Summermoon Coffee Bar
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)3115 S 1st St
# 1B
Austin, TX 78704 (512) 804-1665
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
22 Reviews for Summermoon Coffee Bar
I'm giving this place 4 out of 5 because they don't have almond milk yet nor rice milk. Even JOE"S got rice and I have asked for it several times. However, the coffee is great and the peeps are very friendly. I love getting my soap and spray oils there from Austin People and they also have breakfast tacos. All in all, I think the coffee beats Joe's. Great place to check out....just need another one closer to the downtown area now. Also, please ask for rice milk or almond milk!!! Cow milk is not good for you and neither is soy people!!! :-)
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This has become a regular haunt for me on the weekends since it's so close to my house. Today, I tried the Halfmoon iced latte. Made with super creamy, sweetened milk combined with skim milk, it's a lighter version of the Wintermoon iced coffee drink. Probably not good for the diet, but definitely good for the tastebuds and the belly.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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04/15/2008
I'm so glad I live close to Summermoon. Between Summermoon and Emerald City, we've got two new… Read more »
I'm going to admit right off the bat here that, like many coffeehouse reviews, this one may not seem complete to everyone. I don't live for the brown bean (like it, don't seek it out), so occasionally my take on coffee houses and coffee bars is more of the alternate beverages and ambiance variety.
Nonetheless.
I can see why folks might rotate to this place. Even exempting the minor (but pleasant) aroma of the room, the appointments (natural soaps and other organic fare), forgetting for a moment the easy deck out front, and the way that the place appears to be laid out to encourage careful, muted conversation when possible, I was struck most by the decent variety of beverage options, the local flair, the reasonably quick turn of my (in this case) italian soda. Like a few others, I can't rightly say that I'm over the (summer) moon for this place, but it's worth giving it another shot. At least to see if first impressions were correct.
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Wood fired coffee? That instantly intrigued me, I love LOVE coffee! I decided to stop in to try out said coffee. The first time I went, they were closed, their hours were different from the ones posted on the website. That was kind of annoying, but it did say these were "new" hours, so I guess they haven't had time to update.
This delayed gratification made me desire it more, so I came back the following day to give it a try. The interior is very bright and inviting. Not very many people were there. The music was a nice mix of indie tunes and the decor was pleasant.
The man behind the counter was very helpful and helped me decide which coffee to purchase. I decided on the same coffee they use as their espresso in house because I thoroughly enjoyed my Americano. The following morning I made a french press of the suggested coffee and savored every sip. The after taste is completely unlike every other coffee I have had, you definitely can detect the wood fired roasting. I recommend it with a splash of cream because, although this coffee is smooth for the most part, there is a bit of a bite on the finish. However, with a tad bit of cream, it perfectly rounds out the flavor.
My only beef is that a 12 oz package of coffee is in the 11-12 dollar range which I find a bit pricey for less than a pound. However, it's definitely worth it if you are a coffee lover and want to support organic, fair trade, locally roasted beans.
They also have free wifi..bonus.
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I don't drink coffee but I love the smell. I headed there to meet with a friend. I immediately needed coffee. It has to be the best smelling coffee in this world. The atmosphere was very relaxing and friendly. The service was friendly. I just wish the panini has some vegetables in it. Don't they make panini with vegetables? But I still love the place.
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So the husband and I ventured south this morning to try a new coffee bar. Summermoon was on the "to try" list and we ended up there. I immediately liked the decor that features mid-century modern furnishings and separate seating areas allowing for a more intimate feel. Eclectic art and posters decorate the walls and music plays while you sip.
The breakfast tacos were not good--small with limp bacon--I did not finish mine. The cup of brewed coffee smelled and tasted smoky and delicious but after only a few sips, I was buzzing wildly. I like my buzzes to come on gradually so I have time to adjust! Ah--perhaps this characteristic of their coffee appeals to the St. Ed students who live nearby. The mister's drink was a half summermoon--sweet and delicious.
I was torn on how to rate this cute place and would have given it 3 1/2 stars but yelp allows only whole numbers. If I was in the neighborhood, I would come back for a half summermoon.
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Summer Moon has a really nice feel to it. The decor is really nice, and there's a little deck outside that's probably pretty nice on a breezy day. I didn't have the coffee (I went with some vanilla-flavored frozen thing that was very good). The GF had the coffee, and she liked it. I was hungry, so I decided to order a couple of breakfast tacos, but when the barista opened up the refrigerator and pulled out a greasy paper bag with three or four small foil-wrapped tacos I changed my mind.
