February 2021
Since I moved to Bryan-College Station, about a year and a half ago now, I’ve been trying to figure out what the best coffeeshops are. As someone who writes both recreationally and professionally, coffeeshops have always been my favorite places to be productive. However, I must admit … I’m a coffee snob. I started drinking coffee while I was living in overseas, right in the southeast of France and about an hour away from Italy. Since then, my mom has been brewing espresso at home for our family, and to this day I have a hard time comparing brands in the United States to ones that I tried while we were living overseas.
That said, I must admit that when I came to BCS and first glanced at the coffeeshops, I was underwhelmed. I felt discouraged that many of them didn’t carry the variety of drinks that I was familiar with, and I still haven’t found anywhere that can make a proper matcha latte aside from Starbucks (not exactly coffee but still important, in my opinion).
However, I’ve been experimenting with different drinks in all the different environments that BCS has to offer, and I’ve come to enjoy several of them. So, here is a compilation of my experiences and opinions on coffee shops around BCS. Hopefully those of you looking for your ideal coffee experience will find it helpful!
Let’s start with what WAS my favorite: Lupa’s. Lupa’s was off Texas Ave. in College Station. Not only did they have wonderfully flavored espresso beans, but they also had the most inclusive menu, including food and drink options for vegetarians and vegans (both of which were delicious). Their baristas were very friendly and knowledgeable. Before I go any further, they’ve sadly closed their doors permanently due to COVID-19, but they will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Next up, Minuti Coffee off University in College Station. The coffee is strong and smooth, and they have several non-dairy options for their drinks. The food is decent, albeit a little bland. I have yet to try their gelato, but it looks like the kind they have in Italy, so I’m optimistic, for sure! I also love the ambiance of the shop. They just opened this bigger location, and it’s very pretty and clean inside. However, if you’re going there to work, be warned — their WiFi periodically kicks you off, and there’s only 1-2 outlets in the seating area.
Sweet Eugene’s. Who walks into Eugene’s (as I call it for short) and doesn’t become immediately taken by the strange layout and bizarre décor? This shop off of George Bush in College Station was actually the first coffeeshop I came to in BCS, and over time I’ve learned it’s a real hit-or-miss. The pastries and cakes are ALWAYS delicious, and their donuts are absolutely to die for. They also always play good music, and the shop is big enough that there are quiet areas to work in and louder areas for chatting. However, the coffee itself is the hit-or-miss for me. All the baristas are very friendly, but there are so many of them that I think the person making your drink that day really decides your experience there. I’ve had foamy, creamy lattes that arrive at my table just cool enough to take a sip of. I’ve also had over-sweetened, what I can only assume was coffee with some milk poured on top come to my table that didn’t cool off to a drinkable temperature until about 40 minutes later. So I say definitely try it if you haven’t, but if at first you’re not impressed, try it again another day and see if your experience improves.
Let’s talk about a Bryan shop now, Harvest Coffee (the location in downtown Bryan). The shop itself is inviting and the baristas are chatty and knowledgeable. The coffee is tasty, though a little sweet if you get a flavored drink. There is a wide selection of food options, which is nice if you’re planning to spend a mealtime with them. My only reservation about Harvest Coffee is that they are very particular about how long you are at the shop — you have to make sure to ask for a WiFi password when you make your purchase because each transaction results in a new, randomly-generated password. This password is also only good for 4 hours, so camping out there all day to work on a big paper isn’t really an option — which is fair, but something to think about before you plan your work for the day there.
Back to College Station, another one off University is Carport Coffee. This shop is so cute but SO small. I’m a little claustrophobic, so I never sit inside when I’m there, as all the tables are very close together. Parking around the shop is also very limited, so I would recommend parking somewhere else and then walking to the shop if you can. I have to admit, I don’t like the flavor of their espresso. It’s got a very woody flavor, but that’s so subjective, so don’t let it deter you from giving them a try. The baristas are beyond kind and you can tell the people there love what they do. The drinks are also always made quickly and well, which I really appreciate.
Moving to a shop off of Texas Ave., la Gabriella Pastries and Coffee is another scary-small joint with very good coffee. The ambiance of the shop is actually very relaxing and fun. It’s just too bad that you’re lucky to find a table with how small the place is. They are very consistent with their drinks though, so you always know you’re getting quality coffee when you go there, and their menu is very extensive. And since the word “pastries” is actually in their name, you better believe they are buttery and flakey goodness, which pair well with their well-made coffees.
Lastly, I’m going to talk about Gogh Gogh Coffee. I had high hopes for this place when I went, and they were somewhat met. They make their own syrups in-house, which is very cool, but many of the drinks that include them are very, VERY sweet, so keep that in mind when you order. They also make very good espresso drinks and frappes, and while I have yet to try their lunch sandwiches, I’m told they are very good. My qualm with them is that they have two locations — they bought out Lupa’s on Texas Ave., and then their original location is off Highway 6 — and neither has an ambiance I enjoy. The Lupa’s location could be great, but I haven’t had overly enjoyable experiences with the baristas there. And the layout of the original Highway 6 location is pretty awkward, especially since they share their seating space with a real estate office.
Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised with my BCS coffee experiences. There are lots of interesting places to try, and most certainly something for everyone.
