City Press (9th and Lamar) where the sweet people will *encourage* you to come back for a refill on your iced tea. And, although I prefer to support local businesses, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf offers a huge "Texas large" cup and a variety of good iced teas to choose from for about $3.00. When the tea is that big, no refill is needed. P.S. When the till is $0.29 over today, know that it's because the guy who rang me up gave me a straight $17.00 back and kept my change. Not cool. read more

Came in for the first time today in years, just a few minutes after they opened and there was already a small line forming. The advantage to the early morning stop is that you don't have to brave the busy parking lot that fills up rather quickly and it seemed that the barista there was already peppy and ready to take on the day. I watched her joke and laugh along with the girl in front of me, who mentioned she was a 6:30am regular. Half asleep, I waited at the front while she filled their order, and she kindly asked me what she could get started for me. As I was answering, the man behind me said "one vanilla latte..oh sorry, didn't see her there." I rolled my eyes at him as he looked up from his phone. I now had resting bitch face. She replied, seeing my frustration "I'm sorry, I will get your order in just a minute" then turning to me "what would you like?" I knew before I even answered that this wasn't going to work out. I'm just not the right fit. But I didn't care, none of my regular spots were on my way this morning, Starbucks was closed, and I was running late. So I halfheartedly asked her what flavored syrups they have for their lattes. She kind of trailed off "vanilla...honey...." Luckily, that was just fine. Honey is what I wanted. So I paid for my honey latte to go, remarking "oh that is so pretty" when she brought me my drink and tipping her. But I didn't get a smile or a laugh. My resting b* face cost me my morning greeting. Its not Houndstooth's fault that I found the dude behind me to be a d*. Nor is it their fault that my usual haunts just weren't convenient enough for me today. If I had had more of a pleasant experience coming in today, I would have excused the fact that I paid a little more for a small latte. I will say that as hesitant as she was with the flavors, the honey is spot on. Creamy and rich with just that hint of sweetness. If I was going to meet someone for a quick coffee run or post up with a coworker to update our social media accounts, I might choose houndstooth again. But bottom line: I'm just not cool enough for this place. read more

This coffee was delicious! We got two cortados and they were absolutely fantastically made! The inside is small but cozy. The baristas were chill and very friendly. If you are interested in buying coffee beans, they are great to ask advice from. read more

I love French Press coffee; but i like to taste coffee too. If you like watered down coffee (i.e my mom) you will enjoy their coffee. Not sure if it was a bad day or something; but the guy had to add an extra shot of espresso to my coffee (which i did really appreciate) but honestly it was still not to my liking. I either have been drinking coffee way to strong or the coffee that day was a light roast. I think Steve O. agrees w/ me.. I'd have to say we went the same day... those guys obviously are jipping us on the grinds. mine also was the lightest color coffee i've ever had in my life. 'it is of near tea-like transparency and tasted watery as hell.' - Steve O. read more

Returned to try the siphon coffee. Oh my god. I shared it with a friend and we each had two cups (smallish adorable retro cups complete with saucers). We watched the barista prepare it and he sort of talked us through it and offered some tasting notes. We tried to drink it as slowly as possible so we could have it for longer. We had a moment of silence when it was gone. We talked about it the whole drive home. I'd say that's worth the $10. read more

Overall: If you want great coffee, YES! Good: -relatively fast turn around for an order -bean selections are great -you even have bean selection for espresso grinds (haven't seen this in Austin till Houndstooth) -they'll make your drink how you want it -their coffee has lots of additional notes other than just the generic chocolate/toffee/berry. Bad: -if you're looking for a sugar chilled drink, its not for you (ie frappuccino) -price might be 50¢ more than other nice coffee places. Well worth it. -hard to find seating -tables are really small -parking can be challenging since its next to other popular businesses read more

Houndstooth is easily the best coffee house for specialty, single origin brews in Austin. For people who are serious about coffee, their menu consistently features Counter Culture and Supersonic, and they occasionally work in Madcap, PTs, their own Tweed Coffee roasts and others. They're pretty good about rotating their menu (seems like its around once a week that they change, which I found to be in line with shops in DC). When it's hot out, try one of their roasts made Japanese styled iced coffee (iced pour over). For people who are just getting into or have no experience with specialty coffee, I would say it's important to come to Houndstooth with completely open expectations. This is a specialty coffee house. It is not what you would get from a chain like Starbucks or from Mozart's or Thunderbird (which are great spots in their own right, just for other things). As such, I'd recommend asking one of the baristas for a description of the coffees on the menu. In my experience, they're happy to provide a lot of information about the taste, mouthfeel and body of the coffees they offer. Or they're also happy to help you find a good espresso drink if you ask for advice (cortado, late, macchiato, etc.). Plus, they've always got tasty pastries and treats stocked fresh in the front counter display. And even more, they're right next to Tacodeli! The fact that Houndstooth has only four stars is kinda deplorable (overstatement, I know), but I can attribute it only to some customers having a different sort of expectation from them. Seriously, though -- while there are plenty of great coffee houses across Austin that offer coffee from other great roasters like Heart, Stumptown and Intelligentsia, Houndstooth is the only shop that offers a variety of and as much from roasters of that caliber. read more