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I love Summermoon. I am so glad my friend and I stumbled on this neat little coffee shop almost 2 years ago. The Summermoon coffee drink is the best coffee drink I've ever had. No, I take that back. Actually, the best coffee drink I've ever had is the Wintermoon, the iced version of the Summermoon. It's the best treat for a hot summer's night. They have a super calm atmosphere and free wi-fi. A grad student's dream.
I just wish I lived closer to it and that they had more parking. Open up a north location already!
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Every time I think of this place, I get "Brother Wolf, Sister Moon", by the Cult stuck in my head. It is there now, as I type this.
I've been here twice, and I'm still not quite sure what to make of it.
The first time, I (thought I) was getting over being sick. I wanted to get out and have a cup of tea, after being stuck in my house for days, having cups of tea. I'm sure I was grouchy, but when I saw the signs on the walls suggesting I "smile" and "believe", I wanted to run.
Who puts that crap up in coffee-shops that aren't brewin' for the Lord?
Well, I started coughing, and that place is pretty small, and I didn't want to disturb the other four people there, so I went back home to hack in front of my TV.
So, I went back today. I was in the mood for a book and a cuppa, and I remembered they have a few cushy spots in which to sit.
The tea was pretty good, and the spot was cushy. But those damn signs were still up, urging me to "smile" and "believe". Hey, pal, I'll smile when and where I want to.
And as for the believing? I believe it gets three stars.
Pluses for nice (but loud) baristas, good tea, and cushy spots. Minuses for blind turns into the parking lot, bad radio jazz, outside bathrooms, decor schizophrenia, and over-merchandising.
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probably the best coffee i've ever had. much better'n jo's anyway. summer moon coffee is as good or rather, BETTER than that stuff starbucks serves (starbucks CALLS its preparation "coffee" but i'm pretty sure they're selling 'CRACK dressed as brown water' - both are cheap - so who cares but anyway, this review is about SUMMER MOON, not crack prices). there are sofas and wireless connections and a deck and a super steep driveway so don't scrape the undercarriage of your car when you pull in.
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The first thing you notice is that this shop doesn't have a stool or hard chair in the joint; it's all plush leather and fat couches. I'm sure this is appealing to the art history majors at nearby St. Ed's, since many spend hours on their asses studying in coffee shops. Second, the wood roasting does change the flavor of the coffee, imparting a greater smoke quality and, in the case of the espresso, amplifying the taste sensations of the crema. In other words, they're not yanking your chain when they say roasting brings out a different character.
The morning I was there was filled with many regulars and some fairly intense jazz selections. A plus on the cheesy side is that they've taken marker to the mirror behind the counter, creating a circle that you end up being in the center of, with "Customer of the day" written up above. Call me lame, but considering I was about to chug through some writing, this was nice. I'll be back for sure.
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Why: Great coffee flavored coffee and atmosphere...
I've grown tired of the stoner's living room coffeehouses. Cruddy chipped coffee mugs, broken down couches, goodwill chairs, and freakish art. Most notably, repugnant coffee they advertise as "fair trade". Uh, more like fair trade crap! And quite frankly, I'm not a huge fan of overpriced burned coffee either. Errr...Let's just say stars are involved.
This place roasts their own beans over wood fire. That's reason enough to say their pretty special. And what a difference wood fire makes. E ven their dark roast doesn't have a bitter after taste that lingers in the back of your throat for a couple of hours.
Their coffeehouse is very inviting too. Quaint little shop minus that non-commercial feel. NO music shopping for your IPone here. ;) If you will, imagine Holly Golightly's apartment. I don't think I can put it any better.
It's a great place to hang with friends, first date coffee shop, study for class, or just sit outside on their patio with a good book and a great cup of wood fired coffee flavored coffee.
And for you Chai lovers, they use real powder not liquid.
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This is the anti-Starbucks.
An amazing place that seems apart from the grid.
Daily haunt for sure. Atmosphere and coffee done right. Order, except what she gives you, and have faith that this is coffee drinkers coffee
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The only downside is that it is easy to miss if you are driving fast on S. 1st.
... My advice - drive slow - because this is a spot you'll want to turn in to more often. My God, this is a great coffee hide-away.
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This place is right near my apartment so it's very convenient. I don't even drink coffee, but the atmosphere of the place is so nice (for some reason it sort of reminds of The Jetsons in a grotto) that within the first week of moving in to our new place we went four times. The frozen hot chocolate is delicious and my boyfriend says the coffee's good, too.
Definitely a good place to bring your laptop; it's usually not busy late morning/mid-day and it's nice and quiet. The employees are really friendly and don't seem to mind if you hang around for hours surfing the internets.
