Caffe Medici
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Clarksville1101 West Lynn st
Austin, TX 78703 (512) 524-5049
- Price Range: $
- Parking: Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
45 Reviews for Caffe Medici
Absolutely the best coffee shop in Austin.
My usual is the mocha. It's sooo good b/c it's not as sweet as some of the other places I've been and I can actually taste the espresso. The plain coffee itself is pretty impressive, it smells delicious, is full of flavor and not watered down and burnt.
The only downside is that this place can get pretty crowded and there's no where to sit.
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Caffe Medici has one of the most relaxing atmospheres in Austin. They have a bookshelf in the back full of some interesting books you can borrow while you sip their exquisite coffee.
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For some reason I could not totally wake up today. Reviews looked good for Caffe Medici and I was right there in the neighborhood so I knew help was on the way.
The cup of French press coffee I ordered was rich, mellow and delicious and it did wake me up as I had hoped. The taste of the coffee bean was without any bitterness (well, that is what the barista told me and whether this influenced my taste buds and brain, I don't know). I took it to go but decided sipping out of that plastic lid would ruin my bean tasting so went without. It was good to the end.
Both baristas were friendly and knowledgeable about how the coffee undergoes a gentle roasting by the roaster. There is a good vibe here too and even though I don't need the wi-fi, it is here for wi-fiers.
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Awesome coffee. I can't attest for the various other drinks they serve, but various coffees I've had there were excellent and expertly made. Served in real cups.
When they are trying new blends and beans they'll just start giving away free cups if you happen to be there.
The simple reason they lack five stars is that they are too small. When you're good I understand you will be busy, but man, I wish they could expand and get some more seating.
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What to say that hasn't been said...
amazing cappuccino
delicious pastries
perfect saturday morning: lounge here with the NY times (they sell it here, too), and people watch around clarksville!
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Austin's best espresso. Really, honestly. That alone earns it five stars.
It has a nice consistent atmosphere. Simple decor, cozy space, nice outdoor seating. Sitting at the railing on the porch at twilight you can watch the radio towers blinking in the evening sky. Good dog watching, as everyone in Clarksville walks their dogs past. The music seems to be mostly good jazz, with some interesting admixture that has included country: it's music most people can agree is decent music, without being brainless trash.
The pastries are from Quack's. Not a great fan of the croissants, but all the sweet pastries are moist and not disgustingly sweet and are just plain good baked goods.
They have a shelf of books for reading.
The nice thing about Medici: you can study or read or have a conversation with a friend. It's a place you could respectably take a date, or be happy to go to read a book on your own.
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Good tasting coffee. Nice place. Feels too much like a library though: everyone is studying or doing homework and there's no music playing.
What happened to going to coffee shops to hang out with your friends?
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You haven't seen the dissapointment that I have. Not until you've seen a Medici barista take twice the time you would expect at a Fourbucks to begin a latte, prepare some damn tasty espresso, steam the right amount of milk, pour it into a perfectly wide-mouthed cup, (atop a saucer, as it should be) and create nine tenths of an impressive piece of latte art before [BUMP], a coworker jostles his arm, destroying what was otherwise worthy of placement in the Louvre.
"GOSH, IDIOT!" says the Medici Man, half with the scorn of Mr. Dynamite, half with the sorrow of a trampled artist.
Moments later, "damn," says I, realizing that when people give a crap about what they make it tastes really really good.
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Great great coffee (french-press) and espresso. bout time...a more adult place to hang out than the standard Austin coffeehouse. Music wasnt too annoying and baristas are nice. Wish there was more room in there though, kinda cramped and when the middle aged-pony-tailed-life coach starts talking LOUDLY about Jesus, it can drive ya a little nuts.
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What a find for top notch coffee and espresso. The drinks were wonderful, cafe aut lait, doppios, and lattes graced our table, and none disappointed. The pastries were equally tasty (I especially likesd their cinnamon roll).
The atmosphere is friendly, the baristas seem like guys you'd want to hang out with. The decor is clean and simple, maybe a touch modern. I really enjoyed the local art (which I guess is standard in coffee houses these days).
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Throw away any fast food coffee house notions, when you come to this establishment. It is all about waiting for quality. A hot cup of Costa Rican, french-pressed, got my day off to a great start. Coffee is the new wine, and Caffe Medici is the place to explore your passion! It's nice to see a staff that takes pride in their work. Caffe Medici, I think I love you!
