FLAT TRACK COFFEE
1619 E Cesar Chavez St, AUSTIN, TX
First impression: Cool, as in Cool Hand Luke. (For the unknowing, that’s a young Paul Neuman at his rebellious peak and a deserved 100 on Rotten Tomatoes, but I digress. Put this one on your list.
Coffee:
My cortado was properly executed, velvety smooth and luscious, and my drip had a robust mouth feel with a toasted chocolate finish. Like a country ride on a sunny day, very satisfying.
Barista:
Perhaps because of low counters, and certainly enhanced by engaged friendliness, there is a feeling of engagement with the baristas. Regarding my cortado, the barista commented, “the top didn’t start out right but everything else was done properly.” Clearly, he was attentive to his craft and his customers. I liked it that the equipment and the making of the product is on full display. Upon inquiring about their espresso machine, the barista noted that,”as piece of equipment it’s functional but a bit of a stick shift as far as expresso machines go.”
Vibe:
While this coffee shop executes at a high level, their ambiance is where its at. Their name comes from dirt track motorcycle racing and a garage grit is intentionally on display throughout the shop, which splits square footage with a bike shop that’s mostly a repair bench. Cinder block walls, concrete floors, and bare light bulbs are accented with vintage gas cans, helmets, and motorcycle parts along with black storage bins, and an old drill press turned into a table top create the garage chic that Flat Track totally owns. Even their expresso machine, a Danish Mirage, looks like it was made my a motorcycle mechanic. Decent outdoor space with picnic tables. Music was appropriately funky and played through a high quality Marshall speaker behind the bar.
Bakery selection was a bit thin, and without my favored savory options. I’ve since come to know that many of the Austin coffee shops source their bakery from the same vendor, which, despite it being good, I found a little disappointing. Strong merch taking advantage of a artfully curated brand.
Make You Better:
A more diverse bakery selection, ideally including some savory options would be appreciated. And a bathroom door that locked would be a glorious add.
Flat Track, you’re an original, that’s what you are. Wompleites, if you don’t put this one on your list, well then, what we got here is a failure to communicate.
~ Clyde <3