Anyway, Summermoon is totally chill and a great place to have a chat with a few friends.
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The vanilla chai here is some of the best I've ever had. I'm a huge chai fan, and they do it up right (but I can't attest to the coffee, since I had to quit drinking it thanks to migraines). They sell their coffee in bags though, along with mugs, which would make a nice gift.
The downsides are that getting in/out on S. 1st--now that traffic has gotten so horrible on that street--is pretty tough. Their lot is tiny, too. Plus they're closed on Sunday (I love some chai on a lazy Sunday morning!) and the empanada I had was only so-so--dry and underfilled.
But they get 4 stars anyway, because the chai is awesome, they're local and in my hood, and it's a place I'd want to come back and spend some time indoors reading or outdoors on the deck. I only wish this place had been open when I was in grad school at St. Ed's--it's a great spot to study, I imagine.
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this is my favorite spot to study. It's cozy, relaxed space with comfy seating and great coffee. It's not the place for a large group, but if you're looking for a more intimate coffee house, stop by summermoon.
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If I'd gone to grad school or college in Austin, I probably would have spent most of my time at Summermoon. It's everything you'd want in a coffee house. It's quiet, but not too quiet. There are all different kinds of places to sit, which is something that I highly value. It's really well-decorated, in a "wish I'd thought of it myself" kind of way.
I usually get regular coffee there, but I'll order a half moon or quarter moon latte if I'm feeling more extravagant. The quarter moon latte is not listed on their menu, so I feel extra-cool ordering it. I also am really into their breakfast tacos, and their baked goods are pretty great, too.
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This place roasts coffee that will seriously change your life. Our first experience with Summermoon was via our veggie delivery service (greenling.com). The idea of getting locally-roasted coffee delivered to our front porch was too exciting to pass up. Hmmm, wood fired coffee? Is this something special? We brewed some and were immediately blown away with the intricate flavor. We got a little obsessed and later decided to check out the shop, even though it is a pretty long drive from our house.
It's a very quaint South Austin shop. They have some yummy food...but nothing is as fabulous as the coffee. Topher got a latte and I just got a straight-up cup o' coffee. We sat outside on their deck and I can't remember any other time in my life where every sip of a simple cup of coffee made me so happy. Imagine not being able to hold back "yum" every few seconds.
More people need to know about and love these guys. They are really doing something right!
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Great decor, friendly service, if only they had a better location. They roast their very own special brand of coffee and sell it in the store. It is the smoothest coffee I've ever had, and goes very well with a cream or milk and the pastries they serve of course. You won't find this coffee anywhere else in town, so if you want something unique, give this place a try.
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I can't believe that Summermoon is just now being reviewed! I LOVE this place. I am by no means a coffee connoisseur, but I know what I like.
I was recommended this coffee bar by a coworker who just couldn't get enough of it; she was convinced they must put crack in it. Her favorite drink was the summermoon (easy to remember!), so I tried it. It was delicious, but a little too sweet for my taste. The 'half moon' is where it's at for me. That drink is the perfect indulgence. mmmm It's sweet, creamy, nutty and just glorious. My boyfriend is perpetually hot and sweaty, so there is no way he will drink hot coffee. Instead he orders the 'winter moon' which is just the summermoon on ice.
Now that I'm talking about it, I want some...
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This is a great coffeehouse for meeting a friend, working on a project, or reading. I wouldn't choose it for meeting with a group of more than 3 people. It's got a great feel inside, with big dark wood tables and also some big comfy chairs. They usually play jazz over the speakers, although sometimes you may get some contemporary alt-rock, especially if the dark-haired girl is working. It's family-owned, and one of the owners, Justin, is usually working during weekdays. He's a youngish, very unassuming guy, you wouldn't know he owned it with his wife! Their signature drink is the Summermoon, which, yes, is sweet, but if you're in the mood for a sweet coffee drink, I highly recommend it. If you want to cut down on the fat, you can get it as a half-moon or even a quarter-moon. Their breakfast tacos are made by Chantilly Bakery and are awesome. They do run out of breakfast tacos -- by 11a on Saturday, you probably won't be able to score one! They also have panini sandwiches and empanadas; there's some options for vegetarians. I think their baked goods still come from the Driskill's Cafe 1886 -- fantastic chocolate chip cookies. There's just something about this place that makes it really easy to hang out for a long time, reading or talking with a friend. It's not crowded -- I haven't had an experience where there's not an open table. They've just added a front patio, and they're working on sprucing it up. It's an easy walk from St. Ed's campus, just straight down Woodward, turn right on 1st, and walk about 100 yards.
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