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Damn fine coffee. Damn fine espresso. The guys at this place know what's up. All of their coffees are french pressed and most of the baristas here know how to pull a good shot of espresso. The presentation is great. I hope in the future they try to start carrying better pastries but that is no reason to give this place a demerit because the coffee is so friggin' good.
Easily the best coffee in town in my opinion. Also, two of the baristas placed in the top two of the regional Barista competition for what it's worth.
Do yourself a favor if you are in the area and pick up a cup of their House Blend. It's bangarang.
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Yup - this place pretty much rules. Great coffee, nice casual atmosphere - I wish every neighborhood had a high quality coffee shop like this. Clean, modern design, and they obviously take a lot of care with the coffee they serve. Good on you, guys.
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A rainy, foggy afternoon left my mind wandering to the book I'm in the middle of reading....and I just couldn't concentrate at work. I saw the great reviews for Caffe Medici here, and thought it would be a perfect late-afternoon getaway - have some coffee and read my book for a couple of hours to get my mind off things. I found it easily enough, there was a parking space. The first thing I noticed when I walked in were all the single laptop-fiends with their backpacks and various personal articles occupying the opposite seat - an entire caffe of half-occupied tables. I got in line, hoping a seat would clear. The french press was a reasonable $2.17 and was really good. However, there was NO place to sit, and I had ordered my coffee for here. All the barstools were full, the couch was full, and all the other tables were taken up by the aforementioned lone-laptoppers. So, I ventured into the cold to sit on the front porch. No place for reading, my dream of a relaxing afternoon with the characters from my novel in a big comfy chair was shattered. I waited, watching like a hawk for an empty seat inside. As someone left the couch the musical chairs began - someone from the bar quickly took up the couch, and I scrounged the barstool; still an uncomfortable way to read. After 15 or 20 more minutes, I was able to scrounge the other half of the couch; but then my coffee was gone and I was torn between getting more and loosing my seat that I waited nearly an hour to get.
Kudos for the great cup of coffee in a real cup, but I felt like a vulture the whole time waiting for some place to slip in and sit down, then like some kind of territorial beast wanting to defend my seat that was so hard-earned. Not very relaxing.
Its too bad I couldn't combine the coffee, parking and location of Medici with the atmospheres of Summermoon and Halcyon (along with Halcyon's great egg paninis). That would be the worlds greatest coffeeshop. But alas, Medici doesn't cut it on its own.
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We had a frappe, a cafe au lait, a con panna, and a latte. One of the only places that can do latte art and is almost tied with JP'S Java for lattes IMO, I think the espresso blend used at JP's Java has a slightly sweeter finish. The con panna was excellent and let us determine that their espresso and abilities with their machine are top notch. The cafe au lait was very good. The frappe wasn't fully satisfying, had the consinstency of chilled milk instead of a crushed ice or milk shake consistency, but was also good. The atmosphere is relaxed, the service was prompt, but the barista seemed a bit pretentions and the cashier wasn't very friendly, which is ok, but she didn't have very much personality. The outdoor seating is pretty cool.
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Some people are easily impressed. I went to Caffe Medici (pronounced MED-i-chee, not Me-DEE-chee, like some I've heard) after reading the "Austin Chronicle" awards last year. Had a French press Brazilian that was nice. Couldn't get my computer to work on their wi-fi for some reason. The barista said it was because I had Vista and "someone was working on it". The coffee was good, but not great. It comes from a roaster in Houston called Cuvee. Went back to Caffe Medici recently and ordered another French press of an Ethiopian. It wasn't prepared in a French press, though. Now they've got some new hot water machine that saves time I suppose. The coffee was totally flat and watery. Nice flavor - if it was tea. Watched the barista expertly make someone an espresso and thought I should have ordered that instead, but noticed there wasn't much crema. Both times had an impossible time finding a place to sit. How do they stay in business with the Clarksville crowd ordering one coffee and staying online taking up tables? Is there any food? The tables are tiny and so close together, especially near the bathroom. Parking was a hassle. Had to drive around the block to let someone get out and then thought I'd lose the spot. Felt like I was violating the privacy of others (and got annoyed looks) for wanting to view the photos exhibited on the walls. Overall an air of Clarksville entitlement for a boring, cramped cafe with overrated coffee.