Great coffee...but WAY over-priced. At least $1 to $2 more than other 3rd wave coffee shops. More expensive than back home in L.A. Austin is cool, but should not cost more than L.A. read more

More of a focus on the actual coffee, and its real quality and notes, than some other coffee shops. I appreciate that. Sort of a purist vibe here. Go off hours if you want to find a good seat. read more

Houndstooth is serving up fantastically wonderful coffee, and it is no wonder why they were packed when a friend and I dropped in mid-day on Thursday. The many different types of low chairs, high chairs, outdoor patio seating, and a bar to stand at were pretty much fully packed. There was also a fairly consistent line and the baristas were flowing through orders smoothly. There were a lot of people working, and a lot of people meeting up to sit and enjoy the space. We both ordered lattes and were seriously blown away by the smoothness of the coffee. It had no bitter qualities, wasn't overly dry, (think like a dry wine on the tongue) and there was a perfect balance between the milk, coffee, and ice in the lattes. I think I paid around $4.50 for my coffee - and for the quality, it is an incredibly fair price. I really can't say enough good things about this place - I just wish it was closer to home for me, I'd probably stop in weekly! read more

Bold and sweet on a morning where I really needed it. Good Java with a friendly crew. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Just what I need this morning! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Got the Chai. The Chai flavor was stronger than I've normally had at other coffee shops, but I appreciated it. It was a tad bit sweet though. 5 stars because my brother thinks this place is great, and I think my brother is great. read more

A very good coffee connoisseur friend of mine brought me here to let me try what in his mind made a good cup of joe. It was a Saturday morning and the place was bumping. Crowded with all sorts of people to see and be seen. Definitely a place for the hipsters, coffee snobs, and all others that fall in the in between. The baristas were all very nice and did their best to make the menu and their offerings accessible, which I enjoyed. Not a whole lot of space to study which docks a point in my book. They had some small tables with seats placed whereabouts but nothing really cozy or inviting. It's not a very inviting place in that sense so maybe that's why I'm not partial to it. I definitely felt uncomfortable being here in my un-average self but maybe that says more about me than the place itself. It's very loud due to the sparse-ness of the store but I guess the simplicity of the place is also what attracts people. It just feels stuffy in an unsettling way. It's almost as if you're waiting for office hours while sitting outside of your professor's door alone and a seminar has just let out. Everyone is out talking, chatting it up, with camaraderie and enthusiasm. You're just sitting there waiting...not quite feeling like you belong but you're there out of necessity and you're slowly biding your time until you can get out to be among your friends. It's like being the only one not in on the joke. Good coffee and good for a hot minute to catch up over beverages but definitely not on my radar in terms of a place to go for my out of town friends. read more

It's close to my house and it's next to tacodeli. The baristas here aren't d-bags like those Thunderbirds mofos off Manor. I mean, this place is still catering to the "hipster" type, but without the attitude.The seating is not that comfortable. It's all that modern/contemporary furniture bullcrap. Come on, chairs are suppose to cradle the ass.I also like that I don't have to freaking put a security code for the wireless. It's one less thing I have to do. Coffee/Pastries: Not the largest selection of goodies, but you have food next door so why even bother? Coffee: very simple menu (big plus). It takes like 5 seconds to order cuz you dont have 10000 drinks to choose from. I usually like variety, but I like the simplicity of the menu. It parallels their furniture/decor. Me liking the continuity! read more

I have a lovely experience here, although I only came here twice since I moved here. The background music is usually French musette swing, which makes up the ambience for me to sit and work. For the coffee lovers who wonder how was the coffee, the house coffee is pretty standard, but they do made wonderful chai tea. Cappuccino is a little bit too strong for my taste. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've been to several coffee places in Austin and can say for certain, in a town extremely rich with great coffee, Houndstooth is the best I've had to date. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - This is truly the best coffee in Austin....so far. I had a Sotto pour over, we'll made. They also have great home.ade pastries. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Real simple, wow!!!! Every time we come to Austin we swing by. So worth it, line moves fast and service always has the Austin touch to it.... read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Like crack.....so perfect - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

The coffee is actually pretty good (even if it is a bit on the fruity side). The prices are kind of obscene for coffee, especially if you need dairy substitutes, and the place itself is pretty small and crowded. I don't particularly love the environment either, but it's not a bad place by any means. The staff was friendly at least :) read more

Actual functioning high bandwidth Internet at a coffee shop! Also, well made coffee! Having spoken with several friends, I tend to agree that this is the best coffee to be had in town. read more

I love houndstooth. My favorite part is how there are different beans you can select from. I didn't know coffee beans can have such a wide variety of flavors! The environment is super chill and peaceful. Great place to sit back and relax or study. Although I wish there were more outlets...you really have to look for them. All the workers are so friendly and helpful. They are always willing to help you and give you more information about a certain drink or coffee bean. They really know their coffee. Super chill hipsters. However, there was this one time that I went, and there was this super obnoxious barista who was super loud and annoying. It was really difficult to study with his booming voice and laughter resounding the place every 5 minutes - really ruined the atmosphere for me. Besides that one time, my many visits to houndstooth have been great. Definitely give this place a try! Random: their gluten-free brownie is delishhhh read more

