The Brown Coffee Co.

Reviews 6

FI

Fitzy K

Very glad we decided to check this place out (went to the one at 1800 Broadway Street)! Coffee was really delicious!! Coffee: *Finca El Dragon (Costa Rica) - This is on my list of top 5 best coffees. It has a really unique (and delicious) taste. *Finca Bella Vista (Costa Rica) - Good coffee. I liked it enough to buy a bag to take home. From what I remember, your hot coffee options were pour over, espresso, a couple espresso drinks, and I think they offered a cold coffee drink. It was a small menu designed for coffee purists. Vibe: Its a small, clean shop. We went midday mid-week, so, with the exception of 3-4 other people, it was just us and there was plenty of seating. Not sure what its like on the weekends. The service was good and the barista was prompt and nice. However, the biggest complaint I have is that they seem a bit snobby about coffee. One of the first things the barista said to us was that "You cant put milk or sugar in the coffee." There is no milk or sugar available to use. I understand that they work very hard to source and roast delicious coffee, which they certainly do, but I kind of feel that if I pay for it, I ought to be able to drink it any way I like. Pour over is my favorite way to brew coffee, and I prefer to drink coffee black when (I think) its good. However, if I want to add milk and/or sugar, I feel that I should be able to do so without being judged. I recognize that this is their chosen profession, but at the end of the day, its still just coffee! I just dont like "judgy-ness", which was the vibe I got with their no milk or sugar policy. In my opinion, their coffee was delicious and I would have chosen to drink it without milk or sugar regardless of their policy. Parking: Again, we were there midday mid-week, so we had no problems finding parking. I dont know what its like on the weekends. As far as I could tell, only street parking is available. Despite the no milk no sugar policy, their coffee was thoroughly delicious and I would definitely recommending trying it if youre a coffee lover!

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JA

Jay Brown

If you are the type of person that believes your power as a consumer matters (and if you dont, then thats fine), then I just want to make it very clear that Brown Coffee Cos official opinion is that Homosexuals are "not natural" and "not equal". Why would a coffee company need to have an official company wide policy on this? I dont know. But since the owner and President of Brown Coffee Company, Aaron Blanco, decided to use his companies official twitter account to malign gay people, he has placed his customers in the unfortunate position to choose between his coffee and hate-free coffee. Its silly in this day and age that a business owner would choose to take the time out of his schedule to attack gay people, and to use his official company twitter account to do that, but that is where we are at. If Aaron Blancos political position and homophobia do not bother you, then that is fine. It does not seem to bother him as he rescinded his apology for his hateful words and went on to brag about how his homophobic vitriol actually INCREASED his sales. But if it DOES bother you, then I am providing you with the information you need to make an informed choice as a consumer. I think its great we live in a country that allows freedom of speech. I get really irritated when companies like the Brown Coffee Co. seems to think that freedom of speech = freedom from responsibility for that speech. I think its even worse when a grown man brags about how he made money off calling gays "not natural" and "Not equal". Caveat Emptor.

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JO

Jon Murrell

I was just having a great day looking on the internet for awesome coffee/espresso roasters in the central Texas area. I am a home Barista and have a small collection of Olympia Express Espresso machines. Thought it might be fun to see if any of the local area roasters have classes or tastings. I live in Austin and Cuvee came up as well as Brown and Ruta Mayal. Firstly as an openly GAY man i will allow you your opinions and tweets that no matter how you run them through the spin cycle are just hateful, un-necessary and mean-spirited. As for one of the owners friends saying "I know he has gay friends" well they may have thought they were "friends" but really acquintences would be more correct. You RESPECT friends. Im sure every little gay and lesbian just dreams as a child "Oh God please just let me be TOLERATED. I will take your advice and spend spend my money elsewhere. It wont hurt much in the beginning but give it some time. Youve let the light of day hit your inner sour soul for all to see and in the end it will haunt you. Love and hope for you, Jon

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TR

Troy Gibbins

This is by far the best coffee in San Antonio. I have lived here many years after moving to the US from Australia. Having worked in the coffee industry in a country where there is no such thing as drip coffee, I have searched long and hard for the quality of product I enjoyed back home. I am stoked to have found it here at Brown! Anyone who is looking to experience coffee as it should be experienced, with its own flavours and highlights (not caramels, vanillas and other flavours - if you prefer these you might search elsewhere) - go here! Cannot say enough about the attention given to extracting the flavour from the careful selection of the beans through the careful process and attention paid to roasting without destroying, to the delicate art of extracting the flavour with care to present a delightful coffee. Well done mate! Thanks heaps for providing such top notch coffee.

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A

A Private User

This isnt your typical coffee shop. You will not find muffins or pastries. I have never seen whipped cream or chocolate syrup on the premises. Sorry, no WiFi. What you get is the product of meticulously sourced beans roasted by an expert, who is usually there and will teach you as much about coffee as you care to learn. Two different types of pourover coffees are usually available, served black so that you can actually taste the flavors in the coffee. Yes, coffee has flavors (think berries, spice, orange). It doesnt have to taste burned. Espresso, macchiato and cappuccino are all fantastic, but the cold brew (served neat, on the rocks or "dirty" with milk and a touch of simple syrup) is a revelation. Neat it is like sipping liqueur; on the rocks the cold brew is crisp and refreshing. Besides the beverages, Brown sells its beans and a selection of home brewing equipment. Try it.

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A

A Private User

I am a self-avowed, practicing coffee snob. I roast my own coffee at home for the love of it. I travel a fair amount and am continually on the hunt for the perfect cup - that glorious intersection of exceptional beans, a gifted roaster, and the careful transformation of an obsessive barista. That pretty much describes Aaron and Brown Coffee. A visit to Brown coffee is an event. In Aarons humble shop I enjoyed the best expresso I have ever imbibed - bar none (followed by an equally incredible Cappuccino). Watching Aaron excitedly discribe how he and his father made his roaster, and listening as he discusses each bean in his inventory draws you into his passion (especially if youre hyped on caffeine as I was!). By itself Brown Coffee is worth a trip to San Antonio. Oh, yes - I also have a new source of green beans!

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