—Serina Taluja
Serina is a doctoral student in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
That said, I must admit that when I came to BCS and first glanced at the coffeeshops, I was underwhelmed. I felt discouraged that many of them didn’t carry the variety of drinks that I was familiar with, and I still haven’t found anywhere that can make a proper matcha latte aside from Starbucks (not exactly coffee but still important, in my opinion).
However, I’ve been experimenting with different drinks in all the different environments that BCS has to offer, and I’ve come to enjoy several of them. So, here is a compilation of my experiences and opinions on coffee shops around BCS. Hopefully those of you looking for your ideal coffee experience will find it helpful!
Let’s start with what WAS my favorite: Lupa’s. Lupa’s was off Texas Ave. in College Station. Not only did they have wonderfully flavored espresso beans, but they also had the most inclusive menu, including food and drink options for vegetarians and vegans (both of which were delicious). Their baristas were very friendly and knowledgeable. Before I go any further, they’ve sadly closed their doors permanently due to COVID-19, but they will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Next up, Minuti Coffee off University in College Station. The coffee is strong and smooth, and they have several non-dairy options for their drinks. The food is decent, albeit a little bland. I have yet to try their gelato, but it looks like the kind they have in Italy, so I’m optimistic, for sure! I also love the ambiance of the shop. They just opened this bigger location, and it’s very pretty and clean inside. However, if you’re going there to work, be warned — their WiFi periodically kicks you off, and there’s only 1-2 outlets in the seating area.
Sweet Eugene’s. Who walks into Eugene’s (as I call it for short) and doesn’t become immediately taken by the strange layout and bizarre décor? This shop off of George Bush in College Station was actually the first coffeeshop I came to in BCS, and over time I’ve learned it’s a real hit-or-miss. The pastries and cakes are ALWAYS delicious, and their donuts are absolutely to die for. They also always play good music, and the shop is big enough that there are quiet areas to work in and louder areas for chatting. However, the coffee itself is the hit-or-miss for me. All the baristas are very friendly, but there are so many of them that I think the person making your drink that day really decides your experience there. I’ve had foamy, creamy lattes that arrive at my table just cool enough to take a sip of. I’ve also had over-sweetened, what I can only assume was coffee with some milk poured on top come to my table that didn’t cool off to a drinkable temperature until about 40 minutes later. So I say definitely try it if you haven’t, but if at first you’re not impressed, try it again another day and see if your experience improves.
Let’s talk about a Bryan shop now, Harvest Coffee (the location in downtown Bryan). The shop itself is inviting and the baristas are chatty and knowledgeable. The coffee is tasty, though a little sweet if you get a flavored drink. There is a wide selection of food options, which is nice if you’re planning to spend a mealtime with them. My only reservation about Harvest Coffee is that they are very particular about how long you are at the shop — you have to make sure to ask for a WiFi password when you make your purchase because each transaction results in a new, randomly-generated password. This password is also only good for 4 hours, so camping out there all day to work on a big paper isn’t really an option — which is fair, but something to think about before you plan your work for the day there.
Back to College Station, another one off University is Carport Coffee. This shop is so cute but SO small. I’m a little claustrophobic, so I never sit inside when I’m there, as all the tables are very close together. Parking around the shop is also very limited, so I would recommend parking somewhere else and then walking to the shop if you can. I have to admit, I don’t like the flavor of their espresso. It’s got a very woody flavor, but that’s so subjective, so don’t let it deter you from giving them a try. The baristas are beyond kind and you can tell the people there love what they do. The drinks are also always made quickly and well, which I really appreciate.
Moving to a shop off of Texas Ave., la Gabriella Pastries and Coffee is another scary-small joint with very good coffee. The ambiance of the shop is actually very relaxing and fun. It’s just too bad that you’re lucky to find a table with how small the place is. They are very consistent with their drinks though, so you always know you’re getting quality coffee when you go there, and their menu is very extensive. And since the word “pastries” is actually in their name, you better believe they are buttery and flakey goodness, which pair well with their well-made coffees.
Lastly, I’m going to talk about Gogh Gogh Coffee. I had high hopes for this place when I went, and they were somewhat met. They make their own syrups in-house, which is very cool, but many of the drinks that include them are very, VERY sweet, so keep that in mind when you order. They also make very good espresso drinks and frappes, and while I have yet to try their lunch sandwiches, I’m told they are very good. My qualm with them is that they have two locations — they bought out Lupa’s on Texas Ave., and then their original location is off Highway 6 — and neither has an ambiance I enjoy. The Lupa’s location could be great, but I haven’t had overly enjoyable experiences with the baristas there. And the layout of the original Highway 6 location is pretty awkward, especially since they share their seating space with a real estate office.
Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised with my BCS coffee experiences. There are lots of interesting places to try, and most certainly something for everyone.
—Serina Taluja
Serina is a doctoral student in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
About the Author
Serina DeSalvio
Originally from Dallas, TX, Serina is a doctorate candidate at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, in the Interdisciplinary Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program. Her current research specializes in genetics, cytogenetics, botany, chromosome structure and dynamics, science communication, plant breeding, and biology. She enjoys painting, playing guitar, playing sand volleyball, ice skating, and taking care of her houseplants.
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