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yes...Yes...YEs...YES!
Why even bother with any other coffee shops in town? These guys clearly understand the ins & outs of coffee and are not afraid to put those skills to use to craft you one of the finest lattes you've had outside of Seattle.
Surprisingly (and I don't know why I say surprisingly) the atmosphere was comfortable and inviting and caused me to spend a bit longer leaching off their free wi-fi than I had intentioned.
Yep, I'll hit this anytime I'm in Austin.
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This is a very nice coffee shop. The presentation was wonderful. The espresso was over roasted, but not to the point of being terrible. The atmosphere was nice. It's not quite as collegey as Mozart's is, and that can be a good thing.
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I took another yelper's recommendation and ordered the double cappuccino. Now I'm on a quest to find something similar where I live, and it just ain't gonna happen. I'd love to have taken this place home in my back pocket. Is it that big Ferrari red machine that cranks out the juice or the clearly dedicated staff? I just don't know, but both kept me coming back almost daily during my visit.
Let me reitierate: double cappuccino. Perfection. I have never ordered two double cappuccino's inside of a ten minute window.
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Pay attention Austin. These guys know coffee. Two of the baristas at Medici (Clancy and Patrick) recently took 1st and 2nd place in the first ever South Central Regional Barista Competition (in Dallas). That makes this little shop arguably the best coffee joint in Texas (and Louisiana and Oklahoma for that matter since they are also in the region). The coffee is brewed french press (the only way strong/thick enough for my discerning taste) and the equipment and skills are the right combination.
One of the most important ingredients in a successful specialty coffee shop is passion - and Medici has plenty - shared by the owners as well as at least some of the baristas.
If you are being served a latte or capp and it doesn't have latte art on the top, then you aren't going to the right place. At Medici, they will treat you right, and the coffee is so good, and the milk so smooth, that you might suddenly realize you don't need a flavored syrup or several sugar packets to make an espresso-based drink consumable.
Keep up the good work Medici! Can't wait to visit you each time I visit Austin. Finally I found a place in Texas where I trust that they are doing specialty coffee RIGHT.
: )
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I have been searching for a place that brings back memories of those perfect lattes of Seattle ... I found that here at this lovely cafe! The baristas were quick and polite and made a me a beautiful artisan drink that I happily enjoyed in their quaint but slightly small cafe. This is a great place for people watching and fierce intellectual debates. They have a nice but also small outdoor seating area. Check it out, you won't be disappointed!
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This place, a stone's throw from Anthony's laundry and Nau's drug, called to me one morning this week as I fought the dulldrums of daily routine. I remembered the ratings had been strong and I thought "what the hell" as I wheeled my F150 into the roomy parking lot amongst the Priuses and Civics. Uh oh, I thought, not a good sign. My suspicion confirmed as I came to the front door as saw all the tables occupied by laptop smashers. Inside, the clicks on the keyboards was broken by the hiss as the barrister prepared what was to become my favorite cup of cappuccino in this fair country. One sip and I was sent back to Paris, 1989 on Rue St Troufle. It was magical. And then the damnable clicking came back into my conscious. Fucking laptops.
5 stars for the best cup of coffee in the last 15 years.
4 stars because those bastards stole my moment.
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I tried this place because of all of the great reviews, and yep, you guys are right: this coffee is delicious. Very tasty! And it's true, there was no need to add any sugar or sweetener. The coffee was great all by itself. Kudos!
I must confess that my favorite coffee in town is still Summermoon's half-moon latte, but there is quite a bit of sugar in that (a drag if you are keeping track of calories, etc...)
Medici is perfect for the coffee purists in town. The staff was extremely friendly. Just a great place all around. Give it a try!
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I was terribly sad when Peets on the strip left town. I have had a love affair going with the Peets Major Dickason that had lasted for maybe ten years.
Medici was a long time coming. It was well worth the wait. I had thought ,walking by during the building, that Austin needs another coffee shop like I need one more purse.
But I love Medici. This place is not the same old scene. The owners and employees know and love coffee. The owner is familiar with Peets coffee, and even with the beans that I used to love. He recommended The Brazil Fazenda Ipanema Dulce. I bought a bag. I forgot all about Peets.
