Lava Java

 

3

14

Jon E.

Austin, TX

They make pretty good espresso drinks, and it's close to campus, but it's too small and the hours are too limited for it to be a serious work venue.  Good for a to-go cup if you're on the UT campus near the law school or LBJ school; otherwise, don't make the trip.

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3

4

John C.

Austin, TX

It's really lame of them to not include their summer hours in any of these places:

(1) their website

(2) their door

(3) their voicemail message

Could someone who knows their summer hours please post them here? The hours listed on Yelp are incorrect.  

Other than that: pretty good cafe, but nothing especially noteworthy by Austin standards.

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1

7

Tea A.

Austin, TX

I love this place...very relaxed; old furniture; great staff; the best teas in town too - iced or hot!

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0

5

georgia n.

Austin, TX

Tony makes the best mocha frappe in town. Once he put chocolate shavings on top of the whipped cream, which was already drizzled with chocolate sauce. Chocolate shavings! I know!

For less decadent times, their drip coffee is good, too, and they have a nice selection of things like Orangina and chocolate covered coffee beans in the cooler. Yummy snacks, too. A midafternoon workday lifesaver.

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Elite '08

72

52

Erika G.

Austin, TX

This place has always reminded me of my junior high art teacher Ms Kaminsky's classroom, and part of what I can only imagine her actual living room might look like, too.

Random overgrown flora bursting from their handmade, badly painted clay pots on the windowsill, an even randomer assortment of cardboard cards and creative fodder sitting in a basket on the barrista gathering dust and a homey little gathering of beat-up chairs, recliners and tables that make absolutely no sense to someone who doesn't have the scattered but genius mind of an artist.

These were my musings upon wandering in here for the first time in seven years. The last time I was in here, I was meeting with grad school friends feverishly toiling away on our Portfolio projects, slugging down espresso like it was ambrosia. Those were times when I was either at a coffee house because of some impending project, or out taking Flaming Dr Pepper shots somewhere and speaking tongues because said project was over with.

So back to this. I have always loved the haphazard, friendly feel of the place. The staff is always very attentive, the iced lattes are excellent (no grounds in the bottom - yay!) and the clientele is always a good mix of hipster, fervent student and tired-looking professor. It seems like at any moment you could beg for a better grade, get piercing or tattoo tips and bum, then chain smoke, some Parliaments or hand-rolled cigs and talk finals outside - all under 10 minutes flat. I should time myself.

Hippy quirky, but welcoming and cozy. Despite the bad breath, that's how I will always think of Ms. Kaminsky, and thus Lava Java. Ms. Kaminsky, that is, not Lava Java. Although, given that strong coffee fumes have been emanating from it every day for over 7 years, perhaps it does have bad coffee breath too. But maybe that's not such a horrible thing.

I take off just the one star because of its unfortunate location on the corner of Dean Keaton and Medical Arts. If it's not the ambient roar of traffic from 35, it's an ambulance rushing to Seton Medical or some other distracting horn or noise if you happen to be hanging out on the patio. Inside, it's like leisurely sitting in Ms. Kaminsky's art class, doodling all over your drawing pad. With good coffee.

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Elite '08

18

52

Ashley A.

Austin, TX

Being so close to the UT Austin School of law, and having such unconscionably awful coffee, Lava Java brings to mind the infamous story---popularized in Legal Responsibility courses across the country---of a judge who ordered his bailiff to bring a coffee vendor to his chambers in handcuffs and screamed at him for twenty minutes for serving "putrid" coffee before unshackling him and letting him go.  I'm not one to condone judicial misconduct but it's not difficult to imagine Lava Java's basic brew inspiring such a response.