When I pay $4 (aka more than a daily wage for many chai wallahs in India) for a chai which comes in a frustratingly small cup, I expect that small cup to be full. But most of the time at this houndstooth, there is a good inch/inch and a half at the top left empty-not foamy-empty. Once it was extreme, my cup was like 1/3 empty, and I asked for it to be filled. This is totally annoying to the barista, I know, but after not saying anything a dozen times before, I felt like it was time to share the annoyance. Btw, they use third street chai concentrate which you can buy at whole foods, should you be less lazy than me and choose to keep your $4 and make it at home. My other complaint has to do with the donuts. Props to this store for buying local donuts, but You can buy red rabbit donuts at several other places in town, and all of them are cheaper than houndstooth (wheatsville is the cheapest I've found-funnily, even less than RR's truck). And houndstooth doesn't get a donut delivery every day, so sometimes you don't just get an overpriced donut, you get what is very likely the most expensive day (or two) day old donut in the city. Ridiculous. Either get new donuts every day or cut the price and tell people when they are not fresh. Stale, expensive donuts + chai drama = grumpy start to a day. read more

Houndstooth! Was looking for a great coffee shop to study - I am a fidgety person and like people around me and music around me when I work. There is something to be said on the distinction of said distractions, but there definitely is such a thing as 'too distracting'. This cafe' is the best thing that happened to me over the Summer. I love their clean decor - the focus being their coffee. They offer a distinct selection, not too vast, but then that's not the point is it? I got a great cup of beautifully brewed coffee. Simple. You can tell that the people that work there like the place too :) They made me and my friend feel welcome. The lighting is great for studying/reading. I absolutely adore their playlist AND it was at the perfect volume [for me at least :D] Must try! read more

Coffee was good. The service was pretty good. It took a little too long to get my regular black cup of coffee though.

As a coffee hater, I had never been here after dark until the combination of early sunsets and ennui with Cherrywood forced my Central Market-bound hand. The evening looked up the moment I entered the swanky establishment. I found myself pleasantly surprised to be reacquainted with an old friend in the guise of La Fin Du Monde - a fine Belgian ale. The coffee-slinging dude (seriously wtf* is a barrista?) said that he found lovers of fine coffee often enjoyed fine beer. Despite a natural tendency to disagree with whatever anyone says to me, I nodded agreement, and spared my jovial host the tirade against coffee, how neither coffee nor beer taste good, and if it wasn't for the caffeine and ethanol, and the utter despair and desperation that ravage the planet, neither beverage would have made it out of the monasteries and mountains. I like Cherrywood Cafe, don't get me wrong. It's just too damn popular. Maybe the rent isn't damn high enough over there. Here, I could bring my wife on a spontaneous date and not have to climb over some tediously stoned teenage droog to gaze longingly into her eyes. Here at Houndstooth, I could pull up in my little sportscar and whisk her into fine coffee and subdued conversation in stylish surrounds. Failing that I could come here by myself leaving the groceries to melt in my trunk and swill down a super strength beer while they did so. *why the face read more

Best coffee in town! Best espresso and best drip, along with a great atmosphere.

The employees were amazing. They were super inviting and seemed to actually enjoy working here. We ordered hot chocolate, cold brew, tea, and macchiatos. Everything we order was absolutely fantastically. Also the coffee shops set was nice and clean. Not to mention for there are many options for beverages. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Bar area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Not the best coffee shop to study, or to nest for any amount of time. It has seating but its a little crowded and more of a in and out vibe. The coffee is very good, worth every penny. I don't know how else to explain it other than this place is a "gentleman's (and gentlewoman's) coffee spot. Very nice way to start a morning! read more

Great place to study or catch up with friends. The coffee is great and the baristas are very knowledgeable. They're very helpful when you can't make up your mind because you can just tell them what you're feeling and they can whip up a concoction to satisfy your taste buds. read more

Great coffee. Baristas are coffee geeks. The roasts that were on offer were not the generic kinds; some thought had gone into their selection. Good relaxing ambience. Music was not too loud. The latest issue of Barista magazine was on the counter. Latte art was cool. Parking is tight in this complex though. This is the only place I've had a drink they call a cortado. I enjoyed it very much, and the wife enjoyed her latte. Banana bread was good as well (large enough that it must be shared). Recommended; will visit again. read more

A FAVIE of mine......and one that makes the stop when we have company in town. Great coffee and atmosphere. Bring your i-whatever and no one will look at you funny :) read more

Great coffee, right on my way to work! Tried the house coffee, which totally stood up to Thunderbird (which is tops in my book). Perfect placement next to Taco Deli...a new destination for my Friday morning breakfast stops. One request- the only sweetener available was sugar in the raw, which is great, but I like my Splenda! read more