Every employee here knows exactly how to make each specialty drink. They serve the coffee drinks like tiny works of art. In the foam they form a leaf-shape, and each cup feels like a little gift in my hands.
This coffee shop is not a scene. It is tastefully designed, and their artwork is limited to only photographs, which is a nice way of preventing the infamous bad coffee shop "art" (paintings) that you see in other cafes. (Halcyon, and The Hideout are two examples). The overall vibe is quiet, friendly, and clean.
The laptop people were mentioned. Though the owners really cant force people to scoot together to communally surf, it is a little annoying when all of the tables are taken by singles, and you are forced to sit outside with all of the puffers. I am a smoker, but that doesn't mean that I really love my early morning coffee to be partially obscured by clouds of cigar smoke. And when that neighborhood vampire- woman is sitting out there, forget it.
Added bonus...clean spacious bathrooms with fans, and a mini-library of paperback books you can exchange with your own, a reliable wireless connection, ample bike and scooter parking, and a wheelchair ramp that is not too steep.
The barista with the rocking-chair tattoo has a great smile and always remembers my order.
Design, vibe, product, comfort, ease, location, smart hiring.
They thought of everything.
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I love this place. I agree with the other posters about the whole "library" feel, but I really kind of like that. I prefer that to chatty Kathy time. It really is the best cup of coffee I've had in Austin. It's one of the few places that I don't put cream or sugar in it. Just enjoy the awesome flavor.
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I had a Perfect Cappuccino.
Seriously.
I know what a really good cappuccino taste like.
I've been taught how to make really good cappuccinos.
For 20 years, I've made and taught people how to make really good cappuccinos.
I have never tasted anything this perfect.
Seriously.
Here at Caff Medici.
I had a Perfect Cappuccino.
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I agree with everyone else who have commented that the coffee is the best! I actually order "real" coffee at this place instead of the gimmicky coffee you can find at the ever ubiquitous Starbucks locations.
I removed one star, however, because the internet is NOT reliable for some. Despite having a new laptop and a full bar of connection availability from Caffe Medici, I could never connect to the internet. Instead I had to try to connect to a weaker connection from Galaxy Cafe, go to another coffee shop, or go home. This is all very frustrating especially when you would like to just relax and study in a quiet environment with exceptional coffee.
Just so you know...My friend also had the same problems I had, so I'm sure there are others who have experienced this. This problem may have been solved already, though, since I have not returned in almost six months because of this dilemma. I plan to return later in hopes that everything will be much better.
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I lived a few blocks down the street from Medici when Crofts left and moved to South Congress (no big whoop). I was extremely skeptical when I saw Medici's logo go up (sorry, boys! I'm a picky little designer) and stay there for about a year and a half, during which I moved south of the river. Thoughts of the shop were brief and few, until . . . I tried the coffee.
Oh. My. I am so sad that I don't live there anymore. Now I have to DRIVE (or ride me bike) to get the best, most amazing, most fantastic and awesome coffee drinks in town.
Oooooooh, my double cappuccino with skim, you are the love of my morning (and sometimes afternoon) life times. And the way the guys (especially Cameron!) at Medici make it is soooo perfect, I have begun to order it elsewhere in hopes of fulfilling that obsessive craving when not in the 'hood. . . I order my drinks short at Jo's on Congress or Progress, my other favs in town. While good, it is just not the same. . . Oh, Medici, nothing compares to you. : )
(Note on the logo: now that I love this place, the logo doesn't bother me in the slightest. I guess it seemed at the time to be a pretentious identity for a mediocre coffee shop - like most in Austin - but now that they've delivered, I like it. Hmm.)
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I agree that the espresso here is tops. These guys (and girls...do any work there?) really know what they're doing with their machine. I've had only one regular coffee there, and I have to say, it took me a bit to get used to the taste of french press coffee, which is how I think they do it. But half way through I was fine. Nice decor, simple, good art (photos) on the walls and I love the stone tables out front.
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My friend Marie recently introduced me to this delightful spot. It's very small - it's not the place you want to go to spread out with a friend for a work session. It *is* the place you want to go for an exceptional latte. They sell the beans, too.
Yum!