This is not to malign Lava Java as a place to sit, study, eat a breakfast taco, meet a friend or wait out one's bulk copying job at the adjacent FedEx Kinkos---and, as such, I don't necessarily disagree with other reviews praising said tacos, ambiance or location.  But when I stumbled blearly-eyed and twitching into Lava Java on my way to work last week, wanting nothing more than a good---nay, only decent---cup of coffee, I was just shocked.   Having thought for some time about the flavor-profile of said sludge, I'm not sure if it's closer to that of (i) the individually aluminum-wrapped packets of coffee oft-appearing in Holiday Inn suites next to miniature coffee-pots or (ii) cheap, grainy "flavored" coffee, absent the artificial flavor.  

Whatever it is: it's bad.  Criminally bad.  Lucky for the barista I left my handcuffs at home.

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6

47

Jewel J.

CA

Yeah, so I'm not from Austin, so I don't know if I am the best judge of breakfast tacos. That being said...I love them. I don't know if they are actually good or if I like them because they are the only thing within walking distance of the law school that is reasonably priced. Breakfast special... you can get two tacos with two toppings plus cheese and a drink/coffee. Pretty good deal to a starving student like myself.

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Elite '08

69

197

Steven N.

Austin, TX

Nice little coffee joint near the UT Law School.

Pluses:
- Free WiFi
- Good combination of chairs/tables and comfy soft couches/chairs
- The chocolate (Torani) they use for mochas has real sugar - not corn syrup.
- Friendly staff
- Ample parking

Not really any minuses to speak of at the moment

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Elite '08

221

381

Lisa A.

Houston, TX

I love breakfast tacos. I can eat them on a boat, on a train, day or night, underwater (or in my under ware)...but always with salsa. I'll buy them from a taco truck, from a taco shack, from a loco taco-senorita named  Maria, or, yes, even from a coffee shop.

As far as coffee shop tacos go these are the best and the price is right. For $3.25 you get a hot, fresh taco with two ingredients (cheese is included for free) and a small cup of coffee. Best taco/coffee deal in town!

As far as Austin baristas go these guys rank in the top %2 of their class. They know how to make a good latte and they know their Harry Nilsson. The even have a poster of Harry Nilson in his bathrobe that I can stare at while I wait for my coffee.

*The only reason why the don't get 5 stars is because they haven't perfected cooking bacon. Not much worse than undercooked bacon.

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133

429

Sarah M.

Austin, TX

Lava Java is nice. There's really no other more descriptive word I would use. It's just....nice.

Conveniently located on the corner of Dean Keeton and Medical Arts St., LJ is far enough away from the UT campus to get some distance, but easily accessible by bus, car or foot. In my opinion, the interior space isn't ideally suited for a coffee house, but the location, staff, and coffee make up for this. Especially the staff. Lava Java is the ONLY coffee shop I've been to where the wait staff actually makes sure the patrons are getting wireless. Usually, the more-frustrated-by-the-moment customer has to ask several times for employees to check on the connection. For this, I thank you!

They offer a variety of drinks and goods, but can't (or don't) support the quantity that some other near-campus joints serve (ie: Quacks). They are known for their breakfast tacos, though, and the price and taste are satisfying enough to have you coming back. The music plays at a comfortable decibel...but whoa...the playlist needs some serious help.

Side note: Lava is connected to Longhorn Po-Boys, a tasty sandwich/pita/wrap shop. The mutually beneficial relationship is wise, and convenient for hungry students. Grab a falafel at Longhorn and your coffee and wi-fi at Lava.

Try a breakfast taco at LJ's and complement it with a pumpkin spice latte (only offered seasonally, unfortunately).

Lava Java is actually VERY nice.

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82

305

Alexandra L.

Austin, TX

Their coffee and tea is good.  But here's the deal: $3.25 for two breakfast tacos and coffee.  For each taco, you get a choice of two fillings, in addition to the cheese.  

Usually, I get one with mushroom/spinach/cheese, and the other with bacon/potato/cheese.  Other filling options include bell pepper, egg, beans, and tomato - they have the most choices of any other breakfast taco place I've been to in Austin.  They're not greasy, either - very healthy and super delicious!  

Don't stop by there if you're in a rush - their breakfast special is quite popular, and often there will be a line of at least 10 people.  But if you have 15-30 minutes to spare, it's quite worth it.

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