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After having a nice "punch-in-the-face" from the bitter starbucks espresso I enjoyed yesterday, I was excited to try my new neighborhood coffeehouse and I was not disappointed.
The double espresso was buttery and caramel-y, with a robust mid-palate flavor. Color me impressed, as this is the best espresso in town. The atmosphere was serene, though I would have appreciated some downtempo/chill music.
Thanks to a renewed school year, I've been spending way too much time here knee-deep in homework. The coffee still remains great and the service remains excellent. The small space doesn't occupy many students and "regulars" here, which means I can't get a seat. It's a good problem to have, but a problem none-the-less.
This is worth noting, but the baristas are very friendly. I've recently had chats about turkish coffee, draughthouse pub, and rap code names for coffee drinks. Great stuff.
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Love the french press coffee. Cool hip place in a cool hip neighborhood. Minus 1 star for uncomfortable chairs. Just downgraded them a star. I got crappy french press old an luke warm today
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if I wanted a library, I would go to the library. It seems difficult for this place to create a cozy, quality atmosphere, which i find a little sad. i especially dislike that the tables and chairs are all uniformed, but i was happy to have the best chai that i've had in austin yet. the baristi were really sweet and outgoing. this is a good place to enjoy take away...
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I heart coffee. Thanks Yelp.
First time I went I was a little disappointed because it was one of those reallly humid and nasty Austin days and unfortunately with the in/out traffic, the place had some little guests flying around. But the coffee was excellent. Second time the weather was beautiful and the guests were gone.
No need to say anything additional about how good the coffee is. it just is.
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Come see the Lamborghini of espresso machines!
Come witness a fine barista prepare an espresso beverage for you!
Accept said espresso beverage and take your first sip immediately!
Consider the "best cup of coffee in town" label bandied about this place and who knows, you might just agree. I did.
If you see a curly-haired barista wearing a baseball hat with a recycling patch and sporting a tattoo of a rocking chair on the inside of one of his lower arms, ask him to sing a little song for you. He likes to improvise.
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The best coffee cup in Austin.
I had Americano which was excellent. Their roasting is light, and the coffee taste is smooth.
I also tried their herb infusion (mint with something) which was great.
They have a variety of pastries and also pastries that are one day old (for 95 cents).
Very comfortable to sit inside. They have a lot of tables and sofas. Very recommended.
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Best coffee in Austin so far. European flavor, great taste, they know coffee. Ask for the Macchiatto, it's simply perfect. Great place, I rated 4'cause they do not heat the milk enough when you ask for a latte. Also, a little chill out music would be cool. Sometimes the place is so quiet..
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Great coffee, great atmosphere, great location. Need I say more? Recently had a latte so good I don't know why I even bother with big chains. Enjoyed it thoroughly, even the little design they make on your foam.
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Good Environment. Tucked away in the 'old west austin' neighborhood, which encompasses Clarksville. (Central Austin)
What's nice is that owner Mike and crew do it right. They've got high quality coffee, amazing machines, and well-honed baristas.
The only other place that does coffee this well in the neighborhood is Portabla (sorry Sweetish Hill... putting coffee in styrofoam cups is a sin) ... but portabla main biz is food. Caffe Med is all about coffee.
They just added some quarried benches and table out front...
Speaking of laptop assholes.. it's true. There should be a rule that if you're on a laptop, you should have to double and triple-up on tables. Zing!
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i used to think that coffee & espresso were alot like different brands of the same grape of red wine- they all had different tastes, but with such a small standard deviation that it was hard to justify having too strong of positive feelings for any particular brand.
Caffe Medici is one of two cafe's in austin (the other one being JP's Java) that have remarkably good coffee. I like coffee and am a coffee drinker, but frankly (besides the obviously flavored stuff) most coffee-and particularly espresso- basically tastes the same to me. Not so at caffe medici. These guys have chosen a very good bean, roaster, really know how to properly grind the beans, and have good machines that they all know how to use. the result? an espresso that comes out way creamier, complex, and less acidic than probably anything else you're used to. plus you can actually drink the shots right away because they don't come out of the espresso machine overly hot like in most places.
seriously- and my work regularly brings me to alot of different cafes all over austin- best espresso in town, and you can actually taste it.
plus everyone that works there is a sweetheart. :)
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